LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18838, 13 October 1924, Page 4

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

KNOCK-OUT COMPETIiTION.

INTERESTING SEMI-FINALS.

\VINS FOR CITY AND PONSONBY.

The eemi-finala of the Roope Rooster knock-out competition under the auspices of the Auckland Rugby Football League were played at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon before between 8000 and 7000 spectators. Although two heavy showers fell just at the start and near the finißh of the gamc3 a strong wind cuickly dried the ground and permitted of some fine displays. Tlio following were the results:—

City 29, Athletic 11 I'onsoHoy 14. Devonport 10. CITY DEFEATS ATHLETIC. The match between City and Atretic was played on No 1 ground, and although fast and exciting at times was not up to tne standard of play in the previous matches of the competition. The match commenced in a shower of ram. with City, who lost the toss, playing against it., fc rom u. scrum on the line Athlotio rushed with the oallat toe. Woods neatly picking it up. A aipinst City save Dufty an opcortun'ty 'o kick a goal but tne kick failed. Athletic a aggressive tactics kept the. gam* well in City's quarter until Crewther forced down From the drop-out Ruoy lollowed up with a. fine run along the line, but waa tackled 9> I/raffin. Athletic, backs then indulged in sortie pretty passing work, which broa.nt play into midfield again. Herring and Avery moved up in a rush and a certain try was spoiled by Grana.ni knocsm. on. Athletic continued its offensive, and after j passing rush started oy Avery, kicked over, and followed up to score. Duf-y failed to convert. There followed several passing rushes by both aides and a good display of line-kick-ing which lasted until Graham kicked over and followed up. The ball, howover weot out at the corner. City tnen took up the attack and a passing rush was we.l MS it to Ath-etic'a Quarter before Avery intercepted and sent the ball hack witn a high j£ ck - C'ty continued to press a-nd Sandharn flcored between the posts. G. Daviaaon s kick failed. Almost immediately Ruby got the ball from a -c.um on the twenty-five lino and passed to Mackie. who touched down between the posts. The try was converted oy 3. Crowther. . Athletic immediately returned to their former asycrrefifcive tactics ann carried play to City's line. From a series or struma Herring gathered up and passed to W naonHull. who transferred to Dufty. . Th" ! went out to Herring, whose weight carried him Dufty converted. Shortly afterwards S. Crewther retired injured and waa replaced by his brother, .it. Crewther, aa fullback. Ths scrum which followed went in favour of City and some last passing movements followed which looked liko th? addition of another try to City's scoie, until L. Brown passed forward. 3>jfty. Wilson-Hall and McGregor attempted to penetrate City's defence, but without success. and a splendid passing rush by Mitchell. Wotherill and B. Davidson took the ball right hp to Athletic'® line, where the last-mentioned went out at the corner. FTora the resulting scrum he again got possession of the ball and ran round to score oetween th® posts. Sandharn converted The scores at half-time were:—City 13. Athletio 8. On resuming a long kick by Dufty put the ball over the line well down 111 Clty a Quarter. From the ensuing scrum Hadle? got the ball and rushed over the line to ■ocT'ti. Tho kick by Dufty waa fruitless. City immediately commenced a forward movement which resulted in Mackie passing to Oargill. who transferred to B. Davidson. Sandham took the final, pass and scored. His attempt to convert failed. City resumed tbeir attack and "were within a few yards of their opponents' line when Cos intercepted neatly and saved a try. Athletic again got the advantage and t were within scoring distance when McGregor ■was mished out on the lino. Athletic got the ball from the scrur* but Brown saved by kicking well down the field. and take play ensued until Wetheril] gathered up the ball from Bass' feet and made aivsy down tho line with only Cox to beat. He passed to Brown, who scored, SancLhaxn converting. Almost Immediately E"rown got away on his own and added another try to the score, which Sandham also converted. IST ' "om this on City had the game entiriily ,4/' - aeir own ha:adi>. and just before tune Oavidson scored an easy try which was •' t - converted. V PONSOXBY'!3 EARLY LEAD. The match between Devonport and Ponponby waa rather disappointing, the teams Hot being up to thoir usual good standard. Ponsonby had tho advantage of th© wind in the first spell and obtained a lead of 9 foir.ta to 5, and this margin was maintained o tha end of the game. The Devonport backs did not maka a good showing, being inclined to hold the ball too long. At the outset Ponronby attacked strongly, and ■wer« (topped: only on the line by Shirley. They again attaoked, trying their bAcks, and Dislgrosso pnntod high over the line, but Harrison farced. Ponsonby were first to •core, Delgrosso landing a penalty goal. Play continued in midfield for a time, them Ponßonby «isain attacked, but the Devonport forwards relieved tha pressure. Devonport then took up the offensive fpy the first' tirsa, Pooley saved for Ponsonby. and Peigronaa made a d;jsh but was stopped by a ihrowon. From another penalty kick l.'elgronao added another goal to Ponsonby's score. Devonport worked up past the centre, a movement greatly assisted. by Laing's kinking. and a rush by the backs threatened Pcnflonby's line. It was averted only by a fine kick by Delgroeno. An attack by Poneonbv baoka proved fruitless, and Laiug sot thf) ball near Devonport's twenty-fire and marie a magnificent run. Ponsonby cleiaed ard currii'd play into Devonpwrt'a Qiiartey, tha ball going into touch. From the ensuing fccrum Dempsey scored and Delgrosao converted. Aftex some centre play Voysay dashed rpSeld, and passed to Leing, who sent on to Smith, who was stopped on tha lir.e. From the scrum Webb sent the ball to Smith who scored. B. Lainw converted. Detsrrosso attempted a shot at goal from a penalty but failed. Pon3orby continued their aggressive tactic* and Littlewood just niisnecl a score as the half-time bell rang, leaving tho scores:—Ponsonby 9, D"ovonpor'; 6. With the wind in their favour Devonport immediately, put Ponsonby on the defensive, but tiiiey kicked too hard and Ponsonby forced twice in succession. A fine dash by Do£/v»an took the ball toward Devonport's quarter, but a penalty relieved. took the ball to the Devonport line and pasneo! to Moore, who scored. Delgrosso converted. Devonport attacked and took the.ball to the line, Ponsonby wore penalised. Inpte»dl of making certain of « scorc by a kick, Lair* attempted to trick his opponents Artd a murk by Walsh saved the sitpation for Ponsonby. PTay went from end to end of tho field, but tho Ponsonby backs did not appeir to be taking enough interest" in the iramfi and left the major nart o* the work to the forwarda for soma time. The Devonyort bacVfi well away and Vcysey scored, Lainir coitvextiiig. In i'n» Inst few minutoig DevonpoTt made great efforts to make up lost ground, but Lar.jr held on to the ball too lone and »noil,>d a chance of scoring. Grey saved for Ponsonby with a fine kick just a3 the bell, eoun tied.

JUNIOR GAMES. Richmond, 13, defeated Hamilton, 5. FOURTH 'GRADE. Parnell, 3. defeated Richmond. 2. SIXTH GRADE, A. A-'lletic. f>. defeated City. 3, in the final tti ti.e .scradc! championship competition. HOUSE MATCH. Smith and Smith. 40, defeated Herbert Brothers, It.