LEAGUE THRILLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 163, 12 July 1937, Page 12

LEAGUE THRILLS.

RICHMOND EXTENDED.

ANOTHER WIN FOR MANUKAU.

MOUNT ALBERT BEATS CITY.

A surprisingly good display by North Shore, which threatened at one stage to alter the complexion of the championship, added zest to the games staged at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when the second series of matches in the second round of the Auckland Rugby League's senior competition was played. Shore met the championship leaders, Richmond, on the Xo. 2 ground, and, as matters turned out, the game was the most thrilling of the day. Richmond fought an uphill battle, and it was only in the last few minutes that they gained the mastery and the decision. Another large crowd filled the stand and lined the terraces, and followed the keen contests provided in mo6t of the games with the keenest ot interest. In the starred attraction, Manukau proved too good for Marist, although the last named led at the interval and for some time in the second spell. Mount Albert gained a win over City by a slender margin in the curtainraiser, while in -the early game on No. 2 ground Ponsonby proved too good by far for Newton, which has yet to win a match this season. Results were as follows: — Manukau 20, Marist 13. Mount Albert 6, City 3. Richmond 11, North Shore 9. Ponsonby 26, Newton 7. Competition table : — Points. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Richmond .. 9 8 1 - 182 90 16 Mt. Albert .9 6 3 - 99 63 12 Ponsonby . . 9 5 3 1 130 78 11 Manukau .. 9 5 3 1 143 119 11 Marist 9 5 4 - 133 124 10 North Shore .9 3 5 1 83 110 7 City 9 2 6 1 t>2 133 5 Newton 9 - 9 - 37 172 LEADERS SCRAPE HOME. It was by a margin of two points that Richmond, the leaders in the competition, scraped home against Devonport in the last few minutes of the game after a very bard-fought and even struggle which was marked by remarkable tenacity on the part of the Shore players. In general tactics Richmond showed more enterprise than their onnonents, they played to their backs as occasion offered, and there were some bright bits of combinative play despite heavy going. Shore on the other hand let their forwards make the running with the backs concentrating on defence. So well did the Shore forwards play in the open that Richmond went perilously close to losing the match. Sowier gave a wonderful exhibition, but Rogers, E. Scott and Hollows were not far behind. Smith at five-eighths got the try of the match with a great run from half-way, and in addition landed two penalty goals. On a starved wing L. Scott got off some fine individnal bits of play, while Kerr, although not as outstanding as usual, played very soundly at full-back. McLeod. Mitchell and Telford showed up well in the Richmond forwards, and on form the two first-named should win a place in the Auckland representative team. With W. Tittleton absent the Richmond inside backs did not play in their usual rhythm, but Mincham in the centre was in form, and varied his play well, while Furnell at full-back gave a flawless display, and is one of the most promising full-backs in the code. MANUKAU'S GOOD FINISH. With a grand second spell rally, Manukau beat Marist in the main game of the day by 20 points to 13. For the greater part of the Journey they were fighting a losing game, but they held on with tenacity which some supporters of the game did not believe they were capable of. At the interval, Marist led by 10 points to 9. and it looked as though they had sealed the issue when they piled on a further three points shortly after the change-over. Those who were inclined to think this way, however, were rudely shocked, for Manukau revealed in no uncertain way that they have recuperative powers equivalent to those of any side in the competition. Marist's try in the second spell actually proved the rallying point for Manukau, for they set to work with a will to pull the game oat of the tire, and succeeded to such an extent that they virtually dominated the play in the dying stages. The game was Interestingly and keenly fought, but as a spectacle was rather disappointing. The contest did not hold as much attention as is usually the case With the main fixture, because of the tenseness of the struggle between North Sh«re and Richmond on No. 2 ground, and' eyes were constantly straying to the more remote ground. Marist were by no means disgraced in defeat, and played one of their best games of the season. There is no doubt, however, that the better side won on the day. One of the outstanding players on the ground was Anderson, the Marist forward, who did much spoiling work by breaking quickly from the scrums, and was always lending his support where it was most needed. He scored two tries as a result of fine opportunism, and kicked several goals, one from eight yards within the half-way line. The forward was well supported by Marist's utility forward, Bakalicb, and Breed, while Dobbyn gave good service in the role of hooker. Among the backs who stood up well to the opposition were McLaren in the five-eighths line, Haslam, the centre. Midgeley on the wing, and Glover, the custodian. Glover did not get the range that his vis-a-vis, Hemi, did with his kicking, but he kicked with good judgment and tackled gamely throughout. Haslam was the scintillating star among the backs, being thrustful in possession, and dependable on defence. The Manukau pack worked strenuously throughout, and meu who emerged with honours were Painter. Kawe, Brodrick and Gault. Steve Wateue made a welcome reappearance to captain the side after being on the side line with an injury since Coronation l>uy. His generalship proved invaluable to Manukau when things looked blackest for them, and he also helped his side to victory by scoring a try. Behind the jiack Mabiina was souud. while lirimble rose ro great heights in the tive-eighths line at times. R. Chase was again in form, though more subdued than in his earlier games, while Broughtou was the pick of the three-quarters. Hemi made few mistakes, and usually did all the things that are expected of a full-back, including running his backs into position when the opportunity to do so presented itself. A BIG MARGIN.

a fairly interesting curtain-raiser on p°- — ground on Saturday Ponsonby never lot ked in danger of deteat against Stwton, and finally ran out winners by 26 to 7.

