THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 99, 28 April 1924, Page 8

THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

THE LEAGUE OPENING. NEWTON AND MANGERE OUTCLASSED. EASY WINS FOR CITY AND PONSONBY. i:u.Ki:siji:'s coon showing. ATIILKTK'S' HARD CONTEST WITH RICHMOND. The League season was ushered ill on Saturday at Carlaw Park, when despite, strong countcr-at tract ions, there was an attendance approaching 41100 present. Two senior games were staged on each ground, but in only two of the games was the conte.-t close. MnriM Brothers defeated Kllerslie after a close game by 111 points to 7, and another tine game saw Athletics defeat Richmond by li points to '.:. Ponsonby hail no difficulty in beatintr Mangerc 'Jl points tn !>, and Now ton went under to I'iiy by 17 points to i. ATHLETIC V. RICHMOND. Richmond won the loss. and Athletic kicked off. The ball was sen! back lo halfway, where frciiiieul scrums occurred. H viand. Richmond's half-back, picked up from tbe scrum, mid Athletic were awarded a free kick. Wilson Hull passed n> I>uft.v, and then the ball went lo Vardley and Tiinmins. Richmond kicked mil and relieved the Athletic, pressure. Later liufiy had a kick from near Hie half way line, but failed. Whiltington and Hvland broke through the Athletic backs, Butler saving a sure try by a fine tackle. McKcnzic, full-back, retired at this stage, his place being taken by Helen. Austin picked up in the scrum, giving Richmond a free kick. llanhm missed. Dufty, Graham, ami Wilson-Hall were nt tho front of a line rush, but Hanlon, Richmond's full-back, collared WilsonHall at the right moment. Richmond look a turn in attacking, and for a few minutes had Athletic confined inside their twentylive line. Cnuipm-v and Avery were troubling Athletic until Dufty picked up and found the line near Richmond's corner. Hyland booked the hall from the scrum, and was pushed over and hail to force. Austin starled a dribbling run. but Butler picked up and sent the ball up the Held. Athletic returned to Hie attack, but Richmond saved by forcing. Avery run down the line and gave the ball lo Woolley. but despite good support. Athletic failed to open the score. Richmond quickly transferred play into Athletics qtnmer. where Nixon got offside. Butler's kick went low. Hnlf time wns sounded with no score on either side. The Second Spell. ' A strong attack was set up by Athletic. Tiinmins passing to Yardley, and he handed to Wilson-Hall, who just managed to get over. Ditfty's kick failed. A good deal or close piny in mid-field was considerably enlivened when Butler, McKeowen and "Hvland pressed Athletic back. Townsend gave Richmond a free kick by playing offside, and Hanlon took the kick nnd succeeded. A smart piece of play by Wilson-Hall, Nicholson, and Yardley when near Richmond's line was somewhat discounted by the former I browing forward. Redwood wns responsible for a speedy transference ot play to Athletics Hue. where an Athletic forward was penalised for failing to play the ball. Hanlon missed a kick right in "front of tbe posts. Richmond showed up brilliantly, and set Athletic a hnnl task in defending for several minutes, but Dufty relieved with v long punt. Yardley was quick to follow up. and when grassed threw the bull across to Woolley. The ball was returned to Yardley, who passed to Austin, and he just hud enough pace on to score. Ynrdlcy's kick failed. Athletic « Richmond Mr. Ripley controlled the gnnie. CITY V. NEWTON. The game was played on No. 1 ground. Citr were first, to attack, and nice passing between Wethcrlll. It. Davidson and Crentber saw the latter collared right in Hie corner. A free t<> City saw G. Davidson have an unsuccessful shot, and then Newton attacked witli S.oucrs in the lead. Smart followlug up by City saw Jlackle get across, but be was called hack for a knock-on. Almost immediately the forwards bustled over. Thomas scor'ng. Flvnn converted. Keeping up the attack, Bass ] started a passing bout between himself, Sutton and Mitchell, ending in the latter | scoring. Flynn failed with the kick. City S, Newton 0. City were playing all over the red nnd whites, the speed of the backs i being too good. Nice passing between Mit- ; chcll, Wetfierill. and the brothers Davidson j saw George dash over nt the corner. His .attempt at goal failed. City 11. Newton 0. The second spell opened with City attacking, and after Crcwthcr Just missed scoring in the corner. Wethcrlll snapped up the ball and sent it on to B. Davidson. The latter bent the opposition and scored. Crcwthcr failed to convert. From a free well over quarter-way, Clarke placed a good goal. City 11. Newton '.'. Clarke broke away and kicking high. Somers followed up to gather in the ball but he wns ruled offside and a good scoring chance I went by lhe board. Next score came to City when CrewUnr picked up in the loose and passed to 1.. Davidson. The latter had a lot of speed up and scored in the corner. ! Klynn's kick failed. Tho game then ended. Ciiv 17. Newton -■ Mr. Bull was referee. PONSONBY V. MANGERE. When the teams line! up it was at once clear that the recent addition to Lie senior rinks the Mnngere thirteen, were la solid, hefty lot. and the game had not been long in progress before it was also apparent "that they bad come along to piay icverv minute of the two 10-ninnle snelb-. I Raul playing on the. left wing, was soon In the limelight, and he made more than out brilliant run. I'elgrosso had a shot ai goal for the Louies wllhoul success, but I a little later a similar opportunity pre- ': sented itself to Mnngere and .1. l'ai placed I a tine goal. Mangere 2. Ponsonhy 0. A few 'minutes later Delgrosso piloted the leather I over the Mangere goal and (he scores stood two nil. The Ponsonby defence was I thoroughly tested and stood up to the I attack well. Po"«onby sho"-ed !■< ad--,,-. ! face when they secured the hall Smart following up by the ToniPF saw Cooke touch down nnd Delgrosso adding (he necessary trimmings. Pon sonby led 7 —2. Attacking again, Moore scored. Delgrosso failed with the sb.o. lint made no mistake In converting a try by Shirley. The score was then, l'ousonby 15, Mangere '-. Wilson, who had replaced T. I'ai. tbe latter having retired injured. attempted a goal from over half-way. Mangere were lirsl to score in the second spell. Lipst-ombe getting over, and then Mormaii repeated the I rick for Ponsonby. Neither try was convened and the score read IS to r, „, favour of the Ponies. Tbe latter were having the best of the game and McNeil nnd I.ittlewood scoring. nellhr- try 1..-ln- convorrod. (he final score was: Ponsonby 24, Mangere 5, Mr. Gallagher was referee. MARISTS V. ELLERSLIE. Marist kicked ofT and Kllerslie hooked lhe hall first. The forwards rushed play down ; towards Marist's end. where nn infrlngei ment occurred. Peebles kicked Ellerslie s I first goal, nnd incidentally registered tbe | first points of tho season. Ellerslie " j 'Marist 0. Interesting play followed.' Kllprslio being particularly agressive. but Stormont nnd Sweeney came through with a dribbling rush. A series of scrums ensued in raid-Held, Ghent olfendnig. No ground was gained by Kllerslie from their free kick. Ghent was Instrumental in instituting several nice forward movements, but tho Ellerslie defence could not he penetrated. Peehles had another shot at goal but missed. A Marist passing movement culminated in Lang and Stormont brothers gelling to the line. Ghent received anil passed the leather to Sweeney. This player scored, but W. Stormont failed to I add the extra points. Marist It, Ellerslie J ». Marist kept LUerslie hnrd at work 1 in their own half for quite a spell. The forwards worked hard but were unable to break the new (cam's strong defence. Williams took a good mark when Ellerslie were hard pressed. There was no further I score when the interval rolled along. ! Second Spell. i Sherlock. Ghent. Lang and Sweeney were . prominent in a Marist. attack, but they were ; met by the Kllerslie forwards with (he ball i at toe. Ellerslie offended and Carrol made

