LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 177, 29 July 1935, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. RICHMOND BEATS CITY. GOOD FORM IN THE MUD. The stand was booked out. alid the terrace well filled, when the Rugby League senior competition was continued at Carlaw Park on Saturday. The going was heavy, especially on No. 2 ground, but'the teams showed that they were capable of producing good football despite the mud. The featured gane between Richmond and City opened with botj sides throwing the ball about in attractive stvle, but they had not been going lon,, before the suburban team began to nsseii themselves. For a period C'ty were o\eishadowed by the superior combination ot the opposition, but in die secon 1 spell t .e latter staged a recovery, and kept the score to a 1!) to 6 margin. Wlule tlie> were on their game Richmond rattled on points at a fast rate, that kept the lai*. crowd thrilled. In the cmtam-i aisci Ponsonby kept Mount Albert bus>, an went under by 17 oomts to 11. In the came on the outer ground .Newton ploughed through the mud to beat Marist by 7 points to 5. The positions of the teams are:— Points. Ch..- ]». AV. L. D. 1'- A. X'ts. ... , , 1*» it *» 1 SC ltl Kiclimond ... 1- •> - J r( 19 Mount Albert lJ 8 1 « !'•> j.'. j., Devonport . • I]-; •' % I 52 141 11 ew . to " ~7 4 <; ■} ]2r, 150 10 Marist 3-1 '• - ICO 200 7 ci"" y sO . f..::: I 111202 0 RICHMOND TOO GOOD. If City had maintained the pace with which tliev started tlieir match with Richmond, tlioy would have given the champions a good run for their money, but the game had not been long in wlioi. I hev petered out suddenly. K .! "n struck while the opportunity lasted, an 1 eighteen minutes' play produced thirt ~oit lt s This score they increased to It' it the interval, by which time < ity had only three points '011 the slate. the eliange-over, Cit* improved then tor wards being tenacious on attack and i i team generally defending well. Ihe re-nut was that Richmond were prevented iroui adding to their score, while their opponents put on three additional Points. to make the final score lfl to (5 in ' lie ; l,u "' pions- favour. The first spell was full ot interest and revealed Richmond at "'eir best, both forwards and backs workiin. in unison and handling scientifically. 1 heir backs particularly showed perfect understanding and overshadowed the defence. The particulars stars were Miiichain and MeNwtl. who teamed splendidly in the threequarter line, l'rentice was at the top ot his form at five-eighths, and his incisive running frequently gave Ills side an advantage His defence was always sound. Cooke was safe and sure at full-hack, llnding the gap with well directed kicks, and rarelv being caught out of position. lie paved tlie way for one try when he chimed into a passing bout to run his supports into position. The Kiehmond forwards wer" a hard-working lot. They won the greatest number of serums, and raided with per sistency in the loose, 11. 'letlcy was outstanding. always being up with the piny and readv to make an extra back. Me scored two line'tries, i>ne of which was secured as the result of clever head work. II" fooled the opposition with as neat a dummv as has been sold oil Carlaw Park this season, and then veered infield to catch the defence going the wrong way. C. Satherley was another forward who stood out for consistent play. He was always going great guns, and was usually where j Ihe ball was to be found. Others who caught the eve were Telford and Broadhead. j The city forwards battled gamely throughout the" match, and it was mainly due to their efforts that the seore was kept within reasonable bounds. Johnson was at I lie head of the raiding and was always in ihe thick of the hard stufT. Clarke also was n grafter, while Dye was conspicuous for his tine work in the loose. There were on'y Iwo City hacks to impress—llrown at centre and Ilapi on the wing. Crown was always work-ins for the opening-, and wasusuuilv on hand when danger threatened his Side to effect a clearance. It was no fault of his that Kiehmond rattled on their points, for he usually got his man with taekles that set an example to his support*, nil example which unfortunately they did not emulate, lie'made Ihe first of Citv's tries for Thompson, and seorcd the second himself. Ilapi did all that was expected of him with limited opportunities, and solid low tackling was a feature of his game. Johnson proved a big loss to City when he was injured early in the piece and had |o retire. Me and' Brown were responsible for much of the fireworks that had Kiehmond sorely rattled in the first five minutes nf the clash. MOUNT ALBERT'S THISTLE CUP. By defeating Ponsonby