TWO SURPRISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1936, Page 13

TWO SURPRISES.

LEAGUE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS ECLIPSED. SUCCESS OF MANUKAU. It ; was a day of surprises at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when the Auckland Rugby League's series of matches was continued, for both last season's champions, Richmond, and runners-up, Mount Albert, suffered defeat. In one of the early games Manukau, making their second appearance in the code, triumphed oyer Richmond by 14 points to 8, after leading 12 to nil at half-time, while in the principal attraction of the day, Devonport, by exploiting bustling tactics, eclipsed Mount Albert to the tune of 10 points to 5. The large crowd thi'illed to the failures of the leading teams, for it was an afternoon of thrills, replete with fast, fascinating and fluctuating play. , In the other matches Ponsonby beat City by 21 points to 10, and Marist eclipsed Newton by 11 points to nil. A tragic note was struck when the flags were lowered to half-mast to signify the death' of the organiser of the Manukau senior team, Mr. A. Cowan, who collapsed after seeing his team win.

SHORE'S SUCCESS. While Devonport wero expected fully to extend Mount Albert in view o£ the good early form revealed in their previous matches, few Carlaw !Park patrons believed that they had sufficiently improved to j triumph over Mount Albert, last season's j runners-up in the championship series. | However, they exceeded expectations, and iu winning the keenly-contested game by 10 points to 5, again proved the liugby axiom that a team can only play as well as the opposition will permit it to do. The seasiders played a fast, bustling game, and gave their opponents 110 quarter. They raided with elan, and while the forwards chased the ball unremittingly, the backs did their part nobly by crippling movements of the Mount Albert chain before they developed dangerously, ltarely have the fast-moving Mount Albert backs been reduced to such impotency, and try as they might they could not penetrate the defensive of Shore, except once in the first spell. A grand try by Den Scott, who ran half the length of the Held to score, proved the deciding factor, but it served to spur Mount Albert on to greater efforts. The seasiders had many close calls in the dying stages, but when time was called they had weathered all the dangers and were actually knocking at the door. Every man iu the Devonport team acquitted himself with honours, but the backs, apart from shining on defence, worked as individuals, rather than as a well-oiled machine. Cown, behind the pack, ijlayed a rattling good game, while Rhodes, until he was forced to retire just before the interval, and Crooks, were a pair of hard-working live-eighths who usually got their men and rattled the opposition into making fatal mistakes. Miller, who replaced Khodes, also played soundly, while Jordan, the centre, gave Morrisey little latitude. Hall and Len Scott were a pair of wingers who availed themselves of most of the opportunities that came their way. Scott's try was a gem. Kerr, the custodian, hardly put a foot wrong, Holding well and using good judgment in his placements The forwards worked as a team and were relentless in their tenacity, both on the offensive and defensive. There was not a single drone in the pack, but those who stood out for consistently solid work were Hollows, Milii'ich, E. Scott and Donald. The Mount Albert forwards never let up a moment, but on the day they were beaten by an inspired opposition. Herring, as usual, was in the thick of the hard stuff, while Petersen, Gunning and Constable wero always up with the play, watkins, the scrum half, made galant euorts to give his supports plenty of the ball, and repeatedly sent out crisp passes. L. Schnltz was too well marked to give his customary fine display as an attacking player. He wns nt his best in the first spcll» nut was buslled into errors as tho game progressed He also made the mistake of endeavouring to do too much on his own, instead of sending the ball along to his three-quarters. His side might have got nearer to Shore's total had he elected to give Morrisey several comparatively easy penalty shots at goal, but instead he preferred' to put the ball up and under. It would have been nil right had his tactics worked, but 011 this occasion they did not. Morrlsev was always dangerous in P oss s/j" ston, while Halsey and List did well with limited opportunities. Cranch, fullback. was called on for a lot of defens ve work and usually got through it with credit.

MARIST BEAT NEWTON RANGERS. The early game on No. 1 ground between Marist Old Boys and Newton Rangers, won by the former, 11—0, provided fast and snappy football, but the exciting attraction on the other area divided the attention of the large crowd. Marist won because tliey were able to drive home their thrusts. The Rangers played just as well. and, at times, more brilliantly, but their finishing was faulty in a contest that went at rare pace throughout. The experienced Clarke, after being off the scene last season, worthily replaced Woods as associate for Dan Keane in the Marist pack, which bad the lion's share of the ball from the scrums. Breed and Anderson were prominent, the latter's speed in the open being surprising. Nathan was the outstanding rucker for Newton, ably abetted by Johnston and Ilutt, the last mentioned making some grand openings for hls roar " guard and illustrating the value of hacking up. The star of the match was b. Brimble at five-eighth. Young tuned in capably, but Sissons spoilt a fine centre display by sometimes going too far and thus out of position, or holding the ball too long. Wells, a good wing recruit, looks the goods, and the other flank man, Bright, lias yet to reproduce the form which gained him rep. honours two years ago. Dempsey was rocklike at full-back, and his tackling was superb. Glover was safe enough for Marist as a substitute for Campbell, being well covered by the rising Bakalich at centre, who served Loader and Furlotiger with discretion. Loader's speed and side-stepping gave his opponents trouble. The speed of the reserve grade flve-eightli, Chalmers, was apparent, and lie linked up quite usefully with the imperturbable Haslam. The two half-backs, Aro (Marist) and W. Brimble, were seen in a fifty-fifty duel, with the Newton lad more resourceful in possession. Marist will have their major test at the week-end.

