LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 112, 15 May 1933, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THRILLING ENCOUNTER. PEVONPORT BOW TO NEWTON RICHMOND AND MARIST WIN. The turnstiles rattled merrily at Rugby League headquarters on Saturday, when t h e public were treated to one of the m nst spectacular club clashes seen for SSV a day. the Newton Rangers reveal- , Sf brilliant form, back and forward, and Seating last year's champions, Devonport Tmited? bv a try margin. In a towering «» between two fast-moving and heavy g t7k«. and well-matched rear divisions, P f„VHeveloped to a. high degree, and, after r first half ending with points easy, the ,Tf«t worked up to a grand climax. In ?h« proce s there were "fireworks" and ♦h« Srfarce administered cautions. On ft! Jav with their fine supporting play, i- e fnn'were invincible. In the curtamS r onby were unlucky to have victory matched from their grasp by victory fading moments. Across K a Ehmon,i registered their first *uccels by defeating City. Positions of Teams. The positions of teams in the champion6hip to date are as follow:W. L. D. F. A. ins. ■{ i_>2 -O O jlewton •• • • ;J ~ 44 20 4 Devonport .. - ;, __ 52 49 2 Richmond ••- , ." 07 33 -j Marist * ?> __ 40 51 2 ci ty .••••••• t 2 — 32 47 2 ponsonby • • * After three matches last year the order , a s- Devonport (5 points), Richmond and Srist (V Newton (3), Ponsonby (2), City (0)-

NEWTON'S DEFEAT OF SHORE. n* dint of a good all-round display of the „5£ Newton Bangers defeated Devonport Z which N'ewton maintained their grip on their opponents by the employment of clever varrinl tactics, speed and resourcefulness and good covering defence in ndversity Devonport shared the honours It the match, but the driving power of 5* JTot, in the end beat them. The winners two Important elements that S for success-fitness and possession. AC blacks had an ample supply of the ball tZL the set scrums, but an inadequate tSS&r when it came to exploiting that service On the other hand, the Bangers were coMtrucUve and confident,, either opening «St to their wingers, or, in the event of frastratlon through the opposing insides SEE* on top of them, short punting and flowing through. This threw Devonport bMteofl their balance, and they were kept continually on the run. The brilliant play «? t nine saved them. Indeed, he was their Bhee?-an S chor, fielding the ball perfectly from |n positions, and kicking with strength and wod range. But the fact that his vis-a-vis, | ttseyf was also at his" best, nullified what advantage Devonport received from their list-liner From resourceful Porteous at half-hack right out, the Newton rearguard waimore flexible. Pope, one of the centres cave the star performance of his career, his anticipation and defensive qualities being features. Brimble again shone. His play In the last stages was a revelation, and the winning try seemed but a just reward. Outstanding in the vanguard were Nathan hX and St. George, though all played welL Both the first mentioned and Hall, hie men, are clean players, and it was obvious that they maintained restraint under provocation on a couple of occasions when tempers became frayed in the heat ol a tense battle. Newton pack has pace and combination, and their fanning out and handling of the ball was good to see. Towards the end they were simply irresistible, and that is saying a great deal when the calibre of the Devonport set is understood, i'et the latter were unable to move with that fire and dash which invariably marks their work. Donald, Leatherbarrow, Sowter, and Scott made mighty bids, and, on one occasion, the first-mentioned almost got there, but lost possession. Next to Laing, the most impressive of Shore's more erratic van were Ithodes, who originated the first surprise try (capped by Leatherbarrow), Kadonich, who was severely tested on promotion, It. Smith, and O DonnelL A. Smith still has a bad habit of refusing to submit -when fairly tackled. Both teams were keyed up to a high pitch, and Newton, if anything, deserved more points on the run of play.

