LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 184, 6 August 1934, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

RICHMOND THE PREMIERS. SATURDAY'S CONTESTS REVIEWED. DEVONPORT AND MARISTS; AGAIN. Under γ-by far the worst ■weather and playing conditions experienced at Carlaw Park this season/ the .Auckland .Rugby League's premiership competition was resumed on Saturday, Richmond virtually clinching the 1934 championship by der feating. Ponsonby by a substantial margin, their fast and heavy forwards turning the scale in the second .spell. curtainraiser was closely contested, Devongort,? a trifle lucky, proving just a shade too good for Newton, whose combination was affected by the absence of two key backs and a forward. Both games pleased a full grandstand, where the returned international, Lou Brown, received a- hearty welcome. Out at Otahuhu, Marists surprised by downing City Rovers. The positions- of teams to date in thechampionship are as follow:— Club Won. Lost. Dn. P.F. . P.A. Pts! Richmond .10 2 — 257 98 20 Newton ... 7 5 — 140 .10J 14 Ponsonby . G 6 — 133 110 12 Devonport 5 7 1 95 124 9 City 4 8 — 140 230 i 8 Marist .... 3 8 1 110 184 5 Championship May Be Closed. By their latest win, Richmond hold an unassailable position as leaders in the Auckland championship, with the fine record of 257 points for and 98 against in thirteen competition matches. This represents an average of 19.76 points for and 7.5 against per game, which is an achievement not equalled by many champion club sides in the. history of the code in Auckland. The consistently solid performances given by the -team are not only a compliment to the', players, but also to their enthusiastic and sincere coach, Mr. A. T. McClymont, "an outstanding international player in his day. Newton Rangers are the runners-lip. They beat Richmond at their third meeting (11—7), and Devonport scored the only other victory over the Rovers (4 — 2), in the second round. As the maroons now hold a clear sixpoint lead, with only two matches to go to complete the' championship schedule, the Auckland League may exercise its right to declare the premiership closed, in order to carry on with the Roope Rooster knockout, which, in view of other special matches, representative fixtures and special games for which Carlaw Park will be used, will require to be advanced to avoid all possible breaks in the sequence. MARIST V. CITY HOVERS. Each year the Auckland Rugby League has a. charge day at Otahuhu • to raise funds to assist the code locally, and it was real hard luck for the Otahuhu boys that such wretched weather was experienced on Saturday when Mnrlst met City Rovers at Sturgess Park.' Barely half a hundred spectators viewed the game, which was not a really good exposition of League. Although a junior game had been played earlier in tht> afternoon the ground was in fair order, but a steady downpour made things miserable for players and spectators. Contrary to expectations, the young Marist i team hopped right into the game from the kiek-ofi", and had City sorely tried on many occasions. In-the scrums City was doing the bulk of the hooking, but the smashing tactics of the Tyke forwards nipped moßt of the moves in the bud. Early in the came Norm. Campbell very nearly landed a penalty goal. City came away with a rush right down field. Axeman, Turei- and Xathnn being prominent, but a forward puss saw an almost certain try thrown away. Piny was confined to City s half for a good period and a mis-kick saw Brisbane pick the ball up and race across field, scoring a spectacular try right on the corner. Campbell goaled with a great kick from the side line. Pegging away line, the greens were always dangerous and fror , a forward scramble Laird went over for a nice try, which Campbell did not con-

