LEAGUE CHAMPION DEFEATED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 229, 27 September 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

LEAGUE CHAMPION DEFEATED

Ponsonby Outplays North Shore In a Fast, Open Game: Narrow Wins For City and Marist: Big Manukau Score

The second round of the Roope Rooster matches, played at Carlaw Park this afternoon, resulted in some hard football, and in two matches, wins by the narrowest of margins. The surprise of the day was Ponsonby beating North Shore by Iβ points to eight, the Ponsonby backs playing brightly, and largely accounting for the defeat of the champion club team of the teason. In die main match Marist beat Richmond by 11 points to 10 after a very hard struggle, and City beat Otahuhu by 13 points to 12, after an even game. Manukau piled up a cricket score against Newton, winning by 52 points to 2. ★ ANDERSON GETS ALL THE MARIST POINTS The teams were:— Richmond.—Williams, Lowther, Min-e-ham, W. Tittleton, Solomon, Potter, Webb, Davis, Broadhead, Metcalfe, Mackintosh, Mitchell, G. Tittleton. Marist. —Glover, Smith, McWilliams, Wiberg, Costello, Hughes, Crocker, Breed, McLeod, Simpson, Barchard, Anderson, James. Playing with dash and enterprise, Marist was oh top in the early stages, and carried the game to the Richmond end, where Anderson missed an easy conversion chance from a penalty. It was fast play, but 'not convincing, as the backs of neither team were combining effectively. Forward the two teams were well matched in the set scrums, but the Mariet forwards were showing more speed in the open play. From a set scrum at midfield Webb sent to Potter, who swung to the blind side and sent to Davis. Play was on the Marist line until the defenders were penalised, and Webb missed by a narrow margin with his shot. Marist replied with hard raiding to the Richmond end, where Anderson Kicked a penalty goal to give Marist the opening points. Richmond pulled itself together to play with spirit, and a great tackle by Smith saved Marist when, after a passing run. G. Tittleton had an open road to the Marist try-line. Then came a penalty, and Webb got the ball across for Richmond to level the scores. Richmond began to throw the ball about in an attractive way. with Webb sending out good passes, and Solomon showing cleverness in making openings, but the Marist covering defence was good, with Glover playing a great game at full-back.

Play was .it the Marist end. when Solomon short-kicked, followed through. Kot the ball again, and wont over by the posts to score. Glover was beaten by the bounce and had no chance of recovery. Webb added the poal points. In ' patches only wan the game going with a swing and collaboration, but there was occasional good individual effort, and a couple of sharp dashes by Costello, the I Marist first five-eighth. Tn one dash Cos tello was right through the Richmond backs, but he slipped and went down when changing direction. Anderson kicked a beautiful angiu penalty goal to reduce the Richmond lead. The half-time scores were:— Richmond 7 Marist 4 When the second half opened Anderson made a fine attempt with a penalty shot, 'but the ball was just wide of the .post. Richmond began to play in a constructive way, and its backs fanned out in passing attack. W. Tittleton got a final pass away to Minohnin. and the Richmond wing, running hard on a diagonal line, dived over at the flag to score. .Marist replied with hard forward play, and worked , right up to the Richmond end, where Anderson shook off a couple of high tackles, and stored a good try. He took < the shot and landed a beautiful ancle j goal. At tliitf stage Metcalfe, the Rich- \ inond forward, was hurt and carried off with a broken leg. Richmond had to carry on a man ehort, and packed a five scrum. Both teams were playing now in an all out way. and deadly tackling was a feature. Webb was showing sharpness from the base of the Richmond scrum, and Solomon was displaying marked cleverness at finding the gap and making headway, but he was not getting good suipport. The hardest worked players were the respective full-backs, both Glover for Marist and Williams for Richmond giving good service in safe fielding, and well directed clearing kicking. Richmond began to.play an open game. and Mariet was called on to put up a hard defence. Marist lost Wibcrg at this stage. He came off. and Anderson came out of the scrum to« assist the Marist backs. He missed a short range penalty, but a minute later kicked a speculator field goal to put Marist in the lead. Excitement ran high as the game went on, tile Richmond bucks playing desperately to find a way through, and Marist ehowing an equally desperate covering defence. The end came with play at the Marist end, and the final scoree:

sonby backs, and RUey need fast towards the Shore territory. Mungard dropped the pass, and a try went begging. Ponsonby was awarded a penalty and Scott kicked a neat coal. Ponsonby 11, North Shore 0. The Ponsonby backs continued to do well, and Kay and Williams beat the defence, but Hughes lost the ball over the try line. RUey was always brilliant and the wirger swerved past several Shore tackier*, raced liside of' W»lte to score a treat try between the posts. Scott converted. Ponsonby Iβ. North Shore 0.

