CARLAW PARK GAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 109, 11 May 1931, Page 12

CARLAW PARK GAMES.

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE.

ECLIPSE OF PONSONBY. MARIST'S GOOD SHOWING.

WINS FOR RICHMOND AND SHORE

With three senior games and a reserve senior game staged at Carlaw Park on Saturday, Rugby League supporters were provided with a feast of football. While the earlier clashes were mediocre, the principal attraction between Marist and their old rivals, Ponsonby, was packed with spectacular incident. Fortune fluctuated with remarkable rapidity in the early stages, but in the end Marist asserted their superiority and won from last season s champions by 20 points to 9. Iu the curtain-raiser appreciation of the finer points of the game and better handling gave Devon port a win over Newton by 26 points to nil. Richmond, who won by 28 points to 15, carried the day for their side when they met City in a fast, hard, but by no means brilliant, encounter. Ellerslie had a bye.

MARIST TRIUMPH. Used to seeing their favourites in winning rein, Ponsonby supporters received a shock to see last season's champions go down to Marist to the tune of 20 points to 9. But there was no disgrace about the defeat. Ponies, true to tradition, went down fighting gamely, and it could hardly be said that the final scores accurately indicated the merits of the two sides. It was only in the dying stages that the issue was placed beyond 1,,:.,. :■ " " ~~ i doubt, and It was then that Marist made a rattling good finish and piled on the deciding points. While no excuses can be made for the suburbs' side, they were decidedly unlucky in meeting Marist, always a "tough nut to crack," in their first competition name. Had they had the advantage of a game the previous week, there might now be a different tale to tell. Marist,

as It was, were right on their game, backs and forwards collaborating in fine style. The pace o£ the game at times was bewildering, and the crowd enjoyed every moment of the clock, being keved up to a high pitch of enthusiasm. First one side would launch a battering-ram attack, and just when things would be looking rosy for them, an opponent would emerge like a bolt from the blue to turn the defensive into the offensive. It was such a run by Brady, who Intercepted brilliantly, that turned the tide in favour of Marist. It was thrillingly spectacular football, with never a dull moment, although both sides made mistakes. The forwards were well matched, and the deciding factor was the tieetness of the Marist backs and their ability to turn the mistakes of the opposition to account. That great trio, Brisbane, Brady and Bacbeior, were in great form. Brisbane was always on hand when wanted. His positional play and anticipation were excellent, and his running at times was dazzling. Brady repealed a glimpse of that incisive straight running that won him such high praise a couple of seasons back, and rose to great heights. Batchelor, the racehorse »f the team, was always trailing in support when wanted, and his fleetness of foot spelt points for his side. Hasson performed valiantly behind the pack, and List did all that was expected of him in the threequarter line. Campbell was a safe custodian, and even when lame, late in the second spell, did not let anything past him. Angelo, in Ponies' last line of defence, also acquitted himself well. The most dangerous man in western suburbs' backs was Pat Skelton, but he could do with being a trille less selfish. Friend, a promoted colt, showed promise at centre, although Ponies sorely missed the mercurial liiley in this pivot'al position. Winters and Schofieln were a pair of wingers who did all that was asked of them. Thompson played soundly at five-eighths and half, but Delgrosso, who shared these positions witn him, did not strike his best form. He defended, as of old, but was too closely marked to get up to any of his tricks. The forwards made a great battle of It, and there was little between them. Lunn, up to the time he was carried off with rib injuries, shone as one of the best forwards on the ground for Ponsonby. He was well supported oy McLeav, Stevens and Fagan. Campbell. Kaile.v, Simms and Clarke, until shifted to the wing to fill a gap, were outstanding for Marist.

