LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 218, 15 September 1933, Page 11

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

DEVONPORT OR RICHMOND?

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS MATCH

TO-MORROW'S GRAND FINALE

To crown the triumphs of a season that has been rich with football excellence at Garlaw Park, the Auckland Rugby League will offer to-morrow one of its finest annual attractions, represented in champion of champions honours for the Stormont Memorial Shield, won last year by Marist Old Boys. The contest 011 this occasion will be between Devonport United, winners of the premiership, and Richmond Rovers, who annexed the ixoope Rooster knock-out laurels. A great (leal oi interest is being taken in this c asli nou only because of the calibre of the teams, but because upon the victors will devolve the duty of upholding the piestige of the game and the name of Auckland against the St. George team 01 Sydney the loliowing week.

J he marine-side combination, which has not been seen at its best since it won the championship in convincing style earlier this year—owing to injuries 'to players has been in strong preparation tor this encounter, and the club will place its best side in the field against the doughty Riehmonditcs, whose clever display to wm the silver bird emblem from Oity is of recent memory. With Laing at full-back, A. W. Seagar as centre, for wingers Rhodes and Radonich, and international R. W. Smith (well recovered °m his long spell with a bad ankle) Partnering O Donnell, and Oil iff at halfback, the Isorth Shore club will present a rearguard of no mean quality. Its scrum sextet lias four representative players. On the other hand Richmond has an equally fine pack with weight, (.ash and flexibility that lias been well'demonstrated in the sternest of battles this year. Unfortunately, the team may be without the services of Lawless, who, many patrons win regret to hear, has just suffered a family oereavement. However, the forwards will be ably led bv U batherley, Telford and that resolute young hooker, Milicieh. On form the packs will be well matched. The news that A. E. Oooko quickly recovered from what was thought to be serious injury on Saturday, will be ; very heartening to Coach lie- j Olymont s thirteen. Prentice, who is showing splendid form, will be on hand with I the support of that nippy and versatile set of backs whose tactics on August 19 contributed to a memorable game. Richmond count this contest as their golden opportunity to have their name inscribed on the shield for the first time, whereas Devon port seek to make this their third win of the grand title. Whichever way the contest goes, the margin is sure to be small, and a keen and spectacular Ftruggle is assured from bell to bell.

The programme is attractively supplemented by the challenge competition contests, of which the fixture between City Rovers, who teamed well at New Plymouth at the week-end, and Rangers, who have an unbeaten record in the special round, should be productive of high-claw? play. The teams are as follow:— DEVONPORT UNITED. Seniors.—Laing, Smith (3), Sengur Rhodes, O'Donnell. Olliff, Simpson, Leatherbarrow, Donald, Sowter, Scott, Lowe, Masefield, Hunt. Senior _ B.—Me Williams, Tate, Double, Fredatovieh, Hunter, Rosienr, Adams, Hurley, Dean, Griffin, Black, Jones, Saxon, Wilson. NEWTON RANGERS. Seniors.—Dempsey, Sellars, Cameron, Pop 6, Stephens. Brimble, Porteous, White, Allen, Davis, Quirke, Natliun, Blaclclaws, Hall. Senior B.—Muir. Lymhnrn. Crook. Murray, Kaliu, Martin, Ellis, nill. Brown, Hammond, MeQuoid, Merrlelc. riulry, Bass, Thompson, Thurlow, Johnson. CITY ROVERS. Seniors.—Watene. Turel, Wayne. Purely, Davidson, McLaughlin. Axeman. Rowntree, Emery, Herring, Pierce, Clarke, Ragg, Rajwiri, McLean. _ _

Senior B.—Alder ton, Bivcharcl, Brown (2), Connor, Church, Emery, Ileron, Hughes, Jamison, .Tenfcinson. Munee, McLean, McDonald, Pcackny, Rnngi, Thompson. MARIST OLD BOYS. Seniors.—Glover, List, Brisbane, B. Schultz, L Schultz, Dunn, Hassan, Chalmers, Herring, Campbell, Carter, Laird, White, Flanagan, Iversen. Senior Reserve.—Glover, Barry, Corbett, Loader, Pennycook. .T. Schultz, Miller, Webberley, Tattersail, Gunn, Smith, O'llnlloran, Robinson, O'Kane, Benson. RICHMOND ROVERS. Seniors. —Lee, Mitchell, Abbott, McNeil, Young, Prentice, Cooke, Powell, Jenkinson, Metcalfe, Satherley, Telford, Milicicli, Lawless, Hawkes. Senior B.—Angelo, Sale, Deason, Stehr, Bickerton, Verrall, Bennett, Hall, Lennie, Ramsey, Swanberg, Ritchie, Cavanagh, Smith, Lyons, Longville. PONSONBY. Seniors.- —Keesing, Jones, Sberer, Kay, Midgley, Bright, L. and 3. Riley, Holland, Pagan, Blood, Grieve, Lunn, Moran, Hutt, Brown, Whye, Small.