LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19026, 25 May 1925, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

ATHLETIC BEAT DEVONPORT. A LAST-MINUTE VICTORY. MARIST AND CITY WIN. Tho Aucklaud/'Rugby Lcaguo senior championship competition vrka advanced another Atago on Saturday. Athletic beat Devonport by a margin of ,two points at Carlftw Park ftfter a good game. Marist had a comfortable win over Newton and City beat Richmond by 17 points, all 0 f which were put on in tho second s^pell. Results are:— A SECTION. Athletic, 8. boat Devoflport. C. Marist, 18, beat Newton, O. , City, 17, beat Richmond. 0. B'SECTION. .Mangere, 32, beat Northcote, 11. - Otahuhu, 16, beat Kingsland, 3, ,/ ATHLETIC V. DEVONPORT. Just as the players lined up for the kickoff m tho AthlotioDevonport match a heavy shower awept the field, with the result that tho ground, which was then in fine order, soon bocflmo very heavy. Athletic were first to get going, and for a lew moments kept Devonport busily delending Wheeler then clearing with a nice line lack. Devonport got tho ball from tho /scrum, and Webb made a nice opening before sending to Laing, who kicked into touch, v rom the kick-out Hadloy and Herring followed up, catching Scott in possession. Webb picked up in tho loose, but Ois pass to Wilson-Hall was sensationally intercepted by Godick, who ran down field, Dufty saving well. Athletic continued to attack, their for- # wards playing with great dash. WilsonMa. 1 sent his backs away, and Hadley was Meklod lust on tho line. From the scrum that followed Herring dribbled across tho line, and scored. Dufty made a great effort to convert, tho ball striking tho cross-bar. Almost immediately, Devonport, aided by good work by Luing. carried play to vAthletic'a twenty-five, whero Dixon just missed a try, and Dufty forced. Athletic worked their way back to Devonport's territory. and this time Herring dived on tho ball to score his second try. Dufty failed With tho kioK. Athletic, 6; Dovonport, 0. The greasy ball was difficult to handle, and this alone prevented Webb from scoring, the Devonport halfback dropping a pass after Scott had just failed to reach tho line. Kenny fielded well, and passed to Hall, who made a nice opening before sending oil to Jones. The last-mentioned player found the lino with a well-placed kick. Laing was making many efforts to open up the game, but on most occasions, faulty handling spoiled promising movements. Prom a. scrum in Athletic's twenty-five Webb ran round the blind aide, and passed to Julian, the Devonport centre-threequarter, who broke through. Running hard and straight, ho whipped a pass to Laing, just on the lino, but the Devonnort captain lost the ball, and Dufty got a lucky force. The men from the marine suburb kept up the attack until Scott carried the ball over to score. Laing missed in the shot at goal. Athletic, .15; Devonport, 3. At this stago Julian retired, and Hooker came on, playing at fullback. Webb picked up tho ball in Athletic's twenty-five and kicked across to Butland. ■ who followed up fast, and scored a good try. Sdott failed to convert, and tho teams were level. Play was-held up for a time, and Timmi ns. Athletic's five-eighths, had to retire. Devonport. with St., George in tho van, rushed play to Athletic's line, where Jones 'forced just as Dixon dived for possession. Off-side play by Devonport gave Dufty a chance, hut 'he missed from a good position. Soon afterward tho bell sounded for half-time, with tho scores:Athletio .. . * .. .. B Devonport '< 4 0 Devohport opened up tho attack on resuming. » sensation#! run down the lino being made by Hooker, who. from his own twenty-five, ran almost sixty yards, and found the line inches short of tho touch flag. A series of scrums followed, until Dufty brought relief with a great kick. Wilson-Hall, claying a fine came, showed much cleverness as he beat several opponents, but Hadley mulled the pass, and Laing,'picking up, made a brilliant solo run before passing to Dixon, who waa tackled near the line. , ' I'Jay was now very fast, and some fine football followed. Dixon was playing a first-class game and his following-up prevented* Duftv from getting a return lack. Wilson-Hall picked up in the loose, and tho ball wont ,on from Herring, to Mason, but Hooker tackled well, and play settled down io Devonoort's twenty-five. Back to the Athletic end O'Brien and St. George carried the ball, where Dufty's kick rebounded from Webb, and Scott, following up fast, narrowly missed a try, Jor.e3 forcing. Great excitement was raised as Hooker, as fullback, fielded well and beating six opponents, almost ?cored. Duftv saving with a fine tackle. With Hooker out of his position.' Mason and Herring kicked well down tho field, hut when a try looked a certainty. Dixon overhauled the Athletic men, and dived oil the ball. He, however, was penalised, and with two minutes to go Dufty kicked a. fine goal. Athletic. 