Richmond The League Champions

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 205, 30 August 1937, Page 13

Richmond The League Champions

A POINT' TO SPARE. COMPETITION ENDED. ECLIPSE OF NEWTON. MARIST -MT ALBERT EQUAL. The curtain -was lowered on the Auckland Rugby League's senior competition at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when the final series of matches was played. Richmond ensily accounted for the Newton thirteen in the main game of the day and thus carried off the championship and the Fox Memorial Shield, which goes with it. Marist and Mount Albert each won their games with Ponsonby and North • Shore respectively and finished up one point behind the leaders. It is not definite whether or not they will toe required to play off to determine who will be runnersup for the 1937 season, but it is quite possible that they will be bracketed second equal on the championship table. City had a great tussle with Manukau and finally took the honours against last season's champions, who finished up third on the ladder.

The day was another one of the high scoring which has resulted since the ground conditions have, heen fast and the crowd was treated to a fast and open exhibition of the code. It was, however, a somewhat tame finish to the season, as Richmond had only to beat the bottom team on the ladder to take the honours. They were never greatly troubled throughout the match and after the first ten minutes it was just a question of ihow many they would win hy. Results were as follow:— Richmond 30, beat Newton 9. Mount Albert 38, beat North Shore 22. Marist 17, beat Ponsonby 8. City 23, beat Manukau 20. Final position of teams:— Points Oh. P. W. h. D. F. A. Pts. Richmond ... 14 10 3 1 207 156 21 Mount Albert 14 10 4 — 21i> 124 20 Marist 14 10 4 — 228 185 20 Manukau 14 7 5 2 233 184 10 Ponsonby .... 14 7 6 1 177 151 15 North Shore . 14 4 9 1 148 220 9 Citv 14 3 10 1 142 221 7 Newton 14 2 12 — 114 287 4 LEADERS' SUPERIORITY. Success leads to success, It is said, but in the case of Newton it led to a little more than tliey were capable of. Wins at the end of the season over North Shore and City led supporters of the code to anticipate that they would give the championship leaders, Richmond, a stern tussle. A few perhaps had faint hopes that they would defeat Richmond or play them to a draw. As matters turned out, however, they were well .and truly beaten by 30 points to 9 by a team which was superior to them in every department of the game. Newton played gamely throughout and did not disgrace themselves, but their display revealed that they have to rise to a higher plane before they will be a vital force in the competition. At times Newton had the opposition bustled, but after the first ten minutes or so it was apparent which side would win. Indeed, it was just a question of how many .points Richmond would win by. The margin of difference at the end just about represents the merits of the two teams on the day. Newton did their best in the first spell and with bustling tactics they held the opposition to a lead of only 12 points to 5 at the interval. Periodically they troubled Richmond in the second spell, but the latter generally had the game well in hand and would have scored more often than they did but for mistakes at the business end. Where Richmond's superiority was most pronounced was in their backing up and general team work. Forwards like Leod and Mitchell were ever ready to chime into passing bouts and send out a long pass from the loose, while others, such as J. Satherley and Broadhead, were always on hand when there was hard work to be done. Satherley, -incidentally., played one of his best games to date and scored twice as a result of fine breakaways. The Richmond backs teamed well, with Bickerton, Greenwood and W. Tittleton taking the principal honours. Bickerton once more showed just what a fine club man he is and his backing up was a shining example to all other backs in the code. His nip and pace added thrust to many a Richmond movement.. It was noticeable on one occasion that after sending the ball along he was there to take two other passes in one passing bout —truly a will-o'-the-wisp effort. Futaell, the Richmond fullback, once more emerged with laurels thick upon him and got through, an abundance of work with credit. The Newton forwards worked with a will from start to finish and in the tight they measured up well with their opponents' sextet. Outstanding for an excellent display was McNeight. He made several great breakaways which were deserving of more success. Others who gave good accounts of themselves were Ginders and Fraser. The Brimble brothers were a lively pair of backs near the scrum, but the remainder of the backs rarely rose to the heights which were required to match the cohesion of the Richmond chain. Much of their work was of an individual nature and too often Richmond , were presented with opportunities to open up play by the backs kicking through instead of sending the -ball along; Demp«ey, the full-back, fielded well and kicked with- judgment, ' but was too slower at times in getting the ball away. Generally speaking, the game was disappointing for a championship final, but it revealed Richmond as a Side which is ready for the knock-out competition and the more Btrenuous games ahead before finis can be written to the 1937 season. DEFEAT OF MANUKAIX. ■ The absence of Watfene,. Broughton, Hem! and E. Chnne meant that Mahukatt took the field against City with a weakened team. They were defeated by 23 points to 20 after a match that was fairly even. It was not a very attractive exhibition, and the back play of both sides was often at faulti The teams were even with ten points at the Interval, and the City lead came near the end. On the day the teams were evenly, matched, but, as City maintained their improved form and team play, Manukau at no stage worked like a mnchine. In their forwards Gault plaved well all the way, while in the open play P.rodriek was outstanding, and his strong running was often a menace to City. The absence of leading backs meant a Manukau reshuffle. The role of full-back was thrust on Wilson, and, after a shaky start, he played well and confidently. Allen showed a nice turn of speed on the wing, while T. Chase showed up with speed and elusive running. In Quality the City back play was even, with Hutchinson the brightest and sharpest of the lot on attack. City's real strength lay In their forwards. Raymond played an outstanding game, with good support from Mataira and Donald, tiie latter having a field day as a goal kicker. SIXTY POINTS SHARED. The fact that 00 points were scored In the Mount Albert-North Shore match, and that the former's margin at the end was 10, showed that there was something lacking with the defence of both teams. It was one of those fast, open, care-free games in which nothing mattered Very much. From start to finish there was steady scoring. Mount Albert had eight points on in a couple of minutes, runaway tries by McCallum who, with a clear road, is not likely to be overhauled by any opponent in Auckland. North Shore began to share the points as the game went along, but at one stage in the second half Mount Albert rose suddenly to great heights in team play, and three tries came in rapid succession, the result of perfect combination and attack launched at full speed. Crouch played well at full-back for the winners, McCallum was brilliant at wing-three-quarter and Watkins played a lively and attractive game at the base- of the scrum, sending away his passes- with speed and accuracy. Satherley, Shadbolt and Herring showed up well in the Mount Albert forwards. There was a lack of combination about the Shore back play, and the best worlr was of an individual Smith in the centre gave a fine all-rdund display, and both Zane and Bennetts did good work at times. Kerr was as sound as usual at full-back and kicked with good length and judgment. On three occasions he made good attempts at field goals, and each time went very close to success. The Shore forward play was -sound and good all the way. hut often when they had done their share their inside backs could not turn an opportunity to the best account.

