THE LEAGUE CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 139, 14 June 1926, Page 12

THE LEAGUE CODE.

-'' ' ' » PONSONBY'S CLOSE CALL MARISTS DEFEAT RICHMOND. EASY WIN FOR DEVONPORT. The best game of the clnb competitions on Saturday was provided on No. 2 ground at (,'arlaw Park, where Orafton and Ponsonby had a battle royal. All through tii? two spells the play was hard and even, and with the scores 14 all. and a minute to on. a draw appeared certain: but a game is never over till the bell rings, ami right on the call of time Ponsonby scored. In front of tlie stand Alarist Bros. a nd Richmond did not please by their exhibition, and in a game which contained very little sparkle Marist Bros, ran out winners by 24 points to 10 after being on the debit side of the scoreboard in the first half. At Devonport the home side had a day out at the expense of Xewton. The latter. to tiie surprise of their supporters, had no chance, and were beaten to th? tune of 40 to 14. DEVONPORT V. NEWTON. A particularly crowd of League enthusiasts turned mit at Devonport on Saturday id watch the game between Devonport aud Newton. The seasiders played a winning garue risbt from the start and exhibited rare combination throughout tfie contest. Devonport kicked off. and Newton immediately set up a" forward rush. Hargreaves going on to transfer to Poison in Devonport's twenty-are. When Poison looked like registering. K. S<-ott shouldered him out. Stewarts shoulder slipped out of joint ana be had to retire for attentiou. but, 10 minutes afterwards he rejoiued his men. Ttie first si-ore came when Dixon scrambled over from a melee near Newton's line. Lain:: missing the kick. Following a bright passing bout, in which all the Newton backs handied, St. George was caugit off-side, and Mansill took the kick, which went wide. Seagar. A. Scott and L. Scott then got busy, the latter gaining a brilliant try. It went unconverted. , Just when the Shore forwards got going again Herewini intercepted and gave to Jtargreaves. who made a great solo run along the line, to be forced out. Back once again to Newton's twenty-five. Ruby got the ball from the scrum and notched auother try. Laing goaling nicely. New-ton invaded Devonport's twenty-five. Mormon and Herewini rushing through the blacks. Herewini, instead of going on on his own. gave a forward ball to Mormau and spoilt ascertain try. Tries came in quick succession after this. Warming up to the task. Devonport set a great pace. Stewart raced Up-field after a long kick by Laing, got possession, and, after beating Molloy,. save to Is. Scott to register again. This time A. Scott goaled. A minute later A. and L. Scott moved up fast, the latter diving oyer. Laing landed the goal from a difficult angle. Quite unexpectedly the Newton IBrwards swarmed down upon the blacks. and Little, with the other backs, put in good work, and scored Newton's initial fry. Mansill did not convert. Devonport 21. Newton 3. At half-time Devonport still Jbjpld the advantage, and had piled up 26 points. A. Scott scoring and Laing goaling Jtlßt after Little won Newton's first try. Bight ou half-time Mansill landed a goal from a free given against the seasiders for not placing the ball in the pack. eS3t anything, Newton improved in the aecond half, and kept Shore busy. HarJreaves and Herewini and Mansill and Mormau were playing good games, but, of course, could not play the whole of the oflier side. In this spell Devonport added 14 points, while Newton got an additional g. For the home side, L. Scott contributed two tries, Laing (who played full-back) ope, and A. Scott a try and a goal. Clark, Kb odes, and Morman notched tries for fcewton. Morman was tackled when he did not have the ball, just after he had made a flne dash for the line, and the referee ruled an obstruction try. 2*T_e referee wa"s Mr. Minehani. ;'; MARISTS V. RICHMOND. £, One minute after the kick-off, Hvlani -.