THE LEAGUE CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 11

THE LEAGUE CODE.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. TWO BIG SURPRISES. For both Ponsonby and City to meet with defeat in the--same afternoon was something followers of the League could not have expected, and with Newton downing Graf ton, Saturday last was a day of surprises indeed. On the form shown in-previous matches in the competition, there did not appear to be much chance of Ponsonby and City experiencing any difficulty except when they met each other, but football has its uncertainties, and one never knows till the bell rings. Marist Brothers had played more than.one very weak game this, season, but they must have set themselves for the Ponies, because they went at their job on Saturday in a s-tyle' reminiscent of their best,days, and early in the piece they had the Ponies bustled. Once they were unbalanced the Tykesgave them no chance to settle down, and, rolling into their work, they had Ponsonby beaten all along the piece. In the closing stages the Ponies made a great effort, but it was too late, and they had to acknowledge their first defeat of the season by 13 ■ points to 8. But the big surprise was the victory of Devonport over City. Up till Saturday Devonport had not won a game this season, but they had been very unfortunate in having at one stage eight of their best players on the side-line with injuries. Saturday saw the majority of them recovered, and on the field while City, on the other hand, had their weakest side to date, the two Browns and Wetherill being absent. Nevertheless the game was fast enough to satisfy everybody, and the win of the Devonport team was very popular. On Saturday they will have to meet the improving Newton team, and the contest should be a close one. The match between Otago and Canterbury at Dunediri on Saturday, which ended in a. draw, 24 all, must have been fast and open, if one may take a line through the scores. From the meagre acounts to hand, it would appear that the Canterbury men did not really begin to play till the-second spell, when Otago had a substantial lead-of something like 14 points. The second spell told quite a different etory, and Canterbury rose to the occasion, rattling on the scores

to such an extent that the game ended 24 all. Next Saturday Otago will meet West Coast at Greymouth, anu the following week-end the A and B match is set down for Christehurch. DEFEAT OF THE LEADERS. To Marists has fallen the honour of checking the victorious career of Ponsonby. The leaders were fairly and squarely beaten, and on the day went under to a better side. To their forwards Slarist owed their victory. The green vanguard displayed wonderful snap, virility and mobility from the moment that play began. They sustained their dash and effectiveness throughout. As checkmate in the early stages Ponsonby tried close tactics, but they were never really in the picture until the second half of the game, when they resorted to open play in an endeavour to give their backs "a chance to pull the game out of the fire. For those who appreciate good forward play the game was amply satisfying, but the average League spectator has been nurtured on spectacular diet —a chain of backs racing at top speed, juggling with the ball, tossing it hither and thither, a combination of the traits of adroitness, intuition and decision. The game was too hardfought for more than passing kaleidoscopic effects, but there was sparkle and thrill on occasions. Ten points down at the interval, Ponsonby faced the second half with a lot of leeway to make up. Up to then they had looked like an inferior side, fighting hard and hopelessly against a task that was too much for them. Yet they could not be accused of want of the spirit that brings perseverance to fruition, but their best —a best spread over 45 minutes—wag not enough to turn the.scale. The loss of Delgrosso, injured early in the game, meant a lot to Ponsonby, although the rearranged back division combined well at times the one fault being a tendency to take the line of least resistance, to attack on a diagonal line instead of running straight. It was failure in direction that not only jammed the Ponsonby wings on the sideline, but also allowed the Marist backs to fan across when a flank was threatened. On one occasion Littlewood had six" Marist backs waiting for him when he got the ball, including both'tie Marist. five-eighths, which was proof "that each inside man had not drawn has." Vis-a-vis. On the o£hei hand, the Mariat backs, when on scoring bent, had a very•'sharp, collective" thrust Kirwan waif the-particularly' bright stai of and gave i briHiant^gplayr , .Gregory did good anc grotesque things," and" was below" hi: usual high' plane, "while Nicholson playec the- pivot- game - excellently. In *tfr<

Marist forwards it was a case of Singe first and" daylight next, although the quintet was even and good. Peckham, behind the Ponies' scrum, was wonderfully resourceful, and showed the dash from the pack that is necessary for the position. Littlewood and Usher were the pick of the three-quarter line, the latter timing his passes perfectly, and getting the ball at the moment of accelerated speed. Just as Marist had one outstanding forward, so did Ponsonby. This was Hutt. He disclosed great elan and dash , and when occasion offered worked with his backs in the manner that is expected of a versatile forward. ■ A PROMINENT FULLBACK. A convert from Rugby union, C. Gregory has proved himself one of the best fullbacks playing League football. Opinions differ as to whether C. "Dufty is better than Gregory, but as two fullbacks will be required to go to England, the chances are both Dufty and Gregory will be booked up. But Gregory, besides being a fine last line of defence, can play well as three - quarter or five-eigths. and he is a handy sort tc have in any team. DEVONPORT V. CITY. The first win registered by Devonport this season —over City at Carlaw Park on Saturday —was thoroughly deserved and was a most popular one. The seasiders played with rare combination particularly the backs, and the matct was an even one throughout. The winners were reinforced by Webb Cleaver, Stewart and St. George, all goot players who had been injured early ir the season, and there is no doubt that the quartet made a big difference. Ir the second half of the game the pla\ was thrilling and also fast, for Cit% livened up considerably after lemor time. The City thirteen threw the bal about in fine style and attacked fre quently, but could not gain the uppei hand, Devonport winning by 14 pointi to 5. Crewther played a good saf( game at fullback for City, and B. David son and Wade gave excellent display: in the threequarter line. In fact thi whole team worked hard, and, althougl beaten, City were by no means dis graced.

J. KIRWAN. An Auckland Rujrby rep. of 1923, Jac Kirwan was welcomed to the Leagu code when he decided to '"turn over" an joined up with the Marist Brothers club. He was quite at home in the 13----a-s i d c game, so much so that ho found a place in the Auckland rep. team, and last year was a member of the New Zealand side to tour New South Wales and Queensland. On returning to the Dominion he played in the Tes against Queensland, and though his fon in the early club matches this seaso was not up to his best standards, 1 played a great game on Saturday, wh< he assisted Marist Brothers to beat Po; sonby.