THE LEAGUE CONTESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 115, 17 May 1926, Page 12

THE LEAGUE CONTESTS.

» ■ RANK OUSIDER WINSNEWTON TRIUMPHS OVER RICHMOND' CITY TOO GOOD FOR MARIST BROS. GRAFTON BEATS DEVONPORT. Asked what he thought the attendance numbered on Saturday at Carlaw Park, the chairman or" the A.R.L., Mr. Hammill, said: "About nine thousand." Nine thousand is a lot of people, but there was certainly a big crowd present, and they cm claim to have witnessed one of the biggest surprises brought off in the League competitions for some time. This was on No. 2 ground, where Newton, generally assessed as the weakest of the senior teams, downed Richmond in treat style, and never looked like being beaten, ultimately running out winners by 43 to 25. On No. 1 ground City beat Marist Brothers by five tries to nil. At Devonport the home team, weakened by a heavy casualty list this season, were beaten by Athletics. SURPRISE OF SEASON. With the game less than two minutes' old Newton got the opening score. Richmond were penalised in their own end. nnd Ilercwlni. despite an acute angle, placed a ueat frnnl. Newton 2. Richmond 0. Richmond attacked hard and curried the play tn the Newton end. The defenders conceded v free, and Pnrkes with a nice Fhot brought the scores level. A hard rush by the Newton forwards saw scrambling play on the Richmond line, where Harjrrcaves dived for possession and scored. Herewini piloted the ball across safely. Newton 7. Richmond 2. Seven minutes' play had seen three separate scores recorded, yet neither side had properly got into their stride. Both sets of backs in turn opened up in nice passing runs. Little by fast following up beat one of bis opponents for possession on the line and scored close to the posts. Herewini missed a gift shot. Newton 10, Richmond 2. At this stage both teamn were letting their forwards battle it out. Scrambling play at the Newton end saw the players go down in a heap, and after a bit of hard ruck play Avery got across near the posts for ,T. Pnrkes to convert. Newton 10, Richmond 7. Little made a nice opening and sent Herewini away, the centre making a h»rd. straight dash before passing to Mansill. The latter was well tackled at the flag by Hyland, and lost possession. It was only a temporary respite, as Newton pegged away, and in the midst of some loose play. Little got across the line. Mansill placed a lovely angle goal. Newton ID, Richmond 7. The Newton backs got off a good passing run, Clark to Poison, who drew Hanlon before sending the ball on to Normon, the latter diving over at the flag. Mansill kicked a splendid goal from a yard inside 1 the touehline. Newton 20. Richmond 7. Richmond raided the Newton end, and in repelling a rush Ilargreaves sustained an | injured collarbone. He was carried off, and In ter was replaced by Quintall. From a set scrum on the Newton side of halfway Davis set the Richmond backs going, and I the ball went via Prentice, C. Parkes to | J. Parkes. It was a quick movement marked by crisp transfers, and the centre bad only to crowd on a bit of extra pace to get across unopposed. The try was unconverted. Newton 20, Richmond 10. On resuming Poison sent to Quintall, to Mansill, to Normon. The latter crossed at the flag and circled round to score behind the posts. Mansill converted, and the scores at half-time were : —Newton 25, Richmond 10. When the second session opened Purdy at mid-field, put in a long grubber kick. Little and Norman had a great race for possession, the latter winning by a touch as the ball rolled over the line. Mansill missed a hard shot. Newton 2.8, Richmond 10. The game was fluctuating in a remarkable manner. Richmond backs got off a nice piece of concerted play, which saw Hyland jammed out on the wing. Davis got up ln time to take the in pass, and evading Herewini, as the latter converged, he raced across and went on to score behind the posts. J. Parkes converted. Newton 28, Richmond 15. It was Richmond's turn next; J. Parkes raising a brace of points from a free right in front of the Newton goal. Newton 2S. Richmond 17. With both teams playing to their backs the game became fast and open. Poison started a passing movement, which saw Clark hemmed on the sideline. He passed infield to Mansill to Herewini, who finished off a spectacular movement in a try behind the posts. Mansill converted. Newton 33, Richmond 17. Passing between Hammond and Clark saw the latter cross to Newton, and Poison with an accurate kick, 'jiade the score read Newton 3S, Richmond 17. Mansill got away oa his own, kicked over Hanlon's head, and retrieving tlie ball on the bounce, scored near the posts. He kicked an easy goal. Newton 43. Richmond 17. Richmond hit back in lively fashion, and after Hyland