LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 109, 10 May 1926, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

__Ick;«_..■.. :■ : r ;r : : s.iov.wg. ' CITY WELL TESTED. r.K\T rnxvoxruKT. ; : rOXSoXRVX- IU'NAW.W WIN. Another hip crowd assembled at Carlaw Park on Saturday, where they were entertained by two closely contested games. Marist Bros, and Devonport occupied No. 1 ground, and in a hard contest in which Devonport had the advantage in the first half, the tables were turned in the second spell and Marist won by ll' to lb. The latter Mage* of the pluv wen- all in favour of ; the Brothers. Mn.t interest centred in the meeting of' City and Richmond on No. 2 ground. Here tiie Ki.liiiiond men put up the game of their live? and the issue was in the balance, with tbe chances favouring Kichmond. till ihe last quarter of an hour. As ha? so often happened. City then rose to the occasion and good play, coupled with a little luck, saw them rattle on the points and eventually win by 21 to I*2. '.\t the Domain. Ponsonby proved too good for the Xewton team, the latter being outclassed to the tune oi" 4<i to 13. RICHMOND V. CITY. City attacked at the opening and fl passing run ln which four of the bucks handled, saw L. Brown held up right at the corner flilj.. A free came to City nt handy range, bur Crewther missed the chance. Lewis made a nie. opening, sending to E. Brown to Wade, and the wine, sailing fast along the touch-line, outpaced the opposition and rjo'j across by the Has before Hanlon could n.Cad him off. Crewther missed a difficult angle shot. City 3. Richmond 0. Both teams were playing bright open football aud were throwing the ball about freely. A Richmond raid had City defending hard and Parke, missed a difficult chance from a free. Another free to Richmond saw Carroll try his skill, but the ball dropped just under the bar. Crewther led a rush of Richmond that took play right up to the City line. From a set scrum, Richmond heeled. Davis sent to Prentice. The latter tried to hurl himself across but was tackled. However. Carroll was handy and he snapped the ball up and diverl and stored. Carroll landed a nice goal despite a 'fairly wide angle. Richmond 5, City 'C - City put a lot of vim into their play on resuming and tried hard to get their backs going, bur they were met with deadly tackling. The game was carrying plenty of tjaicc, but the backs on both sides were mishandling and some very promising moves Were spoiled. Davis and Hyland combined well in a dash, but right on the City line an infringement saved tho defenders. Prentice made a tricky run through the opposition, but lie handed on a bad pass which Hyland could not gather. Campbell was hurt and went off, Redwood replacing him en the Richmond side. Passing between Lewis. E. Brown. WetherHl and L, Brown saw the latter sailing for the line, hut Hanlon and Hyland converged on him. L. Brown cut in cleverly and swung a long infield pass, but it was (.topped an'! ihe movement petered out. Driving In wedge formation, the Richmoud park got well into the Ciiy twenty-five, and wben they let the ball away to their backs, Prentice. Parkcs and Hyland made a big Effort to finish off the movement, the lastnamed being tackled right ut the corner flag. City returned to the attack and K. Brown got the ball away to L. Brown, the latter beirig splendidly tackled by Hanlob. City quickly reversed the attack and a -pass. Wetherill to Wade, saw (he latter gd down ii yard sho'-t of the line. The second session opened iv close play at midfleld. Ghent made a clever break from a scrum, passing to Wade, who was stopped right on the line. The play returned to the 'City side of half way wheu the red and jbliick backs tried a passing run. A pass niennt for 1.. Brown fell short, and Hyland J|t top pace snapped np the ball and set sail for the City Hue. Four of the City backs, Jtihiled after him. and ahead was Crewther. ...viand suddenly cut in and accelerated Jiace. and went across to score a brilliant try by the posts. Carroll again converted. •Jiiohmoiid 10. City 3.

; . .From a scrum Ghent set' his backs going "and L. Brown, nfter drawing the defence JMtll. kicked across nnd ahead. Shooting through fast. Hakes fielded the ball on the bounce, and turning out on v diagonal lino, he raced across and scored. Crewther missed the shot. Richmond 10. City 6.

X. City rose to it in great style. Ghent again got his bucks going, nnd L. Brown, after fighting off a high tackle by Hanlon. •rave an exhibition of pace, and outpaced the opposition to score behind the posts. Crewther piloted the ball across and put City ahead. City 11. Richmond 10.

_ raided the City end, and Car.rill was penalised right under the bar. Carroll kicked an casv goal. Richmond 12, City 11. .

City fought desperately in an endeavour ,to g«'t the lead. L. Brown and Mackie in turn were nearly over, and Richmond were JiArd pressed. City got n free at close range, and Crewther just missed the post. It was followed by another free, and this time Crewther got the ball over the bar. City 13, Richmond 12.

