UNDER LEAGUE RULES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17556, 23 August 1920, Page 7

UNDER LEAGUE RULES.

' MARIST OLD BOYS DEFEAT CITY, MARITIME, 26; PONSONBY, 10. ! Three first-grade games under . League rules, were played at the Domain on Satur- '• day, before an attendance estimated at over 6000. Marist Old Boys and City met on. No. 1 ground, the former -winning after a great' contest, by 10 points to 5. Maritime defeated Ponsonby by 26 points to 10, and Devoaport scored a win over Grafton by 13 points, to. 5. ; v v The meeting between Marist and City was expected to produce a stirring struggle, and in this popular opinion was not astray. The i game-' was hotly contested from start to finish, and though the victory went to Marist there was nothing to choose between the teams on the day's play. At the same time, it appears as if the Marist team has been, just a little unfortunate in the club competitions in not developing its best form earlier in the season. With two wins over City and one- over Maritime to their Credit, the Marist players have shown that they possess championship credentials second to none in the competition, but their form in the early part of the season was not up to their present standard. The result of' Saturday's games places Maritime in an unassailable position for the premiership, and next Saturday will probably see the commencement of the Boope Rooster competition. Though the game on Saturday was hard-fought and keen throughout it was not highly exciting. There were brilliant dashes, and at times fine passing bouts, but the teams were too well matched for spectacular play. Early in the game City initiated some passing movements that should have led to scores, but with the breaking down of these the game resolved itpelf into a tight struggle, with only occasional flashes of combined back play.. MARIST OLD BOYS 7. CITY. The Marist players were the first to attack, a dash by Loveri<ige and Hing reaching the City twenty-five. A penalty gave temporary relief, but Marist again worked the ball to their opponents' territory, and Stormont had a fruitless shot at goal. After a .period of slow play, City broke away, and the whole of the back division taking part in a passing movement, a score seemed certain until W. Davidson failed to hold a pass, and the movement was stopped at the Marist corner. Shortly afterwards City had a fruitless shot at goal from a penalty. Following this there was another good passing bout by the City hacks, but a forward pass stopped it. Marist then attacked, and a long kick by McNamara, well followed up, placed the City line in danger. A hard kick over the line enabled City to force. The City forwards then began to get the ball in the scrum, and the backs were set in motion several times but were unable to get far. A succession of rushes by Marist threatened the City line, but the attackers were unable to score. i The scene was suddenly changed by City i breaking away from the centre, and B. Davidson, racins down the field, secured the ball from a kick and crossed the line. He was brought back for an infringement, and a penalty -removed the danger. The City players came back, and Wetherall, by a good ran down the touch-line, was just tackled in time to save a score. Hing removed the danger by a good dash, and play centred. The struggle was even for the remainder of the spell, which ended without a, score by either side. ;

Shortly after resuming. Marist broke away ■ £?%• midfield. and Eustace, -getting the ball•! °h ,the blind; side of: the scrum, raced round and ecored. ; Ghent ©inverted* Several ait's ■ **!?**■ passing -movements ; were made py-,t,iw, and. some, good dashes ; by the backsi took - Way * to; Marist territory.' the latter team« forwards came back -with a rush, and Play centred, v A great deal of loose,* open i c enue f tho dwelling up and down • the field at a great rate as a .result of long kicking respective fullbacks:*. Eventually, the fi&tiEti.fcrwards broke away, and St. George, > getting "'the ball, had a 'dear M m ■ for: a try, but was Outpaced and tackled i uiosetothe line: The Marist maintained the attaokt and a succession rSHcushfts ! by the backs were only stopped Sby good tackling on the part of the City -hacksV*-A ! ™. by .the City forwards play to, the Marisi line, where fierce attempts to score' were made by the 'City forwards,-but the detence proved sound. * The Marist forwards cleared their line with a rush, and a penalty gave City a shot at goal. \- W. Davidson's kick wont wide A rush by the Marist forwards, took play to City territory, and Fry, obtaining the ball., dodged through the op-' position and ©cored behind -the posts, Ghent converted; - giving* the ; Marista a ten , points' lead. City livened up .and a good attacking movement resulted in Paki scoring after the ball, bad been handled by Mitchell and B. Davidson.; Wetherall converted. -The remainder of the spell was hotly contested, but no further score resulted, and the game concluded with: Marist, 10 points; City. 5.

