LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 223, 21 September 1931, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

DEVQNPORT'S TRIUMPH.

THE ROOPE ROOSTER FINAL

DEFEAT OF PONSONBY.

Glorious sunshine, a firm and verdant field and an eager, cheerful crowd made a picturesque setting for the Rugby League attractions at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when the Star item of the programme was the sixteenth annual contest for the Roope Rooster knock-out final. What better conditions for fast, flashing, clever football? And the spectators were not disappointed. Devonport won in "truly handsome fashion by 34 points to 17, and earned the right to have the club's name inscribed on the trophy for the second time. The margin was hardly a criterion of the merits of this highly spectacular contest, replete with those surprising fluctuations which give the code its distinctive glamour.

At the end one was tempted to wonder how many miles those Devonport and Ponsonby contenders must have traversed to and fro, and at such a speed, too! It was just another case of pace and some combination being asserted to advantage. The way the lighter Devonport pack raided in devastating bursts, fanned out for clever passes, when possession was gained, and attracted the thrustful support of their backs at phychological moments, briefly constitutes the story of a match worthy of the best traditions of the knock-out series.

Though beaten, Ponsonby was not completely overshadowed. The club's wellknown ability to fight back in moments of adversity was always evident, and in the closing stages, the losers actually fired the hopes of the crowd, but time did not wait. Not a brilliant game with the tensity of the recent championship,

it was, nevertheless, a fine moving spectacle. Devonport's inside back ' play, with Seagar and R. Smith showing the way, proved too much for Ponsonby. Curiously enough, the wingers, L. Scott and Hard* ing, were not called upon much in attack. Still, their defensive quality was tested. Harding was not too bright, and, being hurt, retired early in favour of reserve* grader Laing—a cognomen well-identified with quality in the game. The . colt shaped quite well. Simons was fair at full-back, and eclipsed his vis-a-vis, Wae* rea, for reliability. E. Scott_ was sound at half-back, and Rhodes, while good .on defence, appreciated the value of letting the ball out for Smith and Seagar to dazzle with' their side-stepping and incisive ta,ctical moves which invariably threw the defence awry. How successful was this pair may be judged from the fact that they contributed all but nine of Devon' port's points. However, it was the in* ternational's great day, for his two tries in the first half—one the work of an experienced opportunist and the other a mastei'stroke in indomitable back methods helped to give his side confidence. Later, Smith paralysed his opponents with two sparkling tries, but, although he also kicked five goals and muet share much of the credit, Seagar was undoubtedly the sheet anchor of his side. Front rankers Ruby and Casey, with Leatherbarrow, Masefield, Hunt and Adams always in the thick of it, played wonderful football in the openi Adams made up for want of stature by his robust energy. Stevens, for Ponsonby, won the ball freely from the scrums, but the backs were unable to turn these golden chances to the best account. McLeay again impressed as a packman above the ordinary, and Gardiner as lock was seen in his best form of the season. He used bis weight and speed well, and after several prodigious attempts to score was rewarded with the last try of the game. Lunn and Goodwin were less conspicuous, and Fagan has played better games." 'White was colourless behind the scrum,, and the burden of opening up and giving impetus to the play fell on hardy Delgrosso. Riley, too, was ever in the picture with effective support, particularly on attack, but the 'greatest weakness was ait centre threequarter, where Devonport's strength lay. Angelo, out of practice, had been brought to town, and soon revealed what even a few weeks lack of training means, when the opposition is tuned up to produce the best. It was unfair to Angelo. His handling was erratic, and his positional play handicapped the wingers, Winters and Drew. The former was spasmodic. Drew made several mistakes, and improved when the pressure was hard' est. His breakaway try was reparation. The fact is that Ponsonby would have been better served, to present the team that won the semi-final, with Delgrosso at centre and Pat Skelton at first fiveeighths. Still, it is no use being wise after events. Delgrosso played good alb round football, and three of his four goals were gems.

