ROOPE ROOSTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 187, 10 August 1925, Page 12

ROOPE ROOSTERS.

THE BIRD LIBERATED.

DEVONPORT BEAT MARISTS,

PONSOXPY'S BIG STORE,

CITY'S EASY WIN.

That fine bird. Roc-pc's Silver Rooster, played for annually by the League senior teams, was liberated on Saturday, and for the next fortnight the ownership will be in dispute. City secured possession from Ponsonby hist season after a keen contest, and this year the games promise to be just as" exciting. Wet weather considerably affected the attendance at Carlaw Park this afternoon, but there was a good crowd present to watch the game between Marist Brothers and Devonport. It was an exciting contest throughout, Devonport winning by 15 points to 12. The game between Ponsonby and Athletic, on N. 2 ground at Carlaw Park, resulted in an easy victory for the former by 50 points to 23, while on the Domain, City downed Richmond. 29 to 8. In the B division Mangere scored a decisive win over by 21 points to 6, while owing to the condition of the ground the Kingsland-Otahuhu match was not played.

MARISTS V. DEVONPORT,

As the rpßiilt of heavy rain in the early inirt of the afternoon the ground was in a very sodden condition, and this was not improved by the playing of tli<' curtainraiser. Marists began well and were quickly testing the defence of the Shore men. I.pnihan was almost across, when lie was brought down, but the greens were not to be denied, and the bull being dribbled over the line Hansen scored. Singe tailed to convert. Back came Marists. Headed by Gallagher, and scrummed, the ball came out to (Jhent, who handed it to Sweeney, the latter diving over in a flash. Again Singe failed with the shot, nnd Marists led 6 to nil. Twice Yurdley tried tn make the best use of penalties, one shot just falling under • the crossbar. The black forwards, with O'Brien. Scott, Douglas, and I.aing bunched, swept along with the ball at toe. and brushing aside the opposition. Scott scored. Ynrdley's shot failed. Marists- 6. Devonport .".. The best try came when Ghent got the ball and sent it along until I.eniban look il and went over the Shore line. Singe's shot failed. Marist 9. Devonport 3. .lulinn and Yardley made an opening and Julian twice put his sftle in scoring positions. Shore were now putting Home vim into their efforts, and when the ball had been handled by Yardley and .Johnston in turn the latter kicked. Veart, Scott and Douglas were on Kelly quickly, nnd beating him for the ball Douglas scored. A. Scott converted. Marist 9. Devonport S. Johnston and O'Brien then took the ball at foot right through the opposition, Ghent coming across and bringing off a fine save. Off-side by Stormont saw A. Scott place a goal and Devonport led 1(1 to 9. Mannis broke away nicely, but a knock-on by Godlck pulled the attack up, and the bell rang for half time : Devonport 10 Marist 0 With only a point difference in the scores, the play became very hard, hut the greasy ball was difficult to handle and knock-ons were plentiful. Both sides were playing hard and when Kirkland got Godick and prevented him getting in a clearing kick there was some excitement, riay settled down in Shore's twenty-five and getting the ball, Gallagher dived across with half a dozen hanging on to him. Cooke failed to convert. Marists 1:2, Devonport 10. Yardley had a »hot but could not even the score. Shore came down to attack and Godick and Yardley brought off a nice run in which each handled the ball twice. There was excitement now in plenty and the crowd was kept at a high pitch. Awarded a penalty, Scott kicked high and the luck was with them as the ball hit the foot of one of the posts and O'Brien who was in the van of those following up, gathered it up and Jell over the line. A. Scott goaled. There was no further score : Devonport 15 Marist Bros 12 Mr. L. Bull refereed.

PONSONBY V. ATHLETICS:

