LEAGUE CODE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 202, 27 August 1945, Page 7

LEAGUE CODE

FINALISTS EMERGE

RICHMOND AND PONSONBY

Fast and open football was played at Carlaw Park on Saturday when the semifinals in the Auckland Rugby League's major championship were staged. Results were:— Richmond 10, Mount Albert 7. Ponsonby 28, Otahuhu IS. Ponsonby and Richmond will play in the filial next Saturday. Sharp Back Flay.—Although Ponsonby fielded- the veteran G. Tittleton in the unusual position of scrum-half, with Arthur Kay at first five-eighth, the Ponsonby back play in the match against Otahuhu went with general smoothness and understanding. In the centre P. Kelly gave an outstanding display of attacking football, and on the two occasions he scored, he made his way in a weaving run clean through the Otahuhu defence. The Ponsonby plan of attack was to play to the* speedy Nordgren on the wing. With his great pace he got two tries, and in addition kicked five goals. The Ponsonby forwards were very lively in the loose play, and T. Hardwick got two tries. Three Goals to Rlley.—For Otahuhu, C. Riley, the best place-kick in the League code thjs season, demonstrated the value of accurate kicking with three conversions, one of the shots being from a difficult angle. Martin, formerly of the Manukau team, showed thrust and cleverness in the Otahuhu five-eighth line, while the three-quarter line was impressive despite limited opportunities. Brady, in the centre, showed good positional play and sound defence, and Halsey and Simons were a pair of resolute and strong-run- ■ ning wings.