LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 100, 29 April 1924, Page 9

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE SEASON OPENED. It was unfortunate that heavy rain should mar the opening day's play in the present season's League lootball, hut making due allowance for the state of the handle the wet ball with any degreeof certainty, the exhibition ;n the four senior matches was such as to promise fans with high-class football when the conditions are more favourable and the players are in better form. ELLERSLIE'S GOOD SHOWING. Much interest centred in the doings ol the new teams. Ellerslie and Mangere, hut while the latter were to a certain exlent disappointins, Ellerslie on the other hand put up a sreat fight with Marist "Brothers, the latter gaining the honours :>y the narrow margin of 10 points to 7. All the best of last year's members were in Marist Brothers' team, and they were then a strong combination. Where Ellersie failed was in combination, and on the numerous occasions when the ball was Eent out to the backs the latter did not work in concert, and there was too strong an inclination on their part, individually, to attempt too much alone. No team ever got far without combination, and when the illlerslie thirteen realise this and play to each other, then they will be a force to be respected. The newcomers to the senior rank are to be congratulated on the creditable showing they made, and their future appearances will be watcned with interest. N'ohle, Peebles, and Slater were solid in defence, while they also showed out in attacking movements. For Marist Brothers. Sherlock, Lain?, Ghent, and W. stormout were in the limelight throughout. AN IMPROVED SIDE. Though defeated by Athletics. Richmond did not go under without offering stubborn resistance, and the result wu = always in doubt until time was called. The rain, together with a wet. ball, was not conducive to brilliant football, but the game was hard and there was no let-np on either Bide. •On the day Athletics played the better same, and the scores—two tries to a penalty goal—is a fair indication of the merits of the teams. It was evident that tbe Richmond team is a much more powerful combination than last year, and thouz!] they can hardly be regarded as champions of the competition, they cannot be treated cheaply, and will offer strong opposition to the best of the club teams. Woolley, Dufty, Avery, and NL-con were 1 very prominent for Athletics, while for Klchmond, Hanlon. Hyland. Butler, and Kedwood were responsible for outstanding play. MANGERE'S DEBUT. On No. 1 ground both matches were won rather easily, in their contest with Ponsonby the ilangere thirteen, admitted to the senior grade this season, were properly beaten by 24 poinU to 3. For some time after the game began Manjrere presented a stubborn front, and their supporters were inclined to be jubilant. However, they were playinjr hustling, rather than good, football, with the inevitable result that when the "Ponies" settled down to work the Mangere men were beaten badly.. In Paul, the Mangere team has tbe makings of a nseful three-quarter, but owlns to tne absence of programmes and numbered jerseys, it was difficult to follow the individual efforts of the players. On the Ponsonby side, Deigrosso did a tremendous amount of work, receiving good support from Wilson. Llttlewood, and Morman. McNeil was the hest of the forwards, but Moore also played a dashing game. CITY TOO GOOD. j Newton, with a number of last Tear's I juniors promoted to first grade, never had a I chance with the redoubtable City thirteen. The red and whites did tbe best they could but were outplayed In all departments, and try as they would they could not cross the line of last year's champions. It was not a day when tne conditions

favoured a sP--'eJy and tr::l:y set of backs such a3 -City can boast, nut nevertheless they treated" the crowd to some dashing ; passing, and oil a dry ground their brilliancy will be made evident. City appears to have an even stronger team than that or twelve months aw nnd it will take a solid thirteen to bring about their defeat. No team can play better than their opponents will allnw. and that was the position on Saturday. Newton did wellat times, hut they were up against it. In ?tack, Sorrense'n. burners, ati'l Clark Newton have a solid quartet, but the team is very weak in the back division. On the ■ither hand there is m> weakness in the City team, and one and all play good footNail. 11. Davidson and Cretvti.er were the best nf the backs on ?«turday, vat tois «as probably because they had most to do. •,;. l>uvJ4«on had a very quiet afterno.>u, lint li" :u;ule the most of any chances I that came his way. In the pack. Thomas, Ma.-kie. and Bass wore a continuous source of trouble to Newton. THE ATJSSIES' VISIT. The definite Infnrmatlnn received on Saturday that the team representing Australian Cmversities would be leaving, for New Zealand some time in .luuc, mid that on e of three itineraries submitted by the New Zealand League hml been accepted, will be welcomed by Aueklanders. who can look forward to seeing some attractive exhibitions of the code. The date uf Hie opening match of the tour lias not been decided, but the itinerary accepted provides for three matches being played in the city and one against South Auckland at Hamilton. A GOOD MOVE. In presenting to patrons of Cnrlnw Park on Saturday last a neat little booklet setting out the rules governing the League gamp as played In the Dominion, mc A.X.L. accomplished .■mother of its many thoughtful acts which the public appreciate. "Rules are made to be broken" is an old saying, but In mauy cases >incb. happens without the players beinz aware of it. It those who are now possesseil of the booklet «-ouJd pive a little study to the same it will tend to put a stop to the never-ending arguments which crop up each week. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. SATURDAY'S MATCHES. CRITICAL ANALYSIS. (By LIGHT BLUE.) Close results were the order of the (lay on Saturday, when half a dozen senior championship games were decided. In three matches, the odd goal was the deciding factor, whilst a goal-less draw was the outcome of a keen struggle at Devonport. l'onsonby and V.M.C.A. just managed to annex full points, thus retaining their unbeaten certificates in the League table, which, including Saturday's results, read as follows: — SECTION A. Matches. Goals I". W. L. l>. For. Agst. rts. Ponsonby .. 3 .TOO R 3 G Northcote .. 3 U 1 O 10 7 4 Harbour Bd. H 1 1 1 3 2 3 Thistle 3 3 'J 0 11 30 North Shore 3 0 12 4 7 2 Watersiders 3 0 2 1 5 12 1 SECTION B. Matches. Goals T. W. 1,. D. For. Agst. Tts. V.M.C.A. .. 8 3 0 0 II 1 6 Hellabys .. 3 2 i o 7 -i 4 Philomel ... S 2 1 0 10 C i Tramways . .". 2 10 4 5 4 -Metropolitan 3 0 3 0 3 !> 0 Londoners .3030 3 14 o Two points for a win; one for a draw. The inclemency of the wenther did not deter a large number of enthusiasts from witnessing a stirring encounter, brimful of incident and thrills, at Victoria Park, where I'onsonby just emerged victors by

