LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 141, 17 June 1935, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. EIGHTH SERIES OT MATCHES. RICHMOND, SHORE, MT. ALBERT. In dull weather, and before a large crowd at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon, Richmond Rovers, the leaders in the competition, downed Newton Rangers in a match which pulsated with thrills. Two fine packs clashed on the heavy ground, but the power and speed of the maroons in the rear gave them ascendancy. In the curtain-raiser a rearranged Devonport side . conquered Marists, while I out at Onehunga, Mount Albeit beat City Rovers in an attractive match. For the first time this season City reserves met defeat. The results at a glance were:— Richmond 14, beat Newton 6. Devonport 10, beat Marists 8. Mount Albert 27, beat City .Rovers 14. Team positions to'date: — Points. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Richmond ... 7 (i 1 — 120 04 12 Mount Albert 7 4 12 124 lOC. 10' Marists 7 3 2 2 01 97 8 Newton 7 3 a 1 121 90 7 Devonport ... 7 2 4 1 92 90 5 Ponsonby 0 2 4 — 104 122 4 City 7 1 0 — 72 138 2 RICHMOND AT THE FINISH. On a ground which was considerably churned up the principal fixture, between Richmond and Newton, provided amazingly good Rugger that gripped the interest of spectators from bell to bell. The Rangers opened up in most promising style in brilliant movements which only good defence wan calculated to curb. It was this noted ability of the maroons that turned the scales eventually in their favour. They wore down cleverly executed and varied fast movements and when the Rangers' van began to reveal evidence of the tensity of the combat, topped off the effort with sterling power and speed. Cooke, who had been having a heavy task, then showed his highest merits and leadership by searching clearances and by launching moves to which his colleagues responded with effect. Newton had many chances to equalise the tallies in the eiirly part of the game with the aid of goal shots and they lost opportunities for tries through a slight lack of purposeful finish. The snappy tactics they utilised early gave place to bad covering defence later, and there was too much kicking away of possession, won so cleverly by the reds in the set scrums. E. Brimble was the most brilliant live-eighths out, but Young frequently was stopped, so that the centre, Dempsey, was forced to a defensive role. When the ball did go out to the wingers Brady pleased by his forceful running and the team missed him when he was compelled to retire with an injured leg. Ilulme proved a good substitute, but just lacked pace. Franlch was always dnngerous and ills defence was something to inspire. However, it was his slowness off the mark that allowed McNeil to snatch the opening try. The latter did not feature much In the subsequent phases, but the other tiankmnn. Mitchell, shone for his resource. Mincham played a heady game at centre and used his great pace effectively. A great del of credit for Richmond success must go .o Bickerton and Fletcher, the former making many neat openings and handling the ball with certainty. The Newton full-back, Kerr, was safe. At halfback W. Brimble hardly appeared as usual, but was well marked, and Powell, behind the scrum for the maroons, was a trifle slow in getting the boll awoy at times. A good deal of unnecessary petulance was observed among the forwards of both sides. The non-offenders played football. The teams l packed a hefty scrum, from, from which heeling honours were fairly divided until near the end. Johnstone of Newton will go close to rep. honours if he develops a facility for passing the ball to supports instead of running blindly into tackles. Taken all round the match was a splendid one. but Richmond will have to do better if they hope to beat Mount Albert at the week-end, when Newton will trip to AVhangarei. SHORE FORGE TO VICTORY. In winning the early game by 10—S Devonport not only surprised, but confirmed recent reports on their form. Curiously enough, Marist had all the better of hostilities in the first half, as the scores denoted, but when the Shore thirteen was rearranged after the interval, with Seagar at full-back, it made a fine come-back, in which the heavy artillery played no Inconspicuous part. The forwards went into battle as though inspired, and the backs flashed Into effective action when the ball began to trickle from the scrums. Quick and fiery tackling subdued the Old Boys' attack, and once the marlne-siders took the lead they rightly employed attack as the best means of defence against doughty opponents. Tier played gamely as custodian until he collapsed after a nasty knock and was removed In a critical condition. Thereafter it was Seagar who held the fort with distinction. Both wingers were seen to advantage. L. Scott was on his toes and his opportunist tries earned commendation. On the other flank Hall