LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18832, 6 October 1924, Page 5

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

KNOCK-OUT COMPETITION.

DEVONPORT BEAT MARIST.

WINS FOR CITY AND PONSONBY.

Tiie knock-out competition of the Auckland ■Rugby Football League provided some interesting games at Carlaw Park on Saturday. Unfortunately rain fell almost incessantly throughout the afternoon with the rcault that toward the finish it became almost impossible to handle the ball. Following are the scores in the various matches:— Devonport, 5; Marist, 3. City, 17. Newton, 8. Ponsonby, 24, Mangere, 5. Athletic. 2!., Richmond, 2.

Devonport's Good Win, The result of the final for the club championship on the previous Saturday, when Marist scored a last-minute victory over Devonport, gave assurance that a strenuous contest would be witnessed between the old rivals. Nothwithstanding tbe heavy ground ar.d greasy ball, the game was fust and exciting. Some excellent combined work was shown by both teams in the first spell, at the end of which Marist led by 3 points to 2. In the second Bpell play developed into a series of rushes with the ball on the ground. Devonport did most of the attacking toward the finish, and were rewarded by scoring a try just before the spell ended. The first combined movement was started by Gregory for Marist. He broke away and smnt on to Stormont, the ball going out m the Devonport twenty-five. A kick by Gregory rebounding from an opponent gave Devonport a chance, but Malloy saved well. After some hard play in midfield an exchange of kicks went in Devonport's favour. Marist were penalised and Laing shot fruitlessly at goal. A rush by O'Brien. Stormont and Neil threatened the Devonport line. The ball went across and Devonport forced. Another Marist rush reached the line, but a penalty pave timoly ' relief. A rush by Devonport reached the Marist twenty-five, where the defenders were penalised and Laing kicked a goal. Rush and counter-ruah followed, the greasy ball being difficult to handle. Frequent penalties against Marist kept Devonport on the attack. Gardiner broke away with a (food run, but was well tackled by Harrison ut the Devonport twenty-five. In loosa play in the Marist twenty-five, the ball was kicked over the line, and a scoro seemed imminent, but a breach had occurred and it scrum took place. The Marist forwards cleared and rushed the ball to the Devonport twenty-five. In the loose the bnll went out to O'Brien, who snapped it up and dashed over. Gregory failed to convert. Harper broke away for Devonport, and xeached the Mariat twenty-five. The Devonport backs made strenuous efforts to break through, but the defence was too solid. The Marist forwards cleared with a rush und reached the Devonport line. Webb relieved with a good kick and play centred. The spell ended with the scores: Marist, 3; Devonport, 2. On resuming the Marist forwards rushed play to the Devonport twenty-five, Harrison Baving well. Gregory had an unsuccessful shot at goal, and Devonport forced. In the Devonport twenty-five W. Stormont made an opening, but a forward pass spoiled a fine chance. Brisbane made a similar opening just afterwards, but the pass to O'Brien was also forward, and another try went begging. More hard forward play, then Devonport broke away with a good passing bout, that ended near the Marist line. A rush by the Marist forwards wus well stopped by Harrison. A sweeping rush by Devonport reached the Marißt line. From a scrum oil the line Mal'ioy got the ball and cleared with a line kick. Another sweeping rush by Devonport was stopped by Gregory on the Mariat line. The forwards cleared, but were penalised at the twenty-five. Much depended on the kick, but Laing's effort "went wide. The Devonport backs broke away and were stopped just on the line. In another attack a dropped pass spoiled a good chance for a score. Laing kicked hard over the line, and Marist forced. Just before time Devonport rushed the _ ball up field. It was kicked over the line, and Harper, racing over, scored. The try was not converted, and the game ended with the scores: Devonport, 5; Marist, 3. City Defeat Newton. In the game between City and Newton the former showed the better combination and groater pace in attack. The Newton players, however, showed a very solid defence, and had their opponents thoroughly extended. The first score went to City, B. Davidson finishing a fast passing bout by scoring near the corner. Tlie scores were soon equalised, good work by Callaghan .and Hargreaves resulting in the latter crossing for Newton. Tries were subsequently scored for City by Ruby and Hawkes, and the spell ended with the scores: City, 9; Newton, 3. Early in the second spell Mansill made a fine run before passing to Hargreaves, who scored near the posts. Mansill added i the goal, bringing Newton's tally to within a point of their opponents'. After a period of exciting play Purdy added a try for City. Shortly before time was called Thomas and Cretvther made an opening. The latter kicked over the Newton line, and Brown raced up to score. Bass added the goal, and the game ended with the scores: City, 17; Newton, 8. Ponsonby Outplay Mangere. Mangere fielded a man short against Ponsonby, but did so well that the scores were even at half-time. In the second spell Ponsonby ran up the points in good style, and finished with a total of 24 against 5. The first score went to Ponsonby, Grey potting a goal during a- hot attack on the Mangere line. Good passing by Mangere ihreatened the Ponsonby line, but a certain try was lost by the wing three-quarter missing the final pass near the line. The tables were turned almost immediately, as Ponsonby set up a loose rush and the ball was sent out to Littlewood, who made ground and passed infield. Riley took the pass, and scorcd near the posts. Grey failed to convert. At half-way Marshall smothered a kick by Grey and, snapping up the ball, raced down the field and,, scored near the posts. The goal points were added and the scores at half-tiiue were even at 5 points all. Immediately after resuming "Walsh sent out a pass on the blind side to Littlewood, who scored near the corner. Grey failed to convert. Keeping the ball on the ground the Ponsonby players attacked strongly. Then Walsh, picking up, broke through and sent on to Shirley, who scored. Walah iaued to convert. After some scrambling play Low:ry picked up iu the open and started a passing rush, from which Riley scored for Littlewood to convert. Another score went to Riley shortly afterwardi-., Woodley bluffing the opposition and getting behind the posts. Shirley converted. Just before time another try was added for Ponsonby, by Woodley, Shirley failing with the kick at goal. The game ended with the scores: Ponsonby, 24; Mangere, 5. , Win lor Athletic.

