LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 107, 7 May 1923, Page 9

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

OPENING OF THE SEASON 3,000 AT CARLAW PARK. > FONSONP.Y DEFEATS NEWTON. WINS 1011 MARI ST AND ATHLETICS A rainy spell in the early part of the afternoon somewhat marred the opening games of the Auckland Rugby Football League on Saturday afternoon. At Carlaw Park, however, an attendance of about "(100 resulted, and as the rain was mercifully withheld the matches were played without inconvenience to the public on this score. The contest between Ponsonby and Newton on No. 1 ground at (arlaw Park was well worthy of being the principal interest of the day. and resulted in a win for the former team by 13 points to 10, Despite the fart that both teams were naturally a little green for the opening 1 of the season, spectators were given an interesting exposition of the code, interspersed with frequent exciting moments when the fortunes of either side were in the balance. Marist Old Roys proved too heavy for Richmond on No. 2 ground at the Park, and came off the victors by 23 to 15. 'Che latter team perhaps would have had a better chance of a drier ground. As it was. they provided an interesting game, and made a couple of exciting scores. The ground admirably stood the gruelling of the initial games sinrc the alterations, and, indeed, showed little signs of the wear and tear to which it was subjected to. The takings at the gates amounted to £11S iO/fi. Tlie contest between Athletics and Devonpirrt at North Shore was interesting throughout, but the visitors had the greater staying power in attack, and all the scoring was in their favour. With a little more combination the Devonport players would have got across several times, hut their supporters had to be satisfied with movements which did not fulfil the great promise with which they started. Athletics Avon by 12 points to nil. MARIST V. RICHMOND. The game between Richmond ami Marist. played on No. 2 ground, Carlaw Park, resulted in a fairly close game, interesting nt times, although Marists were much ton heavy for the . other side. It was unfortunate for the Richmond team that the ground was so heavy, for they would have played a much better game on a dry field. On the other hand. Mar;sts showed better combination than Richmond. Richmond won the toss. Johnson making the initial kick for Marists, who heeled from t.". e first scrum. From another scrum near the line Marists were awarded a free kick. Ghent kicked a good goal. Marists -. Richmond 0. Foss made a good cut in and succeeded in adding another try for Marists. Ghent j piloted the ball over the bar. Marists 7, '-,-. Richmond 0. Richmond livened.up, the forwards playing well. Cnmpney raude a great run. but when near Marists* Hue he was brought down heavily by a couple of Marist forwards. Foss received an injury to his ankle and retired at this stage. Brisbane taking his place in the five-eighth's line. From a scrum Marists heeled out, Ghent geting the ball and passing to Stevens, who went over, tlhent added the extra points. Marist 1", Richmond 0. Hyland went through the Marist forward line and passed to McKenzie, who drop- . kicked a splendid.goal. Marists 12. Richmond 2. Half-time sounded with the . icores unchanged. . .« SECOND SPELL. j Play remained In Richmond's half for tome time, Hanlon eventually clearing. Gallagher rushed in, took the ball, and touched down on the corner. He took the i kick, but missed an easy goal. Marists 15, Richmond 2. Richmond was conceded a free kick by Marists for an Infringement in the scrum. McKenzie dashed dowu the field, and when near the line he was obstructed by Mc-Naniara. who pushed him over. The referee awarded Richmond the try. Butler was not successful with the kick. Marists 15, Richmond 5.. Hyland got the ball from a Marist rush and passed to McKenzie, who passed to McLean. He in turn put it across to Kettlewell, aud he made a fast ruu, which ended in a try. Butler made no mistake with the kick. Marist 15. Richmond 10. Richmond were playing much better in this spell. The next bit of good play occurred In Richmond's quarter. Gallagher made no mistake after gain, the ball from the scrum and scored. Bass converted. Courtney' followed the Marist success with another try, but tb.it. time Bass failed In adding further to the Bcoire. Marist ,23, Richmond 10. The ball w.-us dribbled up by the Richmond pack, and bvi following up they scored a lucky try. Butler put the ball over. Marist 23. Rlclimojnd 15. Time then sounded. Mr. W. Mipchin was referee. | ATHLETICS V. DEVONPOBT. The game between Athletics and Devonport, played at North Shore, was one-sided solar as actual scoring went, but play was Interesting up to the last moment. Lively up! and down play opened the game, and although Devonport made several gooa efforts to get across, the Shore men lacked <»rabination and staying power, and in a retaliating attack Athletics opened the scoring when Nicholson scored after a scnim in the corner. Dufty started another attack, and although Lalng. Scott and Smith handled in an aggressive defence. Athletics overwhelmed them, and Miller scored in the corner. Half-time: Athlet.cs 6, Devonport 0. Both sides were frequent transgressors of the law and penalties were frequently awarded by Mr. Bull, whose referecing was all . that could be desired. Shore had several chances to score and their supporters' hopes ran high at times, but the visitors' .lefence was always ready. After a spell of midfield play Athletics pressed well into Devonport territory, where laraley got possession, and, tricking smith, passed to Aver?, who dashed across. Dufty took the kick, but had his third miss, which was not to be wondered at. considering the slipper?" nature .of tne gronnd and ball. The visitors once more pressed and out of a scrum at the home twenty-live Timmins bandied, passing to Hall, to Yard ley. to Kirklaud. to Dufty. who got across. The whistle sounded after a great attack by Devonport. the ht-ore being—Athletics 12, Devonport -0. NEWTON V. PONSONBY. Newton won the toss and a.Strong: tf«*off placed Ponsonby well on ***??°™J7 X * ln Newton's comer. Quintal! -vrentmu > relieved for Newton, n' l ''< , P erati °"f„ i ",,',„ territory saw Brown receive tne ball from Cloke. and send it on to Poison, who made a fine run, but was \ or ',S v " .„ • the line. Newton made fremien t e«t»J» *° break through Ponsonby s line <>X„ i«?»r1 hut the solid combination ot the latic. team tended to bear the game downueiU. In Newton's twenty-five (in-gory tailed to gather in the leather, and Henderson, cutting iii, beat the Newton hack and crossed , the line to score. Deigrosso goalcd A ":,' spell of interesting play followed, both teams putting plenty of dash '.nto tlie game. Prom a scrimmage in T'onsonnj S twenty-five the hall came out to Brown. Who took a pot at goal, and scut tlie oval sailing lioaclv between the posts for two Points. In the final stages of the spell ... both teams took a turn at the attack, ami .' Newton made a irumber of persistent onslaughts on their opponents' defence. A penalty against Newton, however, sent th?in in turn to their own tv.antjr-ltyc, where another failure on their part to play the ball gave a successful shot at goal to Deigrosso. Newton again attacked, but Henderson set up a dribbling rush. Pitman, Kelly and Deigrosso came up In sup- ■•-.' -Port, the latter heating Newton's combination and scoring. The goal kick failed. •Ponsonby 10; Newtou 2. Rj Newton were not long in settling dowu iTO.it in the second half, Stack starting out : -Ssr yto be stopped at the quarter .flag. Ane game swung to the other side, where irom the serum Poison got a hold on ,the .oval and -dodged round to score. Newton continued the attack, and although the fortunes of the game brought Ponsonby into ■neb: opponents' territory, the former had '5 e -nnal victory of this interesting stage . ,9t the game. Prom the serum in Newton's ■' »<% tnß b!l11 wis sent down field, where • "ill Huns failed to get rid of il. Newton g" Immediately on lop of him before . "lMeaby could rally round, and tn»