Faced with a deficit of 3—16 at the interval, Ponsonby's tenacity was again demopstra' -d in the second half. While Devonport added another 18 points the men from the western suburbs rattled up only three points less, and were going ' strongly at the death. On the day the" were doughty losers, and probably a trifle dismayed at not being able to record their seventh win for the elusive "bird." Brilliant individualism was the big factor in North Shore's success. A certain measure of collaboration was made possible by the opposition. Mora definite and general team work will have to be adopted if Devonport, like Marists, hopes to make a stand against the team systems that will be unfolded by Eastern Suburbs next month. In the meantime Devonport is to be congratulated for its latest success. The cheers that went up oh time, and when Mrs. Ivan Culpan, at midfield, presented the trophy (and nearly made an instinctive mistakes by handing it to the losing skipper?) indicated the popularity of the win.

CUP FOR RICHMOND,

There was little between Richmond and Newton in the tussle for the reserve grade knock-out, and by winning 13-—5. Richmond can consider themselves on the lucky side to arms* the Stallard Cup. The contest did hot provide brilliant football. The rivalry was too keen and the tackling correspondingly deadly; but the play was packed with rousing passages and glimpses of the class football expected from players on the threshold of promotion, so the spectators were well entertained with the curtain-raiser, in the course of which there was a rather remarkable and unusual succession of stoppages for players temporarily hurt. Richmond opened with a goal, and a somewhat flukey try before Newton were really warmed to the fray, and it was then that the Rangers gave a taste of their mettle and some line chain passing yielded first points, after a certain try had been missed when a forward got clear and failed to observe his winger in support. The half-time score was 5—3, and Newton made the battle Wanner than ever. Over-«a«rerness and mulling of the ball -was costly, for Richmond playing steadier, ftjade the most of mistakes, and a dashing golo ran and simple try by Mills, who converted, really sealed the issue. Ragg later" scored his second try. Powell has given better full-back displays for the maroons. wh6§e star backs were Estiill. Mills and Turner, with Ragg, Farrell and Goldwater good in the pack, which was well beaten in the tight rocking. As enstodian for Newton, Muir was delightful, with his en re handling and deft kick-

ing. Castles was the most dangerous three-quarter on tlie paddock, and scored a fine try. Craies and Beattie were not too good on defence, and both were clever at times on attack. Ellis was a trifle slow at centre, but was generally dependable. Bell was enterprising at half-back, and Purdy and D. Ferguson were the best of a hard-workm& set of forwards.

GRADE RESULTS.

THIRD GRADE OPEN. Marist 5, drew with Fonsonby f>. fourth grade. Richmond 14, beat Akarana 5. HOUSE MATCHES. Ellerslie Town Board Rovers 18, beat Clark and Matheson 10. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. Richmond 14, beat Northcote 0. Papatoetoe 8, beat City 3.

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE.

lIUNTLY. Seniors. —Marists (Auckland) 20, beat Huntly 9. Juniors. —Ncaruawahia 3, beat Huntly 0. HAMILTON. In the final game for the Innes Memorial Shield Hamilton defeated Taupiri by 17 points to 9.

GAMES IN THE SOUTH.

WELLINGTON. Championship Final. —Petone 20, beat Newtown 6. DUNEDIN. Maxwell Cup Final.—City 9, beat Christlan Brothers 6.

GAMES IN ENGLAND,

LONDON, September 19. Following are the results of matches played to-day under Northern Union rules : Barrow 6, v. Broughton Rangers 5; Dewsbury 4, v. Wakefield Trinity 4; Featherstone Rovers 3, v. Wldnes 5; Huddersfield 5, v, St. Helens 2; Hull Kingston Rovers 12, v. Wigan 8; Keighle.v 2, v. Bramley 9: Leeds 10, v. Batley 5; Oldham 3. v. Halifax 11; Rochdale Hornets 35, v. Bradford 5; Salford 21, v. Leeds 4; St. Helens Recreation 16, v. Warrington 5; Swinton 22, v. Hunslet 3; Wigan Higlifield 18, v. Cagtleford 3; York 18, v. Hull 11.