LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 219, 16 September 1935, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS.

RICHMOND AVENGE DEFEAT.

PHELAN SHIELD SURPRISE

As though to prove that their narrow loss in the Roope Rooster pursuit was not their true form, Richmond Rovers, the premiership winners, produced splendid form on Saturday to defeat Newton Rangers for the right of the champion of champions' title and the Stormont Memorial Shield. The game rose to attractive heights in the first half, but lost its glamour towards the end. The surprise of the day was Ponsonby's victory over Mount Albert for the Phelan Shield, while across the way Ponsonby thirds clinched the knock-out and their reserve grade team bowed to Marists in the Stallard Cup semi-final. The afternoon's programme entertained another large crowd.

The Australian actress, Nellie Bramley, kicked off for the main game after shaking hands with the captains, Quirke (Newton) and Prentice (Richmond), who carried her back to the sideline, where she was presented with a bouquet of baronia tied with Newton colours.

Flags at the Park were at half-mast, and officials wore armbands as a tribute of respect in connection with the death of Mr. A. ("Sandy") Freeman, an old Auckland official and life member of the Auckland Referees' Association.

RICHMOND'S SECOND TROPHY. Richmond's triumph by 26—15 over Newton is a fair criterion of the strength of the teams on the day, but it must be confessed that the Bangers did not have much of the luck. The champion of champions crown for the Stormont Memorial, was won in 1927 by Newton and last year by Richmond, who are to be congratulated on their consistency throughout the season. Their teaming on Saturday was a vast improvement on their previous week s display and, although there were a few weak spots, particularly in the last line, they strove valiantly and deserved their success. Mincham, playing the ideal centre technique, going off the mark like a bullet, sighting the gaps in a flash and feeding his wingers well, impressed, but the star of the match was wing three-quarter Mitchell, who scored three tries by determined and confident finish. He was too resourceful for his vis-a-vis, Pope, and Clemm, who was taken out of the pack to strengthen the defence line. The latter was missed from the forwards. McNeil, on the other Richmond flank, was patchy. Prentice and Satherly, in the five-eighths positions, were shaded in the early stages when Newton opened with elan, winning the set scrums and by possessive cohesion were making the play. Later, however, the pair, with Powell varying his methods behind the pack, were seen to better advantage. Franich and Young, their opposltes, got into the habit of kicking too much. The Newton forwards who had played so magnificently together were being run off their feet. To make matters worse after the interval, when the maroons led 11 —9, Brimble, the Newton half, who had revealed a continuation of the form that has brought him to the front, was lame and virtually a passenger, although he carried on gallantly. Hickey, who has been playing Union Rugby in the King Country, was a very unsatisfactory link as pivot of the three-quarter line and Brady, who had been displaying fine dash on the wing, went to centre. This and other changes seemed to upset the combination and even the forwards lost their grip. Yet there were some spectacular moves and incidents. Kerr played steadily as custodian and has vastly improved since he joined up. Quirke was the best Newton forward and must be considered for higher honours on his recent performances as hooker. Mlddleton and I-unn were the best of the others. Lawless, Telford and Broadhond were prominent for Richmond. Motcalf was doing well until injured. Ills place was taken by Leo Davis, whoso advent, it is interesting to noto, marks the entry into the top grade of the first of the original crop of school boys who have passed through all the grades. He celebrated the advent by scoring the snap try which put his team ahead for the llrst time in the match. The game had its fiery moments, but wae reph'to with pop and pace and a credit to the teams engaged.

