LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 123, 27 May 1935, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

RICHMOND'S FIRST DEFEAT.

TOWERING GAME BY MARISTS

WINS TO MOUNT ALBERT AND PONSONBY.

C'arlaw Park rang with the cheers of mother large crowd 011 Saturday when in one of the finest club contests seen toi some years, Marist Old Bays narrowly effected the first defeat of last years champions, Richmond Rovers. It was a great spectacular clash, with the A lav is l pack dominating the scrums and raiding ruthlessly in the open, supported by young and virile backs. Richmond were worthy losers. Xewton also went down by _a mere two points 16 Ponsonby, and in the first trans-harbour fixture Mount Alw'' l conquered the marine-sideis in a blight exposition. . All grade teams and officials wore armbands as a tribute of respect to the late Mr. James Carlaw. The results of the senior games at a glance were: — Marist Old Boys 10, beat Richmond 8. Ponsonbv IS, beat Newton Rangers 16. Mount Albert United 15, 'beat Devonport 11. Positions of teams: — Goals (h. p. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Richmond .... 5 4 1 — pi 5 Marist 1 • — 1 !. .1'! ' Mount Albert . 4 - 1 1 J" •> Ponsonby J - - i:: Newton •} 1 - 1 '= riifv 4 1 k' - Devonport ... 5 — 4 1 55 80

MARISTS' great victory. Enthusiasm knew no bounds wlicn tlie end of the game came with Marists makin" ft striking move against Kielimond Horn midway along the left Hank and Lo'ider being downed in a brave intteld dash twelve vards out. It crowned a game that was remarkable tor its pace, power and incident from end to end. On llie run of play, Marists, who won by 10—8, would have boon unlucky to liavc iofct the laurels. The contest sent the record attendance or (lie season home filled with the story of the spectacle and intensity of a game that never slackened in its provision of skilled moves and counter moves and those mistakes at crucial moments 'that lend to thrills. In such a gruelling duel hard knocks were received, but the form of the contestants was such that hold-lips were few and of minor nature. Marists went into their stride wit!) confidence from Hie outset and a feature was the magnificent work of their vanguard. Willi weight and balance, O'Kane monopolised the hooking from the set serums, and when not securing the ball bv that route, the forwards invariably wheeled and drove their opponents back, quickly breaking to carry 011 dribbling. Woods and Koane, with ISakalich in the oiling or off to tackle, were like hounds on the scent ami attempts by Richmond to find openings for buck operalions were sinot liered. Except at one stage in the second half, the Marst pack did not let up. Laird was outstanding, and others to show up were Carter and Woods. Itakalich made up for a hesitancy in the first spell by heady work later in the loose. Marists' covering defence, with Campbell always on hand in the last line, was superb. Chalmers played a great game at half-back, and (Hover also was well in the picture, his tackling being Impressive. Met; real, another promising colt with football intelligence, came often into the light and brought off some telling moves In conjunction with Furlonger, who invariably had the opposing wingers guessing. Smith, on the right flank, was not at Ills best, but Loader was always dangerous. Kxcept in patches, the Richmond three-quarters were bodied up, though Mincham's speed and elusiveness often saved the situation. Conper, with chances, proved himself a try-scorer. Watching ills inside backs so effectively curbed, Cooke, who had held the fort well as full-back, in the later stages changed places with Fletcher and momentarily made a difference to the attack, but the Marlst for wards were soon forcing the issue again and the maroons were powerless. C. Sntherley. Lawless (the latter being Inclined to (day a good deal out of position off the scrums) and Rrondhead. made herculean efforts to cope with a sextet not to be denied, and the fast raiding passing bouts hitherto an attacking asset of the Kielimond pack, were nipped In the bud by crashing tackles, which were likewise a feature of th" Richmond backs' work. They indeed, had a heavy day and the maroon Hot was only lowered after a most gallant team resistance. Marists will iicvcrtli"lcKK need to l>:» at their best to take the honours from Newton at th? weekend. PONSONBY SURPRISE NEWTON. N'ofhing could have put a crowd in happier mood than the curtain-raiser event at Carlaw I'ark in which I'onsonby, for once sharing a modicum of good fortune, ran out winners with a margin of two points ever Newton in a game which yielded 34 points. It was a clean and fast feast of concerted play by two teams now reaching their best form. The Rangers early took the ascendancy with their rearguard constantly in action peppering the defence, j but gradually I'onsonby warmed up, and took th" lead by a point, only to lack (hat margin at the interval with the scores 11—in. In spite of brilliant play by the Rangers, I'onsonby*s intermediate line of hicks proved themselves greater opportunists, and. towards the end, the I'onsonby forwards sealed the issue to give them their second victory of the season and considerable satisfaction. Newton introduced their latest recruit, (!. Kerr, the North Auckland and North Island Cnion full-back. For a newcomer strange to the technique of the code, he performed quite well in place of Dempsey. who in his new role at centre, gave a capital allround display. Though Young performed satisfactorily enough at second five-eighths, and was always up with the play, h" was at fault in passing judgment, with the result that fhe hall did not always go "moodily out fo the wingers, both of whom, Brady and Franich. showed to advantage. Franich was brilliant at times and his work on defence could not be surpassed. K. and W. Rriinhle were clever and thrustful close to fhe scrums, from which Newton had a generous supply of the ball. Johnson, I,uiin. Nathan and Clemni were fine forwards, while for I'onsonby, Ilutt. Rogers and Lcatherharrow were prominent. The blue and black pack played with more cohesion than usual, anil, though matched In fli" loose, tackled well and showed ability to recover and feed their rearguard. Payne was not as steady at fullback as in his earlier appearances, but was well covered by the two centres. Kav and Bright. The latter is an immensely Improved player upon his representative* form of two vears a'to. .Tones was in better buckle, but Holland on (lie other wing rather disappointed. Riley nla.ved a

