CITY STILL TOP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 121, 24 May 1943, Page 5

CITY STILL TOP

J LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP CLOSE GAME WITH OTAHUHU In difficult conditions the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship was carried a further stage at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon. Keen wetweather football was played, and City maintained its position in the le&c_ Results were:— City 2, beat Otahuhu 0. Manukau 13, beat Newton 0. Richmond 15, beat Mount Albert 4. Marist 11, beat North Shore S. Penalty Goal Decides. —In the chief- match of the day, between City and Otahuhu, there was no score in the first half, and neither team had its try-lliee crossed in the second hall. Late in the game A. Donovan kicked a penalty goal, which comprised the only points recorded. Soon after the score Mulllns had a penalty shot for Otahuhu at close range. Success would have meant a draw, but the shot was wide. Sound forward play was a feature of the match, Hawea Matatra and N. Johnson (Otahuhu) being outstanding. Manukan Improves.—Cohesion and team effort marked Manukau's display against and the 1942 club champions had a convincing win. In the Manukau backs Butler and Murray showed speed and thrust, and at full-baik R. Martin played a splendid positional pame. Newton's play was marked by a lack of combination. but in solo play Gregory was outstanding in the five-eighth line. Lowther Promising.—Richmond backs were responsible for a splendid display of the best points of the code in defeating Mount Albert. Many movements showed finish and skill In spite of a greasy ball. Often, in the second half, McDonald (half-back) shot out snappy passes. They found a clever pair in Tittleton and H&nkins (the five-eighths). McGregor was versatile at centre, and gave the speedy wings. Lowther and Payne, chances to show their speed. Lowther is one of the most promising three-quarters in the code. He has pace and can swerve nicely. Above all. he has determination. Among Mount Albert's backs Moore, on the wing, played n. splendid game, and Jones stood up well against McGregor, the opposing centre. A feature of the game was the sound play of the rival full-backs, Maglll (Richmond) and J. Zane (Mount Albert). Their . fielding was superb; the honours were slightly with Magill.

Shortened Spell.—Players and the referee were surprised when time was called in the ShoreMarist game. Ifc was close going: all the way, with only three points between the teams (Marist winning 11—8) when the final bell sounded. As a matter of fact, only 31 minutes was played in the second half. The game was not started on time. Players should know that it has been a practice of the Auckland Rugby League to stop all senior curtain-raisers at 3.10 p.m.

FAST RUGBY

Although played in the rain, the second series of matches in the. senior championship of the Auckland Rugby Union on Saturday provided quite a good standard considering the conditions. Close scoring resulted in the principal attraction between Garrison and Navy, which was won by the former by six points to three. Garrison scored two tries to a penalty goal, the score at the interval being three all. There was no score at half-time in the curtain-raiser between Marist and Technical Old Boys. The former registered two converted tries in the second spell. An even match between Manukau and Grafton-Ponsonby was won by the former, while the widest margin on the day was in the game in which Army won by 16 points from M.T.P., last season's champion. The matches resulted:— Garrison 6, beat Navy 3. Marist 10, beat Technical Old Boys 0. l Manukau 12, beat Grafton-Ponsonby 8. Army 19, beat M.T.P. 3. Forwards Predominate.— With condi tions favouring forward exchanges the match between Navy and Garrison provided fast play in this department. Honours were fairly even, although Garrison rallied in the second spell and the backs played better to the forward line. Garrison scored two rather lucky tries, but would have been a shade unlucky to have lost. Navy's points came from a fine penalty goal by J Barry in the first few minutes of the game. Neither back line could settle down to the desired combination, but the Navy rearguard showed promise of better results under dry conditions. The Garrison pack was fairly even, with Gunning leading many of the rushes. Navy had two fine forwards in J. Barry, the former Auckland representative, and Waldegrave.

Boryer Pots Goal And Is Injured. — In an evenly-contested match, each side scoring only one try, Manukau defeated the Grafton-Ponsonby side by 12 points to 8. After the winner had held the ascendancy In the early part of the game, the combined team settled down to much better football. A feature of the game was the line kicking of Don Boryer of Manukau and Frank Paton of Grafton-Ponsonby. It was no easy matter to propel such a heavy ball over the cross-bar, but between them they scored 14 points. Boryer, who later left the Held with a cut on the head, potted a fine goal from outside the GraftonPonsonby twenty-five -close In from the touch line. Paton, at full-back, was at his best.

