LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Issue 92, 20 April 1925, Page 11

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

THE KICK-OFF. ITJBAGUE SEASON OPENS. CITY'S BRILLIANCY. TOO FAST FOR PONSONBY. WINS FOR ELLERSLIE AND KINGSLAND. Every indication that the Auckland Bugby League is in for another successful, season was on hand on Saturday when an'early start was made and the 1925 season opened in Auckland. Last year the competitions and other games took the season over many months, and when it Vvas known that the programme mapped out for this year would be added to by the addition of fresh teams to the senior grade, the Auckland Rugby League decided upon an early start. A strong counter attraction in the Avondale races took many League enthusiasts away from Carlaw Park, but all things considered, the attendance was surprisingly large. The football shown was decidedly encouraging, and with the season a little further advanced there should be club contests equal to the stirring battles between Marist Old Boys and Devonport United of 12 months ago. CITY V. PONSONBY. It was at once apparent that the old Roope Rooster rivals were not going to loaf around, and, from the moment Miss Joan Endean set the game going by performing the duty of kicking off, the crowd soon worked up to an exciting pitch. Right from the outset the pace was clapped on. City were playing the bright, dashing football wbich is characteristic of the team, and the Ponsonby defence was being kept busy. The City ■backs threw the ball about, but Wardlow, on the wing, was cramped on the sideline and was pushed out. Shirley momentarily relieved the pressure by breaking away, but with play at half way, the "Ponies" brought off a brilliant try. From the loose, J. Peckham snapped up the ball, cut out an opponent and then passed to Riley. The latter streaked down the field, and, when being overtaken, handed on to Littlewood, the latter having a. clear run in. Delgrosso placed a grand goal. Ponsonby 5, City 0. Riley then left the field injured. City registered their first try of the season when Wetherill sent the ball to Mitchell. The latter dummied'an opponent, and this made an opportunity for him to send Davidaon away. The latter ran for the corner, nnd handed to Wardlow, who finished off the movement with a good try. Crewther failed with the shot. Ponsonby 5, City 3. For an opening game the play was surprisingly fast. A dash along the line by Brown nnd a beautifully judged centre saw Thomas show surprising pace and get Henewinl's return. Then Mitchell threw a long pass to the wing, which Davidson gathered up but the referee ruled a throw forward. Cole, who had taken Riley's place, made a dash before throwing to Delgrosso and the latter, after a long run, got across, but the referee had previously blown the whistle for a throw on. The spell ended with the score: Ponsonby 5. City 3. SECOND SPELL. Less than.a minute after resuming City had scored.. Wetherill got possession, and made a great opening before passing to Bass. The latter carried on the good work and transferred to Townsend, who got across. Brown's shot went wide. City 6, Ponsonby 5. Townsend, who was always In the thick of it, wormed his way out into the open with the ball, and then sent out a long pass, which Bass took and sent on to Brown. The latter streaked for the line and scored a brilliant try. Crewther made a fine attempt to convert from wide out but failed. City 9, Ponsonby 0. An attacking movement saw Townsend, Thomas and Hawkes handle in turn for Hawkes to score. Crewther landed a great goal. City 14, Ponsonby 5. _. Brown, tho City full-back, was responsible for Ponsonby's next score. Donovan had sent him a long kick which he collected, but was too matter-of-fact about" getting rid of it, and Littlewood coming up knocked the ball out of Brown's hands and fell on it to score. Delgrosso's shot at goal failed. City 14, Ponsonby 8. There was no question of City having the best 01 the play. Brown secured and gave to Davidson, who seized the opportunity to pot a goal. City 16, Ponsonby 8. Play was in Ponsonby's quarter when Wetherill started the backs going and the ball was handled in turn by Davidson, Bass. Brown and Wardlow, for the latter to score in the corner. Davidson's attempt at goal failed. City 19, Ponsonby 8. City's next try was a brilliant effort by Brown. His pass to.Wardlow was dropped, but coming round again Brown snapped it up and was across in the corner. Crewther failed to convert. .City 22, Ponsonby S. City's: pace never gave Ponsonby a chance. Right on the call of time Wetherill and Davidson indulged in a- bout of reverse passing which ended In Wetherill. scoring between the posts. Hawkes converted and.