S/^'^^nH-fie^Stack SECOND GBADE. S Coupon °' ' T ' "api '°' beat Athletic 0. Trios ror , R>-^M W 7u C d^^^ s b^SIi T s • Ctß °»' two. "inks. Watsou converting THIRD GRADE. ! mon l d , °b^d^!fr S °" ,b WO " fr ™ Ri <-»- ---; Ellerslle 3, beat Coromandcl 0. FOURTH GRADE. Kllcrslie o..bcat Newton 6. - Boy a V°' b S at Mnr;st Brothers Old , £»" combe (1). ' '-"'•' mason, Ltpsi North" Shore V ""° r W °" by <Ipfnult rro 'n . Ponsonby beat Newton by default. FIFTH GRADE. ! Ion"o I nby!' hCVa "'' r W °" " J " deto " U fr ° m .* ' ity , .' G ' J**' Northcote .".. Tries were • fvSTS? ' v D B - 5 7 0 , n - Rei "- Maekny. Lang ami one kicked two goals and Green J | Marist Brothers Old Boys S. beat Newton o. Tries for Marist were scored by • l ostlewaite and Melnnerney, and O'Connor converted one. SIXTH GBADE. Ellerslle 0. drew with Athletic 0. i <-Ity .10, beat Parnell 3. ' I