RICHMOND KEEP THE LEAD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 127, 31 May 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

RICHMOND KEEP THE LEAD

Shore Goes Down in Hard, Open Game: Ponsonby is Too Good for Mt, Albert: Marist-Newton Draw: City's Close Win

In a great struggle at Carlaw j Park this afternoon Richmond ' beat North Shore by 12 points to < 7. The match was marked by great play by the North Shore forwards and superiority of the Richmond backs. In the curtainraiser on No. 1 ground the Ponsonby interplay proved superior to that of Mt. Albert, the former winning by 11 points to 3. City beat Papakura by 11 points to 9, and Newton and Marist, with 23 points each, played a draw. * RICHMOND BACKS SHOW TO ADVANTAGE The teams were:— Richmond. —Magill, Mincham, Jack, Meltzer, Tittleton, Solomon. Webb, Davis, Hilton, A. Broadhead, Mitchell, Mcintosh, Potter. North Shore. —V. Scott, fircenwood, Smith, Wilkio, Clarke, Chatham, McArtluir, Graham, Hunt, Field, Rutherford, Napier, Petersen. Throwing their all into it with intensive play, the North Shore forwards threw Richmond hard on the defence as soon as the game opened. McArthur got a pass away to Petersen on the blind side, and the loose forward carried on until stopped by a good tackle by -Tack. The Richmond I wing was injured, and replaced by Riddell. It was hard, but not cheerful, football, with the Shore pack fighting bard to subdue the Richmond side. Then came a penalty chance to Shore, and Smith, with an accurate shot, got the first points on for his team. Shore kept raiding' in a way that made its supporters enthuse, and Smith touched another penalty goal to increase the Shore lead. There came a flash of assertive back play by Richmond, with Solomon making the first opening, and then coining in to improve the position. After a temporary hold-up, Webb kicked a beautiful angle goal from a penalty award. So far the back play of neither team had flowed with rhythm, although there was much individual effort. The Shore forwards were holding the upper hand with solid combined efforts, and the lot of Richmond was to fight hard on the defence, where Solomon's covering play was of a high order, and Magill, at fullback, was cool, resourceful and safe. There was one blight Richmond move when Jack broke clear from his own line, and Mincham ran through to Scott before transferring to Meltzer. but Scott chased the wing, and with a diving tackle saved a certain score. Richmond came again, and Webb used the dummy for an opening before passing to send Potter in to score. The half-time score was: — Richmond J North Shore * The second half opened with both forward sets fighting hard for the upper hand. Occasionally the backs were getting a chance, but generally defence was much superior to attack. Shore had an opening to get, the lead with a penalty chance. but Smith's shot was just wide of the post. Following up fast Wilkie prevented a Richmond clearance, and M.Arthur, who was up next, snapped up the ball to dive over wide and score to .put Shore in Unload. Richmond began to play to its back line in an endeavour to get ahead, with Solomon exploiting every chance to make the position better for the men outside him There was some brilliant Richnvond handling that got the ball to the wings, but the Shore defence was never wavering and at full-back Scott was faultless. Amid excitement Richmond, with Mit- j oh ell leading the forward*, fought its wav to the Shore end. and there \\ ebb kicked another penalty goal to level the score*. Richmond made great effort*) to open up its back play, with Solomon as prominent as ever, and Tittleton running hard and straight in the centre. But Richmond still met a defence that did not waver. On the other hand Shore still trusted to its forwards as the surest method of attack, with the hacks using the exploiting kick as a means of progression. Brilliant combination carried Richmond into the lead. Webb made the chance, Meltzer and Potter joined in. and the final transfer sent Mincham over wide to score. Webb converting from close to the sideline. Shore made a final daring rally and then ca.me the end: — 'Richmond 12 North Shore 7 Mr. J. Donovan was referee. ★ PONSONBY INTERPLAY ECLIPSES MT. ALBERT Territorial advantage, wi'.h Leatherbnrrow hooking closely. Clements sending the ball away sharply from the base of the scrum, and Mclnnarney penetrating sharply in the five-eighths line, marked the open phase of the game, but Ponsonby retaliation came in brilliant inter-play between Kay. Carr and Briggs. Unfortunately, the last pass to Carr was forward. Scott, the Ponsonby full-back, launched the next effort with a run deep into the Mt. Albert end, and then he sent en to Thomas, to Whitp. for the latter to score. In attack the Ponsonby backs were brilliant in their inter-play, with Kay giving sharp and deep thrust in the five-eighth line. Riley likewise was thrustful in the centre, and Carr showed speed and determination on the wing. In one Ponsonby raid Carr was sailing for the Mt. Albert line, when Mclnnarney got across and saved in a daring diving tackle. At half-time the score was: Ponsonby. 3; Mt. Albert 0. Ponsonby drew further into the lead when the teams turned over. There was a set scrum in the Mt. Albert twenty-five, and Williams got the ball away to Kay. the latter sweeping a wide pass to , Carr. who raced on a diagonal line to score at the flag. Despite the wide angle. Kay converted. Forward neither team could claim special advantage. In open play Shadbolt and Tristram were leading hard raids by the Mt. Albert forwards, but the lively inter-play of the Ponsonby backs was still the feature of an open game. All the Ponsonby backs handled in the next scoring movement. Riley fed Murphy on the wing. doubled round for the return pass, and then went through a shattered Mt. Albert defence to raise the Ponsonby score to double figures. Near the end Lonergan. the Mt. Albert full-back, fielded a clearing kick in the Ponsonby twenty-five. and. with hard and determined running, got across to score by the flag. The final score was:— Ponsonby 11 Mt. Albert 3 MAORI, TEAM TO PL" SOUTH AUCKLAND A game of considerable interest should be witnessed at Carlaw Park on Monday afternoon when the Maoris play the South Auckland representatives. The Maoris have selected a strong team for Monday, although the absence owing to a leg injury of H. Mataira will weaken the fbrwards. The South Auckland team includes several fine I players, notably Tarplutt. Beadle. Davison, a pro- . mlslng wing three-quarter. Taoho. five-eighth. 1 and Deverall. a wine three-quarter, who plaved a brilliant game at Carlaw Park last season ! against Aucklard. The Maori team will be chosen from:— Backs.—Hemi. Kendall. Butler, Chase, Te Tai R. Martin. Murray. Tawhai. Forwards.—Ririnui. W. Mataira. Marsh W. Hilton.-Tristram.. Shtlton. Rel.

