Manukau Second To Shore On League Ladder

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 199, 23 August 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

Manukau Second To Shore On League Ladder

MARIST AND PAPAKURA UNINSPIRING

O-TY GO DOWN BY SEVEN POINTS

Hit. Albert Struggle Well Against The Leaders: Wins For Marist And Newton In Close Games

Undei- ideal conditions the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship went a further stage at Carlaw Park this afternoon, and in the chief match of the day Manukau, in a fast and open game, which was ragged at times and lacking in combination, beat Richmond by 15 points to 8, a feature being four goals by Hemi. North Shore, the leading team, beat Mount Albert by 11 points to 3. Marist beat Papakura by 9 points to 3, and after a well-contested game, Newton beat Ponsonby by 15 points to 13. The defeat of Richmond left Manukau in second place in the League championship.

HEM/ KICK* FOUR GOALS FOR MANUKAU The teams were: ■Richmond: Magill. .Tack. Lowthoi. M incham, Tittlcton. Webb. Williams. Davis, Broa<lhead, Metcalfe, Mackintosh. Hilton, Mitchell. Manukau: K. Martin, Butler. Gregory. W. Martin, Hemi, Butler, Oliver, ii-in<■ i. Watene, Te Tai, Thew, Shilton, Thompson. The early phase of play was marked by bngAfoa®, but a lack of combination, with both teams thrusting and making headway in turn. There were Manukan possibilities when Ririnui broke clear from ruak play and charged down the centre, bat there was a delayed pass when the Manukau backs had come into supporting position. Man uk au got the opening points. Play was at midfield when Ririnui pawed Ito Hemi and the latter went staaighifc through the Richmond inside backs, with Murray in support. Hem right in to Magill, the Richmond full-back, and then passed to send Murray in (between the posts to score. Hemi converted. Playing without Solomon, wlu> was absent through injury, the Richmond inside back play was Lacking in cohesion, although Webb was showing enterprise and _ dash, and Tittleton resource in opening up the play. Murray again got into the picture with a wea-ving run through the Richmond backs unffcil he was stopped with a clean, low tackle by Magill. Forward the teams were evenly matched. Greater weight was giving Manukau an advantage in set scrums, but the Richmond six were raiding with speed and dash in the open play. Richmond launched a sustained attack, and when under pressure close to his line. W. Martin was unable to clear. Lowther swept up at top pace, kicked the ball across the Manukau try-line, and-followed through to score. It was fast football, but good only in patches, with neither team rising to great heights in team plav. Mincham retired hurt from the Richmond side, and was replaced by Savers. Hemi kicked a magnificent penalty goal to increase the Manukau score. Richmond raided hard in reply. Savers kicked high and Webb came up fast to score at the flag, to make the half-time score: Manukau 7 Richmond 6 There was some bright inter-play by the Manukau backs when the teams changed over. They threw the ball about with freedom, but were running into a very sound Richmond defence. The Richmond back play was on solid, orthodox lines, and in contrast to the Manukau back-play, which was, at times, extremely colourful. Both Hemi and Murray were quick to sight the gap. Gregory worked with speed and smoothness in the centre, and on the wing. Butler was showing speed and dash. He was quick to reverse the T>lav if ithe way ahead was not clear. Hemi got Manukau further into the le*d with a great solo try. He started off from loose play at the Manukau end and found a clear lane through to Magill. the Richmond full-back. With change of pace and side-step. Hemi beat Magill. and then, chased all the way by Jack, led in a race for the Richmond try-line. .>0 yards away. Hemi got an ovation from the spectators. Richmond now played in an all-out way to try and bridge the gap. and its po-i----tion was improved when Lowther landed a short-range penalty goal. The Richmond forwards, with Mitchell and Mackintosh in the lead, -made great efforts to improve the Richmond position, but the Richmond backs were not rising to it in team-play, and too often t Inexploiting kick was used when passing methods would have been preferable. Thompson, who was playing an outstanding game in the Manuknu forwards, led a'raid to the Richmond line and Tel Tai, with elusive running, went over to score (between the posts. Hemi converted to make the final scores: Manukau ,1."» Richmond 8 Mr._ J. Donovan was referee.

