Shore Take Lead In Rugby League Championship

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 151, 28 June 1941, Page 1 (Supplement)

Shore Take Lead In Rugby League Championship

DECISIVE VICTORY OVER NEWTON AFTER FIRST SPEiL REVERSE

Expectations that North Shore would take the lead in the League championship were realised at Carlaw Park this afternoon, when the team beat Newton, 32 to 12. Prior to to-day's match Richmond and Shore were level on the top rung of the ladder, but Richmond had a game in hand. Shore did not take the lead without some early anxiety for its supporters, who were surprised when Newton led at half-time by 10 pojnts to' 4. h was a different story in the second half, for Shore, showing good combination, dominated the play, with tries coming freely. As the score indicates, there was no doubt about the superiority of the winners. Manukau and Mount Albert provided the main match of the day on No. 1 ground, and after a colourful and hard rmtch Manukau won by 14 to 5. Ponsonby had an easy win dver Papakura, but City had to fight hard to beat Marist by I 4 to 11

MANUKAU PROVES TOO GOOD FOR MT. ALBERT Manukau: Chase, Butler, R. Mart'in Awhitu, Murray, Hemi, Oliver' Thew, Watene, Rei, Ririnui W Martin, Shilton. Mount Albert: Lonergan, B Cranch, Cowley, Hetherington, Mclnnarney, Moore, Clements, Leatherbarrow, C. List, E. Cranch, Tristram Hucker, Pinches. Short raiding brought the opening points to Manukau. The ball worked • across the Mount Albert twenty-five in a loose rush, and Awhitu flashed up to score wide out. Mount Albert hit back at once with open play, and Rucker got a try near the flag, which B. Cranch converted with a great kick from the side-line. Manukau was trying to develop its play on spectacular lines with the forwards swinging the ball out to the backs, where Murray and Hemi were teaming well and trying to get the Manukau three-quarter line going. The Mount Albert backs were countering with great speed and dash, with Mclnnarney and Cowley standing out The latter was hurt, and had to go ofl for a while. When Mount Albert was penalised Hemi sent the ball high over tho crossbar, but the goal was disallowed. Manukau continued to hammer at the Mount Albert end, and Murray, with clever running, got over to score. He broke through the centre, and then swerved out wide to score. Hemi converted. Manukau 8 Mount Albert ....' 5 Lively Manukau inter-play marked {fe game when the teams continued, W. Murray showing ability to weave through, and emiH opening out the game for his supports. Yet, the Mount Albert defence was holding well, and the set plan was to take the man with the ball. Chase was giving Manukau great service at fullpack, with cool and resourceful positional play. Then came a classy Mount Albert back move. A swift delivery by Clements from a set scrum, thrust and speed by Hetherington and Mclnnarney, and a reverse pass which sent Leatherrarrow and Tristram racing for the Manukau line. Manukau held the cnailenge for a moment, until Moore crossed, but lost the ball before he could ground it. hr f°|° efforts at this stage were breaks by Hemi and Murray, the former running into a pocket of conS n f ,? la y er s. the latter being stopped by a daring dive tackle by McLachlan, who had replaced CowcrL,? the second half. Butler, with speed and hard running on the wing, went across for another Manukau X£„,. Wlth , a brilliant side-step, St^K Ve ?, his wa y through the Mount Albert team, and gave a final E, «,«& se , nd Ririn ui in to score, in the final stage, Manukau still met ff™J a l/vely resistance from the Mount Albert backs. The end was: Manukau ... 14 Mount Albert ..'.'.. 11'.'.'. 5 Mr. J. Donovan was referee. ★ jjMSMTS WINNING t^jorWy S3 a marSfn an f ta l e ln the early sta * es ' an <* «WlnaS a B /L of Ilx1 lx polnts at half tln »e. Marlst S» second .t.„ play l or the Boater part of «• had l„L ell '„ ant: towards the end each Sh ta tIE w V pol^ts - A determined City tobbllng over a„H T „ mlnutes ended ln Brassey *• Wnntag try d laUln « on the ball to score P»'by t Mcwn e i d „ a, . ter kick-off, and a strong «Wwards rpH»v.T 3 .J !alncd s r °und. but the City IMeklv trH. ? ved the situation, and play was «i*f mta?ed er ? d t0 ~M arl3t' s territory, where •"•IT A *%L a m penaltv *'ck from a difficult » which H?£L ovement by the c 'ty forwards, '••MM back B™h8 ™h n n , d ■?• Donova n H«ured. sent "Wy kick frrl Clarlte .? as successful with a Wtkly turned 2 m near . the side llne - Marist •»*eplng S??n„„ < l ete , nce lnto attaclt - the forwards Wmowd nP roueh t° meet solid tackling. City 153? P but ? a n „,„ h . a "- w "- H - Mata >™ *° ln * pass aV? 5 a g - od cnance wlth a *«*» «a?e ami/j, st ™ oven >ent by the Marist ?te?7rom' h0 a Bent J ' Gould over^Clar^ -">"'" 'sTSe line 6 •"« from 2 rwf T f ve ? e ln, ° a so'ld attack, ?«nt over at f£ aI L P assln » movement Dickson *• kick? and thP h»,f n H r ™» B «chard failed with ' * nQ the half-time score was: Marist ".'.', 9 SESTv!.' ~? y the Marlst forwards «BOVan dribhi»H th ( ? . ehan .Be-over sent City back. !"« Crocker £n„ rou « n f /°"> Past half-way H» which wis f °" owln * W> 'as*, scored a flni *«• attacking in° t „ c ° nve !; ted - T „ he Marls t backs ■•nt in which ST eat , Btyle ; and » chain movetad Donovari McWilliams. Dickson •good try wh£h dl w „ ended in Donovan scoring >f»rlst a lead »? , Wlb e r ß, converted. This gave S» upper h?nd, two polnts ' a "d the side had ft*- City hLi or a tlme in "ard and fast i?«nce and £Z%Z e \ B J adua » v wore down the S»ke eouali^H ? l d back to Mar 'st's end. where S 'font of the J he , sc^, re , wltn a P ena 'ty kiC H«n« a fine £ *'• C L arke ' Clty '""-back, was fij ktekiTto n U t g hu .m".", freo - u e nt l y followed up 5* they mrt .„i?J t slde „ ln good scoring position, ftthe pi a me L so ' ld taekling. City had the best •**»« over thl he ,. last 'l w mln utes, and Brassey *«M S? wf™, lln ! wnere ' following up, he Ctatke taae * to „S2fisi "': if ■»• *■ Pope was referee.

