LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 148, 25 June 1934, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND PREWiIERSHIP. NEWTON AND MAKISTS SURPRISE. BIGHMOXD VANQUISH CITY. Spectacular play was the order at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when a lino crowd was regaled with highly entertaining football in the ninth series of contests of the Auckland Rugby League's premiership competition. The feature match was battled to an exciting conclusion between Newton and Pousouby, the former gaining the lead just before the bell, thereby avenging their first defeat. The backs were well matched, but Ponscmby forwards were prominent in the loose. In the early game Marist, with Brisbane at his best, forced the pace to make it a thrilling draw in. the final stage—the first match in which points have been equally divided this season. Across the way Richmond had too many guns for City, who, however, fought back creditably in the second spell. Positions of Teams. The positions of the teams to date are as follow: —■ Points. Ch. P. W. L. D. V. A. Pts. Ricjimoud ... 9 0 r 217 73 is Newton a 5 4 — 120 S3 10 Ponsonby ... !) 5 4 — 112 !)0 10 Devonport ... 0 3 5 1 82 109 7 Marist ...... 9 2 (J 1 90 104 5 Oty 9 2 7 — 100 207 4 Reserve Grade.—City 14 points, Richmond 14, Ma list S, Duvouport S, Newton 7, Ponsonby 3.

PONSONBY RECEIVE A SHOCK. By defeating Ponsonby in the very last {.•asp, Newton reversed their first round defeat (0 —S) by tho odd point in 1:3. i Ponsonby can be considered a shade unlucky to have lost, following one of a number of inspiring solo efforts by Hutt The Rangers struck back grimly at that stage, but Ponsonby seemed to have the issue in their keeping (11 —9). A momentary lack of vigilance on their left Hank brought abiiiit their undoing. With judgment, Trevor Hall kicked unerringly to the corner and the promoted second grade winger, Brady, chased a last hope like a Sioux Indian nnd gained the reward of worth-while effort—a winning try. The match, not of the towering struggle type, was waged with spectacular vim, and in the second spell, particularly, tactics played an obvious part. The highlights were the ceaseless dual between the two internationals and erstwhile colleagues at St. Helens, Hutt and Hall, both loose forward experts, captivating fast movements amongst both sets of backs, with Ponsonby's Insides obtaining rather the better of the deal, Newton pack's close rucking sorties and the dominating work o£ Ponsonby forwards in the open. Taking into consideration Newton's snap try and the fact that Jones, I'onsonby's goal-kicker, was not. quite in his best goal-shooting form, Newton wore indeed a trifle fortunate, though for them that is a bit overdue and should not bo begrudged. The clubs now stand equal in second place on the ladder, and still have chances In the season's race for honours. Halloran played in far more settled fashion as Ponsonby's full-back, but can do much better. Littlewood was not very reliable on the rightwing. He was often caught out of position. On the other side, Jones, barring over-eagerness and faulty handling, did well and showed up on defence. However, it was to the centre, Stockley, that much credit must go. The best of the rearguard was R.iley, whose speed, thrustfulness and pace, made him always dangerous. He effected some glorious breakaways, as the result of anticipation, but had to slow up for support. Greater consistency in backing up would have meant more points to Ponsonby. Too much was left to the forwards, whose display was meritorious in that respect. Kay was not as conspicuous as usual, but collaborated well with Riley. Wilkins was not quite the equal of Porteous behind the scrum. Nevertheless, he did his job satisfactorily. Bright and K. Nathan were fair as inside backs for player, showing improvement. Hickey was in better form at centre, hut lacked deliberation in his methods. He improved as the game advanced, and both wiDgers, Stephens and Brady, were seen to advantage. Well coached, tho auburnhaired Brady should prove a decided acquisition to the side. Dempsey got through a heavy task with credit. Quirke had a keen hooking battle with Davis, who appeared to have a slight advantage and scored to boot. Blacklaws, Nathnn, Fraser nnd Kelsall were powerful forwards, and in the tight rucking were more than a handful for Blood, Brown, Whye nnd Smith. Hall followed the example of Hutt, and, lato in the contest, hovered off the scrums. Ponsonby will require to be sparking on all four cylinders for their meeting with City Rovers, who appeared 1o strike idenl combination in their second half against Richmond.

