TWO SURPRISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 199, 23 August 1937, Page 15

TWO SURPRISES.

JVTN FOR MARIST.

NEWTON OUTPOINT CITY.

day of high scoring.

High scoring was the order at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon, when the Auckland liugby League's senior competition was continued in ideal weather, and on grounds which were conducive to fast and open play. In the main attraction ilarist Old Boys sprang a surprise by defeating the championship leaders, Richmond, by 30 points to 24 after leading by 20 points to S at half-time. Richmond set out to retrieve their position in the second spell and almost succeeded. Marist, however, made the most of the opportunities which came their way late in the spell, and hung on to score a popular and surprise win. In the early game on No. 1 ground Mount Albert beat Manukau by a single point, while on No. 2 ground Newton gained their second win of the season by accounting for City by a decisive margin, and Ponßonby defeated North Shore comfortably. Had Richmond won their match it would have placed them in an unbeatable position and the competition would have been closed. As it is they etill remain at the head of the ladder with 19 points to their credit, but both Mount Albert and Marist are close on their heels, one point behind. Results were as follows:— Marist, 30; Richmond, 24. Mount Albert, 20; Manukau, 19, Ponsonby. 23; North Shore, 9. Newton, 34; City, 19. How they stand:— Points Ch. P. W, Tj. D. F. A. Pts Sichmond - 13 9 3 1 237 147 19 Mt. Albert . 13 9 4 — 181 102 18 Marist 13 9 4 — 211 J77 18 Manukau 13 7 4 2 213 161 16 Ponsonbv .< 13 7 5 1 169 134 15 \orth Shore 13 4 8 1 126 182 9 City - 13 2 10 1 119 201 5 Xewton •**. 13 2 11 — 105 257 4 MOUNT ALBERT SCRAPE HOME. Although the game rarely rose to any ;reat heights, the Mount Albert and Manukau encounter, played as the cur-tain-raiser to the main game of the day, was interesting throughout for its level pegging and the tenseness of the struggle which was waged bertween two evenly matched teams. Manukau were weakened by the absence of Jack Heml and Steve Watene, while Mount Albert had the misfortune to lose the services of Len Sehultz early in the piece as a result of a leg injury. Honours were fairly evenly distributed In all departments of the game, but Mount Albert were superior in the set scrums and this gave their backs more chances than the opposition's chain. Weaknesses in the flva-eighths line, however, nullified many a passing bout, and C. Satherley did not remedy the defect when he replaced Patterson at first five-eighths when the latter retired with head injuries at the end of the first spell. J. Sehultz was sound

L. Schultx.

it centre, while the wingers, McCallnm and Stewart, made the most of the opportunities that came the,ir way. McCallnm was less hesitant,, than usual and scored two tries. Cranch, the full-back, has been seen to better advantage. Mistakes by him let Manukau through on several occasions, but otherwise he lived op to his reputation for being one of the best custodians in the code. His positional play, fielding and kicking generally speaking were" good. The brightest back on the ground was W. Brimbla, who made some really fine openings and dazzling runs. He took and gave his passes splendidly, and it all times drew his man before sending the ball along. Broughton was solid without being brilliant outside him, while others who gave good service were Mahima behind the pack and T. Chase at full-back. Much of the play was between the forwards, Kawe, Gault and Pointer were the pita for Manukau, and Tristram, Satherley, Gunning and Herring were conspicuous for Mount Albert. MARIST IN GOOD FORM. Richmond suffered their third defeat of the season when they went under to Marist Old Boys to the; tune of 30 points to 24, »nd thus their long run of successes in the second round was checked. As on some other occasions they commenced scratchlly, but though down by 20 points to 8 at the interval their supporters confidently anticipate/! that they would repeat several previous performances and pull the game out of the fire before the death. Following the fhange over they railied magnificently, and twice got within a point of their opponents, Midway through the second spell, Indeed, they looked like a winning team as both backs and forwards were exhibiting cohesion that frequently bewildered the Marist defence. In the dying stages, however, the competition leaders made mistakes from which their opponents were luick to profit, and thus they lost the match. Perhaps they were a trifle unlucky *s several of the Marjst tries were the result of sheer individual opportunism, nevertheless, points count no matter how they are scored, and taken on the -whole Marist are to be congratulated on their fine win. Marist have played some eaccelgames and some exceedingly poor ones •his season, but on Saturday they were at 'he peak of their form. Their forwards Were in splendid fettle and their fast breaking from the scrums and raiding in the loose sorely harassed the opposition. A 'ways on the ball was McGreal, while ®thers who stood out for consistently good work were Breed, Finlayson and Anderson. J. f. ' Ast mentioned, incidentally, was in Kicking form, and his six goal's made the aifference between, a win and a loss for g We. Perhaps the best forward on the ground was J. McLeod, who solidly 'or Richmond throughout. -He scored a Sreat try in the second spell with a thirty ■ Jards dash which beat off- ail opposition, and set an example for bis supports, of whom Davis and Satherley -were th» best, letley played his usual useful loose forward game, and his ability -to chime into, passing bouts and to open -tip the play K om _, the loose was of great assistance to his side. Behind the; Marist pack 'Crocker Played soundly and did not suffer com-" Pari son with the Richmond half-back, Jowell, while McLaren In the five-eighths line got through a wealth of honest work, although being inclined to kick too often. i.V.M el ? was the pick of the three-quarters while Glover gave a good display at fullback. W. Tittleton gave another grand performance both in attacking and defensive roles for Richmond. The five-eighth:' frequently made, openings, and was in mos» of his side's scoring movements. George. Tittleton also played a rattling good game "n the wing, and in addition to scoring two nne tries as a result of determined rannin' kicked several great goals from oaf" nen touch. Furnell made few mistakes «t fu!' *acm, and in addition to, Holding clean! and kicking with good judgment often tar/ his backs into position in approved style. '

