THE LEAGUE CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 127, 1 June 1925, Page 9

THE LEAGUE CODE.

< A' BRILLIANT GAME. CITY V. MARISTS. A SENSATIONAL WIN. POXSOXBY BEATS ATHLETIC. Once la?t season Marist Brothers brought off a sensational victory liy defeating Bcvonport in flip bi.-t minutn of a game which derided the championship. On Saturday tlio Brotliers suffered an even more sensational defeat, when B. Davidson (for City) potted a goal from the field while the timekeeper held the bell in his hand awaiting Hie ball to go out of play, "T\a so call time. The game itself must, rank with the fastest ever played, and a crowd estimated at 13.000 f capilv a. record tor a. olub match ) were ar. a high pitch of excitement throughj out the whole of the two spells. Maybe j it. was hard luck for Marists to be beaten on the post, but the play in the second I half was in favour of City, and the win ] was thoroughly deserved. There have been some great games at. Carlaw Park, hut none better than the' one this j afternoon. Playing on Xo. 2 ground at Carlaw j Park." Ponsonby won from Athletics by !IS points to fi. after a really good, fast exposition of the code. Considering that Athletics had to play without the services of such good players as Diifty, Lang, and Timmins. their display was a surprisingly excellent one. The game was by no means one-sided in fact, it wns bright and sparkling throughout. In the B section, Northcote were too good for Kingsland. and won by 8 points to 5. while Ellerslie defeated Mnngere by 12 points to 5. CITY V. MARIST. Excitement came, early. M:iri>t ordain* their score within thirty seconds. The flrst return kick was taken by O Brien. who broke away and not beiu; allowed to plax the ball when collared. Tykes were awarded a free, which Gregory piloted over the bar. The City backs opened up the game In great style and a brilliant hit o( passing .-aw Wardlaw fall to take a pass from Brown which promised a certain score. Twice Kirwln got his side out of trouble with useful kicks, and then Tjkes made the flrst onslaught. Johnson, not allowing Bass to play the ball. Crewihor failed Willi a not dittlcult shot. Twice in succession the M.irist team set up passing bouts, but each time n. wild pass, when a score looked probable, enabled Wetherlll to clear. The Tykes were now playing season came when Kirwln picked "the ball up In tie loose. Without swerving an Inch he brushed asirle four of the City men and scored a brilliant try alons-slde the post. Gregory made no mistake with the shot and Marlsts led by 7 to 0. A scrum saw the ball bo to Wether--111, who returned it to Mitchell, the latter xoaled. Marists 7: City 5. The second spell opened with some hard play near the centre and then ibe J'lir backs made an attack. Ghent came through with the ball at toe, but for something that did not appear clear to the crowd City wore awarded a Tree and Sandiinru landed a goal, making the scores 7 all. hoarse as City eettled down near the Marist line. Kuby was almost over, and then Gregory tried to bustle ils way through. Suddenly Mitchell gave the ball to Wetherlll, the latter to DavidsoD, who passed high to Brown, the latter going pass forward. It was bard luck. City were now making desperate efforts anil corner. Gregory was getting his side out of trouble times out of number. Just, when the timekeeper was waiting for Uie ball to go out to call time the ]iaH cam** to R. Davidson in a good position and he potted a coal, a sensational ending to a thrlllins game. City „ n Marist Bros 7 Mr. r.ipley was referee. PONSONBY V. ATHLETIC. Athletics kicked off, and Delgrosso immediately set up an attack by making a fine run and passed to Littlewood. Athletics nullified, but Just then Graham got offside and gave the Ponies" a chance. Delgrosso converted a good goal, and opened Fonsonby's account. Ponsonby, - ; Athletics, 0. In making an excursion towards Ponsonby's end, one of Athletics' forwards threw the ball too much in front. Taking the free kick. Delgrosso again goaled easily. Ponsonby 4, Athletics 0. Immediately following. Athletics were again penalised, this time for failing to play the ball. I>elcro=so converted, gaining the hat trick. The ball was kicked across by Mason, for Athletic*, and Webb followed up to gain the leather In a scramble and score. Wilson Hall'« kick proved unsuccessful. l'onsonby 6. Athletics 3. Most of the blue and black's forwards attempted to dash over, and the honour of attempt was a good one, but it went •wide. Ponsonby 0, Athletics 3. Delgrosso again dashed away. but was tackled well by Mason, and he lost the ball. Webb snatched up, ran on swiftly and handed to McGregor, who ' bounded over and scored. l'onsonby U Athletics 6. I Tonsonby forced Athletic back imrnedii ately the game was resumed. i Another score then came Ponsonby' , * I way. Cole passed the ball under his legs ,to Gardiner, who ran strongly up the line but -was pushed out. From the resultant scrum, Peckham hooked the ball and passed to Delgrosso, who only had a few yards'to go. It was a good try, but he failed to ; converr. Pontonby 12, Athletic fi. ! From a scrum in Afhletic's twenty-five Peckham got the ball and handed to iDelgroEso. This nippy player then tn * r j arrliDPr - nn * racing up, Littlewood just accepted in time to break over and score. This time Gardiner took the kick, which failed. Ponsonby 15. minute later, and Dempsey r]jd no t "convert The bell was then rung. The final «c Or e , wai: — Athletic' .'■'.\'.'.'.]\\'.'.[[\\\' m J r Mr. Taylor was the referee __. KINGSLAND V. NORTHCOTE. This match was played as the curtainraiser to the Marist-City game.' j n the early stages Northcote set up a vigorous attack, and Green behind the P n-k several times net his backs moving. Kinnwr and McLeod were responsible fur shifting the peone ro the Xonhcote end where The reds were busy trying to m,,, v" lL when a clearing kick was taken l.y the Kingsland full. McCoy, and he dropped a fine goal. Kingsland 2, Xorthcote 0 A good scoring chance was lost by Northcote when a lone pass were playing the better football and from a scrum near the reds - line the ball was sent along to Thompson, xrho scored. Wllkins converted. Northcote 3, Kingslvind 2 In the second half the'fir'st bright item was a piece of smart following up by Flower and had he received any assistance from his team Kincsland must have scored' Thompson made a fine opening for Northcote but w»nt too far and the good wr.rk bout seems Wilkins s"core* iv?de nu?. H* failed to convert. N"orthcnte s. Kingsland -. Jim before ,he g am » , ndPrl Us , scr , rr ,, IT ih" game ending: Kinesland [\',',,',] 5 ifr. Hill refcreed.

