LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19021, 19 May 1925, Page 6

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

f THE MATCHES REVIEWED. • DEVONPORT'S/ GREAT DEFEAT. // AN INEXPLICABLE FAILURE. •/ It is hard to imagine a team like Devonport being beaten by 40 points, and still harder to explain such a lamentable showing. season Devonport were very unlucky in not winning the j senior I/eaguo championship honours, and with most of that team available it was fully expected they would again bo a tongh proposition. With one or two exceptions their players, particularly the backs, showed little or no inclination to play football in the match against l'on- " sonby on Saturday. Ponsonby, on the other hand, showed improved form, and the side will take a lot of beating before the final gamo is played. For the winners, T. Peckham, at halfback, was the best of the back division. On attack he was brilliant, opening up tbe gamo in greiat style. Cole, at centre, played a fine game, and is a player of considerable promise. The wings, Delgrosso and Littlcwood, showed much dash, the former scoring three tries. / Ponsonby owe much of their success to the splendid manner in which their forwards held a grip of the game. Strengthened by the inclusion of Gardiner, the club has now got together a really good front division. Payne was perhaps the best, following up the ball in great style. McMahon and J. Peckham were the best of the others. B. Laing's Betirement Reported. Little comment can bo made on tho Devonport backs. Webb was easily the Jbest, in fact ho'was the only player showing senior grade form. The North Shore players greatly lhissed the services of their captain, B. Laing, who, it is reported, has retired from the game. It is to be hoped the Devonport club can induco Laing to Avear the black jersey again. Devonport's best forward was Dixon, whose reputation as a fine player was upheld. O'Brien /and Veart worked very hard. / Control of the Game. The warning issued by the Judicial Committee, of the Auckland Itugby League relative to rough play has at all events been heard by the referees. It is to bo hoped, however, that too much notice is not. taken the committee's rider, as on Saturday two players were ordered off for comparatively' little reason, if any at all. Bough play should not bo tolerated, but there is a feeling among senior players that a hard tackle/is likely to earn the disi/pleasure" of the nian in charge of the game. An Excellent Exhibition. The gamo between Marist and Atheltic provided an excellent exhibition of the League code. From beginning to end a great paco was kept up, and the spectators had plenty of excitement. Marist were playing without W. Ghent and B. Sweeney * but the team showed muciii better forrii than on the previous Saturday, and their claim to title was considerably' strengthened. Their backs showed better form in handling !> the ball, a weakness that was very apparent against Ponsonby. Gregory was/again responsible for his usual solid game, saving his side on numerous occasions, and also opening up tho game with clever passing. Brisbane was perhaps the best of Marist backs. His fine solo runs were a treat to witness. If Brisbane continues to produce such good form tho selectors can hardly overlook his claims for the representative team. J. Kirwan was also in good form, making some fine openings that were responsible for several tries. The wings, Gallagher and Malloy, put //in a solid afternoon's worky and both arc dangerous s scoring backs. 7 Marist forwards showed up moro as in- . dividuals than as a team. -They lack the combination essential for good team work, bnt, nevertheless, some fine forwards are included among tho six. / J. Stormont was probably the outstanding player. 110 has shown before that he possesses moro than average ability. Stormont on Saturday worked with a will. Singi, by fast following up, scored three tries, all; of which were full of merit. J. O'Brien played a fine game and is coming back to his best form. Hannan, a brother of tho sculling chsmpion, is the latest addition to the Marist pack. Ho is a very solid player, and with more experience should bo a decided acquisition to tho Marist team. Athletic Team's Prospects. Athletic not had tho best of luck so far this season. An injury to J. Lang, / their clever half, and Avery, now on the side line, has not helped to improve matters. When the club can place its best team in the field it will be hard to beat. Wilson-Hal! ' was the outstanding player. Ho was in all the aggressive movements among the backs, and at tho same time was strong on defence. 7 0. Dufty was not up to his usual form. Too much kicking spoils his play. His try was,' however, a brilliant effort. Jones Was tried .it fullback, but he did not show up as well as on the wing, where he is a good scoring back. The Athletic forwards worked hard and showed plenty of .dash. E. Herring played / his best game to date, showing some fine footabll. Mason, too, is a great worker and shows n lot of pace for the biggest man playing League football. Hartley and Webb (forwards) played at different times in the backs and showed much resourcefulness./ Richmond v. Newton. It is pleasing to record a win for tho .Richmond team, and although Newton have fallen on ! lean years, 'Richmond's | win was nevertheless well earned. In Newton's ranks are many young players for whom the future holds bright prospects and their turn will come. Richmond possess an evenly-balanced team, and with judicious coaching in team work, improvement will soon be noticed. Of the indyvjdual players, few League fullbacks play so consistently as T. Hanlon. The Richmond man has much abil- . ity, and, if given a trial in big football, ' he is sure to make good. R. Hyland was another to play u sterling game, giving his backs plenty of opportunities, besides showing up in defence, A junior player, Daniels, showed good form and has a bright future. W. ITanlon apd Avery were tho pick of an even lot of forwards. Newton's best player was, as usual, C. Poison, who is a great worker. Another good player is Hargreaves, who shows cleverness when attacking. Brown, at fullback, was weak, faulty handling giving Richmond two easy tries. In the forwards, Somers got the lion's share of the ball. Clark was another forward shining in open play. Suggested Australian Itinerary. At a meeting of tho Now Zealand Council "the following suggested itinerary for the tour of a Now Zealand team in Australia was cabled to Sydney Leave "Auckland, July 3; arrive in Sydney on July 7; play New South Wales,' July 11; Combined Universities, July 15; NewSouth Wales, July 18; Newcastle, July 22; Queensland, at. Brisbane, July 25; Ipswich, July 29; Queensland, August 1; ' ■ Todwooinba, August S; New South .3; ,* "SVales, at Sydney, August 8. MMB&' - '