'.--Richmond got a chance to get ahead when Carroll essayed a long range free, but the hall dropped just short of the bar. In the last couple of minutes of the game City literally ran Richmond off their feet. A devastating raid «nded Id passing between 3{&ckie, Mitchell a*jd Lewis, the latter scoring between the posts for Crewther to easily add the minor points. Prom the kick off City again returned to the attack, and after a bit of whirlwind play Ghent got over at the flag. The angle was too wide fijr Crewther. The finai score was r— _T City 21 Richmond 12 MARIST V. DEVONPORT. ..The first score came early. The game had only been set going, when A. Scott picked up the ball in the centre of the field and threw ,t right out to L. Scott on the wing. He had speed on and Tan apwn to score near the corner. A. Scott failed with th_ shot. Devonport 3, Marists O. Almost immediately Kirwan threw away a certain try for the green He raced down the field with Cooke alongside ol him. but, or. reaching the Devonport lull, he gave a wretched pass, which Cooke had no chance of getting Cleaver offside, gave Singe a chance from' Inside halfway, and he put the ball over. Devonport 3. Marists 2. The game for ten minutes was kept pretty close, any attempt at passing being nipped in the bud very early. Mistakes were frequent on both sides, and the whistle was continually blowing. The following up Marist forwards missed K. Scott, and let Devonpbrt in. Away they went, handing the ball from one to another, but crowded h. Scott on the line, and lie was thrown out with only a few yards to go. The blacks then set up a solid attack, and alter Dixon had got across, only to be called back for offside, a fine try came Scrummed, O'Brien picked up the bali and whipped It out to K. Scott, to Seagar. to L. Scott, who dashed over the line. Boryer placed a fine goal. Devonport 8, Marists 2. Devonport were doing most of the attacking, the forwards breaking away well and giving Nicholson little chance to send his backs away. Gregory, a brother of the full-back, was injured and retired, his place being taken by Gallagher. Then came the most exciting half minute of the game. Pretty passing between K. Scott. Boryer, Harper, and Seagar looked like bringing off a score, but the ball was dropped. Singe booted It hard for the blacks' line, and he and A. Scott raced for it. The bounce beat Singe and Cleaver, running up behind, brought off a welcome save. Then play went to Marists' hjalf, where Harper secured and, showing pace, scored. Boryer's shot missed. Devonport 11, Marists 2. A little later a free to the greens saw Singe land a goal and the score read 11 to 4 in Devonport's favour. Singe and Brady led a Marist attack, and from a penalty Singe placed his third goal. Devonport 11, Marists 0. Half-time then arrived.

Marists set up the first attack in the second half but Boryer put In some great work down the line before cross-kicking. Dixon followed up and got Gregory near the line and some exciting play ensued, Harper getting across, but was called back for a knock-on. The blacks were playing with a lot of dash, but their handling of the ball left a lot to be desired, and there was that necessary fintfh lacking which Is essential If tries are «.„.. . score< i- Klrwan, Gallagher and singe showed out in a nice piece of passext _.. core ea . m " t0 Marists when t. Gaih._h.*"." "-"ln* 1" nicely, passed to Gallagher, to Klrwan, the latter ground-