NEWTON V. DEVONPORT. AT DEVONPORT. Newton opened the game and from an immediate, lino-out play went into Devniiport's quarter, -where an infringement gained Devonport a free kirk. B. Laing took the kick and put the ball across. Devonport 2, Newton 0. Wheeler, as fullback for Devonport, was responsible for some good kicking am] also j'or bringing down Clarke, after the latter had madp' a spectacular run down from Newton's quarter. Soon after. Honker gainerl the leather and got away to port ?, Newton 0. B. 1-aln;; kicked to fpntre arri tiifti Mhrgrpiivpp performed the nf a test pifrp of work in the £.8 dip by infltiinc n clear dash through, to ecore between the posts. I'olson converted. Newton S, Devonport S. Willing: play was then the order in Newton's quarter and S. Webb managed to hrnak away to score. E. I.alng kicked successfully. Pevonport 13, Newton S. Half time sounded without further score. The opening of the neeonl half paw the Devonpnrt front line make a dash and Dlxftn, who harl been conspicuous from the outset, wns on the point of making a breakaway. wh"n the whistle spoiled bin effort. Hooker nnd S. Webb then made a combined dash, and Webb got across to score in the port IP,. Newton" R. Play theD centred, and from a scrum Tolson took the ball and passed to Clarke, who got. , very iienr the line, but Dlxon frustrated him and kickpil out. Newton then kicked behind the goal, and Anderson ran along to score. I'olson failed with the kick. Devonport 1 fi, Newton 11.

In the next, spell Scott opened up the field, nnd in a Inst, rush passed to Grcig, the Inner transferrins to O'Brien, who eluded hie opponents and scored. B. T.alng put the hall over. Devonport 21, Newton 11.

Greig was noticeable for a good run soon afterwards and play centred again. From ii scrum, the leather went to B. Laing. He passed to Hargreaves, who unfortunately slipped during n fine rush down. Greig. In Cleaver, who added another three to Dcvonports score. B. Laing converted. Devotiport 26. Newton 11.

The Newton forwards, in their opponents" quarter, then started a dasb. but O'Brien intercepted unci inntln n spectacular run, r.ninK fulled to put the ball 'across. The game ended : Dovonport 20 Newtou 11 Mr. Bull was the referee. MANGERE V. ELLERSLIE. Both teams vrerp. fairly evenly matched and a good g»mi> resulted. Throughout play was of the fast order, both Bides showing up now and again in bright passing work. At rhe end of tbe first half Ellerslie led by 7 points to nil. Shand having kicked a penalty goal. W. Johnston scoring a try which was converted by his brother R. Not long after thn interval Mangere> barks tot up a good passing bout, Tautakt afterwards dribbling the ball over the line. Tautakl and the referee awarded the men from Mangaro an obstruction try. Lipscombe was successful in converting. Elleralie T. Mangere 3. b play well down, Williams having no difficulty in registering. Johnston's kick failed. Kllersllc 10, .Mangere 5. A mlnutp later Kllerslie were conceded n penalty kick end Shand madp. no mistake, bringing EUenOie's score to 12. There was Ellerplle 12. Mangere 5. — SECOND GRADE. North Shore 14. beat Newton 8. I'onponby 10. beat 3. , ronsonby L".', beat Mtngere 0. fljj *CV^* THIRD GRADE, " "* Point rhevnlier 0. Vipat Newton 2. Npw Lynn r>, b^at Dtvooport 0. University A S. Lent United B 0. Marathon 6, beat Grafton 3. FOURTH GRADE. Ponsonby in, beat Ellprslie 5. Tariicll 13, beat .Athletic 0. FIFTH GRADE. Hicbmond .1, bent Ellerslie 0. «'lt.v .1. beat Athletic o. I'axnell 17, beat Tonsonby 0. SOUTHERN MATCHES. - ' (By Teleprraph.-rress Association.) rHRIPTCHUKCH. Adflington IS, beat Waimalri 12. Marlsts A 33, beat Martete B 3. Sydenham sn, beat Woolston 0 Hornby 20, beat Linwood 11. DUNEDIN. rity 34. beat Taclfic 2. r-hrlstian Brothers A 30, beat Christian Brothers B S. Athletic 10, beat Eaitangata 8.