NORTH SHORE PRESSED BY MOUNT ALBERT Ncrth Shore retained its position at the head cf the senior championship, but only after Mount Albert had a pood deal the better of the game. In fact the score was a little flattering to North Shore. Early in the game Shore attacked strongly and McArthur gained good ground, passed to Clarke nnd Graham was tackled a yard short of the tryline. Mount Albert gave the blacks a torrid time, and the crowd applauded a good effort by Cowley and Cranch. However. Clarke, the Shore five-eighth, snapped up a loose clearing kick, passed lo Petersen, whose pace raised the first try. Scott converted. North Shore 5. Mount Albert 0. Mount Albert did really well in the next ten minutes, and Clements made a clever opening. He kicked and B. Cranch Just missed beating Dick Smith for the touch down. It was n close shave for the grade leaders. M«unt Albert continued to have the better of the game, and | ihe forwards, hooking cleanly, gave Clements I nnether chance. This time the ball travelled smartly to Cowley, who made a beautiful opening but Scctt stopped the final transfer to Lonergan who had a scoring chance. Petersen headed a dangerous Shore offensive, and gained 40 yards, but was not supported when a try looked possible. * catherbarrow got Mount Albert out of trouble oy snapping up from th» Shore forwards' feet wid he kicked back to half-way. Shore improved "S the game progressed. Chatham made an open:nc. but Scott kicked when a pass to Greenwood may have had better resultr. Half time came with the scores North Shore 5. Mount Albert 0. North Shore rearranged their backs in the rrcond half, nnd Scott played on the wing, while C.ircnwoocl went to centre. Prom a scrum In Mount Albert's territory Clarke raced through, but threw a wild pass to McArthur and a try *# c, l basing. However, from another set sctum McArthur raced round the blind side, passed to larke. who sent Scott over for an easy try. Scott T,w se ? } he R . oal Points. North Shore 8." Mount A.bert 0. Clarke, at five eighths, made another good burst and his understanding with McArthur penetrated deeply into the Mount Albert terri.f*°unt Albert attacked strongly and Cowley usrd his speed to catch Bmlth unawares, and In ° "ash B. Cranch gathered in the ball, to race over for a good try. Clements missed at goal from * easv Position. North Shore 8. Mount Albert 3. Cowley again relieved the position and ••"topped a return from Wilkie. So far. Mount Mbert had more than held their own. Play •-came exciting as Mount Albert strove to gain the upper hand. Shore was pressed as never before, and the Mount Albert colts. Carter. Moore and Cowley, did fine work on attack. Down the : Mde line Lonergan made a good dash, and the crowd scented a try. However his kick "to centre .i clcanl * Chatham, who hung on MnMi Pield gave welcome support. North Shore. .". r,w f ver, _,K & taste of good combination, and vr. dun Scott, broke away, passed to Greenwood. * l-o clevcrly evaded the defence and sent Chatham , ' vr lor a well deserved try. The game ended: North Shore «« Mount Albert '*!"!!!!!!!! 2