the odd goal. Football of nn exciting nature was witnessed in the second half, to divide the points. Despite the adverse weather conditions, a good exhibition of footwork was served up. the nifty forwards on both sides indulging in many pretty combined runs, against which the four backs gave a good display of tackling and kicking. The extreme wingers seemed to be handicapped by the narrow width of the playing area, the ball often going out of play, and it waE evident that rhe measurement was mucb under standard. Both goalkeepers performed creditably, the greasy ball, of course. proving a decided handicap. Thompson anr: IMtken were the best of the back divisions, the former being the besi player on the fipli] :incl giving a good exhibi tion of soun.l tackling and judicious kick ing. Braithwaite was erratic, his kickin; being wild at times, while he found him self out of position cm several occasions Noesbnm and Catlow were the best in th< respective half-back divisions. thougl Buchanan played a very heady game Meager and Pearson, also, put in a hare afternoon's work, their tackling bein; especially fine. The altered Ponsonby front rank gave s good showing, thp speed nnd dash of Inne proving a valuable asset, his two goal: being masterly efforts. With fast extrem. wingers of the type of Ahem and Simm he should cultivate distribution of the play with long, forward ground passes, the! getting into position for the return centres. Dickson and Hunter, the inside mer showed many unselfish touches, and th game! His lack of confidence' in himsel will soon be remedied with experience, an ho looks like developing into a good playei Tremnin and Knott were the best of'th Northcote forwards, who appeared to n handicapped by lark of inches. Howevei they are a very t.pppdy lot. showing goo command of the ball. Knott is dangerou in front of goal, and was unlucky to L pulled up for offside when nicely placed. Constantly appealing by players was til only setback to an otherwise stubborn! contested display, and referees should pi a stop to this auDoving and ungentlenianl practice. Playinc against wind and rain, tl: Wntersiders had nn uncomfortable fir; half against Thistle, and the interval foun them five goals clown. This in no wa represented the run of the play, nlthoug the "Jocks" forward line were in dead] Humphreys in' action again, as he is tc si>od a plnyor to be standing on the toucl line on Saturdays. His four goals pro% possession of scoring ability. and AucUlnn ia badly in need of a Fcorlnc eentre-fo ward. He was well supported by Keni and Dodds, the outside men, Williams an Donaldson, also playing well, their accurai centres being a feature. For Thist the brothers Ritchie v.-ere also outstam ing. while Anderson was safe in goal, h saving of a fast shot by Crocker, at the tc corner, bringing forth well-merited a, plause. Watersiders played pluekily, but withoi luck, and were unfortunate in having l many goals scored against them. Haml at centre-half, was again outstanding, heir the best player on the field, and his mci sion in a "rep" team would be easily jusl fied. McDonald. Martin and Feeney all played well, and Chesney had little or i chance with the goals which beat him. wore the usual distinguishing whi sweaters, but their value was discounted I the referee. Mr. Kent, having an Identic uniform. This is the regulation dress f. local Kugby referees, but is hopelessly o of place in first grade Soccer. Hellabys were terribly unlucky to be d foatcd by the T.M.C.A. on Saturday, i they dominated the play throughout, ai the winners seldom crossed midfield the second half. Miller in goal was i vincible, and he was ably supported by t! backs. Clanachan. Kane and Wbow< were the best of the back divisions, whi Woods and Marshall were best in the Y.? forward line. Kimmer and Cornwall sho: for Hellabys, but all their efforts prov. unavailing. The result leaves the "I competition in a very open state, and 1 doubt there will be many changes in t. championship table ere the Beason ends.