LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19141, 6 October 1925, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE SEASON REVIEWED. HIGH STANDARD OF PLAY. BENEFITS FROM COACHING. With only one more representative League match to bo played in Auckland this year a review of the season is very opportune. Taking everything into con- | sideration the standard of play, particularly before the New Zealand team departed for Australia, was of high standard and large crowds witnessed many exciting club games. Fast and open football characterised the contests in which Ponsonby, City and Marist Old Boys were engaged and the remaining clubs were consistent in providing bright football. The recent tour of the New Zealand team has done a lot of good for the game in Auckland and will do more. Most of the players have come back to their clubs keen to impart the many points learned while playing against Queensland and New South Wales. There is good material in the local teams and a few more coaches of the ability of Mr. E. H. Mair would raise the standard of play considerably. The employment of a suitable coach, perhaps one of the crack Queenslanders, should be seriously considered by the Auckland League. In the first round of the club champion ship City went through without a single defeat and in the second Ponsonby, after one of the most exciting games seen at Carlaw Park, lowered the colours of the champions by nine points to eight. The City team played consistently good foot ball and they were not favoured in the matter of injuries, several of their best players being laid aside in many of the important games and they well deserve the Monteith Shield, emblematic of the senior grade championship. Ponsonby's Good Prospects. Ponsonby can be considered an unlucky team, as the Roope Rooster winners have accounted for City in four out of five games played this season. Most of Ponsonby's players have their football careers ahead of them and with careful attention to the finer points of the game they should rise to great heights. Their appearance next season will be awaited with considerable interest. It is generally accepted in League circles that the 1925 New Zealand team performed very well during its tour in Australia. It is many years since a Dominion side won games against New South Wales and our team can be given, credit for fine displays. When the NewZealand team visited Queensland several of the best players were not available through injuries, and it occasioned no surprise, therefore, to see the team easily defeated. From a playing point of view New Zealand's best performance was against Toowoomba as, although defeated by a margin of two points, they had all the best oj the game and were considered unlucky to lose. Individually and collectively the members of the touring team have shown improved torm and this was borne out in the games played recently against Queens land. Stormont Shield Final. The meeting of City and Ponsonby at Carlaw Park for possession of the Stormont Memorial Shield will be remembered as one of the greatest surprises ever recorded in the history of club competitions. The surprise does not rest in the fact that Ponsonby won so much as in the manner of their victory. From beginning to end they had all the best of the game and completely outclassed City. City have fielded much stronger sides and the absence of their four good forwards made i a lot of difference to the pack. However, on the day City at their best could not have withstood the consistency of the Ponsonby attack. A feature of Ponsonbv's play was the splendid manner in which the whole team raced up to support the player in possession of the ball. The backs, particularly, combined well and handled the ball very accurately. Although City were 16 points behind at half-time it was fully expected they would make a bold bid to wise out the deficit, but instead their football fell away and they made no effort to retrieve their position. The score, 38 to 3, is the largest ever recorded against City, whose usual ability to battle out hard games against heavy odds has been a striking feature of their consistent good form. Notes on. the Players. For the winners Donovan, fullback, played well and proved himself a solid defender. Gardiner was easily the best of the threequarters and his tries were the result of dashing football. However, he resorted to a lot of unnecessary obstruction which, if left alone, would considerably improve his football. Riley gave an excellent exhibition, at five-eighths and has a very bright future. Delgrosso was the best of the Ponsonby backs and his clev r openings resulted in most of the points scored for his side. Peckham, at halfback, never missed an opportunity to set his backs going, and the Ponsonby player well deserves his inclusion in the provincial team to play against Queensland. Working without respite and showing their best form to date, the Ponsonby forwards gave a high-class display. Seldom have they been seen to better advantage. Payne was perhaps the best of a good lot. Since joining the ranks of Pon- | sonby club, the ex-Waikato forward has improved his football. Hutt and Ward played well, and ably assisted the winners. For City, E. Brown, the fullback, had a busy afternoon, and did his work well. On the wing, L. Brown showed up in «omo dazzling runs, his try being a particularly good effort. B. Davidson was tha only City back to show good form, and he made many fine openings that lacked support. He was solid in defence and gained much admiration for the manner in which he tackled big Gardiner. Wetherall had a day off and his form was distinctly disappointing. G. Davidson played m the forwards and then in his position on the wing, where he got very few opportunities. City's best forward was Townsend, who played a fine game. Keen in the loose, Townsend showed a lot of pace, and handled the ball well. Reid and Paid were the best oi the others. Next Saturday's Match. Next Saturday at Carlaw Park the visiting Queensland footballers will play the last game of their tour against an Auckland provincial team. The personnel of the local team has been announced and is fairly strong. The team will have little opportunity to train together, and naturally the players will not be in a position to do themselips justice. The game, which,marks the close of the Auckland season, should be worth seeing.