and Davis made good headway in a dovetailed passing run, the ball went to Prentice, who dived across at the flag. The angle was too wide for Parkes. Newton 43, Richmond 20. In the last minute of the game, Donald added another try to Richmond, and Parkes converting, made the curtain scores : — Newton 43 Richmond 25 A HARD, FAST GAME. City began at a great pace, Wetherill and Ghent being responsible for a couple of nice dodgy runs. Thomas was also conspicuous in the forwards, and on one occasion his good work almost brought off ii score. lie threw a long pass out to the wing. Brown gathered it in and put in a great run along the line to get across in the corner, but he had the bad luck t-o put a foot over the sideline. The pace was fust and anything was liable to happen at any moment. Kirwan sent a pass to Cooke, the latter making a brilliant dash through to beat Crewther and a try looked certain, but Brown dashed up from behind and got the Marist winger with only inches to go. It was a great sflve. City then attacked nnd great handling by backs and forwards promised a score, but m some tight scrambling on the Ti'.e r„ ti ", r , ceils wro aw nrded n penalty, evoltcd „n" , was S"" d auu h aH i"c crowd kent City fr on, tlme - Sheer ba<l I"<* Kept i_it> from scorinp- when 1, Ttrnwn with a short kick, centrecl from thewin"' Waile was streaking for , lbfe when he was called back for off! side. L. Brown and Wade male desperate a tempts t o ge t across and Crewther had a shot which went lust out side the post. Mannix. yJradv and John ston were putting iv good work and hid a scoring chance just before half-time but Crewther took the ball from their 'toes Singe had two shots without success and half time arrived with no score. ' If there had been no score in the first half, points came early in the second Play had only been resumed one minute when Mackie whipped the ball to Wade ! the latter waiting till he reached Gregory before hnnding it along to L. Brown, who scored nn easy try. Crewther missed the shot. City 3, Marists 0. The next score was the result of brilliant play between L. Brown and Wetherill. Passing the ball from one to-the other, they beat man after man till Brown was left with a clear run. Crewtiier's shot missed. City 0. Marists 0. The Marists forwards then put a lot of dash into their efforts. Every kick was followed up, Johnston and Singe being in the limelight. No time was being wasted, but the City backs were too speedy and had Marists constantly on tho hop. Oreat passing between the reds saw L. Brown ground the ball over the greens' line, but (he was called back for a throw-on. Quite a lot of the play took place round about! the half-way line. 11. Crewther, Johnston and Mannix tore through the <'lty defence, Wetherill only pulling them up by sendlne a long pass to S. Crewther, who boosted dnwnfield The pace was a cracker and another score came to City when Wetherill. r Brown Lewis and Wade and hack to Lewis enabled the last-named to go over the ]_Z Crewther missed the shot. City o Marists 0 From 0 forward breakaway Mltchdl notched tt try, wWch Wetherill failed to convert, giving City a lead of Then K. Brown, Lewis and \%JI handled for Wuda to score. L. Brown do _J what the others did. mbjslng S_i goal City 15, Marlßts 0. Twer* was no further score. cty » MnriHts • Mr. Taylor rcfcreed. •

SHORE'S FOURTH LOSS. , Athletics won the toss and Boryer booted the leather lirst for the seasiders, a scrum immediately ensuing in Athletics* twentyfive. For quite a r-pell Athletics had Devonport well confined to their own quarter. To make matters worse, the blacks failed to play the ball, and this gave Dufty a chance. Both linesmen gave it a goal, but the referee, who was the only man in a position to see. ruled it no goal. Again Athletics bad Devonport in a dangerous position, when O'Brien wormed his way . through. lie was about to get away with the leather when Stevenson collared him iin-J once more the yellow and blues had possession. Ruby then succeeded in pene-' trating the solid defence of the Athletic thirteen, but lie did not go far. The' sv.v't brothers, Hemingway and Scagar in- \ dulged in some pretty passing nnd things J look.