LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Northern Advocate, 3 August 1931, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

RICHMOND AND CITY UNITED

■WIN FOR THE VISITORS,

Kensington Park, on Saturday was the scene of a strenuous game of football, almost the whole of which was played in drenching rain. The contesting teams were Eichmond (.Auckland) and City United, the latter being strongly augmented by players from other clubs.

The game, owing to the wet, was of a, forward, scrambling nature and not at all of the brilliant spectacular type of play usually associated with the League code. The backs, particularly those of the home side, were vdry little in action and were not at all impressive. Shorthand played well, as also did Dent. The latter was the safest back on his side, but was not as fast off the mark as usual.

The outstanding player on the day was E. 0 ’Callaghan. His following up and determination were the only things that saved his side from a heavy defeat, E. Hamilton was disappointing, and his brother Claude did not show up to advantage as an inside back.

Of the visitors, Lawless, Prentice, Telford, Lenne, Agnew, Lee and Marshall were very prominent. The teams were as follow: —

Richmond: — Pull-back, Lee; threequarters, Pell, Dunn, Marshall; fiveeighths, Steer, Davis; half, Agnew; front row, Lenne, W. Jones, Telford; second row, R. Jones, Ritchie; back row, Prentice. Owing to injuries Davis was replaced by Lawless and W. Jones by Biddick.

City United. —Full-back, Wilson; three-quarters, E. Cununingham, R. Hamilton, Lowe; five-eighths, C. Ham ilton, Dent; half, Shortland; front row, Payne, Wells, E. O,’Callaghan; second row, Dunn, Bowyer; back row, A. Cunningham. The last-mentioned player was early replaced, by Swanberg. Play had been a very short time in progress when, from a Richmond offensive, Dunn opened for Marshall to score. Davis, with an excellent kick, added two more points. —Richmond 5. City 0.

A penalty kick at goal was taken by R. Hamilton without success, and from the '25-yard kick E. Cunningham brought the ball along the line fast and sent across to Dent. The latter jammed by opponents, short-punted, and E. O’Callaghan following up fast, scored. C. 'Hamilton evened the score with the kick at goal.—Five All. For an infringement in the scrum, Richmond were awarded a penalty kick, and Lee sent the leather over the bar. —Richmond 7, City 5. The visitors again attacked strongly and Lawless dived for a touch-down, the referee ruling a few inches short. From the “play the ball” Swanberg relieved. The home team were still defending hard when the half-time whistle sounded.

On resuming, City pressed and E. O'Callaghan again proved the value of f ollowing up hard by scoring. C, Hamilton sent the kick under the bar, — City 8, Richmond 7. Some time elapsed before, from another City attack, Dent sent the leather up and O’Callaghan, still “seagull chasing,” scored again near the corner flag. C. Hamilton failed at goal.—'City 11, Richmond 7. , The Aucklanders now buckled to, and from a forward movement in City’s 25, Lawless broke through about half the opposing side and sent the ball to Ritchie to score. Lee failed to convert. —City 11, Richmond 10. City again forced hard and had Richmond defending under their goal for quite a while, when City were awarded a penalty. €. Hamilton took a sitting shot straight in frone of the goal and only a few feet out, but sent the ball under the bar. The last score was made by Telford from ,a strong forward movement by the visitors. Lee was not, successful wifK the kick. —Richmond 13, City 11. Almost immediately another solid attack by Richmond culminated 'in a serum on the line, from which Dent relieved with a strong kick up-'fleld. The whistle blew shortly afterward with no further alteration in the scores. Mr J. F. Johnson was referee. JUNIOR GAME. SHORT SCORING. A curtain-raiser to the senior game was played between Whakapara and City juniors, the former winning by three points to two. Air E. W, Taylor was referee. KAMO V. PORTLAND.

The above match was played at Kamo and resulted in a win for Kamo by 13 to 3, after a good game, filled with bright football. The result leaves Kamo certain cup winners for the first time. Portland won the toss and elected to play against a strong wind. Erom the kick-off Kamo immediately found touch near Portland’s twenty-five, where from a scrum Portland secured and took play past half-way, where Kamo took the ball right back to within a few yards of Portland’s line. After a lot of hard tackling by both ;a> \

sides, Wilkinson secured and raced over to give Kamo their first try. 3. Rice failed with the kick from a difficult angle.—Kamo 3, Portland 0.

From the kick-off the ball traveled down to Kamo’s twenty-live, where Lenne took a great catch and, racing swiftly, carried play well down past half-way, but was collared in possession by Wallace, who was penalised for not allowing him to play the ball. From a free kick Hooper secured and, racing for the line, short-punted and, again receiving, dived over for Kamo’s second try. He took the kick and con-verted.—-Kamo 8, Portland 0. Half-time then came. The teams immediately changed over. From the kick-off, Portland took charge, but were brought down a few yards from the line. Hoey obtained possession and punted well up the line. Belson secured, and after some good passing amongst the backs, Brownhill scored. Ellis failed with the kick.—Kamo 8, Portland 3.

Soon after resuming Portland were awarded a free kick, but the shot by Ellis went astray.

Kamo, however, were not to be denied and S. Hoey secured and made for the line. He passed to Hooper who raced over and scored. He took the kick himself and landed a nice goal. — Kamo 13, Portland 3. Portland made a good effort to score, but the defence proved too sound, the game ending shortly afterwards, Mr F. Little ably controlled the game. SOCCER FOOTBALL WELLINGTON BEATEN. ONE GOAL MARGIN. (Per Pram Association.- —Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day. In a fast and open game on Saturday Wellington was defeated by Otago in the first challenge match for the English Football Association trophy. Otago forwards showed much the better combination, and although Wellington led by two goals to one at half time, the challengers in the second spell showed marked superiority and the game ended 4 goals to 3 in the favour of Otago.

The game was full of interest and several times the custodians of both sides effected good saves. McDougall, for the visitors, was particularly brilliant, winning applause for averting a score at a critical moment. Wellington maintained strong pressure to the end, but the dashing movements of the visitors smashed many attacks and carried play into Wellington territory.

CHRISTCHURCH RESULTS. (Per Press Association. —Copyright.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Soccer matches played on Saturday resulted as follows: —Western 5, New Brighton 0; Rangers 2, Marist 0,