-the game ended:—— _ City ~;.... 27 Ponsonby .'...;■ 8 Mr. L. Bull was referee:. :., ATHLETIC V. NEWTON. „ii^ er ., J /! s ? En dean, the v patron's little giri-had kicked off, a scrum occurred on the from which Poison secured and l set the Newton forwards Voff towards Ath- j letics quarter...; Avery and Mason nullified and Graham ran up with the ball j into Newton's quarter, where the red and Whites offended. Durty had a ions shot watch went near the cross, bar. - Poison £f~? ed son >e ground by. dribbling the ball atter it had come out of a scrum in midfield, but Wilson-Hall stepped in and l cked 1 °ut to the line. Watson nnd Gallagner then made a swift excursion right down nnd through Athletlc's forwards and Hargreaves was then given the pass. ?„ ty . »^T5 a a certain -try. Play reverted to midfield, where .a series of scrums hSf^f cd V Clark Ind Mansill headed a might Newton movement, but Clark spoilt by playing offside when Newton ■were near Athletlc's- line. Avery held up another Newton dribbling rush, as did also Dufty a minute later, but this did not stop Newton from remaining in Ath- I i?,ii K te F rit i )ry for 3 uite n while. Timnilris, full-back for Athletic, had to run back j over the line to save by kicking out. Laing ! t„v P , t , ed a b } sh P unt ri S ht . On the halff »£ y -iT.Y. c*e* a ? d ' running up, passed to Wil-son-Hall, who carried on and transferred I to Avery, who scored a fine try. Dufty thf« ed ; A* A , th . letic 5 ' Newton 0- From! 2 ? n i Athletic seemed to play up better 1 Wh„„ n * us t? more dash I"*" their game. ' .J™," 1 Newton's territory, Timmins se-i E'« a ? F um noar the Hne and cross »syr „W Jones took t! ? e ball on the bounce, I Shi' J, ter ., a £ un sent across to Dufty, 8 **!_+£?• n He ,S aUea t0 convert. Athletic sure Z2S U * °' kept up the presmin ß^.l force 2 Ath letlc well back. Tim- : nn thS a b S un I c - e and Watson gathered np the ball and dived across. The try Newton" r erte T d b^ A Y Ma nslll. Athletic £ \ JNewton 5. Immediately following Thomoi of thf fIWSJf %m* dSwfhecen'tr'e I M the field and Gallagher managed to ' ■ : the U !_tra a no?n ß t S a S3, "P* , : lead ext ' a P oin ts and placed Newton in the , v l^ lo , 11 10 - Athletic 8. Following ner e r? a f r t d P a y r,ght "? ia Newton's cor°- | Sf i "Ufty -got possession of the leathpr B » mo Bcram ble and got over to score The • ~7 b £ "» ■"■tnletlc 13, Newton 10.- ■ A fnln ] and b h f u r , e the half -time bell Mason secured ' and, bolting across the field, penetrated S Newton backs and passed toKenSy uho ' h „»W to Laing. This Player touched' ' under the posts, and Dufty converter ■ ' Then, from a free kick, Dufty pilolid the > : &on c iO Ween the POSU - *$3sss I SECOND HALF. ' On resuming Avery pnnted high and set ' JP a strong Athletic attack, but Somers J aYesa p«? a x' gre t aVes st . opped the rus li and < n«h £ eV, ??£ OJ 1 , the „ attack. A dribbling rush by Athletlc's • front rankers would ' have succeeded but for Mansill, who picked , np quickly and found the line. Athletic 1 W «l e iS a ?. k attacking again the next minute, 1 and Hedley darted out from the pack and 4^ r , e, L a „ try - whicU Dufty converted. ' Athletic 25, Newton 10. ?*%*>***• I Lemming, Clarke and Stack were as- ' eociated In a brilliant passing movement in | ! lost ( - h l » S x f V, recti S n^ ,nlt one of the trio ' ' u„ j he ., ball ' nnd Dufty P ic *e d up and re- , neved the pressure with one of his cele- ', Thompson made a lightning dash along the ! 52.c.. and looked as though they must , I S. «d HS?H£ a ; ] nc ' Dut On__i came on and intercepted a pass. Dnfty punted ' ,

