HIGH LEAGUE SCORE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 232, 30 September 1944, Page 2 (Supplement)

HIGH LEAGUE SCORE

Ponsonby Team-Play Eclipses City:

Shore Beats Manukau In A Fast Match: Newton Surprises Marist Team

In brilliant weather, and on hard grounds, the Auckland Rugby League's Roope Rooster competition was contested at Carlaw Park this afternoon before a large attendance. In the principal match of the day, Ponsonby beat City, the club champion, by 31 points to 17. It was a fast and open game, and good Ponsonby team-play was the winning factor. There were some attractive concerted bits of play during the match, and on the day Ponsonby was clearly the better team. North Shore gave its best display of the season to beat Manukau by 18 points to 8, and Mount Albert had to struggle hard to beat Otahuhu by 10 points to 8. Newton sprang the surprise of the day by beating Marist by 11 points to 10.

City v. Ponsonby City: S. W. Clarke, Taylor, Salaia, Matthews, Silva, Cossey, Cunningham, Mataira, Bodman, Leatherbarrow, James, E. Donovan, Ellis. Ponsonby: Littlejohn, Nurse, Jordan, Nordgren, Manley, Kay, Black, Mullett, Hadley, Bailey, Harwick, Hull, Lohenet. The City team took the field with S. W. Clarke back in his usual -place at fullback, and Cunningham, the former North Auckland player, behind the scrum in place of A„ Donovan. In the Ponsonby backs were two new players from Rugby, G. Littlejohn at fullback, and B. Nordgren on the right wing. With speed and open play, Ponsonby had the better of the early exchanges, and Littlejohn made a good attempt to land a field goal. With Mullett leading the way, a Ponsonby attack went to the right corner, and then swung infield. From a set scrum, Lohenet hooked cleanly, and Black dived across under the bar. and scored. Itoy Nurse converted. Ponsonby 5, City 0. City backs opened out in an attractive way and went down field with Cossey, Silva and Salaia each making ground in turn, a final pass sending Taylor in to score by the flag. Ponsonby 5, City 3. The Ponsonby backs delighted the spectators with speed and eleve'r handling. With sheer speed Nordgren made a big gap in the City defence and passed to send Nurse in to score. Now sure of themselves, the Ponsonby backs launched an attack In a lively way. One movement went to the right wing, and when the attack was reversed, Kay ran across to score in a good pbsition. The next score came when the Ponsonby backs, with perfect combination, worked to the left wing, and Nurse went in for his second try. Ponsonby 14, City 3. Kay kicked a penalty goal from short range to make the scores Ponsonby JG, City 3. Forward the two teams were well matched, but the Ponsonby backs, with pace and combination, were dominating the game. Kay was playing a fine pivotal game at five-eighths, and Jordan in the centre was showing cleverness in directing the attack. Individually, there was good City effort, Mataira leading his forwards well, and Taylor showing speed in the backs. , , , Silva kicked a weik penalty goal to reduce the Ponsonby lead. Ponsonby 10, City 5. The half-time score was:— Ponsonby IS City 5 When the teams turned round, the Ponsonby forwards, with raiding play, got to the City end, and Hull dived across the try line and scored. Kay kicked a beautiful angle goal. After some scrambling play Matthews made a brilliant dash on the right wing and passed infield to Salaia, to Bodman, the latter going through a shattered Ponsonby defence to score. Silva converted. There were now signs of frayed tempers at times, and in one incident fists were flying until the referee quietened things down. . Both teams began to use the exploiting kick, and at this stage the respective fullbacks, Clarke (for City) and