LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 214, 10 September 1934, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

RICHMOND'S RGOPE ROOSTER MARISTS' BRILLIANT EFFORT. PHELAN SHIELD TO NEWTON RANGERS. By defeating diarist in the premier attraction at Carlaw Par!:, before a largo attendance, on Saturday, Kichmond penned the silver bird trophy, emblematic of knock-out supremacy, and thus completed the season's "double." It was a most stirring exhibition of modern Rugger, and the crowd cheered the young Marist team to the echo for its wonderful bid. : Richmond's experience was the deciding I factor. Xewton won the Plielan Shield curtain-raiser, and Richmond Reserves captured the Stallard Cup. Richmond won the Roopc Rooster in 1926-7 and last year, and Marist Old Boys in 1928-9 and 1932—each club winning it on three occasions—so this is the maroons' fourth success. PEAK FORM IN FINAL. All the best traditions of the Auckland knock-out final for the Roope Rooster trophy were preserved on Saturday when Richmond and Marists provided a game that worked spectators up to a pitch of enthusiasm which well reflected public appreciation. There has been a notable improvement in the senior play this and it was fitting that one of the most thrilling of the series should have crowned the final of this particular competition. The teams sparred for twelve minutes and then the match began to take a roseate hue as the pace was applied. Barring several stoppages for knocks to contenders, both teams infused dash and lire into their efforts, and at times the crowd was veritably enthralled by the fast and spectacular moves which ranged the length and breadth of the field. Richmond's impressive first try seemed to place the Marist Old Boys on their mettle, and the contest became a toast of grim and slashing forward rucking, supported by moves and counter-moves l>y the backs. The green and golds tackled like demons, and the maroons were compelled to use every resource to bring to hear their effective combination. Once Marists got the lead Richmond's task was intensified, and, in the intermediate stage when the greens again drew level, the maroons were never compelled to battle harder to keep their line intact. The forwards, winning a share of the scrums, were after the ball in devastating fashion, and the Richmond defence threatened to crack up on several occasions. Great play and anticipation by Cooke, well supported by Fletcher, contributed the Richmond safeguard. The game developed excitingly from the 13-all period, when Cooke was again in the picture, also with a goal-kick that really turned the tide, though the Old Boys were by no means dispensed with, as the sparkliug play which followed thoroughlv Indicated. It was in the heat of the last ten minutes that 'Richmond's better knowledge of positional play stood to them. Yer, just ibefore the whistle, the crowd renewed its acclaim when the young Marist winger. Loader, brok'e past three tacklers and raced from half-way to near the corner. His speed was too much to expect support under the circumstances, so that his in-pas3 found no recipient. That single incident was typical of the contest in its varied phases. Here was a match in which it would tie insidious to say that any player performed badly. If anything, one maroon forward was guilty of too many minor breaches, and perhaps this, too, can De overlooked in the course of such a gruelling and fluctuating battle. Glover, Brisbane, Furlonger, Loader ,and Campbell were the best of the losers' backs, and the forwards, without exception, played outstandingly, being only slightly overshadowed by themaroon sextet which in loose formation. Here the understanding between Telford, Jenklnson, Lawless and Satherley was most clever. Though Carter was unable to monopolise the hooking, he showed splendid form. Prentice, Powell, J. Satherley, Fletcher and Cooke were a strong back combination for IRichniond. McNeil and Mineham, on the wings, revealed dash and pace, but more finishing power was expected of Mineham with the he received. On the run of play. Richmond were flattered by a seven point margin. RESERVE KNOCK-OUT. Having already won the reserve championship, Richmond were the favourites when they met City in the final of the Stallard Cnp competition on Saturday at Carlaw Park, and they duly registered a convincing victory by 21 to 9. The superior combination of the maroons ha<i City all .at sea, and really speaking Richmond would have added a few more points only for over-eagerness at the crucial stage of a passing bout. City had already given Richmdbd a good deal of opposition in the championship series, but on (Saturday thej? failed to reveal anything like their best form, and never looked likely winners at any stage. Bad tackling was a big factor in their defeat, while they also finished the last ten minutes of the game with only ten men. The bright spot-of the winning combination was the fine displays by Bickerton and Bennett, who were a constant source of danger to City, their handling also being particularly sound. The forwards were triers all through, with Metcalf and Crookall always well up. For City Maher was palpably out of position at full-back, but was responsible two fine goals from near the side-line. The backs all failed badly, but the forwards never let up, and up to., the time he was forced to retire with' an. injured leg X urdy was the best forward on the ground. PONSONBY CLOSE TO HONOURS. - r-p, T P pat was colourful and "exceedingly brilliant in patches, Newton