bra in v came at off-half and Hnlloran was unselfish behind the serums. Ponsonby are now due to meet Mount Albert, who have two wins and a draw to (heir credit. MOUNT ALBERT V. DEVONPORT. The marine suburb has rarely seen a more exciting game than that which was played at Devonport on Saturday between Pevonport and Mount Albert, won by the latter by 15 to 11. It must have been disturbing to the local supporters of the code to see Mount Albert reveal such a distinct supremacy in the first stages of the game. Devastating forward rushes, combined with clever and fast back play served to keep the visiting team definitely on the attack and establish a 15 points lead. It was a formidable task that was set the Devonport players in the second half, but they rose to the occasion in ti»c style and maintained the upper hand practically throughout the term. That rliey failed to succeed in equalising, or bettering, the points established by their opponents in the earlier stages is a tribute to the defence of the Mount Albert players. Towards the end of the game Hassan had to retire through injury, and Ibis fact no doubt seriously weakened Mount Albert both in attack and defence. Still, before that unfortunate occurrence the local players were consistently on the attack though Hassan was always a thorn in their side. It was a very tine game to watch, and the second spell provided ample thrills to compensate for the somewhat duller periods of give and take play that punctuated the earlier stages of the mime. Mount Albert possesses a line set of forwards, and they played with great dash and determination throughout. This was more apparent in the first spell than subsequently, as apart from securing the ball in the scrums the local vanguard was somewhat lacking in aggressiveness. A quite ditTeront fcene was enacted in tiie second spell, when the Shore forwards showed form quite, equal to that of llieir opponents, and the backs several times just failed to penetrate the strong defence opposed to them. On the run of tlie play honours were about even, though Devonport was putting in a very strong finishing effort. For the winners Morrissey gave a

sound exhibition at full-back, and was in fine place-kicking form. McNeil at wing three-quarter was always dangerous, and of the inside backs Hassan showed to advantage. In a great forward combination Shadbolt, Allen and Gunning were always prominent. For Devonpqrt the three-quarter line was excellent, and Cowan did great work | behind the pack. The forwards rose to the, occasion in the second half, Hunt, Millcicn and Rogers being frequently prominent, |. though it may be invidious to particularise, when all were up to a high standard. The Devonport pack also had a shade the better of the hooking. It was a fine game. grade games. SENIOR RESERVE. Mount Albert 0, beat Devonport 2. I'onsonby 11, beat Newton 10. SENIOR B. Otahuliu 20, beat I't. Chevalier ~. SECOND GRADE. R.V. 30, boat I'apakura 10. _ Richmond 22, beat Manukau •>. Glenora 11, beat Mt. Albert 3. THIRD GRADE. Manukau If 10, beat Richmond 5. Otahuliu -13, beat Akarana B 0. Citv 6, beat Manukau A o. I'onsonby 10, beat Marist 7. Ellerslie 8, beat Devonport 0. Akarana A 9, beat Northcote A 0. FOURTH GRADE. Newton 9. beat Northcote 2 Mount Albert 9. beat I't. Chevalier L> 0. Richmond 9, beat Otahuliu 0. FIFTH GRADE. Richmond A 33, heat Richmond B 0. Newton 8, beat Mt. Albert 0 Devonport S. beat I'apakura 2. Ellerslie 9, beat Akarana 0. SIXTH GRADE. Devonport 11, beat Glenora 3. Richmond 14, beat City 8. Northcote 10, beat I't. Chevalier 3. SEVENTH GRACE. Avondalo 7. beat City j. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. Northcote 9, beat Akarana 3. Richmond 4fi, beat Avondalo 0. Marist -13, beat City 0. SEVEN-A-SIDE. Kielimond A 0, drew with Akarana 0. Green I.ane 0. beat Northcote 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. MANUKAU. Senior ll.—l'apakura -jr», beat Waluku 9. II UNTI.V. Juniors.—lvia Ora 111, beat Iluntly 3. TUAICAU. Culpan Shield.—l'ukekolie 20, beat City 11. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Addington 44. beat Ruru 23. Waimairi 12, drew with I-inwood 12. Brighton 11, beat Sydenham 2. WELLINGTON. Central S. beat I'etone 5. Kandwick 13, beat St. George 5.