vert. At half-time the score was 8 to nil in Marist's favour. On resumption, with the wind in their favour, it looked as if the red and blacks were going to do things, but the Tykes were soon pressing hard and it was only the good defence of Watene that kept them out. From a high kick which Watene failed to hold as he fell, Smith dashed over with the ball and raised his side s score to 11, the kick failing. A good forward rush by City looked dangerous for the Tykes, but Campbell cleareS cleverly. Rain was falling heavily and a saturated ball made handling almost impossible. I lie score was a fair indication of the merits of the teams. For the winners Norm. Campbell,' at full-hack, did all that was ! asked, his kicking and fielding being of a high order. The backs played well, Smith and Loader doing good work. Brisbane was the Outstanding player, being in the thick all the time. Urotte handled well and sent the ball out In good style. Laird, Webberly, O - Kane and Stevens were 011 the ball all the time. For the losers, Watene, at fullback, did yeoman service, saving his side time and again, his awkward-looking gallop getting him well out of trouble, lurei and Purdy played well, as did Axeman, behind the scrum. This player's handling was good, getting his men ajvay -without delay. Big Nathan was outstanding and \V. Johiir stone played a real good game until he received a nasty knock in the second halt.

WHERE NEWTON YIELDED

There were sparkling interludes of concerted back and forward handling In the ertrly match, in which Dev.onport United accounted for Newton Rangers by 7—o. Without the services of popular players like Dempsey, Brimble, Hardgrave, Trevor Hall and Scheslnger, the Kangers naturally were handicapped in the matter of striking their usual combination, but their performance, with deference to the. win of bhore, was meritorious and a credit to the :reserves introduced. The first half, ended pointless and just near the-conclusion a flukey try by the marineslders made all the difference to the issue. LAing converted: and kick d a. penalty goal. Newton's undoing on the Say TO? tfee speed of the Devonport forwards in the loose. The outstanding back for the winners was Miller, a young player with pace off the mark and the eye and ability to open up attacks. He and O Leuiy had a great clash with their opposites, 'Crook and Hickey-all four holding cleverly Ito their tanks. It was Seagar s skill that made the moves look better for Devonport. Hα 1 and Newton had their time considerablv occupied in dealing with Brady and Stephens, tire last-mentioned, in spite ot beiug wcil watched, being the most brilliant back on the field. His elusive defensiveness and fast and tricky running frequently brought th.e crowd to its toes. Except for one enterprising move, Laing was only far at full-back for Devonport Newton s reseive custodian, Donaldson, doing B tremendous, amount of useful work by comparison.. A tribute is also due to the play ot LyjnDurn at centre, he being another capable substitute Nathan, Kelsall am' TJlacklaws were formidable Newton packme.., with bimpson, Donald, Leatherbarrow and Scott as DeyonportV leading forwards. There can be no doubt that with tiieir regular side Newton would have been a very solid proposition. However, that is one of the "ifs of the game.

PONSONBY'S LOSING BATTLE,

Richmond Rovers, by the manner in which they adapted themselves to conditions and disposed of Ponsonby by 18 —0, deserve all credit for a high-class wetweather display, which stamped them well worthv of the season's laurels. In spite ot the margin, the match was by on means one-sided; Considering the treacherous state of the "ground surface; it was real good Rugger, with Ponsonby dangerous up to within 20 minutes after the interval. Before that any scoring points might have put them in such winning vein as to change the complexion of the game. The first half was extremely fast and thrilling at times, but the forward power of Richmond offset the threats of brilliant cohesion ot which the Ponsonby backs showed telling glimpses. The Hovers , good torm and weight also began to tell a tale, and so, when the leaders reached double figures, success was assured against an unflagging defence.' It rained heavily in the second half and to state ■ that - the two teams were merelv "muddied oafs" would be putting it mildly. They were simply bathed in mud and the the hot and cold shower facilities in the stand must have_ been extraordinarily welcome later. J Satherley, at full-back for .the winners, did fairly w-ell in a new position, but was well protected bv Fletcher at centre, who is the makings of a fine player. Wingers McNeil and Mincham shared equal honours on a day when accurate handling and service by that route could hardly be expected. Cooke and Prentice paired well at five-eighths, the former s heady spoiling play, fielding and short

