LEAGUE CHAMPIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1928, Page 12

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS.

CITY RECORD ANOTHER WIN

DEVONPORT THE PREMIERS.

ELLERSLIE OUTPLAYED

WINS TO CITY AXD NEWTON

The League champions of tlio IQ-S eeanon are Devon port. They uad their final run in the Shield games on Saturday afternoon, and in a irigli-ec-oring match, iinished with such a wide margin agaiiiot Eller«slio that there could be doii'bt which was tlie better side on the day. It was casual, carefree football. Both teams threw the ball about with a breezy abandon, and the play was occasionally spectacular, though it rarely roee to the high plane associated with eouie of the Shield games earlier in the season. Kichmond, the runncrs-up in the competition, failed to hold City, the red and blacks—on paper they are one of the best teams ill Auckland —playing In an exuberant style that carried them ■name in triumph by a good margin from the maroons. Newton, playing for once with the method that made them the League champion side last season, had all the better of their content with Ma riot Old Boys.

City recorded their third successive win on Carlaw l'ark •when they defeated thi runners-up in tbe championship, Richmond, on their merits. The liual scores wort to -. The suburban , toani kicked the'it usual dash in the forwards and fleetues! among the backs, whereas City, strength ened by the return to the fold of Wethcrlll. worked with precision on attack at time* and were solid on defence. Fortune fluctuated for lifteen minutes of the initial spell, the reds having slightly the better of p>ay that lacked cohesion. Then C* y set up a determined attack and wen ultimately rewarded for their efforts v.ui'r, W. Hadley picked up and seut McLaughliu over. Barchard missed. Before the breather Mclaughlin anii Towuseiid broke away with tbe ball, and the latter handed to J. Hadley, who scored. Citj 0, Richmond 0. City were penalised tbre« times in succession, but tbe range ou each occasion proved too great for Taylor. The spell came with the scores unaltered. On resumption fumbling by Swift almost let Townsend in, but a forward pass at the crucial moment upset calculations. City came again in a passing rush that was frustrated by Perry. The centre secured once again, however, and cut the defence to ribbons to circle behind the posts. Home converted. City n, Richmond 0. A lwng kick to I-eng found Suburbs again in trouble, the fullback being penalised for not playing the ball when penned on his lost line. Home took the kick for City, and instead of having a shot sent a grubber wingward. W. Hadley was on hand, and lloppod over the line to score. Barchard's shot failed. City 14, Richmond 0. Lawrence added another try for City us the result of fast following up, and just on time Taylor drop-kicked a goal fur Richmond to wipe off two points of the delicit. Thu tiual scores were :— City 37 Kiehuiond * ( DEVONPORT PREMIERS. Opening with dash. Kllorslie penned Shore ou the defensive, but it was only temporary success, as the seasiders were soon in their stride. Fumbling by the suburban full-back, gave Dcvonport a presentation try. L. Seott came through fast, kicked across the goal-lino, aud following, scored a simple try by the posts. A. Scott made it a family affair by converting. With play iii the Ellwslie twenty-five, a clearing kick came to Simons, and the Shore custodian propped, kicked deliberately, and iandV-d a beautiful Held goal. Shore kept well in the picture, and continued to hurry the tricolours. Dixun, Ruby and O'Brien showed up in a passing run, and the next transfer was made to L. Scott, on the right wing, the New Zealand representative showing pace and goins across at the flag before the defence could converge. Shore came again. T. o'l/cary handed out the dummy cleverly, sidestepped neatly, and went across for a. great try which Seagar converted. Ac the Shore end. Hemingway wiped out two points of the de-ricit with a neat penalty shot, but. Shore were soon back, raiding in exuberant style. T. O'Leary handed out a perfect dummy y.am tn Littlewood, weaved his way through the opposition and passed, to send A. Senit over behind the posts. Seagar svnt ihc fla>rs up. The Crewther trinity starred it) a uinvrr.cnt which beat the Shore defence, and when the ball went across, A lion was up in time to get the try. Hemingway converted. S. Crewther starred in a brilliant solo run. but Shore came again, aud O'Brien beat the feeble defence. JJuvouport -u. Eilerslie 7. When the sides changed over a .Shore infringement cave Hemingway a chance, and on the Shore hu kicked a nice penalty goaJ. Ellerslie came away with a devastating raid. The movement went across the lield. R. CrewLher, S. Crewther and Hemingway handled well, and next Littlewood sailed across wide out. Hemingway converted. I>ixon got offside in his twenty-five, and with a good shot. Hemingway made tbe scores Devonporl -■". Ellerslie 10. KUerslie had a golden chance when Littlewood sailed along the sideline and centred, but a great scoring chance from the cross-kick was lost by Speight, who overran the ball in his eagerness. The play went to the other end. Itiiby ran through a shattered defence, and scored by the posts for A. Scott to eouvort. K. Crewther opened up an Kllorslie attack in Ihe Short! twenty-live, bill Webb intercepted, and g<lt clean away to wind i:p a big run by scoring Wide out. A. Scott made a brilliant conversion from a wide angle. Dcvonport ■'••• Kllerslie . 10 The end came a minute later. NEWTON DEFEAT MARISTS. Early yi the game Hall picked up Ihfi ball at half-way, to ni;tl;«- a strong run before sending on to Hardgrave. who scored in dashing style. Murray's kick failed. From fumbling by Xewton backs, the opposing forwards came on the scene. Johnson handed to Graham, who. instead of going across, transferred to Campbell. The latter failed to take the pass right on the Hue. A penalty award followed and Gregory easily piloted the ball over. Xewton Z, Marisf -. A penally against Marists enabled Joy to net another two points. Newton, getting thi' ball ill the seiums. maintained the pressure. Joy tame up smartly to foil the green _ forwards and whipped out to Little. The: latter, in a fast, swerving, side-stepping run. completely dazzled five backs and scored as lie liked, also converting. Fluctuating play .saw the game out. Xewtou ] o Marists -J PONSONBY IN THE NORTH. GAMES AT HIKL'UANGI. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HIKLRANGI, Saturday. The Ponsonby senior League team beat Hikuraiigi by points to 10 in a fast game to-day. For Ponsonby, Gardiner. Hutt. Ford and Letten (throei scored and i'eckhani converted two. For Hikurangi, Meyer aud Taylor scored and Hamilton succeeded with a kick and a conversion. The game was very even and at half-time Ponsonby led. 31—.">. Ponsouby forwards were, good and the backs were passing well, but the Hikuraugi forwards made them play. Letten, for Ponsonby. played a good game on the wing, and Gardiner was a prominent, forward. For Iliknrangl, it. Hamilton, Taylor aud Meyer were outstanding. Foiisonby won a junior garac by 11 points to •">. Aeh by (Fonsonbyi and U'Callagban (Hikurangi l were the best players of The day. Tho Hikurangi forwards' fine tackling j was noticeable all through the game.