LIEAGUE LEADER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 208, 3 September 1945, Page 7

LIEAGUE LEADER

WIN FOR RICHMOND THE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP After a keen contest, Richmond beat Ponsonby when the final of the Auckland Rugby League's major championship was played at Carlaw Park on Saturday. Otahuhu, the winner of the minor championship, has the right to play the winner and thus Richmond and Otahuhu will meet at a later date. The first matches of the Roope Rooster final were also played. Results: — Richmond 7, Portsonby 3. Otahuhu 7, City. 7. North Shore 17, Point Chevalier 15. Marist 28, Newton 9. Manukau 18, Mount Alber.t 16. Goals By Lowther. —In addition to playing a great game at wing threequarter, B. Lowther, the Auckland representative, kicked two goals, both being exceptionally fine efforts on a heavy ground. The other Richmond,score was a try ay Rennie, the result of a quick blind-side movement and a determined run towards the corner-flag, which caught the apposition out of position. The only Ponsonby score was a try by Nordgren. Usually he ge,ts tries as a result of gathering a pass and outpacing the opposition, but on this occasion it was the reward of fast following up when the ball went over the Richmond try-line. It was unfortunate for Ponsonby that Nordgren had an off-day as a goal-kicker. Unusual Result.—A drawn game after 20 minutes extra time had been played was a feature of the first round clash between City and Otahuhu. It is believed to be without precedent in the history of Roppe Rooster games: Five minutes each way has been necessary in some games in the past, but never four changes over of five minutes. On the run of play, a draw was a good indication of the game, although Otahuhu had a good deal the better of the first half. A try by each side and two penalty goals was the sum total of the points scored. For Otahuhu both the wings, Halsey and Simons, played fine football, and Speedy at half-back gave good service from the scrum base. M. Johnson and Sanderson were the pick of the Otahuhu forwards. For City, Clarke played soundly at fullback and Simpson on the wing was prominent on attack. Jackson, Sexton and James worked very well in the loose for City. Point Chevalier Unlucky. —In a match that was keenly fought In the closing stages, Point Chevalier was somewhat unlucky to lose by two points to North Shore. . The advantage in the first spell was with Shore, but Point Chevalier attacked with determination in the second and was on even terms when the bell rang. The playing of extra time saw Hunt, the Shore skipper, kick the points necessary for victory. Moore and St. John were the pick of the Point backs, while the full-back, Anderson, also played a sound game. Clarke, Shore's representative five-eighth, was well in the picture in the first half, but was inclined to be hesitant after the change over. Cranch In Top Form. — Main factor in Mount Albert's win over Manukau was the performance of B. Cranch. Besides kicking well with a slippery ball, he ran with dash whenever he had a scoring opportunity, and contributed 15 of his side's 18 points. Padley, on the left wing, played a sound game, but the other backs were well marked. H. Zane, the fullback, was kept busy by the speedy Manukau forwards, of whom Kutia, Rogers and Kipa were outstanding. Most prominent back for the Maoris was Murray, who maintained his efforts throughout the game. Team For Wellington.—The Auckland Rugby League team will travel to Wellington next Saturday. The selectors, Messrs. J Clark, J. Kirwan and A. J. McGregor, have chosen the following players:—Fullback, T. Butler; three-quarters, B. Nordgren P. Kelly. B. Lowther; five-eighths, J. Murray, R. Clarke; half-back, L. Clement; forwards, D. McLeod, J. Rutherford, D Ryan, A. Thompson, B. Graham, T. Hardwick; reserves—backs, A. Wiles, R. Nurse; forwards, G. Mitchell, R. Shadbolt. Win For Canterbury. — A Press Association message states that the Canterbury representative Rugby League team beat the Wellington representatives, 15—13, at the Show grounds on Saturday. Canterbury was down 3—lo at half-time, neither forwards nor backs showing much promise. Wellington dominated the game and it looked as if it would secure a runaway win. However, the second spell saw a marked change. Canterbury played much better, putting Wellington on the defensive. The score was 13-all a few minutes before time, when Davison (Canterbury) kicked a great goal from just inside half-way to give his side a twopoint winning margin. -j . ■ Sydney Final. — The final of the New South Wales major club championship was won by Eastern Suburbs, which defeated Balmaih by 22 points to 18 in a brilliant game at the Sydney Cricket ground on Saturday. For Eastern Suburbs, R. Dunn, a forward, scored three tries and kicked five goals. Balmain was the team previously booked to play matches at CarlaW Park. The attendance at the game was 45,600.