ROOPE ROOSTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 214, 11 September 1939, Page 11

ROOPE ROOSTER.

SEMI-FINAL MATCHES. MT. ALBERT AND MARIST WIN. Under good conditions the Rugby League's semi-finals of the Roope Rooster competition were played on Saturday, Maii.-t having a very easy win over Manukau. and Mount Albert having to play a great uphill game to win by a single point from Richmond. In the Plielan Shield match at Papaknra, Newton beat the home team by a close margin. Results were: — Mount Albert 22. v. Richmond 21. Marist 31. v. Mannkau 15. Newton 14, v. Papakura 12. MOUNT ALBERT RECOVERY. Seven points down at the interval against Richmond. Mount Albert staged a big recovery ami in the last minute of play fors»il into the lead to win by a single point. It was an exciting" climax to a keenly contested match and the winners owed a iot to Donaldson, their second tjve-eii-'hth. who showed attacking brilliance in his play ami kicked some remarkable goals, including the vital one which gave Mount Albert victory. With forward sets evenly matched for most of Ibe play and Richmond superior at times in getting possession from set scrums, the issue lay with the backs. Walker gave a good scrum service for Mount Albert and got his passes away well. Cato. who was making his first appearance in the League game, showed promise and aihilily to draw his marker, and Donaldson was in his best form. Yet the Mount Albert centre work was not good at times and that hampered the play of good wings in Ilardgrave anil Donnelly. Hardgrave got several chances to show his great pace and ability to make headway. McLachlan played his usual good game at full-back and was much better than Magili, the Richmond man. Webb played brilliantly behind the Richmond scrum and got the ball away with telling passes to Williams, the pair forming a very effective combination. Potter, next in line, was sound, but Graham, in the centre, mixed occasional briliianee with unreliability, although one try he got had the hallmark of real class. Bramley and Kronfeld played well on the wings, but the ball did not go to them in the way that it should, the Richmond backs not being a wellbalanced lot. Richmond forwards were without Pevine and McLeod. yet they gave one of their best displays of the season, with Satlierley and A. Bmadhead the best. The pick of the Mount Albert forwards were Sliailbolt. Gunning and Cameron, the trio being great in both -close and open plnv.

There was some remarkable goal-kicking in tlie match, Donaldson kicking fiye for Mount Albert and Wehb landing six for Ifirhiiiond. one of the latter's from near lialf-way being of tljt' Hemi kind. l'"or Mount Albert tries were scored by [■Mining, Donnelly, Hard grave and Do>iftlii<on. Donaldson uoyerted two and kicked three penalty goals. For Hichmond tries were scored liy Metcalfe. A. ftrnadhcad and Graham. IVehh converting three and kicking three •enalty goals.

DEVASTATING FINISH. The speed and enterprise of Marist backs disorganised the Mauukau defence in the early game at Carlaw Park. In spite of a devastating finish by the latter side, in which they put on 11 points in ten minutes. Marist had piled up too big a lc;id to he overtaken and earned the right to play off the final of the Roope Rooster next week.

For Marist Matthews (3). Hudson (1>), Midgley and Bnreliard scored tries, five of which were converted by Anderson. Manuka's points oijne from trios by Magtjire. Awtiitu and Kaulioa. Wiberg converted one, while Watene kicked two penalty goals.

NEWTON'S NARROW WIN. Good play, and a close contest, marked a match at I'apukura for the Plielan Shield between Newton and tilt; home team, Newton beating Papakura by 14 points to For Newton tries were scored l>y Sanders (2). Brady and Simpson, and IX'inpsev, the Newton lull-back, kicked a Jield goal. Fogarly and Hosken scored tries for I'apakura. Mcl lines, who was in good goal-kicking furui, converted both tries, and also kicked a penalty goal.