LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 153, 1 July 1935, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. KEEN MATCHES IN THE MUD. CITY, MOUNT ALBERT AND RICHMOND. On Saturday Carlaw Park, with the grandstand packed to capacity, was a sea of inud for the third series of matches of the second championships round of the Auckland Rugby League. Richmond Rovers had too much combination and pace for Devonport in a good contest for the conditions, while Mount Albeit showed enough good team form to top off Newton by a narrow margin in the curtain-raiser. No. 2 ground was left to the seagulls, City bringing oft' the surprise of the day by defeating Ponsonby at the Outer Domain, where the ground favoured a bright struggle. The scores were:— Mount Albert 3, beat Newton o. ' Richmond 28, beat Devonport 0. City Rovers 10, beat Ponsonby 8. The ladder positions are: — Points. Ch. P. W. h. T>. V. A. Pts. Richmond 9 7 2 — 1",1 C 9 14 Mount Albert .9 6 ,J 2 132 109 14 Marlsts 8 3 3 2 94 105 8 Newton S 3 4 1 121 90 7 Devonport ... 9 3 5 1 102 183 7 Ponsonby 8 3 5 — 120 133 G City Hovers ..927 — 88 150 4 CITY SURPRISE. The surprise of the day was caused by City, who beat Ponsonby by 10 points to 8 in a keen game on the Outer Domain ground. The match was originally scheduled for the No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park, but the management of the code judiciously decided to transfer it to the Domain. The area was perhaps the driest of any in Auckland, and football of a high order considering the conditions was posslble. There was little between the two teams, but it is doubtful whether City would have carried the day had it not been for the fact that the captains had decided to play half-hourly spells instead of the customary forty minute spells, and the arrangement did not suit the Ponies. In the dying stages Pousonby, who are always great finishers, gave the opposition a torrid time on defence, and were unlucky on several occasions not to ticore. On one occasion, in fact, Leatherbarrow actually got across the line with the ball, and was held up and prevented from touching down. It was a near thing for City, but they weathered the attack and that was the turning point in the game, for the final whistle sounded a few minutes later. There was more merit in both the Ponsonby tries than those gained by the opposition, and the difference between a defeat and a draw for them was a conversion. Perhaps there was a tendency on the part of the suburban team to under-rate their opponents, considering that in the first round they overwhelmed City to the tune of 39 points to 13. In the meantime City have improved, but they still lack the polish of Ponsonby on the move. Ponies started off like winners, but they eased up as the game progressed and did not make their bid for victory until It was too late. Brown was again in good form for City, being dangerous on attack and always at band when solid defence was required. Turei showed plenty of dash on the wing, and his sure kicking was the deciding factor of the match. Johnson and Ford were a hard-working pair of live-eighths, whilr Hira was always working to open up the play behind the pack. Riley and Kay were the most enterprising of the Ponsonby backs, and frequently made line openings. Jones was penetrative at times at centre, while Hright was the pick of the wingers. Murray, at full-back, got through a great deal of hard work, and was usually safe and sure. Ilutt played as extra fiveeighths, and this had a tendency to slow up the attack. While he was grafting in the pack he was one of the best forwards on the ground, and was always up with the play. Leatherbarrow and Moran were the best of the serummagers. Clarke again showed that he is striking his old form, and was always going great guns for City. Dye and McGoe were prominent throughout, and the latter, a reserve grade player, scored a try through opportunism and fast following up. SHORE BEATEN POINTLESSLY. In building on a lirst-rouird win of 10 —0, to beat Devonport 28—0, Richmond Kovers gave a nioet convincing dlsplny—far better than what the score might indicate. The ground, following a fast curtain-raiser, could not have been in worse condition. Though the players splashed, floundered, slid ami slithered, there was much good play between the forwards, and the Richmond rearguard, with Poweil revealing sparkling representative form behind the scrum, was seen in some scintillating scoring moves, especially in the second spell, when MinCham stood out for his speed and anticipation at centre. He made some thrilling runs and served his wingers to the best advantage. McNeil and Mitchell were lit and alert, the former giving further evidence of his flectness. When