PONSONBY WIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 169, 19 July 1937, Page 15

PONSONBY WIN.

SPECTACULAR GAME.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

TREAT FOR SPECTATORS.

Although beaten by Ponsonby in the Main game in the Auckland Rugby League's senior competition on Saturday, Richmond still remains at the head of the championship table, being three clear points in front of the next teams on the list—Ponsonby and Manukau. The defeat "t .hican 1 oiid was not altogether unexpetted, as Ponsonby has been playing ■ xceptionally fine football in recent ■abasements and has been considerably strengthened in the forwards by new recruits. The game was one of the most spectacular seen at Carlaw Park this eason with Richmond fighting desperately to pull off another of its renowned last.ll mute victories.

Generally speaking, the scoring was lose, a point only separating. Ponsonby Jl. R / C t^* ld and tw 'o point* Marist and Mount Albert and also North Shore and I 't.\. Manukau had the easiest win of the day and accounted for Newton by a u lde margin. Results were as follow:— Ponsonby 10, beat Richmond 9. ir r i? t J?' l,eat Mount Albert i 3 North Shore 9, beat City 7 Manukau 22, beat Newton 5. Competition table:— r. rn r Points Ch. ri , . . P. W. L. D. P. A Pts Richmond ... 10 8 2 - 1»1 100 Ifi 1 'onsonby ....10 « 3 1 140 87 Manukau ....10 6 3 1 103 l" A Mt. Albert ... 10 6 4 - IP? 7S 1^ Marist ....... IO « 4 - 145 137 r> North Shore .IO 4 5 1 »>•> 117 9 V- ity , JO 2 7 1 8!) 142 5 Newton IO - 10 - 42 194 _

THEIR BEST FORM.

Revealing. their best form of the season, Ponsonby gained a popular win, over the championship- leaders, Richmond, by the slender margin of lo points to 9 after leading at the interval by lo points to .6. Richmond battled strenuously for mastery as the game drew to a close, but they Just could not make the grade and had to bow to defeat by a better team on the day. They scored the only points in the seeond spell, but Ponsonby were unlucky not to score on several occasions. The game was fought at a terrific pace from start to finish, with the forwards fcolng at It hammer and tongs and the backs flashing into action in scintillating style. Frequently the ball would travel speedily right through the backs and work inOeld for both forwards and backs. to combine la panning, and under the circumstances It was a wonder that the defence of either side did not wilt more often tlian it did. The tackling was low and Incisive and time and again It. was only quick covering defence by the nippy Richmond backs, and

W. Tittleton and Mine bam In particular, that prevented the opposition fropi scoring. It was League at it® beat, and £he crowd thrilled to the spectacle that was provided by two well-matched sides. The Richmond forwards took the hooking honours, but were beaten by the opposing sixtet in other departments of the game. The Ponsonby pack Was tenacious on defence and devastating in slashing dribbling rushes, some of which swept half the length of the field. Always in the thick of the fray and setting a fine example to his supports was Cootes, and not far behind bim were Pickrang and Petersen. They were a fine trio, but the remainder of the Ponsonby forwards also worked valiantly, with Morgan the pick. -, Most conspicuous for Richmond were Mitchell, McLeod and Telford. Tile backs hadVa great duel. Halloran was outstanding for the winners, sending the ball awtfy splendidly and defending soundly' Btockley, «the I'onsonby second flve-eightbs; gave W. Tittleton, his vis-a-vis, little quarter, while the latter usually matoaged to get his man; when the ball went Ponsonfty's. way. Both men gave their respective sides excellent service. The two centres, Kay and Mincham, were also watching each other, cat and. mouse fashion, and then-wan little between' them on the day.Kay'shandling showed a definite improvement and'the result waa that he was more posAsslon than usual, Wilkie, the Richmond winger, was right on bis game, and when tfievball came his way he earned applause for'taking determined bids for the line. Bickerton played another sound game, and hisflne backing up gave his, backs additional thrust.' Powell gave good:, service from the base of the scrum, as also did Black, the Ponsonby half-badk. On the day Jones butahone G. Tittleton at full-back. Of the Ponsonby wingers, Nurse was more Impressive than Riley, and but for lack: of pace must have scored In the second spell. .' Generally speaking the game was fought in a good spirit, bat there . waa one incident which marred the spectacle from the spectators' point of view. This, occurred In the first spell when several players . began to pay more attention to the iman than the' ball, and two forwards came to grips on the ground. Referee Wetherlll. had some, difficulty in restoring the peace, and It might have been better had he ordered off the, two principal offenders. As it turned oat, however, his counsel to the players liad a good effect and there was no further glaring examples of rough .tactics.

MOUNT. ALBERT UNLUCKY.

