LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 107, 8 May 1944, Page 7

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

BETTER FORM SHOWN

MANUKAU AGAIN BEATEN

Better form was shown, compared with the opening day, when the Auckland Rugby League's senior cnampionship was continued on Saturday. Results were:— Otahuhu 3, Manukau 0. City 9, Richmond 7. Mount Albert 10, Newton 8. Marist 51, Point Chevalier 10. Ponsonby 8, North Snore 0. Good Full-backs.—ln the match between City and Richmond, a feature was the good standard of full-back play by the respective custodians, J. Magill. for Richmond, and 8. W. Clarke, for City. Both fielded cleanly, kicked with good length, and precision. They did not hesitate to move up on occasions to make the extra man when an attacking chance came. They played in keeping with their reputations of being two of the best fullbacks in the code. Fine City Pack.—The City team showed on Saturday that it can field a pack likely to hold any opposing six during the present season. In B. Leatherbarrow the club' has a New Zealand representative hooker, with a great front-row support in H. Mataira, another New Zealand League representative. The other forwards are W. Jackj son, Bodmon, E. Donovan and James, the latter a tall and speedy player who does valuable work |in the loose.

Otahuhu Gets the Bull.—Possession of the ball from set scrums gave Otahuhu a big advantage against Manukau, although the latter fielded a heavy and resolute six. For scrum success, which meant much, Otahuhu relied upon a good hooker in O. Hughes, formerly of the City Club, and now coach of the suburban thirteen. Hughes raked the ball cleanly, and it went quickly to the Otahuhu scrum half. J. Speedy, who was able to give good chances to his backs.

Combination Needed. —Smoother combination in the Ponsonby and North Shore teams would have made the game at the Shore more interesting. Exciting in small patches, the play was marred by flaws in the back lines. Both packs of forwards provided some keen tussles, Graham standing out for Shore, and Hull and Mac Donald for Ponsonby Shore backs who did good work were Gamble and Cave, while Williams was prominent for Ponsonby, with Nurse and Rapana.