LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 124, 29 May 1933, Page 15

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

DEFEAT OF NEWTON.

DEVONPORT ON TOP.

WIN BY MARIST OLD BOYS,

A dour struggle' from, bell to bell, the 'Marist Old Boys-Richmond match at.Carlaw Park was great entertainment for the good crowd in attendance on Saturday.. The honours went to Marist,. but they* really won the match in the early.stages, as by no stretch of imagination can it ■be, claimed they had the advantage -• of play in the second half. J 'As a matter of fact Richmond did everything but put on. points during the last 20 minutes, and their forwaids thrilled the crowd as they battered their way. down,, only to get within an ace of scoring, and no further. There was more finish about the handling of the ball on the part of the Marist backs, and it was just this little bit of accuracy that gave them a'win. It.was good football played at a fast pace'all the way. ' On No. 2 ground Ponsonby and Newton were responsible for-a more open game than the adjoining match. Scores were frequent, and when": time was called no less than 45 points were on the board, the advantage being with Ponsonby,. who were credited with 28. The result was something of a surprise in view of Newton's previous form; ■ At Devonport the home team scored a- good win over City. -The day's results were: — : Marist 12, beat Richmond 6. \ Ponsonby 28, beat Newton 17. Devonpor, 18, beat City Rovers 8. The championship positions now are:— Points. Ch.

P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Devonport ..54 1 — SO 54 8 Newton ....5.3 2 ~ 75 77 G Mflrist 5 . 3 2 — 50 4o 6 City ....... 5 2 3 — 70 84 4 Ponsonby ... 5 2 3 — 75 86 4 Richmond ... 5 1 4 — 75 79 2

DEVONPORT'S CONVINCING WIN.

Although never rising to brilliant heights, the match between Devonport and City was always interesting from bell to bell, with Devonport perhaps showing a territorial advantage, to finally run out winners to the tune of 24 points to 13.' The free manner in which the Shore backs threw the ball about was a treat to watch, only the solid defence of City bringing about the nullification of numerous brilliant invasions. The game at the end of the first stanza was fairly even, Shore holding a lead of 5 points at the interval,, but, upon the resumption, it was noticed that the City backs had undergone a rearrangement, Herring being shifted from second live-eighths to the wing, while McLaughlin had oohie out of the pack. However, this change put a new complexion on the game, and from then on Shore held the upper hand, the brilliant defence of F. Herring being palpably missing- from the inside backs. This player stood out the first spell, and it was hard to understand why the selectors made the change, as lie is far from being a brilliant winger. Ino excuse can otherwise -oe given for City's failure, the forwards w-orking like trojans all through. 'Shore must be given credit for a brilliant display, and pretty collaboration between B. Smith and Radonich had City Completely nonplussed,-, at times, .with, A.. Smith putting.the finishing touches to-the-niovemeuts. Some of the forwards on both bides were inclined to put too much vigour into their efforts, and it would not have been surprising to have seen at least two players being given marching orders. ... ';; For the winners, Laing was a little shaky in the early part, but ..improved with the came and his running liis supports Into Action was particularly neatly executed. Both wingers, • Powell and. A. Smith, put in some dashing runs. Powell improved vastly upon his previous displays this season, and, apart from an inclination to pass'the ball too quicklv, was very sound. Radonich shows great promise of developing,into a '■flue ceStre, while It. ,Smith stood out_as the brains of the Devonport backs. His work, both on attack anl defence, was highclass. Scott worked as hard as anybody on the field behind, the black pack, while of a solid sextet Donald. Simpson and Leatherbarrow were prominent,, . , ~ ~............ , T Neither Turci nor Wntene, who were f ul■hnckq for City in the respective spells, v> as a particular success, the first-named being wasted in this position. Herring shone Jn tlfe first spell, but when transferred to the iwitig was not so prominent, although his 'See was very solid. Drew'finished o« of movements with two oAmuax -tries, but his defence was in. question -at 'times. Axeman/worked hard; but is-inclliied ■to do a little too much on his own when he § welf supported. , The forwards never le up, with J.. Herring, Ragg, and Rawnirl .always in the limelight. •' •• •

MARISTS V. RICHMOND

fa There have been some iLeague games this season, but Saturaay_s match bftween Marist Old Boys and R.ch.•ninnd will co down as one.of the nest. jg& was a ß °game played mqrestrenuously frofn bell to bell, never was the . tl l c „„ n 3 11 deadly accurate, and even Richmond •men though the score hoard showed lj teO against them, must have .been weU content to call it a day when the nnai hell rang For fully twenty minutes in 'the- dvfn" stages the Richmond forwards tattered" away at the Marist defence and ihey did everything but score. There was lust a fault somewhere, or was it that Jthf Marist defence would not be shattered? ■£ 4 n t Richmond should have, won— as a matter of fact now that Marists are iioperij 'into their stride they should win iiill -their remaining games. • On Saturday, in strong contrast to their w"oiis games this season,. Marists, ta:Sof faking a long time, to settle to their work, ploughed right into tne iray -from the kick-off! and, playing with rare brilliant. In the second half » l <W° n £ ■got. two tries, and ;couple of fairly easy shots, but Manm an^e^n^r^fnofi^t^P^ &r S Save gone down,'but the team was 22 carat M every link, and Richmond have tne .-KacTlon of knowing they JjetMaibh at their best. As mentioned above Camp mi played a wonderful game at fullback He, was called upon time after time to stop desperate attacks, but not on" did to do anything which could reason ably be expected of him. Meeto-vmsow .(Why as ever in the three-quarter line, but inlli nlavcd well. Brisbane and Hassan busy pair, they doing great work aUboth attack and defence. Of a O ooa geflof forwards, solid workers one and all, and Iveson were much in the lime ' ' B On the Richmond side. Lee-, though overshadowed by Campbell, played wen. Marshall, Hanlon and Bennett worked •hard in the three-quarter line, W Prentice was responsible tor a lot of sonu .tackling. He also made two or three Ane ■openings which presented possibilities o .score. • Abbot as usual was reliable hehind .the pack, but U was the fjrwards who did most of the best work. Lawless was the best forward on the field, but l'o™l a ™ Siatherley wore even with him, particulaiiy -Powell. Hawkes, Jenkinson and Mlliclcn ■.did solid work.