nn unsuccessful attempt to convert. Eller- , slie were playing a s»<«l defensive same, hut had little, combination, ;:nd failed to 1 fullOW Up ' Lane made a fine solo run through the ' KllorslTo team and passed across to Cmrol who accepted, and scored. J.tng Dilotod the hnll over the har. Marlst 8, Kllorsllc ° * determined ICllorsllc effort which looked bright, w.is marred by Her- ' her! who passed forward. Inc. hall went I mil to the left wins, and Bryan stepped in ! mill made a brilliant dash along the lino, i touclilDK down "ii the. corner. Peebles did not rein vert Marlst S, lO'lerslie .". KllerSlll- continued to move forward and played with more dash, Slater. Norton, Crntty and Williams showiuß up lo advantage. Laug lu-ad.'d inorr than one Marist onslaught, hut ! Kli.-rslie were wise t<> his dummying tacI lies rind succccd.-d in nullif.ving. Ellersllo I i.ffcnded and Lnnp took tlie kick for Mar- ! ist and miried a couple oi polnUi. .Marlst lin KDerslle .'.. . ! KllprsliA atcirkocl immpdiatfly. following [ ; the halt-way kid;, reeblrs gath.-n-d up the Ihall and drop-kicked a heaiitiful gonl. Ju«t inn time. Final .score: Marists 10, Eller?lie ' Mr. T. Hill was referee. i . ( s i SOUTHERN MATCHES. riIBISTCHURCII. ' Hornby .".4, heut Marist B 3. Marist A 4."i, heat.' Sydenham If). ,'| THE AUSSIES' VISIT. . l • j BE HERE IN JUNE. . ! 11,-tinile .ableil informntlon was received liv Hie Auckland Rushy Unavaw on Sal or-I dar that a team represenlinp; tlif! Australian ; fiMver.'ities would leave for Auckland ill 1 !uut> Thf itinerary will cov.-r nvc mai.-lies, I Hire,, nf which will he played in Auckland. •j LOU BROWN RETURNING. ,' i.iju Brown, Ihe popular Newtnn hnek. anil Aitcfclnml rr|ironentntiv.< who left for j i Kiiclnuil in Aiicust of last year and has been , uliirlne for tlie Wienn peui-r flub. , - is Veturuina lii Am-klnnii nn the 2'.iih or ! r linxl tnoiilh It is iinrtcrslooil he Is only on I ■l holiday \:si!. am! will not rer.i.iin here. j