THE LEAGUE CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 145, 22 June 1925, Page 9

THE LEAGUE CODE.

DEVONPORT'S DAY OUT.

BEAT MARISTS DECISIVELY. CITY OUTCLASS ATHLETIC. rOXSOXBY BEAT RICHMOND. With beautiful weather prevailing it was not surprising to find a crowd of about 9000 at C'arlaw Park on Saturday, when the League competitions were continued. The star attraction was provided by Marist Brothers and Devon|>ort on No. 1 ground. A week ago Devonport had been badly beaten by .Richmond, but performances by the men from across the harbour are not consistent, and it was always possible for them to try Marist Brothers right out. But they did more, and in a hard game won by 19 points to 11. The greatest score in senior football this season was established on No. 2 ground at C'arlaw Park on Saturday, when City disposed of Athletic to the tune of 07 points to 10. In the first half, although City held the upper hand, the play was more even than the score might indicate, but in the second spell City simply ran through the other side.

.At the Domain Richmond put up a great fight against Ponsonby, the latter winning nfter a fine exposition of the code by 14 to 7. MARISTS V. DEVONPORT. Marists at once sot up an attack and in the first two minutes Brisbane was almost across ami .lolinstou throw away a certain try by giving a forward pass. A couple of free kicks and smart following up by Godick saw Gallaugher bustled and the blacks snttled down near the Marists' line. A relieving kick was smothered and the ball, going over the line, O'Brien dived for it and scored. Lning failed to convert. Devouport 3, Mnrists 0.

The Pcvonport forwards were plnylna with their usual dash and giving ing uiovomeits. Haddon headed a bustling movement which looked dangerous. Awarded a penalty, Laing landed a goal* Devonport .">, Marists 0.

Gregory next had a shot from nearly half way, the ball falling under the bar. O'Brien suddenly uppearetl from some light play with the ball, but his pnss to Stormont was not accepted. Keeping up the attack Klrwin got the ball and only lost It whpn til most across. Brisbane wns handy nii'l curried it over to score. Gregory did not convert. Devonport 5, Marists 3.

Godick put in a fine run before short punting. Kirklnnd was downed before ho could get his kick in, and from a scramble on the line Gregory forced. There was no loitering and the tackling was solid. Ghent and then O'Brien (Devonport) came away with the ball. With only Gregory to beat he sent a long pass in, but it went forward. Laing brought applause when he placed a goal from well outside Marists' 25. Devonport 7, Marists 3.

Right on interval there was some bright passing by Marists, the ball being handled by O'Brien, Kirkland, Malloy and Johnston. Devonport 7, Marists 3.

As soon as play ,-esumeJ O'Brien (Marists) and McNeill made an attack, but O'Brien, after being downed right on the line, settled a brilliant effort on his part by failing to play the ball. Some strenuous play ensued near Marists' line, and again Devonport "were awarded a free -when one of the Marists team failed to play the ball. Laing placed a goal. Devonport i>, Marists 3.

Keeping up the attack they Just missed played" for safety" by marking. A brilliant try came from a scrum; Webb iiuncle;! to Lainz, the latter to Cleaver, who returned it for Lain? to cut through aud give to Haddon to score between the posts. Laing goaled. Devonport 14, Marists 3. With play near tho Tykes' line, Ghent's kick was smothered by Webb, who grabbed the ball and scored. J. Laing converted. Devonport 19, Marists 3

Webb went full-hack ami Doualas to-ik his place behind the pack, Laing having retired injured. O'Brien, Singe and Stormont shifted play to Devonport's end, ■where, from a scrum, Ghent sent a quick one to Malloy, who went across to score. Gregory goaled. Devonport 19, Marists 8. It was quite evident that Marists were making the most of Laing's absence, and they were playing desperately to ward off defeat. Gallaugher cross-kicked, to follow up and score. Devonport It). Marists 11. Haddon was grafting hard, and Dixon was always handy when there was danger. There was no beg pnrdon about the game and in a rough-up the referee sent both Haddon (Devonport) and O'Brien (Marists) off the field. There was no further score, and a hard and exciting game ended : Devonport 19 Marist Brothers 11 Mr. Taylor was referee. RICHMOND V. PONSONBY. A spell of even play was taking place during the first few minutes, when on account of a breach of the rules Richmond were awarded a free kick. McDonald placed avt easy jxoh 1. Richm<'nil —, I'onsonbv O. I'onsonby attacking strongly wore almost over when Delgrosso had a kick at goal which went wide. Littlewood caught the ball on the return in Richmond's twentyflve, and threading his way -through his opponents scored a good try. T. Peckham received from a scrum. Working the blind side he cut in and beat a couple of men and again passed to Peckham, who scored. The kick failed. Soon nfter Richmond attacking strongly put up 'a great fight to score. Little secured and finished off a pretty piece of play by scoring. McDonald. a;aln placed an easy goal. A few minutes later Delgrosso took a place kick and piloted the oval between the uprights, making the score at "half-time: Ponsonby S, Richmond T.

Ponsonby scored within a few minutes of the opening of the second half. T. Peckham passed out to Moore, and the ball travelled to Donovan to Riley. The latter beat a couple of men, and sent a long pass out to Littlewood, who ran around the posts and touched down. Ponsonby 11, Richmond 7.

