LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 99, 29 April 1935, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

GOOD OPENING DAY.

| SPARKLING MATCH SERIES. / COOKE AND LOU BROWN STAR. A feast of remarkably good football for an opening day was provided at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when a large crowd enjoyed the senior play in the first series of matches of the twenty-sixth season of the Auckland Rugby League. After a thrilling disjjlay Richmond settled the issue in the concluding stages against Newton. Then the form and brilliant opportunism of A. E. Cooke. who shifted from full-back to five-eighths, told its tale. The new team, Mount Albert, made a successful debut to narrowly defeat City, and across the way Devonport surprised by forcing a draw with Marists.

RICHMOND'S STRONG FINISH. As the piece de resistance for an initial programme, it would be difficult to imagine anything better than the quality football presented by Richmond and Newton, resulting in a 27 —15 victory to last year's champions. The speed and vigour with which it was wuged was tribute to the fitness of the contestants. The margin of points Is hardly a fair indication of the clash, as the losers had more than a fifty-fifty advantage on the run of the game; their pack, indeed, having a marked superiority in winning the ball from the scrums. Fifteen minutes from the end when the Hangers got a point lead it looked as though the red and whites, then playing with illuminating combination, had the laurels in their keeping. But the maroons played a trump card. Skipper A. E. Cooke, observing that Bickerton required better support, moved up to second five-eighth from the rear line. This had an electrical effect. for the famous All Blaek, revealing all his craft in running, handling, and kicking to gaps, soon had his fast outsides going at concert pitch, and Newton had to bow to the Inevitable towards the end of.a delightfully sustained exhibition of brilliant play by both thirteens. The maroon forwards, C. Satherle.v. Ginders, Broadhead, J. Satherley and Lawless, were a power in the open, in which department Lunn, Kcllelier, and Middleton featured for Newton. In the tight rucking, J. Johnston, Quirke, and Kelsall were prominent for the opposition, Johnston and C. Satherley being outstanding packmen. Satherley kicked five goals, two being early penalties. The match revealed some brilliant colts, B. Brimble behind the Newton serum giving as clever a display as seen on. the park for many n day. I'. Young, a late transfer from Richmond, also played well, and Franleli, the ex-Sacred Heart College. Mount Albert Grammar School, and North Auckland Union representative, played impressively at centre three-quarter iu his lirst outing. He Is alert, speedy, and has a good pair of hands. It. Pope, though willing, was not quite at his best on the flank. Brady did fairly well until compelled to retire hurt, and Crook was a valuable substitute. E. Brimble did some clever tilings at first five-eighth, but his defence was sometimes at fault. McNeil was the best Richmond winger, and showed that he has pace to burn. Plav did not go so much the way of Mitchell, and Mincham was safe at centre. IJempsey played iu versatile fashion in Newton's last line, and was more than on a par with Cooke. There is no doubt about the quality of Bickerton, the young Richmond five-eighth, who is calculating and skilled. Two Richmond regulars. Prentice and Kric Fletcher, did not play. Newton were without A. Nathan, who injured a finger at practice on Thursday. They also have a new tlve-eiglith to present. Richmond's next opponents will be Mount Albert.

MARISTS AND DEVONPORT DRAW.

The game between Marist Old Boys and Devonport produced few outstanding thrills, the result (jelng a draw, 17 all. It was, however, an extremely interesting struggle right to the llnal bell, with victory hanging in the balance at the last moment. For a first game of the season, when the majority of the players arc hardly up to their best form, the pace was remarkably well maintained, giving promise that both sides will shortly improve on a highly meritorious opening display. The fact that each side ran up the respectable total of 17 points, indicates beyond question that t-vr opportunities were lost, though full credit must be given to the goal-kicking ability of Campbell, for Marist. and Smith for Devonport. rv.Uier of these players la a match winner, given decent opportunity, and both showed to advantage on Saturday. " In the early stages Devonport held a slight advantage, the forwards settling down quickly and carrying play to their' opponents' territory. They opened their tally with a penalty goal, but Marist rose to the occasion and quickly secured a slight advantage. Thereafter to the closing stages the game was full-of interest, with the odds slightly in favour of Marist. but they could never secure a sufficiently large surplus of points to place the rssue beyond doubt. The effort made by-the Devonport forwards towards tue end of the game was full of merit, and in securing a draw at the end of a strenuous struggle they demonstrated their claims for consideration in future fixtures.

A notable feature of tlie same was the absence of unnecessary kicking by both sides. Both sets of forwards worked hard and stayed the Journey well. For Marist Keane, Woods and B&rchard were prominent, the try obtained by the lastmentioned being a nippy piece of work. For Devonport Mllloicli, Rogers and Simpson co-operated well. The backs have not yet developed the cohesion that should becoma apparent 'ater in the season, but for an opening effort they did well. I'owell and Smith for Devonport, and Loader and Glover for Marist made some good dashes, and the place kicking on both sides left little to be desired.

MOUNT ALBERT'S GOOD TEAM,

City Rovers_ had more than a measure of hard luck in having to concede a win to Mount Albert United by a live-point margin in a 21-point match, but it must be confessed that the newcomers to the grade played with more consistent cohesion. As a team they held a slight balance of power. The highlight of this very fast and open curtain-raiser was the centre thief-quarter play of Lou Brown. Throughout he was the sheet anchor of the Rovers. Wiberg, who gave a splendid all-round full-back display, was the only other hack to show up, apart from worthy efforts by the new young winger, J. A. Thompson, anil occasionally Johnson at five-eighths. The latter's handling at times was atrocious. Several good opportunities for tries were lost through had passing and mulling, Turpi being one of the worst offenders. Half-back Axeman was outshone by his vis-a-vis Martin, and this was partly due to the fact that Mount Albert were more successful in hooking. Clark and Watene were the best City forwards, the latter also showing up in the loose. McLaughlin was missed from the ranks. Mount Albert took the eye as a more confident teaming unit. J. Scliultz, at five-eighths, is a little too fond of holding to the hall. C. Dunn was in good nick at centre and Morrissey was' reliable at full-back, although it is understood that the ex-Tara-naki player Is a five-eighths. McNeil, who halls from the Otahuhu district, is a new winger of the right calibre. He has weight and spped and takes a lot of stopping. Easily the best forward on the ground was P. Herrintr. who, after paving the way for Mount Albert by scoring two tries, had tli« misfortune to break his collarbone in what should have been his third try. Campbell was a successful hooker. Gunning was another good forward, and the two recruits. Shndbolt and Spiro, were always in the firing line. The team should show a considerable improvement next time out. but the temporary loss of the services of Herring Is serious. However, the club has (■♦rong reserves.

SENIOR RESERVE. Devonport 5, beat Marist 3. City 12, bpat Mount Albert 6. Richmond 7, beat Newton 3. IN THE PROVINCE. TAUPIRI. Taupiri 10. beat Ngaruawaliia 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHUIICH. Hornby 21. boat Linwood S. Ruru 10. beat Brighton 7. Sydenham 0. drew with Waimniri 0.