NEWTON'S SECOND DEFEAT.

. Ponsonby brought ofE what, was un iloubtertly a surprise by its defeat of Newton by 28—17. The explanation is tnat the winners, though they were without KGJ Bright, are an improving young side, whilst Newton had no less than three changes in personnel from their regularly successful side, Laurie Bnrclia.ru anil Cameron being absent from the backs anil Trevor Hall from the vanguard. It made a marked ;difference in the speed and positional play of the Rangers. Nevertheless, the match was keen and fast, being marred \only by several little displays of undue petulance amongst the forwards. Quite early inthe proceedings the referee changed the hookers, Pagan taking the place of Stevens for Ponsonby, and • Quirke k that of St.- George for Newton. Even that did not cure friction amongst the packmen, and eventually Nathan, who appeared to have been somewhat a target in the early tension,-received his marching orders. On' .'the general fuh of play Ponsonby was the most consistent side, and deserved its success. ...Newton had its , first, real offday, and .many chances were missed by faulty handling and a .palpably weakness -in. tackling. " For ponsonby, ,the reserve grade player, Jones, who had played in .the early gained was full-back.' He was ciuite a likely sort. The best backs were Mills and Riley, a pair that played with understanding, each being brilliant on attack and frequently upsetting the opposition .on defence.'. Mills scored t,wo,oppor; ,tune^trteß^«na^ticke^'SW^oa^:W--=««*>

attempts—l 6 points. It was a fine performance for,a -busy: Another inside l)ack who., impressed was the youthful Kay. The wingers,. 'Holland and Draper, also were reliable, and Ferrall shaped better behind the scrum. Easily the best forward on the ground—and he compared favourably with Nathan—was Brown, who was in everything* He is a worthy successor of MeLeay, and should earn the eye of the selectors if he keeps up his present form. Stevens and Luun. were worthy supports. Keith is not at his best yet. Newton's reserve grade fullback, Mutr, was far too slow-footed and often had his kicks charged down. Brimble, Pope and. Dempsey,were the mainstay of the rearguard, the reserve grade winger, Hill, who-reoeived a nasty knock early in the game,: showing to much greater advantage than Crook, although the latter's speed enabled him' to register two compensating tries, before the bell. Quirke, Middleton and Allen were a good trio, and ISathan was also going well up to the time of his dismissal. But the team as a whole did not move with its usual vim and cohesion. No doubt it will be a different story next week against-Richmond.

GRADE GAMES.

SENIOR RESERVE GRADE. Richmond 17, beat Marist 0.8. 2. ' Ponsonby 23, beat Newton 7. Deve-nport 5, beat City 3. SECOND GRADE. Otahuhu 16, beat Pt. Chevalier 10. Papakura* 33, beat Manukau 3. THIRD OPEN. Mount Albert 10 beat Papakura 0. ...'Richmond 8, beat Glenora 3. Marist 43, beat New Lynn O.' ■. . THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Marist 12, beat Papakura 0. • Richmond beat Otahuhu by default Devonport 11, beat Manukau B 11, Northcote 10, beat City 0. FOURTH GRADE. Marist B 24, beat Northcote 0. Ponsonby 28, beat Manukau 0. Marist A O, beat Akarana 5. Pt. Chevalier 8, drew with Devonport 8. City 8, beat Newton A 0. Shore 8, drew with Pt. Chevalier 8. FIFTH GRADE. Papakura 5, beat Klchmond B 8. City 5, beat Northcote 0. Richmond A 42, beat New Lynn 2. Ellerslie A 32. beat Akarana 0. SIXTH GRADE. Otahuhu 8, beat Richmond 5. Devonport 5, beat Pt'. Chevalier 0. SEVENTH GRADE. Newton 5, beat Richmond B 2. Devonport 8, beat Ellerslie 5. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. Avondale 8, beat Richmond 6. Ellerslie 15, beat Devonport 5. City 10, beat Northcote 5. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. NAPIER. All Rugby League matches were postponed, owing to continuous rain. NEW PLYMOUTH. Inglewood 23, beat Eastern Suburbs 3. Western Suburbs 30, boat City Rovers 6. DUNEDIN. C'ty -33, boat Athletic 13. Christian Bros. 20, beat Pacific 0. . CHRISTCHURCH. Addington 23, beat Riccarton 5. Linwood 35, beat New Brighton 13. Hornby 9. beat .Sydenham 5..