-.l brizht for Shore men, when a pass wciil astray. Lucas, Stevenson and Jones swept down the held in a brilliant passing onslaught. but Rule intercepted nicely: and gave to Hemingway, who transferred to L. Scut. The stage of yellow and blue ascendency was thus broken again, but the Devonport side could do little with the ball when they did get it. Athletics were' gaining the leather from the scrums and this was assisting the backs materially. ! Avery -went down and essayed a dribbling effort on his own. He picked the ball up and quickly handed to Herring, but this player dropped it .when about to cross the line. However, from the resultant scrum near the line, Avery was rewarded, for his perseverance and gained a brilliant try, which Dufty did not convert. Athletics 3, Devonport 0. Spirit flamed in the Devonport ranks, the forwards working like tigers, feediug their bucks. A scrum was ordered in Athletics' quarter, and with great smartness Seagar rushed round from the side. and. side-stepping a trio of : surprised Athletic players, he passed to Boryer, wliu dived over and tlius evened up I the score. Perry's kick failed. Doug- j las. who had put ln good work all through, . again shove in a series of bright Devon-1 port movements, and made a good opening | for Scagar. but Heard got the ball after a melee and scut it straight across to Dufty. The next to handle were Te \Vnaka and ; Herring, who was called back when he was nearly over the line. Then Perry . saved immediately afterwards by running round the goal post to dodge Herring aud clear. Repeatedly the Athletic backs swarmed down upon Devonport and kept the blacks defending bard until half time. ' The score remained unchanged, although Athletic had lost several good opportunities through sheer hard luck. The second Spell opened with a good attempt by Seagar to score. A fine passing rush was then instituted by Seagur, Hemingway and K. Si cli but the' opposing bucis were too safe-. Time after time the Athletic backs j snooped down. Oue of t'aeso saoeU-'ulnr passing bouts was successfully rounded off. ri.'jner making an opening for Ti Wluit.i to score. Dufty made no mistake | wiili the kick. Athletic S, Devonpori ii. 1 Athletic were having much the best of j the tussle, which was really a 'r.nvar.l one, anl repeatedly they curried on: exeurs'Ons into llevunport's territory. Rut. I'c.r.v I was safe at fullbnck and with the two Scotts and Hemingway he did much to Keep the visitors from scoring a lumber of tries. Boryer, Seagar and Hemingway I went away once more, but the passing was | bad aud Lucas jumped in to intercept, j Shore, all of a sudden, commenced to hook j better and the backs got a little more of the ball than in tlie first half. However, | faulty passing spoilt many an effort, which i started off brilliantly but finished up in , disorder. l.'ufty, who had gone up to cen- • tre three-qua; ter ln place of Pitman, went I across with the ball, and when grassed by ' Ruby he transferred to Herring. Smith j then got the ball and giving a perfect dummy to both Perry and Hemingway he .registered a try under the posts. Duftv Igoaled. Athletic It!. Devonport 3. ' ! I Play continued fast and Devonport were infusing additional "lash into the game. : Rut Athletic were equally determined aud I tlio crowd worked itself up into a great , ] pitch of excitement as play moved up and down the field. Devonport rallied for a I While, but the other side were soon knock- ; ins nt the door again. Then the Shore : backs came away in a dashing piece of work, ail the backs handling the leather in 1 fine style. This was a distinct change particularly after the first spell, when their passing wns most indifferent. K. Scott ' it was who made an opening nnd Seagar j rushed iv to pick tin smartly and hand to 1 L. Scott who scored, amidst great cheer- '■ intr from Devonport's s-upporters. Perry's - kick went astray. Athletic IS. Devonport 0. By the way the blacks played after T scoring it appeared as-though they would . dispute victory with Athletics. The fnrr wards broke away time after time with s O'Brien putting In treat work. However. 1 they did made o big mistake in not feeding . , Ruhy sufficiently. There was no further i score. \ Athletic 13 j Devonport 6 j Mr. L. Bull was referee. 1 A GREAT GAME. i I Within two minutes of the kick-off ParL nell led, Patton making an opening for , Kandeil to score. Parnell 3, Northcote j 0. The black nnd whites continued to press and eight minutes later, from a com- [ bined rush. Laurence touched down. Parnell 6, Northcote 0. Then Smith, for Northcote, kicked a penalty, making the scores, Northcote 2. Parnell 0. It was a good game to watch, both sides going at top. Once against Smith was prominent, and, picking up, passed smartly to Speight, who got over. May goaled and the half . time score was: l Northcote 7 Parnell 6 | The second spell saw most strenuous play, and it was productive of good, clean, dashing football. Taking advantage of a temporary lapse by Parnell, Northcote forwards got away and Hogan passed in to Callaghan, who touched down '.en minutes alter the start. Northcote 10, Parnell 6.: A little later Speight made a sensational solo effort, carrying the ball for three-j parts of the field. Then Parnell took a 1 hand and the game became fast and open. I The