THE LEAGUE CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 121, 25 May 1925, Page 9

THE LEAGUE CODE.

ATHLETICS NARROW WIN

DEVONPORT'S IMPROVEMENT,

MARIST BROS. BEAT NEWTON.

If the Devonport team had disappointed a week ago and been responsible for a poor display they certainly made amends on Saturday afternoon when in a game with Athletic they displayed that dash and vigour which had taken them so close to winning the championship last year. Though defeated by Athletic by eight points lo six, tho run of the playwas all iv favour of Devonport, and they were decidedly unlucky not to win.

On No. _ ground at Carlaw Park, City won from Richmond by 17 points to 6, alter a good, hard and interesting exposition of the code, despite the slippery state of the ball and the ground. In the first spell I.ichmond hud City fully extended, but in the last half, City improved, particularly in gaining the ball from the scrum. Although beaten Richmond were by no means disgraced— in fact they made a very good showing. At the Domain, Marist Bros, scored an easy victory over Newton by 18 points to nil, while in the B division Mangere beat Northcote after a close game by 12 points to 11. ATHLETIC V. DEVONPORT. When the gain.- opened a heavy downpour or rain iniiile. the- ground and 'ball wet and slippery. Tho lirst real attack canie from Athletic. Inn the good work was wasted when of the forwards got eilTsidc ami Devonport wore awarded a trio kick. Thou for a time Devonport attacked and but for the hall being too greasy to handle with any degree of accuracy, Rutland must have si-or.'d. A great solo run was made by Godiek, but Dufty was safe. The first score came when Herring with one of his characteristic dribbles took the ball over the Devonport line and scored in the cor-ll.-r. Dufty inn.lo a great attempt lo goal from the sideline, the hall striking the crossbar. Athletic o. Devonport O. Iludloy and Timnilns dribbled over tho Devonport line', but both missed lhe touch down. Uowever, Herring, who was tailing them up, came to Die rescue and scored his second try. Dufty failed to convert. Athletic 11, Devonpurt I. Webb caused great excitement when he cut out two opponents and set off for Athletics line. When he had done his hit he handed on to Lning. The latter losl the ball on the line, but A. Scot was handy and dived over to score. Liiing failed to convert. Athletic ti, Devonport a. Keeping up the attack, Devonport were rewarded when Webb sent a low pass to Lulng. Instead of trying to pick-thc bull up he kicked for the corner and Butland and K. Scott sprinteeL the former scoring. A. Scott failed to convert. Athletic 0, Devonport 0. Hooker twice got Ills side out of danger before half-time arrived. Dixon, who was playing a wonderful game in the Devonport forwards, just missed scoring shortly after play resumed. Then K. Scott smothered a return by Dufty, and, kicking across the line, he was Just beaten for the hall by Jones. One of the best bits of play was brought off by -Hooker, when he ran round a couple of opponents and then dashed down the line before cross-kicking. Ills kick was just a trifle hard and Athletic forced. The pace was now right on and Devonport were making desperate efforts to score. Hall momentarily gave his side relief, hut the Devonport men were playing with that vim which 'was a feature of their play last year. There were thrills all the time, and the crowd kept at a high pitch of excitement. Devonport were doing everything but score and their luck was right out. when, with only two minutes to go before time was called, Athletic were ,-twai-deel a penalty and Dufty landed n goal, giving them victory. In the dying stages Devonport played like men possessed, hut failed to score, and the play ended. Athletic S Devonport G ilr. McCowatt was referee. CITY V. RICHMOND. Richmond set the ball in motion. Wetherill immediately leading nn attack into Richmond's twenty-live, but the ball wns greasy and the City forwards found passing difficult. Redwood, Crowther. and Hnnlen then dribbled into City's territory, but Wardlnvv broke up the little effort. Neither side seemed to really get going in the heavy rain, and for quite a long period the game moved from one end of the held to the other. Several times Lou Brown made brilliant runs, but on each occasion he was caught by tile Richmond backs. Following a scrum five yards from Richmond's line Bass obtained the leather and dived over, but by the time he had crossed the line he had lost the greasy ball. After another scrum Richmond forced. Playing with perfect combination, dcsplto the soft and slippery nature of the turf. Richmond, led by Ray Hyland. peuetrnted City's forwards, hut found it hard to break through the backs. Another solo effort by Lou Brown might have succeeded had he not kicked too far nhead, enabling Hyland to cut across and kick the ball into the dead area. City were then awurded a free kick, Crewther just failing to convert. Both sides made herculean efforts to register a try before the spell, but when half time sounded the score board was without a single figure. Fortunately the rain cleared just before the adjournment. On resuming Lou Brown rushed down the sideline, nnd successfully gave the "dummy" to a Richmond trio, but then lost the ball. Hyland won the resultant scrum, and passed to Redwood, who in turn transferred to Crowther. However, Brown. City's full-back, got possession. and running across the field, punted high and well out down the line. Ruby then got the ball, and running in his usual style made an excellent opening for McDonald to score a fine try. Crewther's kick failed. City 3, Richmond 0. City again attacked, Bass dribbling down the line, hut Hanlon, Richmond's full-back, stepped in and kicked out. After a melee, following a kick hy Bass, Wardlaw handed the bnll to Thomas, but this player could not get over, so he passed to Lou Brown, and the rest wns easy. Crewther made a fine attempt, but missed. A minute later McDonald, who was at the head of a strong attack hy City, bullocked his wav over to score. Crewther again failed with the shot. City 0, Richmond 0. Wctlierlll started n bright City forward movement, and passed to Brown, then the ball was returned to WetherM. He then threw a long one to Lou Brown, who scored. Crewther did not add the extra points. City 12, Richmond 0. A Richmond excursion into City's half was nullified by Wetherill, nnd after gaining possession Mitchell nnd B. Davidson went down passing together. Brown was the next to handle, and not being able to get over he passed to Crewther, who scored. This time he succeeded in potting a goal. City 17, Richmond 0. Mr. L. Bull was the referee. • I

