LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 156, 3 July 1923, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

j The following table shows the positions Points Clip.

ATHLETICS V. DEVONPORT. I>esplte' tlie unfavourable conditions that prevailed on Saturday, the game between Athletics and Devonport, at Carlaw Park, was for the greater part most interesting, and at one stage there seemed a good chance of the Shore team .winning. They were the first to score, and were playing strongly when the spell ended. In the second half they resumed their attack, am on several occasions had good opportun! ties, but just lacked the necessary finish The team, however, played a very fin game considering the state of the ground and there is no doubt that some day, am not very far distant either, this combine tion will come into its own and win gooi matches. They bad Athletics doing thel best for quite a long time, and it was onl: due to the greasy nature of ■ the ball tbn they were unable to add to their total McGregor, at full-back for Athletics, playei his usual sound game, and it was solely ilu to the conditions that he missed the bal when Smith dribbled over and scored. H was good on attack and kicked well. Kirk land played the best of the three-quarte line, and he frequently, put his side oi attack. He is endowed with a fairamoun of speed, and be used this to advantage following tip well and tackling properly Lee. who was associated with him, alsi played well. Dufty and Timmins put in : large amount of useful work at five-eighths the former being particularly good Nicholson, at half, played a very solii same, while' among the forwards Herring was the outstanding player. Grahrfm Webb and Avcry also showed to advan tage. Hand, full-back for Devonport played a fair game, but was inclined t< misjudge the ball. He. however, kicker md tackled well. Harper and Smith wen :he best of tbe three-quarters. The formei »as bandy throughout, and put in a greal ifternoon'B work for his side. Smith wai ilso good and his dribbling rush along th< Jeld, that eventually • ended in bim scoring, fvas a very fine piece of work. Godtck and Webb, the five-eighths, worked hard - foi Devonport. the former being tbe best mat n the team on.the day.. He handled well tnd his defence was great. Garrett is s lice little half, and plays with judgment, fie made quite a few good openings or Saturday, and should develop into more han an average player.-' Of tbe forwards, Oonglni. O'Brien and Anderson showed' ur irell. The public will be pleased to sec Devonport back again vat Carlaw Park, 'or they certainly played a fine game, and in a dry ground might easily upset some if the leading teams. MARIST V. aiCHMOND. i Marist did not experience great difficulty in winning from Richmond by 20 points to 3 on the Domain. Again the ground was in a shocking condition, the middle being one 'big patch of mud,' while the outer areas near the line 'were soaked and slippery. There was very little fast play, while passing Tushes were pra<rtically unknown. Marist bad matters all their own way m the first apell, .yMah ended with Marist 17, Richmond 0. Miit in the second half the Richmond thirteen made a wonderful recovery, and although, only scoring one try, they succeeded in preventing the green* from registering more itlhan a single try. The game was essentially a. battle between the forwards,, with the Marist van a little too strong for tbe red and blues. Sherlock. the Marist full back was always safe, and played Wβ usual good same. Brisbane, Ghent, and 'M-eXamara were always battling hard among the other backs. Bass and Stevenson worked Hke trojans, and were toard to stop. Of the forwards, W. Storinont, Xeleon, Courtney and Johnson were the best. Hanlon tft full-back for .Richmond, is a. most consistent player. He always seams tto -be the same and never appears to get stale. In all departments he performed well. Campney, J. .McLean, and Kettlewell in the backs were responsible for a great many of the openings. H.rland e't balf-back, stood out prominently, while the 'brightest of:the forwards were lledwood, Butler and McKenzie. '

r. W. L. D. Fnr. AgBt. Pts. Atuletles... 7 C 1 — 108 43 12 Martsts 7 B 1 — 131 39 12 City 6 r> 1 — fll 56 10 Pousonby... 6 3 4* — 50 Uβ • 6 Devonport.. 7 2 5 — 57 S!) 4 Newton 6 2* 5 — 00 S3 4 Kicbmond... 7 — 7 — 59 154 0 * Includes one match by default.