Bickerton went oil' at an early stage, Tetley took his place, and Robertson came on. Tetley frequently mishandled the greasy ball, but I Fletcher, showing line resource, was equal to the situation. His soundness in the second live-eighths position impresses.: Cooke played with consummate skill as! custodian, completely overshadowing his vis-a-vis, Adams, who though stout-hearted, and willing, was far too slow and unfinished] in his methods. The conditions also beat him. Cooke received his nasal injury the first time in the ga-nie that he was unable to, clear through the Shore packmen charging down to s-mother the kick. The popular A.K. was warmly applaudetl when he returned to the play with a facial patch, but few realised that Ills injury was serious, his nose being badly broken. Seen after the match he did not appear much disturbed about it, and it is hoped the injury! will soon mend, for his form has never, been better in his career than at the present' time. Cowan was a fair half-back for • Devonport. Khoilcs was patchy at five-1 eighths, and E. Scott defended well, but the! Inside work was not constructive. Seagar; showed initiativeness and Hall was far more, dangerous as a three-quarter than L. Scott.' who never settled down to his task, and was frequently out of position. The maroon forwards had charge for most of, the way, and Lawless always loomed where t the ball was—at times, a trifle too soon.! C. and .T. Satliorley also were in the picture. I Simpson, Milicich. Hunt and Donald were, solid Devonport ruckers —of a side which! made towering bids to score, particularly in the second half, but the effort petered! out once their opponents took (he hooking j mastery. The SeasWers will he keen to, avensre their first-round defeat by Newton I on Saturday, when Ponsonby will set a merry pace for Richmond. NEWTON'S NARROW DEFEAT. In some respects the early game, in which Mount Albert beat Newton 3—o, was superior to the mntch given pride of place. | It was a fine contest between two even sets of forwards and a magnificent duel between the iiiside hacks. In the latter phase Mount Albert prevailed, to just the extent indicated by the only try of a grand struggle. Dunn's .judgment in drawing his man and the timing of that high, quick

pass to List, to Schultz, who sped over the line, made the extra man in that lightning-like live-hand chain from the scrum base. More of this constructive, tactical football is required. Newton dominated the second spell with real classy play, but the defence was tough and the luck was eluding the red and whites. Cranch was safe at full-back for the winners, whose rearguard all did their part well. Spiro, Shadbolt, Herring and Gunning contended with -worthy forwards In Johnstone, Kelsall, Xathan and Lunn. Kelsall was the best forward of the match. He appears to be gaining in speed. Slssons, a promoted Newton five-eighth, appears to be a real find. He Handled cleanly and tackled fearlessly. Wingers Brady and Franich played well, but were well marked. Kerr, the full-back, Improves every game, his handling, running and placements being good to observe. Newton have to meet their traditional rivals, Devonport, at the week-end.

GRADE GAMES. SENIOR RESERVE. Richmond 11, beat Devonport 0. Mount Albert 6, beat Newton 0. I'onsonby 2, beat City 0. SENIOR B. Otahuhu 7, beat Papakura 2. SECOND GRADE. Green Lane A beat Otahuhu by default. Richmond beat Glenora by default. THIRD GRADE. City 5 beat Otahuhu 0. Devonport 5, beat Ellerslie 2. FOURTH GRADE. Richmond 14, beat Northcote 0. Point Chevalier B beat Otahuhu. by default. Papakura 17, beat Ponsonby 3. FIFTH GRADE. Papakura 3, drew with Akarana 3. Richmond A beat Mount Albert by Richmond B 3, drew with Ellerslie 3. SIXTH GRADE. Northcote 11, beat Devonport 0. Richmond IC, beat Glenora 2. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. Northcote 18, beat Ellerslie 0. SEVEN-A-SIDE. Avondale Convent 3, beat Richmond B 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. Tauplrl 5, beat Ngaruawahia 2. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. NEW PLYMOUTH. Kahotii 13, drew with West Suburbs 13. CHRISTCHURCH. Addington 13, beat Hornby 8. Ruru 5, drew with Sydenham 5. Linwood 17, beat Brighton 10. CUP PRESENTED. Mr. E. B. Bennett, of Takapuna, on Saturday presented to the Auckland Rugby League a handsome cup to be devoted to the best-equipped schoolboy team, the award of the trophy to be made on a parade of the winning 'team at an important fixture. The donor also is giving a miniature to the successful team for the first two years. QUEENSLAND BEATS N.S.W. BRISBANE, June 30. In a thrilling Rugby League football match yesterday Queensland defeated New South Wales by 22 points to 20.