DEVONPORT'S DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 147, 24 June 1935, Page 14

DEVONPORT'S DAY.

With the ground in places resembling a eowyard more than a football ground, It was surprising that Devonport and City Hovers turned on any bright passing bouts at all when they clashed on the No. 2 area at Carlaw. I'ark. But turn them on they did on occasions, particularly in the first spell, when conditions were not quite so atrocious as they were in the dying stages of the game. Devonport literally scrambled to victory by 10 points to G after a willing game of slip, slide, and splash, but City Hovers might easily have won had luck been with them. All the scoring was done in the first half, and Shore managed' to maintain their advantage. although their defence was sorely tried time anil time again. In the last ten minutes the opposition looked like turning the tide in their favour, but when the line was in sight a player would lose his footing or the ball would slither away in every direction but the right one. As the lame progressed the football became less fiisplrlng, and In the end backs and forwards niike were kicking, following up, and Jtrustlng to luck. If anything, Devonport ... .■»<* a slight advantage territorially, but v was little betv?een the teams on

the day, and had conditions been different City might have repeated their success of the lirst round when they got the better o£ the mon from across the water. Criticism of any player is hardly justified, but once again the match proved that some men are better mudlarks tlinn others. Rhodes was the hardest worker of the Devonport chain and many of his runs were incisive. He was also sound on defence. Hall Impressed for hard running oil the wing and his ability to get over the ground and cover up the mistakes of his supports. Adams, at full-back, emerged with honours thick upon him, although set a particularly difficult task. He always appeared to be on hand when required, never allowed himself to be bustled, and kicked with good direction and judgment. Of City's scoring machine Brown was always the most dangerous, though few chances came his way. He was in characteristic mood when early in the piece he carved the defence to shreds in finishing oft" a passing movement with a 30 yards' dash. Watene was going great guns on I lie wing till an injury to his hand forced him to retire, and he caused Shore supporters many an anxious moment by finding the gap with well-placed short punts.' Johnson, on the opposite wing, made the most of limited opportunities. The inside backs were as solid as could be expected in tlie circumstances, and it was a pity that Ford, an ex-Wairarapn Ranfurly Shield player, should have had such a muddy baptism to the League cod<j. lie was solid if not brilliant on the day, an£ might do better at tlie tliirteen-a-side game under better conditions. The forwards on both sides worked with a will from bell to bell, and certainly covered, themselves with mud if not glory. Simpson, Souter, Milieieli, and Donald were continually in the picture for Shore, while Clarke, Mclaughlin, Johnson, and Herring were the pick of the City bunch.