THE LEAGUE CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 201, 25 August 1924, Page 8

THE LEAGUE CODE.

BRILLIANT FOOTBALL

MARISTS BEAT PONSONBY. DEYOXPORTS EASY WIN. ANOTHER WIN TO XEWTOX. CITY AXD ELLERSLIE DRAW. A crowd estimated at 0000 on Satur-! day enjoyed to the full the most hri'lliant exhibition of League football i provided this season. The game was between Marist Brothers and Ponsonby ion Xo. 1 ground at Carlaw Park, and with both sides i,nlding a winning, chance in the championship a keen contest was expected. And there was no \ disappointment, the match overflowing Iwith thrilling incidents, the large crowd of spectators being nt a high pitch ot excitement, throughout. With the con- , ditions favourable the League game lends itself to fast, open piay, and v would be difficult to better the exhibition. In the opening spell Marins rattled on 1.1 points, but in tne second half Ponsonby rose to the occasion, and playing at the top or their I form they compiled 10 points ouic-ly. However,"although they made desperate , efforts, they could not stave off dc.eat. and "Marist Brothers won a brilliant j game by 11) points to 10. | Playing on Xo. 2 ground at Carlaw | Park," Newton defeated Richmond by I 11 points to 5. Roth teams were fairly evenly matched, and although Richmond played a determined game in the second spell they could not penetrate the | solid dpfe'nce of the Xewton thirteen, j Thirty-five-minute spells were played. \ At Victoria Park Devonport expen j enccd little trouble with Mangere and j won by 32 to 13, 3*" points being scored I in the first half. At Eilerslie, City, with several juniors in the team, met'the Ellerslie thirteen, the game ending in a draw. 10 points all. ' I MARISTS V. PONSONBY. J W. Stormont set the game going and | Brisbane, showing a lot of -as!, got Dono- , van with the bail and s-.tne tight play [ ensnod. Cardiner whipped up the hall and j dashed over in le« than ninety seconds j from t'ao start. He converted with a beauti-i ful kick and a sensational opening saw Tykes leading 3 to O. There was sore..- exciting play , till i-'oss, offside, ga.ro Delgrosso an easy , shot whi.-b he missed mil Tykes forced. Neill retired with an injure* Ie:; and was replaced by Nelson. Passing; between Del-1 grosso and' Shirley saw the latter pulled up i by O'Brien and then Brisbane made a | brilliant run, living Stewart a pass with an i • cuen field. The latrer. instead of streak-1 mi- for tae line, passed in and the ball was j dropped. Tyke 3 were patting a lot or -ash into their work and Gardiner dashed along the line to heat three opponents unit j let across, hut the line umpire ruled he had cone out. Moore here retired injured. Ward taking his place. From inside half- | wav Gardiner secured the ball aud tucking it "under his arm. he set off for the Pod- j sonby line. Without swerving an Inch _he ;• knocked his opponents uoivti like skittles, i those who attempted to take him, and,, eventually sot across to score a brilliant c solo try. Ills kick at goal failed, Marists | S, Ponsonby 0- . ; A minute later the same player took i a pass from Ghent and grounded under tae posts, but he was ruled offside. A short ■ kick by O'Brien saw Sweeney and toss follow up and Grey, missing badly. Sweeney I gathered it: to dash over and score. Gar- , diner goalc-d. Maris :s 13. Ponsjnby 0. It was a great game, with Tykes always doing tile finer work. Here Referee Bull , ordered the hookers to be changed, aud ] Sweeney pulled up by finding the line. Marist 13, Ponsonby 0. j SECOND SPELL. i Play opened with McNeill and Peckham making a dash for Marist's line, and then ] Walsh and Donovan had attempts to get ' over. O'Brien offside gave Delgrosso a shot in front of the posts, and he made no tuis- ! take. Marists 13, l'onsonby _. Encouraged • hy the success the blues attacked again, and | Peckham, who was playing a brilliant game. : had Gregory bustled, but the last-named got i out of trouble in tine style. At the quar- : ter way lino Delgrosso received the ball and . ran right through the opposition to score a | great try. He added the extra points, making the score Marists 13. l'onsonby 7. The ■ , crowd were excited and had good reason to ' be, as the football was the best of the season. There was no question ol the Pomes now,and they ware playing like demons. They hammered away, and McNeil went over to score , from some tight play. Delgrosso failed with the kick. Marists 13, l'onsonby 10. ; Marists wore handicapped throuch failure to j get the ball from the scrums, .md they had j few chances to