LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 137, 12 June 1922, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

CITY DEFEATS MAKIST. WIN'S FOR POXSONBY, BEVOXrORT, AXD XEWTOX. The conditions were ideal for the continuation of the Auckland Rugby League's senior competition on Saturday afternoon. Tlie weather was perfect, and t lie grounds were in splendid order. There «iia a record attendance at Car law Park Id see the game between City Rovers and Marist Brothers Old lioys, the sum "I .L''2.").j 13/fi being taken at the "turn-i-tilrs. 7'he match resulted in a win fi>r (ho former by 17 points to IS. <»n Xo. '2 ground, at C'arlaw Park, I'oiiHonby and Fire Brigade met in a match, which was characterised by open J'lay. Ponsonby eventually won by 12 jioints to 1. A good exhibition of the code, despite tlie di*purity in the scores, was seen tit A ictoria Park in the game between \ Newton and liidimond, tlie former pre- i vailing hy 32 points to 8. Over at Devon-port the home team gained a surprising victory over Athletics, and after a game that was full | of interest, compiled a score of "20 points I fig against the 12 of their opponent.-. MAKIST 0.8. V. CITY. The match between City Hovers ami '.Marist Brothers Ol<l Boys, though not a spectacular game, was one that was full i>f Incident and exciting moments. liiiriug the first half Marlst.s hud the advantage of !l very strong sun at their barks, ami they made the best use of it. putting the bail "I' into the air and following up fast. After City lia.l scored a try. which was touverted "Marists placed two tries to rheir credit, a'ld from tliis on till the interval tbe play was very even. City having a lead of two I'.'ints when half time arrived The comineurenieut of the seeoud spell was In favour of City, but then Mnrlst begun to show up more prominently, and It looked at one stupe as though they would more than linlil their own. but the loss of Bass iialf way through, and over nuxlousucss lit critical moments lost them scores, ami city ran out winners .by IT points to Ki.

.\WI.-r nr tacked from the kick-off, and llass stumbled just as he was niiout to cross ihe line. Kceuan relieving with a long kick iiTter a couple of scrums. Ghent, Mlnogue and Nelson then opened up a passing rush, •but B. Davidson got in and sent play to midfleld, the f'ity forwards carrying" the hall up to Mnrisfs line. However, a forward pass to the same player spoiled a good opportunity, but City were not to be denied, and from the scrum the "ball went .mt to Kceuan. who sent AVllson and W. Jiflviiison away, the latter opening City's account with a try. which lie easily converted. Marist made strenuous efforts to «'i]ualise, and a little later ■Stevens wrenched the ball away from Wetherall and passed on to Gallagher, who transferred to jheuc. <md the latter crossed. Stormnnt was unsuccessful with the kick. Mnrlsts were now showing to much better advantage, and another try came their way almost Immediately. Singe securing and passing to Gallagher, who got over. Singe failed to "improve. Singe then kicked a penalty for Marist. and this was followed by \V. Davidson repeating the performance for City. The ball 'travelled up and down the field nt n penned in their own twenty-tive, and after a scramble the ball was sent across to the wing, where B. Davidson suapped up and fcored. AY. Davidson added the extra points. Tnst and exciting play followed for' the remainder of The spell, during which Murray kicked a penalty goa' for 'Marist. The second half opened In favour of and were hammering at the door, but were unable to cross. Eventually City changed the sceue of operations to the other end, AVetherall getting the ball at toe driuhled over and scored for W. Davidson to convert. Marist then took the offensive, and after Singe narrowly missed scoring City repelled the attack, only to he hard pressed again a few moments later. Laing got possession from a scrum, and added a try to Marlst's account, which Gallagher fulled to convert. City U, Marist 13. City appeared to have more combination than Marist, whUe they tackled splendidly. The Davidson brothers, w>i|> formed the three-quarter line, played a tine garav, W. ■Davidsou in particular showing to r (vantage. Wilson and Keenan were air» food, while among the forwards Hawkei, Held and Mitchell wore prominent in a hard working pack. For Marist (Brothers T.aing was easily the best of the backs, and put iv some great work l)oth on attack and defence; in fact, he was the best hack on the ground. Ghent, Stevens, Gallagher and Murray, full-hack, were conspicuous among the re"ar division, while Bass, Singe. Stormont and Turner showed up well Tn The vanguard.