MARITIME V PONSONBY. It was generally anticipated that Maritime would, secure a win from Ponsonby and retain the lead in the competition, and popular opinion -was justified by the result. The game, however, was not altogether one-sided and with Maritime leadingS;*t half-tims by only four points, there etui appeared to be a chance of Ponsonby effecting a surprise, Ahe Maritime players showed better staying powers than their opponents, and scored freely in the second spell. -i „ • to tbe early -stages of the game play hung J? midfield,; with Ponsonby shaving rather iV^S o ***-'«*/matters.;,,, Infringement* by Mantrme ga\ro : Cross' two shots vat goal in Quick succession,, but botH failed. • Maritime en **tack?d and as a. results of a passing bout C, Grey and H. Grey, the last-named scored. ,C. Grey ; verted. w £e J"^ 2lu *? a ! * ter , another -passing dash oy toe Maritime backs was stopped on the «, M, K a n d «°?." l«»e Play Avery obtained tfte ball and dashed over. The try was not converted. The Ponsonby backs then got soing,- but a pass'was - intercepted by C. he scored after a long rum Sutton failed with the. kick. J Give-and-take play followed till a passing bout, by the Ponsonby hacks threatened;'the- Maritime goal. ~ The defenders wereVpenaliaedftand Cross landed a nice goal. ■ Another good combined movement by the Ponsonby players ended in. Morrison scoring a try. Which Cross converted, the spell ending with the scores: Maritime, 11: Ponsonby, 7. ,^ Early in the second spell Ponsonby opened up an attack and. Mormon scored his second 4 try, . which;, ; noi converted.. With only one point difference in the scores' Maritime livened up and the leather being kicked over the Ponsonby. line. C. Gjray raced for it and scored. Lang failed with the kick, » m *hia stage onward the scoring -was all in favour of Maritime. Tries were obtained by Herrrrur (2). Homr. and C Grey. none of which was converted, and the game ended 10 th *» scores: ~ Maritme 26. Ponsonby 10. ' >

DEVONPORT V. GRAFTON. The game between -- DeTOn » or * "i- Grafton' was the first between these teams this season, the latter having defaulted in the first round. Grafton leather an unknown quantity, as when playing its host team it can always be depended upon to extend any other team in the competition. Unfortunately the occasions on which .the team has token the field at full strength have been rare during the season. On form , Devonport appeared to' have the better chance, of winning and playing up m good style the North Shore players succeeded in« winning by' a fair margin. Grafton were*the first to attack and-after loose play in the .Devonport twenty-five tximpelted the latter to force. , Combined forward play by Devonport took, play «to Grafton quarters and a passing bout between the' ' Devonport backs enabled Webb to score. Stewart failed with the kick. Grafton then rallied and from loose ; play ■in the Devon' port twenty-five. Elliott snapped up" the ball and scored in a good position. Brady converted, placing Grafton, two points in the lead.- The game then * swung hi favour,.of Devonport and before the spell ended tries were scored by-Maim and Bundle, one-of them 'being converted by Stewart. ' The second spell was keenly contested, both teams showing, fine defence. The only score during; the j spell : went to ""Devonport as*' a result of a good dash Nelson* Toward the end "of = the game Grafton made deter-mined*-efforts to score but: failed and t~. the game ended with the scores: Devonport IS, Grafton 5. >s «»«■.'"•''**"-'■•" '--■ THE JUNIOR GAMES. Fourth Devonport, -25 points.* de" featod Northcote. 5: Richmond, 18 i points defeated Ponsonby. o.' *.- Fifth Manukau. S points, defeated City; V. ..