LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 238, 8 October 1928, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

ROOPE ROOSTER FINAL.

MARISTS VICTORIOUS.

FAST GAME WITH PONSONBY.

In blazing sunshine, with the mercury soaring in the direction of mid-summer temperature, the League programme went another stage towards a long drawn-out finish on Saturday, when Marists and Ponsonby battle«F for possession of the Roope Rooster—the Wyandotte that is competed for each season. Victory went to Marists after a hard, fast 1 game, in which the superior tactics of 1 the greens' inside backs were the decid- ' ing factor.. A runaway try scored in the last few minutes of the game gave Ellerslie a slender victory over Grafton Athletics in the game which was to decide whether the wooden spoon-holders would or would not remain in the senior A competition. The League flame in the . Northland was fanned by the visit to ' Whangarei of an Auckland representative team, which won by 33 points to 9. Despite counter attractions 7000 people found their way to Car law Park on Saturday to witness the final game in the sudden-death competition played between Marists and. Ponsonby. A free came to the western suburbs team shortly after the commencement, and Delgrosso landed a wonderful angle goal from near touch and twenty-five yards out. Tykes were playing a willing game and after about five minutes of play were rewarded foi their persistency. The ball trickled from a scrum in the left corner, and Noble breaking away like a flash beat Moore who endeavoured to force, and scored. Gregory goaled. Marists 5, Ponsonby 2. Fortunes were fluctuating in true League style, but the tackling was toe deadly for anything much of a concerted nature. J. Peckham opened up a passing bout for the Ponies, and Gardiner forced his way over at the corner, but Delgrosso could not improve the position. Ponsonby 5, Marists 5. The green forwards hooked the ball cleanly from a scrum on the twentyfive yard line for Brady to whip it away to Gregory, to Kirwan, to Brissbane. The ccntre shot through the ' If> ?ence with a cut-in, to get the ball away to Hansen as he was being tackled. The wingei accepted the pass cleanly and swerved in-field to be tackled from behind. He was up in a second, however, and dived across to finalise the movement. Thr kick presented no difficulty to Gregory Half-time came with the scores:— Marists 10 Ponsonby 5 Delgrosso electrified the crowd with a swerving run up the centre of the field immediately play was resumed and Ponsonby besieged. Crooks paved the way for Ponies' nest score. Following through a kick, he caught Petherick in possession. The ball rolled clear and K. Peckham, coming up in support, secured and ran in under the posts. Delgrosso's shot struck the upright., There was no i further score, the final reading of the ' telegraph Jjeing:— Marists. 10 Ponsonby 8 i ELLERSLIE BEAT ATHLETIC. \ By defeating Athletic by the narrow 1 margin, of two points during the last few ■ minutes of a scrappy game on No. 2 ground , at Carlaw Park on Saturday, Bllerslie reI main in the senior A division for another season. Ellerslie had the advantage in weight and adopted bustling tactics from the outset. 8. Crewther had a shot from inside half-way and landed a beautiful goal. Ellerslie 2, Athletic 0. This reverse put | some life into the light-weights, who went ■ away in a combined rush, to be held up ■ by Ellerslle's determined tackling on the line. Both teams began to throw the ball about. . Speight started a- good passing rush. He passed to Davis, who returned the ball quickly, and Speight ran behind unopposed. S. Crewther goaled. Elelrslie [ 7, Athletic 0. At the other end a free was 5 given against Ellerslie for lifting feet in [ a scrum, and Longville had no difficulty in raising the flags. Ellerslie 7, Athletic • 2. When the spell ended the score was: > Ellerslie 7, Athletic 2. r Athletic were all out to score and a » pretty passing rush took place. Lucas started it and passed to Allen to Wilcox 1 to N. York. Ellerslie were caught right ® out of position and York scored in the = corner. Longville's attempt—a good one— 7 failed. Ellerslie 7, Athletic 5. F There were some fifteen minutes of slow, uninteresting play, both sides giving an exhibition of faulty passing. Allen got 1 possession and scored in the corner. S. Crewther failed with the kick. Ellerslie » 10, Athletic «>. On resuming play McGregor secured and passed to Angelo, who s returned the ball infield to McGregor. The 1 latter sent on to York, jun., who scored. ■>, Longville kicked a poster. Ellerslie 10, 8 Athletic 8. From a scramble in front of Ellerslle's goal Allen forced his way over and Longville hoisted the .flags. Athletic 13, Ellerslie 10. With their old dash for once the latter got away and Davis ran round behind the posts. S. Crewther kicked ah easy goal and the final score e was: Ellerslie 15 r Athletic 13

NOKTHLAND WELL BEATEN.

33 POINTS TO 9. • a .. WHANGAREI, Saturday. < The Auckland thirteen proved too strong for the North Auckland, side at YVhangarel to-day, the visitors winning by 33 points to 9. The visitors quickly, showed their superiority in the back division. After a handling bout List scored. Then Jenkinson went through with the ball at toe, and Ball scored, Dufty converting. North Auckland attacked with Bell prominent and J. Hamilton nearly" scored. The visitors broke away again and Buby scored a spectacular try, Dufty's kick hitting the crossbar and rebounding. B. Hamilton retired hurt and was replaced by YVhitelaw. J. Hamilton's fine kicking piut Auckland on the defence, and Connolly broke through, to be stopped by Dufty, who was playing a great game. However, E. Meyer secured the ball and threw a long pass to E. Cunningham, who scored at the corner. Solid tackling by the borne team kept Auckland \put, and at half-time the score was:— Auckland, 11; North Auckland, 3. In the second half the home team attacked strongly, but the movements were broken down by Dufty's sure tackling or dropped passes. Then Seagar kicked through the defence and Jojues scored. Dufty converted. The Auckland backs were handling the hall In brilliant style. However, J. Hamilton made a great break and, accepting a return pass from Connelly, scored; Meyer failed to convert. On reMusing Dufty kicked a great field goal from well out.": A little later JeSMnson scored from an .opening made by. List, and Dufty converted. Hardgrave was the next to touch down and Dufty again converted. Davis worked the blind side of a scrum and Hardgrave outpaced the opposition and scored again. He converted his 'own try. Just before time was called Cunningham made a good opening for Connelly, who cut in neatly and scored. Meyer failed to convert and the game.ended:—Auckland, 33; North Auckland 9.

JUNIOR GAMES. THIRD OPEN. Mount Albert Id, beat Athletics 2, FOURTH GRADE. Akarana llf beat City 3... Richmond 8, beat Remnera 2. SIXTH GRADE. Richmond bant Mevnuket 3.