LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 129, 3 June 1935, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

■■■■— ■ ... i _ NEWTON SHATTER MARISTS. BRILLIANT FORM BY WINNERS CITY HOVERS RATTLE RICHMOND. Playing with speed and combination, Newton Rangers dominated the main game at Carlaw Park before a large crowd on Saturday afternoon and won by a handsome margin. The winners gave a delightful display throughout. In the early match Mount Albeit proved greater opportunists than Ponsonby, while across the way City Rovers thrilled by holding a 6—2 lead over Richmond until within five minutes of the end, when the maroons 4 saved themselves in a breath-taking finale. Results of top grade matches at a glance were:— Newton 27, beat Marist Old Boys 5. Richmond 12, beat City Rovers 6. Mount Albert 23, beat Ponsonby 13. Ladder Positions. With Richmond to take the bye next Saturday, the championship ladder posi-

NEWTON'S HIGH QUALITY.

Newton Rangers reached the heights in their remarkably fine team display to beat Marists by 27—5, and the margin does no more than properly reflect the superiority of the winners. It was a great surprise and disappointment that the thirteen which the previous week rose in grand stylo to whack the ladder leaders should go down with a Hop. But such is football, the psychology of which reveals that teams have their duller days the same as the individual. It was so on Saturday with Marists, who had a certain amount of bad luck in the bargain. Against that, Newton were in sparkling form, a hint of which was given in this column a week ago. On Saturday they would have defeated any team in the competition, such was their brilliance and confidence. Theirs was an exhibition of tactical moves, translated into skilled handling, perfect supporting methods with the speed full on. It was a revelation and a great credit to the coach as well as to the team. Working like a little master behind the scrum, W. Brimble, manoeuvring with effective equanimity, supported by his brother, E. Brimble, constituted the mainspring of attack. They are the ideal combination, electric in action, thrustful, fast, and enterprising, as well as doughty defenders. Young was also in ihe limelight, but a number of pretty bouts misfired through his misjudgment in going too far. Nevertheless, he played creditably and capped his part with two wellwon tries. A feature was the purposeful and clever centre pivotal art of Dempsey, who kept his wingers busy. Brady and Franlch responded satisfactorily against worthy defenders in Loader and Smith. Franich will make a strong bid for higher honours. The'other ex-North Aucklander, Kerr, revealed a vast improvement of form. He fielded perfectly and kicked with accuracy to overshadow his vis-a-vls, Glover, who was noticeably strange to the position, but defended well. However, he lncked pace. Marists ' sadly missed their regular full-back, Campbell, who was unavailable as the result of a dental overhaul during the week. With Quirke hooking consistently, Marist backs were a minus quantity. When they did get the ball the insides were unable to penetrate much, and the passing was crossfield, players receiving flat-footed. Furlonger at centre showed speed now and again, but Chalmers (who received a nasty knock near the end) and McGreal were largely bottled up. Connolly was a bit sluggish behind the scrum. Marists were unfortunate to lose Laird early in, the second half. He, Koane t and Bakalich bore the brunt of attack, and the services of Carter would have made a difference. To a man the Rangers' pack, minus Kclsall, who was absent owing to the passing of his father, played with verve, if anything, Johnstone, Nathan, and Limn being foremost. The forwards handled well In the loose. Now that City Rovers have signalled return to form, Newton will be further tested by their traditional rivals In the last series of the first round. RISE OF MOUNT ALBERT. In defeating Ponsonby United by 23—13, Mount Albert proved themselves a more resourceful team on the day, chiefly through their forward strength. The losers played the better type of football, and undoubtedly, if not in direct running for the championship, will have a big say ns to the ultimate disposal of the honours. On the other hand, Mount Albert look like being likely to take a lot of beating through now being in their stride. To take the iirst spell honours on Saturday by 13—2, the new seniors profited by the alertness of Dunn at centre, who studied the opposition long-pass system.- • The losers squared up in the second stanza, registering 11 points to' 10, but Mount Albert by then had the game well in hand. It was n» fast but patchy game, not lacking in colourful glimpses. Mount Albert forwards showed up, with Spiro outstanding for his dash and determination. Gunning, Shadbolt, and Flannagan were also energetic. Herring, making a reappearance after his shoulder injury, played cautiously as breakaway. The packs clashed willingly, and there were fiery moments when the referee imparted warnings. In all-round play, Lou Hutt was the best player on the ground, but was not adequately supported. Ponsonby could do with another forward or two. Hogg won a fair share of the scrums, and, despite the good work of Halloran and Riley as off-half, erratic handling and defects in positional play lost advantages. Murray, the King Country Union player, was good for a novice, but the vanguard went better when Bright and Kay were associated at centre and the newcomer was on the wing. Riley's solo try after a run for three-quarters the length of the Held stamped his worth. Holland was nervy on the flank, and Jones, at fullback, was sometimes unsteady, but is coming to his form. Morrissey was a fine custodian for Mount Albert, and is a class gonl-kiekor. Dunn was the best back. Renter, a reserve winger, went well in his iirst showing, though play did not go mijph his way. The other flank man, McNeil, has all the makings ef a star, but ..needs more coaching. Foiva five-eighth. Hassan kicked far too much. J. Sehultz is an impressive colt. Martin is an energetic half, but was too much on the ground—caught in possession. The team will have to be at its best to confront Marists on Saturday. CITY SHOCK RICHMOND. One of the biggest surprises of the day was the fine perfo-mance of City Rovers ngafnst Richmond Rovers, whose forwards came to the rescue to carry off the lend by 12-M5, after City had had a o—2 margin at half-time and had maintained it to within sis minutes of the end. Unusual for No. 2 ground was to see a large muster of supporters there, and they cheered lustily almost throughout a game that was played at amazing speed. City's inside backs co operated closely with their forwards and adopted smothering tactics, supplemented by ranging kicks, fast following up and smart passing thrusts at crucial moments. It is safe to pay that A. E. f'ooke has never been called upon to do such a tremendous amount of fast running and saving ns he did on this occasion, rnd he acquitted himself creditably under the sternest pressure. The City rearguard was the best it has presented this season, rnd pivoting on Lou Brown was always dangerous. Turpi showed up for his pace on the wing and was unlucky to be once li'nten for n trv owing to the bounce of the ball. Watrne, Johnson and Wieners also were prominent. For R'chmord Biek-ertf-n was clever a*- five-eighths, but the lack ''ne was hTd'v seen to advantage rnd Mitchell and Couppr on the flanks consequently suffered. Tetley ns breakaway was in groat form, as wP r e C. Ratherley. BroAcllicn-l and Telford. Dye, Herring and Mc T aughlin were the pick of City's rearguard. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Addington 18, beat Hornby 2. New Brighton i>, beat Waimairi 3. Liuwood 17, beat Kuril 7.

