LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 171, 22 July 1935, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

MARIST GO UNDER. « t c WIN FOR MOUNT ALBERT. \ \ TOUR MEN ORDERED OFF. t c ~,. c The Rugby League senior competition t was advanced a further stage on Satur- ' day afternoon under good conditions and e before an excellent crowd considering the ( counter-attractions. As a spectacle, the « main game of the day between Mount J Albert and Marist was disappointing for ( the reason that some of the players saw ; fit to make the match a suitable occasion 1 for airing their grievances. The game ( was willing but not brilliant and in the second spell developed into a series of fistic engagements. The result was that the referee was forced to take stern measures and give four players their marching orders. Mount Albert fared the worse and lost three men, but. despite this handicap they not only maintained their advantage but went on to win comfortably by 18 points to 6. City accounted for Newton on No. 2 ground by 10 points to 7, while in the early match of the day Devonport romped home against Ponsonby by 23 points to 5. Richmond had the bye. Positions of the teams: — Points. Ch. P. W. L,. D. P. A. Pts. Richmond ... 11 8 2 1 184 80 17 , Mount Albert 11 7 1 3 l. r .B 123 17 Devonport ... 12 5 S 2 150 154 12 Marist 11 4 5 2 117 149 10 Newton 11 4 6 1 145 136 9 Ponsonby ... 11 3 7 1 146 180 7 City 11 3 8 — 108 186 6 MOUNT ALBERT AGAIN. < A good game between Marist and Mount Albert was marred by some of the players paying more attention to each other than to the ball, and the referee, Air. M. Wetherill, is to be congratulated in first giving Flannagan (Mount Albert) and then in a bunch, Carter (Marist) and Hassan and Herring (Mount Albert) their marching orders. His sternness was not adopted without excellent reason. Earlier in the match he had had occasion to warn certain players, and had endeavoured to keep the game under control by penalising those whose fists he caught flying. Roughness should not be tolerated by the League, and it should impress on offenders that they are expected to play football and not serve up a little football and a surfeit of wrestling and boxing. Variety might appeal to some, but those who thrill to the fast and fascinating passing game would much prefer good clean games with the players using their brain rather than their brawn. The match, which was fought strenu- , ously throughout, ended with Mount Albert the victors to the tune of 18 points to 6. It looked as though with three men short the wearers of the green would be able to pull the game out of the fire, but actually their opponents increased their score from 13 almost immediately after Hassan and Herring retired to the pavilion. The "play was too hard from bell to bell ever to rise to any great heights, and neither side were impressive : on the move. The two men on the field who played the best football were the full-backs, Wilson (Mount Albert) and Campbell (Marist), and this no doubt was ; because they were farthest removed from the seat of the bulk of the disturbances. , Both men gave sound exhibitions of ' defensive play, but if anything Wilson was the better, showing fine appreciation . of positional play, and handling and kicking .well. List was in form at centre for Mount Albert, and frequently showed up for solid running. Dunne was the pick of the five-eighths, and was always looking for the opening. Hassan played his usual good game behind the pack, and he .paved the way for several of his side's tries. The Marist backs were rarely seen to advantage, but the pick of them were Loader, on the wing, and Bakalich, who figured at centre. This pair were constantly in the picture. Furlonger was also in form, and finished off one fine passing movement like a champion. The forwards were a battling lot in more ways than one, and much of the play was confined to them. Herring was outstanding for the winners, and scored two wellmerited tries as a result of being up with the play. His best supports were Spiro, Allen and Shadbolt. Keane was the most prominent of the Marist ruckmen, and the next best were Carter and Laird. PONSONBY OVERSHADOWED. Devonport met less opposition from Ponsonby than most supporters of the code anticipated, when the teams met in the curtain-raiser to the main attraction of the day, and finally they ran out the winners by 23 points to 5. The first spell was fairly evenly contested and at the interval the scasiders were nursing an advantage of only 8 points to nil. Ponsonby was expected not only to reduce this deficit but to turn the game in their favour with their characteristic finishing burst, but rarely at any stage of the piece did they look like winners. They truly can be called the mystery side of the competition, for they are capable of playing above themselves sufficiently to press the champions to a draw, and then within a week or so descend to the depths of mediocrity. Devonport deserved their win, as, on the day, they were more constructive and virile