LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 202, 27 August 1928, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

PLAY BELOW STANDARD. DEVONPORT'S EASY DAY. PONSONBY BELOW STRENGTH. The playing conditions were ideal at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon, but the play fell below that disclosed earlier in the season, and neither of the senior games staged were particularly interesting. Devonport had all the better of a very casual meeting with Ponsonby, and won by a fairly wide margin, much for tlie reason that the seasiders showed more zest and ability to finalise scoring chances which came their way. It was not the best Devonport form, but it was a long way too good for their opponents. With Hutt, Peckham and Delgrosso away playing for the national side against the Englishmen, the western suburbs team had a side that was much below their usual strength. Concerted play in the game was rare, but there was an occasional fragment, which was the more colourful by reason of a very drab background. Collaborative eflort was also missing in the City-Marist game, although it was a very even struggle, for which Kirwan emerged from retirement to fill a gap in the greens' backs. Richmond journeyed to Ellerslie to win by the close margin of two points.

DEVONPORT DEFEATS PONSONBY.

Shore's opening score came from desul* tory play in no-man's land. Crooks, a recruit from the City Rugby Club, put in a fast dash on attack and linked \vitn Gardiner, but the next pass was dropped and Cleaver drove for the line at the risht corner. As the defen-ce converged Cleaver sent across an exploiting kick and Dixon, coming up fast, scored in a good position, A. Scott making the best of the conversion chanee. Devonport 5, Ponsonby 0. Fast work by the Shore forwards saw Ponsonby again hard on defence. Near the right corner O'Brien fielded a clearing kick and, being unmarked, went across for an easy try. Scott converted. Devonport 10, Ponsonby O. When the second half opened Ponsonby pulled themselves together, and in a bright burst of interplay went to tlie Shore end. Moore whipped the ball away from a scrum, and Thompson cut through brilliantly, but without support. In their own twenty-live Shore swung into attack, Scott to Preston, to Cleaver. The centre showed fine speed and penetrated deeply before passing to O'T.earv, trailing in support. With a clear field tiie young Shore wing skimmed the [sideline to score a good try nt the corner flag. Devonport 13, Ponsonby 0. Casey in a long kick naved the way for Shore's next score. There was time to flear, but dilatory work on the Ponsonby line. fn<l K"*"" f'rivin? with a foil liend of steam up, enabled that player to dive across to score wide out. Devonport 10, Ponsonby 0. Starting again Kubv raced through the Ponsonby backs, passing to O'Brien who raced in between the posts. Ruby converted. Devonport 21. Ponsonby 0. Thompson and Letton in turn made r-010 dashes for the Shore line, and Moore, from a scrum, tried fo ferret his way across. From another scrum Payne broke to the blind to fvt a simple try. Devonport 21. Ponsonby 3. Brilliant play by Crooks brought the next score. He 'l»mmied thronsh 11ip Shore centre, swung a wide pass, which K. Peckham gathered, and the following pass sent Ford in at the flag. Devonport 21, Ponsonby 6. Just on the call of time Seapar waltzed through the Ponsonby backs, to score as he liked. Devonport 24 l'onsonby 6

CITY BEATS MARISTS. There was nothing Inspiring about the match between City and Marists, won by the former by It points to 10, at Carlaw Park on Saturday. The gume opened quietly, with City having slightly the better of exchanges. Gradually Tykes swept goalward, and their opportunity came when Noble scooped up in the looSe, to send on to Keenan, to Hansen, to Campbell, who ran in wide out. Gregory's shot failed, and with eight minutes gone Marists led, 3 —o. Shortly afterwards City were penalised, and Gregory kicked a neat angle goal. Marists i>. City 0. Marists added to their score when the ball shot wide from n loose scrum to Petherick, who picked up and wandered across in the proximity of the posts. Gregory found the uprights.

•Just before the spell Webberley made an opening for Reynolds, who raced through, outstripped the opposition, and scored near the posts. Barehard goaled and the half-time -scores read : Marists 10, City

City applied the pressure on resumption, but could not force a passage through the solid defence of the opposition. Not to be deterred, however, the "reds" set up a de-1 termined attack. From strenuous play on Tykes' goal line, Town send secured and sent on to Reynolds who registered his second try of the day. Barehard could not equalise with his kick from a handy range. After n period of give-and-take play, McLaughlin paved the way for City to assume the lead. When Marists were defending, the ball came to him from the loose, and he sent it on to Hines, to Lawrence, who literally flew along touch to score in the corner. The try was not converted. City 11, Marist 10. The "reds" continued to have the better of play, and just before time Perry decided the issue by cutting through brilliantly to score. Barcliard's shot failed and the game ended with tho scores reading:— City 14 Marist ....; 10

ELLERSLIE'S HARD LUCK.

It took tlie teams ten minutes to settle down. Then some pretty passing rushes were witnessed, Ellerslie, if anything, having the better of the game, although Richmond was sound on defence. Both sets of backs threw the ball about in spectacular fashion. The ball was handled by all the Richmond backs with precision, transferring play to Ellerslie's twenty-five. Here Littlewood intercepted a pass when things looked dangerous. He went off at top speed, beat several Richmond players and made straight for the posts. His great turn of speed secured him a great try under the bar. S. Crewther kicked the goal. Ellerslie 5, Richmond 0. Quickly transferring play to the opposite end Richmond looked certain to score, hut Davis, fnll-bnck for Ellerslie, making a flying tackle, pushed Davis out at the corner flag, the resulting scrum giving Ellerslie much needed relief. Ellerslie forwards were playing a good game, keeping Richmond strictly on defence, and the game hung about the latter's line for some time. A long kick by a Richmond forward saw Ellerslie hopelessly out of posi-

tion. Littlewood tried to stall off the resulting attack, but it was impossible for him to stop three Richmond players—Swift went across just as he was collared. Tay- j lor's shot raised the flags. Kllerslie 5, Richmond 5. Just before half-time Taylor made a. good opening, and the ball was handled by Jenkinson. Taylor coming again took a good pass and raced over. Half-tjme saw the score : —Richmond S, Ellerslie 0. There was a series of reverse passing and ' change of direction, the final bout seeing S. Crewther sending Littlewood away to score his second try. Hemingway missed the kick from wide out. Ellerslie 8, Richmond S. Fighting hard Richmond did everything but score. Then S. Crewther got in a long kick which put Ellerslie on the attack, and hard clean football was witnessed, Hemingway, Roxburgh and Slater being most prominent It was now Ellerslie's turn to do everything but score, the game being fast and open. There was three minutes to go when Taylor fielded the ball from halfway, and, taking his time, he kicked a magnificent goal, making the filial scores :— Richmond ......•••••.••••« 1® Ellerslie .S JUNIOR RESULTS. SENIOR B. Athletics 11, beat Point Chevalier 10. Otahuhu 20, beat Kingsland 21. SECOND GRADE. Ponsonby B 3, beat Devonport 0. THIRD OPEN. Richmond 29, beat Ponsonby 0. Norhtcote 3. drew with Devonport B 3. Mount Albert 6, beat Kingsland 5. Glen Eden 8, beat New Lynn O. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Ponsonby 18, beat; New Lynn 8. Richmond 8, beat Newmarket 2. FOURTH GRADE. l'onsonby 8, beat Otahuhu O. Richmond 3, drew with City 3. Remuera 14, beat Northcote 5. FIFTH GRADE. Devonport 20, beat 8.8. and G. 0. SIXTH GRADE. Newmarket 12, beat Marists 3. Point Chevalier 8, beat Akarana 0. City 11, beat Newton 0.