LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 192, 15 August 1932, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

DEVONPORT'S FIRST DEFEAT. PONSONBY DOWN RICHMOND. A WIN FOR MABISTS. Club competition matches for the championshixj reached finality on Saturday, -when, two games were decided at Carlaw Park and one at Ellerslie. Also decided in the match between Devonport and City was the possession of the Thistle Cup, and to the surprise of League followers City administered the first defeat of the season to the Shore team. City and Devonport scored an equal number of championship competition points in the second round, but in actual scores registered in tries and goals City had the best record and therefore takes the Thistle Cup. The following table shows the positions of teams in the championship:—■

NARROW WIN FOR MARISTS. The Sfarist-Newton contest, staged as a benefit at Ellerslie, was marred by the faulty handling and excess of kicking displayed by both thirteens. Marists, without Brisbane and Hassan, lacked rearguard initiative and general cohesion, whilst Newton, who deserved a bettor fate on the run of the play, did not appear to rise to the occasion. Obviously, though in good nick, they required the sting of a match. The Marist power was exercised mostly in destructive tactics, with quick breaking from the scrums by Iveson, Clark and Thompson, supported by smart tackling by Dunn and Brady. On the other hand the Rangers revealed the true-to-type Rugby League game with good backing up. Too much "butter finger" business and blind and erratic passing robbed them of results. The respective full backs, Campbell and Dempsey, played soundly without being brilliant, although the Mnrist man revealed a shade the wore resourcefulness in possession. The Marist three-quarter line was not very impressive, Brady being inclined t*o overrun his pusses. Dunn, at fiveeighths, was the best of the inside backs. Laird, the South Auckland forward, made a useful debut and scored. Johnson and St. George battled about even as hookers, though the Newton pack was a more effective combination, with a trio of fast men in the loose in Hall, Middleton and Clem. The first mentioned wns in good trim. More should be heard of Middleton. Brimble was the best back on the ground. His proclivity for finding gaps, his elusiveness and speed, wore a pleasure, whilst is defence wns notable. A. Pope, the smaller of the two brothers, caught the eye lor his pace and thrusttulness. The game was saved from total mediocrity by spirited play in the final stages. FAULTY HANDLING. City's win over Devonport by 10 P to 13 was deserved. It was not that the winners were the better team, Imt the Devonport backs seemed able to do ""thins right, and their passing of the ball tm poor. In actual attack Devonport did more than City, but it was mainly due t> the vigorous work of the forwards, and when within scoring distance and the liall was sent along to the backs to put the finishing touch to the attack they failed badly It may be that the three weeks spell most of the players enjoyed saw them out of form —whatever it was the standard of play of the Devonport backs was very disappointing. City, on the other hand, played solidly and were plugging away all the time. The best forward on the ground was possibly Hobos (City). He was in the thick of the play from bell to bell in both spells. Leatherbarrow and Sowter in the Devonport pack were a good pair, and they were well supported by the others in the pack. Of the backs Olliff and McDonnell (Devonport) and Perry and Pcckham (City) showed up well. A RAGGED MATCH. The curtain-raiser at Carlaw Park, Ponsonby v. Richmond, was a ragged affair. There was a lack of combination, at least at the start, although Ponsonby, who won by 20 to 11, certainly improved as the game progressed. The match started about 20 minutes late, and then there filed on to the field ten "Ponies" and twelve Ricllmondites. It was after two o'clock when both teams were up to full strength. The score at • half-time was three to two In favour of Richmond, but after that Pon.sonby niade no race of the match nnd piled up score after score, Richmond adding 8 points in the second half to Ponsonby's 18. It was'quite evident that the advent of. the British team had taken away a great deal of the interest as far as the local contests were concerned, and this was reflected in the players as well as in the public. For Ponsonby Dclgrosso played a heady game at full-back, with fair measure of support from Riley and Mclntyre. The pick of the forwards were McLcayj Fagan and Mills. Richmond was strengthened by the reappearance of Ellis, who teamed well with Prentice in the five-eighth line. Angclo played a good game and Drew showed dash. Telford, W. Jones and Allan were ihe plus of the vanguard.

GRADE GAMES. , , SENIOR B GRADE. Marist 12, beat Newton 0. ■Richmond .S, beat Ponsonby 5. Devonport 15, beat City 5. ' SECOND GRADE. Otahuhu 23, beat Ellerslie 13. Northcoto S, beat Point Chevalier 3. Papakura S, beat Mount Albert C. ■ THIRD GRADE OPEX. Richmond 8, beat Mnrlst 3. THIRD GRADE INTERMEDIATE. Northcoto 11, beat Marist 10. FOURTH GRADE. Otahuhu 7, beat Marathon o. Akarana 5, Ijeat Ponsouby 0. Papakura 3, beat Point Chevalier 2. Richmond IS, beat Newton 3. FlF'rfl GRADE. Marist 5, drew with Akarana 5. Marist B 9, beat Ellerslie 0. City 5, drew with Newton 5. Northcote 17, beat Marist 0.8. 3. SEVENTH GRADE. Richmond A 38, beat Devonport 0. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. Richmond 9, beat Papatoetoe 3. Avondale 11, beat Otahuhu 9. City 3, beat Newton 0. Richmond 0, beat Papatoetoe 3. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HUNTI,Y. Seniors. —Ngaruawahia 10, beat Huntly juniors.—Kia Ora 0, beat Huntly 2. WIIANGAREI. Pakelias 14, beat Maoris 11. Northern B Reps. 13, beat Southern B Reps. 3. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. DUNEDIN. City 39, beat Athletic 20. Christian Bros. 10, beat Pacific 0.

Points Ch. Team. P. "W. L. T>. F. A. Pts. Devonport .. 30 7 1 2 130 10-1 16 Marist 10 5 3 2 120 105 12 Ponsonby .. 10 G 4>— 159 157 12 City 10 3 5 2 134 104 8 Richmond .. 10 3 7 — 116 135 r> Newtou .... 10 2 6 2 105 10S 6