HIGH SCORING. Victory by a margin of 20 points in a Rugby football match appears, on the face of it, to be an overwhelming win. This was the margin by which Richmond defeated City on Saturday, but the gatue was not so one-sided as the scores—43 to 14— would indicate. The very substantial win by Richmond was due to consistently better team work than that of their opponents and the facility with which every opening was-seized to set the attacking machine in motion. The co-ordination of backs and forwards was excellent, and each individual, from the front row of the pack to the full-back, was a potential try-getter. They handled the ball well, and the extra man to take the final pass for a score was rarely lacking. Still, they were frequently pressed, and the fact that City crossed their line on four occasions indicates that the victory, though substantial iu points, ■was no bloodless one, and was not attained •without supremo effort, both in attack and defence. The City combination must have suffered considerably through the reorganisation of the pack, three new players being tried in place of Herring, Saunders and •Tones, while Turei was absent from the back division. Judging by the form shown jn patches on Saturday, when the team settles down and is able to show its best consistently, it should prove quite a formidable combination and make its presence frit in the competition. The try obtained in the second spell, when Purdy successfully finished a great effort, was the most brilliant and spectacular movement in thp cii.me. Starting from defence, it travelled in dazzling style from near the City twentyfive to finish with Purdy racing over the line unopposed. With the pace right on the exchanges were perfectly timed and clean and the defence was completely beaten. Unfortunately, such flashes were nil too rare, but that dash of brilliant play was sufficient to indicate the potentialities of the side when it is Properly a , ttu ° e £; For the winners. Cook, at full-back, gave an excellent exhibition, both in defence and attack, and frequently placed his side in attacking position instead of kicking and giving possession' of the ball to his opponents. The three-quarters were always dangerous, with Mincham constantly alert ■to seize an opportunity to bore holes In the defence His goal kicking was also excellent The other inside backs combined •well Powell. Prentice and Verrnll forming a well-organised trio. Among the forwards Lawless and Telford were prominent, the former being always hnnrly to score from thelooßft. For City, Watene at full-back was inclined to go up to the three-quarter line, but he played a sound game In defence, nnd was always anxious to sot Ihe bark machine in motion. Wayne, White .•iii.l Purilv dirt a great amount of work in frncp ami the wingers showed a fine turn f snood on occasions. The inside backs £ere P kept busy defending, and .did not combine iso well in attack as their opponent" In a hard-working pack Clarke and Kttthan were frequently noticeable.

MARISTS SPRING SURPRISE. The stocks of Mariat Old Boys rose high jn public estimation when the young team jiterally pulled the game out ot the flreto ilmw (R nil) with IJevonpoi't united, wno were strongly fancied because of their run of three"victories in the second round, wvio* mi viewed as a handicap to tlie , £$& iPir opposition and spectators would be '."„" Ten minutes before the bell Shorte nit with S—'-i in their favour, and it i Uko an oddg-on win for thcnu^The ':> ;-e open- the play- became the more it

seemed to suit the greens, back and forward. The vital change came when the JUarist breakaway, BakiUlck, broke away at full speed to the light from a scrum at midtield. He completely dummied past O'Donuell and KaiUmioh. and. as Senear tell back to tackle him, he found Brisbane in line for the timely pass, which, sent on out wide to Smith, lie overrun It. Glover, trailing iii support, gathered and centred. Bakulicli, following last, was up in time to get possession ;uul to reach over the line as he was hold by two defenders. Spurred on by this success the Marist forces made the pace a cracker, and, from a co-ordinated move by forwards and backs, Brisbane again had the blacks at sixes and sevens. Newton mishandled a cross kick and before he had time to redeem himself, Brisbane had collected the ball to score fairly wide out. Campbell nearly capped it with a goal that would have assured two Championship points instead of one. That might have been accomplished had the match lasted a little longer. A word of praise is due to the referee, who appeared to know a vast amount more about the involved advantage rules than a few o£ the voluble spectators. Tho Shore fullback played splendidly in the iirst half, but hardly measured up to the Campbell standard. Seagar had an off day at centre, with his insides, Radonich and O'Donnell, lacking much in enterprise. Rhodes did not have the best of service from tha scrums and the ball invariably travelled crossiield. The two tries gained by winger Hall were exceptions, and again stamped this player a most promising scoring man. But, he and Newton seem to lack something in their play. . One wonders whether they train regularly with their team. Donald. Lealherbnrrow nnd Scott were the best forwards in a pack that was more than matched in close formations. Laird, Kcanc and Webberley wore a fine trio of hard grafters, Steven hooked well, and Bakalich was the best forward on the ground. Strong, fast and heady, more will be heard of this player. Mnrists' next opponents, Newton, beat them 22—13 in their first clash. These teams should \srovide a most brilliant match on Saturday week.

