ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18802, 1 September 1924, Page 4

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

.THE LEAGUE GAME. SENIOR COMPETITIONS. ATHLETIC DEFEAT PONSONBY. ' MARIS! STILL IN' THE LEAD. CITY OUTPLAY NEWTON. The Auckland Rugby Football Leaffuo competition? were co'Jtinue»l on Saturday. In the senior grade chief interest was con tied on the game between Ponsonby atld Ath' letic, on No. 1 ground at Carlaw Park, There was an attendance estimated ut about £000. Marisi met EUerslia on No. 2 ground: and the City-Newton fixture was contested at Victoria Park. Richmond played Manner© on tho latter's ground. Following are tbo results of tho senior frames: Athlotic, 3G; Ponsonby. CI. Marist, 19; Fllerslie. 3. City, 1G; Newton. 3. Richmond, 10; Maimere. a. ATHLETICS GREAT GAME. Although the ultimate result oi the club championship was not at stake in the match between Athletic and Ponsonby. the teams were as close to the leaders in the competition that much interest was manifested in tho game. It was really a tnul to decide which team would occupy third position in tho competition. r rom t.io atari it was evident that both sides were intent on opening up the jplay,, and tne spectator were treated i-o one of tne cesl exliibitions of tho code seen {£rts season. In the first spell Fonsonoy. getting most of tho ball from the scrums, combined in lino style and at half-time held « load of fix points, the acor«a being 16 points to 10. !i ho Athletic mon rose to the* occasion in tb» second half and rattled on the points e a fc T reat r?.'o. eventually ranms by a co nfortfible margin. It was a. fine sa-tne to watch, the pace never slackenuig, and t">otu tides being dangerous all tho time. Dufty was tho pivot of the Athletic attack and ho played 3 prominent part tu the victory. For Ponsonby, Delgrosso ana McNeil were equally prominent. . . Athletic were soon m the I oiisonby te.ritory but a forward rush cleared tho danger. A smart dash by McNeil and Littlewood improved Ponsonby*s but Dufty crove them back with a long Tuck. Some nice, passing by the Ponsonby backa warned ground, but. tho movement was spoilt bJ Unity handling at a critical moment. Ponsonby continued to press, and from the loose Sneddon obtained possession mid crossed at the corixV. Delgrosso failed to Ponsonby were gettivK ths ball in the strum, and McNeil eet backa Somff. He took a reverse pass and kic to tho Athletic line. Dufty relieved \h a kick. Hall then set the Athletic backs noing, Dufty making a fine opening and passing infield. Hadley tooi the final transfer and scored, the movement having travelled from the. Athletic twenty-fi.e. Dufty addsd the goal. .. . ~ Shortly afterwards, McNeil. the bliind side of the scrum, sent a pass to Sneddon who was tackled on tho Good handling by Ponsonby kept Atruetic dofending. A fine passing bout by the backs saw Snedden accept the final PRj 3 ® ecoro near the comer. Delgrosso failed with the *hot at goal. After some fast play Ath.etjc w®re penalised in front of their goal and Delgrosso from the loose Dijtlewood obtained the ball and cro&a-ki c t.c . T'Jie Athletic fullbacK over-ran the ball and Pijckhain. following up fast, scored under the posts. Delgrosso 'converted. A stiong Athletic attack was tnrn..-_ to defence by Delgroaso picking up and breakin through He reached the fullback but Dufty. racing back, collared two, me:n in succession and stemmed tne attacn. a. ecrum McNeil sent I.he ball out on the blind side to Littbwood, who scored. Del Jroio failed at goal Athletic u». J'. McGregor, taking a pass a. halfw.iy, racoc to the- . * n kicked Ho recovored the ball but was tackled on the line. Another Athletm ruph and Graham dtvod across to / c ° r^-,v Du /H acidod the goal The spell ended with the PonEonbv, 16; A-hietic. 