I Ing near the corner. Singe missed the j ] Shot. From the drop out Cooke secured. I aud with mi open fteld he streaked for ! the line. On reaching the full-back, he j passed" to Singe, who grounded under the bar. He converted and Marists led 11 ,10 11. Inside two minute* Marists had scored 'eight points. There was plenty •of excitement now. and when A. Scut placid a goal from a penalty, and only oio- ! point separate.! the teams. Ii to 13 in Marists favour, the pace became fast. Nicholson nipped round the scrum anil was almost over the line when he sent in a pass which found no inkers, and dribbled across the Devonport line. Storniont just missed a score. L. Scott saving. Next. Mawiix sent a long pass, which O'Brien gathered In and scored Singe converted. Marists 10. Devonport 13. A. Scott and M. ore received injuries and retired, Moore being carried off by the ambulance men. Right nn the call of lime Douglas scored an unconverted try for Devonport and the game ended : Marists \ . . . 10 Devonport 10 .Mr. Saunders was referee. j NEWTON V. PONSONBY. " ■ As was expected. Ponsonby scored an easy victory over the Newton team, the losers sbowiug a lack of training and also combination, although in one department of the code they badljt beat the Ponies, and that was in getting the ball from the scrums. However, once Newton got the ball tbey did not know what to do with it. The game had not been in progress ten seconds before Ponsonby opened their scoring account. Newton kicked off, and Hutt took the ball across the field, passing to Peckham. Theu it went to Cole, to Riley, Gardiner, to Delgrosso. and back to reekham, Hutt; and Littlewood, who ran over. The ball never touched the ground at any stage of tbe movement. Then the procession started, I'onsonby simply swarming over the other side. Riley scored a try whicli went unconverted, Gardiner then registered, and Delgrosso added the embroidery. This was followed up by Little, who broke Newton's " duck " by notching a fine try. after running straight through. Mansill did not convert. Pousonby 13, Newton 3. The others who scored for Ponsonby in the first half were Riley. Littlewood. and Gardiner, Delgrosso. Fagan, and Peckham converting them. Poison goaled from a free kick for Newton, while Mansill caught Littlewood out of position, arid got a runiaway try which Poison missed. On resuming. Littlewood made an opening, allowing Fagan to score. Delgrosso goaled. Others who scored for Ponsonby were Gardiner, Riley, aud Payne, Riley and Fagan convertiug. Clark relieved the monotony by adding another try for Newton just before . the game was cut short, and Poison goaled. The final scores were:— Ponsouby 40 Newton 13 OTAHUHU V. ELLERSLIE. Kllerslie and Otahuhu. playing at Otahuhu on Saturday in the senior B grade, provided a fast, interesting game, and the result. S points all. was a good indication oi the match. Otahuhu opened with a forward rush that was stopped at centre. But the forwards were on the ball again, and a determined rush saw piny go to Ellerslle's territory. From a scramble Otahuhu was awarded a free kick. Ellery placed tiie ball over the posts onfl so opened the scortngEllerslle retaliated with a gre4t rush, and after strenuous piny on the line Slater snapped np the ball and shot across to score, Hettett converted with a great klcK. Willing rallies were the rule now, with Otalnrliu the more aggressive. Kllerslie defended In great style, and then an opening was given, which K. Johnston was not ■ loath to accept. He sprinted fr'oui the opposition aful scored. The kick,went wide. Otnliuhu came at them now, and'determined attacks at last saw Kustace secure from the pack and slip across. The kick failed. Forcing play Otahuhu followed., np their I advantage nnd made a hot pace. The game • waxed fast and furious and some spectacular play was the result. Just on halt- - time Came made a break aud got over, i The kick failed. I The second spell was faster.if anything, . but the two teams w-ere playing great foot--1 ball, and although there were many narrow i escapes from scoring, neither side'managed Ito get across. What may easily be termed the best game seen this season was brought ( to a close with the score at 8 points all. Mr. Miucli.im was the referee 1 A '. -X NORTHCOTE V. KINGSLAND. For'the first twenty minutes Northcote kept Kingsland continually on the defensive, but over-eagprness spoilt several ; likely chances. Then the men from the Marine suburb Initiated a combined rush. From a scrum on the line Pennvcooke secured, and passing out smartly to Thomp' son. the latter got over. Donald added the extra points. Northcote 5. Kingsland 0 This reverse put new life into Ringsland, and for the next quarter of an hour they pressed their epponentsi Then List secured, and having"'-prac'tfeally a clear run toqehed down near the posts. Her. in™ kicked the goal. ° In the opening stages of the second half Kingsland had Northcote penned down in their own twenty-five. Here 'Herring took a shot, which landed over the bar. Kingsland 7. Northcote ,1. Northcote came at the rush tactics, and dribbling over the line. Speight scored. Donald kicked a good goal. Northcote 10, Kingsland 7. From now on the game became most strenuous. Both sides battled hard to score. Tsime was almost up when Kingsland got down on XVorthcote's line, but a knock on spoilt their chances. The .game en,ded: - •_ , '"•.- '-." „ < Northcote jo Kingsland 7 Mr. Rodger, was referee. SECOND' GRADE. Ponsonby 5, beat Mangere 0. Richmond 28. beat Newton 0. THIRD GRADE. Grafton Athletics 24, beat United Suburbs 8. Ponsonby 22, beat North Shore 0. Parnell 11, beat Newton 5. FOURTH GRADE. Richmond 19, beat Point Chevalier 0 Grafton Athletics 20, beat Otahuhu O Ponsonby 8, beat Ellerslie 3. Parnell 23, beat Newton 0. ■ FIFTH GRADE. Athletics 5, beat Ponsonby 0. SIXTH GRADE. A. Richmond S, beat City 0. Akarana 27, beat Otahuhu 0. B. Athletics 0. beat City 0. Richmond 9, beat Akarana 3. SOUTHERN MATCHES. CHRISTCHURCH. Addington 28, beat Sydenham 16. Marists A 18, beat Linwood 0. Waimairi 22, beat Woolston 5. Hornby 27, (beat Marists B 0. DCNBDTN. City 46, beat Pacific 5 Athletic 24, beat Kalkoral 2