OUT DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 45, 17 July 1915, Page 10

OUT DOOR SPORTS

[By Harrier.]

OWING to the grounds having suffered so severely by the heavy rain that fell last Saturday morning there was no alternative left the Auckland Rugby Union and Association Football authorities but to postpone all matches arranged. The only football played- was under the auspices of the Auckland Rugby League. The senior matches were decided at Victoria Park on very heavy and sodden grounds. The attendance of spectators was very satisfactory under such adverse weather conditions, and is a criterion of the favour the game is now finding with the public.

The principal contest was between City Rovers and Ponsonby, and resulted in a drawn game, each side notching three points.

Grafton now head the championship table with eleven points. City and Ponsonby share second place, having nine points each. Shore comes next with seven, then Newton four, while last of alii Otabuhu have one win to contribute their total of two points.

The star turn was played between Ponsonby and City on No.- 1 ground. Newton met North Shore on No. 2 ground, and Grafton met Otahuhu on No. 3 ground/. Results: Ponsonby v. City, a draw, 3 points each ; Newton v. Shore, Newton 5, Shore 3; Grafton v. Otahuhu, Grafton 21, Otahuhu 3.

The Ponsonby audi City teams, who stood at a'dead heat for championship honours, attracted all the spectators' attention, and although the game was not brilliant, it was willing, hard and even enough to suit everybody.

Had City's backs been as good as their forwards they would have won. Unfortunately, with the exception of two or three, they seemed to have no idea of combination. This fault should be remedied, for with the set of forwards they have and the individual ability of the backs, it only requires combination to make them equal if not a little better than any of the club teams seen out in the League game.

The rear division of Ponsonby's team worked like machinery, and McOlymont and Co. are to be congratulated on playing such a fine game with the greasy ball. They had nothing like the same chances as the City men, as their forwards were beaten always, but what few opportunities they had they turned to good account.

Their try was a really clever piece of work, and proved conclusively that the centre portion of City's rearguard should learn to tackle.

Cross secured from a loose scramble, made a nice opening, passed to McOlymont, who beat another man and threw the ball out to Jones who was going at top. He got over without any opposition amidst loud applause, and scored a brilliant try, the only one secured' in the first half.

City's try in the second half of the game was also clever. V. Barchard secured near Ponsonby's line and dived through the legs of the opposing forward, just managing to get over. It was not such a spectacular effort as Ponsonby's, but it proved that the man saw his opportunity very quickly' and put it to advantage.

One regrettable incident occurred during the match, Manning and Francis being ordered off for punching each other. The crowd, not knowing the cjrcumktances, hooted

Francis when he retired, which was rather unfortunate, as both were equally to blame, but perhaps, as Manning was helped off by the ambulance men with a badly cut face, the public misunderstood the incident.

AH the Ponsonby backs played well, and. it-is impossible to individualise; although" McClymbnt, Cross amd Jones sh6wed out more in the limelight than the others. Considering, the average weight is very light, Ponsonby backs as a whole are the best in the competition.

Manning, in the forwards, was playing one of his best games until the fighting incident, and it seems a pity that such a good' man should do anything to warrant his dismissal by the referee.

MoWhirter was 1 also He worked very hard, and on the defence was haird to beat.

The same can be said for Longbottom., who lookedl the lightest forward on the ground.

The others worked well, but were overshadowed by the burly City vanguard.

Magee, Tresize and Rukatai were the best of a good lot in the City forwards, Magee being exceptionally clever with his feet, dribbling the ball on numerous occasions through the defence, but, as stated before, he, with the other forwards, received no support from the backs.

Rukutai still plays a lot off-side and he cost his side three or four free kicks on Saturday which might have made a lot of difference to the score had the ball been dry.

E. Asher, behind the scrum, wa6 good; but one sometimes wonders why he works the blind side so much, as often openings could be made cm the open side through the opposing team anticipating the blindi work.

V. Barchard and George Asher were good on the attack but George, although doing a tremendous amount of work, is weak on the defence which is unusual for an Asher, as tackling with the brothers is their strong suit.

Boylan, as wing-threequarter, was not a success. When placed at fullback in the second' spell he gave a faultless exhibition and received numerous rounds of applause for his fine showing.

Mansill, at full-back and after at centre-threequarter was green, therefore comment would be unfair, although at one"portion of the game he made a nice opening but threw away a certain score through bang~ ipg on too long. •

Mincham was again not a success. He appeared! to be frightened and was very weak on the defence. Opaii Asher was a power of strength to his side, and without him City would be lost amongst the backs. He was here, there and everywhere on Saturday, fixing up mistakes made by the other players, and did a tremendous amount of work. He was unfortunate at one stage when he jumped for the line. He only wanted to be thrown, under ordinary circumstances forward a few feet, but luckily for Ponsonby three men got him and fired him backwards. It was a great effort, and deserved a more fitting reward.

This match still leaves the spector in doubt as to whether a good forward team is better than a good back team. It was tried on Saturday, and neither side proved victorious.

It was only too plainly shown that Grafton did not take matters seriously in their encounter with Otahuhu. The ground was simply treacherous, and the condition of the players long before the time

time bell ceased gave indications that the contestants bad set out on a. soil' collection expedition.

All round, and especially in the backs, Grafton Avere decidedly better. The wearers of the black and white hoops' flung the ball about freely and handled the sodden leather remarkably well. Otahuhu were content to keep the ball down, and set about a spoiling game.

Grafton were minus Roope, who was replaced by E. Austin.

The play was uninteresting, and offers very little scope for individual comment. Of Grafton's backs Ifwerson (a long way below his usual standard) and the two McGregor's bear mention, while of a hard working set of forward's Mitchell and Warner caught the eye.

Otahuhu was again minus Hardgreaves. The team seemed disconnected. It was the particular style of play they had set upon, very much against their own interests and no goodi to the League football in general. Individually, the suburban team possessed some very solid players, and justice will be fully done by mentioning Fisher and Wrightson. The last named player will be remembered as a junior Northcote representative last season.

There was very little in the North Shoire-Newton match worthy of comment. The red and whites secured a try through the agency of Biggs, and the major points were added by Clarke. Shore crossed

Newton's lino through the efforts of Wynya.rd, but the attempt to inthe score proved a failure. In this match two players were also ordered off. The misbehaviour of players is becoming altogether too serious this season in the interests of the game. There are plenty of places and numerous opportunities afforded players to engage in a fistic bout or tactics the League Code prohibits. It's hard to understand players having such little control over their feelings.

It seems only too apparent that players do not appreciate the lenient treatment offenders have ben given this sason. The League officials have given plenty of chances, and it now seems that more drastic treatment must be meted out. Players who get ordered 1 off are detrimental to the game, and in the interests of all concerned would be better engaged in some other pastime. Learn to play for sport's sake, and take the knocks as they come. The football field is the place for a good' manly game, ar.d not for the indulgence of despicable tricks.

The City Rovers and Remuera junior teams met on the Park on Saturday, City winning by 11 points to nil!. Tries were scored by Hogan (1), Dixon (1), and Lunn (1), while Po'stleweight kicked a good goal from a penalty on the side line.

Newton third grade beat Shore by 19 to nil. The try getters were Sheeran, Baker, Condon, Oxenham, James, and Sheeran and Brown bagged) a goal a-piece.

Mangere Juniors beat Ponsonby by 19 to 5.