LEAGUE SHIELD MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20373, 30 September 1929, Page 12

LEAGUE SHIELD MATCH.

CHAMPIONS OF CHAMPIONS

MARIST DEFEATS PONSONBY.

TWENTY-EIGHT POINTS TO 14.

Marist clearly demonstrated its superiority over Ponsonby in tlio Stormont Memorial Shield match played at Carltiw Park on Saturday by' winning t>y 23 points to 14. The cbn (petition, known ns tlie champions of chain,uions, was inaugurated by tho Auckland Rugby League several seasons ago and lias proved very popular with both clubs and patrons. On Saturday a good crowd witnessed Marist. outclass l'onsonby in tJio final stages of ai splendidly-contested match. Scoring was even throughout and although Marist was often aggressive, Ponsonby put up a. splendid fight until tho Roopo Rooster winners scorofl tliree tries in tho concluding stages. Play was fast and open and' a fitting final to a successful club season. Marist will now meet, tho South Sydney team. Tim teams were as follows: —

Marist. —N. Campbell, Brady, Batchelor, McDonald, Gregory, .Sweeney, Hassan, Clarke. Dunne, Johnson, O'Brien,. Campbell, Ffctt. Powsonby.—Thompson, Schofield, lii ley, Winters, Delgrosso, Skelion, Mclntyre, Moore, Payne, Gardiner, Fagan, Stevens, Lunn. The Early Stages. Early in the game Gardiner made a '.fine effort well past halfway and kicked for the Marist lino. Brady's speed saved > a try and the centre found touch near halfway. Gregory made a. fine opening, but passed wildly to Brady, who was in a scoring position. Brady, then beat half the Ponsonby team, but held on when there was plenty of support. Ponsonby, however, attacked and Lunn raced tliEough only to see Gardiner get offside. Ponsonby played better and tho backs showed fine combination. . Batchelor gave, l'oiiftonby a chance, when he feebly tack ted Winters, who passed to Riley and Mclnfiyre raced between tho posts to score a nico try. Skelton converted.' ' Hasaan did good work 'behind the scrum and Marist was again in Ponsonby's territory, but Thompson saved nicely. Clarke started a passing bout and Gregory made good ground. Poiusonby's backs, however, launched a strong offensive, which broke down when McDonald intercepted a pass to Gardiner. The former sent on to Johnson, who raced 3Qyds. to score a fino try, which Gregory converted. Hassan brilliantly beat Ponsonby's inside backs but threw awav a certain try bv holding on when Clarice had a" clear run in. The Marist forwards were successful in the scrum and McDonald cut out several Ponsonby backs, before passing to Batchelor, who scored near tho corner. O'Brien failed to convert. At half-time the scores were:— Marist .. • • •« . • 8 Ponsonby 5 Ponsonby missed several opportunities early in tho second half owing to faulty handling. Winters made a fine effort to get over, failing by inches only. Ponsonby pressed for some minutes on the Marist line, but tho defonce was sound. Delgrosso retired hurt at this stage. Hassan cleverly started a {Kissing bout from Ponsonby's twenty-five,, and Gregory and McDonald gave good support. The lastnamed sent on to Batchelor, who outpaced the opposition to score a good try. Gregory converted. Marist Increases Lead. A few minutes hUer .Gardiner added two points to Ponsoiaby's scoro with a fine goal. Gardiner, Riley and Schofield were associated in a good passing bout which Campbell stopfped in tho Marist twenty-five. Gardiner again kicked a magnificent penalty ( g oa l- Moore was penalised for not plaving the hall, and Gregory added the g(jal'points. Hassan cloverlv worked, tf.d ' blind side and Batchelor got over tlio 'lino, but lost tho ball in a tackle by Batchelor made an effort to secure the ball again, but was hold by Win/.crs. The referee's prompt action "in awarding Marist a penalty try was the correct decision. Gregory converted. From a scrum in tEi» • Marist twentyfive McTntyro passed to Skelton, who " dummied " his way. over to score tho best individual try oK the match. Gardiner converted. Ponisonby's backs rose to the occasion in good style and swept over Marist. Mclntyre knocked on and missed a try between the posts.A minute later Thompson made a beautiful opening only to see Fagan. fall over the ball and Ponsonbv was unlucky. Ponsonby's efforts, however, failed to penetrate tho defence, and the resuM was placed beyond doubt when Brady, made a fine run through the Ponsonby team. Several backs handled and Campbell raced over. Gregory failed to convert. Johnson and O'Brien headed the Marist forwards and from splendid team work Batchelor scored his third try and added tho goal points. The game ended with tho scores: — Marist 28 Ponsonby 14 Mr. V. Simpson was referee. OTAGO BEATS CANTERBURY. SENIOR AND JUNIOR MATCHES. [BV TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN. Saturday. Of ago defeated • Canterbury at League football on the Caledonian ground to-day bv 24 points to 15. The weather was glorious, Ibo attendance being between 2000 and 3000.

Otago juniors defeated Canterbury juniors by 19 points to 9.