LEAGUE GAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 124, 29 May 1939, Page 12

LEAGUE GAMES.

MT. ALBERT LEAD. PONSONB\ PLAY WELL. DEFEAT OF RICHMOND. In bright weather, and in the best of playing conditions, the Auckland Rugby Leagues senior championship was advanced . another etage on Saturday when Pnnsonby, with good team-play, defeated a strong Richmond side. Although City held their own in the early stapo, Mount Albert, in the end, won ' fairly easily, and retained their place at the head of the competition table. Xortli Shore easily defeated Papakura, and Newton finished ahead of Maniikau. Results -were: — Ponsonby 14. v. Richmond 10. Mount Albert 18. v. City 7. North Shore 21. v. Papakura 0. Xcwton 16, v. Manuknu 10. With only one more series to be played before the end of the first round the positions are: —■ Points P. W. \j. v>. F. A. Pts.

I'apakura has the bye next Saturday. PONSONBY COMBINE. Combining we'll, and displaying commendable enterprise, l'misonhy fully deserved to defeat Richmond by a four points' margin. although Mm , latter played Moundly all the way. :iml ;:t one stage, near the end. gave a remarkable glimpse of high-clas* team-play. The appearance of the niui'h discussed l>. Solomon for the first time in a f'nrlnw I'ark match was an item ■<[ considerable interest to spectators. Every credit was (riven for his football ability, but opinion was L-eneral that if hi' is |o be played as a scrum half lie will not be able to give the .service thai lie i< capable of. Solomon can play anywhere in the hack*, hut :t would be better to play him in the fiveeighths line where his eye for an oiH-nltlK and quick sense of p,,si I i.>i>.-11 play would give him a belter chance In exploit bis exceptional talent. Solomon's covering defence was the best feature of his display against I'onsonby. In attack 1 pencil up the play intelligently, and at limes showed commendable judgment in not giving the hall to a support covered by a murker, a fault that ir, fairly common in League, halfbark play. When Solomon sent the ball away the Richmond inside hacks played in a dinjointed way. anil appeared all through the day unable to overcome the I'onsonby closeup defence, but on rare occasions Mills was able to demonstrate his exceptional pace on the win a, and at full Lack l'urnell fielded faultlessly and gave a very convincing display. McLeod. Devine. and Mitchell, up to the time he was hurt, were the best of the Richmond pack. Tin' l'onsonhy hack attack carried great si I. Kay al second five-eighth wa.- bralI i<l i> t on occasion*, but played in an unortbdi.x way that at lime-; led to trouble. McManiK ran with speed and determination, ainl Kiley played up to the form which -■lamps him as being one of the best players in the name. The I'onsonby' forward play wns even and good, all contributing an equal share to the sii.-.e-.s of the day. Witli a dependable goal-kicker on the fide the I'onsonby score would have been greater. The number of pun version chances missed suggested that Ponsolihy could be (onsiilerahlv strengthened in that respect. Kiley. Morgan <l!i anil Middleion scored for I'onfinby. Kay converting one try. Solomon and Metcall'e scored tries for Richmond. Furnell converted one, and Solomon kicked a penalty goal. MANUKAU ERRATIC. Lack of combination was the cause of Manukaus downfall on Saturday when Ihey were defeated by Newton by If, points to 10. Then, wer-e Hashes of individual brilliance throughout the game, but New- j ton's eonsistencv was too much for their erratic opponents. Without Hemi's line defensive play at full-back the margin between the two teams would have been greater. For the victorious Newton team Wilfrid and E. Brimhle combined well from the base of the scrum and were favoured by Hie superior hooking of their forwards, who consistently gained possession of the ball. Manukau's half and first five-eighth. Mahima and Walter ' R-riinble. also went well, but diil not have the same opportunities. Stephens, on the wing for Newton, showed speed and determination and was always dangerous when in possession. Anions; the Newton forwards Quirke and Anderson were always prominent, while Shilton and Brodrick stood out anions the opposing pack. Newton's points eame from tries by Stephens (lit. McKen/.ie and Sander, a conversion by W. Rrimble and a penalty hy Anderson, For Manukau Walter Rrimble and Awhitu scored, while H-tii! converted one try and kicked a penalty goal. DETERMINED PLAY. Showing remarkable powers of recovering and finishing in characteristic manner. Mount Albert preserved Ilielr position at the head of the League table and won by a comfortable margin from City. l"p to a stage City made a e/T.d Hullf of it and held their 'own. bn> the better Mount Albert team nlay «nd quick appreciation of scoring chances was eventually the deciding factor. The City back nlay was better in attack than in previous matches for the reason that Whittle and McKinncy combined well and lioth showed cleverness in varying their tactics. Rata played brilliantly in the centre and Gould showed speed and enterprise on the wins. Airey gave splendid service as hooker ami helped City a lot by winning a fair share of the ball from set scrums, while Mataira and Donald showed continuance I of form which if maintained should bring, them close to representative selection in | the big matches later. In the Mount Albert hacks the Walker-Banliam-Ponaldson combination worked effectively. Walker sending out his passes with snap and speed. Banham playing in a way that suggested that he is working up to the high standard he revealed last season, and Donald.--on in attack sighting and taking the gap in a way that riddled the City defence at times. And behind them was speed in abundance, both Ilardgrave and Mclnnarney making spectacular runs. The Mount Albert forwards plnyeil their usual assertive frame and with Cameron the former New South Wales player, back, they were able to Held their best forward division. Fur Mount Albert tries were scored by Walker. I.eatherbarrow. Hardgravc anil Banham. Donaldson converted one try and kicked a penalty goal. Leatherbarruw converted one iry. Hapi scored a try for City and Rata converted it. Hutchinson kicked a penalty goal. SMITH'S FINE KICKING. Although Papakura improved in the second spell, they were no match for :North Shore in the early game on No. ground, and the latter in the end rattled on lil points. Sixteen of these points were registered in the first Spell, when Shore had the wind behind them anil .1. Smith was in his brightest kicking mood. Indeed, it was largely Smiths kicking which made the margin between the teams so wide. His bag for the day was three