Littlejohn (of Ponsonby) both fielded cleanly and kicked a big length. Silva kicked another penalty goal to improve the City position. Ponsonby 21 City 1~ Kay made Ponsonby's next score possible. When a Ponsonby attack broke down, Kay gathered the ball and, ai'er j running to the wing, centred. Jordan 1 swept up to field a bouncing ball and I score between the posts. Kay converted. ! Most of the chances were coming the I Ponsonby way, as In set scrums Lohenet was getting possession. Black was sending the ball away with clean, welldirected passing. From loose play Hardwick ran in to score a try which Kay converted. For City, which was now a lost cause, the spectators' enthusiasm was beginning to wane. In parts there was some good, concerted play by both teams, but mostly it was solo effort, and occasionally the work of both teams was ragged. At the Ponsonby end the City inside backs got a lateral move going, and Matthews, on the wing, who received the final pass, combined speed with side-step to weave a way through and score between the posts. Silva converted to make the final scores: Ponsonby 31 City 17 Mr. J. O'Shannessey was the referee. ★ Maris! v. Newton Marist: Brockliss, Smith, White, Shepherd, Costello, Simpson, Best, Crocker, Daws On. Skinner, L. Simons, Sexton, McLeod. Newton.—McKay, Woolley, Muru, Brady, Neill, Briggs, Sorby, Scarlett, Sullivan, Zimmerman, Elliott, Gallagher, To Haara. Marist backs opened up smartly, and from a passing bout, Shepherd outpaced the Newton backs to score a good try, which came from previous good play by Costello and Smith. Brockliss just missed from a great side line kick. Marist 3, Newton 0. Marist was unlucky to loose Costello who retired with an injury. The Marist backs came again and Shepherd made a fine run only to miss scoring by a few yards. The standard of play was good, and Newton was pressed hard to keep Marist out. Neill was prominent, but Crocker tacklcd well as the Newton offensive became dangerous. Sexton gained good ground for Marist., and Best improved the position. McKay, the Newton full-back, got In a clearing kick. Sorby received from a scrum in Marist twenty-five, and passed to Muru, but the pass was ruled forward, and Newton missed a trv. The Newton forwards with Sullivan and Te Haara in the van caught Marist out of position, and Scarlett snapped up to score a really good try. Sorby converted to make the score, Newton 5. Marist 3. Then Brockliss kicked a penalty goal for Marist, and Scarlett, scored for Newton. In a fine solo run, Muru raced away for Newton to make the half-time score: Newton 11 Marist 5 On resuming, the Marist forwards put up a strong offensive, and McLeod and Skinner were prominent to carry the playback to Newton's territory. Brockliss reduced the Newton lead by kicking a penalty goal. Simpson raced away • and passed to White, who made a good opening, and McLeod was pulled down a few yards from the Newton try-line. Zimmerman j put all his weight into a dash for 30 i yards, but his pass to Brady was wild. Smith cleared. From a scrum 30 yards out, Crocker burst through to score a nice try. , , _ AT Briggs and Zimmerman led the Newton pack and Sorby dashed on to carry play well into the Marist territory. In the concluding stages Newton had the better of the game. Muru made a great effort to get over, and badly beat the ■ defence, only to be tackled by Shepherd a few yards from the try-line. Muru -vas outstanding among the Newton backs and plaved with confidence. A few minutes i before the final bell the Marist backs I made splendid efforts to get over, and Smith and White went close to scoring. A popular wiij. was recorded to Newton, and the final score was:— Newton 11 Marist 1° Mr. Jack Hawkes was referee.