black and whites made strenuous efforts to score, but Northcote was good on defensive tactics. Fifteen minutes before time, a most brilliant piece of play, was witnessed. Northcote were defending when Fitzgerald secured and passed to Speight. He sent on to Thompson to j Dean. The latter cut in and passed again i to Thompson, who raced 20 yards for the line and scored. May kicked the goal. I Northcote 15, Parnell 6. ParneU now. attacked in real earnest and Nelson, pass-1 ing cleanly to Brockliss, the latter scored between the posts. He took the kick and \ lauded a goal. Northcote 15, Parnell 11. j It was now a great "go" -to the end, i both teams putting up a big fight and i the whistle went without alteration to the score. Mr. W. Mincham was referee. MANGERE GOES UNDER. Mangere opened play well and the forwards pushed immediately, but Otahuhu soon found their bearings and In about ten minutes reversed the position, and pressed i hard in the twenty-five, from which quarter j Ellery kicked a penalty. 1 Play now moved to the centre of the ; field, where Otahuhu forwards proved they were tlie better team. Suddenly Mangeie wakened up, and played with great dash taking play quickly down the field, and : missing a score by a narrow margin, but j their opponents soon altered affairs, and play once more moved In favour of Otahuhu when Brady, for that team, obtained the leather, and after fooling two men scored a good try. Ellery converted. Otahuhu 7, Mangere 0. i <~>tahuhu now had the better of the game 1 until the end of the spoil. Both teams having lost two good men through accident. Otahuhu rushed again and after a hard struggle Knight scored, but F.ilery failed to convert. Mangere now played far better football. - hut things had been left too Into, and although they certainly bad the best of the . second half, they failed to gain points. Otahuhu ■]() Ma ngore ■■■■..'.......... <> A NARROW VICTORY. ! Victory went to Ellerslie in the senior B > grade match, played at Ellerslie on S'ltnr ' day. when they defeated Kingsland by the ' narrow margin of 5 points to 0. The'-nme - wns not one that would arouse much I enthusiasm, but the second spell found the . Ellerslie pn.k quite llv ly. The first spell - was an even go, with the advuntnge with neither side for long. The forwards played I up well en both sides. For tlie first ten .minutes Kingsland forced the pace, but the »| Ellerslie forwards were not lnckiug In dcII fence, and they bold tho opposition Cooke '.was prominent in extricating Ellerslie from 'several dangerous positions, and be wns well supported by 11. Johnston and (iroguii, while I Mcl.tire made several openings that gave 11 promise or ending In scores. Carter and E • Situs, both of whom showed n great turn of r speed, were well to the front in holding the i opposition's determined rushes. The lirst »-pcdl closed without score. Ellerslie opened in the h.-.-ond spdi with a determined uiliieli. nn.l what appeared to |,c n curtain score, wns averted by Campbell (fullback, pluaug the bull on the line. A rmu cuw

■ Herring secure from a scramble, and send Ito Riley, who sprinted down the line, but slipped, and lost a good chance. List was prominent in the next rally, but Cooke intercepted and sent to R. Johnston, who relieved with a great line kick. Kingsland was pressing hard, but the Ellerslie pack were not to be beaten. After several tussles on the Kingsland line, Johnston intercepted, and sent to Cooke, who made the opening for Sdiand, who got over. The latter con" verted. From now on Ellerslie held the advantage, and staved off the determined attacks of the Kingsland team. The game closed without further Score. j SECOND GRADE. United Suburbs 11, beat Glen Ejen 0. City 32. beat Newton 0. Point Chevalier 10. beat Athletics 6 1 Ponsonby 21, boat Richmond 3. THIRD GRADE. ' OPEN. Ponsonby 14, beat Northcote o. North Shore 4. beat Ellerslie 0. INTERMEDIATE. Kingsland Hovers IS. beat Parnell 14. j Richmond IS, beat North Shore 2. FOURTH GRADE. Richmond 3, drew with Ponsonby ,".. 1 ilerslie 10. beat Newton 0 Parnell 10. beat City 0. FIFTH GRADE. Athletic 10. beat Northcote 0. Ellerslie 9. beat Ponsonby 0. SIXTH GRADE. Akarana li, beat Toint Chevalier 2 | Richmond 17, beat City 2 j City 47, beat Northcote 0. Newton C, beat Otahulm 0. [ P. SECTION. j Richmond 3. drew with City 3. COUNTRY MATCHES. LOWER WAIKATO. Seniors. Ponsonby 16. boat Tauniri 6. Ngaruawahia 9, beat Orimi 8. j Juniors. Taupiri 11. beat Orimi 11. Glen Masse? 7, beat Ngaruawahia 2.

I SOUTHERN MATCHES.

j CHRISTCHURCH. Marist 17. beat Addinpton 1.3. I Hornby 11, beat 'Walmari 3. Sydenham 2ti, beat Marist B S. | DUNEDIN, City 32, beat Kaikorai 2. I Christian Brothers 11, drew with Athletic I il. | Kaltangata 15, beat Pacific 2. 1