LACROSSE PIROUETTES.

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1179, 3 August 1901, Page 18

LACROSSE PIROUETTES.

By Scaboon

FIXTUBBS. Aagaat 3rd, No. 1 Ground. — Grafton v. Parnell. No. 2 Ground. — Ponsonby A v. North Shore. No. 3 Gronnd.— Grey Lynn v. Ponsonby B. Suburbs stand oat. The Grey Lynn Clob will manage the afternoon tea arrangements. Last Satarday saw the second round of matohes for the premiership Parnell and Crafton defeated Bnbarbs and Grey Lynn respectively. North Shore and Ponßonby B each soored four goals. Suburbs, North Shore, and Parnell are now equal in points for third position on the championship list, Grafton leads having won every match ; Ponsonby a close second, with only one reverse. Parnell achieved a runaway victory over Suburbs ; only five or six men turned np to represent the latter clnb. Those who did tnrn np to ' face the music ' happened to be the best men in the team, and the little pack worked like Trojans against the overwhelming nambers. The Ponsonby 8. -North Shore match was intensely interesting from face off to time ; the play was clean, neat and fast, and at no period was the issue of the conteßt oertain. A few minutes before the close of time the scores were 4 to 3 in favour of Ponsonby, but Blackler Sipped the rubber into the net just in time to make the scorers tie. Grey Lynn made a splendid contest with Grafton for nearly all the first half, but from that out, whereas Grafton'B forwards prevailed over the Newton baefcp, the Grey Lijnn forwards were practically helpless against the brilliant form of Grafcon's defenders. In the winning team Hugh Thompson was quite the hero. For the losers Gummer web the most useful worker. Many are anxiously looking forward to the next merry meeting between Poneonby and Grafton The match will probably take place on August Hist, and will be the last of the championships. Members of the Ponsonby Club still maintain that their men were severely handicapped by the heavy state of the turf when they were defeated by Grafton a fortnight ago. They argue that their men, being heavier than the Grafton players, could not make good use of their pace as compared with the latter. Well, this may or may not have b9en the case, but I feel sure that, aB regards pace, thepe same Ponsonby nun will compare still less favourably on a dry, hard field. On the other hand, it had always been understood that Ponsonby's strong point was catching, accurate passing and shooting, aod skill in handling the crosse as opposed to alhietic form. One fails to Bee how a wet playing gronnd can interfere with this department As far as I can make out, the captain of the westerners is the only one who is satisfied that his team 'went under' to a Buperior combination. The only olher club mate inclined to share Pep-cock's opinion is Henry Nolan. On Saturday next the front ground will be occupied by the Grafton and Parnell teams. Parnell have always been a team that could not be held cheaply, and after their sensational win last week, will be in great heart to battle with Grafton