KNOCK FOR CITY. Fitness told its tale in the RichmondCity contest ou No. 2 ground, where :i merry pace was set from iirst to last. It was good, hard, clean football, with the maroons generally in the ascendancy. The forwards had the collaboration of a mobile set of backs —constructive, penetrating liveeighths—linking up with Hashing wingers to provide the rousing scoring finishes that a crowd relishes. The brilliant cog in that machine is Dunu, a sturdy player, whose straight running, swerves and welltimed passes, stamp him a coming international. Prentice served him well and it was gratifying to observe that the Richmond skipper, besides playing with an eye to attack, let the ball out in a manner suggesting confidence in the yonng star at his side. The rearguard manoeuvres revealed the speed and resource of the wing men, Tell and Patterson, particularly the former. Lee, at full-back, again produced the goods and retrieved his side from difficulties. A brisk spurt and a heady pass by him in the closing minutes directly contributed to Patterson's score. Agnew worked tirelessly, if with unvaried methods behind a keen paik which hooked the bail consistently. It was a sheer delight to witness the flue play of Lawless and Ritchie, forwards of exceptional calibre. Up to the time of McLaughlin's enforced retirement, half-way through the iirst spell. City bade fair to make a real match of it, though then seven points behind. Apparently the services of the fast bustling centre were much missed. Still, it seemed that the side lacked form. Laurie Barchard had more than his share of defensive work iu the last line and performed quite well. George Perry was patchy ou the wing, but was willing enough when opportunity offered. Munce, on the other wing, has possibilities and scored in style. At times he is inclined to hesitate. W. Perry was in good fettle. Owing to Len Barchard's lack of pep, a great deal of the weight of play developed upon Ben Davidson, at fiveeighths, who, in the circumstances, gave a sparkling, all-round display. The substitution of the breakaway, Iveson, as first five-eighths, was thoroughly justified and in the second half, against a deficiency of 15 points, City did well to compile the same score against an extra 13 points by Richmond. Reynolds was nippy at half, lint his defence was sometimes at fault. Clarke, in spite of superfluous poundage, led the red and black forwards and should soon be in as good nick as the soiul Watene and Joe Iladley, who was in the thick of everything. Sloman was injured and had to go off. Forbes was not as outstanding as previously, but hooked the ball now and again. More effective[packdown would have helped him. If City had been at concert pitch, Richmond would not have snatched the two last tries — eight points. The game, won 2&15 by Richmond, adds a spice of uncertainty to the competition, especially as Ellerslie's merits may prove a "surprise packet." Richmond reserves beat City, 1(5-11, the losers scoring all their points in the second spell, when Richmond added but a converted try. SHORE ON THEIR TOES. Though Newton were out-played in the curtain-raiser, it might not have taken much to alter the whole complexion of the game. The Shore team, minus Alt'. Scott in the pack, was right on its toes and the red and whites showed mettle in making a good stand up to the interval. This was largely due to very fine scrum work for such a light set. They hooked the ball very freely, and, had the fiveeighths line functioned in anything iike normal manner, Newton would have been seen to much greater advantage. As it was their defence weakened and Devonport added the eighteen points which made their total 26. Simons was reliable in the back line and often shot his threequarters into action. The movement from which Les O'Leary scored early in the second half was an instance. Len Scott, on the wing, instead of in the pack, was quite at home and should soon be in scoring trim. The other backs, especially Seagar, teamed well and Simpson, Casey (who went off) and Hunt were good forwards. Dempsey was swamped with responsibilities for Newton, but he had a capable protective worker in front. Hill. However, he was badly let down by the five-eighths, Brimble never giving a worse exhibition. It was appalling the way he fumbled and dropped passes. His surprising! mistakes threw the backs out of gear. Williams, Allen and Pope were worthy associates of Francis, the little forward, who i W as splendid at every part of the game, j

GRADE RESULTS. SENIOR RESERVE. Ponsonby 13, beat Marist o. Richmond 16, beat City 11. Devonport 30, beat Newton 0. SECOND GRADE. Papakura 6. beat City 0. Northcote 19, beat Pousouby 0. Pt. Chevalier 2S, beat Mt. WeiJington o. THIRD GRADE OPEN. Marist 5, drew with Ponsonby o. Richmond beat Devonport by default. THIRD GRADE INTERMEDIATE. Akarana 21, beat Mt. Albert 0. City 5, beat Marist 3. FOURTH GRADE. Newmarket 5, drew with Mt. Albert 5. Akarana beat Ellerslie by default. FIFTH GRADE. Newton 28, beat Eller.-lie 0. City 17, beat Ponsonby 0. SIXTH GRADE. Richmond 15, beat Newton 2. Pt. Chevalier beat EUerslio by default. Newmarket 32, beat Northcote 0. Marist 14, beat Devonport 0. City 5, beat Akarana 0. SEVENTH GSADE. Ellerslie 51, beat Glen Lynn 0. Richmond 10, beat Papatoetoe 3. City 6, beat RichmonJ 0.

HAMILTON. Huntly 22, beat Frankton 5. WHANGAREI. Hikurangi 19, beat City 5. Towal 19. beat Waro 11. Junior. —Waro 9, beat Whakapara 3. PAPAKURA. First Juniors. —Papakura G, beat City 0. Fourth Grade. —Papakura 9, drew with Point Chevalier 9. HUNTLY. Taupiri 22, beat Kia Ora 7. Juniors. —Huntly B 3, beat Ngaruawahia 0 ; Huntly Pirates 3, beat Ngaruawahia 0. Colts. —Huntly 9, beat Taupiri 2. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Addington 11, beat Linwood 10. Hornby 31, beat Sydenham 0. WELLINGTON. City 12, beat Newtown 4. Petone 13, beat Old Boys 5. DUNEDIN. Christian Brothers A 35, beat Athletic 9. City IT, beat Pacific 16.