accounted for Ponsonby by 18 points to 10—an attrac-, IL Te curtain-raiser, which gave the Eanjrers the Whelan Shield. Newton's speed and combination were just a bit too much for 1 onsonby, who, nevertheless, put up a fine performance and were showing their best form and ability towards the close. In the unavoidable absence of their new young full-back, Lewis, F. Delgrosso emerged from retirement and, in spite of playing fairly 7* e J • ,°. llnt l P' e P nc 9 a trifle* too warm before the finish. Owing to Newton's clever inside back play_ the three-quarters were continually in action, capably supported by Bempsey. Wingers Brady and Stephens, though well marked, were always dangerous Brady s handling was faulty at times. Porteous was nippy at half-back/ > The star pair was Cameron and Brimble, the'former, enhancing his reputation as a late-in-the-season discovery> Kecsing. with a generous supply of the ball behind the Ponsonby pack was racy and resourseful. Stockley and Riley were fine five-eighths, with little less variety in their methods than their opponents. Kay. at centre; was fast and thrustful being inclined to go too far at times before parting with the ball. He was fortunate to obtain Ponsonby's second try, for he might easily have ruined a" sparkling rearguard movement which deserved to prodee the result achieved. The play went mostly to Whorskey's wing and that player answered every call with snap and vigour, He Is another colt marked for promotion. Davis was a pleasing success as hooker for Ponsonby, and the little fellow plaved like a trojan. Hutt, J. Stockley. Blood and McLeay also did well. Hall. Kelsall and Nathan were good forwards for Newton, the first-mentioned making some splendid openings and being right up with the plav. Middleton seemed sluggish and Quirke and Blaeklaws did far too much hanging on to the ball and ground-grovelling. Newton will have to keep in trim particularly in view of their forthcoming champion of champions engagement with Richmond for .li'! Sturmont Memorial. GRADE GAMES. SECOND GRADE. Manukau beat Papakura B by default. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Manukau S. beat Glonora 7. Point Chevalier !>. beat Otahuliu ,S Ponsonby 3.", beat Manukau B 0. Papakura !). beat Nnrfheofc 0. City 4, lieac Devonport 2. Akarana 1!}, beat Richmond 12. FOURTH GRADE. Marist 0, beat Pt. Chevalier' 5.' Papakura 0, beat Richmond-3. Newton 10, beat Manukau 0. FIFTH GRADE. Otnhuhu 14. beat Devonport 3. Richmond 18, beat Akarana 2. SIXTH GRADE. Newton 3, beat Richmond 2. SEVENTH GRADE. Richmond 11. beat City 5. Richmond B 5, beat Devonport 3.

AUCKLAND TEAM. SIDE TO MEET SOUTH AUCKLAND. The Auckland selectors on Saturday announced the following thirteen to represent Auckland in the annual match against | South Auckland, which is to take place I at Carlaw Park on Saturday : — Full-back: X. Campbell (Marists). I Three-quarters: M. Stephens (Xewton). |A. E. Cooke (Richmond), E. T. Mineham (Richmond). Five-eighths: S. Prentice (Richmond), O. Riley (Ponsonby). Half-back: li. Powell (Richmond). Forwards: S. Clarke (City), L. 'Hutt, captain (I'onsonby). W. Telford, C. Satherley and R. Lawless (Richmond), T. Hall (Xewton). Reserves: Laird (Marists) and McLaughlin (City). The team, to be coached by Mr. A. T. McClymont, will practise at Carlaw Park on Tuesday, and Thursday evenings. WAITANGI SHIELD TRIALS. TUAKAU MAORIS V. OTAHUHU ROVERS. The play of the visitors in the game between a- combined team of Tuakau and Waikato Maoris versus Otahuliu Rovers at Sturgess Park was of the thrilling order and warranted a much • greater attendance of League fans than the few hundreds who were on their toes throughout the greater part of the match. Saturday's game was the tirst time that this team has played together, and Mr. Ashcr the Waikato selector, expressed himself well satisfied with the result, which was 23 points against Otahuhu's 5. On the play a margin of 40 points would have given a truer indication of the merits of each team. In the first half the visitors were content to study each other's play and to size up their opponents, but on the change over it was a treat to see the way they handled the ball. Time and again they would go right through the opposition with the greatest of ease, and it was only faulty handling that stopped them from notching another dozen tries in addition to the seven scored. Their goal-kicking was poor, 10 shots in easy positions being missed. Otahuhu's only try was the result of good work by Wliye. The Maoris will be seen in action at Carlaw Park on Wednesday, in a Waitangi Shield trial against the Tamaki Maori team, in view of the Shield challenge match to be played at Huntly early next mouth. SCHOOLBOY'S GAMES. Avondale 17, beat Marist B 0. Ellcrslie 6,- beat Xorthcote 0. SEVEN-A-SIDE. Xorthcote 3. beat Ellerslie 0. HOUSE MATCH. Lovctts 10, beat Harvey and Sons 9. j GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. PATAKURA. Second Grade.—Papakura B 16, beat Mangere 14. Third Intermediate.—Papakura 9, beat Xorthcote 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCII. Addington 13, beat Hornby S. GAME IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, September 9. In the final Rugby League match postponed from the previous Saturday owing to heavy rain, Western Suburbs yesterday defeated Eastern Suburbs by 15 points to 12. There were 20,000 spectators. The Western Suburbs team for New Zealand is not completed, but it is known that the leading players, Mead, Brady, and Lindfield,'.will not be available.