ROOPE ROOSTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 224, 21 September 1936, Page 13

ROOPE ROOSTER.

LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL ANOTHER WIN FOR CITY. TRIUMPH OVER SHORE. The Rugby League season is drawing to a close, and Saturday saw the deciding of the semi-final for the Roope Rooster, the trophy which is so keenly fought for annually in the knock-out competition. Manukau, the championship winners, had the bye, and the main game of the day was provided by the meeting of City and Devonport. After a keenly-contested match honours rested with City. Two games were also played for the Phelan Shield, Marist surprising by accounting for Richmond decisively, and Ponsonby overwhelming Papakura. Results were as follow: — Roope Rooster Semi-Final. City 20, beat Devonport 10. Phelan Shield. Ponsonby 36, beat Papakura 4. Marist 17, beat Richmond 3. CITY TOO GOOD. Although they were not in as fine a mood as on the previous week, when they accounted for last season's champions and runners-up this year, Richmond, the City thirteen played some sound football to get the decision over Devonport by 20 points to 10. The pegging was even in the first spell, half-time arriving with each side having 10 points on the slate. Shortly after the change-over the seasiders had the misfortune to lose Kerr, their full-back, and this proved to be the turning point of the game. City came into their own, and, not only did tliey gain a territorial advantage which they had not enjoyed in the first forty minutes, but they added two converted tries. It is doubtful whether Devonport would have emerged the victors even had they not been compelled to play a man short, as City had been settling down progressively, aud tlieir enterprise amongst the backs was bound to have told its tale sooner or later. City were more constructive than their opponents, who played their usual fast-raiding and bustling gapie, and frequently their backs changed the trend of the play in spectacular and telling fashion. The forwards were well-matched, but the seasiders' sextet has been seen to better advantage. Raymond was the pick of the City serummagers, battling hard in tight and loose, and often combining splendidly with his backs. He" was well supported by Clark and Johnson. Hollows gave a grand display for Devonport, while others who caught the eye for consistently good work were Hunt and E. Scott, the latter playing in the forwards in the first spell only. Dufty was seen in a new role, and played in the City forwards. He was once more a power of strength to his side, adding valuable points with his goal-kicking, picking up oceans of ground with linekicking, and playing smartly from the back of the scrum. He often got out to make an extra back, and actually was in the last City movement which brought a try. Porteous performed soundly behind the City pack, while Rata was thrustful at second five-eighth. Lynch, a newcomer from Matamata, gave promise as a flvceightli, and in scoring a try demonstrated that ho is a dangerous man when the line is in sight. The three-quarter line, Tawhai, Brown and McLaughlin, played up to recent form, while Wiberg at full-back got through a wealth of good work. Cowan, the Shore half, revealed himself as an improved player, and lie made the most of the opportunities that came his way to open up the play. V. Scott played well in the fiveeighth line, while Seagar played a heady game at centre, and defended well at fullback later in the match. Little was seen of L. Scott and Hall, but in possession they revealed the pace and dash which is expected of them. ONE-SIDED MATCH. There was interest in the match between Papakura and Ponsonby for the reason that the former, in their debut game in the sjenior division against Manukau. made an impressive display. Against Ponsonby the suburban team started well, and, playing with vim and dash, held the upper hand in the opening stage, but it was pointless for the reason that, although there was much endeavour, the necessary finish was absent. And at that stage Ponsonby had rarely played worse. There was desultory defence, no plan of attack, and much liapahzard attempt at passing. However, from that point Ponsonby begaa to Improve, and they eventually played In the way that they are capable of doing. Then the score kept mounting, and the game got one-sided, so much so that towards the end it was quite a picnic game for the Ponsonby team^ Apart from the fact that Papakura did not play to anticipations, they did not appear to be heavy enough for the first flight of