I down field and a scrum took place. Lang i gained possession and passed back to Dufty. Wilson-Hall was the last to receive and he registered a good try. Dufty converted. Athletic 30, Newton 10. After having experienced a long period defending their own half Newton brought off a nice movement which culminated in a try. Humhy, Poison and Somers went down in a line, and on joining them Clarke took a pass and scored. Clarke took the kick, which was successful. Athletic returned to the attack, but from a scrum Mansill gathered up and sent across to Humby, who scored. Mansill failed. Athletic 30, Newton 18. After some give-and-take play Laing got the ball from the scrum and handed to Dufty, who bullocked his way over. He goaled again. Athletic 33, Newton 18. No less than half a dozen scrums occurred right on Newton's line within the next live minutes, and Newton were experiencing some difficulty in keeping off the yellow and blues. Poison relieved, but Molloy was soon back with the ball, and throwing over to Wilson-Hall, the latter touched down. Dufty did not convert. i J ay ~ n " us ab °ut the centre of the field ! until Poison and O'Donnell set the fori wards going in a passing onslaught. Dufty nullified, and Athletic broke through witu the ball at their feet. Newton were attacking strongly when the bell went, with the score: Athletic 38 Newton '...*..-. 18 Mr. W. Minchin controlled the game. i KINGSLAND V. NORTHCOTE. . ! ... T ' l , e tn '° new senior B grade teams, Northcote and Kingsland, met on No. 2 ground, ns a curtain-raiser to the senior A • | match. Considering it was their first game, . both sides performed creditably. Kings- ! land kicked off, nnd immediately set np a I strong attack, which was frustrated by the j Northcote backs. Right throughout the | urst spell Kingsland kept attacking, C. List scoring the initial try, which Kindly failed to convert. A few minutes before halftime was called McMnnus picked the ball up in the ruck and broke away from his ]own twenty-five to score behind the posts. j Davison was given the kick, which was ! successful. Northcote played strongly, but j seemed to lack combination und finish. : Kingsland 8, Northcote 0. SECOND SPELL. I On resuming, Northcote were forced back, and bad to defend. Although hard-pressed, they managed to stave off several strong passing rushes by the other side. C. List I was prominent in a fine passing bout, and dived over in the corner, where he registered. McMnnus converted. A few minutes later play was transferred from Kingsland's end, and C. List broke away after a scrum, and scored his third try. McManus again converted. Though Kingsland were having much the better of the game, the Northcote forwards set up a nice fast passing bout, and went within a few yards of Kingsland's. line. A scrum ensued, and Campbell secured the leather, and gave to Watson, who opened N'orthcote's account. Watson failed in the attempt to convert. Kingsland IS, Northcote 3. Weatherly and Sims rounded off a pretty piece of work near half-way by dashing down with only Wilson, Northcote's fullback to beat. Sims passed to Weatherly, and the latter got over. This time McManus failed to add the embroidery. Kingsland 21 Northcote 3 Mr. Lupton was the referee. RICHMOND V. DEVONPORT. Shore kicked off and very soon made a passing rush, which was, however, frustrated by the Richmond forwards on tho quarter line. Richmond then forced down, and uneven Up—and down play was the order until Devonport again broke through the Richmond defence and Veart reached the line to score. "Finger" Hand took a beautiful kick and put the ball over. Devonport 5, Richmond 0. Devonport followed up with a series of passing rushes, in which B. Laing was conspicuous, but found Richmond's defence fairly sound. Again Devonport tried to get away, Laing making a rush, but he was well tackled. B. Laing then made a break near the quarter line and Dixon got across. Laing failed with the kick. Shore 8, Richmond 0. lling at half continued as Richmond's most prominent player. In a rush that followed, Uixon shone out and O'Brien passed to Segar who scored. Laing did not convert. Shore 11, Richmond 0. Richmond almost immediately got a free, but Hanlon's kick fell short. The side then became aggressive and took play downfleld, but Butland eased Shores position in a fine kick up field. McDonald, Davis and McEwan then got - away and Hlng scored Richmond's first try. McDonald failed to put tho ball over. Shore 11, Richmond 3. A passing rush by the Devonport forwards led by Laing followed and they forced up. A tussle resulted from which J. Laing got away to score: k™„ $ om 'erted. Shore 10, Richmond 3. lowed to score, while Segar converted haTf 0 Z 0 e rt T 21 f n ? ichmo S d . 3 ' b^e re a p I fa t c i ea e by-f a k n c e ot? ad t0 Ue ™ the^econd^hni?^ 1 !! 3 commencement of cne second half, Richmond forced into SST 8 s , teritory ' but were repulsed. A scrum took place in Shore's quarter and Davis hT a ,?H d 4 ? break W and score Hanlon did not convert. Shore 21, Richmond »fW. f,llwC(i and the ba?l went ?own field, but Hanlon, who played well a h '° U e«' as f»"-back/ kicked P „p yed After S*iS?sHi of t0 nnd fro Pay, the Shore forwards made a rush and Webb 'cot Shored 0 SFT H , e £ allert *»»'the kick Shore 24, Richmond 6. Richmond made another dash,, and play of an excTtlng " Fin 4r c "% U n a n^ d It De ™°P°r"s comer 8 dinger Hand then got the leather and executed a fine kick nHflfi* in the play that followed, HinVmade a great dash before lie was broufht down Almost immediately "afterwards gamed the ball from centre and madf - clean dash through, to score between tho P° Bts ' Scott was successful with thlklck Shore 20, Richmond 6. Richmond «,„« made a sally Into Shore's terSy I Hing also scored . between the D o S t ß ' but ; jailed to convert from an e'asv vnilit,™ Shore 20, Richmond 9: A seWeTof scS took place in Richmond's corner ff lncS: Mr. Saunders was referee. MARIST OLD BOYS. MATCH AT CHRISTCHURCH. WON BY AUCKLAND. (By Telegranh.—Press Association \ CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. 4>^^n A, l ckl ' lnd l ¥ arist Old fi °vs' League football team defeated the Chrlsrennreif Marlst thirteen by 16 points to 7 'yestet At the start Ellis took the hall thromr', to Auckland's end, where E. FitzjroraW hnrt a shot at goal- that fell short. Christ church were almost over the line twice, nut a.little later some fast passing by the visitors and a sprint by Brisbane give i Auckland a chance. However. Mullins relieved. After O'Brien had knocked the j ball on a few inches from the Christchurch ; l'ne. Kirwan (Christchurch) Infringed, and ' C. Gregory opened Auckland's scoring account with a clever kick.