8; Devonport. G.. „ , . ... Devonport made great efforts to gam tho lead and several fine attempta by Laing just.'missed. The boll rang with Athletic still two points in the lead. # • «- NEWTON V. MARIST. Marist scored a comfortable w-in * over Newton at the Dbmain. The ground was in a 'bad state, and good football was out of the aueation. Marist wero first to onen iiD.tho game. Their forwards. Since- and O'Brien, dribbled the ball toward Newton s line, when Brisbane picked up and dived over Gregory missed in his 'shot at goal. Newton attacked strongly, and from a good passing run Anderson almost scored, Malloy saving with, a good return kick. Tho sauio player was responsible for Mariat'a next, try, going over near the corner. Gregory placed a fine goal. -Marist, . 8; Newton. 0. . . Newton became aggressive, and I olson opened up nicely, passing to Clarke, to Hargreaves, who found tho lino with a good kick. However, from a passing run in which Kirwan showed up, Marist carried tho •ball over Newton's line. Brisbane s paco enabling Tum to/core. Gregory again converted. ancl half-time sounded with tho scoro Marist m »* • • * * Newton •• In the second spell both sides made good efforts to opert up the game, but faulty handling spoiled, the pasru n g move a. Newton were penalised, and Gregory Kicked ' l Hargreaves o showed up as he_ tackled O'Brien jurft short of the of scrums followed 1 . Marist, forwards, by superior weight. bea„ their prtnents and rushed . play , to Newton a twenty-five* where Singe Picked up beating several men. scored tho posts Gregory missed an easy kick. During ihis 'spell Brisbane (Marist), and Thompson (Newtori) had to juries. Tho gaino ended: —Marist. 18, X\ew ton, 0. » CITY V. RICHMOND. City were given a stern contest by Richmond on No. 2 ground at Garlaw I ark. and it wa.4 not, until tho second spell that they got the upper hand, ovontually winning by Richmond kicked off and City's backs tried to handle the greasy ball, which, however, they found impossible. Uichinond, playing a stylo suitable to the conditions. Kept the ball among, the forwards, and for a. great pact of the spell more than held their own. Wardlow was first conspicuous with a good run down the line. He passed to Wetherall. but T. Hanlou tackled well. Richmond, led by Avery and Hanlou. shifted play to City s twenty-five,/ L. Brown made a clover run through the defence, and passed to Davidson. who found tho line well into Ricnmond 3 territory. ■ , Play swung up and down., the held at a great pace, Richmond making great, efforts to score. Bass was, unlucky as ho dived for possession, just missing a try. Mitchell. Davidson and Bass were associated in a fine passing movement. The last-mentioned player kicked, and L. Brown raced over, biii tho ball was ruled touch in goal, ihe spell ended with no score. _ Richmond opened up the first piece of interesting play on resuming, 11..11 yland running through and passing to Redwood, who sent it on to Davis. However, L. Brown tackled well and play settled down in City's twenty-five Ruby secured a pass from Davidson and raced down the lino His in pass was well taken by McDonald, who scored Crewther missed at goal. City wero • soon back with ait attack. This time Thomas made the opening and passed to Brown who raced over. City. G; Richmond. 0. City were now keeping tho ball among the 'forwards. - and Baas and McDonald dribbled it/ over, the latter scoring his, second try. Crewther failed to convert. City, 9; Richmond, 0. Almost immediately afterward City opened up another attack, u, which Wetherall. Davjdson. and L. Brown figured. Brown again scored. . Richmond attacked strongly, but Wetherall stopped what -looked a certain try. Theu . B Davidson, Basa and Crewther handled m turn, the latter scoring. This lime Crew•thor converted. Tho game ended: City, 17; Richmond, 0. ,