SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20011, 30 July 1928, Page 12

SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.

GREAT CLUB RUGBY. PONSONBY AND UNIVERSITY. DRAW WITH 14 POINTS EACH. 'A MAGNIFICENT FINAL TRY. Ta a game so thrilling and productive so much brilliant Rugby that it will lie talked about in years to come, University drew with I'onsonbv at Eden Park on Saturday. With a few minutes to go, Ponsonby had a three points lead. ■Then Goodwin, the University winger, matched victory from Ponsonby with a glorious try. Tho scores were level, 14 points each, University scoring r, converted try, a try and two penalty goals to Ponsonby's converted try, two unconverted fries and one penalty goal. A crowd of 12,000 enjoyed (he finest game that has been seen at Eden Park this Season. The game opened at a great pace, both tides making strenuous efforts to feed their backs. University was defending streuuously for a while, with Bush and .Tenkin prominent, and then a clever kick by Jenkin let University move to the attack. Tho backs swung away and Stotter cut in beautifully. He made a perfect opening, but Moorhouse had crowded in. lie missed his pass and a certain try. University maintained (lie pressure. Bright passing between Hindenach, Goodwin, Anderson and Brooker ended when the last-named was* pushed into touch, but from the lineout the backs went away again. Stotter made another fine opening and Moorhouse again knocked on. The Hook brothers cleared. The Opening Try. Moorhouse then made amends for his early failures. Following up a high kick he bustled the Ponsonby defenco and the ball came out to Hindenach, who sidestepped Eraser neatly and opened the scoring with a try between tho posts, j N. C. Jenkin goaled. Ponsonbv replied with a whirlwind loose attack and Moorhouse claimed i what appeared to be a fair mark. It was disallowed. University was penalised and Jamieson kicked a fine goal. The teams changed over with the scores: University, 5, Ponsonbv, 3. Ponsonbv immediately set about gaining the lend, and Jenkin and Carter had to work like Trojans against (ho fastbreaking forwards. Eventually the 1 onsonby forwards took play to University s line "and there heeled back to McManus. The half dashed round the side of the scrum, and for a moment was held up by Carter and Bush, but by sheer determination ho forced his way over. Jamieson failed at goal, and Ponsonby bad a lead of one point. Thrills in Plenty. Thrills came in plenty. Moorhouse, Jenkin and Goodwin cleared University's line in a great passing run, and a score seemed imminent when R. Hook beat Goodwin for the ball. At this stage Ponsonbv was playing like a team inspired, and first R. Hook and then Cammick were nearly over. University s defence was magnificent, and the laige crowd cheered when the student back.--, combined in passing bouts, several ot which ended dangerously close to the Ponsonbv line. Interest in the game ay in the pace with which (he ball travelled up and down field. No side held the advantage for long. Forwards were strugeling for possession in the scrum, Linton and showing out in magnificent •play; backs were making strenuous endeavours to break through deadly tacKCainmick was always dangerous for Ponsonbv, and lie went very close with a pot at goal. University raised the siege and dashed downfield. forwards and backs passing freely, and Ponsonby was lucky to force. Goodwin was then crowded out by Eraser after a fine side-line run. It wus Ponsonbv's turn and a passing run by Cammick and L. Hook drew the sitv defence. Hook passed mlield, but Linton brought down McCarthny in the rick of time. It was typical of the play that the movement had barely broken down when Minns dashed awav. Manus brought off a great tackle. before the spell ended Jamieson failed at "oal from a penalty awarded for obstruction. and the break came with the scores:—Ponsonbv, 65 University, Close Scrummaging. - Tight scrummaging marked the opening of the second half, almost as exhilarating in its keenness as tho passing movements of the backs. In spite of continued offside play by the Ponsonby forwards and backs —L. Ilook, on the wing, was standing well on the University 0 side of every scrum—University attacked. Ponsonby was penalised and the crowd cheered when a great goal by Bush gave University the lead by two points. Play had hardly restarted when Linton followed up with a magnificent burst of speed and caught Fraser in possession. Ponsonby handled in the scrum and another penalty saw Bush increase his side s lead. University, 11; Ponsonby, 6. University now held the upper hand. 'A dribbling rush headed by Hindenach and Linton saw Anderson gather up the ball, but ho was brought down a yard short of the line. The forwards maintained the pressure and a fine piece of play by almost gave Anderson a try. Then the University backs swung away from a scrum, but with the Ponsonbv defenco out of position, Moorhouse knocked 011. The Ponsonby backs, when in possession, made frantic efforts to break through, but they ran into the. brick wall of University's tackling. Then came a spectacular incident, typical of Ponsonby's play. University secured from a scrum, but Jamieson intercepted and dashed through. He swerved as he reached Bush and the fullback just managed to touch his man. Jamieson faltered in his stride for an instant, but regaining his balance, he sped on and scored between the. posts. He failed with the easy kick. University was leading by two points ■when tho teams changed round for the ; final quarter. The pace was beginning j to tell and the game stopped when Linton and Pope were injured simultaneously. Both were able to resume. University was awarded a penalty at a wide single, but Bush failed. Excitement was now at fever heat, The crowd waited for the whirlwind finish it has learned to expect from Ponsonby, and the majority must have hoped that it would not come. But it came dramatically. The Ponsonby backs swept into action and Goodwin idlowed himself to be drawn infield. L. Hook, unmarked, raced for the line, and a Hying tackle by Bush was too late to save a try at (he corner. From tho side-line Jamieson kicked a great gonl, and (he brilliant play that gave Ponfconby tho lead was cheered (o the echo. An Exciting Finish. The spell was more than half finished ftnd, favoured with the wind, Ponsonby was still making tin; pace. University tried to set its back machine going, but the Ponsonby forwards were playing like tigers. Jamieson failed with a couple, of penalties, and then came the crowning ] achievement of an historic match j There was a scrum in University's twenty- I five, and it seemed that Ponsonby had | the game won. But University heeled and | Jenkin cut out a man. There was an audible gasp from the crowd as Goodwin commenced his run of sixty vards down the side-line. He fended off Frasei and ran as only a fine winger can run when he has a chance to win the game for his side. There was intense excitement as Goodwin s magnificent effort ended in |i magnificent try. All depended on the kick, which was not exactly easy \ fcood attempt by Bush failed. With the few minutes left for plav both sides opened out and University's supporters yelled as the forwards swept downfield. The rush was stemmed the Jail kicked into touch and the came £» University, 14; Ponsonby, 14, •Mr. JL £. .Sutherland was -referee.