SHORE FORWARDS GREAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 148, 26 June 1939, Page 13

SHORE FORWARDS GREAT.

Possession of the ball is the main requirement for success in League football and the real test is forward play. Expectations that the game between North Shore and Richmond would provide a close match were fully realised and Shore have to thank a splendid set of forwards for being able to emerge the vict»rs, even although the margin was only one of a single point. All the way Shore relied on their forwards, but called on their backs to give every ounce of defensive help. Richmond tried to make it a game of open play and their methods were more attractive to a crowd which preferred open football. The .Shore victory was a very popular one nevertheless.

Two backs stood out in the match, Solomon for Richmond and Smith for North snore. Solomon played a constructive game that was full of merit. He originated much. He often retrieved mistakes which his supports made. His play was marked "? .* rar e finesse which a more distinguished company might, have turned to account. Smith played the smooth, polished game which is expected of the best League full-back in New Zealand, fielding cleanly placing his kicks with judgment, tackling unerringly and often running his supports into better position.

As the Shore backs set out all day to make it a defensive game their threequarters were rarely seen in attack, but Sterling handed out his passes well and was always alert, and on the wings Bennetts and Chatham seldom got the kind of chance that League wings like, although Chatham did on a couple of occasions show pace and dash.

The Shore forwards were souna, solid and even. E. Scott got the opportunist try which really won the match for North Shore, and Jones did much good work although he did not show tip quite as prominently as in some of the previous niatche*. Hapeta is a Rood hooker and as he is tire heaviest of the Auckland rakes has a chance of further and future distinction.

The Richmond forwards held their own fairly well and both Mitchell, McLeod and Devine showed enterprise in trying to get the- ball away to their backs.

Richmond suffered very much from the fact that they were without Watklns, their best half-back, and there was nobody to give the service that he Is capable of. In his place was Webb, a promoted junior, who tried hard and gave some good passes, but he ha« yet to gain the experience which is necessary for a game in which tactics must play an important part. Graham showed enterprise and ability to accelerate and cut •through. Mills and Kronfeld, the Richmond

»«5 e ?, t wP Me and enterprise, 1 at fullbftck P 1 hiTwaai he Riohl ?ond forwards been 'able £<J?t « » u £ per £ and of tho Shore six the result may have been different, biit on'the " l ™/ . th , e *J me the Richmond h Mld n . n , l)t cl £im definite superioritv, and the Richmond backs could *ot break the to mw C<! VhiC)X th «>" w « e called upSS

NEWTON'S SUCCESS CONTINUES. Maintaining the form which save them „*£ \ Fea l win over Mount A ">«rt last S^i'r,^ e^ BCOred convincingly against Ponsonby in the main game on X 0: 2 ground on Saturday Their backs showed speed and penetration on attack and- when on defence tackled ,„ fine stv]e As uglml [ he Brimble brothers were alwavs in the limelight with Walter at half-back sending out long, accurate passes, and E Brimble at second live-eighth using everv op|H>rtunity that came his wav and giving plenty of openings for his three-quarters. .Newton s centre, Sander, plaved an outstanding game and his first try was a masterpiece, the result of his quickness to grasp an opportunity and sure handling and strong running in making the most of it. The Ponsonby backs were effectively bottled up on attack, as the opposing side appeared to be right on top of them whenever they got the ball. Riley, Kay and Funnel all went well. Honours were divided in the forwards, Ponsonby gaining the ball from most of the set scrums, while Newton shaded them ill the loose. The outstanding man was Morgan of Ponsonby, who was always in the thick of it and used his speed and weight effectively to score all six points for his side. Taylor put in a great day's work for Newton, especially in the matter of tackling, while AnHerson also plaved a good game. For Newton Sander (2), and W. Brimble scored tries while W. Brimble converted two and Anderson one. Morgan scored Ponsonby's two tries.

MARIST'S EASY WIN. City's overwhelming defeat by Marist was due more to their own weakness on defence than their opponents' good plav, for neither side was in form, and altogether it was a ragged display. R. Grotte. halfaj t or ,i he wln nlng side, jstood out head and shoulders above the rest of the backs on the field, giving a brilliant display of tactics on attack and defence. Towards the ?i?i!? M* dgrf ? r sh « w «» UP well and scored I ™i™ ies c . lu succession by determined running. Simpson was the (best of City's backs, while in the forwards Matalra, until he was injured, and Wehner, were prominent. clt Marisfs score came from tries bv Midgeley (3). Halsey. Eriekson and Logan conversion by Finlayson. Simpson converted?' ty 8 ° Dly try and ald

PAPAKURA GO DOWN. ir-ive ?hfi a , St and ! xcitin « t»ssle Papakura fubilan? If Uppor i er f ever 7 reason to be Jubilant at the end of the first spell in the match against Manukau at Onehunga All h * alf the Papaya ft" Zla of d^ m,na , tPd the same, and with a lead of six points at that stage the sid#-« chances looked verv brWf !•«!. S. vast Improvement in their general olav soon reduced Papakuras lead fiX: SEffi? k^ rai fo T v infr lnsement s a were sue" ccssr ui, Herat (Manukau) and Mclnne* sine ana then the other would have a lead of a single point, but Ririnui put the istue ftroush d to Ubt Wh f n he bnsHe <> h's wav tlirough to score two splendid tries Two ü BS t» B^hf rae ?' ere long SK n S9«" «wra#&s g P v ng the > reverße Pa*s to Hemi. sr" 5 ai-sas&jaf-tts fa ku?a e !6. nal SC ° re Was: Manuk a« 24, Papa-

RESULTS IN OTHER GRADES. SENIOR RESERVE. Ponsonby L' 6. heat Newton 12. City 13, beat Marist 5 Tapakura 14, beat Manukau 5. SENIOR B. EHerslie 23. beat R V 0 Otahuhu 7, beat Green Lane 0. THIRD GRADE. Mt ah ?, h K U ? 6 i b . eat Manukau 4. M iV A i be XA \ beat EHerslie 0. City A 20. fceat Newton 10. FOURTH GRADE. S' e *^iK' a ? e r,?' £ eat Newmarket 0. Mt Albert 21, beat Ponsonby 6 Richmond 6S, beat Manukau 0. Northcote 15, beat Otahuhu 2. SIXTH GRADE. Richmond 11, beat EHerslie 5 Richmond s win assures them of the championship. UI tne Otahuhu 2, drew with City 2. SEVENTH GRADE. Ponsouby 0, drew with City 0. SCHOOLBOYS. SENIOR GRADE. n?„ r i h flP e . beat Mt - Albert 3. Otahulffi 20. beat North Shore 0 Richmond 18, beat EHerslie 2. INTERMEDIATE GRADE. EHerslie 17, beat Manukau 0 Newmarket 10, beat Shore 5 Green Lan e a, beat St. Patrick's 0. JUNIOR GRADE. Grsen Lane 6, beat Glenora 0. Northcote 27 beat Pt. Chevalier 0. Newmarket 20. beat Manukau 3. GAMES IN SOUTH. WELLINGTON. St. George 6, beat Miramar 2 Randwick 19. beat Newtown *17.