Cranch Shows Goal-Kicking Form In Mt. Albert's Win

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 94, 21 April 1945, Page 14

Cranch Shows GoalKicking Form In Mt. Albert's Win

Both teams were without some oftheir leading players, Neary and Shadbolt being missing from the Mount Albert side, while Hull, Fielder, McDonald and Lohenet did not play for Ponsonby.

. Sumich, the Auckland representative five-eighth of last season, turned out for Mount Albert, while the Ponsonby centre was P. Kelly, a former Manukau Rugby player. Behind the Ponsonby pack was Wilfred Brimble, the former Newton and New Zealand representative player. He has been overseas in the armed forces and has not played in Auckland since the 1940 season. With open play Mount Albert held the advantage in the first stage. Rosewarne was hurt and carried off. Conza came on in his place. Early in the game the value of accurate place-kicking was demonstrated. Two penalty chances came to Mount Albert and Cranch made two conversions, one from the widest of angles by the sideline. Bailey made a great effort to raise points for Ponsonby from a free, the ball hitting one of the goalposts high up and rebounding outwards. The play was open, but neither team at this stage was showing real collaboration. The Ponsonby forwards, with Mullett and Mason in, the lead,- swept through to the Mount Albert twentyfive and there a clearing kick went into Nordgren's hands. Auckland's speediest wing ran round his marker and scored by the flag. Mount Albert 4, Ponsonby 3. Gradually Ponsonby gave a promise <5f brighter things with constructive football. Wilfred Brimble gave a sharp attacking service from the base of set scrums, and Allen, formerly of. the Air Force, and Hardwicke made a good link to connect with Kelly in the centre. From longe range Cranch put over his third penalty goal to carry Mount Albert further into the lead. Most of the attractive play was purely individualistic. Wiles showed speed and straight running in the Mount Albert three-quarter line, while the real leader of its forwards was Milliken, the New Zealand representative player. The half-time scores were:— Mount Albert 6 Ponsonby 3

When the teams turned round Nordgren improved the Ponsonby outlook with a penalty goal from a wide angle.

The Mount Albert backs showed some good flashes of attacking play, with Clement sending the ball out with sharp, well-directed passing for Sumich and Wiles to worry the Ponsonby defence with speed and straight running. At this stage Nordgren's great speed in covering defence was invaluable to Ponsonby. Then Mount Albert went further into the lead. A Mount Albert attack worked across the Ponsonby twenty-five, and J. Zane, in the centre, sent a long pass to Cranch. The latter turned in-field, and with a weaving run worked his way through the Ponsonby defence to score wide. Cranch converted with a beautiful angle shot. Hard raiding play by the Ponsonby forwards, with the heavyweight Mason leading, went to the Mount Albert twenty-five, and then Nordgren kicked a penalty goal.. There was Mount Albert retaliation with a series of hard forward drives, one to carry over the Ponsonby try-line, where Pike dived on to the ball and scored. Mount Albert 14, Ponsonby 7. In parts only was the play rising to a high plane. Forward the teams were evenly matched, but the backs of neither team was showing consistent team-play in attack. In the final phase of the game Ponsonby hammered hard at the Mount Albert try-line, and met a defence that was resolute and safe. There was a brilliant solo break by Allen, but he ran into a converging defence. The final scores were: Mount Albert 14 Ponsonby 7 The teams were:—• Mount Albert, H. Zane, Cranch, J. Zane, Wiles, Smythe, Sumich, Clement, Thomassen, Malam, Rosewarne, Pike, Milliken, Borich. Ponsonby: Greer, Roy Nurse, Nordgren, Hardwicke, Kelly, Allen, Brimble, Mullett, Bailey, Hadley, Hughes, Mason, W. Thomas. Mr. G. Kelly was referee.

★ Marist Runs Up Big Points Against Point Chevalier

At Walker Park Point Chevalier was continually on the defensive, but resisted Marist's attempts to break through. Marist handled the ball nicely from the scrum and good passing rushes looked promising, but delay in getting rid of the ball spoiled some otherwise good passes. A penalty against Point Chevalier almost in front of the goal posts enabled Anderson to open up the scoring for Marist.

The game livened up this stage, but Marist continued to J-.-"— the best of the attack. :ai i-ufsins

rushes, however, came to nothing until a clever piece of teamwork saw McWilliams score in the left corner. A few minutes later McWilliams again scored, this time on the right wing, after a passing movement from midfield. Anderson converted the try. Obstruction by Point Chevalier cost another two points when Anderson kicked a penalty. Marist 12, Point Chevalier 0.

