LEAGUE LADDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 121, 24 May 1937, Page 13

LEAGUE LADDER.

" PONIES' " CLOSE CALL DRAW WITH SHORE. RICHMOND'S BIG TALLY. The results of Saturday's matches in the Auckland Rugby League's senior competition make the fight for the championship extremely interesting. Ponsonby, the leaders, drew with North Shore after a willing encounter iu the main game at headquarters, and are still a point ahead of Richmond in the table. In the cur-tain-raiser Mount Albert not only scored a comfortable win over Manukau, but won by a surprisingly wide margin. Richmond rattled 011 a cricket score against Marist 011 No. 2 ground, casualties seriously affecting the latter's combination in the second spell. Out at Glen Kden. City held too many guns for Newton, winning by a decisive margin. Games resulted as follows: — I'onsonby 8, North Shore 8. Mount Albert 20, v. Manukau i. Richmond 55. v. Marist 15. City 14, v. Newton 0.

TRIES VERSUS GOALS. Although more constructive than their opponents aud frequently turning on ing bouts in which the whole of the backs handled iu delightful fashion, Vonsonby could only make a draw of their match with North each side scoring eight points. Ali the scoring was done in the lirst spell, and the seasiders' tally was made up of three penalty goals by J. Smith, who had his kicking toots on with a vengeance, and a tine dropped goal by Kerr. Kay was a defection from the Ponsonby backs, but his position at centre was ably filled by Jonef, who made some particularly bright runs, l'.lack, the lialf-hack, played a rattling good game, and. besides opening up the play at every available opportunity, was prominent for "solo efforts aud teaming on the blind side with his wingers. Stockley was sound, while McKinncy was the pick of the wingers, and his speed in racing into the llve-eiglitlis line to make an extra back gave his chain extra thrust. I'onsonby with more luck would have carried the day, but credit is due to North Shore for sound defence in the face of fast-moving attacks. Kerr, the seasiders' full-back, saved his side time aud again when things looke:l black for them, and his uncanny knack of linding touch must have proved heartbreaking to the opposition. The forwards were evenly matched, except that Ponsonby were superior when it camc to set scrums. For Ponsonby Petersen was outstanding, while Morgan and Keane were never far out of the picture when there wus work to be done. Hollows was the pick of the Shore sextet, and others who battled untiringly throughout were Simpson and liogers. Hunt was conspicuous until forccd to retire with an injury. MOUNT ALBERT TOO GOOD. It was unfortunate for last season's cliampiaus, Manukau, that they should strike Mount Albert in great scoring mood 011 a day when they themselves could do little right. It was unfortunate, too, that some of thc players should concentrate more on the man than the ball at times, and thus mar what promised to be a good game. There was a particularly bad incident just before the teams left the field when one player struck another. Fine understanding between backs aud forwards and ability to press home advantages won gave Mt. Albert a well deserved win. There was rarely any doubt as to the outcome of the match, and Mt. Albert generally nad the game well in hand, and finally ran out winners by the convincing margin of U0 points to 4. Shndbolt, who has been a consistent performer this season, waS right 011 his game, and scored three of the winners' tries. Not only was he always going well in the tight and loose, but his ability to keep pace with the back.s brought him his final try. Tristram, the former Waikato representative, proved himself a grafter iu his first League game, while others who worked with a will throughout were Uumiin- and C. Satlierley. Watkins. 1.. Scliult/. and Crancb were the pick of tlie Mt. Albert backs. Manukau's best forwards were Brodrick, Gault, Phillips and Kawe, while of the backs Mahima, Herni and" Broughton were the pick. S. Watene, arrived late, and did not play until thc second spell, but even his generalship and good example failed to rally his side. BUSY DAY FOIJ BOY. The boy who had the job of hoisting the scores in the Richmond and Marist match had a very busy day. as 70 points were accumulated, and the fact that Richmond's share of thc huge number was 55 shows how things went. Marist were, overwhelmed and in a couple of instances nobody bothered to chase the man with the ball after the last line of defence was beaten. Superior in alt departments of tlio game. Kichmond were able to play a carefree game. The ball was thrown about with abandon, and ('fen practically the whole Kichmond team was 011 the move in attack. (Jll such a pleasant liigli-scoring day all the Kichmond team got into the picture, but thc men who caught the eye most were the burly Mitchell, from Manawatu, and McLeod, from Taranaki. The advent of McLaren gave thrust to tli«* Marist five-pigliths lino, "where he was paired with Murdoch, but even good fiveeighths can do little without the bail. Injury to (ilover and Midgolcy saw MarL-t go most of t he. second half two men short, a disability that was a factor in the feast 01 scoring by their opponents. CITY ON THE LADDER. A meteoric swerving run through from I half-way by the Wesley College student Tawhai was the highlight of the match in which City Kovers defeated Newton bv 14—0. This sturdy and clever Maori colt was noticeable for his tackling and supporting play, which earned him another try. Played 011 the Glen Kden ground before a good crowd, this contest was saved from the mediocre by several sparkling interludes. The Rangers had all the best of the first spell, but the finishing power was not there, 111 spite of impressive iuside back play by the Brimblc brothers and lining. City took command within ten minutes of the resumption as the result of resourceful methods by McLaughlin (wing) and Wiberg (five-eighth), and continued to hold the upper hand. Au exchange of places by l'orteous (wing) and Hapi (live-eiglith) had improved combination. The vanguards were evenly matched, McCarthy and Spiro doing well for City and Proctor, Smith and Cinders for Newton, whose erratic three-quarter line was particularly weak at Gibson, while at fullback Llempsey gave a polished exhibition on attack and defence. Seeing that Citv were minus Rata and Lynch (backs) anil Raymond and Donald (forwards), the team performed creditably to gain belated first championship poiuts. GRADE GAMES. SENIOR RESERVE. Ponsonby 14, beat Shore 5. Richmond 1:*, beat Marist 0. Mount Albert 40, beat Manukau 0. City 25, beat Newton 5. SENIOR B. Kichmond 1!), beat Manukau S. l'apakura 23, beat Newton 2. THIRD GRADE. Marist 41. beat Shore 2. Glenora won by default from Newton Richmond 32, beat Manukau 0." Papakura S, beat R.V. 5. FOURTH GRADE. , Richmond 8, beat Shore 0. , Ellerslie 19, beat Ponsonby c Northcote 13. beat Glenora u 1 — | FIFTH GRADE. Kichmond G, beat City 2. Otahuhu 26. beat Shore 0. ,1 Avondale 24. beat KUerslie O. 31, beat Northcote u.

