THE LEAGUE CODE

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 161, 10 July 1922, Page 7

THE LEAGUE CODE

CITY'S EAST VICTORY. WIXS TO PONSONBY AND NEWTON. ; There was a very large attendance at the Domain on Saturday to witness the game between City and Fire Brigade. During the week seven members of the I Maori team which has just returned from Australia were transferred to the Fire Brigade club, and it was anticipated I that they would be in the team. How- ; ever, only four were played—Pitman, Gardner, ' Yeats and Te Whata. The (Mty club more than held their own durI ing the first half, and in the second spell i completely outplayed Fire Brigade, win- | ning by 32 points to 2. City had much more combination, and their tackling and following up were far superior to that of their opponents. On No. 1 ground at the Domain an interesting contest was witnessed between Marist Old Boys and Richmond. The younger combination had the better of i the first half in respect to points, ! although they only succeeded in crossing i the line to score tries on two occasions, jas against Marists' three. They, however, played a good game, and frequently smothered the attempts of their opponents to break through their own line of defence. The half-time whistle blew with twelve points to their credit, while 1 Marists had gained nine points from the j three tries. The second spell saw a fast game, in which Marists outplayed Richmond and ran up their final tally to twenty-seven points. Richmond finished strongly, and especially in the final ; stages tackled sronrtly and broke down j the opposing combination to score their total of fifteen points. Ponsonby and Athletics met at Victoria Park, the former showing much , better combination, and winning by 30 : points to 10. I Xewton defeated Devonport on the j same ground by 10 points to 11 points after an interesting game. CITY V. FIRE BRIGADE. I City kicked off. but the ball was brought back and scrummed. Mitchell set his hacks i going, but W. Davidson failed to gather in i and play returned to midfield. where good ' work by Wethcrall allowed City to invade ; their opponents' territory. Mitchell again got possession, and started a passing rush with Wetherall. W. Davidson, and G. Davidson, thp last-named scoring a try. which .W. Davidson failed to convert. The City J team, after a brief attack by Fire Brigade, i pressed again, and Wilson picking up sent jon to B. Davidson, and he crossed, and put the ball between the posts. W. Davidson goaled. Fire Brigade then assumed the offensive, and , Gardner was just stopped in time. City I were penalised, and Wareing had a shot at I goal, which just failed to reach the posts. 'To Whata led another attack by Fire i Brigade, but a free-kick to City shifted operations to middeld. City were awarded ■three penalties almost in succession, but IW. Davidson only succeeded In turning the last one to account. City again invaded Fire I«rigado's quarter, and from the loose Reid I snapped up and got over. W. Davidson converted, making the half-time scores: City 10. Fire Brigade 0. ! On resuming. City started a passing rush. I which reached Fire Brisude twenty-five, hut Yeats returned the ball to midfield. The Fire Brigade team again reached City's territory, but W. Davidson cut in and carried : the kail at toe to the other end. The Fire Brigade forwards were soon attacking [neain. nnd W. Davidson saved by kicking 1 ilown the field. Fire Brigade, however, were I not to be denied, ami from a melee in front of City's posts they were awarded a freeI kick, nnd Henderson landed a goal. City ■then pressed, aud some strenuous work ] followed in Fire Brigade's territory, which ! endcil in City being awarded a free-kick. ! and W. Davidson placing a goal. City main- ] talned the attack, but a fiee-kiek repelled ! them. Play settled in midfield. and the Fire I Brigade forwards carried on to City's territory, where Fire Brigade were awarded a free-kick, and Wnrcing just missed a goal. I Fire Brigade again attacked, but Wetherall was responsible for sending them back to their own twenty-live, the ball being kicked over the dead-ball line. Fire Brigade made i a brief invasion of City's quarter, but offj side play pulled them up. Tho game returned to midlield. where Wetherall gathered iup and passod to W. Davidson, who had a I clear run. nnd scored between the posts. He easily added tho extra points. City