CITY DO WELL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 175, 26 July 1937, Page 13

CITY DO WELL.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP % DEFEAT OF PONSONBY. AN ATTRACTIVE GAME. •*— Although hard pushed by City in an open game Richmon.. got home by a small margin to keep their place at the head of the table in the Rugby League championship, but the most attractive match of the day was between Manukau and Ponsonby, Manukau playing in a very bright and- open way to win by a comfortable margin. Marist proved too good for North Shore in a close scoring game, but Mount Albert easily staved off the Newton challenge. Results were as follow; — Richmond 10, beat City 6. Manukau 18, beat Ponsonby 6. Marist 18, beat North Shore 10. Mount Albert 29, beat Newton 5. How they stand :— Points Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. PU< Richmond ... 11 9 2 — 201 106 18 Manukau 11 7 3 1 183 130 15 Mt. Albert . . 11 7 4 — ,141 83 14 Marist .11 7 4 — MSO 147 14 Ponsonby ... 11 6 4 1 14ti 105 13 North Shore . 11 4 « 1 102 135 9 City 11 2 8 1 95 152 5 Newton 11 — 11 — 47 223 — CITY FIGHT HARD. Playing with much better combination than they exhibited in some of the earlier matches of the season. City put up a great fight nfeainst Richmond, the leaders in the competition, and they were only four points behind at the end of a hard day in heavy going. It was only a slight superiority in team play and the cohesion of the maroon backs which carried their team through. The City forwards showed great dash and speed, and their leader was Mataira, the former Hawke's Bay player, who was easily the best forward on the ground, and a great opportunist when the play got near the Richmond line. He got good and even support from the others in the City vanguard, with Raymond quite outstanding at times. Great service was given by Hutchison at half-back, who showed brilliant initiative in opening the play up and getting his backs going. Tawhai Infused a lot of dash into his play at five-eighth, while at three-nuarter Rata showed up brilliantly, and at the moment is playing as well as anybody in the position. There was a nice balance and rhythm about the work of the Richmond backs in attack, -with a combination that was always evident. W. Tittleton supplied a very keen thrust to the play at times. Wilkie's speed on the wing was in evidence when any chances came his way. while Furnell, at full-back, was sure in his work and safe. Evenness was also the key-note of the work of the Richmond forwards, and on his play MoLeod should win representative honours. EASY FOR MOUNT ALBERT. ■ i Superior weight and combination resulted in Mount Albert securing a rather comfortable victory at the expense of Newton by 29 to 5 In the curtain raiser on No. 2 ground. The heavy state of the ground was not conducive to fast open play, but even so t>oth sides opened up the game at every opportunity, but the faulty handling of the rearguard nullified several likely movements. Throughout both spells Mount Albert held a territorial advantage, and securing the ball from the majority of the scruuls gave Newton a torrid time of it at various stages of th« game. The weak tackling of the backt was the fault of Newton'B pla.v, and if a i little more solidity had been displayed ii this respect it is quite probable tfc< defeat would not have been by so great a | margin.