ATHLETIC V. DEVONPOKT. The game between Devonport and Athletic, which was playotl on the Devouport ground, was a particularly fast and interesting game, Hi.d there was not. n dull moment throughout. Hevouport eventually proved the victors by 20 points to 12. Doth teams seemed to be fairly evenly matched, although the winners showed slightly the better combination, and. succeeded in hooking the ball from the scrum on nearly every occasion. The flist hall of the game -was in favour of Athletics, but Devonport on resuming after half time began to show up. At the half time the score was Athletic 12 Devonport 7. Many, determined attacks were set up by Athletic in the last spell, and they seemed to have hard Iti'k on several occasions in not sioring. For Devonport Price, Clark "Pip" Webb, and Scott each secured a try. I.aing converting one. while Hand convened one. kicked a goal from a free kick, and another from a mark taken by Laing. Halliilay and I.lulewood each scored a try for Atbletl", and Gray converted one, kicked a goal from the field, and a penalty goal. I.alng played his best -aine so fur this se.ison. While .Miller. Webb and Tnylor were easily, the pick of the backs, and t'hatlield and Johnstone in the forward division. For Athletic McGregor, Littlewood. Gray, llalliday, and T. Avery were, the best. The gaiiie was cunt rolled by Mr. L. J. 'Farrant.

PONSONBY V. FIRE BRIGADE. The match between Ponsonby and Fire Brigade, although not a bright exhibition, was a fairly even one. Fire Brigade started off with a persistent offensive, during which Ponsonby was penalised for offside play, and an infringement by the defending team within distance of the goal posts enabled Warring to register two points for bis side I'onsonby rallied and pressed the attack into Fire P.rigndc's territory, where after faulty passing biints on either side the former were awarded a free kick, which was successfully taken by McClymont. The remainder of the half was n see-saw came, in which neither tenm succeeded in breaking through the combination of the other In the latter spell I'onsnnby had their opponents on the defensive for the greater part of the same, and soon after re-commencement of play held them in the corner, where from the ruck Ilanlon (lived through nnd scored McGregor coaled. A chance to the offensive saw Fire Brigade battling in I'onsonby's ground to be awarded a free kick for offside play by the latter team. Henderson piloted the leather between the posts with a fine shot. In the last stages of the game Ponsonby pushed the firemen back to the twenty-five, where through an opening McClymont came through, beating the opposing combination and scoring a try. Delgrosso coaled. The game ended : — Ponsonby 12 Fire Brigade 4 RICHMOND V. NEWTON. The came between Newton and Richmond r.n Saturday was above ordinary standard, though Newtou's total score of •'<-. as against Richmond's S may have given the impression of a runaway victory. As a matter of fact Richmond were practicnlly masters of the situation in the first half, though n close observer would note the glimpses of good combination by Newton's backs. Dashing forward work of an individual character, and good tackling kept the Newtouites in check, but once the second half opened Poison, who is now playing: a better game than ever, got his backs into motion. They are smart and nippy, and their concerted movements dazzled the opposition for the rest of the game. Brown, who is a fast, heady player with exceptional ability, was with Poison the kins pin ot rapid passing bouts Clarke and Voysey responded well, whilst Gregory N werhuC l e j?« James, Miller, ana tire rest of the pack!