Greenwood cut In nicely and passed to McArthur, who scored Shore's'first points near the post*. Clarke converted. Ponsonby Iβ, North Shore 6. RUey was again prominent and gained 40 yards In another spectacular dash. Scott, the Ponsonby full-back, made a bad miss and nearly let Shore over. Walte passed to Chatham, who penetrated deeply and Brown scored near the posts. Clarke missed an easy conversion. Ponsonby Iβ, North Shore e. The champions played their best football in the concluding' stages, but the effort was too late. Twice Greenwood, at centre, broke away, and once a delayed pass cost Shore a try. Clarke made a good run and pasted to Oraham. mho was pulled down a few yards from Ponsonby's goal. The game ended:— Ponsonby Iβ North Shore ■ Mr. J. Donovan was referee. ★ MANUKAU'S RUNAWAY WIN OVER NEWTON Manukau was in scoring form in the early game against Newton on No. 2 ground. It was a "onehorse" race, as Manukau ran all over its opponents from start to finish end piled up the big score of 52 points to 2. Hemi kicked eight goals and Murray, Manukau five-eighth, scored four tries. Manukau attacked from the kick-off and after a brief spell of fairly even play Thompson charged down a kick by the Newton half-back and ran 25 yards to score. Hemi converted with a great kick from the touch line. Just before this success Hemi found the line within one yard o< half-way with a penalty kick from under the goal posts when Newton had carried play to Manukau's line. The Newton backs broke away in a promising movement. Bilva putting in a fine run before meeting a solid tackle. Manukau. however, quickly cleared and in a Bash Chase was racing down the field with Gregory in support. Chase sent the ball on to Gregory, but the latter's pass to 'Hemi went astray and a certain try was lost. Martin. Manukau fullback, then went through the Newton side with a corkscrew run, but he was smothered when within 20 yards of Newton's line. Hemi was In great kicking form, as he found the uprights with a perfect penalty kick ten yards in from the side line and three yards beyond half-way. Newton was striving hard to open up the game for its backs, and Silva, Everitt and Burton figured in bright movements. After Burton had penetrated deep into Manukau's territory, Murray and Hemi were seen in a flashing movement that went the full length of the field. These two fiveeighths sent the ball one to the other, Murray being the last' to handle to score behind the posts for Hemi to convert. Again the Manukau backs broke away. Hemi accepting a pass from a scrum to send Butler over. Hemi converted. Another bright movement by the Manukau backs a minute later, with two of the forwards In the picture, ended in Murray scoring under the posts. Hemi again converting. The half-time score wasn Manukau '. 22 Newton e

Immediately after the resumption Wateite broke away to put Newton bard on the defence. He was well tackled by Burton, playing bis first game in the Newton five-eighth line. Back came Newton to past half-way, where Nlwa was successful with a penalty kick. A forward rush by Manukau lent Newton back and after the back* had handled, the forwards again figured in the movement and N. Martin scored wide out. Hemi missed with the kick. In. a flash the Manukau backs were away again and Butler went over. The next minute W. Martin Intercepted a pass near half-way, ran almost to the Newton goal line and then sent Heml over. Hemi failed with both kicks. Again Manukau drove Newton back, and Heml raised two more poinu from a penalty In a handy position. Newton had a brief respite, but Martin, Manukau full-back, quickly changed the scene. Picking up In Newton's twenty-five, he ran and aide-stepped his way to the Newton line and then sent Shllton over for Heml to convert. Murray's turn came again as he ran through for his third try. which Hemt faiW to convert. Manukau wae running all over iU opponents and from s forwsrd scramble . Martin went over, and Gregory, arter six of the bucks had handled, scored. Hemi missed both kicks. In the last few minutes a beautiful try was scored by Murray, who accepted a long pass to leave the opposition standing. Hemi kicked his eighth goal and the final score was: Manukau SS Newton 8 Mr. J. Hawkes was referee. ★ CITY BEATS OTAHUHU IN SECOND SPELL Otahuhu put up stiff opposition to City in the main game on No. 2 ground. With a lead of | seven points at half time and ylaylng better foot- i ban. OtahuUu had a sood chance, but City Improved In the second half and after scoring two tries, a drop-kicked goal by A. Donovan gave the side victory by a point. Play was even In the opening stages, with both sides tackling and handling well. Otahuhu gradually worked to within a few yards of City's i line, where Allan, Otahuhu full—back, penetrated | ! deeply and almost broke the defence. A promis- { ing City movement was spoilt by a forward pass when the backs broke awny. MeManus. Grotte I and A. Donovan came through In a> fast move- I mcni that sent Otahuhu back, but Allan fielded Donovan's kick nicely and cleared. I ' The City forwards then took a hand and the Otahuhu defence was tested when Jackson almost ■ owing to an Injury and was replaced by Simons. ! The Otahuhu backs were throwing the ball about. ) and two scoring chances were lost when bad i passes were sent out to Simons. Otahuhu coni tinued to hold City, and Mulllns was successful with a penalty Just outside City's twenty-five. A minute later Otahuhu swept through. Mullins accepted a pass and sent on to MUllgan. who scored an easy try near the posts .for Mullins to convert. A century kick by J. Johnson was followed up fast by MeManus. The ball bounced into his hands and he went over for a try. which Mullins converted. City worked to the other end, where A. Donovan raised two points from a penalty kick. City came away In a hot attack, rnd fun-back. Sllva. came round on the outside to take Rogan's pass and score wide out. Donovan tailed with the kick and the half-time score was: ■ Otahuhu '. If City -. f A breakaway by the City forwards immediately after the changeover looked promising, but Donald held on too long. The City forwards frequently broke through, with Donald and Mataifc prominent, but they met solid defence. full-back was caught in possession, but a scrum ! clearance gave relief. Gould secured and went I through to beat several opponents until he met Allan, who again saved with a safe tackle. City was now pressing, and hard play followed near Otahuhu's line until Allan found touch well past half-way. City was getting most of the ball from the scrums, but making little use of It. Otahuhu held an advantage for some time, the tackling and handling holding City In check until Grotte made an opening to send Gould over at the grandstand corner. A. Donovan failed with the kick. The City backs started another movement a mlnut- later. The ball went through the chain across the field; and P. MeManus went over at the corner. The range was too. wide for H.

