LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18814, 15 September 1924, Page 4

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

DEVQNPOrh" DEFEAT MARIST.

A PLAY-OFF NECESSARY.

WINS FOR INfEWTON AND MANGERE

Tho club competitions of the Auckland l&isby Football League were continued on SafVirday- Great interest centrad in tho meofcing of Hairist and Devonport at Carlaw Park, and an attendance estimated at 7000 witnessed the contest. Tho result of the game InM an important bearing on the club ehampionvhip, Marist being on© win ahead of DevonVort and with tho isaue lying solely betWpen the two clubs. A victory for Marist w<>!bW have settled the matter* but as DevonEori\ prevailed, the two clubs will have to the battle over again, to decido tho championship honours. A curtain rutyor to the principal gitme wa» provided fcy ,Newtoa and Ponsonby. the former winning' after a particularly fast and open gam<<. M antfere defeated Athletic in a qmck-scorrne game on No. 2 ground at Cariaw Path. Riohmond were unable lc* placo a teiitz id' the field against City and tha latter won, by default. Following aio the scores in thtft senior games ;—- Devonport,' 25; Maiist, 19. Msnsere, 20; Athietw*, 18. Newton, 17; Ponaonbty, 12\*r DEVONPORT'S GOOD WLN. In tho gam© hetw&e\n Devonport and Mariat interest was maintained Lom start to finish. At the conclusion of the first epell it seemtkl as though Mandfr had a good grip on the game-, bat during the socond half Dirvonport had a good deal tho better of matters and managed to run out victors in a fairly hcavy-scoying game. The result jfcsi abJuf reflect* fbfe merits of tho game, on the run of tho plasj. Within three minute* at the kick-off a. long hick by Marist went ovpr the Dovonpott fullback. Stormont and Sweehdy, folTowuMt fast, the former kioSjed over the lino and Stewart raced over tfr score. Gardiner failed to convert. Fas* pla7 in midfield followodw neither .side setting far with passing boute. Penalties gave Devonport an advantage find Gregory just stopped » hot rush in tirr*., Th 9 ball was kiaked over the lirtA and Mlarist forced. A passing bout, by tbo DeVOOport baoks almost reached the line, bat a W*T *"»*" fer spooled a good chance. la a\ hot attack by ftjrtfcnpoii, CBtien obsti>»c*«d £>»- Goorge and Devonport was awarded a try. Laing converted. Immediately afterwarda Webb broke away and kicking past the fullback theke was an exciting race for the btlh .Kirkland secured and saved the situation fc* Mftrist. A fast passing bout by Marist reached tho Dov/mport twenty-five and Stomtont was almost across., In a scramble M»ißi4 »er4 penalised and driven back. AriotheV Mnnst rush sent the. ball over the dead-ball line. The ball went out in the. open to Stormont, w>>o ran well and passed to Gardiner, the latter scoring at tho comer, Gardiner converted; x A hot attaok by Devonport saw Webb rrt't'to a brea'k for the line, supported by Harper. Th* final pass went the -wrong way »nd ft Kcoro was lost. A long; kiok by W. Stormont sow the Devonrjori full; back smothered with tha ball. The ball went out to Bweettey, who" scored near the corner. Gardiner failed to convert. Just before half-time. Maxist attacked «id Gregory had an cnsaccesaful pot at goal. The spell ended with the Soores?—Marist, 11; Devonport, i*. Immediately after teeuming Devonport set up a- hot attack, a passing boat being" niorrcti on the line. From th« serum, tho ball Was sent out to Vflysey, who dodged through the opposing bock» and scored. Scott added tho goal. A hue tick by Laang placed Bevonport »gftfn on this attack, but a penalty drOvs therft bask. Marist were penalised and Laing kicked, ft goal. . A. smart piece of passinjc by Ghent and Swaeney saw ths latter almost roach tho line. Ghent then worked the open side of tha pcram. the ball going oat to Mslloy, who put through and scored, Gardiner" failed at goal. Long kicks by Laing seni the ball iiiia touch near the Marist fine, The l*tter were serialised and Lainj; panted high over the lino, Douglas obtaining possession and scoring'. L&ing converted. Strenuous play followed, tho forwards plating a pwminent hand. In & hot rally Marist Were pesaliMd and Laiflg shot on' successfully at; goal, Stormont broke away ibr Marist and the other forwards joining in the ffiOi'emeht reaoh#d the DovOfiport twfenty-five. Miolloy rfiadd a desperate •Sort to bttak ( through, bat was held ap. fwoeney, Gardiner and Ghent then com* iced in » clever