AUCKLAND.

NZ Truth, Issue 474, 18 July 1914, Page 11

AUCKLAND.

The only game which created any interest m league circles last week was that between Ponsonby United and City Rovers. The form of both teams throughout the season has been good, but Ponsonby have been the more consistent while City have had their off days Consequently. Ponsonby were expected to win. but so close was the play that right up to the calling of time there was a chuncc of City, winning It was a fast, open game, brimful of Incident, and it was a treat to see the backs handling the greasy ball. The tackling was of the deadly variety with no beg pardons and man took man as though everything worked by clockwork. Ponsonby won because their backs and forwards showed honor judgment and grasped the position quicker, not only m respect of attack - Ing but they seemed to do the right thing to got the aide out of danger. What little advnntnge there was m the first half went to Ponsonby and It was fortunate for them that they scored live points while play favored them, as the second half smw City In the limelight for the greater part and only the solid defence kept them out. When Asher placed v goal and the scores stood 5 to 2 m favor of Ponsonby, both teams played like tigers with City doing best without making further score which would have turned victory into defeat. AH Ik well-

known, Ponsonby deserved the victory but the whistle to cease play was the ] most welcome piece of music they have i heard for a long time. It savored of a game of billiards at the cricket ground where North Shore made a break of 43 points against Newton, who could only pot one ball during the game. For some unaccountable reason Newton rolled up with only eight men and these provided plenty of amusement for the onlookers. While the game ( ?) went on Newton's 1 team increased to ten men, two spectators stripping off! their coats and vests and tucking up their trousers, coming on to, lend a hand. And, how they worked! And how their wives— if they have one — must have worked to get pieces of the cricket ground off the clothes. The North Shore team had a nice game of "catches" and just threw the ball to each other as though Newton were not on the ground. Anybody who wanted 'to score for Shore was allowed to do so, and all hands had a shot at goal. The best Newton team would have no chance with Shore, and it can be imagined how the worst Newton team fared. , Grafton tripped out to Otahuhu and administered a good beating to the local team. At times, play was interesting enough, but Grafton always held the position and eventually won by 17 points to S. Otahuhu tried hard to dodge the wooden spoon but it came their way. The result of last week/s games leaves North Shore and Ponsonby level and it has been decided to cancel the remaining competition games and allow the teams mentioned to play off for the honors on Saturday. That it will be a game worth witnessing there can be little doubt, and the biggest crowd of the season can be expected. When the teams met m the first round Ponsonby won by 2 points to nil, and as opinions then differed as to the better team, the result of to-day's game will be looked forward to. Let us hope theday is a fine one.