PONSONBY SUPERIOR. P,^ ette . r te . am , play and the ability of the Ponsouby backs to combine gave the over \orth s! rbs ' , teain an easy victory fist „Vi 7h fehore in a game which was ,1u ,?„Lt « rn ?\- The " ronnd was hard, a id <lust llew at times, so there was every uicentive for the players to let the ball go ?• the • play «P en - -There was no disparity between the teams' forwards, but the Sliore backs only played never"-?? i th< i lr Wing three-quarters TZ"°L a rea chauc ' e - 111 the absence uIJ r Shore P ln - V «l V. Scott at full-back fiefrtint Cll ! ne ' hlou «h the day with credit! mini 8 . cleanl >* alld kicking with judgW «? n th a i lon ff tb - Smith was tlie best of the backs, with line all round play, 2 r n"i S a , Il , ace ~ ck lle is about tie most reliable club man in Auckland. Sterling ga\e hisi cade good service In the interA iue - liogers, E. Scott and Hunt showed up well in the forwards. With plajera of the calibre of Pick rang, Davis, Morgan and Reane in their forwards Ponsonby are cnpable of holding their own with any of the club sides, and they have an advantage that some of their backs have been together for several seasons. stood out brilliantly in the centre with a very speedy pair In Riley and Jurse on the wings. Jones filled the fullback position with credit, and appears to be the utility man of the side, as he can play well close up to the sennit. NEWTON'S GOOD FORM. Very late In the season Newton has produced the play that the side should have been capable of at an earlier stage and in continuation of their winning sequence finished up well on the credit side against City in a match in which over 50 points were recorded. The scoring tally indicates that attack, on the day, was much superior to -the defence. Newton's initial advantage lay in the pack. From the set scrums Quirke outclassed his opposite in hooking. Then behind the scrum W. Brimble gave very 'brilliant service and showed form that stamps him as being the outstanding attacking half-back in the game in Auckland. E. Brimble and Hill teamed well at live-eighths, and Young's play in the centre ..was up to a very high standard. Apart " from general improvement in their team play, Newton have been fortunate in getting the services of McNeight In their forwards. He was a real leader and in open play the outstanding forward on the ground. The City backs did not display combination nor knowledge of each other's play, perhaps for the reason that there have been too many place oha-nges. Taw ha I ws\s not two happily placed at full-back. There were occasionally good flashes of play by Rata in the centre, while Hutchinson played brightly at half-back, and sent away good passes as chance offered. Apart from t.h« fact that they could not get much of the ball from the set scrums, the City forwards played a robust and tireless game, with Donald, Mataira and Raymond working hard all the way. GRADE GAMES. THIRD GRADE. Final.—Otahuhu 13, beat Richmond <S. Knock-out. —Marist 21, bent Manukau 3; R.V. 8, beat Point Chevalier 6. City won by default from Mt. Albert. FIFTH GRADE. Richmond 20, beat Otahuhu 0. Northcote 39, beat Shore 0. City won by default from Papakura. SIXTH GRADE. Mount Albert 13, beat Papakura 8. SEVENTH GRADE. Richmond 26, beat Otaiiuhu 2.