I'oiisouby kicked off, the forwards immediately pressing Athletics, who offended by playing off-side. Gardiner had a shot lint the bull went a little too wide. The Athletic forwards swept down Held in a good passing bout, which l'eckham, Ponsonby's half-back, nullified. Te Whutu hooted along the ground and dashed oil with the speedy Littlewood alongside him, the latter saving by kicking the leather into the dead area. From the resultant scrum T. Peckhain secured and passed to Donovan. This player kicked hard, and l'eckham, following up well, dribbled over the line and scored. Gardiner kicked a great goal from well out. Ponsonby 0 Athletics 0. After a brilliant forward attack by Athletics Herewini, Ponsonby's custodian, failed to play the ball, and Athletics were conceded a free. Molloy put over a good one. Immediately afterwards Ponsonby's backs got moving, and T. Peckham again won the scrum to hand the ball In Gardiner. Goodley was the last to handle, and keeping going, scored a line try. Riley, Donovan. Gardiner and Goodley went off again on an excursion dowii towards Athletics' end, Riley then registering. Gardiner con ,-erted. From the half-way kick Littlewood got possession, and punted high, T. Peckhain following up fast and dribbling over the line. McNeil fell on the bail and scored. Gardiner again converted. Ponsonby IS, Athletic 2. Mason. Te Whata and Hadley were prominent in a strong dash by Athletics, which ended in Webb scrambling over. Mollov did not convert. . When Ponsonby were again pressing Athletics Palmer let Gardiner through, nnd he ran the length of the field, scoring under the posts. Gardiner converted his own try. Ponsonby 23, Athletics 5. Peckhnm, Gardiner and Littlewood again broke nway and had no difficulty in penetrating Athletics' backs. Littlewood scoring and «Gardiner converting. Ponsonby 28, Ath'etics v. After this Gardiner and Herewini scored and Gardiner converted a try for Ponsonhy. while Hadley added a try for At half-time" the scores were:— Ponsonhy 30 Athletics ,S •in resuming. Athletic displayed a little ninrc dash, while their defence was a little better. However, this did not prevent (iardiner from running well nn before he gave the ball to Cfoodlv to score, (iardiner goaled. Once, Pon'sonbv v,',,,.!*' £ ? Bnin - a,l<l another try looked lniucut. but Te Whata dashed in and i uiiAi V „ thi i le ««jer after Herewini hud sci J' ?, n( , l ' nn u 'ilf-wiy down the field Athletic' l a lalI ° 5 ' Ponsonby -11, hc^'hanefn^nn".'. 01 ' 113 Atl 'l<*tic. who had unlnckv «ot K ?n Ponsonby's line and were and"' Gardiner t0 o„ce o a.; a ln P 'hr , orCetl hnck ' his own and scored S }\ roke °" diner took, the kick W & c Gar " the crossbar. Playing U ve ff e fe" Tvl r " ck Mason and McGrccbr mn,if ' • • hata. down through Ponsonhv« a s ? IT \ tP * rush Mason heat HewwlnWr %o™« Ck * nn '' Gardiner again came I 'through *__*__ bu \\ to Donovan who crowed the line ffiSg? .w old not convert. With nrfW a-1 . ,'" %.«n to go, Wilkie managed ° to ret n'"' for Athletic. Malloy goallug The. YoT ham scored for Ponsonby, Gardiner f n iV ing to convert. The game ended:- aU " Ponsonby - n Athletic '.'.'.';. 23 Mr. Taylor controlled the game.

MANGERE V. NORTHCOTE

Mangere met Northcote, the eon.v.sp-ors at Bllcrsllc, nt Victoria Park on Saturday on a heavy ground, and deafeated them by 21 points to 0, after a fast, open game. From the start Mangere dominated, and fully deserved their win. Northcote did not strike the. form of last week, and were completely outclassed in all departments. For Mangere, Wilson, B. Happy, und M. Lipscombe (full-back) played well, while Greening and Green were the pick of Northcote. Towards the end of the game feeling run high, and the referee had occasion to warn members of the respective teams. Northcote kicked off. but Mangere immediate] v assumed the attack, and Tutaki set his pack going in several brilliant rushes that kept Northcote defending hotly, a free kick relieved Northcote from a dangerous position, but Mangere combined excel-

lently, and soon took play back. From a bunched field, and five minutes from the start, Tutakl secured and passed to Wilson, ??" V? ( }u shc , a - over ' M - Lipscombe failed with the kick. Mangere 3, Northcote 0. A rush by Northcote, . with Speight nnd Greening showing up well, was stopped nj -M. Paul, who gained possession and made a brilliant dash down the line. He was taken, but in the ensuing scramble vwison secured, and eluding the opposition got over. R. Ansell converted. Mangere S, Northcote 0. The attack was now assumed by Northcote, and strenuous efforts finally resulted in Pennvcook receiv- !".?,, nn Mangere's line and slipping over. \v llkie failed to convert. Mangere 8, Northcote 3. From a scrum in Mangere's twenty-five. Wilkie secured and just crossed the line. Green failed to convert. Mangere •V Northcote (1. Half-time came- at this stage. Mangere . .' g Northcote Is The second spell opened With Northcote attacking. Repeatedly-they tried to break through, and when they did itet a chance a penalty sent tliem back from Mangere's territory to the half-wav line. From a scrum here, Tutiihi snapped up and sent out In Wilson, who made the run of the day. eluding two opponents and scoring behind the posts. Ansell converted. Mangere 13 Northcote 0. In the next few minutes B. Happy got the ball, and dashing through a bunched field, scored. N. Lipscombe failed with the kick. Mangere 1(1. North cote R. Mangere continued to press and had Northcote defending solidly. Three great attempts to tret over were made by Ran. Paul and Wilson in quick suceessiou from scrums in Nortbcote's territory. but each time a penalty award saved Northcote. After the fifth successive scrum. Ran at last slipped across to score. O. Lipscombe failed with the kick. Mangere If>. Northcote fi. Greening made a great dash in the next few minutes, hut he ran into trouble, and play went back. Mangere were playing a brilliant game, and a sue cession of dashes ended in Paul crossing nt the corner. Wilson failed with the kick, and the game ended witli the f.nal scores: — Mangere 21 Northcote 6 Mr. Rogers was referee.

