LEAGUE'CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 180, 2 August 1938, Page 17

LEAGUE'CODE.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.

MARIST IN THE LEAD.

HEMI HAS DAT OUT.

The value of. having a champion goalkicker on the side was exemplified in the Richmond match with Manukau on Saturday when Hetni, who was the outstanding back on tHfe' recent. League. tour of Australia, kicked three, penalty goals in quick succession in the second half of the match to enable Manukau <-to draw with their opponents. Considering the heavy ground, it was a rare achievement. Xoue were particularly easy shots, and one, on account of the angle, was exceedingly difficult. But for Hemi Manukau would have been defeated, as they did not cross the Richmond try-line.

Although the ground was in a very heavy state in places, the match was fast, surprisingly open, and the .handling on occasions was excellent.

Forward the teams were fairly evenly matched, but the Richmond backs. were more at home in the mud than most of the Mamikau backs, and it is evident for the best of their blight combined phrjr the latter would prefer dry ball conditions. Surprisingly good combined play under the circumstances brought the Richmond opening score. It started with a strong side-line dash by Mills, who, when he met a converging defence, sent the ball in-field, and others took up the running. There was a prospective breakdown when the ball went to the ground, but McLeod gathered it up without losing pace and finally Mille was up again in position for the last paes to cross wide out. Devine with a clean break away and the ball at his foot made the next Richmond try possible, and again McLeod with speed up managed to gather the ball off the. ground, this time to send it on to G. Tittlettm for a runaway try. Thus McLeod had a big part in both of the Richmond scores. A draw was a fair criterion of the full run of the piny. The game was desperately hard fought in the final stage and the Mamikau defence was tested to the utmost.

Midway in the first half Richmond lost Brondhend. through injury, and a minute later Mills had to be carried off with concussion. The Richmond winger dived in to tuckle when Brodrick broke nway with the ball, and although he brought his opponent clown heavily, he got a hard knock in the process. Bramley Shines.

One of the brightest features of the Richmond back play was the exhibition given by Bramley at "full-back, who handled splendidly, kicked with judgment and showed remarkable pace. Solidity was the general keynote of the other, backs, W. Tittleton playing a fine allround game with a splendid defence, and Wiitkins opened out the play Well from the base of the scrniMW.lven opportunity came. McL.eod was a-great forward with all-round ;play and Devfhe./the ex-Welling-ton forward* gave his most convincing display to date, being "the outstanding player in the .loose.

Brodrick was again the best Manukau loosfe forward, but Ririnui and McGuire were better pack workers,. Whye also showed Tip well at timed, but he loet a good ..scoring, chance-. , oh one- occasion by not "passing when he came to the Richmond full-back.. when there ' was' good support at hand. The Maniikau backs could not rise above the conditions to give their best in combined attacking play, but there was occasional individual work of merit. Mnhima seemed quite at home in the heavy going, Walter Brimble made a couple of characteristic straight breaks through the opposition, and the Chase pair played well in a solid way. Apart from his great goal-kicking Hemi filled the post of last line of defence in good fashion -#a£er at fault." 'But it -n*§R Hemi's go'al-kirkinff which threw into Telief what Richmond lacked in the same department of the game. They bad nobodv to try shots from a distance that would seem fairly e-asy to the Mnrinknu full-back, and they had to resort w*p-and-under tactics. Sistons' Seven Points.

Failure on the part of the Poneonby backs to come up to expectations made the difference between a win and a lose against Newton, although the margin was fairly narrow. Newton's outstanding player on the day was Siesons, in the five-eighth position. He got a try, converted it, and also kicked a penalty goal. He had the distinction of getting all the points for hie side. The Brinible brothers' Play close to the scrum was not as convincing ae usual, but D. McKenzie in the centre ran coirimendably etrai<»ht, and Dejnpeey at full-back gave a fine exhibition or poeitional play. Qindem, Nathan and McNeight were a good trio in the Newton forwards.

. The absence of .Kay: from the Poneonby backs led to eptne rearrangement, And a "junior, Shilling, vu tried out ofl the wing, there to- play a good game. Dormer and Martin, two of the other colte of, the side, also played convincing jjame*, ."but the best of the lot was Cumf/focll in the centre, -who eeemed quite untroubled by the heavy going. Riley, in the five-eighth line, showed the most lftcieiVe dfleh of the I'onsonby backs, but was inclined at timee to take the line of least resistance and run cross-field instead of trying to cut through. Petersen, Morgan and Schroeder played W(MI in the Plineonby forwards. The latter started ae a full-back, but now looks like developing into » good forward. ~ Tlie match between City and Mariet was marred by a big crop of casualties in the ranks of the former team. Banhaui, the player coach, who has. had more hard knocks than .any other senior player in Auckland this. season, had to «o off, and later Rata and Jackson followed. The No. 2 ground wae in a woree State than the No. 1 ground, and there were patches in which good play was almost out of the question. Still, ■Starist looked the better side, and by winning by nine points to nil they put themselves at the head of the Chamr ttionehip. Marist have built up a good all-round side, -which is strong both in tie forwards and 'backs, and they have settled down into a. good combination. Glover again played well at full-back, and Matthews on the wing is improving oaine by game, and ie getting close to representative standard. Heshwn and Murdoch paired efficiently, and made the Mariat 'back pla*? Woods, Anderson'and BttKalich ; well, in the Market forward line, *ndi|ere alwaye Pr Asli.onr : to their backs, causetTfcy of Bftnr ham and Rata. the City^rearguard were hampered by the fact that the ball did not come to them from the set seruihe. but Hutchinson and :Hapi nlaved good ganies for the occasion-with limited.chancjE*. Wehner and Stanaway were the. ntoH impressive of the Uty forwards,

Shore Superior. Although Papakura put up a good showing-they were not hold North Shore, the latter; winning in * Mrly comfortable way. The Shore backs -were definitely eunerior, and ,M- : .Scott, Ii; Scott and V. Scott were all lmpres.sive;. The Shore forward play was solid and/^srood. Cooke wae the beet of the Papakura backs, but there wae pood help from Cossey and Crocker on occasion*?. The Papakura pack worked hard, as usual, and Fogarty wae prominent all the day for good work. In general the Papakura display was ■much"in keeping with previous exhibitions. They have good forward* of the mobile kind, but the Papakura back play hae not yet reached the level in team work that eome of the other "teams show, although the material is promising enough, and it seem a that all that is really neceeearr is coaching and de-velop-»en£ <» the fJigH line*; ;V: : .