LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 105, 6 May 1929, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

CLOSE CONTESTS AT CAR LAW PARK.

RICHMOND BEAT MARISTS. PRINCIPAL GAME PROVIDES THRILLING FOOTBALL. Delightful autumnal weather enhanced the Car law Park picture 011 Saturday afternoon, when buoyant play of the breezv nature, held the attention of another large crowd. With firm foothold on a turf with a tennis lawn top. speed was the essence of the play, which generally was punctuated by pretty passing movements. Ihe brightest incidents of the day wen provided in the Marist-Richmond match, which proved a triumph for Mincham, a young Richmond player, who sealed the issue with a beautiful penalty kick_ in the dying stages and scored all of his side s nine points. The ebb and flow of the game, towering ruck plav and solid tackling, made it thrilling football. Ponsonbv registered a surprise win over the creatly-improved Newton thirteen in the curtain-raiser, while City maintained their last week's form by accounting for Ellerslie. Across the water Devonport defeated Kingsland in an interesting clash.

PONSONBY WIN.

The curtain-raiser started late before a -nod attendance of spectators opened with promise on each flan,< . W il>on eventually running behind. llien McLtol saved with a timely mark in front <>t the posts, Little accelerating to get possession from the kirk, but being stopped by >*chofield. Despite tine defence by Delgrosso and Winters. Newton advanced and Brimlile came through a gap, sending on to " "rave Ponsonbv now moved forward, aided f,v headv pl.-iv by Riley, Thompson Sohofield and Winters, Francis and McLeod led a good clearance, and Little and Brimble staged a brilliant side-line exchange, stopped rather luckily by Payne. Ponsonby backs, who were shading the rods, now took the initiative. An attack within the Newton twenty-five saw MeLooil beaten by the bounce of a kick by Middleton. Winters, on hand, made the most ot it. Delgrosso missed. With Ponsonby three points in hand excitement ran high after the inter\al when Newton backs opened out in pretty style. A flashing broadside of passing saw McLeod give it to Ilarclgrave, who went across at the corner. His kick was resuitless. Newton o. Ponsonby 11. Ponsonby now played desperately, and operations fluctuated up and down field. Hardgrave and Butterworth were within an ace of scoring, and then Delgrosso and Gardiner retaliated. Now the ball swung to the far side. Delgrosso. moving up to five-eighths, was strengthening the blue attack, lading advantage of Newton mishandling, Thompson came away, and from c'-ise up. Moore shot out a smart pass to i ' .rosso, who took it on the fiv. being tackled as he went over the line. "lie goaled. Both sides made matters lively towards the end, but the scores remained : — Ponsonby S Newton 3 Mr. P. Rogers was referee.

SHORE EASY WINNERS.

Playing on their home ground on Saturday afternoon. Devonport heat Kingsland Athletics by 2!) points to 7. The lirst movement of any consequence was when Shore backs got going, throwing the ball about well. O't-eary went over at the corner. Scott ffilled. From a. scramble no:u Kingsland's line. Kule pushed his way through to score by the posts. '- cot J added the trimmings. Shore S, kingsland 0. Offside by Shore saw Herring raise the flags. Half time came with the scores Devonport S, Kingsland Athletic 2. Upon resumption a kick by Scott saw the hall find the gap, but in the race for the ball, the bounce beat Beattie. However, Casey was in attendance, and dived over under the posts. Scott converted. Shore now began to throw the ball about in great style, and a movement started by Simons saw the ball go right along the line for O'Learv to score wide out. Ruby failed with the 'shot. Another score came in quick succession when A. Scott went over. Knbv converted. Longville then put in a brilliant run. along the side line, but the bounce beat Sims when he had a clear run in. From the ensuing scrum Angelo secured, and dived over under the posts. Herring goaled. Receiving the ball at the half-way mark Rhodes simply outpaced Carter and went over to make the score up to 24. Bustling tactics by the Shore forwards saw them again add to the total when Rule went over for Beattie to convert. The game ended with the scores Devonport 20 Kingsland ' Mr. MeKubrey was referee.

MARISTS AGAIN FAIL.