NEWTON SURPRISES IN HARD-FOUGHT GAME Newton sprang a surprise when it turned the verdict against Ponsonby in the second half of n n Ban l e ° n No - 2 ground. Ponsonby had all the run of the play in the first half, leading ® ® interval. Newton opened up the game from then to the finish and scored ; rn more points, while Williams scored a great try for Ponsonby toward the end. Newton won ny 15 points to 13. Ponsonby attacked from the Kick-off and play was in Newton's twenty-five more often than not. rhe Ponsonby back line lost no time in settling flown and a beautiful chain movement put Newi,on . on defence. The Newton forwards relieved the pressure and gained some ground, only to be sent back by another fast Ponsonby movement which would have resulted in a score X r x, a 4 bad , pas ® by Briggs to Hughes. Laurent. Newton forward, then made a fine opening and after putting in a strong run passed ; to Everltt. who was well tackled in Ponsonby's ' twenty-five. Again Newton broke through and '? £ »? ,as a l m °st over. Ponsonby worked back lo halfway and after a few moments of rough Play Riley put in a great run for Ponsonby down the line, only to be stopped with a fine tackle. A good movement by Ponsonby. in which : Briggs mp.de the opening, almost brought a score. • A movement by the Ponsonby backs a minute • lfter in which Briggs. Kay and Hughes handled. I ended ;n Hughes making a great run and scor- i ing wide out for Kay to convert. ; Newton had a brief respite, but Ponsonby again broke through. A weak kick by Kendall was t. a* en by Kay. who made ground and passed to Williams and on to Riley, who scored at the corner. Kay failed with the kick. Burton and Sllva were playing with undersLanding in the Newton backs. Newton forced play to the other end and Ginders went over for a try which Emus converted. The half-time score was: Ponsonby 8 I Newton 5 I Newton broke through in a strong attack imme- ! aiately after the resumption, and Ponsonby was ! called upon for solid defence. A penalty to Newton ! was taken by Emus from 10 yards inside half- j way. but the ball struck an upright. Emus had i another shot from the same position a minute j later, but was again unsuccessful. At this stage | Newton was storming the defence, and the half- j back Green was feeding his supports well from • the scrums. Another penalty to Newton was en- ] trusted to Emus, who kicked a beautiful goal from the sideline. Newton still had the better of tr.e play, and the backs penetrated deep into , Ponsonby's territory for Emus to score a great try at the corner flag. He was successful with the kick from the sideline. Newton now led by four points. Again Newton swept through the defence in a fast movement in which most of the backs handled. The ball came out to Burton, ' who went over near the posts. Emus failed with i an easy kick. Silva, Newton five-eighth, was injured and carried to the ambulance room. Ponsonby could make little headway, but its backs eventually broke away. Kay, Burton, Riley and Williams handled and Williams scored a fine try at the corner. Kay converted with a beautiful kirk from the sideline. Ponsonby made strenuous rffortc to score the winning try, but the final I ;?c.re was: Newton 15 Ponsonby 13 Mr. H. Tate was referee.

After a game which lacked brilliance throughout Mnrlst beat Papakura by a small margin In the early encounter on No. 2 ground. Marisi overshadowed Its opponents in the loose and light pl»y, but some of the Papakura players showed •riterprise at times. Even play marked the opening stages, the game ranging from one end of the field to the other. TJro penalty kicks to Papakura in quick succession Were taken by Seymour, but both went wide. The Marlst backs were opening up the game, but Kalncil little ground. Seymour, Papakura fiveeighth, frequently got his side out of difficulties With his strong kicking. A fast movement by the Marlst backs sent Papakura back. Smith making a strong run down tthe line only to meet BoUd tackling. Marlst had the best of the play at this stage, and from a forward rush to Papakura's line the ball came out to p'Oorman. who beat several opponents to score in a good position. Wlberg failed with the kick. Papatn.'u made strenuous cflorts to break through tiie defence after this reverse, but faulty passir.r by the backs spoilt several scoring chances. A movement by the Papakura backs in the lest few minutes of the spell kept Marlst hard on the defence, and the half-time score was: Marist 3 Papakura u _ After. Marist had put Papakura on the defence «oen the game was resumed a great opening \Mi made by Smith, Papakura three-quarter, who sent out a pass to Wellm. The latter raced hall the length of the field to beat two opponents and score behind the posts. It was a bright movement Wellm showed remarkable pace. Sevmou; missed a simple kick. Marist retaliated with attack after attack and Papakura had a busy time defending Its line. Eventually the ball came out to Taripo, who scored near the corner Bjrchard failed to convert. Costello Emitii an Taripo were playing a fine game in trie Kt:'.: back line, and Wellm. Smith and Fleming u-V.V. SSP < *£ * tb ! Papakura back movemenV M»n«t etill had the best of the exchanges arid »§»*» hard forwards scramble near the' !,,» SS" , !!? , T* S, Ver , for str s'- which Wiberg (ailed egg?* e^vu^^: 1 " Mr>3. Kelly was referee.