THE LEAGUE GAME.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 219, 15 September 1924, Page 11

THE LEAGUE GAME.

BRILLIANT FOOTBALL | ■ DBVONPORT DOWNS MARISTS. ! I A GAME OF THRILLS. JvEWTOST BEATS PONSOXB'J j MAXGERE DEFEATS ATHLETICS. I Jfew League {rames staged at Carlaw Park have had the crowd, at such a high pitch of excitement as that between Jlarist Brothers and Devonport on Saturday. A week ago Devonport had lieen beaten by City, and on that occasion it was clear that to have any possible chance to-day there would have to he a bip change in the Devonport hacks. Even so. everything pointed to Jlarists winning, but, to the surprise of the 7000 or 8000 present, the seasiders plavert like champions, both forwards and* backs, and though Marists scored | points and did a share of the attacking, ! there is no doubt but that on the day the better team won. The game was brilliant and dashing from beginning to end,, particularly in the second half, when Devonport set a pace and kept it up, that gave Marists a busy time. | The meeting of Athletic and Mangere | on No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park resulted in a really hard, -fast and interesting game, Mangere winning in sensational style by 20 points to 19. There was nothing much between the teams, and both" sides gave a good exposition of passing. The game was played in two short spells of 25- minutes each. For the first time since their forma- [ tion the Richmond Club failed to field a team to-day. A number of players are suffering from injuries, while several are suffering from influenza colds. City won by default. MARIST V. DEVOKPCRT. The mutch opened sensationally and Smith, the Devonport full, failing to gather in a long kick, Sweeney dribbled over the line and in the dash between he' ana Stewart the latter scored in the first minute. Gardiner failed with the kick Marist 3, Devonport O. It was soon apparent that there was to be no loitering . _ on the Journey and the black forwards tore into their work. The Devon port for--1 wards- were giving Tykes no peace and were playing 100 per cent better than against City the previons week. Most of the play had been in Marist's half. The tactics of Devonport were to kick high and follow up and in this they were fulfilling . the bill to a nicety. A high kick by Gregory "saw Scott waiting under it when O'Btfen pushed him and the referee • - awarded an obstruction try. Laing coaled. Devonport 5, - Marist 3. An attact by diarist saw. Harper kick; across field into the hands' of the* Tykes and there -. : "• -was some desperate play near Devonport's line. Johnson rabbited his way over, but was penalised for not playing the ball. The ball was ' scrummed- and Ghent set his backs- in motion. It was handled in great - style for Gardiner to finish off the movement with a' score near the corner. He converted with a beautiful kick. Marist 8, Devonport 5. Hesitating to take the-ball by. Harrison, saw J. Stonnoht beat him and from the ensuing scramble the hall went to Stewart, to Sweeney,- the latter "scoring. * Gardiner's '■ Mck missed and Tykes led 11 to 5. It was certainly a great game, the pace being on to the fuIL Half-time was called with, the "scores:—Mariet 11,- Devonport 5. ■: "» -~ Devonport strongly attacked from the "opening. Scrummed"; near Tykea' Hne, Webb sent to Seagar, to Laing, whose pass was dropped, but Voysey dashed in and collecting the ball wormed his way across. Scott goaled. Mansts 11, Devonport 10. " A long kick by Laing saw Seagar and Harper have Gregory bustled, and another high kick a second or two later saw Gregory : - ' force. O'Brien offside saw B. Laing place a fine goal and put Devonport in the lead. Devonport . -. %I,_ " ..Marist 11-. , The. crowd were on-- their " -feet.-- the gameoverflowing with thrills. An attack .by' Tykea saw the hall go. -out torMollojv/.who.: got across with three Devonport men hang l Ing to him. Gardiner failed to convert. i Marists 14, Devonport 12. Down came the blacks-and there was some thrilling play as Webb and Smith desperately tried to get ■ across. Devonport were awarded a free and Laing kicked high over the line. . The whole of the black forwards dashed'up'and under and in the scramble for the ball, Donglas - pounced upon it. Laing goaled "midst deafening cheers. Devonport 17, Marist 14. .Then Ghent badly fooled the opposition, beatIng all but the fullback, when i\6 had no one In support to take the ball. There w,as" strenuous and exciting play near the :Devonport line, wnen Sweeney made a"short run, sent on to Gardiner, who handed to Ghent, the latter being over in a flash and scoring under the posts. - Gardiner goaled to a perfect din of cheering. _ Marists 10, Devonport 17. The scores had only been altered "• when the blacks attacked, From a scrum In Marists' tweiity-five, Webb whipped the ball ont to Laing, who cut through the opposition, and on reaching Gregory, he. passed .._ to Vea'rt, who was over in.' the corner. J. Laing failed with the-shot. Devonport„ 20, Marists 19. With five minutes to go, Voysey made a fine opening; then passed to Webb, who did his part, drawing the opposiing before giving to Douglas, to- race over and score. Scott converted with a great klclr. Devonport 25, Marists 1!). Kight on caE of time W. Stormont was ordered ■ off the field. There was no further score, and the game ended », IVronport ■■• '. "■■Si* . Msrist Bros. ;...-.-t-...../...-. 10 Mr. Kipley was referee. ATHLETIC V. MANGERE. Athletic kicked off, Dufty forcing his way down the.line. Hamilton and McGregor, passing well, looked like getting over, but Eau nullified, and with Daniel he dashed off downfield. From the scrum WilsonHan secured and passed to .Dufty, who gamed ground by a will-placed kick to the line. Paul, Eau and Pai were then associated in a brilliant passing onslaught, which ended in Ansel giving the ball to L. Wilson, who scored a :ine tey. Ansel missed with the kick. Mangere 3, Athletic 0. Avery picked up- from the ruck, gave the leather . to Wilson-Hall, and then » Hartley, the -last to '.handle, crossed the line. Dnfty goaled. Athletic 5, Mangere 3. Immediately after the half-way kick the Slangere forwards attacked, and from a scramble near Athletics line J. Pat .but locked his way over. His attempt to convert failed. " Mangere 6, Athletic 5. Ten seconds later another score came Athletics way. From a scrum on Man- : gere's quarter line Webb secured, and endeavoured to get over, but wan well tackled by Lipscombe. -Dufty gathered up well and passed to McGregor," who registered on the corner. Dufty did not convert. Athletic S, Mangere 6. When he had a good chance well up in Mangere's end, Draffin spoilt by giving Dufty a bad pass. M. Paul intercepted, and after a lightning dash down the whole length of the field, he passed to Bau, who notched • a brilliant try. M. Paul failed to add the extra, points. Mangere 9, Athletic 8. . Wilson again scored right on half-time, but Paul did not convert. Mangere 12, Athletic 8. • _ Athlete, opened the" second spell brilliantly, D, iffin scoring and Dufty converting a few seconds after resuming. Then ■ \ the Mangere forwards made another excursion into Athletics territory, and M. Paul forced his way over. Ansel's kick was 'unsuccessful- Mangere maintained the ■" . pressure, and had the yellow and blues defending hard. Offside play by Athletic . cave W. Lipscombe a show, piloted the ball over, the bar. Mangere 17, Athletic 13. Play became fast and exciting, i both sides showing • up to- "-advantage in passing rushes. Athletic forced the green and blacks back to defend their line. Dufty essayed a solo run: but was grassed and he gave to Draflin. McGregor then ' received, and transferred to Winkie, who touched down on the corner. Duffy's kick went just outside the post. Mangere 17, Athletic 16. Dufry then scored, but failed to convert. Eight on the call of time Paul scored a sensational try, and won the game for his Eide. The final score was:— .- Mangere 20 Athletic ._. 19 3tr. W. Murray was referee. PONSONBY V. NEWTON. The game opened sensationally. Xewton, following tie kick-off, scored, Watson gettins across. Mansili goaled, but the game had only started, again when Grey lauded —a penalty coal for Ponsonby, and within two minutes each side had registered I Points: Xewton, 5; Ponsonby, 2. - Grey then made - a fine opening, ■ beating three nien, but his pas 3 was knocked on. Scrammed, Walsh, sent mc ball CO Hcaiex-

