LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 106, 8 May 1933, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

ATTRACTIVE PERFORMANCES. SHORE, NEWTON AN3> PONSONBY. DASHING PLAY IN HEAVY GOING. In a match notable for its stern encounter between two fine sets of forwards and for its defensive quality, Uevonport ran home victors by a narrow margin over Marist Old Boys at iiugby League headquarters on [Saturday. J.ne struggle did not reach the highest plane, due to the soft tun and greasy ball, but it had many of those thrilling and spectacular moments associated with the code at its best. The pace was crammed, ou in the second half, when play flashed from one end of the field to the other. (Shore's better form and team work told in the end. The same story applied to the cur-tain-raiser, in which JNewton prevailed over City Rovers in a contest that went at a great pace from bell to bell, with the Rovers tiring palpably at the finish.. A good wet-weatiier crowd also got; fleeting glimpses of a fluctuating contest on No. 2 ground, where tense rivalry between Ponsonby and Richmond, with, scores alternating, resulted in a win for the former by a single point in the last stages. The Changes in Teams. Illustrating the metamorphoses in the top tei-nis, it is a remarkable fact that although the six combinations started the season with 17 changes in personnel, no less than a total of 12 further changes were made for the series of matches in four teams —Marist, Newton, Ponsonby and Richmond —emphasising that the process of team-building is still going on. Among other newcomers, Richmond introduced C. Satherley, ex-Manukau Union Club, Auckland rep. and captain of Hawke's Bay last season. In liis first outing this sturdy forward, though slightly puzzled by the play-the-ball rule, linked up well in the second row with Lawless, while the spearhead was also strengthened with the inclusion of Hawkes, just transferred from Devonport United. The Rovers, like Ponsonby, may bo expected to play an important part in the championship from now onwards. As revealed by the closeness in the scoring | the senior reserve teams also are much transformed, and coaches report a discon- ■ certing plenitude of talent. SHORE CONQUER MARISTS. ! Patrons must have been pleasantly surprised with the high standard of . football with which they were x-egaled : on Saturday. The principal game, between those keen rivals Marist Old Boys and Devonport United, certainly was a . marvellous exhibition for the conditions. Few spectators appear sufficiently to i realise what such a contest demands of the physical and mental resources of those engaged. For so early in the season and on heavy turf, the pace was a cracker, apart from actual exertion in scrums and rucks. The key to Devonport's success by ' 10—5, was the grand all-round play of its forwards, combined with the quick and tenacious tackling of the inside backs. There were occasional territory-gaining breakaways by the backs, who were ably supported on defence by Laing at full-back. He fielded well, kicked with length and judgment and broke up attacks with the utmost sangfroid. Wingers A. Smith and

Powell (each of whom effected an interception) were not tested much on attack, but were reasonably safe. Powell needs to be a trifle more confident. O'Donnell, It. Smith and Rhodes played with a delightful understanding, but did not attempt much constructive work. Olliff worked his scrums like a champion. And what a splendid pack it is, with thrust, vigour and speed; Without exception, the forwards played like six men with a mission, and it is only fair to mention that the bulky Donald played an important part both in tlie tight work and in the. loose. His speed and weight were used to advantage and it is evident that he is responding well to training. Tlie Marist pack, with the exception of Laird, Clark and Iverson, played without vim. Hooker Campbell had an 'arduous time. The good work of Hassan at half-back, was wasted through the ! lack of enterprise by Dunn and B. Schultz at fivc-eiglitlis. They failed to vary their 1 tactics. Brisbane, at centre, made herculean efforts to inspire them to try other moves, but the repeated cut-ins of Dunn and then the selfishness of his associate, continued, with the opposition always ready to smother and profit from "telegraphed" transfer exploits. The consequence was that neither List nor B. Schultz saw much of the ball, but the former did not give an impression thnt he is yet at > his best. Full-back Campbell was much ' helow par. In fact, the Old Boys, though 1 they fought back gallantly, did not appear ' to be thoroughly tuned up to that pitch ( which made them such a sparkling thirteen last season. They will have a severe task ; at the week-end in their engagement with ' Ponsonbv, who have tasted first victory. , On the' other hand, Devonport will need every talent to hold the classy Newton Rangers. NEWTON OUTPOINT CITY. A most fascinating game to watch was that between Newton and City. It pulsated with action and incident, principally springi ing from tlie initiative of the Rangers, off • of whom tlieir opponents occasionally • scored; but it was the sort of play with ■ a lively abandon and skill that the public 1 appreciates. There was hard forward work, lively rearguard moves and counterj manoeuvres, and those long and straight wing-three-quarter raids that add to the ; .glamour of the codc. Sixteen points of the 2S were notched in the second half, and In a measure the Rangers should have ended with more than a four-point margin. Over eagerness, and at times, just a slight lack of directness lost them golden chances. , City Rovers were creditable ; losers, but.they simply could not stand the : racket. Brimble, the Newton five-eighths, covered himself with glory. This young back was the outstanding player on the park on the day. He ran, handled and defended with real brilliance and has obviously profited by his brief international experience last season. His speed off the mark and guile made him a perfect pivot for tlie four three-quarter line in which A. Pope was the weak link on attack. He was too slow and frequently dropped passes at critical moments. Young Cameron gave an improved display, and both Crook and Barchard, the wingers, were always in the : picture. Dempsey also redeemed himself to some extent, but can do better. The ! Newton pack is a tiling to be respectedgrim and powerful in the tight, clever in the loose, with Trevor Hall a supporting inspiration as breakaway. It is a pleasure to note his gradual return to top form. St. George again proved his ability as a hooker. The ex-North Auckland Rugby Union rep., Nathan, revelled in the thick of the fray and his first try in the code was an opportune effort. Watene at fullback had a difficult day, but made a few mistakes. F. Herring did not combine as well as usual with Purdy, and on Turei : was cast extra responsibility. With fewer • chances he did commendably and'his try i was one of the glittering moments in the match. Crook, for Newton, made a won- ' derful effort to save the situation running 1 diagonally from his wing. Drew and Perry, • the City wingers, did their share on the ■ fianks, and that was largely defensive t work. Axeman again went well as halfback, though over-shadowed by his resourcei ful vis-a-vis, Porteous. The Rovers' for- [ ward division was patchy, with J. Herring, - Clarke and Rawiri noticeable in the solid rucking, and McLaughlin, Pierce and Bos- ■; ■ well fast in the loose. The Rovers, hnw- ' ever, did not shape with their first-day spirit and surrendered territory frequently • for pettv illegalities or obstruction. They 5 will have to be at their best to deal with I