The second half opened with a livelier attack by Point Chevalier, which now had the wind in its favour. A pretty passing move saw the ball go to Dayle, who, although hard pressed, managed to get across the line to open Point Chevalier's scoring account with an unconverted try. Point Chevalier continued to press hard, but from midfield Smith got possession to make a solo effort and score, for Anderson to convert. Point Chevalier tried desperately to reach the goal line, but lacked finish. Marist went further into the lead when a penalty was kicked by Anderson and Davidson scored in a good position for Anderson to convert. Davidson again scored after a good combined effort by Marist, and Anderson once more converted. In the last few minutes, with Point Chevalier attacking, Davies took a successful pot at goal. Marist 29 Point Chevalier 5

it Shore Team Wilts

Against Richmond!

Depleted by the absence of players both through injury and Army service, a mediocre North Shore thirteen was outplayed by Richmond to the tune of 28 —7 in the early game on Carlaw Park No. 2 ground. The Shore forwards lacked the leadership of H. H. Hunt, while the strongrunning winger, A. Read, was another absentee. Hunt is on the injured list at the moment, while Read's presence was prevented by Army service. Other players whom Shore hoped to field this season but are also now in the forces, include McArthur, Mercer and Cave.

Without the leadership of Hunt it was noticeable that the Shore forwards lacked dash, and for the most of the game Richmond was calling the tune. Lowther had things made easy for him to a certain extent when his opposite, Short, was injured in the initial stages. Coming on as an emergency, Vost was unable to cope with the speedy Richmond winger,' who scored three tries. Cohesion was also lacking in the Richmond back line, with a want of crispness in the passing, but, defensively, this set was much superior. At no time reaching a high standard, the match was Richmond's well before half time. Responsible for 15 points in all, Lowther opened the scoring ten minutes after the kick-off, a try resulting from the overlap. He converted his own effort. Shore's points came fairly close together, Clarke putting an easy penalty over, and Graham getting a rather unusual try. The Shore full-back, Gamble, punted downfield from halfway, Magill failing to gather in on the full. Bv the time Magill had secured the ball, behind the goalline, Graham was there to take it out of his hands and force down. Clarke's conversion was followed by a spirited Richmond reply, Williams and Magill paving the way for a try by Kinney. Lowther converted. Harkins let Lowther away, with Vost out of position, just on halftime« and a reverse pass from near the corner saw Magill dive over. This time Lowther missed, the half-time score being: Richmond 13 North Shore 7 Richmond pressure would have given Thompson a try early in the second spell had not Williams passed forward, but an infringement saw Lowther kick a penalty from fairly close. This player's second and third tries came close on top of one another, Harkins figuring prominently in a move which saw the winger go over in the corner, while a minute or two later he grounded the ball after a good run. He converted neither effort, leaving Richmond 21, Shore 7.

Magill took the next penalty, goaling, and in the dying stages, with Shore wilting badly, Potter warded off a weak tackle to run through and score unopposed. Magill missed the conversion attempt, leaving the score: Richmond 28 North Shore 7 „ The teams were: Richmond: Magill, Lowther, M. Robertson, R. Robertson, Kinney, Harkins, Williams, Satherley, Hilton, Thompson, Pinches, Ryan, Potter. North Shore: Gamble, Pritchard, Short, Chatham, Greenwood, Clarke, Klinac, Graham, Sycamore, Thompson, Taylor, Rutherfield, Field. Mr. E. Pope was referee.

Newton Tackles Well,

But Is Out-Played

Manukau proved too good for Newton in a game which was often held up by injuries. Newton had three replacements and Manukau one early in the first half. A feature of the game was the splendid tackling of Newton. Early in the game Newton had the misfortune to lose Woolley, the winger, who has had a successful season at cricket on the Domain. The Manukau basks gave a perfect

exhibition of the passing game, and Butler and Taumata excelled in exciting dashes for the goal-line. Josephs and Zimmerman led the Newton forwards, but from his own twenty-five, Chase beat the attackers and passed to Murray, who carried play well into the Newton danger zone. Prom a set scrum Shalfoon cut in nicely, was tackled hard, but passed to Rogers and Te Tai raced over to open the score. Chase converted. Manukau 5. Newton 0.