than their opponents in all departments. Hall, Rhodes and Seagar shared the honours so far as the Shore backs wore concerned. Seagal was never bustled at full-back and was never found wanting, while Hall was right on his toes when the ball travelled hi» way on the wing. Rhodes at five-eighths was the Rhodes of old, always being up with the play and tackling big men and small alike with determination and effect. Radonich also did well in the other fiveeighth berth, while Cowan at half got through a wealth of good work with credit. The Ponsonby backs could not get going, ' although Holland worked hard at halfback to open up the play. The fiveeighths, Kay and Jones, were rarely given : any latitude, and Riley, at centre, was more subdued than is his wont. Murray ■ the Ponies' full-back, was given plenty to do and usually emerged with laurels thick upon him. On one occasion, however, he failed to clear from a tight corner, and L Scott dashed in and flew away to score a 'beautiful try in a way that was reminiscent of his play when he was one of the star representative three-quarters several ! seasons back. Devonport's superiority • rested with the backs and the forwards 1 of both sides were well matched, &. bcott was always to the fore for the seasiders, and others who worked with a will were Simpson, Hunt and Donald. Leatierbarrow, Moran, Stockley and Hntt were the ■ hardest grafters for Ponsonby. CITY'S DEFEAT OF NEWTON. 1 In a game that was fast and ent«jj sn : » ing most of the way-real hearty football 1 —city Rovers did well to emerge winners chv in—7 over Newton Rangers, who made s the plav but just lacked the penetrative • ability to finish off and clinch victory or " at least a draw after having an advantage for the major portion of the second " spell As a matter of fact, it was merely s Hip goal-kicking of Turei which gave City Rovers the leeway of points as against tne " balance of power, and their second win in ." the second round. Seeing that the Rangers " hooked the ball well from the majority of 'scrums there was something seriously 'wrong with their rearguard in not being " able to make more use of this decided f advantage. The fault cannot be laid to - Dempsey, who starred at centre three- >' quarter* and, while making fine openings, a also frequentlv covered up inside mistakes. v E Brimble spoilt a lot of fine work by

selfishness, and this had a good deal to do with the had timing of the ball to fhe wingers, of whom Franieh was just fair, while Pope was resourceful, but too prone to kick. Brady would have made a great difference on the day. llapi, for City, was nippy» and Johnson showed up as a fine three-quarter until compelled to go off owing to a knee injury. He was replaced by McLaughlin. Lou Brown at centre was in everything, but had inadequate support. Wiberg played a heady game at five-eighths for City, but Iveson ia second berth failed in handling at times. \V. Brlmble was a consistent half-back for Newton, and always compared favourably with Belsham. Newton's second five-eighth, Schlesinger, did not show the enterprise displayed when formerly tried. There was not much difference between the full-backs, Kerr, if anything, putting more heart into his efforts than Turei. Clemm and Kelsall were the best of the scrum-winning Newton pack in general operations. Herring was the outstanding Hovers packman, with Dye and Johnston shining in the loose. In congratulating the teams on a creditable display, a word is also due to the referee. GRADE GAMES. SENIOR KESBRVB. City 23, heat Newton 5. Marist 10, beat Mount Albert 2. Devonport 12, beat I'onsonby 10. SENIOR B; Otahuhu 7, beat Point Chevalier 3. SECOND GRADE. Mount Albert 10, beat Glenora 6. Richmond 19, beat Manukau 0. THIRD GRADE. Ponsonby 31, beat Northcote 10. Ponsonby wins the section. City 7, beat Marist 5. Richmond 13, beat Akarana 2. FOURTH GRADE. Richmond 14, beat Mount Albert 0. City 13, beat Ponsonby 2. Point Chevalier A 11, beat Point Chevalier 5. Glenora 18, beat Papakura 6. FIFTH GRADE. Akarana 12, beat Newton 7. Richmond A 27, beat Papakura 0. Richmond B 10, beat Mount Albert 3. SEVENTH GRADE. Richmond 58, beat Avondale Convent 0. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. Devonport 62, beat Avondale 0. Otahuhu 6, beat Marist 0. Green Lane A 2, drew with City 2. Northcote 48, beat Green Lane B 0. Richmond 11, beat Avondale 5. SEVEN-ASIDE. Green Lane 3, beat Avondale 0. Marist 3, beat Richmond B 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HUNTLY. Hnntly 13, beat Pukemiro 8. Juniors.—Huntly 28, beat Pukemiro 3. Third Grade.—Ngarnawahia 11, beat Huntly 5. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. WELLINGTON. Richmond Rovers 32, beat Wellington 4. CHRISTCHURCH. Vivian Cup.—Sydenham 12, beat Ruru 11. Trial Game.—B Team 28, beat A Team 27. It is eetimated that there are about : 22,000,000 unemployed in the world today, compared with. 29,000,000 two years ago. The highest number of accidents, fatal and non-fatal, of any industry subject to the Factory Acts occurs in the building trade.