RUGBY LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 186, 9 August 1927, Page 12

RUGBY LEAGUE.

FIGHT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

TWO TEAMS LEVEL,

NEWTON AND PONSONBY

Slowly the championship puzzle is unfolding itself, and the greatest interest will attach to next Saturday's games. At the moment Newton and Ponsonby are running neck and neck, the former strengthening their claim for pride of place last Saturday by decisive defeat of Marist after the best game that has been seen at Carlaw Park this season. Ponsonby had a comparatively light task against Grafton Athletic, while Devonport won by a comfortable margin from Richmond. Tho positions of the teams now are: — P- W. L. D. for. apr. Pt Newton if> 7 2 1 131 120 Ir, Ponsonby lo 7 2 1 15!) 04 l"> Marist 11 7 4 — 150 li t 14 Pevouport 10 7 3 — 20K 14 Richmond .... 11 4 6 1 i:*.l rjl ;» City 10 2 7 1 li;: IS2 5 Athletic lo — 71) 272 o Last season Newton held a lowly position in the League senior competitive table, and the team was a subject for commiseration by League followers, who admired the plucky spirit that was necessary for a team to play the part of chopping-block for stronger rivalg. In the tiico of adversity the Newton spirit did not waver, and one more turn of the League wheel has brought them out of grey shadows into a purple patch. Their opening came this season resulted in a draw against Ponsonby, but as it was a dreary day, and a game on what was veritably a mud-heap, the first outward and visiblo sign that Newton had arriveu has not generally recognised. The truism that youth will tell has been exemplified in Newton's case, albeit the happy fact that a few players with talent above the average were found to throw in their lot with the club. The team proved its right to play on the No. 1 ground at Carlaw Park—the hall-mark of merit officially recognised, although perhaps slowly in some instances—and at the moment are strong favourites

for the 1927 premiership, although they have yet to meet Ponsonby, one of the hardest teams in Auckland to defeat. On tho form of last Saturday the red and whites should go remarkably close to championship honours, although in these days of wayward players and strangely fluctuating form prophecy is indeed a dangerous thing.

Newton defeated Marist by sheer merit, with play that brilliantly featured all that is brightest and best in the code—a wonderful exhibition of team work, and skill, blended with ready resource to grasp even the most fleeting of opportunities. In every respect the red and whites were the better side, and but for the traditional tenacious Marist defence the scyre would have been larger. Newton's best was an effort that was virtually sustained right through the game, whereas Marist's best was of the spasmodic variety, the all necessary finish in attack being strangely lacking on occasions when it really counted. Hero is an illustration. On two occasions in the Newton twenty-five the Marist inside backs collaborated perfectly, but the final pass was flung at Knott's feet, transfers that would have baffled a Cinquevalli. It spelled two lost scores, as on both occasions a good pass should have sent Knott flying in to register a try. Marist adopted the hazardous course of swopping horses, metaphorically in the middle of the final tide towards the championship. An heroic measure it did not achieve the happiest results, much for the reason that King, one of the finest wing three-qquarters in Auckland, could not be metamorphosed at short notice into a classic centre, although the green reshuffle of the backs, which consigned Sweeney to the wing, gave that player a chance to show good form in a new position. Cohesive play will always defeat a set of units no matter how individually clever, and thus in comparison of rearguards the red and whites were beyond doubt the dominant force. Forward the green pack made it a fifty-fifty issue in the scrums, but out in the open there was a Newton trio—Hall, Clark and Somers—who quite outshone any three that could have been selected from the green sextette.

Except that the ground was muddy in occasional patches, the Car law Park area played remarkably well on Saturday, and the players welcomed a return to a fair foothold and dry ball conditions by open play that was sparkling and colourful, and changeful enough of venue to satisfy the most phlegmatic League patron.

The Newton backs gave a splendid exhibition of playing for the side with suppression of the exuberant spirit to shine as soloists. Herewini was übiquitous at fullback, fielding with anticipation, and gleefully joining in when an attacking chance came. Dufty played right up to his best form at centre three-quarter, and handled the ball on to his supports with refreshing freedom, while Morman, Hardgrave and Little collectively gave the Newton rearguard a touch of speed which the Marist backs could not counter. They were all bril-

liant in attack, while the diminutive Mclntyre gavo his supports a free rein when the opportunity offered.