punts being much in evidence. Prentice always was In the Bring line and it is to bo hoped that the rib injury he received will not deprive him this week of the trip he has so well earned with his club. Powell was effective at half-back, when Richmond s pack dominated. In general tactics, however, Hnlloran, for Ponsonby, was more than his equal. The maruou forwards were vital to a man, and, while Lawless, Satherley nnd Telford raided ruthlessly, the others, particularly Jenkinsou, gave conspicuous support. Hutt, with the odds, against him, played a brilliant all-round game for I'onsonby, with Blood and McLeay always in the picture. The last-mentioned showed great speed in the loose. Ponsonby got a fair share, of ttie ball in the serums, to very little advantage in the circumstances. Halloran, Kiley, Stoekley and Kav shaped magnificently in the early stakes, while the wingers, Sherer and Jones, were safe, Jones having improved surprisingly in the position. One of the heroic figures of the encounter was Murray at full-back. For a recent recruit in the team his display was very creditable. With experience he should prove a notable acquisition.

GRADE GAMES.

"• ' ~ SENIOR RRSERVE. I Richmond 11, heat l'onsonby S. City 5, beat Marist 3. SECOND GRADE. Mangere 7,' beat Papakura 6. THIRD GRADE. Richmond 10, beat Pousonby 6. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Ponsonby 3, beat Richmond 0. Point Chevalier 11, beat Devouport 0 FOURTH GRADE. Newton beat Papakura by default. Richmond 9, beat l'oiut Chevalier 0. FIFTH GRADE. Mount Albert 8, bent City 6. Ponsonby beat Manukau by default. i SIXTH GRADE. Devonport 20, beat Point Chevalier 0. Ellcrslie 0, beat Richmond o. SEVENTH GRADE. Richmond A G, beat-Richmond B 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. • WHANGAREI. 'Northland reps. 24, beat the Rest 0. Junior Knock-out.—Whakawaro 13, beat Onerahi 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. NEW PLYMOUTH. Waitangi Shield.—Tai-anaki 10, beat Hawke's Bay 11. DUNEDIN. Christian Brothers* Iβ, beat City 13. Pacific 11, beat Athletic 7. NAPIER. Clive beat Ahuriri. •City 11, beat, Te Awa 8. CHRISTCHUKCH. Hornby 25, beat Ruru 12. Addington 20, beat New br.gliton 0. SydenUain 14, beat Linwood 11. AUCKLAND TEAM. SIDE TO.MEET NORTHLAND. The Auckland selectors (Messrs. H. Avery, W. Mineham and E. K. Asherj have choseiv the following team, with Air. F Delgrosso as coach, to .meet JN orthlaucl at Carlaw Park on Saturday:—

Full-back: Dempsey (Newton). ; . Three-quarters: Stephens (iSewton), Kay (Ponsonby), Hardgrave (Newton). Five-eighths: Riley (Ponsonby), Bnmble (Newton). • Ai Half-back: Axeman (City). Forwards,—Front row: Laird (Marists), Quirke (Newton), Clarke (City); Hall (Newton), Hutt, captain (Ponsonby); Scott (Davonport). Emergencies.—Forwards: McLean (ronsonby), Simpson (Devonport). Backs: Halloran (Ponsonby), Stockley (Ponsonby), McLaughlin (City), i Practices are to be held at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.

BOXING.

To-night at the Town Hull tho Auckland Boxing Association's all-amatour tournament will bo stated, eight coutcsts between specially-selected and matched boxers being offered for the entertainment of enthusiasts. Amateur tournaments are deservedly popular with local sportsman and this tournament, with its eight special contests, should be no exception. Boxing of a high standard and therefore excellent entertainment should be seen, seven of the bouts being between local boxers who have shown great promise in the gymnasium and have been specially matched with careful attention of detail, while the eighth will be of six rounds between V. Gordon, flyweight champion of Wanganui and TaranaVli alul lunner-up for the Isew Zealand title, and Percy Kelly, the local bantam-weight who recently gave tho champion a hard fight. Both are clever exponents and, in common with the other contests, sh.ould provide some thrilling exchanges.