GRADE GAMES. SENIOR RESERVE. Devonport 9, beat Marist 0. Newton 3, beat Ponsonby 0. Richmond 7, beat City 4. SECOND GRADE. Mr. Albert 12, beat Pt. Chevalier 2. Otahuhu 14, bent Mangoro 4. THIRD OPKN. Richmond bont Mnrist by default. Mt. Albert r>s, beat Mangere 3. Glenora 5, beat Akarana 3. Ponsonby IG, rfeat ,I'apakura 10. Otahuhu S, beat Pakuranga 0. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Papakura 6, beat Richmond 3. I'onsonby 8, beat Manukau B 0. Pt. Chevalier 2, beat Marist 0. FOURTH GRADE. Papakura 7, beat Richmond 4. Manukau 10, beat Pt. Chevalier 0. Newton 5, beat Glenora 0. Ellcrslie 11, beat Northcote f>. FIFTH GRADE. City 6, beat Tonsonby 0. Papakura S, beat Mnnukau 2. Richmond 5, beat Point Chevalier 0. SIXTH GRADE. Richmond f>, beat Pt. Chevalier 0. Ellerslie 12, beat Avondale 7. SEVENTH GRADE. City 22, bent Richmond B 0. I Richmond r>2, beat Mt. Albprt 0. Northcote 8, beat Devonport 4. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. Ellerslie 27, beat Otahuhu 0. Richmond 7, bent Northcote 0. Avondale 11, beat City 0. Marist A 0. boat Devonport 3. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. TAUPIRI. Innls Memorial Shield. —Tauplri 9, beat Hnntly 8. Taupiri 0, heat Oordonton 0. Third Grade.—Ngaruawahia 24, beat Orini 0. Schoolboys.—Huntly 23, beat Taupiri 0. HUNTLY. Juniors.—Taupiri 14, beat Huntly 0. LOWER WAIKATO. Hula 9, beat City 0. Manaia 18, beat Onepoto 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. NAPIEK. Taradale 38, beat Te Awa 5. ' < Clive 29, beat City C. Te Ngarue beat Ahuriri.

CHRISTCHURCH. Addlngton 13, bent New Brighton 12. Liuwood 23, beat Kuru 18. DUNEDIN. Athletic C, beat Christian Brothers 5. City 14, beat Pacific 7. AUCKLAND REPS. SIDE TO OPPOSE TARANAKI. The Auckland selectors, Messrs. TV. Mlncham, H. Avery nnd B. K. Asher, after Saturday's matches announced the Auckland team to meet Taranaki on Saturday next as follows :— Full-back: Campbell (Marist Old Boys). Three-quarters: Wayne (City), Mincham (Richmond), Stephens (Newton). Five-eighths: Cooke (Richmond), Prentice (Richmond). Half-back: Powell (Richmond). Forwards: Front row, Lawless (Richmond), S-atherley (Richmond), Hutt (Ponsonby), Clarke (City), Stevens (Devonnort), Telford (Richmond). Reserves: Backs, McNeil (Richmond), Kay (Ponsonby), Axeman (City) ; forwards, Leatherbarrow (Devonport), Blacklaws (Newton).