SIXTH GRADE. Mount Albert S, drew with Papakura 8. City 13, beat Point Chevalier O. SEVENTH GRADE. Glenora 0, drew with Ponsonby 0. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. SENIORS. Richmond 14. beat Ellerslie 2. Marist 31. beat Mount Albert 5. Newton Sfi. beat Avondale Convent 0. INTERMEDIATE GRADE. Avondale 7. beat Richmond 5. Ponsonby 11, beat Newton 0, Miore 1!>, beat Marist 0. Northcotc won by default from Balmoral. Mount Albert 3. drew with Otahuhu 3. Mannkau 7, heat Richmond o. Newton 3S. beat Avondale Convent 0. JUNIORS. Ponsonby 3, beat Mount Albert 0. Newton 9. beat Mnnukau 0. Balmoral 3. beat Avondale O. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CANTERBURY. Hornby 10, beat Linwood 3. Addington 32, beat Sydenham 14. WELLINGTON. St. George 32, boat Itandwick 3. CLAY-BIRD SHOOTING. TAKAPUNA GUN CLUB. Under ideal weather conditions the Takapuna Gun Club held a clay-bird shoot at Barry's Point oil Saturday. Results:— Seven-bird "Eye-opener" Sweepstake.— 1 A. .1. Ilanigan (l<>_vds). L. J. Henderson (17yds), R. L. Baxter (14yd«) and L. Petersen (17yds). shot six birds each. In (lie shoot-off It. L. Baxter won the sweep money. Fifteen-Bird Club Trophy Match.—lt. L Baxter (14yds) shot the possible of 15 birds and won outright the trophv and sweep money. A. J. Hanigan (l'tfvds), L. J. Henderson (17.vds) and L. Petersen (17yd«5t shot 14 birds each and tied for ruiiners-np. Ten-Bird Double Rise Match.—L. J Henderson (14yds) shot eight birds and won outright the first sweep money. \ J Hanigan (14yds) and L. Petersen (15yds) shot seven birds each. During the day, over the series of matches. L. J. Henderson shot 28 out of 32. A. J. Hanigan and L. Petersen 27 out of 32, and R. L. Baxter 26 out of 32. i There are 113 windows on the Terrace front of the House* of Parliament.

ACROSS. 1 Abbey portion for 011 c who looks down 011 rhymesters (two words, 5 and 6). Work persistently when Maigaret doesn't happen to be there (two words, 3 and 4). 10—One way to make Mabel walk (5). 11 —Alter a\ter (5). 12—The man who speaks like this ended ' same way in the Great War (7). | J? —A dry ban must of course cover it (6). ! J*> —Part of the day's work in Spain? (G). i 18—Cleared about fiftv, yet was annoved ! ("). ' i 20—Altered by circumstances (3). ' ~ —Solutions often do it to you (5). 23—A pear is a form of this plant (71. 24—Remnants (three words, i, 3 and 1). I

Championship ladder: — Points. Ch. I». W. L. D. F. A. I'ts. I'nnsoiiby ... 4 3 -—- 1 t>3 J Richmond • • • 4 3 1 ® Mount Albert 4 :> 1 — a- 6 North Shore 4 2 1. 1 41 4-> •> Maimkau ... 4 - 2 — 43 49 4 Marist 4 1 3 — o7 S8 - Citv 4 1 3 — 44 »>7 - Newton .... 4 — 4 — 10 79