I Marist 11 j Richmond 10 Mr. G. Kelly wae referee. * PONSONBY BACKS TOO SPEEDY FOR SHORE North Shore wbb not up to full strength against Ponsonby. which put up a really good showing and their backs were too smart and speedy for the championship winners. The success of Ponsonby. however, was a surprise. Play opened In Ponsonby's favour, and after Kay had exploited a well-placed kick Williams and Black carried on close to the Shore line. Kay Just missed a penalty kick at goal, and Waite. the Shore full-back-, brought play back to halfway. Here Clarke and Greenwood placed Shore on the offensive for the first time, but the defence checked the movement. Scott made a brilliant clearance and passed to Williams, who Just missed a try. Kay made a great effort to get over and only missed by Inches. Fast play followed a nice dash by Wllkie. and Clarke raced through the defence and a try for Shore looked certain, but Kay saved well. TJie Ponsonby backs Carr and Hughes were associated In some clever play and Hughes stumbled u the try line loomed In sight. Ponsonby was unlucky here. Graham headed the Shore forwards In a sweeping attack, but Williams nipped It In the bud. The fiveeighths broke clean away, short punted, but the ' dead-ball line beat Ponsonby for a try. Pon- i sonby, however, were rewarded when Black raced over near the corner after 30 minutes' play. Kay Just failed to convert. Ponsonby 3. North Shore 0. Chatham beat the Ponsonby inside backs with a nice run. but there was Tittle support. Ponsonby had the better of the game, and down the sideline raced Rtley to score a fine solo try. Kay missed. Half-time score:— Ponsonby 6 North Shore 0 RUey placed Ponsonby In a good position soon after the kick-off, but Brlggs passed wildly to Black and s> possible try was lost. In a flash McArthur lined the Shore backs out for a kill and Greenwood raced clean through the opposition, hut Scott =aved with a fine low tackle/ Back came Ponsonby, and Williams. Black and Brims combined effectively. The ball was lent outto Carr, whose speed carried him over for a good try. Kay failed to convert. Ponsonby ». North Shore 0. Shore was beaten pointless by the Pon?

Matslra. Otahuhu was now hard pressed and City went Into the lead when A. Donovan dropkicked a goal. Otahuhu had the best of the play in the last few mimltes. but failed to break through City's solid defence, and the game ended: , City .- is Otahuhu 12 Mr. E. Pope was referee. * SEMI-FINALS OF THE ROOPE ROOSTER The draw for the semi-finals of the Roope Rooster matches next Saturday is:—Citjfcv. Mamikau and Ponsonby v. Marist. In the Phelan Shield matches next Saturday Newton will play Mount Albert. OUhuhu will play Richmond, and North Shore has the bye. PHELAN SHIELD MATCH Mount Albert 38, beat Papakura s.