LEAGUE CODE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 125, 29 May 1944, Page 7

LEAGUE CODE

LOW SCORING

MANUKAU BEATS RICHMOND

On heavy grounds, and, at one stage in heavy rain, the Auckland Rugby League's senior competition was continued on Saturday. Low scoring ruled in the matches played at Carlaw Park. The results were:— Manukau 2, Richmond 0. Mount Albert 2, North Shore 2. Ponsonby 8, Pt. Chevalier 7. Otahuhu 8, Marist 6. City 24, Newton 3.

Otahuhu Rathci Lucky.—Otahuhu was a little lucky to come off with a two-point margin against Marist, which had a decided territorial advantage throughout. Otahuhu certainly scored two tries, while Marist failed to cross. Hughes, the Marist five-eighth, could do nothing right and dropped passes cost at least two tries. Speedy, the Otahuhu half-back, was easily the pick of the backs and his defence was a thorn in the side of the opposition. Marist introduced a new recruit to the code in R. Kidd, a 16-stone forward, who comes wth goal-kicking ability. He kicked one nice penalty and when in condition promises to strengthen the forwards.

Tonsonby's Close Call.—Point Chevalier went close to beating Ponsonby, which was sorely pressed over the last part of the game. The appearance of Don Mullet, New Zealand heavyweight boxing champion, with Ponsonby added interest to the game. Berzie and Bailey, threequarters, did good service for Ponsonby. Pope played a splendid game in the Point forwards.

Forwards Excel.—With playing conditions unsuitable for passing and orthodox back play, the match between Manukau and Richmond was largely a struggle between two well-matched sets of forwards. The Manukau six were without Rogers, who was having a day in the threequarter line, and the outstanding one was the 14-stone Te Tai. who was untroubled by a slippery ball, and the fact that the. ground, in places, was a quagmire. There were times when A. Thompson and M'. Thompson Bhowed up in the loose play, but the heavy-weight, Rikinui, found the difficult going too much of a problem. Seymour played a great game, and made commendable efforts to open up the game for the Richmond backs. Good support came rrom Dowling. Kipa, Hilton and Te Whanga. The real feature of the back play was the splendid work by the rival full-backs, R. Martin, for Manukau, and J. Magill, for Richmond. They were faultless in their fielding, and resolute ;tn their defence.

Penalty Goals Only. —In the match between Mount Albert and North Shore neither team had its goal line crossed and with a penalty goal each the result was a draw. Both forward divisions adopted the right kind of play for the occasion—attack was made with the ball at toe, and only when the occasion was ravourable was an attempt made to open up with back play. Both teams were well served by their half-backs, McArthur for North Shore and Clement for Mount Albert, yet, when the half-backs did send the ball away the inside backs found the safe handling of the ball almost impossible and three-quarters had to fend for themselves. Near the end Jones, the Mount Albert five-eighth, made a couple of splendid efforts to cut a way through the North Shore inside backs. In one effort he made a great opening before sending the ball on to J. Zane. The latter did his part well by drawing the Shore full-back, but B. Cranch, with the way wide open, dropped the ball when the pass was given, ana. the last scoring chance that Mount Albert had during the day was lost.

City's Comfortable Win.—Playing without the services of some of its best players, including T. Shaw and N. McKay, Newton went down to a strong City team which played a fast game despite the heavy nature of Grey Lynn Park. There was not mudh difference between the two packs, and it was the speed of the City backs in following up that contributed largely to victory. Outstanding for City were the threequarter, Salaia, and the full-back, Clarke. Salaia made the openings for at least three of City's half dozen tries, and Clarke played a great game, his run through the Newton team to score being the highlight of the match.