by 17—11. Mount Albert United have the honour of winning Ihe first trophy of the season, the Thistle | flip, for most points in the second round. They registered live wins and a draw and liave to be congratulated upon the success. Kiehmond and Devonport tied for second honours, each having had four wins, .a loss and a draw. Ponsoimy on Saturday looked in the early stages as if likely to Stage another of the several surprises they liave created during the championship, the final for which has worthy contenders. Mount Albert led Ponsonby only 10—S at lie interval, after which the blue; and ;olds revealed their true team ability. Wilson played a heady and sat'e game at fulllaek, and both wingers, Schultz and McSell, showed sparkle whenever opportunity jnoeked. Morrissey was the best of the uside backs and Hassan was smart around Hie scrums, from which lie got a liberal service of the bull, thanks to a sound pack. Spiro not his team into a lot of trouble by offside tendencies. Irvine made a worthy debut. For Ponsonby, ,1. Stockley, who lias been absent nursing an injury for most of the season, gave a sound display at full-back. Kay. .Tones'and Riley were a formidable rearguard trio for Ponsonby. and with adequate support would have thrust home some tine moves. Ilutt gcncralled the side admirably and Leatherbarrow. Rogers, Davis and W. Stockley were other willing forwards. With a couple of good versatile backs and two good forwards, Ponsonby would he a tough proposition for the Roope Rooster, preparations "or which competition are now under way. First clashes for the silver bird trophy will probably take place on August 10. A SCRAPPY GAME. Playing on a ground that was a vcritilile quagmire, it was unreasonable to expect the Newton and Marist Old Boys to provide any thrills, and so it proved, Newton running out winners to the tune ")f 7 to 5. Newton definitely had the better 3f proceedings right through the first spell, and but for the greasy state of tlie hall may have increased their score considernbly, as there was no doubt they had many golden opportunities. Marist appeared to wake up a lot alter the change-over, and played more as a team, and they were, perhaps, a shade unlucky in not pulling the came out of the fire, as tliey went within an ace of winning on at least three occasions In the last few minutes. It was a scrappy game right through, and very few players showed anything like their usual form. Kerr fielded safely as last man for N'ewton, frequently pulling the red and whites out of trouble. Denipsey and E. Brimble worked well together, and handled the greasy ball in great style. W. Brimble Jisplayed keen anticipation behind the scrum, while Johnston, Nathan and Kelsall worked hard throughout. Glover was a big thorn for the Newton side as full-back for Marist, and gave an outstanding display. Loader was the better if the two wings, and was responsible for some dashing runs down the line. Carroll, a new Rug-by recruit from Hamilton, impressed, while Keane and Bailey were the best of the vanguard. SOUTH AUCKLAND V. AUCKLAND. Messrs. S. J. Wilson. I. Kasoof and J. VBrien, selectors for the South Auckland >ague. announce the following team to ! day Auckland at Carlaw Park on August Full-back, T. Shaw (Taupiri) ; threeinarters. G. Tittleton (Taupiri), W. Tittle- | on (Taupiri), R. McGreal (Ngaruawahia): ive-eigliths, T. I'awson (Taupiri), R. Garrv I (Taupiri): half-back, K. Peckham I f Hun liy I : forwards, T. Tiinms (Huntlv). r. Flemmlng (Pukemiro), 1". Hilton (Tau- ' liri), W. Ilogan (Ngaruawahia). H. Mason I Ngaruawaliia),- P. Fox (Pukemiro). I leserves •-back, D. Pitt (Pukemiro): for- I J. I "Oricn J'Hußilj;),. v *

GRADE GAMES. SENIOR B. Papakura S, beat Point Chevalier 0. Green Lane 11, beat Waiuku 1. SECOND GRADE. Glcnora C, beat Manukau 0. THIRD GRADE. I'onsonby 11, drew with City 11. Otnhuhu 3, beat Manukau 0. FOURTH GRADE. * Citv 20. beat Point Chevalier 2. Richmond 7, beat Ponsonby 2. l'apakura G, drew with Newton C. FIFTH GRADE. Richmond A 3. drew with Ellersiie 3. SIXTH GRADE. Northcote 8, beat Glen Ora 0. Richmond 6, beat Devonport 2. SEVENTH GRADE. Richmond 17, beat City 0. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. Avondalc G. beat Green Lane B 3. SEVEN-A* SIDE. Marist 3, beat Avondalc 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. WHANGAREI. Senior.—Citv 14. beat Hikurangi Colts 0 ; Hikurangi United 9. beat Kensington 5. Junior.—Oncrahi beat Hikurangi by default. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. / WELLINGTON. Central 18, beat Itandwick 16. Petone 5. beat St. George 3. CHKISTCIIURCII. Waimairi 13, beat Linwood 7. Hornby 21, beat Sydenham 7. New Brighton 11, beat Kuru 10.