LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 100, 30 April 1934, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND 1 CHAMPIONSHIP.

OPENING OF 1934 SEASON, WINS BY CITY, PONSONBY AND RICHMOND, The metropolitan blue and white flag fluttered at Cariaw Park 011 Saturday, when the 1934 season of the Auckland Rugby League was ushered in with conspicuous success, the ticking turnstiles denoting the best opening day for live years. Early interest in the premiership competition was manifested, and the crowd was treated to a series of keen contests. In the main game City Rovers, reinforced by promising talent, were able to deteat Devonport. Richmond had too many guns for Newton Rangers in the curtainraiser, and across on Nn. 2 area the young Pousonby side overwhelmed Marist Old Boys in the second stanza. Spectators spoke in hearty approval of the smart new uniforms sported by Newton, Richmond and Ponsonby. The results of senior matches were: — City Rovers 13, v. Devonport 7. Richmond Rovers IS, v. Newton 7. Ponsonby United 28, v. Marists 8. ( CITY'S DEFEAT OF SHORE. City Rovers had a meritorious win confident Devonport, and the standard or play for a first day was distinctly praiseworthy, not that it will not further improve. The trans-harbour champions in the early stages loolted as though they were beginning to get the measure of their opponents, who received a severe blow by the loss of the services of I*. T. \\ atone, the second five-el&hths, wiio was roplacei* by a recruit in A. Clarke. After Laing s opening goal penalty points, Hunt s early trv (Laing striking the cross-bar with his goal attempt) put North Shore supporters in good liumour. However, with the City pack hooking freely and sending things along in the opeli, and backs constantly endeavouring to combine, the pace began to tell on Devonport. Then Turei, the speedy opportunist, found a gap anu set sail for three-quarters of the paddock to ground City's first try. But the blacks were not to be denied, and territory gained just before the interval was used by Radonieh to turn a penalty kick to full benefit, so that Devonport still had their noses in front 7—3. For six minutes after resumption Shore hammered away for further points, and more by good luck than good management tile City defence held, and then retaliated. The centre, Wayne, swerved his course down the middle and winger Turei swiftly ranged inside, for the pass which enabled liim to give the reds a point lead. Bucked up by this good fortune, the Kovers rose to the occasion. City's other Maori winger (who starred for Marists against St. George last year) now came into the picture, and staged his team's third surprise try. He intercepted in the loose and sprinted from just beyond his quarter line. He capped the try by landing a magnificent goal. It was a game worthy of the large crowd which attended. Crunch, the new full-back, was the chief weakness in the City rearguard. Ho was too slow, but he redeemed himself by a tackle which prevented a sure try by the opponents at a critical stage in the game, llis vis-a-vis, Laing, overshadowed him. Though sometimes at fault in positional play, the City three-quarters were sound and fast, with Wayne a brilliant kingpin. A. Clarke (tiveeighths) and his ?nsiue colleague, Wiberg, did creditably in their first outng in the code. Great credit must be accorded the half-back, Axeman, whose tenacity and speed were impressive. City's pack worked well together, Clarke, Nathan and Rutlierford being a towering trio in the ruck, and McLaughlin fast in the loose. . Shore's three-quarter line a:a not have many chances. Seagar was übiquitous as ever. The new winger, Hall, looks like developing into the ideal, if given the opportunity. In spite of iieady work by Scott (half) and U'Donnell, it cannot lie said that the Devonport rearguard worked with that cohesion and crispness identified with the club premiers at their known best, but the material is all there. Forwards Donald, Leatherbarrow, Hunt and Souter worked hard enough, but did not seem to have quite the driving force of their opponents. Devonport will be keen to make amends for this early loss. NEWTON BOW TO RICHMOND. The curtain-raiser teams took some time to settle down, and, though Newton regis- ' tered the first official senior jioints of the! season, as the result of a penalty goal by Blaeklaws, it was soon evident that Richmond would be a hard proposition. E. T. Minehani, who received a welcome buck in Richmond