attack. Now for the first time in over 20 minutes Marists attacked, ami ; the ball being scrummed, it was sent to | Littiewood. who dropped the pass, and like a flash Kirkwcod nipped it up. and with a dodgy run beat the opposition pointless. ! and scored under the posts. Gardiner : ; missed the simplest of shots. One minute ' later time was called. Marists 16 l'onsonby 10 Mr. Bull was referee. NEWTON V. RICHMOND. j ' i * Richmond won the toss, and Poison : J kicked off for Xewton. Dvson and Mansell I followed up. the last-named scoring on the corner in the first minute of play. Mansell I failed to convert. Newton 3. Richmond 0. Poison, Keenan and Callaghan rushed across the tieid and beat the opposition. Poison scoring a line try. Mans.-fl added : : tue extra points. Newton S. Richmond 0. ! Richmond attacked strongly. Campnev j making a fine solo effort along "the line. Richmond then won a midfleld serum, and McMurtrie took a pass from Swift and ran righ. I down the line, on being collared by Wii- * liams he cross-kicked, and Hyland dashed j up to register. Mcl.onald was successful , with the kick. Newton S, lliehniond ."", j Play became very fast, and there was no | let-up. Richmond swoopinc down with II I Dliane and Redwood in the lead. Clarke Intercepted, and Callaghan. Keenan and ' Watson indulged in some passing, but thev-1 .lid not get very far. Swift, llvland". I McMurtrie and Little c_n.e back to th» I attack, and when Little was about to cross I the line he was forced out. Hvl.ind got ' ■ the ball from the reliant serum und • handed to ( ampney. This pi aver ran over but the pass was ruled offside" There wa' ' no ch.-rr.ge in the score at [he interval. New- ' ton i. Richmond 5. I ; SECOND SPELL, j c On resuming Mansell and Williams were ' at the head ot a strong Newton ons'au-ht . and it was only the smart work of Hanlon , which saved another score. A free to ' l.lohmond gave them relief. =n ,| piuv lor i the next few minutes hung about half-wav i where a series of scrums took place "n'l- . son cot possession of th.. |, a il. and he and Watson and i larke handled the b:>ll in ' reverse passing half the length „£,!," i cc.d Poison was sent out in the corner Newton made several efforts to net ove- ■ but each time the Richmond backs culilSeu' ' Hanlon rushed up :I nd passed to fling %{.,, ] essayed a solo run. When tackled v ■ Keeuan. Hing threw to C.-impncv but the : latter missed the hall and also an easy she'll VnTi'i" 1 " W '' rt "' ktfi ' l defen ding for "a : li-nS 1 ? 0 "? wa s J r;'l,,s*i ' Richmond again returned to the attack a ' Poison tot K ir",n\hl sen" ! liassii.g bout, whi.-h was .•tT.'ctivelv "J-,V? '! by Hing. Brown then followed" uo''C i from Ins own twentv-fivo or, i. -. * . c i the iw t, s_^: e ifi d a_a3"-«' to iNewton .... ~ . Richmond ....*.'.'.'.'.'.'.".'.". i I There was no further score wt.*. . I ' whistle sounded. " h6a Mr. Hill was the referee. i COUNTRY MATCHES. |' ■— j i HAMILTON ; ' A team from the Richmond juniors vis:, , ! Hamilton on Saturd.iv. and i ,v" tBl i juniors on Hlnemoa 'Park V&* ,' h *" Io ' :U by 17 to 13. "icamond won 1 SOUTHERN MATCHES. CHRISTCHCRCH l] Marist A, 14, beat Homsby, Q. I

ELLERSLIE V. CITY. This game was fast throughout. Ruby, i who was the most conspicuous player on the field gained possession of the leather, an- : dished down in great style, ran through his opponents, and scored between the posts. G. Davidson converted. City b, EUerslie 0. Ellerslie then pressed Into : City's area, but failed to penetrate the town defence. Hard play in Ellerslie's ! territory followed, and once ajrain Ruby got awnv, repeating his previous performance G Davidson again put the ball over. City 10, Ellerslie 0. The latter team combined to press solidly, but the City combination proved too strong. In the" Ellerslie pack. Williams was conspicuous. Ruby also continued to atf.-act considerable attention, but was very well marked. City were awarded a free kick from quarter-way, G. Davidson, however, failing with the shot. The half-time score remained. City 10, Ellerslie 0. Immediately after the opening of tha "oeond spell. Ruby made a dash, hut was cell tackled. Ellerslie took play over the hu'f-wav line, and solid play resulted, until a free took things up-field. The Ellerslie forwards made repeated passing rushes, and on numerous occasions got within inches of the line, but City managed to defend effectively. Through the medium of a fine ki.