Shalfoon was unable to continue, and Masters replaced the Poverty Bay five-eighth. Scarlett, the Newton half-back, started a passing bout, and drew Belsham into a scoring position. Briggs raced up in support, but his pass to Keen was ruled forward. For a time Manukau played a five-man scrum, and Rogers did a lot of effective work as the extra back. He started a passing bout in which Murray and Butler raced for the try-line, but the Manukau winger was ruled off-side and a try lost. The Newton tackling was very sound, and the score was kept down. Murray was elusive as ever, and the ex-New Zealand Maori rep. cut the defence to ribbons, but was unlucky to be pushed into touch. Hard knocks frequent, and Smith retired from an injury. In the next Manukau offensive, Thompson broke through nicely and passed to Butler, to Murray and finally Masters, a new player to the code, raced over for a nice try. Chase converted. Half-time scores: Manukau 10 Newton 5 On resuming, Newton gave promise of good things, and Briggs made a good opening for Elliott, who made ground. From a nice passing bout, Keen, on the Newton wing, revealed speed to score a try, after Butler had an unsuccessful chase. McKay converted to make the score: Manukau 10, Newton 5. Superior speed and better handling saw Manukau hit back effectively and Murray and Masters handled before the latter passed to Taumata, who raced over. Tlie Maori forwards played a good type of football, and passing between Rogers and Thompson, with Ewe giving good support. Major came into the movement, and Shilton scored a nice try. Chase converted. Manukau 18, Newton 5. Major gave good service behind the Manukau pack and smartly beat the defence to send Thompson and Ewe racing for the goal line. A forward pass to Masters checked a certain try. At this stage Newton lost Briggs. The fourth on the casualty list. Ewe scored for Manukau. Superior speed told its tale, and Butler scored for Chase to convert with a great sideline kick. Manukau 26, Newton 5. Murray made a grand opening and Major scored. Chase again converted. The game ended:— Manukau 31 Newton 5 Mr. P. Bailey was referee. Manukau: Chase, Butler, Webster, Taumata, Murray, Shalfoon, Major, Thompson, Te Tai, Ewe, Rogers, Shilton, Morris.

Newton: Silva, Keen, Woolley, Belsham, Blake, Douglas, Scarlett, Zimmerman, Josephs, Davison, Brady, Briggs, Beckham.

Otahuhu's Sensational Last-Minute Win

Otahuhu had its second successive win of the season when it snatched victory in the last minute of play from City. As an exhibition of league, the game was patchy, some near-brilliant individual efforts being interspersed by periods when attacking movements were ragged and the defence poor. However, it was generally pleasing early season football. Early play was of a tentative nature, a feature being the number of penalties awarded. Both A. Donovan, playing his first game of the season for City, and C. Riley, playing at five-eighths for Otahuhu, had attempts at the goal and Riley put the first points on the board with a good kick from out by the sideline. Portello, a promoted junior, who has replaced Riley as full-back, was handling well in the early stages, although his kicking lacked force and direction.

First try came when the City wing, Matthews, who was in the picture throughout, penetrated Otahuhu's defence and made for the line, passing to James, who backed up well and scored. Clarke converted. City 5, Otahuhu 2. Matthews and James were again prominent a few minutes later when Otahuhu were pressing hard, the pair making a gain of some 50 yards before James was caught. The tide began to turn in Otahuhu's favour when Riley landed another penalty. In the Otahuhu pack, the Johnson brothers were prominent, Mr. Johnson making several good runs, but tending to i dispose of the ball too soon. R. Speedy made his own opening for a spectacular try which Riley converted. City were now on the receiving end and there was some resourceful play ,by Otahuhu backs and forwards, Wellm eventually leaving the City defence standing to score between the posts. Riley converted and half-time came with the score. , Otahuhu 14 City 5 '• On the changeover Ellis was replaced by R. Taylor, a newcomer to City from South Auckland. Ip the Otahuhu pack Fogarty was replaced by 'Mills. Otahuhu was immediately on the attack, but City held its own and came within two points of the Otahuhu total when Clarke kicked a penalty and McManus went over for a try. Otahuhu maintained itj attack with the Speedy brothers and Riley prominent in the backs. For City, James was playing an outstanding open game and joined with Cunningham, the half-back, and Matthews in a scoring movement that owed much to Matthews' fast running. James' try was converted by Clarke, putting City three points ahead.

There followed some evenly-con-tested play, but City was gradually forced back on to its own line, where Otahuhu made desperate attempts to cross. Clarke "relieved the position a couple of times, but Otahuhu kept on the pressure, declining two or three penalties in an attempt to cross. Finally M. Johnson fell over the line, with the other forwards on top of him, making the score 17-all. Riley converted, and the bell rang immediately afterwards, giving Otahuhu a sensational win when City appeared to have secured the honours. Otahuhu 19 City : 17 The teams were:— Otahuhu.—Portello, Wellm, Keat, Simons, Riley, R. Speedy, J. Speedy, Fogarty, N. Johson, I. Johnson, M. Johnson, J. Johnson, D. Hardy. City.—Clarke, Matthews, Simpson, Legge, Silva, A. Donovan, R. Cunningham, James, McManus, E. Donovan, Jackson, Sexton," Ellis. Mr. H. Tate was the referee.

SEVEN-A-SIDE COMPETITION

Richmond A 1, beat Richmond B 0. City 0 dreu- with Otahuhu 0. Mt. Albert 4, bsat Ponsonby 0.