MANGERE V. NORTHCOTE.

Mangere kicked off nnd followed with a dash down, but the game was immediately reversed by a kick-up by Northcote. Up and down play followed and very soon nfter the commencement of the game, Pennyeook gained the leather in Mangere's half, eluded his opponents and scored. Green converted. Northcote 3, Mangere 0. The game centred in .the following spell, until, from a scrum, the Mangere forwards took the leather and executed a passing rush tin 111 in Northcoto's quarter, where the latter were we'll on the defensive. However, the Mangere men retaliated soon afterwards, nnd, from a dush down, Kober.ts got away to score. N. Llpscombe failed wilh the kick. Northcote ".. Man."..----3 Thompson then broke away from centre and opened up the Held for Speight, who scored. Green again failed to convert Nortbcote S, Mung.-re .1. I. Tutaki made a fruitless effort to break through and then, from another scrum near the line. Ansell got across to score. He failed with the kick. Northcote S, Mangere**-. . _ . For some minutes after the commencement of the second half Mangere were ■Seisin" on North-cote's line, until Forrest cleared" with a good line kick. From a -orimhle Speight picked up and transferred to Wilkins who made a clear run und -cored between the posts. He did not con- „_ r Northcote 11. Mangere 6. From a scrum the Shore forwards tried for tbe line. but N. 'tinscomhe saved with a good kick-out. Trfore foHowed . break by the Mangere forwards, from which W. Hari got away.

to score in tho corner. Northcote Hi Mangere fl. Little more than a minute had elapsed iioforo George dashed through to Increase Mangere's s.-ore hv another three points. Llpscon-he's ki.-k fell short. Northcote ll; Mangere 12. Mangere continued on the aggressive, hut the game ended Vitbout further incident. Mangore -_-_..^.._.__._. 12 Northcote _, ii Mr. ISotivaird was the referee.