-GRADE GAMES. SENIOR RESERVE. Marist 16, beat Newton 0. Ponsonby 5, beat Mount Albert 2. SECONO GRADE B. Papakura 2, beat Point Chevalier 0. SECOND GRADE. ' Ponsonby 8, beat Manukau 0. Mount Albert 7, drew with R.V. 7. THIRD GRADE. Marist B 7, beat Manukau A 6. Otahuhu 35, beat Devonport 3. City 11, beat Ellerslie 8. Richmond 17, beat Akarana 2. FOURTH GRADE. Newton 13, beat Ponsonby 0. Glenora 44, beat Point Chevalier 0. Point Chevalier 29, beat Otahuhu 10. City 5, beat Richmond 0. FIFTH GRADE. Richmond A 8, beat Newton 2. • Papakura 11, beat Northcote 5. Ellerslie 10, beat Papakura 0. Akarana 9, beat Mount Albert 0. SIXTH GRADE. Point Chevalier 0 drew with Devonport 0. Glenora 3, drew with City 3. Richmond 20. beat Northcote 0. SEVENTH GRADE. Richmond 7, beat City 3. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. Richmond 13, beat Marist 5. Northcote 0, beat Otahuhu 0. Akarana 18. beat Avondale Convent 0. Devonport 32, beat Avondale 0. SEVEN-ASIDE. Akarana 0, beat Otahuhu 0. Avondale 3, heat Avondale Convent 0. Green .Lane 3, beat Richmond B 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. WHANGAREI. City 11, beat Hikurangi 3. Takahawai 27, beat Kensington 0. Junior.—Kamo won by default from Onerabi; Portland 21 beat Hikurangi 3. HUNTLY. Ngaruawahla 18, beat Huntly 6. Third Grade.—Hamilton Reps. 6, beat Taupiri 0. Fourth Grade.—High School 6, beat Primary School 0.

tions are: — Points. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Richmond 6 5 1 — 100 58 10 Marist 5 3 1 1 72 7G 7 Mount Albert .5311 80 81 7 Newton 5 2 2 1 100 77 5 Ponsonby 5 2 3 — 80 92 4 City 5 1 4 — 53 06 2 Pcvonport .... 5 — 4 1 52 77 1 How the teams stand :— Pts. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Richmond 0 5 1 — 100 5S 10 Marist 5 3 1 1 09 73 7 Mt. Albert 5 3 1 1 SO 81 7 Newton 5 2 2 1 100 77 5 1'onsonby .... 5 2 3 — 83 89 4 . City 5 1 4 — 50 99 2 Devonport ... 5 — 4 1 55 SO 1