LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19158, 26 October 1925, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

PONSONBY DEFEAT MARIST

TWENTY-SIX TO SIXTEEN

BETTER PLAY IN SECOND HALF,

The League football match between POll- - and Marist, played at Carlaw Park 011 Saturday, under tho auspices of the Labour Day Celebrations Committee, was easily won by Ponsonby, the score being 2tj points to IG. There was an attendance of about 2000. The first half was bright and interesting, although Ponsonby had a decided advantage, and led by lb points. Lin--1111 welt into the second spell, when Marist rallied, play was patchy. Ponsonby opened the attack and Gardiner made a good dash, but Brisbane was prominent in good defence. A mistake by Langley gave Cooko an opportunity and in some good passing, Gregory whipped the bail on to Brisbane, who ran over to score. Gregory missed with the kick. Good play by Payne and Fagan moved X>lay to Marist's linb, where Kirwan's return was blocked, and Peckhain passed to Gardiner, to Delgrosso, who although tackled by Lenihan managed to bcore. Delgrosso missed at goal, and the score was three all.

From a scrum at midfield Kirwnn made a fine opening, but his pass to Singe was missed and a try was lost. Ponsonby were gotting the ball more from the serums. Sweeney accepted well and dashed down the centre, to pass to Stormont, but Brisbane got in front and again the greens were unlucky. In a solo run Gardiner ran from his own twenty-five to past half-way, where Kirwan stopped him with a fine tackle. O'Brien and Johnson, -with the ball at toe, dribbled to Ponsonby's line, but Hutt gathered ui> and ran to half-way, whore Riley further improved the position, and Delgrosso ran on to score between the posts and add the goal points himself. Good passing between Riley and Donovan gave Payno a chance, but he was tackled just short of tho line, and in a scramble McNeill scored a try. Delgrosso failed with the kick. Ponsonby, 11; Marist, 3. Soon afterwards Delgrosso beat the defence and passed to Peckham, who scored between the posts, Delgrosßo goaling. Tho Ponsonby backs shone in a nice passing run, and Riley completely nonplussed the opposition as he ran straight for the corner, turning to pass to Payne, who went over to score a try, which Delgrosso converted. Tho half-time score was:— Ponsonby 21 Marist 3 Ponsonby were quickly into their stride after the interval, and Payne almost beat the whole Marist team, but held on too long and missed a try. In a passing run Gardiner got over, but was penalised for not playing the ball, and Singe found the lino near half-way. From O'Brien the ball was handled by Stormont, Singe and Cooke, who just missed a try. Marist were playing better football, and a- good dash by Kirwan narrowly missed the goal line. Gardiner received a pass from Delgrosso and ran down from his own Quarter, brushed oil several tacklers, and scored a fine try between the posts. Delgrosso converted. On Ponsonby's line tho Marist forwards tried hard to cross, and for somo minutes Ponsonby wore busy defending. In the next movement Marist had better luck when Lineen passed for Singe to dash over and score, Gregory goaling. The score was:—• Ponsonby, 2G; Marist, 8. Good play by Singe gave Marist an opportunity to add to their score and Lineen passed to Sweeney, to Kirwan, who made a fine opening, to finish his eilort by scoring between the posts. Gregory missed an easy goal. Soon afterwards Marist forwards, with Singe in the van, rushed play to Ponsonby's territory, where O'Brien kicked hard, and Sweeney, following up fast, touched down. Gregory kicked a fine goal. Marist were putting plenty of vim into their football, and for some minutes gave tho leaders no respite. Just beforo time Gregory and Cooke made a fine effort, and Delgrosso had 1o run hard to prevent a possible try. The bell rang with the score:— Ponsonby 2(1 Marist I'l RUGBY GAME AS "CURTAINRAISER." The "curtain-raiser," between Vermont Street, primary school Rugby champions, and St. Benedict's School, was won by Vermont Street by 13 points to 3, after a very good game.