LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 201, 26 August 1935, Page 15

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

ROOPE ROOSTER. KNOCK-OUT COMPETITION. RICHMOND BEATS SHORE. It was a day of high scoring at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when the first of the series of games in the knock-out competition for the Koope Rooster were played before a good attendance of spectators. There was plenty of action of the gay and spectacular kind in all four matches at headquarters, and the main encounter ot the day between Richmond and Devonport was fast, open and bright, with the seasiders fully extending the senior champions. The Rovers could not get under way, and actually in the second spell Devonport scored the greater number of points. In the curtain-raker Marist were beaten in the last few minutes of their game with Mount Albert, while in the principal attraction on No. 2 ground City held too many guns for Ponsonby. Otahuhu, the reserve grade champions, were no match for Newton in the early clash on the outer ground. Results were as follows: — Richmond 23, beat Devonport 15. City 28, beat Ponsonby 16. Newton 27, beat Otahuhu 8. Mount Albert 18, beat Marist 15. RICHMOND HARD PRESSED. Revealing their best form of the season, Devonport pleased their supporters by making the senior champions fight all the way for their win by 23 points to U. Richmond were in the ascendancy in the first spcu, but following the change-over they were sorely rattled by the shock tactics employed by the seasiders. In the closing stages the Shore thirteen had a territorial advantage, and, had luck been on their side, they would have pressed the issue closer than an eight points margin. As it was they added 12 points while their opponents managed to increase their half-time score by only S points—the winning margin. It was Devouport's bustling forwards who were largely responsible for the side's line performance. They were tenacious at the business end, and raided with elan. The backs were solid without being brilliant, and were rarely dangerous on the move. Their passing lacked the snap of that of Richmond, but they employed tactics that suited their forwards—kicking deeply for the gap —and tackled resolutely. Had not the seusiders won a large percentage of the scrums Richmond would no doubt have piled up a larger score, but the ball was whipped away all too frequently from the base of the set scrums. The result was that the champions' brilliant chain did not function like the well-oiled machine of old. Nevertheless Richmond teamed better than their opponents, and it was this littie extra understanding between backs and forwards that told in the end. Cooke, at full-back for Richmond, was given more work to do than for many a long day, but he was usually sound, taking the bull cleunly on the full and kicking with good Judgment and direction. lie was made to run for the ball more than usual and on several occasions was unable to cover up before the Shore forwards were upon him. The Inside bucks were not as penetrative as usual, but on the other hand they allowed the opposition to take no liberties with them. Prentice was the best of the insides and gave a sound display on defence. He was always working for openings and made several with bursts on the blind side. The three-quarters saw far too little of the ball to be impressive. Minchum, however, was always equal to the occasion when called upon, showing a line turn of speed. Mitchell, who replaced McNeil on the opposite wing, did not impress greatly, and particularly in the first spell luck of uuderstuudiug with Bickerton and Fletcher and erratic Dandling cost his side points, lie improved as the game progressed, and with a few more gumes should develop into a good scoring inun. Seagar played a heady game as custodian for Shore. He deleuded soundly, and studied his forwards in kicking lor the gap. Hull was the pick of the three-quarter line, but Powell also gave a good account of himself and scored a neat try us the result of fast following through and opportunism. Radomch played solidly in the five-eighths line, while Rhodes, also in this department, was up to the murk on defence. He failed lamentably, however to fool meu like Prentice and Bickcrton, and would have served his side better had he sent the ball along instead of attempting to cut in. Cowan, behind the winning pack, did all that was expected of him, nut his passing lucked the crispness of that of It. Powell, the Richmond half-back. Incidentally the latter pluyed his usual fine game and was usuully ut the business cud of Richmond's scoring movements. There wus not a single drone in either pack, but those who stood out for consistently good work were Hunt, Simpson, Rogers and Souter for Devonport, and C. Satherley, Lawless, Tctley and Itroadhcud for Richmond.

NEWTON'S CANTER WITH OTAHUHU.