PONSONBY COME TO LIGHT. Perhaps the greatest surprise of the day was Ponsonby's signal victory by 11-—S in the filial for the Phelan Shield. It proved to be a curtain-raiser of considerable inorit, working up to a climax with Ponsonby in control. It was genera.ly thought that the championship runners-up Mouut Albert, who have had a number of useful player acquisitions, would nave no difficulty against the western suburbs side, which was fielding several reserves. The result just goes to show that experiment, when necessary, may constitute profitable enterprise. Mount Albert pluyed well, but there was something wrong with their covering defence and the pack has been seen in many better exhibitions Irvine, Spiro and Gunning were fair, put the opposing sextet infused much more life into their play. In this respect the work of Johnson, who recently came over lrom the Ponsonby Union Club, was splendid. lie was the best forward on the field and had valuable support from the auggety Davis. Johnson scored two tries that not only stamp him as above the ordinary, but that he is striking the required form tor fast play. Ponsonby won because they retained possession and handled the ball bettor than Mount Albert, whose tendency to kick was fatal. J. Schultz, at centre, made some clever openings and wasted chances by being too often caught with the ball, in McNeil and Carter —the latter improving on his first appearance—Scliultz had capable supports, but they got lew chances To some extent this selfishness also marked the play of Payne, the Ponsonby second five-eighth, who is the makings of a good player. McAdnni and Spratt combined cleverly at times as insides for Mount Albert, and Martin, at halfback, Showed dash, but the collaboration work and assertivenes-s of Ponsonby generally told a tale in the end. Hallo ran rose to the occasion when he came from centre to his usual place behind the serums and Deason was a fairly good winger. Holland was erratic and Murray, at full-back, was not at his best. Ponsonby are the second holders of the Phehin Shield, Newton having won it last season. The reserve grade Ponsonby team failed in the Stallard Cup semi-final, but the club has reason to rejoice that its thirds won the knock-out final and gave a magnificent display to boot. All things considered, the blue and blacks seem to have emerged creditably from the shadows before the season has ended.

TWO EXCITING FINALS.

JUNIORS LOOK PROMISING

Judged on the form shown in the third grade knock-out final between Ponsonby and Otahuhu on the No. 2 ground on Saturday the outlook for League football in Auckland is very promising. On both sides in that game there were several outstanding young players and all were of a good standard. As they develop physically and in experience they should do much to take the "ame to a higher level of performance. Particularly impressive was T. Blockley, the Otahuhu winger. Well developed and with an amazing turn of speed, he used his head to good purpose, and he was the arrowhead of many a thrusting move. J, MacManus, playing at first five-eighths, was anottier impressive player. In the opening stages he led the backs again and again on dashing movements that put Ponsonby on the defensive, and he was responsible for much of the early success of the Otahuhu team. It was unfortunate that he had to go off in the second spell owing to injury. Until within a few minutes of the end of the match there was no question as to which was the better team. Otahuhu put the whole of their strength into the came from the start and they made the pace very fast indeed. They kept on the pressure until well on in the second half, when unaccountably they suddenly crumpled before a strong Ponsonby attack which brought two tries and victory to Ponsonby by 16 points to 10. Ponsonby, while not so venturesome or dashing as the losers, deserve oredit for a good defence, and the reserve power they held for those attacks, when defeat was facing them. Bowsher and Ryan gave good displays in the back ranks, and Reott, Paull and Furlonger in the forwards.

Marist's Victory. Not so thrilling, but nevertheless a game of good standard was the match between Marist and Ponsonby in the reserve grade final, won by Marist in good fashion. It was a game between well matched teams, but Marist threw the ball about in better ?tyle and had the stronger defence. On the whole it wag the weakness of the Ponsonby defence that was mainly responsible for allowing the greens to break through as often as they did, rather than the actual strength o£ the Marist team. Until an injury forced bis retirement Rush did yeo-

man service behind the Ponsonby pack and he sent his men away in sweeping rushes that had the Mariet line constantly in peril. Later, however, the focal point of the Ponsonby back attack was at the centre three-quarter, Pivott, who showed splendid form and made many dashing forays that were only held up by the soundness o£ the Marist tackling. The forwards were on equal terms, but the Marist back line had superiority in the partnership of Corbett, Grotte and Munce. Corbett showed a good return to his old form and was prominent all through the piece, and, Grotte also did his work well. It was Munce, however, who was responsible for a large proportion of- Marist's score. His speed, tricky running and cool head made the most of any opening that presented itself. ft was a pity that poor defensive play spoiled what was otherwise an impressive showing on his part. In the forwards Strahan, Rogers and Mlskell showed many times in good attacking movements.

GRADE GAMES. THIRD GRADE. Ellerslie 18, beat Ngaruawahia 12. KNOCK-OUT. (Final.) Ponsonhy 16, beat Otahuhu 10. FOURTH GRADE. Point Chevalier B 15, beat Point Chevalier A 6. FIFTH GRADE. Ellerslio 14, beat Ngaruawahia 5. SCHOOLBOYS , GAMES. Devonport 11, heat Otahuhu 2. Green Lane A 23, beat Marist 3. ■ Richmond 40, beat Nortbcote !i. Ellerslie 36, beat Green Lane 3. SEVEN A SIDE. - Marist 6, beat Otahuhu 0. EASTERN SUBURBS WIN. (Received 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Eastern Suburbs, by defeating South Sydney by 19 points to 3 on Saturday, won its first League premiership since 1023.