For the winners ('ranch was fairly safe as the full-back, and his line-kicking was sound. He has. however, a tendency to run a little too far, and would do well to eradicate this habit. McCallum received plenty of chances on the right flank, and added four tries. He shows a fine burst of speed. I;. Schultz was the choice of the inside backs, and he fed his supports assiduously. Of a hard . working pack the pick were Herring, Sbadbolt and Gunning. Dempsev defended solidly for Newton, but received a slight kuock early in the game, and this affected his play. made some dashing runs down the side line, and his defcuce was very goon. Briuible played outstandingly at the of the scrum, and it was no fault of hi# that many of the chances which <'au> e Newton's way were not put to better use. The forwards never let up. and they more than held their own with the heavier \ anguard of Mount Albert. Those in the limelight Included Fraser. Proctor, Glnders and Quirke. MANUKATTS SPEED. their sterling game of the previous Saturday when they defeated Richmond. high hone 3 were held for I'onsonbj In the ' match with Manukau. but the lattor f' ! J one of their best exhibitions of the season and with great speed and good team pin won b a Comfortable margin in a match which appealed very much to the sptc mors bv its open nature and free and £p°d ball handling. Early In the season there was an obvious Manukau , he front row, but. on Saturday Rutherford raked swiftly and cleanly in the set and Mahima wns able, to give his hacks a running relu. It was ball possession that enabled Manukau to forge into the lend and stav there, as PonsoWby have built up on«. of the strongest forward teams In the competition, and they put up a very showing. On the day the Ponsonby backs were over-sl.adowed by a more mercurial opposition, and the touch of briniance in interplay so often characteristic of them wns not often in evidence. Jones, who appears to be able to play in any position in the backs, played a ver> clever, constructive game. at full-hack, and his positional play was the best feature of the Ponsonby work. Cootes, Morgan and Plckrang "were a good trio in the Ponsonby forwards. Hemi plaved an outstanding game at full-back for" Manukau, and the Chase brothers and Brimble in possession and combination gave, a lot of speed and colour to the Manukau attack, although the key man was Mahima who on actual form is the best half-back in Auckland. Gault was probably the *>e6t ot the Manukau forwards, but the versatility of Watene was often in evidence. The- Manukau form on the day was very convincing, and if tlic.v hold it, they will have every chance of repeating their feat of last season of finishing In the lead. The team-bulldihg of their back-line has now been completed, and they have a set of clever and speedy backs, capable of adding the culminating touch of scoring endeavour provided, always, that their forwards can give them a fair share of ball possession from the set scrummages and ruck play.

MARISTS AVENGE DEFEAT. A fair all-round game, desultory in patches, was witnessed between Marists and North Shore, the former, by an 18—10 victory, avenging tlieir 5—6 loss in the earlier series of the championship in decisive manner. The winner*! had the set scrum superiority, though matched in the tight rucking and loose play. Glover was a tower of strength in the rear line, with | Crocker letting the ball away well and McLaren varying his methods. Donovan had opportunities to feed the wingers, Midgeley and Matson, both of whom made the most of chances. Matson showed determination and speed. V. Scott, the Albions' full-back. capably answered demands in the absence of Kerr, but the rear division, also minus Smith, who has a j>oieoned hand, lacked cohesiveness. I.en Scoft tackled finely, but. like the reserve grade colt on the other flank, Hammill, had limited scope on attack. Sterling showed form as an inside back. Hollows was the outstanding forward of a pack that hunted with a will, Sowter, Rogers, Simpson and Barnett being* solid grafters. The Marlst breakaway, McGreal, registered the "hat-trick" with three good tries that indicated initiative, wkile Breed, Dobbyn and Finlayson were tireless workers. Anderson featured more in the open play, but his goal-kicking was of high standard under the conditions. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. WHAXGAREI. Kensington 13. bent llikuraugi !2. Fourth Grade. —llikuraugi IS, beat Kamo 0. Waterside B, beat Diamond 1.

GRADE GAMES. —i- f SENIOR R. Papakura 44, beat Mount Albert 8. THIRD GRADE. City 11, beat Point CWvalier 7. Papakura won kjr default from Mount Albert. Richmond 8, bent OVttora. S. FOURTH GRADE.. . Richmond 10, %e»t RBerglle S. FIFTH GRADE. Avondale 8, beat SUerslle S. SIXTH GRADE. City 8, beat Papnkura 6. City 8, beat Papakura 6. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. « ____ SENIORS. Marist 9, beat Point Chevalier 3. Richmond 39, beat Manukau 5. Newton won by default from Mount Albert. INTERMEDIATE. Avondale 22, beat' Ellerslie 3. Richmond 32, beat Mount Albert 3. Newton 9, beat Shore 3. Ponsonby won by default from Balmoral. JUNIORS. Richmond 6, beat Geo. Court's B 0. Manukau 0, drew with Green Lane 0. Newton A 3, beat Geo. Court's A 0. Northcote 6, beat Balmoral 0. Ellerslie 3. beat Marist 0. Ponsonby 3, beat Shore 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CANTERBURY. Addington 46, beat Waimairi 23. Sydenham 14, beat Linwood 13. WELLINGTON. St. George 10, beat Newtown 7.