RICHMOND V. CITY.

City opened the scorinc account with a pretty passing rush. G. I'aki secured from a return kick by Richmond and passed to S. Crewther nn the half-way line. The latter raced down the Hold and scored a good try. which he converted himself. City ."«. Richmond 0. Slippery conditions prevented both teams from playing the best of games at this stage, and this state of affairs caused many chances to be missed. Richmond, however, were more expert in keeping their feet. This was responsible for Bass scoring between the posts. The kick failed. City ~>. Richmond 3. It was now City's chance. Mitchell feinted a pass and cut in. He transferred to Townsend, who. in turn, sent on to Mackie. Reid following up well took a pass at top and scored. S. Crewther added the extra points. City 10. Richmond 3. Again City's backs came at it in good style. R. Crewther sent on to his brother, who made a fine opening for B. Davidson. The latter cut round and again passed infield to S. Crewther. who simply handed the oval to Wardlaw to touch dewn. S. Crewther kicked a splendid goal. City 10, Richmond 3. After a spell of Interesting play from then on till half-time the game was of a scrappy nature, there being no. Increase in the score, which remained at: City 10, Richmond 3. SECOND SrELL. Within a few minutes of the opening of the second spell City's backs again got going, and were seen in a good passing rush. The result was thar the forwards broke past, nnd the ball being rushed over the line Hawkes fell on it. S. Crewther kicked his fourth goal in succession. City 20. Richmond 3. Keeping the ball down. City's forwards ran through their opponents with the leather nt their toes. Two or three City players could have touched down, but it was left to Hawkes to do so. S. Crewther failed with the kick. City •J."», Richmond 3. Richmond'e next sjore

came through E. Brown, City's full-back, failing to take a hard kick right at him. Bass secured from the rebound j and scored. W. Ilanlon kicked a i splendid goal. City 23, Richmond S. After Richmond had made strenuous efforts to I score, and had had City busily defending, j the latter broke away, aud taking all before} them, carried the ball from one end of j the field to the other, where Laidlaw scored and converted, a try. City 26, Richmond 8. A few minutes before time City again wont away and Ruby, beating three or four Richmond players, scored, making the final scores : City 20, Richmond S. THIRD GRADE. Parnell won from Richmond by default. FOURTH GRADE. Athletics G, beat Pacifies 5. Parnell 34, beat Kingsland 3. SIXTH GRADE. Richmond A 33, beat Richmond B. 0.

RACING NEWS. i

. . j AUSTRALIAN RACING. | V.A.T.C. MEETING. | MELBOURNE, August S. | The Victoria Amateur Turf Club's meet-j ing was concluded at Caullield to-day. The following was the result of the lead-' Ing event :— I THE AUSTRALIAN STEEPLECHASE, of 2100sovs. About four miles. j PALBI. J. T. McKenzie's rh g, aged, | by Eaton Lad- —Pixie, 12.7—Pearce.. 1 SILVER HEART. A. E. Rowmans b g. | aged, by Challenger—Pianola, 11.7 I —Warner 2 i JUPITER, G. Coolcy's b g, (ivrs, 10.'.) I —Baker ' 3 '■ Seven started. Miuteriie and Master! Fife were at the head of affairs alternatively! till well into the last round. Master Fife j led along the railway side. Silver Heart I was first over the last fence, followed by ! Master Fife, Resembler and Palbi. In the! rnrc to the post Palbi came witli a great I run. and he got up in time to beat Silver i Heart by half a bead amid a scene of great excitement. Jupiter, who finished third, ! was three lengths invar. Time, ,5.2. Rosicj fell. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.) A RACEHORSE KILLED. j SYDNEY, August !l, , The racehorse Le Forte fell when he' was jumping an obstacle in the Moorfield ; Hurdles on Saturday, broke his back, nnd ! was destroyed. Harris, tlie iockev, was not I injured.— (A. and N.Z. tY.ble. i