The game between Athletic and Richmond was strenuously contested, particularly in the first, spell. Toward the finish of the game Athletic showed superior combination, and Bcored a comfortable victory. Richmond were first to open a scoring account. King potting a fine goal. The only other score during the first half went to Athletic, Hec ley scoring a try that was converted by Dufty. Play was fast in the second spell, each atide attacking in turn, but Richmond were unable to break through the Athletic defence. For the latter, tries were obtained by Yardley, Avery. "Webb and Herring, two of them being converted by Dufty.

AUCKLAND REPRESENTATIVES.

WEDNESDAY'S TEAM SELECTED.

The League team to represent Auckland against South Auckland, at Cs/rjaw Park on Wednesday, is as follows i uUback, Duffy (Athletics) ; threequarters, B. Davidson (City), Delgrosso (Ponsonby), Brisbane (Maris!): five-eighths. WethenU (City), ated B Laing (Devonport); half. Poison (Newton) • forwards. W. Stormont (Marist). Lowry (Ponsonby). Herring (Athletics , Douglas (Devonport), Avers (Athletics). Bass (City) Emergencies: Biicks, Gregory (Marist), Webb (Devonport). Malloy (Marist); forwards, Scott (Devonport). O'Brien (Marist).

JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES.

AUCKLAND BEAT HAMILTON.

fEX TELEGRAPH. —OWN' CORBESFONDEX HAMILTON. Saturday

There was a poor attendance at Steel Park to witness the junior representative league match between the local and Attckland teams. The game wns interesting throughout, the teams being evenly matched, although the visiting team heild the upper hand during the concluding sUges, and won by 17 points to «. For Auckland. CUuk. Davis, List and Verrall (2) scored tries, McManners converting one. For the local team. Brown and Sper.cer scored a try each and Hogg kicked n penalty goa.. Mr. S. Saunders, of Hamilton, was referee.

OTAGO V- CANTERBURY. A LAST MINUTE VICTORY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] DUNEOnsr, Saturday. The Otago and Canterbury IRucrby League teams met to-day, and an evenly-contested game resulted in a win for Otago by 9 points to 8. Heavy rain had l!allen, making the ground very ssodden, and the nail difficult to handle. Canterbury fust put on two triep, and Otago then scored, 6 points. A struggle for supremacy followed. Canterbury scored from a free kick, and seemed to have the game in hand, butt a try during the last fivo minutaa gained Otago the viotorr.