were having iiim-h the batter of the game, and a passing rush between W. Davidson. Wetheinll. Wilson, and R. Davidson ended in the last-nanvd scoring a try, which W. Davidson converted. Just before time City wero pressing again, nnd Wetherall gather- ■ Ing up added another try, ivhich he con- ■ verted, the game rnding :— ! City J!2 I Fire Brigade - PONSONBY V. ATHLETIC. Playing on Xo. 2 ground at Victoria I Park on Saturday Ponsonby had little trouble in defeating Athletic by :;o points to 10. Both sides had difficulty in making ,up teams, and the services of lower grade I players had to be requisitioned in order to ! put full teams on the Held. Although the . individual play was good on the part of the members of the Athletic thirteen, they 'lacked the required combination, and this ! was largely responsible for bringing about i their defeat. Ponsonby won the toss, and Yardley I kicked off for Athletic, who followed up I fast, the ball going to E. McGregor, fullI back for Ponsonby. He relieved the pres- ■ sure with a long line kick. Brown, Bebb. nnd Dunce handed tbe ball in a strong ; forward movement, which nearly prevailed, i but Delgrosso evaded nnd kicked a saver Jto the line. Meadows through off-side play ; caused a free kick to lie conceded to Athletic. Lee was handling the ball well from ■ the scrum, nnd repc.itcdlv sot some good , forward onslaughts going, but the Pon--1 ponby backs, playing well, returned to the 'attack. The leather was thrown from the i scrum, and Pesro«so obtained possession. making a holt, but was tackled finely by Flynn. the Athletic full-back. Brown played I off-side and McGregor took the kick, which, however, failed. Hard play ensued in Ponsonby's territory, until Athletic offended. scrum and passed to Dufty. who in turn I transferred to McGregor. The latter man got over and scored a brilliant try. Dufty was successful with the kick, and the score I read: Athletic ii, Ponsonby 0. ! Play was quickly transferred to Arhletic's quarter, a scrum taking place near I the line. McClymont took possession from ! a scrum aud put it over to Hing. This I player passed back to McClymont, who I opened up Ponsonby's score sheet with a : nicely placed try. McClymont converted ! his own try. Athletic 5. Ponsonby 5. j Not a minute afterwards D. McGregor |I'pat the opposition, aud running well regls- ! tered a try for the Ponies. McClymont ; piloted the ball between the posts Ponlnonby 10. Athletic 3. I Dufty then attempted a goal from a free j kick, but the ball fell short of the bar. The tries then came fast and furious. Lonergau I and Yardley ran up well with the ball, the ; lirst named touching down right on the corner. Dufty converted with ;i nicely placed kick. Ponsonby 15, Athletic 10. I After the kick off Delgrosso ran down ! the field, and when near the Athletic line ihe threw the ball forward and thus spoilt a good chance. Half-time then sounded Ou resuming Athletic attacked with more dash than they displayed in the initial spell, but found it difficult to intrude into the other side's territory. Lonergan got fl rifl Ponsonhy was given ji rova.l I chance right in front of the goal. Delgrosso I made the best of it. and put an easy kick I over. From this on Ponsonby had matters i all their own way, and Athletic failed to : add to their score. From a melee in from ;of Athletics goal posts Hanlon scrambled over, and McClytnont converted. Hing and :D. McGregor afterwards added a try each ; for the Ponies. McClymont added the extra points. The match ended in favour of Ponsonhy by 30 points to 10. McGregor, at full-back for the visitors I played a good game, and was very safe Degrosso. Hing, McClymont Meadows and Hanlon all gave a good exhibition. A feature of the play by the losers was their deadly tackling, particularly that of ■ Flynn. who seldom missed his man. Bni. i what they gained by this measure was discounted by the whole team's falling to play good combination football. Nicholson, at half-hack, was brilliant, while those other members of the team who payed up well were Lonergan. Dufty. Yardley, and Webb. No doubt a few runs during the week would do a great deal to help tbe play of the Athletic team on Satnrdays. 1 The referee was Mr. W. Mincham,