-k, they reached their opponents' quarter, but once more Ruby came to light, and rushed up the line until he was downed by an effort. Ellerslie followed with a good attempt to score, hut were penalised. Soon after, however, Crotty got across, and rubles converted. City 10, Ellerslie b. Another down by EUerslie followed, and Harrison, who had been playing well, got between the posts, but unfortunately he was penalised. The attempt was vindicated, however, hy Sla»er when, a few minutes later, he scored, and Shand converted. City 10, Ellerslie 10. City again came fast, but Crotty intercepted a pass and got well away. Exciting up and down play was then the order, both sides trying hard to increase the scores, but the game ended in a draw. City 10 Ellerslie 10 Mr. McCowett was the referee. NORTH SHORE V. MANGERE. Shore set the ball rolling, and were immediately awarded a free, Laing kicking across field for Hand to gain possession an'j put in a dash. Several scrums-fol-lowed. Shore setting up a passing bout from one of them, which looked promising until Rutland passed forward to Hand. .Shore continued tn press, and a passing b'.ut saw Harper cross and run round to tou.-h down between the posts. .Scott convened. Things looked dangerous for Shore when Smith was caught in possession and the green forwards, with Rukulai to the fore, broke away, but good work by Laing pulled them up. Shore then went to the attack, and were awarded a penalty near the side line, which Laing turned to advantage. Shore worked their way downficld again, and from a scrum in neutral territory the ball went out to B. Laing. who cut in nicely, but was unsupported, and lost possession near the line. Shore, however, were not to be denied, and Scott secured soon after to score a try tbe country players showed to advantage, their forwards going to tbe attack in good style. G. Pal obtained possession and beat Smith, but was unfortunate in losing possession when over the line, the bill becoming "dead." An opening made by Taylor near half-way saw the ball travel" to B. Laing, to O'Brien, ani again to Taylor, who scored in a good position. J. Laing converted. After some loose play near Mangere's goal. Proctor picked up and dived across. Scott converted. Another score followed immediately. Laing sending a long pass to Harper, who had little difficulty in beating the opposition and running through to Lipscombe before sending on to Voysey. who scored. St. George added the minor Points. There was no alteration In the .score at half-time. Shore -7. Mangere 0. From loose play in the greens' twenty-five Hapi obtained possession and ran well downnejfcl before kicking. Paul was handy, and picking up. ran across to score Mangere's first points. He concerted his own try. Thus encouraged, the greens again carried piny down—eld. and Shore had an anxious few minutes until ("1.-trper cleared. After a period of even play the blacks added another five points to their tally. B. Laing scoring a try which Hand onverted. The players from arross t--e water kept up the pressure und a movement started by Proctor saw Laing run over the line but he collided with a spectator and lost possession, a scrum being ordered five yards out. Mangere hooked and Edwards gave tlie bail to U WHsun. who broke away in sensational rashion. A score looked likely but Wilson was c.nsu;.poited and jus: lacked enough pace to allow him to re.-v-h Shore's line before being pulled down. The play at this jttnge was very willing and compliments wt-.-e exchanged freely. Manwhile Shore's play had lost ma.-h of its sting, llapi put in a dasii along tbe side Hue and kicked across ricid. Afrer several Shore players had made unsuccessful attempts to pick nil cleanly. J. Pal came ou the scene ro gain possess-on and race over. Ansel! converted. The greens threw the boll about in good stvtc and after .1 handling bout in which all the backs participated. L. Wilson score-. Knkutal's ki'-k missed. The remaining stages were evenly contested and excitement ran high, let; the scores were unaltered when time was callett. il«i_c -s ;r THIRD OPEN. City. _.}. heat Kingsland, 0. Tries were scored by Coleman l_). B. Ferrell. Purdie. ihorbuni. Collins, aud Green. Sandham kicked two goals. Parnell beat l'onsonby by lb points to 4. FOURTH GRADE. rnited Suburbs defeated Marist Brother* by default. Ponsonby A. 11, boat Fonsonhv B. 6. F/.r the winners. Barclay. Buthind. ana Hewitt scored tries, aud Barclay kicked one goal. Parnell beat E.lerslie by S points to 5. SIXTH GRADE. Athletics. S. beat Parnell. 0. O'Donnell scored two tries, and Angels kicked a goaL larnell beat City by b points to 3. HOUSE MATCHES. Oreer and Co. IS. beat Ross and Glendining ii. Mr. Bonvaird refereed.