of passing, Ghent deceiving ju.reversa pass and scoring. Ga.r* diner convdrted. Maris*, 18; Devonport, 17. Play swung to tho Mftrist end and Lainar taking a pass, cat across to the corner. H& transfened to Veart, who tfcOfed. Voysey failed to convert. Toward the end Marfsi were attacking when Devonport waro penalised. Gardiner had a shot from & good position, bat the ball went irfde. A good passiag boat by Devonport saw Donglas receive the final transfer and score la % good position. Scott . converted, mad the game ended with the scotos:—Devonport. Ssj Marist, 19. NEWTON STraPRISE PONSONBY. ! The match between Newton and Ponsonby provided a£i excellent cartain-raiser to the game between the leaders for ta© championship. With no iserionjj issue at stake both aides threw the ball about in fins style and opsaod ap the gamo on every possible ooc&sion. Scoring began in harrlcano style, and kept going throughout a very even first *i>ell. Both aides talliod 12 points in the first/half, but Newton did the better work in thd second spell and floored a meritorious win. tt Immediately after tie Jriok off the Newten forwards rushed the ball to the Ponsonby line, and Watson scored, for Manftill to convert* In .a Poiißonby Tush Newtoa wero penalised, and Grey kicked a. goal. Keeping up the prce, the Ponsonby backs combined well in passing boats, Henderson eventually aooepting a p»«s aad crossing under the posts. Gray added the goal. From midfield Mansill broke away and }ust failed to score. Ponsonby were penalnod -and Mansill kicked a goal, making the scores 7 points all, ' More fast play, and Grey cJoes-kicked to Shirley, who took the ball on*- the bounce and scored under tho posts. Scoring continued at ft groat pace. Williaraii broke through and punted over the Ponsonby fullback. Following fast, he kicked the ball from the ground and sent it over the bar. The Newton backs were opening ap tho gamo in fine utylo, and Mansill had a couple of ehots at goal from penalties that just failed to tcore. Socn afterwards Newton evoned the scores. Poison obtaining a try in a scramble near the line, that Mansill failed to convert. The spell ended with the scores: Ponsonby 12: Nowton. 12, On resuming, the Poneonby backs broke away, and Walsh crossed at the corner. An infringement had occurred, and the bail was oailed back. The game swung to the other ond of the field. Poison shot anßuoceaafully at goal. After a considerable period of play in midfield tho Newton backs set up tha boat passing bout of the game, Wateon taking the finai pass sud scoring.. Mansill converted, and the game ended with the scores: Newton, 17; Ponsonby, 12; ATHLETIC JUST BEATEN." Mange re had a last-minute, but well--dosorved win against Athletic The game was a fast, exciting ono, notable more for solo efforts than for combired work. Athletio kicked off, and it was-not long . before Anael and Wilson engaged in a brisk run, for the latter to open Mangore's account with an uncorverted try. Athletio immediately broke away, vith Avery Hall and, Hadley to the fore, the last-named Boormg a try, for Dufty to convert. After some scrappy play J. Pai got over for Mancere. Tho next score fell to Athletio, McGregor touching down in ths corner, after both Dufty and Webb had handled. Both Bides engaged in some strenuous forward rallies, until Paul transferred to Ran, who scored, and shortly afterwards Wilson notched his second try, the half-time score being: Mangcre, 12: Athletio, 8, On resumption, Athletic carried the game to Mangero's quarter, and Draffln scored a, ■try, which Dufty converted. Paul then snapped up the leather and scored ft splendid goal between the posts. Mangere wero ih»n awarded a penalty, and N. Lipscornbe kicked a goal. Athletic scored two unconver'ed tries in quick succession, Ninkie and Dufty being/ responsible, and a -victory seemed certain for them. However, just on the call of fim« Pa"l. who had played got over in the corner and won the game for Mangere.

JUNTOS MATCHES. : \ SECOND GRADE. Richmond 11, beat Ponsonby 2, THIRD GRADE.' New Lynn 20, heat Ponsonby 10. FIFTH GRADE. Ponsonby 28, heat Northrnt© 0. . New Lynn S, bea + Po'nt Chevalier Athletic 31, heat Richmond 0. . SIXTH GRADE A. >.. - Paroell 25, beat Leys Institute Z. SIXTH GRADE B, - Richrcoad 11*, beat City 3. :-_■ ' FINAL AT CHRISTCHTJECH. [BX telegrapu.—press association.] , CHRISTCHTJRCH, Saturday. A»il for the president's challenge WuUd Hariats beat Addington by 23 to 13.