RICHMOND'S TRIUMPH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 167, 17 July 1928, Page 16

RICHMOND'S TRIUMPH.

Wellington prayed for night or BJucher at the Battle of Waterloo, and got both. In the dying minute* of the RichmondDevon port game the Richmond skipper also probably prayed for night and the final whistle. Richmond were in extremis over the last five minutes of the game. A comparatively light team, perfectly trained, and blessed with the indomitable spirit to win, they threw down the gauntlet to Shore in bold and devastating fashion, .and pierced the leaders' defence so successfully that 'midway they had a lead of sixteen points to three. Through the second half there was a different picture. With weight and team play Devonport set out on. a big task of recovery, and gradually made up the leeway. With eight minutes to go the Richmond lead was 16—14, and Devonport wanted a -try to get. a win, which meant the 1928 club championship as well. As attackers the Richmond pack had played its part and done its in the opening half, and to' crown their troubles they were a player short and another partially disabled. • Through a desperate eight minutes, through one of the most hectic scertea known at Carlaw Park, the maroons held ort grimly, tenaciously, showing a defence that was heroic. It was a defence that bent, but it did not break, and the scene of enthusiasm at the end was remarkable. There were a couple of new faces in the Richmond team. One was Coote, formerly of the Shore Rugby team, which appearg to be on© of the most fertile recruiting grounds that the League code has. Coote took kindly to a new code and . strange surroundings, and although he has yet to learn the finer points of the game, he certainly impressed with his fine dash, straight running, and sound' defence. A young player with physique well above the average, he should go a long way in the game. The other newcomer was Firth, who has been playing with the New Lynn League team. Firth is a hooker, and quite an artist in the role of rake. "With

a good hooker we can win," said one of the Richmond supporters before the match started, and' he pinned his faith to Firth, who did not fail. To make it a fifty-fifty matter with St. George, one of the best hookers in Auckland, was a distinct triumph, for the ex-New Lynn junior, and up to the time he was hurt and had to retire he was one of the best forwards on the ground. The Richmond backs gave their best display of the season, and combined with a fluency that surprised their most ardent supporters. Leng is not yet an ideal League full-back, and has a" lot to learn about placing of his kicks, but his defence, particularly in the vital moments of the game, was wondefully sure.

Wheaton played exceptionally well in the centre, and had a very big hand in the great try that came Taylor's way. It was a passing run that looked nothing out of the way until Wheaton took a hand in it, but he pave things a masterly touch by sighting the glimpse of

an opening, and cleverly changing his to get through, then swinging into • position to get touch with his t&aßy It wals just on® of those little y*° e gof Teal class football. Taylor, Hanftnd Davis all gave their j, *y"ddually and collectively. Davis 'cleverness at the scrum Wrdled in all branches of P Hanlon was in a fairly

subdued role, his play throughout the day being hampered by the quick, coverinS Plav of the Shore inside* backs.

On the day Jenkinson was the maroons' outstanding forward, although McCarthy, Cole brook a n d Stewart were a great trio. There were a few weak spots in the Shore back division. Wells, at full-back, was very uncom f or t a b 1 e, Rhodes, on the

wing, was out of

his place, and Webb, at half back, was below form. The best backs were Seagar, Beattie and L. Scott, the latter faultless and, maintaining the great form he lias disclosed this season, Beattie brilliant but prone to take the line of least resistance and bore his wings instead of going straight, and Seagar consistently good. When A. Scott hived off the scrum late in the game to play the extra back game the Shore rearguard seemed a new force,

and the exhibition of trenchant attack that xv a s given has seldom been excelled in a club game. The Shore forwards were even. A. Scott, with great generalship, was certainly the best, and the others were the bold, weighty, hard working lot who have carried most

of the burden this season to put Shore on their present plane. O'Brien's reappearance has strengthened the side, and on his showing he merits consideration for the representative selections.

Through the corridors of time the match will be remembered as one of the greatest of club contests on record.

HONOURS EVEN.

