NEWTON STAVED OFF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 122, 26 May 1930, Page 15

NEWTON STAVED OFF.

The contest between Ponsonby and Newton on No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park was one of bright patches. The former, without the services of P. Skelton and Riley, managed to get the verdict by four points, after Newton had the ascendancy for the greater part of the game. As a matter of fact, \v. Skelton's deciding try, converted by Peckham, was rather a fortunate penetration, for Newton offered a stubborn defence, and were rarelv caught off their guard. The western suburbs' thirteen opened up confidently, and it was not long before Angelo opened the scoring. Newton replied with a penalty goal by Brimble. Delgrosso s departure, with the old leg trouble, enabled Moore to deputise as full-back, but he did not impress. Play was fairly even for a period. Then the Newton boys took charge, and facile work amongst backs and forwards had their opponents thinking hard. During this process, Hill and Brimble registered nice tries, Brimble converting both, and bringing his team's tally to 10 points. Realising suddenly that Newton were making the most of opportunity, Ponsonby came to light just before the interval with a try by Peckham. Efforts continued, but bad and faulty handling went for nothing ia the face of sterling defensive play. Dempsey doing well in this respect. Schofield, who, with Peckham, was the only really purposeful member of the rearguard, then broke away. Herewini, attempting an inter-: ception, left the way clear. At this stage Gardiner had had five unsuccessful shots at goal. St. George appeared to score at

the end of a Newton onslaught, but was brought back for a scrum. W. Skelton, who gave a fine performance all day, caught Newton off their toes, and flashed in under the posts. Peckham had no trouble with the kick, and this left the final figures 14 —io, although Newton went close to effecting an alteration before the bell. Dempsey gave a good all-round full-back display, and should develop into a real good player. Hill, at centre, has continued to impart polish and skill into his tactics, and kept Angelo and Ussher extremely busy. Of the wingers, Bwmble was again in form, his pace and goal-kicking being valuable, but allowance must be made for Herewini on his first time out. Ferrall, at half, Beattie and McLeod worked hard, Beattie showing up when eventually he was- relegated to the wing. St. George and Francis, and, to a lesser extent, Klrkup, Allan, and Butler, were keen and active forwards. Skelton. Lunn, and McLeay were the best trio in the other pack, which had advantage in the scrums. Next to Hill, of Newton, Peckham played a sound game, seconded by Schofield. Angelo and Winters did not sparkle as usual, and Mclntyre, behind the scrum, was unselfish. Moore did not go too well when he came on, and was worse when shifted to five-eighths. Ussher was not generously served at centre, and made the most of his chances. Ponsonby, who are due to meet Devonport next, will have to buck up. Newton give evidence of progressive training, and show improvement every match.

SHORE SURPRISED. Even in their best seasons the Devonport thirteens were an inconsistent lot, but even the most optimistic supporter of the Ellerslie team could hardly have entertained thoughts on Saturday of the tricolours beatiag the seasiders on their own ground. While North Shore had given displays of a medium standard earlier in the season the 'Ellerslieites had nothing but a sequence of defeats entered up against them. At times the Shore team is the hardest in the competition to beat, but there are occasions when they are easy, and Saturday was one of them. From the commencement the Ellerslie forwards hurled themselves into the business with surpassing determination and, smashing through the defence, were soon tagging on points. Devonport seemed to be all at sea and nothing they could do in the first spell could keep their opponents out and at the interval Ellerslie had put on 13 points, with Devonport still looking for the Ellerslie line. There must have been a "kororo" by Devonport's team during the spell because when the men lined out again it was noticed that their had been another shuffle and the positions of more than one player had been changed. The rearrangement proved. distinctly beneficial, and whereas the men from Ellerslie had shown all-round superiority in the first half it was not 60 in the second. So far from being one-sided, the play was even, fast and hard. Devonport notched a converted try but this was their only score. nlthough they made desperate efforts to increase the tally. Ellerslie were equally determined to hold a points advantage and they, showed surprisingly solid defence. Devonport went down by 13 to 5 and on the day all the honours were with Ellerslie, and If the latter can repeat their display on 'Saturday they will beat some of the most prominent teams before the season is very much further advanced. The Ellerslie full-back, Dufty. save his usual solid display, his line-kicking and fielding of the ball being a feature of the match. Grogan was the most prominent of the two flanks, being noticeable for his fine individual play. Of the two five-eighths Webb w.as the better, in fact he was one of the best backs on the ground, participating in practically every movement of the tri-colour rearguard. Olliff behind the pack showed keen anticipation, and fed his backs to the best advantage.' Of the hard-working pack Chapman and Campner stood out. Beatie was very weak for Shore, faulty handling frequently bringing trouble to his side. Although L. O'Leary made strenuous efforts to score from the openings initiated by his inside men he could not penetrate the defence. There is no doubt that T. O'Leary is one of the most promising young players In the code, his display on Saturday fulfilling the highest expectation. Time and time again he made openings for his supports, only to see his efforts amount to nil owing to faulty passing. Coglan toiled hard at the base of the scrum, and of a hard-working vanguard Saxon and Casey were always in the lightltght.

| GRADE RESULTS. ! S'ENIOR B GRADE. Point Chevalier S, beat Richmond 5. j Mount Albert 8. beat Northcote 5. Parnell 15, beat Mangere 11. SECOND GRADE. Ponsonby 20, beat Mount Wellington S. THIRD GRADE OPEN. Marist 14, beat Devonport 6. Klngsland 16, beat Richmond '5. Ponsonby 33, beat Glen Lynn 0. THIRD GRADE INTERMEDIATE. Newmarket 21, beat Richmond 0. Kingsland 10, beat Akarana 2. Northcote 13, beat Mount Albert 4. FOURTH GRADE. Akarana 5, beat Devonport 2. Richmond 13, beat Avondale 0. FIFTH GRADE. Marist 8, beat Richmond 5. Northcote 6, beat Klngsland 0. SIXTH GRADE. Marist A 43, beat Glen Lynn 0. Newton 12, beat Richmond 5. Point Chevalier 8, beat City 0. Devonport 17, beat Kingsland 5. Ellerslie 0, drew with Newmarket 0. Devonport 3, beat Marist 0. Richmond A 9, beat Northcote 3. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. Mount Albert 11, beat Devonport 0. Akarana 31, beat Northcote 0. GAMES IN SOUTH. DUNEDIN. Seniors.—Christian Bros. 30, beat Kaitangata 7; City 25, beat Athletic 16; Pacific 8, beat Kaikorai 3. CHRISTCHURCH. Seniors.—Waimairi 3, beat Marists 0. Addington 11, beat Sydenham 5.