NEWTON’S SURPRISE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 93, 11 July 1927, Page 10

NEWTON’S SURPRISE

Last Year's League Champions Decisively Beaten in the Mud WINNERS REVEL IN HEAVY GOING IN the one and only senior League football game played in Auckland on Saturday afternoon, Newton created a surprise at Carlaw Park by defeating Ponsonby, the present champions, by 14 points to 3. Before 3,000 fans the players romped round the field almost unrecognisable in their coats of mud and slush.

MARIST STILL LEADS

THE COMPETITION TABLE Newton’s victory against Ponsonby on Saturday places it in second place in the championship table, one point behind Marist. The positions of the teams are as follow:

HARD FORWARD GAME NEWTON’S FOOTWORK Newton started from the kick-off to show its superiority, and for the best part of the game was holding the upper hand, but appeared to fail to add that little bit extra which is required to add to its total of points. Newton was the first to attack, and by a. well-directed kick by Dufty, the line was found in Ponsonby's territory, where, from the scrum, Newton securecl possession, but the handling of the ball was not too sure, and an opportunity to score was lost. Newton was using the right tactics for the day, kicking high and following up, and had Langley guessing on several occasions, but this young player was making no mistakes, and handling well. Grey, with one of his brilliant speculators, brought relief, and the Ponies’ forwards, following fast, had Newton thinking, till Little came to light. After a good run he kicked well flown the field. Clarke, following up fast, attempted to pick up the ball, instead of tapping it over the line, and the result was a scrum for a knockon. The game at this period was very exciting, the play travelling from one end of the field to the other, both sides making strenuous efforts. LOWRY INJURED At this period, Lowry, Ponsonby hooker, had to leave the field, and was reported to have sustained a broken jaw. Allen replaced him, and McNeil hooked for the rest of the game. This was Ponsonby’s downfall, as Newton dominated the scrums from then on. Newton was soon on the attack again, Peckham failing to hold the leather from a long kick by Hall, who followed through fast, but Langley frame to the rescue with a line-kick, which brought relief. From si free kick Dufty attempted a shot from an easy position, but the greasy nature of the ground and ball was too much for him, and the forwards following on had the Ponies doing their best to keep Newton out. Mclntyre went close to scoring with a corkscrew run right through the

centre, and was only stopped in time. Ponsonby cleared again, with Payne and Allen in clever foot-work. Grey and Gardiner carried on this movement, and looked dangerous till the big fellow was crowded on the line. Newton then attacked, and the ball coming out of the loose, closely persued by Clarke, who kicked over the line, and following up fast beat Grey for possession and scored a good try under the post. Dufty made no mistake with the kick, and Newton had a lead of five points. Encouraged by its success Newton came again, and from a scramble in Ponsonby territory, Mclntyre came from nowhere and was over the line for another try. Dufty found the angle too great, and the score-board read Newton 8, Ponsonby nil. PONSONBY LIVENS Ponsonby now took a turn at attack, and from a free kick Delgrosso just failed to raise the flags, the ball striking the cross-bar and rebounding into the field of play. Half-time sounded soon after with the score unaltered. When the teams took the field for the second spell it was noticed Ponsonby had made a rearrangement of its back division. Grey replaced Langley at full, the latter going into the threequarter line. Gardiner went up into the forwards, and Hutt replaced him in the threequarter line. This seemed to balance the team up better, and the game was more even in this spell. Dufty, by his long kicking, was trying the Ponies’ forwards sorely, and had them racing all over the ground; and by good judgment in placing his kicks he often found the backs out of position. Ponsonby was not to be denied, however, and was putting a lot of dash into ‘its efforts, but was met with solid defence. At this stage Hargreaves came to light with a good run, and then, kicking hard, he followed through and scored what looked to be a doubtful try. Dufty failed to convert—ll- - The Blue backs them came to light, and Grey, with a good run, was stopped by Heriwini close to the line, but Allen, following close, picked up in the loose and scrambled over in a good position. Delgrosso failed to convert. Score, 11 —3. Ponsonby was spurred on by this success, and made strenuous efforts to even the score, but Newton was; not to be denied, and from a good dribbling rush by the forwards, Rhodes dived over for the final score. Dufty failed to improve the score, and the bell sounded with Newton winners by 14 to 3, after having; the best of the game all through. Junior Trial Match The state of the ground on No. 2 area, Carlaw Park, when a trial match was played between second grade reresentatives, was against good football. Play was confined to the forwards, and was very close throughout. The A team won by 5 points to 3, Hunt scoring for the A*’s, and Bird converting. Stevens scored an unconverted try for the B’s.

P. W. L. D Points. F. A. Ch. Marlst .. .. 6 2 140 70 12 Newton .. .. 8 5 2 1 102 Devonport .. 8 5 158 84 10 Ponsonbv . 4 1 100 70 Richmond .. 8 4 1 101 95 7 City 2 5 1 07 153 5 Athletic _ .. 7 — 7 — 61 188 0