MANUKAU'S TRIUMPH. | In strange contrast was the playing j styles of Manukau and Richmond. New to the League code, and with only a faint knowledge of the intricacies of the rules, Manukau played the only football they knew, and played it so well that to the general astonishment Auckland's champion League team was beaten. Most of the spectators felt sympathy for Manukau in being drawn to meet Richmond on their second appe-arance in the League fold, and the general opinion was that it would be a one-sided sort of a game, a kind of demonstration and object lesson in one to a new pupil. Even when Manukau opened with a seven-point level in as many minutes, and had a clear lead of a dozen points at the interval, it was regarded as an interesting prelude to a Richmond recovery and demonstration of just how the League* game should be played. Rlclimand did pull themselves together, they showed combination and speed, they exploited all the finer points of the game in rapid sequences attack and change of direction. But through it all the Manukau recruits held on valiantly, defending magnificently, and striking back whenever a chance availed. There came a time when the Richmond team penned Manukau on their line, but the defence, although it bent at times, did not break. Excited spectators cheered the men from Manukau all the wav, and they got an ovation when with supreme effort they drove Richmond off the line and held them at midfleld and at bav until the end came. It was a result that 'left the critics somewhat bewildered, Auckland's crack League team defeated by a team in whose ranks were men who had only the most hazy idea of the League rules. They played the old up and under stylo, they bagged both man and ball when it came to tackling, and never-let-up devastating forward rushes proved a form of slow paralysis to their opponents. Hemi was the bright star of the Manukau backs and his superb kicking was the match-winning factor. Trevarthan, a new player from Dunedin, showed promise in a strange environment. Kawe and- Pickrang stood out in the forwards, the latter playing an inspired gacs% On the Richmond side G. Tittleton's exhibition at fullback was excellent, and In the forwards 1 Tetley, C. £ath»rley .-uid Telford stood out.

PONSONBY COMBINE

When two forward divisions prove to be equally matched the issue lies with the backs, and better- combination saw Ponsonby get a clear cut'victory over City in a game that was fast nad bright all the way, with a wealth of incident. L. Brown, the City centre, was the most colourful personality of the match, and his pace and finesse was a big asset to liis side, but the service inside him was of * variable .kind and often poor. In the City intermediate line Tawhai and Rata did some clever solo work, and when they get to know a game that is at present something in the nature of an enigma to them, it is possible that they may become an effective pair. Allen showed outstanding speed on the Ci.ty wing in the few real, .chances that came his way, and Porteous played cleverly at the base of the scrum. The Halloran, Stockley, Riley combination was very much in evidence in the Ponsonby backs with machine-like play and perfect understanding, with Riley in the outer herth showing incisive dash that carried real thrust, to often cut deeply into the City defence. Behind them was Paton, sure-handed in his fielding and. play* iug in a deliberate way a game that was without blemish on the day. In past seasons a lack of in the Ponsonby scrum has been in evidence. To a great extent that trouble has now been remedied. Dons showed up well, but Morgan was even more prominent, and with his weight, pace and handling skill rendered, his side signal service. Leatherbarrow got one runaway try, showing a surprisingly long burst ol sustained speed, which, kept him clear of persistent City' pursuit.

GRADE GAMES. RESERVE GRADE. Marist 48, beat Newton 0. Mount Albert 24, beat Devonport 10. I'onsonby 11, beat City 2. SENIOR B. Otahuhu 5, beat Green Dane 2. SECOND GRADE. Glenora 7, beat Richmond 3. R.V. 13, beat Mount Albert 12. THIRD GRADE. Manukau 0, beat Point Chevalier A 8. Ellerslia U, beat. Devopport 0. Papakura 0, drew with R.V. 0. Richmond 17, beat Marist 3. City 12, b<ttit Newton 3. I'onsonby 5, beat Northcote 0. Mount Albert 24, beat Ponsonby 2. FOURTH GRADE. City 84, beat Point Chevalier 0. Richmond 26, beat Devonport 2. Ellerslio 2, beat Marist 0. Mount Albert 26, beat I'onsonby 2. SIXTH GRADE. Eden 12, beat Panmure 3. Green Lane 3, beat I'apakura 0. SEVENTH GRADE. Northcote 17, beat Point Chevalier 2. Otahuhu 6, beat Marist 5.

SCHOOLBOYS. SENIOR GRADE. Ponsonhy (!. heat Mount Albert 3. Dcvonport 8, beat Richmond 3., INTERMEDIATE GRADE. Otahuhu 11, beat Mnrlst 8. Richmond 25, beat Newton 0. Ellerslie 20, heat Avondale 2. Green Lane 13, beat Mount Albert 3. SEVEN-A-SIDE. Newton 3, beat Otahuhu 0. Ellerslie 3, beat Avondale 0. Richmond 3, beat Mount Albert 0.

GAMES IN THE SOUTH. NAPIER. Clive 35, beat City 5. CHRISTCIIUBCH. Addington 19, beat Llnwood 3. NEW PLYMOUTH. Western Suburbs 20, beat Rahotu 16. Inglewood 17, beat Eastern Suburbs 5.

HULL BEATS WIDNES. ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. LONDON, May 10. In the final of the English Rugby League championship played on Saturday, Hull defeated Widnes by 21 points to 2.