son, the latter scoring under the posts. Grpy converted,-, and Ponsonbv were In front, 7to .3.. MansiU almost ran from halfway to score, beiug grounded witbiu a yard of the line, and immediately arterwurds offside by Pooley saw Mansill place .1 line goal. Score: 7 all. Then Shirley and rec-khani followed up a long kick, for snlrley to score, ana Grey added the minor poiuts, putting Ponfionby again in front, 12 to .. The uext score was most unusual, rile Newton backs started a passin" bout, v.-nich saw Williams eventually get the ! ~ He punted over the Ponsonby Inll•Meica heart, and followed up. In attemptin? to dribble over the line, he- kicked tlie torn over the bar between the goalposts, juiii „ "2 n on t0 soore - Tne referee disallowed the try, and awarded the goal. Ihls la the-first time, so far as Is knbnn, "i such an incident: Ponsonby. 12: Newton, n. Poison increased Newton's score to pvon t. l e spell ended witn honours after tbc opeSlSg *oi *™ to * 12 ' S °° n passing betw?en n Grey, Walsh saw the latter get across Newton's line, but he was ruled offside. For quite a time Play was even, and centred about halfway. The backs on both sides were playinc the open game, but the tackling was Rood. .Tust on the call of time Watsou scored for UTon- the d post r r Sm Xewto* Newton . 17 Ponsonby ~,., 12 Mr. Hill was referee. SECOND GRADE. PJchmond 11, beat Ponsonby 2. THIRD GRADE. Parncll won by default from Devonport >ew Lynn 20, beat Ponsonbv 10. FIFTH GRADE. Ponsonby 23. heat Xorthcote nil. JNew Lynn 8, beat Point Chevalier 6. Athletic 31, beat Richmond 0. For th« winners tries were scored by O'Sullivan, Sbedan (3), Claw, Bassett (2) Forbes, and Vergess, while Shedan and Angelo kicked one goal each. SIXTH GRADE A. Parnell 25, beat Leys Institute 3. Leys j Institnte played 10 men only. This is their first score of the season. , SIXTH GRADE B. ' Richmond 11, beat City 3.