berth for Shore in the absence of v Scott, played soundly, while Lash an. so went well at full-back. Adjodr the forwards men who shone for North Shore as ¥ n d H^ rP a r" d f or iU Nor n th Shore, apart from Scott "ere .Tonrs. K. Scott and Asnian. each of whom notched a try. GRADE GAMES. SENIOR RESERVE. Xowton 7. beat Mannkau 6. Richmond 20. heat Ponsonhy 0. T'.ipnkiira 14. beat Shore S. Mount Albert 28, beat City ». SENIOR B. Oroen I-ane 12, beat Ellerslie 11. Point Chevalier 11. beat R.V. 6. Otahulni 24, beat Northcote 0. THIRD GRADE. OtnhuhH 21. beat Mount Albert 0. PukPiniro 7. beat Papakura 5. Marist 56, beat Newmarket 0. Citv A 6. beat Ellerslie 3. City 1(1. beat Point Clrevalier 2. Newton 7 beat Manukau 0. R.V. 3, drew with North Shore c. FOfRTH OBADE. Otahuhn 7. beat Ponsonby 4. Papnkurn 13. l>e--'t Manukau 3. Mount Albert n. beat City 2. Ilifliniond r>4. beat North Shore 0. Green Lime S. beat Northcote 0. FIFTH GRAPE. Mjirist ". beat Newmarket 0. Point Cliovalier 0. beat Olenora 0. Richmond 38, beat Manukau 0. sixth guaih:. North Slioro 36, beat Mount Albert 7. Richmond S, beat Ellerslie 0. City C, boat Otahuhu 0. SEVENTH GRADE. Richmond 0. beat Ponsonby 5. Papakma 2S. beat Northcote 0. Point Chevalier 6, beat City 0. SCHOOLBOYS. SENIOR GRADE. Mount Albert 22, beat North Shore 0. Ni'Wtnn 27. Seat Avondale 0. Northcot<> (>, beat Ellerslie 2. INTERMEDIATE GRADE. I Ponsonby 5, beat Richmond 0. Newton 0. drew with Point Chevalier 0. sr. Patrick's 18, beat Manukau 0. Newmarket 20. beat North Shore 0. Ellerslie 15, beat Green Lane 0. JUNIOR GRADE. Point Chevalier 17, beat St. Patricks 0. Green Lane l>2, beat Manukau 0. SEVEN-A-SIDK GRAJ>B. Papakura 9, beat North Shore 0. Manukau 'J beat, Newton 0. Richmond U, drew with Newton 0. GAMES IN SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Hornby 16, drew with Addington 16. Waimairi 12, beat Lin wood 3. WELLINGTON. Miranmr 12, beat Newtown 5. Central IS, beat St. George 11.

NEXT MONDAY'S HEPS.

PAKKHAS VERSUS MAORIS. The lo.iiii to represent the Pakehas in the. niatcli against the Maoris at Carlaw Park (in June 7> is:— Full-bark : J. Smith (North Shore). Three-quarters: Nurse (Ponsonby), Rilpy (I'iMisoiib.v i. Mclnnarney (Mount Albert). Kive-eijrhths : Banhani, captain (Mount Albert), Kay (Ponsonby). Half-back: Sterling (North Shore). Forwards: Shadbolt (Mount Albert). LoathPrbarrow (Mount Albert), Gault (Mauukaiil. Horrin? (Mount Albert), Gunning (Mount Albert). Paterson (Ponsonby). Reserves. —Forwards : Jones, E. Morgan. Backs: Walker, V. Scott. An Richmond and Marist will be playing a championship game as the curtain-raiser, mi iilavcrs li,i\e been chosen from these tfttuns for the representative game. Players selected who are not available are asked to report at the League headquarters jxnt later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

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