For the winners Jones gave a first-class uisplay of safe handing and accurate lineKicking, and he rather over-shadowed his vis-a-vis. Riley was the better of the wings, and made some dashing runs down the line. Kay made the most of any chances that came his way, while Stocklev defended well. Black displayed keenness at the base of the scrum, while of a hardworking pack the most prominent were S, n ?* Cootes, Morgan and Davis. The pick of the three-quarters for Newton were Dempsey and Crooks, who made some splendid dashes, but lacked support. Tonne was inclined to hang on a little long, but otherwise played well. Newton missed aim when he was forced to retire Hill shone in the inside position, when Brimble was his usual übiquitous self. The forwards all toiled well, with Quirke, Tavlor and t raser always In the van.

ROVERS NARROWLY BEATEN.

A stern and even struggle, marked bv periods of quite thrilling open plav was! on , the Xo - 1 K">nnd curtain-raiser which resulted in a last-minute win for Mount Albert ovtr City Rovers by 6—3 The 3-all position, which prevailed for a considerable part of the game, might very 1 well have proved a suitable result. How-1 ?. ver, , th ® Mount Albert back line, with all 1 Its faults, was more constructive and' turned the scale against a sturdv defence Wehner was a successful hooker among a lively set of forwards, in which Mataira. Raymond and Johnson were always to the fore, but the back division, savf for headv work by Hutchinson. at ha'f-back. and brilliant flashes by Ra*i. at five-eighth did a thing illuminating. Towhai handled badly and his wingers did not see nnvh "f the ball. Cranch compared more than favourably with Wlberg as a full-back and looks as though he mav develop into a centre. I.en Sehnlti. on the win? i did a lot of useful things, but had a* tendency of running inwards too much, thus ' disconcerting his supports. McCallum, | the other flank, performed fairly well. He'

has all the equipment of a scoring threequarter, except reaourcefaloesa wfeen pressed. Two promoted players. Patterson and McLaughlin, first and second fineighths respectively, went well, the former showing glimpses of exceptional ability at times. His associate, playing at centre when J. Schultz left the field in the second half, scored the winning try. The Mount Albert forwards played well and were always dangerous in the open. Herrinr barring an off-side habit, revealed his best form to date. Satherley, Gunning and Tristram were others who caught the eye. GRADE GAMES. SENIOR RESERVE. Marist 20, beat Manukau 5. Richmond 8, beat Shore 0. Mount Albeit 19. beat City 5. Ponsonby 12, beat Newton 8. SENIOR B. Papakura 43, beat Newton 2. Point Chevalier 7, beat Green Lane B. Richmond 11, beat Mannkan 10. THIRD GRADE. Otahuhu 12, beat Ellerslie 7. Papakura 9, beat B.V. O. Marist 30, beat Shore 0. Richmond 9. beat City 5. FOURTH GRADE. Ellerslie 13. beat Ponsonbv 0. Richmond 16, beat Shore 0. FIFTH GRADE. Avondale 3, beat Papakura 0. SIXTH GRADE. Green Lane 9, beat Richmond 0. SEVENTH GRADE Richmond 22, beat Otahuhu 0. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. SENIORS. Ellerslie 8, drew with Marist 8. Manukau 36, beat Xorthcote 0. Point Chevalier 7, beat Newton 2 Ponsonby 3, drew with Green Lane 3. INTERMEDIATES. Ponsonby 21. beat Marist 0. Richmond 24, beat Point Chevalier 0 Avondale 19, beat Mount Albert 0. Newton 32, beat Balmoral V. JUNIORS. Green Lane 3. drew with Ponsonby *. Institute 12, beat Marist O. Newton A 3,. beat Balmoral 0. Newton A 3, beat Shore 0. Mount Albert 12, beat Point Chevalier V. George Courts A 6, beat Manukau 0. Richmond 6. beat Avondale Convent 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HUXTLY. Juniors. — Final of Kneebone Cup: Huntly High School 0.8. 7, beat Ngaruawahia 0. e WHANGAKEI. Championship Final.—Kamo 3. beat Hikurangi 0. Juniors.—One Tree Point 5. beat Hikurangi 0. NORTHERN UNION CUP. WEST COAST BEATS CANTERBURY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, Sunday. Defending the Northern Union Cup, West Coast defeated Canterbury by 22 points to 18 yesterday in showery weather, before a good attendance. Scorers for West Coast. were N. Kiely (2), and J. Roberts (2). Kelly converted on® try, while P. Scott also converted one try and kicked two penalty goals. For Canterbury Whitley scored and E Jones converted, while Davison kicked three penalty goals and Hendry kicked a field goal.