PONSONBY JUST WIN. Without being particularly outstanding, the exhibition of football given by the Ponsonby and Richmond teams was fairly interesting from whistle to hell, although pla.v was practically confined to the forwards. Fourteen points to thirteen was a fairly good criterion of the general run of play, as the game fluctuated from end to end. with both teams holding the respective advantage. The greasy state of the ball caused the handling to be faulty, and many likely runs broke down frequently through this failure. Neither side appealed as likely to cause the better teams in the grade much trouble, and considerable change wiU have to be worked on both sides. For the winners, Delgrosso was fair, uncertainty in his handling spoiling an otherwise good exhibition. Maher was the pick of the three-quarters, while Mills was always in the limelight on attack. The forwards worked like trojans, with Lunn, Neale, and Brown outstanding. Playing his first game for twelve months, Bee gave a polished display for Richmond, and fully lived up to his good reputation of last season. Prentice was inclined to be a little selfish. Abbott was the leading light of the side, and innumerably made brilliant openings, only to see them nullified by faulty handling. Satherley, a Rugby recruit, worked particularly hard, being ably supported by Hawkes and Jenkinson. GRADE GAMES. SENIOR RESERVE GRADES. Ponsonby 0, drew with Richmond 0. Marist 16. beat Devonport 8. City 5, beat Newton 3. SECOND GRADE. Point Chevalier 5, beat Ellerslie 4. Papakura 9, beat Otahuhu 6. THIRD GRADE OPEN. Marist 6, bent Richmond 3. Glenora 30, beat Ponsonby niL THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Northcote 37, beat Devonport 2. City 6, beat Akarana 2. Marist 34, beat Manukau B niL Richmond beat Manukau by default. Papakura 13, beat Otahuhu 7. FOURTH GRADE. Ponsonby 3, beat Devonport 0. Newton A 6, beat Marist B 5. City 2. drew with Akarana 2. Marist A 22, beat Point Chevalier 0. Richmond beat Manukau by default. FIFTH GRADE. Ellerslie 18, beat City nil. Richmond 9, beat Point Chevalier 3. SIXTH GRADE. Devonport 8, beat Richmond 2. Point Chevalier 6, beat Avondale 5. SEVENTH GRADE. Newton 3, drew with Devonport 3. Richmond A 16, beat Ellerslie nU. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HUNTLT. Ngaruawahia 8, beat Huntly 3. Juniors. —Ngaruawahia 12, beat Huntly 6. TAUPIRI. Taupiri 38, beat Rotowaro 3. Juniors. —Kia Ora 13, beat Taupiri 3. WHANG AREI. Hikurangi 11, beat Waka W'aro. Juniors.—Karno 6, beat Portland 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. WELLINGTON. Celtic 55. beat City 2. NEW PLYMOUTH. Western Suburbs 64, beat Waitara 29. Inglewood 9, beat Eastern Suburbs 6. CHRISTCHURCH. Riccarton 21, beat Pirates 9. Sydenham 21, bent Brighton tt. Binwood 25, beat Addington 2. DUNEDIN. Pacific 16, drew with Christian Brothers IG. City 14, beat Athletic 5.