LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 134, 9 June 1925, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

CITY UNBEATEN. ■ A little bit of liicli, but chiefly by playing fine football, the City team holds the leading position in the locnl club competition. More than once this season the bearers of the red and black looked like and until the bell rings they never give in. When they defeated Marist Brothers, on Saturday week, It was a pretty close thing, but tho Inst kick of the ball saw Davidson pnt a coal. On Saturday last it was not quite so close, hut at one stage of the game, nnd well into the second half Dovnnport appeared to have City's scalp. Devonport nre always to he respected, and on Saturday they fielded their best side this season. ("it y put on a few points carlv, nncl thf*n the Macks got busy and. playing their usual vigorous game, they were soon scoring tries, and with B. I.alng converting, the spell arrived with Devonport leading 17 to lf>. On the way the game had been going the Devonport supporters had every reason tn feel happy. Every man wns doing his bit. and the game "was full of exciting incidents. Then ci.me the change which has so often fallen to Devonport's lot. The City backs began to get the hall, and playing the short punt and bustled. What was worse. Hooker, at full-hack, began to make mistakes, while his kicking was weak, and it was the latter more than anything that hrnneht about defeat. The Cltv men soon found the weak spot, and, playing to Hooker, they were quickly rattling on the points, eventually winning by 27 to 20. The victory was ir good one. and well deserved, but there was little to choose between the teams. Ptill City got most points, nnd it Is points that count. On the winring side 1.. Rrown was the star back, hut Wothorill was nlsn good, in fact, he Is Playing right at the top of his form. Roth he and Rrown should he certainties for a trip to Australia. R. Davidson nnd Wardlow were nlso sound. nnd Crew! her, although out of his place behind the pack, shaped nlcelv. The forwards nil worked hard. Hawkos. Macklo and r.ass being constantly in the limelight. As mentioned before. Devonport's weakness was the full-hack, and had he pl.ived anything like a safe game, the ehnnces are Devonport would have heaten City. The whole of the other backs played fine football, but there was just an Inclination to get out of position, and twice, when the ball was being kicked about, they were badly placed. The addition of Cl->ver nnd Greiger has niade the black hncks a good set. The new members shaped well nnil did all th» work allotted them satisfactorily, n. I.ainc gave a glimpse of his very best fnrni. and Webb, behind the pack has prnhahiy no superior in tho position in the League code. As usual the forwards kept going nil day. and they make a fine pnek. They were nil grafters, every one of them.

NEWTON OUTCLASSED. In a little after the first spell Ponsonhy put on 42 points ngalnst Newton, and the latter then decided to join the crowd and watch the game between City and Devonport. Ponsonhy had scored nt the rate of a point a minute, and when the snme teams meet ncnin this season it might be well If the Ponies played Newton on a nt the top of his form this would be easy. Always a good player he has never been more brillinnt than this season, nnd every match he is scoring tries and kicking goals. T. Peckham is also doing great work behind the pack, and there are few halves in the game as good as he.

NEXT SATURDAY'S GAMES. | » " ! There will be a strong counter-attraction i jon Saturday next in the races, at Avondale, 1 but even so the clash between Ponsonby and City, at Carlaw Tark, is hound to draw a hip crowd. It Is just possible this will be the came of the season, and that is sayins a lot. Both sides throw the ball about, and though City are leading in the championship they will have to be right at the top of their form if they are to . retain their unbeaten certificate. It is a remarkable thing, but no matter how good City has been in other years, they have J invariably been beaten when they meet jhow the same goes on Saturday. " i

I POSITION OF THE TEAMS. Played. Won. Lost. Dr'n. Pts. City fi f, 0 0 12 Mariste ... 5 4 1 0 R I Ponsonby .. 6 4 2 0 R [Athletic ... 6 S 3 0 6 Pnevor.port . fi 2 4 0 4 Richmond . ."> 1 -4 0 2 Newton ... 6 0 6 0 0 B GRADE. Played. Won. Lost. Dr'n. Pte. Ellerslie .. 6 5 1 - 0 10 Otahnhu .. It 4 1 0 S Northcote 6 2 4 0 4 Kingsland .6 1 4 1 3 Mangere ... 5 1 3 1 3 The Point Getters. With the firet round on the club competition concluded on Saturday last, and the selectors busy ticking off the likely players to be In the team to tour Australia next month, it is interesting to note which players have been responsible for points to their respective teams. Taking the teams in the order in which they stand in the competition the following should prove Interesting :— CITY. Tries. Goals. Points. L. Brown 11 0 S3 Kandham 0 9 3 Wardlaw f> 0 U Hawkee 2 1 S Davidson 1 2 7 Wetherill 1 1 S McDonald 1 1 5 Crewther 1 1 5 Townsend 1 0 3 Ruby 1 0 3 I Bass 1 O 3 Mitchell 1 0 3 Mackie 1 0 3 Thomas 0 1 2 113 MARIST BROS. Gregory 0 n IS Kirwan 3 0 0 Gallnugher 2 0 r> Malloy 2 0 r, Brisbane . .'. 1 0 3 Cadnian 1 0 & 45 PONSONBY. Delgrosso 9 IS 63 Littlewood ........ 7 0 °l Cole 4 1 14 Payne 4 O 1" T. Peckham 2 1 R I Gardiner 2 0 K Lowrle 1 O 3 Fngan 1 0 3 Goodley 1 0 3 133 ATHLETIC. iDufty 4 11 34 1 Hadley 3 0 fl :Avery > 2 0 6 Webb 2 0 6 Wilson Hall l> 0 0 .T. Lang 1 0 3 •Tones 1 0 3 McGregor 1 0 3 "0 DEVONPORT. B. Laing 1 8 19 Webb 3 1 11 Veart 3 0 fl Dixon 3 0 0 O'Brien II 0 9 Seagnr 1 2 7 J. Laing -2 0 6 Douglas 2 0 (i A. Scott 1 1 5 Hnrper 1 O 3 Haddon 1 O 3 Hooker 1 0 3 Cleaver 1 0 3 Hnnd 0 1 2 05 RICHMOND. R. Hyland 3 0 9 W. Hanlon 1 ' 2 7 J. Hanlon 0 3 6 Little 2 0 6 Hinc 2 0 6 Davis 1 0 3 K. Hyland 1 0 3 40 NEWTON. Clarke 2 4 14 Anderson 2 0 6 Hnnrrenves 2 0 6 Mansill 0 2 4 Watson 1 0 3 Gnllngher 1 0 3 Humby 1 0 3 Thompson 1 0 3 Lawson 1 0 3 Poison 0 1 2 47 I