LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18742, 23 June 1924, Page 4

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

\.> _ — • COMPETITIONS CONTINUED. \ DEVONPORT JUST WIN, I" PONSONBY DEFEATS CITY. - Tho League' football competitions were : continued on Saturday under adverse conditions ;as far as the state of the grounds v,-cis concerned. .. The, .chief ■; attraction .at Carlaw Park %va a the Devonport-Athletic raatch, which ended in a victory for the .former team after a great game, the issue being in doubt right up to the last few minutes; Poasonby provided a surprise by securing a decisive victory over City on No. R ground. Marist3 easily defeated Mangere at Victoria Park. The results of the senior matches ; are:—

Lovonport. 16, beat Athletic, 15. Ponsonby, 14. beat City, 3. Mariats, 44, boat Mangere, 3. . . Richmond 5. beat Ellershe, 0. ; Devonport - pressed Athletic at. the-onset, "but Dufty relieved with a long kick. WilsonHall gained further ground and from an ensuing scrum Nicholson passed out smartly f-o Wilson-Hall, who in , turn transferred to Dufty. The latter beat two opponents and dashed over to score a try which he .converted. Herring was next prominent in a fine effort, but Devonpprt's forwards cleared. A rush by Garrntt and Harper looked dangerous until Dufty relieved with a powerful kick. Good play by Wilson-Hall and Webb was terminated by a free-kick, to Devonport. Laing shortly afterwards made a fine run and a certain try was loot when Godick failed to take his pass. The game was now fast, with Devonport making great efforts to score. , Laing next came through with the ball at too and scored a fine, try .which he converted. Exciting play continued with Avery and Herring showing up prominently and a dribbling, rush by the former saw the bail go over Devonport's lino, where Harperforced. Many were surprised . when the referee awarded Athletic a try for obstruction, from which Dufty landed a goal. The spell ended with the scores: Athletic 10, Devonport 5. . , . , ,t,- --, On resuming B Laing secured the ball and with a brilliant run, beat the opposition before passing to O'Brirtji, who, touched down. ' Scott failed with the kick. Devonport -were soon back again, and Webb. b«at, - Yardley with the "dummy," crossed the line. Scott added the goal, putting Devonport three points in the lead. The forwards on both sides were working strenuously .and ?.lay continued to be hard, fast and exciting. Graham fO;iOwcd up a high kick by Duity. a«d, diving ever, was awarded the try. Dufty undo no/mistake with the kick. Devon.) )rt attacked'strongly and though driven back they returned and swept down on Athletic's line. Veart obtained possession and dived across, Scott failing with the kick. Devonport was now one point ahead. Excitement ran high .and play was fast. Devonport made great bfiom to score but , Athletic's defence was sound and the bell rang with the score unchanged.

i PONSONBY'S SURPRISE VICTORY. Ponsouby's decisive defeat of City was the surprise of the day. Play was transferred to Ponsonby's quarter when the match commenced but the defenders soon cleared and give-and-take play followed. Delgrosso qpcvte ! Ponsonby'e scoring account by kicking a-' great goal from an infring'-snKsnt fay City. City showed to advantage in a smart passing bout, but the ball went over the line and Littlewood got tip in time to force. Walsh next started hi* backs in a brilliant niovemont, the bail going from himself to McClymont, to Donovan, who transferred to ;Goodley. Tba latter cut in nicely and scored. Delgrossc's kick was successful. The spell ended with Ponsonby seven points in the lead;.' - On resuming Ponwnby attacked hotly, but a good movement in which G, Davidson, Bass, Crewther and Wetherill took part relieved. ' Wetherill next broke # away on a solo effort before passing to Mitchell who kicked too hard. Citv. were now playing better and several good efforts-'just failed. From a scrum Walsh got possession and. cent the ball out to.GcodJey. He transferred' to Delgrosso, who scored. Delgrosso kicked a 'magnificent goal. ! ' ; .Shortly, afterwards Bass landed a nice goal to - open City's- scoring ; account. 5 : ; ■ Ponsonby nest attacked and from a free kick Delgrosso.landed another goal. A pass, ing bout between McClymon'c, Walsh, Donovan and Goodley ended in the latter making a great attempt to reach the line, but Bass came right on the line and. saved a certain try. ; Wetherill and Bass next shifted play to Ponsonby's quarter, but the latter team's defence stood intact and ; the game ended : shortly afterwards: without-further, score. .

i MARISTS EASY WIN. ■ -:-Marist ? a fine team work gained them . a substantial' victory over Mangere at Victoria Park. r Mangere at times showed good torn. 'The Marist fullback, Gregory, gave ; a brilliant exhibition, his fielding of the greasy ball, . side-stopping and ' line-kicking being •exceptionally good. Brisbane. Stewart and Sweeney . were a great, combination, with Gardiner and Keary showing up well in. a good hard-working pack. Johnson'the Marist hooker, got tho ball from < practically every scrum. ■ . ■• . . .-< • .---. .',;.-* . The Mangere fullback. Lioscombo gave a, sound display, as did the other backs. Hapi and Tutaki. The:_: forwards worked hard against, overwhelming..:odds. ■•■•:••.:■..■ '",:_-' "'■" .■-•'".■■■■■ i : \y_ "-' ' -'•-'-;■' "■""' '? . ':'_, ■■"■■' i- ! ' v RICHMOND V. ELLERSLEE. The Eichmond-Elleriilio match at Ellerslie •was fairly ; even, the Richmond combination having a,- slight advantage. There ' were numerous bright 1 interludes, tha play generally being bright and snappy. JUNIOR RESULTS. THIRD GRADE. Parnell, 3, beat O'iahnhu. 0. '".",■''."'. Richmond, 16, beat New Lynn, 7. • - v . I Athletic, ■:/. 33, beat Suburbs 2. , > ' FOURTH GRADE. •-.Ellerslie. 29. beat Takapuna, 3. Richmond, 11, beat Manukau, 3. ■ Marist, ,8, beat United Suburbs 0. _- FIBTH GRADE. Athletic, 10, beat Ellerslie. 6. , SIXTH GRADE A. Richmond, 35, beat Ponsonby, 0, Athletic, li, beat Manukau 0. SIXTH GRADE B. . - Richmond, 26, beat' 'Manukau, 0. '■■•._ V PLAYER TOO LARGE* J' • CLUB. RESENTS RULING. ' ' "A REFUSAL TO PLAY. fBY: TELEGRAPH.—OWN | CORRESPONDENT.] NGARUAWAHIA, Sunday. Local football circles arc .somewhat: excited over the action of.the Lower Waikato Rugby League in. disqualifying '!&■■■ second grade player on the ground of his being too. large, although it was admitted that he cud not play roughly. The Ngaruawahia Club deeply resents this action, for which it is claimed there is no precedent and no rule, and. as a protest declined to. put any of -its. three teams on the ground on Saturday. The action of . the Lower Waikn.to League points to a desire to prevent a retired senior player from still playing the game if he happens to be bulky. . If the decision/ is not rescinded, there is a probability, it is said, of the club going over to the Union game,.

" ' 'IN ;OTHER CENTRES. - [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ■ <•■■' '•'-'"-■■■'-. --v.- WELLINGTON, Sunday. : The League football match between Petone and Newtown was won by the former by 14 points to 3. CHRISTCHURC " Sunday. In League football on Saturday, Marists A, IS,"-defeated . Marists B. 7. ;•-';>•■;„', — ~.... ■ ••••<. "■■. I