A strong Auckland attack headed by Gallagher, with three men in support, was well stopped by Brosnahan. Kirwan (Auckland) broke away and passed to Johnstone, who missed scoring by Inches Ghent paved the way for Auckland's first try, the ball going from Kirwan to Gallagher, who dashed over. Gregory missed the kick. Auckland 5, Christchurch 0. After missing a shot at goal from a free kick, C. Fitzgerald cut in beautifully and looked dangerous, but a bad pass spoilt the effort. GaJdagher then came 'through fast, intercepted a pass and, beating off his opponents, sent Carroll over. The latter scored behind the posts for Gregory to convert.

Christchurch were hooking the' ball most of the time, but the Auckland tackling pulled "them up short. Christchurch attacked strongly after a good run by Petersen, who was playing a fine game, until off-side play sent them back. Tho visitors* backs were very clever, and nipped many good movements in the bud.

Kirwan and Mullins set the local men off from a serum, and gave E. Fitzgerald a great chance, but a missed pass stopped the movement. Soon after, half-time sounded with the score: Auckland 10, Christchurch 0.

C. Flitzgerald did not resume after halftime, P. Clarkson replacing him. Auckland came with a passing rush, the ball travelling from Kirwan to Ghent, to Gallagher, the last-named scrambling over the line wide out. C. Gregory failed to convert. From a penalty in front of the Auckland goal, Ellis opened the local scoring with a good kink. Auckland 13, Cnristchiircn 2. Singe and O'Brien broke through the .ocal defence, and O'Brien scored after a strong run. Fitzgerald, Blazey, Brittenden and Petersen combined In a movement which resulted in Petersen scoring under the posts. Ellis converted, and the game ended with the scores: Auckland 16, Chrißtcburcb 7.