LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19140, 5 October 1925, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

STORMONT MEMORIAL SHIELD. PONSONBY'S EASY WIN. CITY TEAM OUTPLAYED. Ponsonby easily defeated City in the final Rugby League match for the Stormont Memorial Shield at Car law Park oti Saturday, the score being 35 points to 8. The winners gave a high-class exhibition of the League code, and to the general surprise of the fairly large crowd present, completely outclassed the winners of the championship. They deserved their win, backs and forwards handling the ball in great style, and the feature of their play was the splendid support, accorded each player who Opened up the attack. Ponsonby won the toss and had the advantage of a strong wind blowing down the ground. The ball had just been kicked off when Payne, the Ponsonby forward, followed up fast and E. Brown's kick re- - bounded into Riley's hands. He passed to Gardiner, to Little wood, who returned the ball, for Gardiner to race over to score. Delgrosso missed with the kick at goal. City were penalised three times in succession and Delgrosso kicked a fine goal, to give Ponsonby a lead of five points. City Frequently Penalised. Almost immediately afterwards W atherall made a fine opening, and the leather passed" from Reid to Paki, who carried it on to Ponsonby's territory, where City were again penalised. The game was fast and open and with City attacking, Riley, when yards offside, gathered up a loose pass and whipped it on to Payne, who raced down the line before passing to Gardiner, who went over to score near the corner. Delgrosso failed to add the goal points. City were being constantly penalised, and Delgrosso further increased Ponsonby's score with a goal.

Ponaonby, 10; City, 0, The City forwards raised the hop.ea ol their supporters as Ruby. well supported by Ferguson, carried the NOl to Ponsouby 8 territory, where Ferguson kicked hard, but G. Davidson was just beaten by Donovan for the touch-down. City showed improved form, but were penalised in a promising position. Loose play in midfleld followed until Peckham whipped the bai! on to Gardiner, who back passed, and the Ponsonby half raced on to score a. good try. Delgrosso missed the shot at goal and Ponsonby were 13 points ahead. Dirsctly afterwards Delgroaao made a brilliant opening before sending on to Godley, to Gardiner, who outpaced the opposition to score an unconverted try, and half-time came with the score:—

Ponsonby 16 City 0 City attacked, after the interval, but the Ponsonby forwards returned, and Littlewood made a determined dash down the side line, G. Davidson, just saving a try. Delgrosso " was unsuccessful with a penalty kick. With the advantage of the strong wind City were playing better football and putting plenty of dash into their play. They were pulled up by Donovan, but they went away, and from Mitchell the ball travelled to B. Davidson, who raced past Gardiner and sent it on to Brown, who showed great pace as he went down. Affronted by Donovan he short-punted over the Ponsonby fullback's head and regained the ball, to score a fine try. which he did not improve. Ponsonby, 16; City, 3. Ponsonby Score 'Juicily. From a scrum Peckham sent his backs away and the bali was handled by Moore and Gardiner, .before Godley received it back and raced round to score behind the 4s. Delgrosso added the extra poiiita. City had plenty oi chances, but the support was not forthcoming, <i,nd trie* were often miseed. Ponsonby, however, had a good grip on the game. Several times Gardiner was stopped by the good def Mice of B. Davidson, who was the only City back showing form. Once again the ball travelled through the hands of Ponaonby's backs, and Riley beat several opponents to easily score, Peckham added the goal points. Then Delgrosso ran strongly down the centre and passed to Rilev to Payne, to Gardiner, and the last-named bumped off Wetherall, to score a good try. G. Davidson was responsible for taking operations back to Ponaonby's twenty-five, hut it was only a short-lived ©Sort, and Peckham passed quickly to Delgrosso, who cut in nicely and sent Peckham on to score. Peckham's kick missed. The game was now devoid of interest, but B. Davidson raised ft shout as he heat Gardiner, and sped to wan! Donovan, who, however, nullified the pass to Paki, and Delgrosso was quick to carry play back to midfleld. Her® Riley passed to Delgrosso, who had little difficulty in beating several would-be tackters and sending Payne over to score. Gardiner miss-id with the shot at goal, and the game end»>d almost immediately with the score;— Ponsonby . . .. .. .. 35 City 3

TEAM TO PLAY QUEENSLAND

NEXT SATURDAY'S GAME.

The following team has been selected to represent Auckland Province agcinst Queensland next Saturday a.t Carlaw Pari :-- Fullback: Gregory. Threequarters: Johnston (Waik&to). Kirwan, Delgrosso.

Five-eighths: Wother all, Jackson (W&ikato). Halfback: Pockham. Forwards: O'Brien, Town send, Herring, Monties (Waikato), Singe, Avery.

Reserves: Backs, JSiley, List. Forwards, To Whata, O'Brien (Devonport).

QUEENSLAND TEAM'S TOUR.

RUNAWAY VICTORY AT DUNEDIN. [BT TiLEGBAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] DUNEDIN. Saturday. The Queensland League team met Otago before an attendance of SQIX) spectators today, and completely outclassed the local players. The visiting backa handled the ball with surprising ease, considering" the- fact that rain fell heavily during this greater portion of the game, and the ground was m slippery condition. Following offside play by the visitors, when defending their line in the early part of the game, Watson kicked a penalty goal for Otago. This was the home team's only score. When half-time came the visitors had put on 24 points. In the second half they rattled on the points in great style, the final scores being: Queensland, 63; Otago, 2. Ayrialey was a constant source of trouble to the local side, and succeeded in raising his total points for the tour past the century mark.