LEAGUE KNOCK-OUT

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 217, 13 September 1937, Page 12

LEAGUE KNOCK-OUT

THE LAST TWO. MARIST AND PONSONBY. RICHMOND BEATEN AGAIN. The exhibitions provided by the semifinalists in the Auckland Rugby League's knock-out competition for the Roope Rooster on Saturday were disappointing, and the play was not of the high order that was anticipated with the experience the players have had during the season. Mistakes in handling were frequent, and the teams rarely combined in those passing movements which make the League game so fascinating. The principal game of the day was between Marist and City, and after a ragged display Marist emerged the victors by a decisive margin. City disappointed their supporters, and were only a shadow of the thirteen which eclipsed the winners of the championship, Richmond, the previous week. They were not so quick to take advantage of opportunities that came their way as in the first round of games for the silver Wyandotte, and on the day were beaten by a side which rose superior to them in every department. The other Roope Rooster match was between Ponsonby and Mount Albert, and after a fust encounter Ponsonby took the honours with points to spare. Two games were played for the Phelan Shield, allotted for competition amongst teams eliminated from the Roope Rooster contest, and also decided on the knockout principle. Both were staged on No. 2 ground. In the late game North Shore created a surprise by defeating Richmond narrowly, while in the curtain-raiser Manukau had to fight all the way to get the verdict over Newton. This was the second reverse in succession suffered by the winners of the championship, and it makes the prospects of either Ponsonby or Marist winning the champion of champions match between the winners of the Roope Rooster series and the winners of the senior championship, considerably brighter. Lower grade fixture were advanced a further stage. Results were:— ■ Roope Rooster. Marist 14, City 2. Ponsonby 21, Mount Albert 10. Phelan Shield. North Shore 15, Richmond 14. Manukau 17, Newton 15. MARIST DESERVE WIN. While the final score In the. Marlst-City match —14 points to 2 In favour of the former —perhaps does not quite represent the merits of the two teams on the day. Marist, except for odd occasions, played Ilka winners and thoroughly deserved their success. Had City risen to the occasion | {he way they did against Richmond, it 'Would have been a different tale, but unfortunately they were just the City side which finished up well down tho championship ladder. Some of the players shone In ac individual way, but this was not sufficient

to match the greater eoheslo* of the Marlst thirteen. The Marist insMe backs, McLaren and Donovan, teamed well, and this gave Haslam, the centre, opportunities which he was quick to turn to. advantage. Haslam played his usual heady game, and paved the way for two tries. In addition he defended soundly and was usually on hand when the opposition was most dangerous. At full-back Glover played splendidly, while other Marlst backs who did well were Uhlman and Midgley, the wingers. Anderson onca more led the pack in excellent style, and he was ably supported by Bakalich and Breed. Few of the City backs rose to the occasion, and Hutchinson, behind the pack, and Tawhai. the full-back, were the pick of them. Always going great guns in the forwards was Mataira. while others who were constants in the picture were Donald and H. McCarthy. WOT INSPIRING. The matches In the first round of the Phelan Shield competition were not inspiring. Broughton, Chase, Brimble and Mahima were the best backs for Manukau in their game with Newton Kangers. The forwards, without Gault, were only a shadow of the club's thirteen fielded earlier in the season. Tatana proved a likely type and young Klrkwood is a promising sort. Newton also did considerable shuffling and sadly missed the brilliant W. Brimble behind the scrum. Gibson met with injury and Beatie partnered Hill at five-eighths, while Young was a willing half-back. Outstanding was the full-back performance of King, a third grade player of great promise. Proctor, Quirke and Fraser were Newton's best packmen. SURPRISE FOR RICHMOND. / Stern forward play rather than anything in the way of enterprise contributed to the surprising defeat of a weakened Richmond team by North Shore. Bickerton, Wilkie and Furnoll were the pick of the losers' backs, who were foiled by spoiling tactics in the main. E. Mincham, however, often came into the picture. Broadhead was not a success as a three-quarter. The forwards were wall served by McLeod, Telford and Hadley, while Sowter, Barne>tt and E. Scott were the pick of Shore's vanguard, which held its own in the loose rucks. Sterling played a really fine game at fiveeighths with inadequate support, and J. Smith, the Shore centre, topped his 100 points for the season. V. Scott showed up for his full-back display and has possibilities for the position. Sheer tenacity carried North Shore to victory. PONSONBY SUPERIOR. ! Better team play and quick seizure of chances gave Ponsonby a comfortable victory over Mount Albert. Forward the teams were well matched, but there was a better thrust and understanding about the Ponsonby backs, who played well individually, and as a combination. Kay's great pace in the centre made some fine openings, and Kiley on the wing was brilliant. Black showed enterprise at half-back, and got one of the best tries of the match with a penetrative solo effort Pickrang stood out as the mo3t impressive forward in the game. On the Mount Albert side Watkins gave good service at half, and Cranch played well at full-back, while the great pace of McCallum on the wing was occasionally in evidence. The Mount Albert play was generally sound all the way, but it was not quite good enough to pull the side through in the face of the opposition that they met. Gunning and Satherley showed up well in the Mount Albert vanguard. PAPAKURA V. HUNTLY. The Papakura senior B team. Journeyed to Huntly at the week-end and played Huntly in Davles' Park. Papakura won by 12 to 2. '