After .1 keenly contested frame Richmond won from Marists by 9 points to 8. The first thrill came when Agncw, tlie Richmond half, gathered in in Marists' twenty-five, sailed along tiie right flank and then handed on to Cootc. The new recruit took the ball in his stride, but knocked tlie flag over in his dive for :i try. When next Richmond wore besieging, Graham was penalised for obstruction, and Mincliam opened their account with a pretty kick from thirty yards out. A bright interlude was provided when Agnew broke away and passed on to Hanlon, to Davis, to Mincham, who flew over, only to be pulled back for being off-side. Me made amends moments later, however, by diving across after a passing rush. His kickfailed. Tne little winger later kicked a magnificent angle goal to make the halftime scores: Richmond 7, Marists 0. Changing over, the greens, using stra tegy, put a penalty up in the air. Moislcy gat'liered and went across with scarcely 3 hand touching him. Gregory goaled. Gregory fooled the opposition and public alike when entrusted with a penalty shot, lie short-punted, gathered, and raced across at the corner, everybody expecting him to go for the ••props." Batchelor could not improve. Marists 8. Richmond 7. Play became willing. Richmond were in the ascendancy for the greater part of the time, and the crowd were on (heir feet as first Colobrook and then Mincliam nearly succeeded in forcing a passagle through the green defence. Their enthusiasm knew no bounds when Mincham placed Richmond in front with a neat penally kick. The game ended with the scores reading : — Richmond 0 Marists S Mr. L. Bull refereed.

CITY SCRAPE HOME.

More than average interest centred in the meeting of these teams, which lined out on No. 2 area. Early in the game Littlewood showed up for Ellerslie, whose forwards, Slater and Crewther in the van, invaded. Hemingway opened by kicking a good penalty. Ellerslie 2, City i). Aided by pretty interplay City worked into position for Barchard to hand on to G. Perry. He lost the ball, but Hadle , dived to register the try. L. Barchard converted. City 5. Ellerslie 2. City, with their backs in unison, were having rather the better of things, though the suburban forwards were playing with co-operative vim, Dili IT sent City back, dummied from a set. scrum to .Tohnston, Hemingway, Littlewood. who fumbled. Crewther collected and smartly side-stepping Lawrence, who awaited the re-pass to Littlewood, slewed inwards to evade G. Perry and L.Barchard, and notch a brilliant three points. Ellerslie r>. City 5. After the interval City attacked, but Oil iff. playing with remarkable skill behind the Ellerslie pack, inspired an invasion and Littlewood made a good run from the supporting movement carried across to the wing by Hemingway, who threw away a

eh.-1 nee by over-kicking. A moment later Ilobbs got across from the loose. Ellerslie 8, City 5. Going to the attack, Clurk and Hartley let Lawrence through. Bnrchard's kick being astray. Oiry 8. Ellerslie 8. City kept up the Me;ie. but '1. Terry frittered away chances with drop kicks. OllifE came away again. and Klierslie were harassing city. until Hall intercepted in his twentyfive and regained from a low punt. Tackled, lie sent out wildly for Crewther to accept, t;. Perry took « blind pass and galloped confidently for a spectacular unconverted try. City 11 Ellerslie S Mr. V. Simpson was referee. SENIOR B GRADE. Pt. Chevalier 10. beat Northcote 3. Parnell 29, beat Manage re 6. SECOND GRADE. Mount Wellington 13, beat Newton Kemucra 7. beat Kingsland 0. THIRD GRADE. Richmond 21, boat Ellerslie 2. I Newmarket -8. beat Mt. Albert 0. Aka ran a .11, beat Grey Lynn 0. Kingsland 7, beat Pt. Chevalier Ci. Ponsonby 5. beat Grey Lynn •'!. Devonport 7, beat City 2. FOURTH GRADE. Devonport 7, beat Remuera 0. Richmond 21, beat Mt. Wellington 0. Mr. Albert 8. beat I'onsonby 5. FIFTH GRADE. j Richmond 26, beat City 0. Newmarket 7, beat Marist. 6. Pt. Chevalier 2, beat Akarana o. SIXTH GRADE. Newton 21. beat Richmond 0. Nnrtheote 2."i, beat Ellerslie Piuisonhy S. beat Newton .1. Otahuhu 12. beat. Northcote 0. Richmond .".7, beat Papatoetoe O. I't. Chevalier 11. beat City 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. DUNEDIN. Christian Bros. A 10. beat City 4. Pacific 24, beat Kaikorai 3. CHRIST CIIU R CII. Marist 30, beat Woolston 0. Waimairi 7. beat Hornby 6. Aldington 12. beat Sydenham 7.