LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 136, 11 June 1934, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY. DEVCrnPORT'S SURPRISE VICTORY. NEWTON AND RICHMOND CLIMB. Except that Devonport surprised by JJefeating Ponsonby in the main game of the Auckland Rugby League competition B t Car law .Park on Saturday, the play tvas not up to tho standard seen this seapen. T ' lo Devonport pack held its own in the tight rucking and the backs played with confidence sufficient to nullify p on . Ponb.V rearguard tactics and turn openings to advantage. Marist put up another good performance, but Richmond, with Cooke starring as a scoring full-back, held the ascendancy- The best contest of the day vas on No. 2 ground, where Newton backs vere the deciding factor against a solid City thirteen. Light showers fell early jn "the afternoon and the grounds were heavy- The Supreme Court jury witnessed tin fixtures. Ladder Positions. The positions of teams at a glance are as follow:— Points. Ch. "XV. Ij. F. A. Pts. Richmond 7 — 148 49 i t Ponsonby •> 2 01 52 10 Newton 4 •"> 102 02 s Devonport 2 fi 64 95 4 City 2 •» 78 It- 4 Jlarist 1 6 CO 143 2

' PONSONBY'3 SECOND DEFEAT.

Although Devonport have to be congratulated on reversing a lirst-round loss of a—l 7 to a cleur-cuc victory of 10—u over lonsonby, the game was drab, being relieved by only occasional Hashes of superior play. While allowance lias to be made tor tho greasy conditions, these were far fiorn bad enough to hamper that spectacular Hugger which patrons prefer, rt seemed to be one of those off-days, at least, as far as l'onsonby was concerned; they can do far better, an assertion expressed without detracting one wliit from Devonport's success. The blacks held the balance of power in tho vanguard and the Inside backs featured in spoiling tactics, but were unable to compensate by displaying anything of high order when they had possession. There was far too much kicking and this is becoming a faulty tendency at headquarters. Hutt, as l'onsonby captain, appeared to have a chance of pulling the game out of the tire by using a series of penalties for goal shots. However, he was obsessed with the idea of bigger "bite" (try inid goal) to even the tallies. At this stage l'onsonby were revealing their driving power, but the defence was both strong and fortunate. A successful goal kick at that stage might have spurred l'onsonby to immediate victory. Devonport broke the cordon and made their win doubly sure per a snap try. An error in judgment as it was by the Ponsonby leader, Hutt, nevertheless, played a line game and rose to great heights when the siege was in progress. Some of his passes to the backs troin the ruck were wonderful and almost pointed the way, but strive as they did the live-eighths ami centre were foiled. Jones was fairly safe at full-back. The wingers, Slicrer and Midgley, really did not get the best of opportunities and the same applies to their opposites. Hall and Newton—all young and speedy players who will be seen in much good work, one feels sure, before the season finishes. Kay was bottled up lit centre, yet his dash and great defensive efforts were ever apparent, in spite of Keagar's cleverness. Itiley and Stockley compared favourably with O'Donnell and Kailonich. whoso tackling was better than their passing. Halloran, behind the scrum, overshadowed Rhodes, the Devonport halfback. by liis enterprise. Simpson, Leatherbarrow. Hunt and Scott were Shore's best forwards. Stevens, the hooker, had nothing much on Blood, and A. Smith was too much off-side. Why, Grieve and Brown gave Hutt good support. There were too many scrum penalties. However, this hard game should serve each of the teams well for their next engagements, and Ponsonby particularly, should profit sufficiently to prove a problem to Richmond.

RICHMOND'S SEVENTH VICTORY,

The Marist Old Boys' team, playing its second game since reconstruction was essential, made quite a bold bid pitted against Richmond Rovers, but liad to bow to the inevitable to the tune of B—2o,8 —20, the disparity in no way reflecting the entertaining featuree of the contest. Richmond's pace, weight and speed in equipment were the deciding factors. The green and golds never let up at any stage and In this they were encouraged by a good early crowd. One of the pleasures of a contest marked by speed and fluctuation was the brilliancy of A. E. Cooke, the Richmond custodian, who supplied striking evidence of his remarkable form this season. On this occasion it was not so much liis positional play and unerring kicking that won commendation. It was his magnificent running, .handling and backing up. lie opened the scoring with a try wide out, and later in the game brought the crowd to its feet witn a movement in which he and Minchain starred as they raced for half _ the field straight down the terrace side, inter-pass-ing, for Cooke to receive the final transfer and put on the scoring diagonal spurt to touch down behind the posts. Cooke was In his element and enhanced liis reputation as a player of rare skill and polish, xet, bis vis-a-vis, Campbell, also played derfully well, being more orthodox and less colourful. Of course, lie could not ntiora to take risks behind a losing side. /Without exception the Rovers' backs went like a machine. Prentice was very impressive for bis thrustfulness. Milicich. Telford. Metcalfe and Satherley were the pick of tnc Keane and Laird were outstanding a' Marist scrummers, with Steven nntl \VeDberley also in good form. Brisbane and his backs had a heavy day, mostly <if a defensive character. Smith and i urlonger P r ing the best of the three-quarters. An Indication of the losers' persistence J™s *hefact that six of their points were scored 1n the second spell, against eleven by Ki ir.onrt. No doubt, now that the Marist Club's internal dispute is Poetically at an end, the team will be stronger than it ever has been this season. Saturday City Rovers should be the turning point. <t

NEWTON'S WIN.

