THE LEAGUE GAME.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 151, 27 June 1921, Page 8

THE LEAGUE GAME.

CITY DEFEATS MARITIME AT CAUL AW PARK. EXCITING COXIEST WITNBSSIvD. TJmlcr the iLeague rules three games were to have :been played on Saturday, hut force ot circumstances resulted in only the oliief 'League attraction taking piacc, namely -the City-Maritime contest on No. 1 ground at Carlaw J'arlt. The Fire Hrlgade were to play Marlst ißrotlicrs at the Domain, but as the former had been •busy at a big warehouse Urn and were naturally tired, it was agreed to postpone Ihe game. >At JJcvonport Newton were to piny iXorQi 'Shore, but, aeeording to the referee, tiliLs game was also postponed, although some .members of the Shore team were under the impression that Newton had defaulted. |

,I'rior to the City-Maritime match, the official opening ceremony in connection with the t'arfaw :1 'ark took place. Tihe l'ark was declared open by I'he dlou. Arthur Myers, M.l'., president of the Auckland Rugby d.eague, Mr. ami -Mrs. Carlaw were each •presented with a gold badge and certificate of life membership on the grountl, and at -I,he conclusion of the ceremony .Mrs. Carlaw kicked off lor the first game on the i new ,par.k. j 'I'he contest between 'City (Rovers and ,Maritime was fast and keen. Of the game, as a whole, the llrst part was by far Uie belter, for the ground was comparatively firm, considering the lieavy rain on Friday evening, and the players were fresh. .Maritime put out a good team, but unfortunately for them I heir forwards were 'too slow in passing the ball out to Luun at,' half-back, anil thereby they' lost many splendid opportunities. Ilricu and Meller ■were conspicuous among the Maritime forwards. Of 'the backs It would almost be Invidious to mention any -particular name, for one and all did yeoman work. Their

opponents, 'City Qtovers, were worthy of their steel in every way, and, indeed, us tlm final score proved, they were Jlnritim's superiors for the second time this season. The .City forwards were powerful, Hid u'ltitiongli most of the pretty passin? bouts were provided by .Maritime, the City men indulged in some line spectacular kick-tag and following up. .Pcckham, the half-back, was always handy, and Wetherall at five-eighths was great. iB. Davidson and iMlnogue iu offensive and defensive were decided assets, and to the lattej City were indebted for two go:>ls. dlarley at fullback, like I'lynn, the Maritime back, provided many thrills by- his cleve-r saves. Towards the close of the contest the teams obviously tired, and rather scrambling play was the result, but. taiken as a whole, the same was a delightful one to Tvatdi. and the final score of 10 points to S, in City's favour, . showed how closely ithe teams were matched, CIT1" V. 'MAiIUTBEE. City pressed at once, but Llttlewood made no fewer than four attempts to get through. From a scnrni sit City's twentylive I/a mi at last got across Grey adding the goal. After further offensive work by (Maritime. Luntt got across the line again, 'but the ball slipped from his hands. I'lay continued strenuous, but Maritime lost many, opportunities through slow handling. A spell ot np and down play ended in a tussle at the City twenty-five,-' where •Llttlewood got the leather, and working round tho •blind sid'e, ,got across smartly. Yjtrdley missed the kick, and half-time came 'With the score still S—o in Maritime's favour.

The second liaJf was not long In progress when Mlnoguc claimed a mark, and sending In a beautiful goal, opened the •City score. Both sides had a good share of attack and defence, nmi then City cased the pressure on their end by a lonz kick which I'lynn failed to stop. Mlnognc got ■hold of the ball and passed to ilawkcs, who scotcd. 'but ■the 'kick missed. City were now live points to eight, and Uiey surged down on Maritime, Francis getting across from the nick, and 'MliiGguc adding the goal. The tail-end of the game was rather scnunMlng, and 'there was no further scoring. City JO .Maritime S FOURTH GRADE. City Rovers SO, J)eat 'Klngsland 0. FIFTH GRADE. Jlarlst Brothers 0, heat OtaJiuhn 0. Spndford, Smith and 'Prendcrgast scored trics\ Norlh Shore 5. beat l'onsonliy 3. ZEALAND LEAGUE TEAM. BEATEX -BIT. IPSWICH. iBKISB A\7?, June 2G. Ipswich defeated the New Zealand League team by 0 points to a—(A. and X.Z. Cable). X.S.W. REPRESENTATIVES. SYDNEY, June '.26. The following Xew South Wales team has been selected to play a combined New Zealand and Queensland team:—Full-back. Frnscr; thrMHjuarters. 11. Ilorder, Craig, •I'cters, Vest; live-eighths, Caples; half-back, Thompson: forwards, Watklns, Gray. Townsend, F. Burge, Poarce, Scbultz.—(A.'aud N. 55. Cable.) I