Playing in the early game at Carlaw . Park, Otahuhu Rovers, measured against Newton Rangers, soon gave indication that ' they would probably slip into the shadows, • and the end of the match, with the score ! board reading 27 —8 against them, cou- . firmed the idea. Although the losers had their bright moments and generally stoutly defended, neither individually nor collectively could they compare with Newton, who looked as though, with sterner opposition, tiiey would have revealed even more brilliant form as a top rank team. It seems all to the good that these lesser teams, with confident notions of their ability, should have the opportunity, as presented in the Roopo Rooster campaign for all-comers, to learn something of the power and polish that is demanded in first-class club play, and to profit by the lesson or lessons administered. Bet it be understood that the ambitious lads from Otahuhu were far from disgraced. They stood up well to their i heavy task and chased every fleeting chance , to the end, but the odds were against them. • Their positional play was quite good, but ; they sadly lacked tacticul knowledge and something of the understanding and finish i that come from the training, coaching and l experience to which teams of Newton's I calibre are accustomed. Stanaway, at 1 half-back, showed lots of Initiative, but the five-eighths were minus constructiveuess, so . that their supports were generally on the I defensive. Halsey was willing but patchy at centre, and Brady, on the wing, showed 1 resourcefulness. Philips is a likely sort " of full-back. The forwards were more ' impressive. E. Brimble was the star of ' Newton, being brilliant in all stages of ' play, which, for the most part, was open ' and well conceived, with W. Brimble always ' in the picture. Young and Dempsey were > on their toes and Kerr played his best ' game since he came from Northland. The ' forwards all did their part well, Franich • being breakaway for the first half and • changing places with Brady as a winger ■ for the second stanza. CITY ON THE QUI VIVE. Definitely aided by the finesse of Lou • Brown, now striking the form that has ' contributed to his footballing reputation at 1 homo and abroad, City Rovers stepped on • it to win from Ponsonby United 28—16 • In a delightfully fast and keen contest ! that would have brought cheers from the ' crowd had it been staged on the principal ■ ground. As It was, many of the thrilling ■ passing movements were observed to divert • attention from the feature fixture. It was ■ grand football all the way, with Ponsonby • challenging up to within ten minutes of the ■ bell. City's even, solid pack monopolised 1 the ball from the set scrums, but were • somewhat outplayed in the open, to be ' saved by the rear division. Ponsonby, how--1 ever, did not deserve to be beaten by such a wide margin, and It Is safe to suggest 1 that the loss of Roy Bright in the second • spell had a disconcerting effect on the • morale of the side, when Bou Hutt was shifted from the scrum to play on the I wing. In any ease, without detracting from the merit of City's victory, Ponsonby can i be said to have had more than an ounce '■■ of bad luck. Murray started off well as . full-back for Ponsonby, but his defence ; was not too good later. On the other hand, Turei played brightly in City's last . line. Cooney and Hapl, as five-eighths, . linked up well with their three-quarters. i At centre Watene has been seen to better i advantage, and Johnson was only flashy, . considering his earlier Rhowings this season. . Brown was the gem. Wiberg was a sound I half-back. Herring. Dye and Iveson were . good forwards, with Clark and Ragg solid ; in the loose. W. Johnston, as loose for- : ward, capably assisted his backs in the . open. Hnlloran was in line fettle behind the Ponsonby pack, for whom Hutt, Beatherbarrow and Blood were outstanding. Johnson, from Ponsonby Union Club, made his debut, but seemed not quite fit. Collal borating as off-half to Halloran. Stockley spollt enterprising play by selfishness, and I this, to a certain extent, retarded the I | working of the four three-quarters. Riley and Kny were alert centres. Bright was ; doing well when he met with his injury. Tim left winger. Jones, was seen in some ; clever moves that puzzled both Watene and ; Erown, but his defence was under sus'~*cioa in the later stage*.

BAD FEELING SHOWN. Bitter feeling between the Marist Old Boys and Mount Albert senior teams was evidenced in the play on Saturday, when the two teams met in the Roope Rooster I competition on the No. 1 ground at Carlaw Park. An incident late in the second half, when fighting resulted from one scrum movement, ended in the sending off of W. Shadbolt, stalwart and hard-working Mount Albert forward. It spoiled (or, depending on the point of view, added to the excitement of) an interesting, fust and spectacular game. The referee, Mr. P. Rogers, acted promptly in sending Shadbolt off, but this player wus not the only offender, and it should be considered whether or not both teams should not have been disqualified immediately. Feeling of the typo has been exhibited on two occasions now, when Marist and Mount Albert have met, and it should be discouraged by stern measures. Otherwise the play was of a high standard, full of fast movement, hard attack and solid defence. The wearers of the green took the attack from the start, and from a territorial advantage point of view had the better of the game. They were unlucky in a number of ways. In the first few minutes of the game Carroll, their captain and, to a good extent, backbone, had a free-kick at goal that rebounded from the uprights; and later a penalty try was awarded Mount Albert, and converted, for an obstruction which appeared from the stand to have occurred after the ball had crossed the dead-ball line. With a few minutes to go the teams were at 15-all and the deciding try was scored by Herring Just before the whistle. Bat Mount Albert, nevertheless, deserved their victory, at least by the close margin of 18 points to 15. Marist gained ground and held it by fine combined attack and defence, but, too often, good chances were lost by lack of support for the opportunist. Mount Albert worked in company all the way. Hassan was well fed by his forwards and he sent his backs away smartly with good passes. Morrissey was in the forefront of every attack, and his smart footwork, both on the run and In kicking, mado the difference between victory and defeat. Ho was well supported by List and McNeill in the backs and by Gunning, Spiro and Flanagan in the forwards. The Marist forwards played a fine game in the open, and Keane, Rhodes, Laird and Woods were prominent all through. Carroll and Loader tnude some flue runs, but Loader was inclined to do too much on his own.

SENIOR RESERVE. STALLARD CUP. City 27, beat Devonport 7. Richmond 25, beat Newton 0. Ponsonby 18. beat Green Lane 5. GRADE GAMES. SECOND GRADE. Richmond 16, beat Glenora 0. Ponsonby 21, beat Mount Albert 9. THIRD GRADE. City 6, beat Akarana 2. Otahuhn 32, beat Green Lane 0. Richmond 8, beat Marlst 5. FOURTH GRADE. Glenora 6, beat Point Chevalier A 2. Mount Albert 13, beat Point Chevalier B 10. City 22, beat Papakura 9. Richmond beat Otahuhu by default. FIFTH GRADE. Richmond A 2!), beat Richmond B 0. Ellerslle 11, beat Akarana 0. SEVENTH GRADR Richmond 5, beat City 0. SCHOOLBOYS* GAMES. Ellerslle 47, beat Green Lane 0. Green Lane A 19. boat Akarana 3. Richmond 3. drew with Devonport 3. Marlst 15, beat Northcote 11. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HUNTLT. Huntly 12. beat Njjaruawahla 3. Juniors. —Kia Ora 10, beat Huntly 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. cnnisTciiußCH. Addlnston sfl, beat Ruru 11. Sydenham 17. beat Llnwood 3. Brighton 8, drew with Waimairi 8.