•as noticed dashing for the Marist" lini With only Gregory to beat, but his pass t( Parkes went astray. Smart, following vi by Sweeney made Hanlon play for safeti hj finding the line, and then Brisbane, Kir -ran and Hansen handled nicely in turn to finish up within a yard or two of Rich fliond's line. Two free-kicks came in use ful to Richmond, and then Singe had £ *_ot which fell short. Richmond had t jfood scoring chance when Bass sent : JJass to Hyland. which the latter dropp*i and the ball being kicked over the lin« $rewther forced. A f.ne bit of play wai ar solo effort by Devon, who made a greal dash down the line before kicking to follow np and smother Gregory's return. A shol Of Parkes brought nothing, aud Johnson jras prominent in usefnl dribbling whicli made Richmond force. Hanlon was findinc the line well with clearing kicks, bul Kichmond were putting up a great fight. Hyland beautifully cut the opposition oul and was unlucky to drop the ball. Han Jon misjudged a clearing kick and Stor mont securing, he scored. Singe missed with shot. Marist 3. Richmond 0. Carroll then placed a goal and Marists lee] »y a point. Great work started by Basf yaw the ball travel through half a" dozer ■hands, Prentice scoring. Carroll goaled sua at half-time the scores read :—Rich -mond i , Marists 3. .-" . *; The pace was clapped on right from tht jump in the second half, and a splendid tr\ -went down to Marists. Hansen, from well inside his own half, gave a pass tc Brisbane, the latter transferring to Kir wan, who streaked for the line and scored Singe goaled and Tykes led Bto 7 Rich mond were putting a lot of "pep" intc their game, but their handling was faulty Another score was tagged to Marists' tota when Brisbane. Gregory and Hanser handled in turn, Hansen getting across ir the corner Marists 11, Richmond V Although the scores were against them Richmond were having as much of the at tacking as Marists, and there was srreal excitement when the backs handled foi Hyland to be thrown out at the cornel flag, it was hard luck. Two tries in less than a minute, both converted by Singe were registered by .Marists, O'Brien getting M, e a , n(l Cither the other, but the tit Ki*°:_ , was Brisbane's run half the length of the field before" transSf vrS'-ft C fTS eP> With ten minutes to go, Marists led 21 to 7. Bass registered a try. making Richmond 10. but a Mil- later Ciewther notchec" his second try for Marists, and the fame ended Marists 04 Richmond • '. °.'. °.".'.!!!! 10 Mr. L. Taylor was referee. WORTHY OF "A" GRADE. A A TT h was "orthy of "ie senior A -rnde fixtures was played between at 0 " km., , aml L ' ,lerslle " «e_ior teams From tl P ,o °," Sat '-">ay afternoon. craXd and th" " st ™™™* Pace vas Thn A,-./ tU " c was Uo The first score came to Kllerslie through ooke and Shand following up well "mi the latter placed down between the uprights. He converted hli «™-J? . An exciting bout saw Cooke "away* but he was outstripped by May and FXtegerald and fierce pay resulted \ n?n„ i .' May, full-back For and' stopped a couple of dangerous rushes Then Ilettett Ellerslie's full, instead of kicking tried to bustle through. This Z primarily responsible for McLaughlin scor. ing from a melee on the line.. Wilkin. failed with the kick. Kllerslie 5 North cote 8. Robinson secured, and bcatinc two men, transferred to Speight, who in turn Kent on to Wllkins. Tho latter was co' lnrcd by May. bnt got up and rushed over He converted bis own try. Northcote 8 Kllerslie 5. Particularly fast play characterised the second half, which saw both sides makin" delcrmined efforts to score. Northcote were flinging the ball about In great style, their passing being good to watch! Ellerslie. on the other hand. were endeavouring to keep the game '-lose. On one occasion Crotrnn nnd J. Shand were prominently associated In on excellent run. hut want of support spoilt a great chance. Northcote again came at it. Wilklns. Smith nnd Ponnycooke playing well together. Then Ellerslie took a hnnd nt the open game, and spectneular football wns. witnessed. It wns a fine game, the ball no sooner being at one end than it was at'the other. These conditions prevailed till the end, there being no alteration in the score, which was: < ■- •» Northcote S SJllersUe ~~ ~ ~ 5

PONSONBY V. GRAFTON. ) ' Grafton" arrackcd s«eyui as the game opened. Avrry and Te Whata leading a rush rijiht up to tho Ponsonby line. Peckham with a clearing klok land.nl the hall into G. Rayncr's arms. The Grafton fullback potted with deliberation. and despite an acute angle scut the ball railing high over the bar. Grafton '-. Ponsonby o, l.cwry was winning the hall in the scrums tor Ponsonby with regularity, and the Pousonby !..