League, although they had some players of promise in their ranks, and some of the individual. bits of play were of a high standard indeed. Cornthwaite, a former Auckland representative player, was going well in the live-eighth line until hurt, while Rope, I£. Burgess and C. Francis showed promise. In the Papakura van 1.. Taylor, W. Taylor and Evans showed Tip well. Kav was tile outstanding Ponsonby back, and showed up well witli his great turn of speed, while Hush again played a good positional game at full-back Leathcrbarrow was the outstanding forward of the match, and Davis and Morgan stood out in the loose play and were very prominent in the second half of the game. MARIST DOWN RICHMOND. Having been narrowly eliminated from the Roope Rooster knock-out, Richmond Rovers made the most of necessity nnd emergcifcy by trying out several young bloods in the match in which they were drawn to meet Marist in the Phelan Shield scries. However, the recently strengthened Marist thirteen, after a fast, open and scoreless first half,- took the honours in impressive fashion to win ny IT in what proved to an attractive curtninraiser. Richmond, minus Mincham, Beyer and the Satherley hrothers. made a brave bid ill the fading stages, but that was all. Truth to tell, their opponents, with O Kane back hooking the ball consistently, and \ro giving a brilliant service from the scrum base, made the most of possession and speed, and, despite all the wiles of individual macoons. the result was almost a foregone conclusion. Occasionally onlx. the Richmond backs sparkled up and probably the team changes accounted for the unusual lack of cohesion on attack, wh'ch. in contrast to Marist policy, was marked by excessive field kicking. Deputising on the day. Magill performed custodian duty quite satisfactorily under severe test., but lis vis-a-vis, Glover, again was in good form The Wilkic-Tlttloton-Biekerton line was overshadowed by the "Passive initiative of the opposing three-quarters, for the reason that the Marist inside backs Played with more combinative purpose than and Greenwood. Murdoch, the ex-Technical Union five-eighth, was speedy oft the mark, and thrustfuT, though, he still has to learn not to hang on to the ball too long. H«. lam was steady at centre and must b pleased to have two such sood wingers as Fletcher and Loader. The latter (11. tinguislied himself (as did J \ , a magnificent penetrative run that ledl to n trv following some side-stepping that recalled the elusiveness of w-mil.l have been U^k^era^er 8 S race in the loose, where Bakallch also showed up With two tries, three conversions and a penalty goal, Anderson may be said to have literally won the game for his side. Broadliead Hadley and Davis were Richmond's best forwards. The front row men of tlie teams clashed with a little undue feelins towards the end of the contest and rpfpree's timelv warning had a ffood effect Marist, who have the Phelan Shield b, n Saturday, should make a commendable bid in the final, but even Richmond are not out of the running for honours, for if Manukau wins the Roope Rooster, the premiership runners-up. Will be in line for the Stormont Memorial Shield, emblematic of champion of champions, while the fate of the Thistle CUT>_fQr most points in the second round of the championship, is- still to be decided, Manukau and Richmond having tied. PHELAN SHIELD. In the Phelan Shield game next Saturday Devonport will meet Ponsonby. Marist have the bye. REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. Mt. Albert (Auckland) 20, beat Hawke's Bay 10. Taradale (Napier) 16, beat Mt. Albert B 8.

SENIOR RESERVE. STALLARD CUP. Marist 29, beat City 7. Richmond 2S, beat Devonport 12. GRADE GAMES. THIRD GRADE. Ellerslie 11, beat Ponsonby 10. Devonport 14, beat Richmond 0. City 24, beat Newton B 3. Pt. Chevalier 26, beat Mt. Albert 0. FOURTH GRADE. KNOCK-OUT FINAL. City 13, beat Ellerslie 9. SIXTH GRADE. City 7, beat Richmond 6. SBVBXTH GRADE. Ellerslie 15, beat Northcote 10. City 15, beat Marist 5. Richmond 5, beat Otahuhu 4. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. SENIORS. Mt. Albert S. beat Richmond 6. INTERMEDIATE. Marist 11, beat Ellerslie 0. JUNIORS. Richmond A drew with Marist, no score Mt. Albert 9, beat Newton S. Otahuhu 6, beat Balmoral 3. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. TAUMARUNUI. Manukau 30, beat Taumarunui 28. WHANGAREI. Senior Knockout Final.—Kamo 13. beat Whakapara 6. Kacno thus won the double. Through the default of Hikurangi, City annexed the Adams Caps for a special two I rounds competition.