PONSONBY BACKS TOO GOOD FOR PAPAKjJRA Superior speed by the Ponsonby backs was trie deciding factor in securing a clean-cut victory over Papakura. The latter were triers all the way. From the kick-off Ponsonby pressed home a strong forward offensive, and Dunning and Brlggs featured in good forward play. Papakura was penalised and Kay kicked a penalty goal. Cleverly working the blind side Williams, the Ponsonby half-back, shot straight for the Papakura lire, and went over for a fine try. Kay added tne extra points. When Kay dropped a pass. T. Hogan. playing well In the loose, snapped up to score a good try for, Papakura. Seymour missed an easy goal. The Papakura vanguard did well to hold Ponsonby. and from a loose men H. Hogan scored. Seymour converted and the scores read: Ponsonby 9. Papakura 8. It was so far an even game, but Williams, behind the Ponsonby pack, evaded the defotice with a clever thrust, and passed to Brlggs, who went over to score. Kay converted and th« half-time score was:— Ponsonby 14 Papakura g On resuming Papakura continued their aggressive tactics, and the forwards, with White and T. Hogan In the van, swept over the opposition and Aukett passed to Keats, who scored a welldeserved try. Hancock failed with the kick. The Ponsonby backs, however, had too much pace In passing movements, and Klley raced past half-way before passing back to Kay. Brlggs. ever waiting for a chance, got over. Kay converted, and Ponsonby led, 19 to 11. Superior speed again played Its part, and Kay and RUey made It easy for Carr to score In the corner. Kay failed from a difficult kick. Ponsonby 22, Papakura 11. * Carr broke away and a try looked a certainty, but his pass to Kay was wild. A minute later Hughes scored for Ponsonby. The game ended:— Ponsonby 25 Papakura ix Mr. A. Pearson was referee. ★ AUCKLAND TEAM TO PLAY SOUTH AUCKLAND The following Auckland representative Leajnie team has been chosen to play South Auckland at Carlaw Park on Saturday, July 12:— Full-back: Hemi (Manukau). Three-quarters: Butler (Manukau), Tittleton (Richmond), Riley (Ponsonby). Five-eighths: Kay (Ponsonby), Solomon (Richmond). Half-back: McArthur (North Shore). Forwards: Petersen (North .Shore), Mitchell, Davis (Richmond), Ririnui (Manukau), N. Mataira (Oity), Leatherbarrow (Mount Albert). Emergencies: Forwards: Shadbolt (Mt. Albert), Graham (North Shore). Backs: Smith, Scott (North Shore), Mclnnarney (Mt. Albert). The team will report at Carlaw Park at 5 p.m. on Thursday. * SHORE COMBINATION DEFEATS NEWTON Newton was called on to put up a desperate defence In the opening phase, and Petersen was nearly over the Newton try-line. Verdun Scott gave Shore the opening points with a long-range penalty goal. Newton then settled down with concerted »play that carried It to the Shore quarter. Newton opened out In rapid handling. Kendall went hard and straight to Improve the position, and «• a nnai pass sent Sllva In at the flag. Emus got Newton further ahead with a tine penalty goal. His next contribution was a try between the posts. Passing gave Emus a chance to work out to the right wing. He evaded a tackle by Scott, the Shore full-back, and then turned In to score as he liked. Tredrea converted and Newton was now playing brlgnt, open football. . , , fc _ Smith kicked a penalty goal to Improve tne Shore outlook, the half-time scores being:— Newton 1B North Shore • * When the second half opened, Clarke made a dash along the side-line, and sent to Field, who went the rest of the way to score. Scott kicked a penalty goal, and the Newton jeaa was reduced to a single point Shore went into the lead with sparkling back play. Clarke, witn elusive running, got well towards the Nfcwton end. and then McArthur and Brown linked in the movement, Brown scoring wide out. Smitn landed a great angle coal. A clever opportunist try by Petersen sent Shore further into the lead. Smith converted. Emus followed with a penalty goal for Newton. Clarke next got a good try for Shore, and Smith converted. Wllkie got two more tries for Shore, omith converted one. and the game ended:— North Shore ?2 Newtc* "