Strenuous play now characterised the same, the tackling of both sides being deadly. Richmond were doing their best to £et through, and Ponsonby were just as determined to stop them. Exchanges or long kicks gave the blue and blacks a slight advantage. Keeping up the attack, PonsorV- were not to be denied, and just on .nr call of time after a fine passing rush L-elgrosso crossed the line at the corner making the flnal scores: Ponsonby 14 Richmond 7 Mr. McCowatt was referee. ELLERSLIE V. NORTHCOTE. Ellerslie opened the game, and In the first minute of the game, Northcote were awarded a free. Wilkins took the kick, and put the ball over. Northcote 2 Elierslie 0. Elierslie kept up a lively series of dashes, and continually carried the game into Nortbcote's quarter. Individual attempts to score were much in evidence, but the tackling on the other side was sound. Northcote gained another free, but this time Wilkins , shot fell short. A minute later, Shand took a similar but also futile shot for Elierslie. He made up for it, however, a short time arter, when he took a shot from a little less than half-way, and put the leather clean over the bar. Northcote 2, EliersJii; Place-kicks from penalty awards seemed to be the order of the game. Wilkins had another shot from the quarter-line ■ilit the ball went well wide Ip and down play followed, hut there were no tries scored iv this half. Xortlioote 2, Kllerslie 2 As in the flrst half, play in the second spoil ..pene.l fast, anil Kllerslie narrowly misses scoring from the initial dash down. From :i r.tuiu in Northcotp's corner the Kllerslie forwards gained the lnatlirr. ami, after a tussle W. Johnston opened np tbo field and passed to Shand. who eludofl his opponents and scored. With •i eooil kick he converted his own try. Ellerslie 7. Northcote 2. A little later Shand had another shot from a free, but the ball fell short. -Northcote Immediately dashed down, and from play in the corner, Wilkins scored the first try for his side. He failed to convert. Elierslie 7, Northcote 5. Both sides played agzressivel.*- until the end, but there were no further scores. Ellerslie 7 Northcote 5 Uγ. Kipley was referee.

ATHLETIC V. CITY. City set the game going, Avery getting the ball and setting up a passing rush. However, Athletic offended by throwing on and Bass had a shot but missed. WilsonHall and Avery again got going until Townsend and Hawkes nullified the bright movement. City were then penalised for lifting in the scrum, Dufty gaining some ground with a long line finder. City then attacked strongly, bringing play right up to Athletics line where a scrum ensued a few yards out. Crewther gained the leather from the pack and passed to Davidson, who then transferred to L. Brown. Brown ran across and registered on the corner. S. Crewther made an unsuccessful attempt at goal. City 3, Athletic 0.

A minute or so later L. Brown got the ball from the ruck in niidfleld and making n strong run down the Uue scored near the posts. Base converted. On Athletic kicking off L. Brown and B. Davidson came downQeld again, the latter passing to Brotfn, who scored again, accomplishing the hat trick. Bass failed to convert. After liavlng the best of the game up to this stage City were beaten back by Athletics forwards, Mason, Herring and Avery putting in some good work. Dufty then took a free kick which wont wide, but City elected to play on instead of forcing. In a passing rush L. Brown fell with the hall and Wileon-Hall necured nnd bustled through. He was collared but passed to Avery, who scored a great try. Dufty did not convert. City 11, Athletic 3.

The next minute City made another «x----tory, where Paki obtained the ball from the loose anil passed to Davidson, who made a fine opening for Brown to score again. City 14, Athletic 3.

Before Athletic had time to think about their next move City were down on them again, Bass making a fine straight run and giving the ball to Paki to score under the posts. Bass added the embroidery. City 10. Athletic 3. There was no further score at half-time. On resuming, Athletics broke away with the ball at their feet, Angelo kicking hard. A City man mulled, allowing Masou to pick up and score. Dufty goaled. Athletics initiated n strong forward onslaught, but the bnll was cross kicked right into Paki's hands. Paki. Davidson and fiiiby were practically left on their own, Knby crossing the line with case and scoring under the posts. E. Brown then converted. City :!4, Athletics 8. City's three-quarter line again got busy and carried the game right up to within a few yards of Athletics , line, where a scrum occurred. Wardlaw was given the hall from the scrum, and got over easily. Bass converted. Then McDonald ecored after a bright piece of work, Wardlaw missing the shot. City 32, Athletics 8. From this on the game was a procession, Ruby, Crewther, Mackie. Hawkes and Wardlaw scoring tries, while B. Davidson. R. Crewther, Mackie, Hawkes and Townsend converted one each. Angelo kicked a goal for Athletics a few minutes before the final bell sounded. The final score was: City 07 Athleticß 10 Mr. A. Satindcrs was the referee. GOOD CURTAIN-RAISER. The curtain-raiser to the Marista v. Devonport match was between the second grade teams, Ponsonby and Devonport, which were leTel In the lead for the championship. A fine game resulted, both sides playing good football, a close contest narrow margin of one point—l 2to 11. FIRST GRADE. SENIOR B. Otahuhu 14 (Klrkland 2, Eustace. Murray, Ellory converted), beat Mangere 0. SECOND GRADE. Richmond 16, beat Ponsonby B 2.

THIRD GRADE. United Suburbs B won from Otahuhu by default. Athletics 13, beat Newton 3. Northcote 6, beat Mangere 3. Point Chevalier 32. beat Suburbs 3. New Lynn 3, beat Parncll 0. FOURTH GRADE. Parnell 34. beat Newton 0. FIFTH GRADE. Richmond 5, beat Marist 0.8. 0. City 2!>, beat New Lynn 2. Parnell 11, beat Athletic 0. SIXTH GRADE. , Richmond 18, beat City 3. SOUTHERN HATCHES. CHRISTCHURCri. Marists A 8. heat Waimari 7. Addington 2fi, heat Sydenham 17. Hornby 32, beat Woolston 2. DCNEDIN. City 9. beat Christian Bros. A 7. Athletic 33. beat Christian Bros. B 10. Pacific 8, drew City B 8.