ranks after a couple of years in Wellington, promptly made his presence felt by returning the Newton compliment, equalising the score. The match opened out in pretty style, with Newton featuring in passing bouts spoilt only by over eagerness. Mincliam steadied up this display by a deep thrust that almost got the opposition on the wrong foot. He was not to be denied, however, for suddenly he turned an attack neatly and raced McNeil into position for a try. With Richmond 15 points up to 7 at half-time, prior to which Newton had lost Sellars, who was replaced by Crook, it was evident that the maroons had the game well in hand. Nevertheless, Newton played gallantly, and Richmond were only able to add an unconverted try in the second half. This was In spite of the fact that 20 minutes from the end Blaeklaws, the tall I'apakura forward, had to leave the field with a fractured jaw, and Allen, the Newton front row man. was ordered oil ten minutes before tile whistle. Even with this shortage, Newton combined splendidly up to the last and earned the admiration of the spectators. Still, theirs was obviously a losing battle. Richmond undoubtedly have a powerful and fast team that plays with good understanding, if not yet quite polished in methods of varied attack. A. E. Cooke was safe as custodian. McNeil, Mincliam and Mitchell make n dangerous scoring line. I'rentice is not yet quite at his best, but has a promising second five-eighths in J. Satherley. Powell was snappy behind a fine scrum, of which Broadhead, if he curbs irritation, should prove an acquisition. Milicich was Inclined to get too much off-side in open play. Fullback Dempsey got through a stern day's work for Newton with credit, though returning the ball formally to Cooke at times did not gain much. Sellnrs was weak on the Newton wing and evidently is much better fitted for action nearer the scrum. Crook, who replaced him, did better and played with confidence. Pope, at centre, lias been seen to better purpose. In consequence, Stephens, one of the most elusive and fastest in the code, was never given a proper chance. Brimble and Bright, the five-eighths, were erratic at times. Porteous played a fine game behind a beaten pack, of which Quirke, Hall and Hammond were outstanding. Newton, who have to meet City Rovers next, will no doubt have a thorough overhauling as the result of their defeat. YOUTH PREVAILS. Youth will prevail. The truism was exemplified once again when a young Ponsonbv side blended speed with skill and combination to leave Marist laterally fiatfooted in a hectic second half, and pile up a very convincing margin. Last year was a comparatively lean season for Ponsonbv, but they bairKed on youth, and their reward on Saturday was quite a spectacular opening of the season, and a promise of being a power in the League fold when the other matches come along. The teams were level through the first half of the game, and then the interplay of Ponsonbv made tliem a very colourful side. < Halloran, a Nortlicote junior, made a very promising debut at half-back, and when he opened up the play, Riley and W Stnckley with clever, incisive running gave the Ponsonby tliree-quarter line plenty of opportunities. . This season Ponsonby have T. Little- | wood back in their ranks for wing threequarter. and lie is likely to tie just as | valuable a unit as in other years. In the forwards was another returnee in McLeay, who played last season in Taranaki. He was well supported by J. Stockley, B. Hutt, and Whye. The Marist forwards were solid and good and took their full share of the day's work, but the weakness was in the Marist backs. There the guiding hand of Brisbane was absent, they played as units; they were frequently caught out of position when faced with attack. Dunne in the five-eighths line gave an occasional glimpse of versatility, while at full-back Glover played a good game under the most trying circumstances that can come a full-back's wav—speedy opponents, backing up well, and always ready to hand the ball on to the next support. Both in tlie air and in the hands of their lively opponents Marist saw quite a lot of the ball. Bat in possession from the sot scrums they saw but little of it, and possession of the ball is the tiling that counts quite a lot in the game. Under happier circumstances the Mniist bucks I would have shown up a lot more. They will probably fare better as the season | goes on. Defeat, iii addition to having n ■ chastening effect, is often inspiring.