MANUKAU DEFEATED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 7 June 1938, Page 16

MANUKAU DEFEATED.

SURPRISE FOR LEADERS. PAPAKURA'S FIRST WIN. Reward for persistencj- in the face of a sequence of defeats came to Papakura on Saturday, when they got their first win of the season, and to general surprise at the expense of Manukau, one of the leading teams in the League senior championship. It is true that Manukau has contributed liberally to the ranks of the New Zealand team now in Australia, and Manukau's difficulty was to replace players of the calibre of Hemi, R. Chase, W. Brimble, A. Gault and J. Brodrick. Yet Manukau, witn ample reserves to draw on, put a good team in the fiild. Papakura. however, played an inspired game, and richly deserved to win, even although the margin was but three points. All through the season Papakura have played in a bright and colourful way, the forwards have fully held their own with the best they have met. and the backs have teamed well, although the combination has been at fault at times. On Saturday Fogarty, who has proved himself to be one of the best forwards in the game, led the pack in open play in a dashing way. Crocker opened up the game well from set positions, and the Papakura backs showed much improved team play. Manukau had several backs who stood out for consistently good work. T. Chase, at full-back, gave a finished display, Wilson attacked gamely on the wing, and Panapa, the North Auckland player, showed form that should assure him of a* permanent and fixed position in the team. There was no Brodrick to lead the forwards in raiding play, but Ririnui, the East Coast player, is settling down to give good service, and the side has an outstanding hooker in McGuire.

| Marist Defeat Ponsonby. i The main game between Marist and Ponsonby produced one of the hardest matches of the present season, with a willingness at times in the s o <'oui half which called for restraint and firmer action by the referee. There were instances of playing the man and not the ball, and when that is allowed to go on the only result is frayed tempers and trouble. Viewed purely from the football angle weak place-kicking was a feature. In the absence of Anderson, away with the New Zealand team. Marist had nobody who appeared fairly certain of gathorine goal points, and in the absence of Schroeder, the King Country player, Ponsonby were in a similar plight. Both teams had 6even points up a half-time. In the second half Marist added two unconverted tries, the result of showing the necessary finish when the chance came. With the forward play so even, it was obvious that the issue would lie with the backs, but despite much incessant thrust the Marist defence was equal to the occasion. Haslam in the centre repeatedly checking Ponsonby movements, with Glover at fullback giving 'a display that

was up io repf*JS«nVative standard. The wonderful defence of that pair often saved the Marist tryline. Single Point Margin. With a contribution of two players to the New Zealand team Newton had to fill their key position of halfback with a reserve grade player and find somebody to take the place of McXeight in the scrum. There was good balance in the Newton play, but they were fortunate to get the single winning point. Duncan, the big Newton wing, is making good headway in the game, and is a type of player that should be developed. The play did not flow to his wing as a rule, but he showed the value of weight and speed allied to determination. The game of E. Brimble at first five-eighth was a feature of the game, and there are many good judges who considered that he should have had a place iu the New Zealand team. V. Scott played splendidly at fullback for Shore, and Bennetts got a try when he had very little room to work in. and every ounce of determination was necessary to get him across in. time. Jones caught the eye in the Shore van as a tireless worker. Although Mount Albert defeated City by a comfortable margin, the City team play was good, and there has been remarkable improvement since Banham, the player-coach, has been added to the side. For clever constructive play Banham has no equal in Auckland, and as five-eighth play has not been particularly strong in Auckland in recent years there is plenty of room for educational work. Stanaway. a hard-running threequarter from the Northern Wairoa. made his initial appearance in the City backs, and should be an acquisition. Richmond had a home day. their visitors being the Huntly team from the Lower Waikato. The Huntly team beat their hosts by a comfortable maigin through virile forward play, plus occasional bright individual effort in the backs.