LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 131, 4 June 1923, Page 9

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR COMPETITION. ATHLETUS DEFEAT POXSONBY. jpiXS TO CITY AND NORTH .■SHORE. The Auckland Kiifjhy I.eripie"? senior competition was advanced another stage on Saturday in lino though dull mid ruld ffeat'lior. fhercOH* n very pood attendance nt ( arlaw Park, deapue the fact that the A.X ' . Meeting was lieing held the sum of £02 ti ii being taken at the gate-. Tlin grounds were heavy, but nevertheless the football fl - a3 most interesting. On No. 1 ground ithletics defeated Ponsonby by 20 wints to S. The play was far'more even than the scores indicate, for at half time there was little hetween the teams. In the second spell the Athletic backs were too good for their opponents, and they had niuch the better of the play. Ponsonby. however, w.-re a trifle unlucky, and the scores should have been much closer. •U Xorth Shorn the nonie tram defeated Richmond by 1- points to Matter a fast and interesting {.' ani,l on ;i particularly muddy field. The winning team shower! better combination, riml this accounted for their success. The game between city and Xewton on Xo. 2 ground lit Carl aw Park was'a very one-sided one. resulting in a decisive win for the former team by 25 points to 2. Xewton were larking in combination, and a tendency to tackle too high frequently resulted in the City men slipping through their hands to get in good position lor a score. Xcvton were not able to break through City's defence, their two points being secured by a goal kick. PONSONBY V. ATHLETICS. Dufty set the game in motion, but Henderson took ]ilny lo Athletics' territory, McGregor stopping ;i dangerous rush and returned to half-way. A little later McClymont failed to Hike a puss, and Dufty. jetting in, made a nice opening for Nicholson, the latter scoring between tho posts. Dufty ronvertiu;:. Athletics maintained tie attack, and a. promising pnssine rush was smothered by the I'onsonby forwards. Hanlon sending MeC.lymmit aud MvClure away, the lnst-nnnicd klrkius Into touch-ln-goal. Hall ami Nicholson placed t'onfonby on the defensive, nnd then :i free allowed Poneonby to turn the tables, but. McGregor, whn was nlaylng a line game at full-back for Athletics, saved. I'onsonby were soon back again, and a penalty allowed Delgrosso to have a shot at goal, but the bull was too heavy, and it fell short. .Tust before half time Tonsouby set up another attack, and McClure receiving from McClyinont. struggled over. Delgrosso failed to convert. Athletics 5, Toneonby 3. On resuming a good kirk by McGregor bad PonsoDby on the defensive. The Athletics' forwnrds followed up fast, and after n melee Lee touched down for Dufty to convert. A fine imsslng rimli between Fitman, McClvniont, Cole ami Delgrosso saw the last-named collared well in Athletics' quarter. He was not allowed to play the ball, and a penalty wi;s given against Athletics, Delgrosso registering a goal. Athletics then pressed, and from a serum near the line Nicholson sent on to Avery who crossed. Dufty was again successful with the kick. Just before time Herring added another try to Athletics' s.-ore, which Dufty also converted, (he game ending: Athletics 20, Ponsonby n. Mr. Minchin was referee. RICHMOND V. DEVONPORT. After a Jitml gnme, full <if interest, Devonport won fri.ni Hichniond by 12 points to 3. The game was played at fievonport on n muddr ground, but nevortielees tie..play all" through was fast. Richmond iron the toss. Pevonport kicking off. the ball going along with the Richmond forwards across the Held where a scrum ensued on the corner. McDonald had a place kick, the ball rebounding off "Pip" Webb, Hunter picking up smartly nnd getting over. The attempt to convert was not luccessful. Play remained In mldfleld for a brief period until a Devonport passing rush troubled Richmond. M. Scott went through and gave the ball to Laing, who scored. Scott's kick fniled. Immediately following the kick from half-way the ball was returned to Devonport, and they set going a strong combination which wns mcceesful. O'Brien secured from the loose and scored a brilliant try. A. Scott did not convert. Devonport 0. Richmond 3. Richmond held their own in th<: fast line Play that occurred, but Laing got hia team well set up in « fast rush down the centre. Campney picked up, and instead of getting rid of it when ho was in a tight position on the corner, ho endeavoured to Ret through. lie lost the ball and Johnston only had to pick up and run a couple of yards to score. Her! Laing's attempt Wd not succeed, the hall just going wide. Xoe Richmond forwards set up several good forward attacks and nearly prevailed, a free kick for Shore Eaving them on one oerasion. Dnvonport moved up and placed Kicnmond on the defence. Laing tried to get over on the corner, but on being blocked be handed to Webb. He stumbled and the lext to receive was Douglas, but he went down, throwing the leather bnck for Alf. bcott to dash over, his weight just getting jnm there. Johnston's kick failed to add vie eitra points. The half-time score was : Devonport 12, Richmond 3. Both sides &>ught strenuously in the IQcond spell, but no further score was registered by either team, the mntch ending "—3, in favour of the home team. Mr. Bull was the referee. NEWTON V. CITY. Although Newton put up a good fight »(rainst City on X 0.3 ground at Carlaw Park ™ Saturday afrernoon they were unable I" ™ntend against the pace and better combination of the latter team. Newton J ere frequently down in City's twenty-five, oro , "n f °rtunnte in not bringing a ?« % T , bf Ukel - V s ™ ros lo » head. City ™ f , all the tries of ,|hp da y nnd at tlle mn, i Sl °? rp K lst(,r " f l 23 points. Xewton put. »ore dash into their play in the second halt M*.« ere BtiU Weak in the matter of torn,Zl\ 0D - They were also prone to tackle of?™ i. and '■° nß e'l'iently their opponents w™ h P , pQd tbTOU B h their hands. Newton only pniDlH rrom a freo kk ' k awarded them for off-side play while they L 8» Pressing City hard in the iatter'a «wenty-flve. Mr. Gallagher was the referee. SECOND GRADE ?Inn? POr , t - *?• f,ef ™ted Tonsonby 14. Ot,h ße h re 6 ' (Irew wltn dry 6. utanuhu 18, defeated Ihumata 3. THIRD GRADE. Pon? el \, beat Ktassland by ]r> points to 2. was not V - J PL '■hevalier.-This match the ' OWi " S t0 the absellcc ot FOURTH GRADE. Athletics 13, bent Ornhnhn :.. rnell won from Marists by default. FIFTH GRADE. Richmond ID, bent Newton 0 orthcote beat Marista by 1) points to 6. SIXTH GRADE. Pwnell A 0 bent Richmond 4. Crewtber h a nrt ft' 0, ™ 0 ™ A3 - For City. Crew r»' yan - Bll rker, Rurrell a>. Purdv. SENIOR CADETS. *'"r th the Om w , i nny U, b " nt - 2n,i Company 8. feed oV™ ™™* ""'' "o'cwinSS b s' 3 3 t point3 C to n 2 a " y be at36Ul B Company CANTERBTJRY.