MARIST BEATEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 142, 18 June 1945, Page 7

MARIST BEATEN

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

MT. ALBERT WINS NARROWLY

"1 he principal Rugby League match at Carlaw Park on Saturday between two of the leading teams, Mount Albert and , proK'ided a rather disappointing exhibition. Mount Albert won by 7 points a - " ow shares top position on the championship ladder with Otahuhu, which defeated North Shore by a wide margin. Results were:-—Mount Albert 7, Marist 5; Richmond 10, Manukau 7; City 21, Newton i,' „Ponsonby 38, Point Chevalier 15; Otahuhu 38, North Shore 15.

Cranch Consistent.—ln keeping with his reputation of being one of the most consistent players in the code, B. Cranch, the Mount Albert wing-three-quarter, scored all of his team's seven points. Cranch gave his side a serviceable lead with two penalty goals, the result of snots from wide angles, ana then he scored a try. Honours went to the Mount Albert inside backs, who combined speed with straight running and good passing. \\ lies drew his man before sending a long and accurate pass away to the right wing. When Cranch got possession, a converging defence was working across, P .2 e away for the line, and scored J?y corner flag. It was a Marist misfortune that on the day its goal-kicker, J. Anderson, could do nothing right. He liaa a number of chances from reasonable positions, but although he generally got good direction, the shots lacked range. > Nordgren's Field Day.—The tally of goals kicked by Nordgren this season was considerably increased in the Ponsonby- . Point Cheavlier match. Altogether he Kicked seven goals, five of these being conversions of tries. He was also responsible for three of the eight tries scored by Ponsonby., Although Ponsonby's passing was patchy at times; at others it was quickand accurate, Kay being particularly prominent. Point Chevalier played its best game of the season to date. It showed much improvement both in tackling and following up. Point Chevawas unfortunate in not bringing a number of spectacular moves to the scoring point.

Newton's Best Display.—Newton, bottom team in the ladder, gave its best display of the season to extend City for the greater part of the main game on No. 2 ground. Only near the end, when the team began to tire, was City able to rattle on the winning points. The final score would have T)een closer had not Newton declined two reasonably certain penalty attempts in favour of attacking for the line.. Salaia and Silva were the only players in the City side to live up to reputation, even Clarke showing occasional uncertainty at full-back. The fiveeighth, Hawkes, was the outstanding player for Newton, and was in most of the attacking movements besides kicking two penalty goals. The full-back, Walker, was safe, though perhaps unwise to try conclusions in kicking bouts with the Auckland representative custodian.

Good Team Work Shown.—The early crowd at Carlaw Pai k was treated to a fine display of the code as the result of good team work by Manukau and Richmond. The latter maintained its position in second place in the championship, but Manukau might easily have won. J. Murray, the: Manukau five-eighth, gave a polished display, and was a tower of strength to his team and he went close to winning the game for Manukau. D. Ryan, the ex-Auckland Rugby forward, played a splendid game for Richmond and was the outstanding forward. He was always on the ball, and handled well in the loose. Major gave one of the best half-back displays seen at Carlaw Park this season and proved very elusive on attack. He sent out smart, well-directed passes, and varied his play from the base of the scrijm.