MARIST AND NEWTON PLAY DRAWN GAME In a high scoring match Marist and Newton drew with 23 points each. Newton missed a winning chance in the early stages, when Kendall hung on Instead of passing to Emus. Marist had a margin of five points at half-time. Kendall's miss was a lucky escape for Marist. Both sets of forwards put vigour in their play, and Butler and Proctor led a sweeping Marist offensive, which caught Newton out of position. However, Kendall saved with a clever pick up and sent play back with a well placed kick. Marist were first to draw blood, when Donovan burst through the defence, passed to Anderson, who scored and converted. Marist 5, Newton 0. Newton got several chances in the open play, which followed a good run by Joll. supported by Burton, but there was no finish to the attack. Marist had more initiative, and from a forward dash. Simpson added a try. Anderson made a fine but unsuccessful kick at eoal. Anderson came into the picture again to score from a fast run by Barchard. Marist 11. Newton 0. From near half-way. Burton received from Watktns, made a clever opening and the speedy Emus did the rest. It was good play on Burton's part. Tredrea just missed the goal potnts, - and -rom a penalty Anderson kicked a beauty, making the scores—Marist 13. Newton 3. Emus again showed his speed and raced over near the posts for Tredrea to add the goal points. At half-time scores were: Marist " Newton u Marist soon showed their superiority and the green forwards rushed play to Newton s territory, where Barchard preyed up. races deeply through the defence, and passed it on to Anderson, who scored and converted. Showing better team w-ork. Marist consistently attacked, and Crocker, from the base of the scrum, evaded the Newton backs. Barctard "railed in support and went over■ tP score a good try. Anderson was reliable with the conversion. Marist 23. Newton 8. A few minutes later Finders headed the Newton forwards, and from a scramble. Everitt scored. Emus converted. M°Vist 23 Newton 13. The Newton forwards intused some dash into their play. Butler and Skclton raided smartly and Zmmerrnan scored. Emus again converted. Marist 23, Newton 18. G?een and Watkins Joined in p a nice passtag bout. ?o" d v Ke Ne d wton a rais d ed''moTe applause, when Emus kicked a penalty. Only three points separated tne teams A smart Newton offensive started by Watkfn™ saw Emus outpace the Marist backs to 1 equalise the scores. Tredrea missed a goal from a good position and Newton was unlucky not to win. The game ended: .... 23 Marist . 03 Newton Mr O. Chalmers was referee. CITY JUST WIN A WELL-CONTESTED GAME m NO. 2 ground. Papakura showed improved L and w-as only one point behind at halftime. Grotte. the half-back, gave victory to City by scoring a clever try in the second spell. City won by the narrow margin of two points. A long line kick by Clarke. City full-back rave the side an advantage immediately after the start, but the Papakura full-back cleared. A sweeping movement by Papakura was nearly successful, Mclnnes being well tackled on City s line A penalty to Papakura was taken by Seymour, who raised two points from a wide angle. Good play by Grotte sent City to the attack This was followed by a fast run by McManus, who scored a fine try at the corner which A. Donovan failed to convert. A beautiful movement by the Papakura backs was carried to within a few yards of City s line by R. Halsey and Hosken. Hogan came into the picture from the forwards and went over to score. Seymour converted from an easy angle. The City back line then came through in a bright movement which just when C Goulds pass went astray. Again the City backs functioned and A Donovan scored at the grandstand corner Donovan failed with the kick, but City assumed the lead a minute later when Clarke was successful with a penalty kick. The opposing full backs were playing a safe game, especially Clarke who frequently ran his backs into position. The game to this stage was very even and the half-time score was:— City 5 Papakura ' The City back line came away in fast movements after the change over. Grotte and C. Gould were prominent, and the former went through the defence to score a good try. Clarke failed with the kick from a wide angle. Seymour frequently got his side out of difficulty with his strong kicking, and he reduced City's lead by two points with a penalty in front of the goal. Citv retaliated with a chain back movement in which Clarke figured prominently. Hard plav followed in which the City half-back was the shining light. City had the best of the plav at this stage. Papakura failing to stem the repeated thrusts by the opposing backs. Papakura rallied in the last few minutes but failed to reach City's score, and the end was: — City 11 Papakura 9 Mr. O. Kelly was referee. RICHMOND BACK-PLAY THE DECIDING FACTOR Although North Shorp, with a fust and I heavy pack held the advantage over the Richmond six. the Richmond backs showed better team play and understanding than the Shore backs, and were quicker to turn advantage to account. The match between the two leading League teams was hard fought all the way and full of incideut.