NEWTON V. MARIST. After a bout of even play Marists opened Ihe scoring, Brisbane getting over from a scramble. Marists ::. Newti.n o. Marists, who attacked strongly once again, got away and Malloy scored, P. Gregory goalins.. Marists X, Newton 0. A grca't passing rush by Marists saw Kirvviu pass to Brisbane.. Tho latter dropped it and Malloy comlni, up fast kicked Ihe ovnl over Iho lino for 81-ishnno lo fall on it. P. Gregory again added tho oxtm points. Marists 13, Newton, ii. Soon ..fior half-time was called. I-or the staio of ihe weather it was a good game, fairly fust and open. the score, up lo this time, not altogether indicating the run ~f tho play. A froo kick was awarded Marists, and P. Gregory luniloil a beautiful goal, making the scores: Maris! 15. Newton 0. Once again O'Brien, for Marists. sot away, and hustling his way through 'boat nearly the whe.le of the Newton team, only to he well tackled by Hargreaves close lo tho line. 1-v.r a space Newton hail the advantage. They continued to press till Singe got possession for Marists. Having a clear run. he raced away and scor.-d between the posts. I. | Gregory failed with an easy kick. .lust before time was culled Thorfipsnn (Newton! hud to rotiro with nn Injured lii-a-d. There was no further score when the final whistle blew.

OTAHUHU V. KINGSLAND. This game developed into a fairly even anil last game in the tirst half, marked e-liii'tly hy determined efforts on the part "1 l.c.th teams to break down each other's defence. List, for Kingsland, made several breaks, only to he pulled up hy smart tackling .m the part nf Otahuhu. 'At halftime there was no score. On the recommencement of the same the blues carried play to Klngslnnds quarter, whore Todd snapped up the ball and Rot across to score a try. which was unconverted. Again play wont to the King-land lino, whore, a scrum was ordered, the' blue pni'k getting the hall for Eustace- to dummy his way ae-ross. No score resulted. After play inside the halfway It.n>, a ki.-k by Eustace was followed up smartly by Otahuhu. ..ml Murray obtained possession, lo get across and score n try which Phillips converted. Play went into Otahuhu's quarter, hut a smart return followed hy hard play saw Klrklnnd got across lo score a try which was converted. Otahuhu 10, Kingsland 0. With a few minutes to go Kingsland got the ball and ran between the posts, to score n try that was not converted, and the game ended 10 to 3. with Otahuhu the winners. The Otahuhu forwards predominated the game, while Eustace played a solid game at half.

SECOND GRADE. Newton 4, boat Mangere 3 Ponsonby B (!. ue.lt Shore 3. Ponsonby A 30, beat Ellerslie 0. THIRD GRADE. Northcote S, beat Richmond 0. Point Chevalier 23, beat Mangere 0. United Suburhs 0, drew with Kingsland 0. Ponsonby B C. boat Parnell 2. Athletics 15, bent Ponsonby 3. New Lynn 0, beat Coromandcl Old Boys 0. FOURTH GRADE. Richmond 10, bent Ellerslie 0. Ponsonby 42, bent Kingsland 0. Devonport 13, beat Marist Old Boys 3. FIFTH GRADE. Ellerslie 23, beat New Lynn 0. SIXTH GRADE. Cltv 40. heat Richmond B 0. City ID, beat Newton 0. Ellerslie 27, beat Now Lynn 0. Kll.rslir A 0. beat Ponsonby 0. Ellerslie 5, beat Point Chevalier 0. SOUTHERN MATCHES. CHRISTCHURCH. Hornby 13, bent Walmari 2. Marists A 11. boat Sydenham 9. Wnolston 22. beat Linvvooil fl. Addlngton 25, boat Murlst Brothers B 15. DUNEDIN. City 111. beat Athletic 8. Christian Brothers A 32, heat Pacific 8. Kaitangata 28, boat Christian Brothers 2.