ran powerfully all day, and. when properly served, looks like being one of the outstanding three-quarters in the City. Rhodes and E. Scott were two sturdy five-eighths, without having much penetration against Glover and MeGreal, the latter being the outstanding inside back of the match. lie is just beginning to realise the art of drawing his supports. Powell, who came on as emergency for Devonport, showed dash and eagerness at centre, but was inclined to move out of position and handle erratically. There was nothing much between the respective half-backs. The Marist centre, Furlonger, was reliable, but something was amivs in the rearguard chain, for neither Loader nor Smith got many chances, though they defended resolutely. O'Shannasey maintained his reputation as full-bnck for the greens in the first half, but was too severely tested in the second stanza, when Ithe Shore forwards held sway. To a man they played unflinchingly, Hunt, Milicich and Sowter being demons in the loose. Donald also was tireless, as was Lairrt, who was in the thick of everything. Woods. Bakalich and Glipn were other Marist forwards who showed up. but the pack wilted in the fading stages and so the Shore team converted the earlier draw into a two-point victory, and now will lie keen to avenge their defeat by City Rovers in the first round. MT. ALBERT'S- WINNING WAY. Before a large and appreciative crowd at the Onehunga recreation ground, Mt. Albert prevailed against City Rovers by :t substantial margin, the scores at the call of time being Mt. Albert 27. City 14. As indicated by the figures, . both sides had been busy. and. though that elusive element called luck was in evidence occasionally, neither side could claim a margin in' fortune's smiles. A somewhat apathetic opening did not give much promise of the titanic struggle into which the game was to develop in the closing stages. At half-time the totals were so close that, either side might have won with a shade of luck. This was eliminated by the fact that the Mt. Albert backs came into action and developed scoring abilities that their opponents did not possess. Getting a good share of the ball from the scrums, the Mt. Albert attack was always busy, while City mainly had to rely on opportunities that came in tire loose. Notwithstanding this, City came through with many spectacular movements, and, but for the solid resistance and resource of the Mt. Albert full-back, would have added materially to their score. The game was very fast in the second spell, with Mt. Albert just a little bit on top ' Hassan was the pivot of the.Mt. Albert attack, and he lost no opportunity of sending the backs away. lie was ably supported by Schultz, List and Morrlsse.v. and they combined excellently, using speed and good handling to advantage. The lullbuck for -Mt. Albert, Cranch, played an outstanding game, and, besides saving his side on many occasions, frequently, ran then! •Into a position to score. The forwards were a solid lot, and got the hall well away from the scrums. For City, as usual, L. Brown was in all the good work, his handling and passing being above reproach. The inside backs had much work to do, and did it well, the tackling being a thorn in the side of their opponents Waten,e a goal-kicking was quite good, and his work as three-quarter was very sound. Among the forwards S. Clnrk was again prominent, hut all the pack worked well .and were always about to take part in cither attack or defence. The Mt. Albert pack is a verv fine one, and the team, as a whole, should give a top-notch account of Itself next time in action.

GRADE GAMES. SENIOR RESERVE. Mount Albert 11, beat City (City's first defeat. Richmond 10, beat Newton 0. SENIOR B. Papakura 12, beat Point Chevalier 3. SECOND GRADE. Richmond 16, beat Tuakau 6. Glenora 21, beat .Manukau 3. Ponsonby (2nd) 12, beat Green Lane (senior B) 3. THIRD GRADE. Richmond 12, beat Marlst A 0. Manukau B 41, beat Green Lane 0. Devonport 15, beat Manukau A 8. City 5, drew with Marlst 5. * FOURTH GRADE. City 35, heat Otahuhu 0. Glenora 17, beat Northcote 3. Newton 40, beat Point Chevalier 2. Point Chevalier 4, beat Papakura 3. FIFTH GRADE. Richmond B 11, beat Takapuna 2. Richmond A 11, beat Akaraua 0. Newton 5, beat Ellerslie O. * SIXTH GRADE. City 0, drew with Richmond 0. SEVENTH GRADE. Avondale 3, beat City 0. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. Devonport 14, beat City 0. Northcote 3, beat Green Lane A 2. Otahuhu 6, beat Avondale 0. Marists 37, beat Ellerslie 0. Richmond 49, beat Green Lane B 0. SEVEN-ASIDE. Marists 3, beat Richmond A 0. Green Lane 3, beat Richmond B 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. WHANGAREI. Seniors. —Kensington 8, beat City 3. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. NEW PLYMOUTH. Western Suburbs 0, beat Rahotu 7. Eastern Suburbs 17, beat Inglewood 3. CHRISTCIIURCH. Addington 12, beat Ruru 3. Hornby 8, beat Linwood 5.