The game between Newton -™' 1 opened brisklv, nnd for n time prom ■ ■ to be a close and exciting contest, matters turned out, the exciterm snt JL' c of maintained. lnrtrely through the enor _ the red and whites, though City ■ ally had the crowd on their toes ■ * result of spnrkling movements. T • J - ton forwards got more than ® • of the ball from the scrums, and the docks generally made good use of tunities. The combination of Portions. Crook. Hall and Stephens was particularly effective, the last-mentioned using his speea to advantage. Straight running aud g handling were features of Halls ' lie was always dangerous. He made num.r ous openings, and his two tries were w deserved. Dempsey performed sounuH n full-back, tiio speed of the game ensuring him plentv of work, which he got thronesafely. His form at place kicking was hardly up to his usual standard. lbou„.i he succeeded in two of his numerous attempts. The Newton vanguard P 1' " 1? up to its reputation as a fast and harrtworkincr pack. Besides giving their backs a generous share of the bail, they operated well in (he loose and combined' repeatedly in sweeping rushes that taxed the defence to the utmost. They shone particularly in this respect in the second spell, _wnen the fast pace of the game was beginning to show its efTect: somewhat on their opponents. In a remarkably even pack. Blaculaws. Nathan and Middleton were fr fluently prominent. The City ten-n, although outplayed by their opponents chiefly through the Newton forwards gaining possession in the scrums, {rave a _.£ olin( * and af times a sparkling exhibition. "was the outstanding back in attaoK, i>i> piny being characterised by speeu ami Straight running. However, both backs and forwards combined splendidly at time. , the try scored by White towards the end of the first spell being the result of bril liant passing and running by Clarke, Watene and White.. Unfortunately efforts of that nature were all too rare, though there were many exciting moments when the backs swung into line, only to see ft pass missed when the movement seemed dangerous. In addition to Wa.vne among the backs, Watene. Turel, Wlhcrg and White showed excellent form, and Axeman fed his supports well when opportunity offered. Malier af full-back did not place his kicks judiciously at times. However, ho had :i great amount of work to do, nnd came through the ordeal creditably. No less eager than their opponents to maintain a cracking pace, the City forwards swung into their work with exhilarating rim nnd battled hard from start to finish. Though beaten for the bail in (lie ruck., * tliey combined in first-rate style in the open, and assisted their backs well both in attack and defence. Among a very willing lot Clarke, Saunders and Herring were frequently-prominent.-

GRADE GAMES,

SENIOR RESERVE. Richmond o?' J 3o '" l ' Devonport 5. lchmond 24, beat Marist 0. t-lty o, beat Newton 2. SECOND GRADE. third open. Mt. Albert IS, beat Jlarist 1° -AKarana 11, beat Miuigere 3. ' Richmond 10 beat Ponsonby 0 Glenora 10, beat Papakura 2. THIRD intermediate. B 14 beat Manukau A 2. 1 apnkura 22, beat Akarana 0. J, Llievalier S, drew with City 8. Ponsonby 54, beat Glenora 0 FOURTH GRADE. Manukau 6, beat Now to 1??" beat Po »soiii).y 0. Panat-?,™ - b , cat Pt ' Chevalier 0. lapakura i, beat Glenora 5. FIFTH GRADE. City 22, beat Manukau 2. 23, I,eat Ponsonby 0. V beat Mt. Albert 0. apakurp. o, beat Devonport U. SIXTH GRADE. Newton 3, beat Richmond 2. Ellerslie 3, beat Pt. Chevalier a SEVENTH GRADE. City 7, heat Northcote 6. Richmond A 26, beat Richmond B 0. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. Ellerslje 7, bent MnrTst A 0. Avondale 23, lieat Devonport 0. Richmond 3, bent Citv 0. iNorthcote 2, beat Marist B 0. SEVEN-A-SIDE. Richmond !), bent Avondale 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. TUAKAU. Mania 28. beat City 8. Huia 0, drew with Onepoto 0. lIUNTLY. Seniors.—nuntly 4, beat Ngaruawahla 0. WHANG AREI. Senior.—City 5, beat Whakawaro 2: Hikurnngl 0, boat Kensington 5. Junior.—lvneno 19. beat Portland 10; Whakawaro 0, beat Onerahl 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. christchurcit; Hornby 14, beat Linwood 3. Addington 30. beat Ruru 9. Brighton 21, bent Sydenham 0. NAPIER. Clive 8, bent Taradale 7. Tonga rue 21, beat City 10. Ahuriri 3, beat Te Awa O.

MAJRIST CLUB DISPUTE.

LOYALTY SWORN TO CODE. Arising out of a recent difference over club policy matters, a deputation of members and players of the Marist Club met tlie Control Board at Car]aw Park on Saturday to give an assurance of unswerving loyalty to the code and confidence in the A.Tl.ii. management, which, it was made clcar, was not responsible for the published statements regarding the club dispute. Mr. J. Sayegh. president of the club, expressed appreciation of the deputation's gesture, arid the presence of seven of the eight players concerned. The deputy-chairman of the Control Board, Mr. E. J. Phelan, was thanked and asked to attend the club executive meeting.