RICHMOND V. MARIST. Richmond was put on the defensive from the kick off, but a rally on the part or the maroons saw operations removed to near the twenty-five.' where a mark gave the kick to Butler. The shot was unsuccessful, but offside play penalised the defending combination. Carroll took the kick and opened up Richmond's, account with two points. Marists made persistent efforts to break through the opposing combination, but their attempts were invariably smothered by Richmond's smart tackling \ forward move instituted by Lang, however, saw Marists break through to score. Gallaugher receiving the ball ami crossing the line. Singe failed to goal. Marists again invaded their opponents territory on resuming, but were pulled up in the corner, and a forward move on Richmond's part saw tbe game transferred to Marists quarters, and from play within their twenty-five. S. McLean fought his way through, to run round and score behind the posts. Carroll goaled. Richmond continued to prpss forward, but from the scrum at midfield the ball passed out to Ghent, who sent the leather on to Lang, to Gallaugher. to Minogrue. Lang I again received the leather and scored. The goal kick failed. Richmond changed their the game swung upfield, where J. McLean made a fine dash, to 6core between the posts. Carroll goaled. Richmond were again attacking on resumption of play, and Butler instituted a forward move, passing to Redwood, who, however, was tackled, and Minogue came through, taking the ball well down field. Rinse next received the leather, and crossed the line to score. Marists took up the attack on resuming for the second half, forcing the issue into Richmond's twenty-five, where nanlon was canght in possession near the goal posts. A scrum followed, and Mnrists were eventually awarded a free kick, the easy i shot being successful.?- taken by Lang. Marists continued to attack, and Murray instituted a forward move, passing to Singe, who in turn sent on to Stevens, who scored in the corner. Lang goaled. From an attack in neutral territory Marists pressed hard, and Loveridge got in on the • corner to score. Lang took the kick, but failed to goal. Stevens came through with a strong run from midfield, but the prompt action of Parkp snipped a likely score in the hud. Marists continued to confine operations within Richmond's twenty-five, | where a pass amongst the opposing backs ! from the scrum gave the ball to Stevens. whose fine effort was just stopped In the corner. A free kick relieved matters for i Richmond for the moment, tnit Marists | maintained the offensive, and another attempt to cross the line on the part of Stevens met with better success. Gallaugher goaled. Marists continued to press i forward, and increased their score a few | minutes later in a pass down field, in which Lang. Gallausher and Miuogue participated. Laps finally received the oval crossing the line to score. The goal kick failed. Richmond took a hand at the: attack, and Hanlon was instrumental in putting his team in good position, to give I J. McLean a clear run in to score Gallangher being the nearest opnouent ' Thb i goal kick fell short. Richmond again attacked In the final stages Marists eventu ally clearing, when the whistle 'announced > the "id with the scores: Marists Brothers Richmond 15. Mr. Vause was the referee. SECOND GBADE. Richmond 3, beat Otahnhu 0. Lewis scored. THIRD GRADE. Ponsonby 5, beat Point Chevalier 0 Clare kicked a goal from :he field and Snedden scored a try. Newton IS, beat Kingsland 6. FOURTH GRADE. Kingsland 17, beat Ellerslie 9. SIXTH GRADE. Richmond 2fi, beat Kingsland S. Richards scored for Kingsland. Swift (3), Purdy CD, and Beasley (1) scored for Richmond. Swift (2), Purdy (1), Bennett (1) converted goals. CADET COMPETITIONS. Xo. 2G Company 12, beat Xo. 22 Company !>. Tries were scored for the winners by Poulgrain, Best, Ward, and Johnston. HAMILTON, The League code games were played on IHinemoa l.irk in the presence of a fair crowd. United won their match against i Athletics by default. It seems a pity that i some teams do not turn up when they are ' to meet n strong one. The essence of the j game is in playing it. win or lose, and no I club will prosper if this spirit is missing. CITY V. FRANKTON. This was a medium game for a time. neither team showing any brilliancy, but towards the end It brightened up, City eventually winning by 15 to fi. JUNIOKS. Frankton 14. beat City 2. Athletic 20. beat United 9. CAMBRIDGE. At League Park Athletics beat City Rovers by S points to 3. Mntanci uncounted for Suburbs at Matangi by 22 points to 7. i