LUCK WITH MARIST. The luck was with Marist when they met Ponsonby in the curtain-raiser on No. 1 ground and gained a win by 17 points to 8 after leading by 10 points to 8 at the interval. One of their tries appeared to be scored from a knock-on and Ponsonby seemed to score a try in the eecond spell winch was disallowed. The refereeing on occasions met with the disfavour of a section of the crowd. With Marist going all out to maintain their position second equal with Mount Albert on the championship ladder, the game was keenly fought but there was little between the teams. ine torwards had a great tussle and honours with them were fairly evenly distributed. For Ponsonby Davis and Morgan were outstanding and besides working throughout In the tight showed appreciation of their backs and whipped the ball away at every available opportunity. This pair of fine grafters were well supported by Cootes and Keane. The Marist captain, Anderson, was an inepira-

tion to his pack, and apart from teaming well with his backs was conspicuous for fast raiding in the loose. Other Marist forwards who were always on hand when there was work to be done were Breed and Finlayson. Haslam made a welcome return in the Marist backs and, although not ae thrustful as usual, was sound on defence. His ability to eilence Kay, his vis-a-vis in the centre berth, and fine appreciation of positional play were invaluable to his side. McLaren, the first five-eighth, again got through a wealth of good work with credit. He defended resolutely and round the gap with well-directed kicks. A solid type of player, McLaren has yet to curb a tendency to kick through when a pase to his supports would possibly serve his side better. Of the wingers Midgley was again the pick and in possession he was always a source of danger to the opposition. Glover gave splendid service at full-back and rarely did the wrong thing. On the other hand, the versatile Ponsonby back Jones had a day off as custodian. Black, the half-back, did many fine things and sent the ball along crisply when opportunity afforded, while Stockley in the five-eighths line was always looking for the VFa IUB \ Ml»J>andlije marred an otherwise and Riley, the wingers, were always ready latter being the more resourceful and frequently reversing movements to good effect.

GRADE GAMES. SENIOR B. Papakura 23, beat Richmond 5. i THIRD GRADE. Ellerslle 27, beat Richmond 2. FOURTH GRADE. Richmond 13, beat Gleuora 2. FIFTH GRADE. Otahuhu 17, beat Richmond 5. SIXTH GRADE. Green Lane 5, beat Mount Albert 2. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. SENIORS. Auckland 12. beat Northland 5. Seven-a-side.—Hikurangl 3, beat Auckland 0. INTERMEDIATES. Avondale 10, beat Mount Albert 3. Newton 8, beat Otahuhu 3. JUNIORS. Final.—Newton A, G, beat NortLcote 3. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HAMILTON. Marist (Auckland) 17, beat Albion 11. HUNTLY. ' A fast and interesting League match between Taranakl and South Auckland resulted In a win for South Auckland by 18 points to 17. Scorers for South Auckland were Hall (Ngaruawaliia), Beadle (Huntly), D. Pitt (Pukemiro), and Hilton (Huntly South). Three goals were kicked by G. Moyes. For Taranakl Stroud, Lewis and Mcßoberts scored tries, and four goalß were kicked by Fraser. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CANTERBURY. Blackball 18. beat Sydenham 7. Hornby 13. drew with Linwood 13. WELLINGTON. - St. George 13, beat Central 11. ? SEVEN-A-SIDE GAMES. Prior to the'.commencement of the maiii game at Carlaw l'ark a bright schoolboys' seven-a-slde final was staged by the Newton and Northcote teams. Newton won by 6 points to 3. • During the interval the Hikurapiri schoolboys' seven-a-«ide team played a scoreless tiraw with the Auckland schoolboys' representative seven. SCHOOLBOYS' BANNER. AUCKLAND RETAINS TROPHY. The challengers, Northland schoolboys, were beatwi by Auckland (holders) in a bright game on Saturday at Carlaw Park. The finish of the local boys were too much for the visitors, the score being 12 to 3. Tlie scorers for Auckland were Taylor and White tries, while Lakey converted one and kicked two penalty I. McDonald secured Northland's point?. = I