LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXXVII, Issue 44, 7 July 1917, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

The best match of the season to date Avas played -at Victoria Parle, on Saturday, between Ponsonby and Newton, the tAvo leading teams, Ponsonbv Avinning by 10 points to 7.

Ponsonby took the field wearing Avhite bands in honour of A. Bre AVer, a club-mate who was killed recently at the front.

Fi-om the kick-off Newton rushed play into Ponsoniby's 25 and' for about a quarter of an hour fairly raced over the blue and blacks hut failed to keep up the pressure. The NeAvton supporters' hopes were raised to a high pitch when Laing

scored near the posts, Potier kicking a.n easy goal. It Avas a good try and showed that Lning is going to be a first-rate half as soon as he loses some of the Union methods of running into the scrum and finding the line too much. After the score, Ponsonby rallied and .scored two tries in quick succession, one by Jones and one by Clark, Cross converting both, giving Ponsonby the lead by 5 points. The score was unaltered until almost the call of time when Potier kicked a good goal from a penalty, making the reds 7 and oniy 3 behind. The writer is of the opinion that this goal Avas a mistake as there Avas only a few minutes to go and Newton, wanting five for a draAV and being in good position would have been better advised to gh'e a short kick and go for their lives for a try, as the time wasted for the penalty Avas very valuable to them. There Avere oA-er 5000 spectators on the ground who were reAvarded by a good exhibition, especially in the first half, the second being made a trifle sloav by the nuniibpir of scrums held, Ponsonby being mainly responsible for same, as on numerous occasions they seemed to be sparring for time, and kicking the ball as far as possible out of bounds. lin criticising the players theue seemed to be no drones as everybody seemed to play their best Avith the exception perhaps, of Bennett (Ncavtoin), Avho Avas undoubtedly short of a run and at times Avas a long wa.v behind the play. He played Avell for,the first quarter but after that tired very badly. Taking -Newton, first, Cloke was the .best back in'the team, his corkscrew ; runs, being a feature of the game , and had he had proper support by his colleagues, t.AA r o tries Avould have undoubtedly been registered by his side. Thomas, at full,'played very well and got his team out of many tight, corners but on one occasion let themdown by kicking at a rolling ball. He should realise that there is no excuse for a full-back fly-kicking as he will get into more trouble than enough, though in fairness Aye might state that it only happened once, after Avhicli he was faultless. A. lies, eentre-threequarter first half of the game afterwards Aving, did all that came his Avay well "but had not as many chances as in previous, matches. Potier, the other Aving, played his best game to'date this season. His defence was very solid and he was unlucky on a couple of occasions in not scoring, the bounce of the noAv ball beating him each time Lovett. five-eighths, and G. lies, five-eighths, played Avell together,' Lovett especially playing a nice game. He is strong on defence and on attack runs straight. His exhibition was far ahead of that put up against City. Laing, at half, a recruit from the Union ranks showed wonderful improvement. He was ahvays a good man but had mot quite got into the faster and more open methods of the League. His try was an eyeopener and showed he is full of initiative. NeAvton are very lucky in securing this man,. Ivill, Castles and Somers were the best of the forwards aalio all played Avell. OAving to lack of space we must, withhold the Ponsonby criticism till a future issue. A word to the League. Could they not arrange for the press to be placed at a the ground as it is impassible to see any part of the play near the grandstand line and as most of the play was on that side on Saturday it makes it very hard to give a. fair report. Also the press stand was so overcrowded Avith spectators that some of the press stewards were forced to stand. The fault, Aye feel sure, will be remedied as soon as the officials are aware of the facts.