Manukau v. North Shore Manukau: T. Butler, Ralph Martin,~T. Chase, Werohia, P. Morris, Rirlnui, Finlayson, Rogers, Shilton, Opai, Ewe, Turpi. North Shore: Gamble, Hiscock, Walker, Read, Clarke, Priest, McArthur, Hunt, Rutherford, Field, Graham, Taylor, Mercer. Manukau started off a man short with Ralph Martin playing in the five-eighths position. Play was carried to the Manukau line when a penalty kick by Hunt fell short, but quickly swung upfield again. First points went to Manukau when Butler, who was playing at full-b.ack, kicked a penalty from ten yards inside halfway. Play was fast and open and Hunt, Hiscock and McArthur were responsible for some bright thrusts for Shore. Handling by Shore backs was excellent. An infringement by Ririnui resulted in a scrimmage upfield for Shore. Field got the ball from the resulting play and passed to McArthur, who crossed. The kick missed. Shore 3, Manukau 2. A surprise try by Ewe, who fell over the line with a tackier hanging, to him added three more points to Manukau's tally. Clarke kicked a penalty for Shore to make the score 5 all. Play continued to be eventful, and Manukau remained aggressive. Read launched a Shore attack that went very fast upfield and ended in Graham passing to Hiscock who scored in the corner. The kick; missed. The half-time score was:— I North Shore „ 8 Manukau 5 j Read made an excellent run along the line when the teams changed round but was forced out by the flag. Shore were! on the attack, and the handling of the backs was excellent. Hiscock made two runs on the left wing and Clarke and Priest were playing smoothly inside. The advantage was with Shore at this stage, Manukau defending strongly but showing little combination. Walker made a good run to bring Shore within striking distance of the Manukau line. Clarke made a short exploiting kick in front of the posts and McArthur crossed. Clarke converted. Shore 13, Manukau 5. The advantage was all with Shore and their backs were earning applause. Clarke penetrated brilliantly and sent to Graham, who (lived across to score. Clarke converted. Shore 18, Manukau 5. From an opening by Ririnui, Manukau forwards carried play to the Shore end, where Finlayson passed to Werohia, who scored. Butler's kick missed. The final score was:— North Shore 18 Manukau 8 Mr. H. Tate was referee. ★ Otahuhu v. Mount Albert The game between Otahuhu and Mt. Albert, two well-balanced teams, was keenly contested in the first series of matches for the Roope Rooster competition. Mount Albert, runner-up in the senior championship, did not field the usual side, Milliken and Jones being missing. Once play settled down, Otahuhu forwards took charge, and Fogarty started a passing bout, for Hughes and N. Johnson to penetrate deeply Into the Mt. Albert twenty-five. Penalty kicks for off-side play by the Otahuhu forwards were frequent, and H. Zane kicked three penalty goals. Simpson, who played last season for City, and was prominent at fiveeighths, passed to Riley, who went close to scoring. Good play by Wellm paved the way for the next effort by Otahuhu, and N. Johnson scored a well-deserved try. Bad handling cost Mt. Albert a try when Clement raced away, passed to Sumlch, to J. Zane, who mishandled. Halftime score was:— Mt. Albert . 6 Otahuhu 3 On resuming, Shadbolt was prominent at the head of the Mt. Albert forwards, and MacKinnon gave good support in a „ good run well into the twenty-five. The upshot was a penalty goal by Clement, and the score read: Mount Albert 8, Otahuhu 3. From a scrum near halfway, Riley made a brilliant opening, and beat the defence badly, before passing to Wellm, who ran on to score easily the best try of the game. It was a fine bit of work by Ri)ey, who converted, to make the score equal. Play continued to be interesting, and Otahuhu made great efforts to win outright. N. Johnson trailed his brother, I. Johnson, and Hughes just missed a try. Keat dashed in for the corner, and was unlucky to miss a try. At this stage Otahuhu was definitely on top, but th« Mt. Albert defence was very sound. Once or twice the Otahuhu backs kicked instead of passing, and chances were lost. Right on time H. Zane kicked a penalty goal, and Mt. Albert gained a very lucky win. The final score was: Mt. Albert 10 Otahuhu ..•••■ S j Mr. G. Kelly was referee. ★ REP. TEAM TO PLAY SOUTH AUCKLAND Follow ins are players selected to represent Auckland against South Auckland, at Huntly, next Saturday:— Fullback, Ralph Martin (Manukau): threequarters. J. Smith (Marlst), R. McGregor (Richmond), B. Taylor (City); five-eighths. R. Salata (City), W. Cossey (City): half-back, C. Williams (Richmond): forwards, D. McLeod (Marlst). O. Hughes (Otahuhu). F. Hilton (Richmond). F. James (City), N. Johnson (Otahuhu), A. Rogers (Manukau). Emergencies: Forwards, W. Bodmnn (City), I. Simpson (Marlst): backs, C. Riley (Otahuhu). B. Lowther (Richmond). Players arc (o report for training at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday at Carlaw Park. Any player not avalable is requested to notify the Rugby Lcaguo ofllce. ROOPE ROOSTER Tile draw for the semi-finals of the Roopc Rooster competition next Saturday is:—l.3o p.m.. Newton v. North Shore; 3 p.m.. Mount Albert v. Fonymby.