Once, inorc Gregory was the Admirable Chrichton of the Marist side, despite injury oil two occasions, once when he deliberately sacrificed himself to save a score when the Newton pack was charging en masse. Knott, who is on© of the finds of the present season, played cleverly on the wing and ran speedily, while of the others Brisbane and Kirwan were the most impressive, the latter for heady play and sterling, unwavering defence.

Of tlie Marist forwards, Keenan, Moisley and O'Brien were the most in the changeful picture. The latter interpreted the off-side rule with customary cleverness, and a crowd which has now grown wiser in that connection did not make unkind remarks about off-side play.

THE LITTLE "WORRIERS."

Grafton Athletics are a team of "worriers," who give of their best against weightier and more experienced opponents, but usually fall a good deal short at the death. Although they have not won a single frame this season, they have earned the admiration of the spectators for their tenacity, and the fact that they are triers all the way. Luck of weight forward invariably proves their undoing, and it was one of the contributing factors in turning their game with Ponsonby against them, on the Park, on Saturday. Athletics opened brightly, scored first, fell level again, and led for a brief period after that. Driven back by the heavier opposition forwards, their defence wavered, and then crumpled when the blues' scoring machine began to function. In the second spell, Ponsonby piled on points with more or less regularity, and in the there was a margin of twenty-four points between the scores.

A feature of Athletics* display was the tireless efforts of Bert Avery, who, when not setting an example in the hard stuff, instructed his younger colleagues with a good deal of success, when the play swung away from him. His . most adapt pupil in the

forwards was Her-

ring. Lucas, behind the pack, was as indefatigable as ever, and gave a nippy display. He combined well with Stevenson, Angelo and Christmas in particular. Longville played one of his best games to date at fullback, and let little past him.

Langley was equally as sound as the last line of defence-for Ponsonby. All the blue backs handled well, and incisive passing bouts frequently ended in the wingers scoring. Delgrosso was in form, and had a day out at scoring, while the Peckham brothers—Ken and Tim—were responsible for several of the tries. Of the forwards, who had the better of the majority of the scrummages, Pagan, Ward and J. Peckham were most conspicuous. Grey, played out of position, as he quite frequently does, and, as a forward, was always doing his bit.

RICHMOND'S PLUCKY Fluiir

Not all who saw Devonport beat Richmond by eighteen points to eight at Devonport on Saturday are in agreement regarding the respective merits of the two teams. There are many who think that Devonport were a shade lucky to win by such a margin. Both teams were practically at full ] strength, but Richmond are still looking for a good man to fill Parkes' place. The Devonport thirteen was strengthened by the inclusion of Stokes, who has forsaken the Rugby fold for the League game. In the first spell the game was rather tame, but in the second some excellent football was witnessed.

Richmond's strength was in the forward division. Except in loose play the Richmond forwards were better than Devonport and if only the Richmond backs had availed themselves of the chances that came their way there would have been another story to tell. Bass lent a helping hand in everything, and his try was a particularly good one! The other forwards, Telford, Lennie, Redwood, Carroll and Stewart also gave fine displays.

The Richmond rearguard was weak and was changed around before and

during the match. Hanlon was centrethreequarter at first but in the second spell he went to fullback. He performed well in both positions, his sidestepping at times being reminiscent of Harold Horder. Prentice was fair, and Hyland at half-back a very useful ma.

The North Shore rearguard often rose to heights of brilliancy. Behind the scrum Webb was ever the brains and the pivot of the team. On attack or defence he was quick to do the right thing, in the right way and at the right time. Laing turned out again for Shore and played at first five-eighths, but he wai> not impressive. The three-quarter line, comprising L. Scott, Stokes and Beattie, worked well and often these three players left the opposition guessing with their snappy in-and-out passing and clever combined play. Seager (second five-eighth) and Perry were fair.

For some reason the Shore forwards were not up to their usual standard. Ruby was as good as ever and was responsible for Shore's first score. It was the reward of opportunism and fast following up. Rule, St. George and O'Brien grafted hard all through.