Ponsonby and Marist can usually be relied upon to supply a hard-fought contest. On Saturday the game they provided was no exception to the rule, and hostilities ceased with honours evenly distributed—a draw, 11 points all.

Not resplendent with thrills, the contest was interesting for its continual changes, with first one team and then the other being in the ascendent, defence that was too swift and sure to allow of any scintillating movements, and play that waxed hard and fast among the forwards. It was a day rather of individualism than concerted effort, and both sides were disinclined to open up the play. Territorially there was little between the teams, but had Delgrosso been kicking up to recent form, the pendulum would undoubtedly have swung in favour of Ponies.

Injured in last week's trial match, Tim Peckham did not turn out for Ponsonby, and this necessitated a reshuffling of the rearguard. Moore filled the position behind the scrum, and, getting a fair measure of the ball from the scrumj, was. not. slpw in sending his backs away. Delgrosso, who was associated with Thomson in the five-eighths line, w»3 one of the most outstanding backs on the ground, and showed genius for finding gaps in the defence. Thompson is fast improving, and while not seen much in a fixed position, showed promise as a straight running back with a good pair of hands. Usher after a few minutes wan replaced by Gardiner, but the big Maori did not get many opportunities with Brisbane as his vis-a-vis. Letton was a determined battler on the wing, and saw more of the ball than K. Peckham, the other fiankman. Schofield was somewhat out of his element at full-back, but though caught out of position occasionally, he acquitted himself well on the day.

Brady and Brisbane teamed well, and stood out from among Marists line. Both good on defence, they displayed brilliant opportunism, and tries came their wey as a result of their facility to dart into openings. Brady is fast improving, and played his best game to date. Hassan's principal attribute on the day was his defence, while more was seen of Batchelor than Richardson, the three-quarters. Cronin battled solidly behind the scrum, while Gregory was cool and accurate at full-back. Tykes foiAvards met their match, and the standard they set fell below expectations considering their fine

showing of the pre-

vious week. Eac" man was striving for the opening, and there was a good deal of unnecessary "vamping." O'Brien was again the pick of the hunch, and his fast breaking away from the back of the scrum proved of considerable annoyance to the opposition. In view of the forthcoming games with the English tourists all eyes were fociissed on Moisley, but he was hardly in the picture all day. O'Brien's best supports were Noble, Graham and Johnson. Hutt was the O'Brien of Ponsonby, but collectively the suburban forwards played well. J. Peckham, Fagan and Ford were always conspicuous, and were grafting hard when the end came.

" LOVIN' MATCH" ON DOMAIN. "Why don't yer go for 'era low ? Do yer think it's a lovin' match yer playin' in. It makes me sick to see yer 'uggin' and kissin' each other." These and other comments, much stronger than could be written here, were to be heard on the side-line at the Ellerslie-Newton clash on the Domain on Saturday. There was little doubt that it was a "clash," because thtfre was precious little League football played—if any. As a matter of fact it was only the anticipation that anything in the form of a "scrap" might occur at any moment, that kept interest in the game at all. Then again on account of want of space on the side-line, on occasions, players and spectators got hopelessly mixed. There might have been a serious accident. As it was one lad was rather severely hurt, and had to be carried off the ground. A big Newton back, and an Ellerslie forward came together near the line, and in their struggles collided violently and fell on top of the unoffending spectators. There were also many other stoppages, whilst St. John Ambulance men attended to players on the field. At times there were some "merry mix-ups," despite the fact that Referee Hill did his best to prevent them. But a referee can't see everything,

and some of the players on both sides were adept at getting "sly ones" on to 0110 another. At the close Dufty, the Newton skipper, appeared to be heartily sick of the whole thing, and called out, "Mr. Referee, how much longer are you going on. We're a quarter of an hour over now." He was wrong, of course, because there was only a minute or so to "go," and the next time the ball became "dead" the referee blew his whistle. Spectators and players heaved a sigh of relief—one of the most uninteresting matches played for years had terminated. Further comment would be useless.