MARISTS HEAD PONSONBY. Ponsonbv, who won the premiership in 1930 and 'have since been in the shade, look like playing an important part in this season's championship, although having so far but one win to their credit this year in three games. On Saturday they shaped in fine style against a vastly improved Manst team, and, but for a lack of alertness In and around the scrum at a crucial juncture jnst before the bell, would have left the field winners of the curtain-raiser. An opportune dash by the enterprising Iverson from a breaking scrum just in front of the posts settled the issue. This was a keen and interesting contest, studded with sterling play by both sides, but it lacked the glamour and incident of the main fixture. Once Ponsonby were warmed up to the clash they held their own, though their opponents were a goal up at the interval. The second half was more open and exciting, particularly when Ponsonby got in; front from a well-executed try by Draper : from a movement opened by the forwards and developed by the inside backs. The enforced retirement of their great full-back, Delgrosso, owing to injury, was undoubtedly a great loss to the western suburb's thirteen. N. Campbell showed glimpses of his best form as full-back for Marists, whose rearguard generally, with L. and B. Schultz on the respective wings, was in good trim. Piannagan, Herring, Iverson, and Carter showed up amongst the forwards. Neal, Lunn, Fagan, and Keith were noted in a worthy opposing pack, from which, however, Marists largely won scrum possession. In Keesing, ex-Ellerslie United, Ponsonby have a likely half, but he will have to move more speedilv and pass with greater crispness. Mills, Riley, and Thompson collaborated well, and their defence was sound. Of the two new wing-threequarters, Holland and Draper, the former impressed as a more resolute scoring man.

RICHMOND'S VICTORY. On No. 2 ground nt Cariaw Park the Richmond-City match did not draw a great deal of public attention owing to the Major counter-attraction on the other ground, and even those who did give the match their attention found their eyes constantly straying to the other field when the applause and barracking was a little more vociferous than usual. The Richmondites were in good fettle and showed the way to their opponents from start to finish. Their backs had speed and Initiative, while the forwards, too, were an enterprising combination. The ground was certainly not in the best condition for a good display. It gets more soggy than No. 1, and the fortnight's rain had made it more than sodden. The game had not been long In progress before the brand new white shorts of the City team were as black as those of the opposition. M. I/ec. the Richmond full-back, played a safe game. He was limping a little in the early stages, but as he warmed up this disappeared, and he showed as much pace as the best of them. Marshal. Hanlon and Bennett were always . prominent In the back division. The forwards were an even lot and all did equally | good work. Watene. the City full-back, was in good form and played a fino gnm» until lie was injured just before the halftime whistle. Hid place was taken by F. Herring. Turei, Drew and Perry were Prominent amongst the backs, and Clarke, Centos and McLaogMfa la £be faas&xtia,

GRADE GAMES. SENIOR RESERVE GRADE. Richmond 7, beat City 5. Devonport 6, bent New ton 5. Marist 8, beat Ponsonby 4. SECOND GRADE. Pt. Chevalier 9, heat Manukau 4. Papakura 3, drew with Mangere 3. Otahuhu IS, beat Mt. Albert 6. THIRD OPEN. Ponsonby 5, beat Mt. Albert 0. Glenora S, beat New Lynn 3. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Mnnukau B 5, beat Takapuna 2. Tapakura 5, beat Manukau B 2. Devonport 11. beat Akarana 4. Northcote 3, heat Marist 0. Richmond 0, drew with City 0. FOURTH GRADE. Northcote 6. beat Manukau 0. Marist 11, beat Akarana 7. City 5, boat Marist A 3. Pt. Chevalier 0, beat Ponsonby 3. FIFTH GRADE. Ellorslie 11, bear Papakura 3 Richmond 5, beat City 0. SIXTH GRADE. Devonport 6, beat Avondale 0. It. Chevalier 7, beat Otahuhu 0. SEVENTH GRADE. Richmond A 16, beat Newton 2. Devonport 3, beat Richmond B 3. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. City 9, beat Richmond 3. » ' GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. WHANGAREI. Hikurangi 3, drew with Takahiwai 3. City 11, beat Wako Waro 6. Juniors.—Kmiin li, beat Onerahi 3. t GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Llnwood 18. beat Sydenham B 2. Addington 30, beat Pirates 0. Hornby 43. beat Brighton 15. Riccarton beat Sydenham A by default. DUNEDIN. Christian Brothers 10, beat City 6. Pacific 27, beat Athletic 7.: NEW PLYMOUTH. Western Suburbs 25, beat Eastern Suburbs 13. „ . Inglewood 35, beat Waitara 12.