Comfortable Win. —Slightly superior In all departments. Army had a comfortable win over M.T.P., there being 16 points separating the teams at the final whistle. By keeping together the heavy Army forwards harassed the defence throughout the gome. Reward came In the second spell, when two opportunist tries were scored. Both sides resorted to Jong kicking and tast following up when they found the ball almost Impossible to handle with certainty. M.T.P.'s points came Irom a penalty at the beginning of the match.

GOOD SHOOTING

One of the features of the main attraction at Blandford Park between the undefeated Papakura and Metro-College sides was the fine, marksmanship of the Papakura XI. The five forwards were in excellent form and never missed a chance to take a shot from any angle or range. Wilson, Todd and Nimmo, the halves, were also deadly shots. All four goals (by which Metro was beaten to three) were beauties. Wilson (the centre-half, who was again in great form) scored the first point with a grand drive from 30 yards range. Sharp (inside right) got No. 2 when he added the final touches to a good cross from Yates, whilst Stevens (inside left) notched Nos. 3 and 4 with splendid shots. Although he did not find the net, Reid (centre-forward) play a clever game. Donaldson (right back) kicked and tackled with fine judgment. Papakura has settled down into a clever team and would have won by a larger margin had It not been for the fine display in goal by Gordon. The College side put up a plucky fight, especially when it played with only 10 men for the majority of the second spell—Hill, the right back, going off with an ankle injury. Goals were scored for Metro by Speed (who was in brilliant form at inside left), 'Wiseman and Hope-Ede (penalty). The last-named again played a clever game in the position. McMurchy was the pick of the halves, whilst Hill' (until injured) and Sims put up a stubborn defence.

Garrison Improvement.—ln tho curtain-raiser Garrison showed a vast improvement on last week's form, and did well to make a three-goal draw with Comrades. The game was always fast and Interesting, but the bustling tactics adopted by the Army side somewhat upset Comrades. Garrison's llrst goal was the result of a misunderstanding between a Comrad63 back and the goalie—No. 2 was scored by Danby (the centrehalf who played an excellent game) E * l a penalty, whilst Richards obtained No. 3. Moran. centre-forward, was a hard worker, and Crabb and Morgan made a good right wing. Kerr (right SS) wairkfe. whilst McGUlvray again raceUed in goal. Comrades' goals were scored by Fleet (2) and Walters. Fincham and Land were in good form In the half line, whilst Matthews, at right back, and McCamish. in goal, were safe.

Lost Ball! —Shore put up a surprisingly good display against Mt. Albert A (1942 champion), and had a one-goal lead at the rad of SDell Mt. Albert was pressing hard in the second sDell* and had gained a goal lead when the ball became deflated, and, none other being available, ended 15 minutes before time. The match probably have to be replayed. In Rnite of driving rain and high wind, good football wis plaved bf bSth sides, some of the forward play being outstanding in such weather.

First-Class Wingers. — The outstanding feature of the game between Eastern Suburbs and Ponsonby (at St. Heller's) was the display given by the former side's two wingers, T. Gilbert and G. Walsham. Bevelling in the conditions, they both showed plenty of speed combined with tricky footwork and ball control, which frequently left the opposition standing. Their centres were accurately crossed while the corner kicks were always placed to advantage. Besides scoring three of their team s goals, the other two were the result of their efforts. Altogether it was a brilliant display. Suburbs won the loser's goal being scored by Verry (right wing).

BEAU JACK DETHRONED A cablegram from New York states that on Thursday Bob Montgomery (9.8) won the world's light-weight boxing championship by outpointing Beau Jack (9.9) in 15 rounds at Madison Square Garden. The New York Times said: ''Although Montgomery absorbed a first-round beating that threatened to blast hiir. into quick submission be fought back so effectively that there was not a single dissenting voice when the decision was announced. Jack, victor In his previous 16 lights, showed an almost complete lack of punching' power. Quick End to Rayner.—At Timaru on Saturday Harry Bates, of Tcrauka (9.12) beat Clarrie Rayner, of Blenheim (9.10) on a technical knock-out in the first round of a professional light-weight contest at Temuka. Rayner was down for the count of three and eight, and, when he went down a third time, the referee, Mr. J. Stewart, stopped the bout.