Hyland, at half, could not be seen to advantage for Richmond, and Parkes, Pethehritlge, J. Mcl*an ami Little, as outstanding features In a beaten rearguard, deserve and Hedwood showed out as good'serviceable forwards. With continued practice and ii couple of games Newton may prove a prominent factor in the senior competition. THIRD GRADE. Xewton 11, beat Ellerslie 3. For tbe winners O'Hanlon. 'i'app, and Watson I scored. Hardman kicked a goal. Thompson scored for Kilerblie. Bevonport 10. beat City 2. Point Chevalier 4X. beat Parnell .!. FIFTH GRADE. Takapuna 12, boat Maniikau 11. Richmond Jfi, beat Marist Brothers 3. SIXTH GRADE. Richmond 7, beat EllersMe 0. Swift converted two, and Astrella scored. SENIOR CADETS. Athletic Cadets 11, beat -2nd Company 10. For the winners Itrooker. l'erri and Ward, secured tries, an'l Collins converted one. TAUMARUNTJT. In to-day's matches llauroa 13, beat Tanmnrunul S. For llauroa 1\ WnllufP, 1.0-aii. and Taumata scored, llenare kicking three souls, For Taiimaruutii McNamara and Wilson scored, Ilearne converting one try. WAIKATO. I Tliere was nnK one I.ensue panic played lon Hamilton Vark. it being between Frankton nnd Athletic, the City Hovers and fuie.l having made a trip to Cambridge to play an exhibition gnnie there. l"ianktou wou the match in Hamilton by -1!) to U. CAMBRIDGE. At victoria Square, on Saturday Mafangl defeated Suburbs by i:j points to S. For Mil tang! scores were obtained by Campbell and Shaw (2), Cranston kicked ii penalty goal and converted one try. At League I'ark, Athletics beat City Hovers by 14 to D: Athletics , tirst win this' season. At the Siiuare an exhibition inaU-h was played between Hamilton United and Hamilton 'City Hovers. The came was juior. piny belDqr straggly throughout, with a lamentable lack of combination. In this game. Cherry, the Hamilton City Hovers , half- , back, was injured in the lejr. and was carried off. For Vlilted, Whelan and Munce scored. whil«t 'Hemmliurwny kicked two penalty goals and converted a try. In tho first match M.-Ivor. a iPnlinrhs player, injured his knee. and had to leave the Held. and League representatives in Hamilton on Thursday night .the rule which allows or the hnlf-bacl; plnrlivs the ball In the scrum was adopted in all I-eairue matches in Cambridge on Saturday. Our correspondent is of the opinion, however, tliat it does not make for improvement in the play. WELLINGTON V. CANTERBURY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON*, Saturday. The League rorjreseutatlve match, WelIlngtou v. Canterbury, wan played to-day and resulted in a victory for Wellington by II points to 10. The game was not very spectacular, and was marred by too much kicking on each side, although the lin.U scores were very close. Canterbury wern the superior side, for the most part playing-n-ith more combination than the home side. Wellington's handling of the hall was faulty, but their tackling was good. Wellington, were first to score, but at half-time the score, stood Canterbury 10. Wellington 8. A g< o>l enabling Wellington to win by a narrow margin. Tries were secured for Wellington by F. Nunn. Hansen, Thompson, Klddell. and a converted try by Ilanseu. For Canterbury Saunders kicked a penalty goal and\ scored a converted try* Green also scored. a try.

MAORIS BEAT QUEENSLAND. 23 POINTS TO 22. BRISBANE. June 10. The Maori League footballers played their first gume against Queensland to-day, and won by 23 points to 22. The team's were:—Maoris: Dufty, GarrfJ ncr, H. Pakl, Morrison. Harawlra. Faulkner, AY. lyockwijort. Mauinpoto. Lowrlr, Te Whnta, Gernmell, I.ovett, and Houston. Queensland: Moonoy, Hourigan, I'onnau, McGiiire. Patcu. Connell. Mt'Brien. Brown, Sigby, rotter. Johnson. Stanley, and Hit-h----ards. The weather was cloudy. Seven thousand people watched the match. Play in the first half was very oven. Queensland displaying more dash. After twenty minutes' play I'ntter opened fur Queensland, anil ■ Houston responded directly afterwards. Dufty convertine ins try. Paten scored Queensland's second try, and Stanley the third, wbtch I'ateu converted. At the end of half-time the score was: Queensland 11. Maoris 5, The second half proved sensational After Queensland had raised their lead to I!), the Maoris made an extraordinary recovery, and put on point after point, winning on time liy 2;> points to -2 Tries were secured by Paid, who ran the whole length of the field. Faulkner, Morrison, anil Te AVhala. and throe were converted nr Dufty.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)