-., Us wore setting a good share of the l-all. l'ousonby wore penalise-., 1 and from lone range Dufty raised the flags. Grafton 4. Ponsonby' t». There was sparkle in the Ponsonby play, but • Grafton wer-> tackling keenly, and the Grafton pack wen- Heating the opposing van in Hie loose. I'onsonlty.'s. .first score tame fri>m ruck play in the Grafton 25. IVckham save a feint j-nss to tbe left, and then swung tlie hall wide in-the opposite direction to Lo'wry. to Cole, the latter disclosing a nice burst of speed, and swerving clear of Timmins to score wide ' cut. Grafton -I. Ponsonby :'. A cross-kick j at the Grafton end landed the bull into I • loodley's arms, and he streaked across at the tlasf. cole placed a beautiful augle goal. ■lO'i the midway scores were :—Ponsoubv S. Grafton 4 When the second session opened. Ponsonby raided the Grafton end in great style. Peckham got.the ball away t.. Usher, to Cole. The centre car In. drew Donovan, then passed wide to Goodie.? on the left. The latter turned away* fast on a diagonal line aud got across before Ttie opposition arrived. l'onsonby 11. (Jrafton 4. Grafton ba'bs got off a sparkling run. Irncas to Heard, to Dufty. an in-pass to Smith, then an out-pass to Dufty. for the latter to hurl himself over the Ponsonbv line. Dufty ooaverted. Ponsonby 11. Grafton !». Ponsonby threw the ball about freely, and a long pass let Littlewood in nt the corner. Ponsonby 14. Crafton 9. Smitn put lit » j spectacular run for Grafton. He was j tackled twice en route, but each ti'.nc got clear, ond wound up a sensational individual effort hy netting the try of the day alongside the posts. Ponsonby 14. Grafton 14. [ With ten minutes to go both teams fought I desperately for tbe lean. In the last j moment of play Ponsonby made their i final effort. NeaT the Grafton line Feckliaiti I shot the ball out to Cole, who ran hard, and straight, and dived across to score the winning try. Peckham converted, aud made the final scores: — Ponsonbv 10 Grafton 14 A POOR GAME. This match was played on No. 1 ground as a curtain raiser to the Kichmond— Marist Bros. game. The play was not a good i exhibition, the handling by both sides [leaving a lot to be desired. If anything] Parnell had the most of the ball the two five-eighths putting in a lot of good work. I which their fellow backs failed to go on ! with. Prom a forward breakaway by Pnrnell I play ensued near Otahuhu's line when J the ball went out to Faulkner, who scored. 1 Brockliss goaled and at half-time Parnell led v to 0 I Altogether too much kicking was ir-dnlsred j in during the second half , and any attempts at passing were few and far between, these breaking down very early, i Twice Otahuhu hadl chances to score, but ! they preferred. to keep the ball at their feet rather than pick it up. With play in j Parnell's 23, the ball was sent along to I McDonald, who dived across at the corner. I Philp just missed converting. Tberp wns nothing in the play to arouse the interest of the crowd. Before the game ended Clark scored under the pasts for Parnell, and Patton goaling. the final score was: Parnell :o Otahuhu ;; Mr. A. Rae was referee. A SURPRISE FOR MANGERE. For the first quarter of an hour the game was very even, with both sides playing hard. E. Sims, for however, took the only opening, and picking the ball from the scrum scored a brilliant try. Herring converted. Mangare then - had hard luck in not kicking a penalty, and besides this it must be admitted that some golden opportunities were missed through careless handling. Play now became centred, but was opened by MeManus making a fine dash for the line, which was unsuccessful. Half-time was now sounded. Man cere on resuming became aggressive, aud Hira scoied for them—a good try. Lipscombe converted. Shortly afterwards Lips, combe converted. Kingsland suddenly 1 rushed play down field.: and RHey. taking advantage of-"the" position, scored a try. 'It was not converted. Mangere pressed ' hard from then on. but the sound of the whistle spoiled their chance. Kingsland' S Mangere B JUNIOR GAMES. SECOND GRADK. Devonport 45, beat Newton 5. THIRD GRADK. New Lynn 19. beat North Shore 3. Grafton Athletics 10. beat Ponsonby 4. INTERMEDIATE. Newton 6, beat Devonport 5. Richmond 10, beat Parnell 8. FOURTH GRADE. Richmond 14. beat City 2. Parnell 11, beat Ellerslie 0. FIFTH GRADE, Dcvonnort 19, beat Grafton 'Athletic 0." Ellerslie G4. beat Northcote'o. Richmond Wanderers 2, beat New Lvnn °- ,-, ... " • - SIXTH GRADE. ' Richmond A 4S, beat Northcote A 0. City A 16. beat City B 10. ' Athletics 22; beat'Akarana 3. Akarana 7, boat Newton 6. ■ GAMES IN THE SOUTH. i 1 /GREYMOUTH. ' ' .West Coast 11, beat Otago 8. , .'\, CHRISTCHURCH. -Addington' 23." beat Waimairi _6. ' Hornby 32;' beat Sydenham 3. Marists B 24, beat \Voolston 4. i -r- < DUNEDIN. I Athletic 14.^bea,t .City 3. Christian Bros. _2," boa t> Pacific'B. " K-aitahgata 9 r beat Kaikorai B..'■ ' ' • • ..-'•' ,c ..