LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 209, 4 September 1928, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

DEVONPORT CHAMPIONS. WINNERS OF THE SHIELD. SEASON NEARING THE CLOSE. Saturday saw the close of the League Shield matches, with Devonport in the ascendancy and by their win over Ellerslie the champions of the 1928 season. In the earlier part of the season the seaside team had an unbroken sequence of victories, which made it appear that they had the championship at their mercy, but they unaccountably slipped, had a trio of reverses, and had to fight hard for the premiership. They took the field on Saturday leading Richmond by a single point, but, as events turned out, Richmond had a surprise defeat at the hands of City. Although they won by a wide margin, Devonport had some doubtful moments with Ellerslie, and at one stage it was quite a possibility that the tri-colours would at least draw level, but their play fell away, and Devonport soon put the issue of the game beyond doubt. As a game it did not reach the highest League plane, but in patches the play was good and interesting. Ellerslie started badly. Mulling by their fullback gave Shore a gift try, and next Simons kicked a sensational field goal. Shore kept on scoring bent, with the result that at the change-over they were leading by 23 points to 7. The next phase was a fine recovery by Ellerslie, who bridged the gap to the extent that the score were 23—16. In the later stages Shore once more rallied, and two converted tries placed the issue beyond all doubt.

One of the real stars of the Devonport side was L. O'Leary, a colt, who was playing his second game in the first grade—a youngster who, on two games, has shown that he is the most promising young wing in Auckland. On two occasions O'Leary, with brilliant collaboration of pace, side-step and exploitation of the dummy, weaved his way through the opposition to score, while on all other occasions he was up in position and eager for any scoring chance. Simons also gave a great display and looks like being the rep. fullback of the future. He played with great coolness and resource, and kicked a length that was pretty close to the Dufty-Sullivan standard. Preston played a fine game amongst the other Shore backs, while Webb showed speed and cleverness in opening up the play. O'Brien was one of the shining lights of the Shore van and is a much better forward than some people—even rep. selectors—think that he is. It was an even and good pack, with the exuberant Ruby shining at intervals with the übiquitous way that he has of doing things. The Crewther trinity were the pick of the Ellerslie backs and were terrier-like in their tackling. Brother S. was the outstanding one of the trio and showed all-round cleverness. In the Ellerslie pack Allen played an outstanding game and has the necessary physique and skill to carry him far in the code. Dance and Roxburgh also showed up, likewise G. Davies, who started at full-back and fared exeeed- | tngly ill in that position.

CITY ON UP-GRADE. Like the majority of football teams, no matter what code, City has had its ups-and-downs. Last season the club was at a low ebb, and finished at the wrong end of the championship. This season it again opened inauspiciously, and despite frequent changes and the introduction of frejgh but unfruitful talent, made little impression on the other teams in the competition. A brighter day has dawned in recent weeks, however, and on Saturday the old club registered its third successive win. And there were no half measures about the matter, for they decisively trounced the runners-up in Richmond. At no stage of the piece could it be said that the suburban team looked like winning, but occasionally they showed a glimpse of that form that threatened at one stage of the season to place them at the top of the senior ladder. The trouble lay largely with the forwards, who, beaten for the ball, gave their backs few opportunities to open up the game. Apart from Jenkinson and ColebTOok none impressed. City's van, on the other hand, was a dominant force, fast following up by McLaughlin, the Hadley brothers and Townsend being a feature. This, combined with Wetherill repeatedly kicking to the weak spot in Richmond's defence —Leng at full-back— paved the way to City's success. Tho representative captain played a solid all-round game, and was well supported by Reynolds, who whipped the ball away from all angles, Perry, at centre, and Lawrence, who again impressed for hi* determination as a winger. Barchard as the last line of defence maintained his reputation as being one of the most promising lower graders to have been elevated to the senior ranks this season. Prentice was the only Richmond back to play up to form, his defence being superb. Taylor showed up for an individual effort now and again, but was given few opportunities by his insides. r - i« iua; ; h.nd Morris beat K. M. i <1, 5 up and 4.

TAUMARUNUI CLUB. (From Our Own Correspondent.) i TAUMARUNUI, Monday. S. handicap bogey match was played on tucday and was won by A. Santlel, who [shed 4 up on bogey. Details of the jrea are as follows:—Sandel (handicap I 4 up; Holford (5), 2 up; R. Thomas t). all square; Poutawera (8), 1 clown: hter (12), 2 down; Stevenson (14), 2 h»; King (15), 3 down; Henly (8), 4 era; McHattie (18), 4 down; Hughes i, 5 down; Gilpin (9), 5 down; Wood {), 5 down; Moore (17), 7 down; Coker !), 7 down. n the semi-finals of the senior chamnsbip Sandel defeated Hughes 2 up; lfoed defeated Henry 2 up. The final I be played on September 15. n the junior championship semi-finals Smith defeated Laird on the 10th green ; ig defeated Moore 2 up. The final will played on September 8.