Fire penalty goals and- a conversion by Anderson gave Marist victory over Mount Albert in the cnrtain-ralser on No. 1 ground by 15 points to 18. Mount Albert were distinctly unlucky as they "penetrated the defence of the opposition on three occasions, whereas Marist succeeded In registering only one try. Martet were on top in the first spell and at the Interval led by 11 points to 3. After the spell, however, Mount Albert returned to the fray a revitalised side, and, getting a feast of the ball, set to work to overhaul their opponents. This they succeeded in doing and at one stage they led by 13 points to 11. Mistakes on defence, however, cost them dearly for Anderson wa» in rare, kicking form and landed two more penalty goals, wbich sealed the Issue ror his side. The Marist backs were not as impressive as they have been In rscent games, owing to the absence of Haslam, but players who stood out for good work were Midgeley, the speedy winger, McLaren In the nveeighths line. Glover the full-back, for grand tackling, and Crocker, the nippy little half. Watkins lent thrust to the Mount Albert backs when he came on Just before the interval, while I/en Schulta played a good all round game. He was less selfish than usual, and .consequently his wingers, who, far too often have been largely wasted this season, receivea more opportunities. Stewart was, bettor than McCallum in the three-quarter line, and was responsible for some bright dashea and a good try wbich left the ;opposttlon (standing. Crach was generall]r sound at full-back, showing fine appreciation of positional play and kicking With. judgment than the Marist _ Glover. The gam* waa bard-fougbt throughout, although much of the play waa confined to the forwards, of whom Anderson, Breed, McGreal and Flnlayson were best for Marlsts, and Gunning Shadbolt and Herring moat prominent for Mount Albert.

A SCRAPPY GAME. The football of North Shore and City iimj * ground on Saturday provided very little of an outstanding nature, and it was only on rare occasions that the few spectators watching this match were' aroused, jij Shore gained the decision, lyut thev aid not deserve It, as their form was much below that revealed the previous week, k? .. Cty had slown anything like combination they woul<l have won. As it was there was only two points between the teams at the finish, but on the general run of play City always had the better of matters. City have a fairly good team, but they do not seem to be able to combine as a team, and individualism appears to be their main feature. Shore did not infuse their usual amount of dash into their exhibition, and it seemed as if many of the players were interested in rhe splendid match being played on No. 1 ground. For the winners Kerr gave a solid display at full-back, his handling and kicking being right up to his usual good standard. I>. Scott did not receive manv opportunities, while of the backs Smith and V. Scott appeared to be the best. Iu a hardworking pack E. Scott, Simpson and So'.vter impressed most. tViberg was called on to do a lot of work for the losers, but got through his task lu pleasing style, while McL«uigliHn made a few dashing runs down the tide line Rata was the pick of the inside backs, and was always dangerous. Hutchinson made the most of any chances that c;>me his way. Raymond, Mataira and Donald were solid packmen.

MANUKAU'S WINNING VEIN,

In a game that wns played at n fast clip, in spite of th<* heavy condition of No. 2 ground, Newton Rangers went down with credit to Manukau by 5—22. Highlights were the fine goal-kicking of Henii, attractive exhibitions by the two half-backs, Maliima and W. Brimble and the supporting methods of Brodricfc, Kawe and Wate.ne in the open. On the other hand the Newton pack, with Proctor. Quirke and Clemm nutstanding, were to -oe respected in the tight rucking, but the tendency on the part of the backs to excessive kicking wasted advantages gained by allowing Manukau to make the most of possession. Crook and Sissons were fair backs, but Dempsey, both as a centre and later at full-back, was safe, and resourceful. Heattie was somewhat disappointing in the rear line and later in the game had the misfortune to meet with injnry when he joined the forwards. Clemm defended well on the wing when Gibson was brought in. The Manukau hooker, Rutherford, had an even duel with Quirke. Apparently, to give' the Bay of Plenty recruit, Wilson, a chances T. Chase was stationed at second live-eighths to R. Brimble, R. Chase being centre. ' The transposition. of the brothers hardly proved an advantage, but it is obvious that Manukau are now striking the form and combination that won them the championship last season.

GRAPE GAMES.

SENIOR RESERVE. Richmond 13. beat Ponsonby 3. Shore 5. beat City 4. Mt. > Albert 12, beat Marlst 2. Manukau 6, beat Newton 2. SENIOR B. Northcote 8, beat Richmond 6. Green Lane 16, beat Newton 4. Papakura 6, beat R.V. 2. THIRD GRADE. Richmond 5, beat Pt. Chevalier 4. Marist 13, beht Papakura 6. City 23, beat Papakura B 5. FOURTH GRADE. EUeralle 17, beat Northcote 3. FIFTH GRADE. Ellerslle 7, beat Northcote 3. Richmond 25, beat Devonport 0. City 15, beat Avondale 9.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

I • SENIORS. Richmond 19, beat Newton 3. Pt. Chevalier 13, beat'EUerslje 6. INTERMEDIATES. 8, beat Marlst 5. Mt. Albert 11, beat Ellerslle 3. Ponponby 34, beat Northcote 0. Otahuhu 6, beat Richmond 3. JUNIORS. Shore 3, beat Manukau 0. Ellerslle 6, beat Newton B 0. Ponsonby 15, beat Pt. Chevalier 0. Marjst 0, drew with George Court's B 6. Avondale Convent 6, beat Balmoral 3. Newton A 8, beat Green Lane O. Geo, Court's A 3, beat Mt. Albert O.

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE.

■ WHANGAREI. Senior Knock-out—Kamo 8, beat Takahiwai 3.; Kensington beat Whakapara by default. ; Junior Final —One Tree Point 10. beat Portland 0. Junior Knock-out. —Hlkurangi 28, beat City 8. WAIKATO. I "Huntly South 16, beat NgaruawaMa 10. . Huntly 15, beat Pukemlro 4. Juniors. — Huntly H. 5.0.8. 32, beat ! Franklin Albion 8. f y?* • of