10. " Soon after resuming. Athletio broke sway s? sss D pa;e Athletic. the Ponsonby twenty-five with » j\r We A&i*% % %T----wj,rds claarecU and in the loose Wood fielded the ball and with the bacas 0.. of TXjaition racei down Aie side line to r „ Drfty failed with the shot at goal, immediately afterwards Webb broke away S5 SfS-U? b*eSnd o Vi° JOF-tZfr, a "rhe continued fast. Ponsonby secured the ball from a scrum. »nd Eiley broke th"a<fh. He transferred to Sbiriey. who acored between the posts. Deigrosso con•VCGoyd handling by the Ponsonby backs threatened danirer, but Hall, intercepting c pass, raced at.°nded v • r v. The latter took a pass 'and scored, JJulty converting. , , , A Ponsonb 7 atta.uk was repulsed, and Dufty sent the ball into ioucn near the Ponsonby line. In the loose, the ball was sent to Avery, who scored -it the corner. In another Athletic rash. Ponsonby were penalised, but Wood misaed an easy shot at goal. The remainder of the gsme was wellcontcsted, play being fast to the finish, but no further score was registered. ELLERSLIE'S GOOD STRUGGLE. The game between Marist and Ellerslio was regarded as a4* thing" for Marißt. r.r.d popular opinion was borne out. The Ellerslie players, however, gave their opponenta a good battle, and play was fast throughout. Play was very even for a considerable time, tili Stonnont. opened the Marist scoring account by kicking a penalty coal. Molloy later added a try that whs converted by Stormont, and before the spell ended O'Brien got over for a try. With an advantage of 10 points i& the first half, the chances of Mr.rist were excellent. Early in the second spell. Stand landed a penalty goal for- Ellerslie,. and horo the scoring of the suburban teem stopped. Tries were added for Marist by Molloy. Ghent, r-nd McDonald, and Marist retained their lead in the competition by a comfortable margin. CITY'S RETURN TO FORM. In the game against Newton, at Victoria Park, the City players, showed a return, to the form they displayed early in the season. Play was fast and exciting from the kick-off, but gradually the combination of the City backs showed results. The first Hpell produced 'Sight points for City, tries being obtained by Purdy and Thorburn, one of which was lonverteti by Brown. Continuing their scoring efforts in the ascond epell, City took the score to 13, L. Brown adding a try and B. Davidson a goal before New-ton scored. Mansill f,oi across from a short passing bout, but failed to convert. Just before timo wag called, B. Davidson :<ddod another try for City by following up U cross-kick by L. Brown. RICHMOND'S GOOD EFFORT. Tho contest between Mangero and Richmond at Mnnf/ere, produced some excellent football. The game was fast throughout, but *"•" Richmond backs showed the combination. As a result of good passing Don:a. Campney got across twice for iwu - mond. Hanlon converting both tries. Paul •cored a try for and converted it. ; JUNIOR GAMES. REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. The game between the Auckland junior representatives and Hamilton juniors, played js a curtain-raiaer to tbo Ponsonby-Athletic J j ure, resulted in a win for Auckland by 14 points to 8. J FOURTH GRADE. . Pcnsonby _B, 10, defeated Richmond, 3. 111 the final, for the grade championship. FIFTH GRADE. Ponsonby, 48. beat New Lynn. 8 Newton, 10. beat Otahuhu, 8. HOUSE MATCH. Ross and Glendining, 14, beat Palmer Collins ana Whitaker, 0. ' HAMILTON KNOCK-OUT, A FARCICAL EXHIBITION. [UY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COXIHESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON, Saturday. / A farcical exhibition was witnessed on the League grounds to-day. United were to meet City in the first round of the knockout competition. Only one City player tool: tho field and tho game wes awarded to United by default. Only six Frankton players appeared to meet. Athletics, who were represented by ordv five men. After five minutes' piny Athletics surrendered. ' RESULTS AT WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. In the final of the Rugby League knockout competition, Hwtt, 8. defeo.ted Newtown, 0. In lie juniors, Rovers, 25, defeated South, . -After the senior matches, Possible v. Probt&tJns were ohcaen to play next Satliraay, xa view of the representative fixtures.