Bright League Games

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 78, 3 April 1939, Page 17

Bright League Games

SEASON OPENS. SENIOR MATCHES. NO SURPRISES CAUSED. NUMBER OF NEW FACES. Becaut-e of the big programme ahead, including matches with overseas club combinations and trials for choosing the New Zealand team for a tour of England and France, the Auckland Rugby League commenced its 1939 season on Saturday. It was an early start, and an auspicious one, for not only did the players exhibit keenness, but a particularly large crowd attended at Carlaw Park to enthuse over the play. The weather was fine and the grounds in good order, but a trifle on the hard side, although watered to make the first knocks of the eeason a little less severe. After Mr. Ivan Culpau, who this year is completing 21 years as secretary of the Auckland Rugby League, had kicked of both in the early and late games, the players went to it with a will, and four keenly-contested games resulted. In the main attraction of the day City fully extended Richmond, last season's champion of champions, while in the curtainraiser oh this ground Mount Albert proved their superiority over Papakura to win with 14 points to spare. The 1938 champions, Marist. on No. 2 ground, revealed that they will again be a power in the competitions by paining a clear-cut win over Newton, while Ponsonby outpointed Mnnukiu in a high-ecoring match. There were a number of new faces in the various teams, while many of the stars of the past few seasons were out again in full force. Notable among the newcomers was H. M. Milliken, the Canterbury Rugby representative and All Black, who played in the forwards for Papakura. wliile a former All Black- in Mataira 'returned to the City fold after a year at Tnkomani Bay, bigger and better than ever. Results were as follows:— ! Richmond 15, beat City 14. Mount Albert 24. beat Papakura 10. Marist 13, beat Newton 5. Ponsonby 29. beat Manukau 22. A Single Point to Spare. Richmond were a trifle lucky to Ret the decision by 15 points to 14 over City in the main attraction of the day. Territorially City had the better of the exchanges, but Richmond, with just that little bit of extra finish, were able to carry the day and turn a half-time deficit of 9 points to 5 into a win by the slen-

derest of margins. The game was fought at a fast pace, and for a first game of the season the players on both sides stayed the distance remarkably well. Two penalty kicks by Greer, a newcomer from Canterbury, raised City's first points, and then Hutchinson, City's half-back, nipped across to score. Greer converted, and City were nine points up. Before the interval Mitchell sailed across for Richmond and Devine goaled, to make the half-time score: City 9, Richmond 5. The second spell was not many minutes old when Mills, Richmond's winger, gathered a weak City clearing kick, and went in practically unopposed. Fortunes fluctuated until Mills finished off a Richmond passing bout to score another try, which Devine converted. City fought back, and were rewarded when Mataira threw hie huge bulk over the line for a try. Greer converted, to make the score: Richmond 15, City 14. There was no further score. Mr. S. Billman was referee. Better Combination Tells. Although Manukairs traditionally buoyant, unorthodox play offered a strong challenge, Poneonby proved the value of steady combination in their victory in the main game on No. 2 ground. Admittedly they took some time to settle down, but they would have been comfortably in the lead at half time had it not been for a temporary weakness in goal-kicking. It was a bright match, in which both teams gave a promise of good things to come. Tries for Ponsonby were scored by Flanagan, Riley, Kay (2), Simpson (2) and Campbell, while Kay kicked a penalty sroal and three conversions, thus scoring 14 of Ponsonby's 29 points. For Manukau Broughton, Brodrick. Hapi and Marsh scored tries, and T. Chase added 10 points with three penalty goals and two conversions. Marist Backs Good. Marist's backs were too good for Newton in the early game on No. 2 ground. The efforts of the Newton pack, good they were, were wasted when the bah reached the backs, and Marist had a ■welldeserved win by 13 points to 5. Haslam. though reported last year ae "definitely retired," turned out again and led the srreen backs in fine etyle. Tries for Marist were scored by Anderson, Midgley and Grotte, Anderson kicking a and converting his own try. Newton's score came from a try by Blacklaws and a penalty by Brimble. Mount Albert's Clear Win. The pace and combination of the Mount Albert backs proved too much for Papakura, who were defeated by 24 points to 10. Although the forwards held their own. the losing side's back line seldom came into action .is a unit. Fogarty and Evans led the pack, and in the backs McKay, former Canterbury winger, played well, though he was starved of the ball. Tries were scored for Mount Albert by Wilson (2), Donaldson (2), Hargreaves and Mclnnarney, while Herring converted two and Cowley kicked a penalty. Cooke scored all 10 points for Papakura with • penalty goals.