LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19032, 1 June 1925, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

LEADERS' GREAT CONTEST. MARIST BEATEN BY CITY. FIELD GOAL JUST ON TIME. One of tho finest games seen at Carlitw Park was the contest between Marist and City on Saturday. It was a brilliant exhibition of League football, and was witnessed by a crowd estimated at 12,C00. There was a most exciting finish. With the scores oven and time up Mitchell (City) secured the ball from a scrum in front of Marists' goal and passed ti> Wetherall, who sent a welldirected reverse pass to B. Davidson. The last-mentioned player turned quickly, and amid great excitement dropped a perfect field goal. On No. 2 ground another good game was witnessed between Ponsonby and Athletic, the former winning by a good margin. At Devonport the local thirteen had little difficulty in defeating Newton. Results are:— City, 9, beat Marist, 7. Ponsonby, 18, beat Athletic, 6. Devonport, 26, beat Newton, 11. North cote, 8, beat Kingsland 5. Ellerslie, 12, beat Mangere, 5. A SPECTACULAR EXHIBITION. Marist opened their account against City almost immediately after kicking off. City were penalised und Gregory kicked a fine goal. Marist were getting the best of the scrums and City wero soon busy defending. E. Brown cleared with a good kick and fast following up by Davidson 'saw Gregory tackled in possession. A scrum on Marist line followed and City were again penalised, Singe finding tho lino near half-way. From the acrum tnat followed Ghent passed to Gallagher, who made a fine dash down tho line. Wardlow saving . with a good tackle. Mitchell sent tho City backs away. Davidson, mailing an opening, passed to L. Brown, who kicked over tho line. Ho and Gregory raced for possession, but Brown obstructed and a drop-out resulted. Good work by Kerwan saw play carried to City's twenty-five. A scrum followed, and Ghent passed to Malloy, who sent the ball to Kirwan. The last-mentioned player beat tho defence badly to score a fine try, Gregory adding tho goal points. Marist, 7; City, 0. Marist continued to hold the uppei? hand, their backs handliug the • ball in great style. Brisbane made a clover opening and passed to Kirwan, but Bass, coming fast, saved with a splendid tackle. Davidson and L. Brown carried tho play back to the Marist twenty-five. Mitchell secured from a scrum and passed to Wetherall. who beat the opposition with a clever in-pass back to Mitcnell, the latter going over near the posts. Sandham converted. Marist, 7; City. 5. City's forwards, were now playing an open game. McDonald and Mackie, with the ball at toe, pushed play to the Marist line, where Gregory earned applause with a brilliant save. Kirwan, playing well, was next responsible for a fine run, beating several men before kicking. E. Brown fielded the ball and ran strongly down the line. The ball wont on from Crewther to Wetherall to Davidson. The last-men-tioned player passed to L. Brown, who showed great pace as he ran for the line. Gregory, howover, just got to him in time. Half-time sounded; with the play in City's twenty-five, and the scores:— Marist .. .. ». 7 City. .• r. >.' w V, o Tho fast paco set in the early stages wa3 maintained in tho second half, play swinging uj) and down the field at a great rate. City wero not getting an equal share of the ball, and tho Marist backs kept on the attack. O'Brien and Stormont were dangerous as they swept down on City's line, but E. Brown was sound in defence. A good kick by Malloy saw Wardlaw caught in possession. Ghent, on tho blind side, sent Kirkland away, but when a. try looked certain Bass came fast from tho scrum and saved well. Great excitement was raised as Ruby picked up tho ball and ran hard for the Marist line. He brushed asida several tacklers, but near tho lino Gregory got him. For ten minutes City's forwards engaged the opposing vanguard in a battle for supremacy. Relief came when City were awarded two free-kicks. Sandham failed with the first, but kicked a fine goal in the second attempt, and thus made the scores even. Marist pressed vigorously. Good work by Singe and Stormont carried play to City's line, only to be forced back to Marist territory again. Wetherall sent the ball on to Davidson, who cut in nicely and passed over Gregory's head to It own. but a try was not allowed, tho ball being thrown forward. A series of scrums followed, Marist defending gTimly. _ The ball caine to Ghent, who passed to Kirwan and the latter found the line with a good kick. The spectators shouted themselves hoarse as Ruby again dashed down the fi'ild. He passed to McDonald, who raced for tlie line, Gallagher tackled well ,iust short, of the line. Time was almost up and several scrums followed. The ball came quickly to Mitchell, who passed to Wetherall. The latxer ran hard toward tho con..re, and almost in front of the goalposts. Davidson ran round to take the in-pass. _ With cool judgment Davidson gave his Bide victory as ho potted a field goal. The' bell #then sounded. City -. i .. 9 Marist .. . * ..7 PONSONBY V. ATHLETIC. Athletic kicked-off in the game with Ponsonby and almost immediately off-side play by Graham gave Delgrosso a chance 'at goal. His kick was successful. Ponsonby wore getting the best of the scrums, and Peckham sent the backs away, Littlewood, Delgrosso, and Colo handling in turn. From an infringement in Athletic's twenty-five Delgrosso easily goaled. . A few moments later Delgrosso further increased Ponsonby's score with another good goal. Ponsonby, 6; Athletic. 0. Athletic, with Avery and Mason in the van, carried play to Ponsonby's line, where Henewini saved luckily. The Athletic forwards showed great dash as they swept over Ponsonby's lino and "Webb scored. Wilson-Hall missed with the kick at goal. Ponsonby, G; Athletic. 3. A free-kick to Athletic saw Mason just miss with a splendid kick at goal. Ponsonby, aided by the good work of Peckham, carried tho game to Athletic's line, where a series of scrums followed. In a scramble for possession Payne' scored. This time Delgrosso just missed at goal. * Good following up by Te Whata saw Cole caught in possession. He lost the ball, and Webb, securing, passed to McGregor, who ran over to score, Half-time sounded with tho score: Ponsonby w.» v.: r.v t-v 9 Athletic •••• .. l) Wilson-Hall opened up the attack for Athletic, and Avery and Herring carried play to Ponsonby's line. Ponsonby s fullback, Henewini, saved two dangerous rushes by Mason and Avery. Some fine open play was then witnessed, good defence on both sides keeping the score down. Delgrosso made a good opening beforo passing to Cole, who was well tackled by Peckham. Ponsonby continued to attack, and Gardiner was prominent as he dashed down the line, but Donovan tackled well. Peckham secured the ball and passed to Delgrosso, who ran over to score. The kick at goal failed. Ponsonby, aided by Lawry's good kicking, were getting plenty of opportunities. "Wilson-Hall was prominent in some solid defence. Herring and Te Whata were associated in good passing that momentarily gave Athletic the advantage. In Athletic's twenty-five Peckham passed to Delgrosso, who sent the ball on to Gardiner. The last-mentioned player ran strongly for tho line before sending on to Littlewood, who scored. Gardiner failed to convert. The game ended: Ponsonby, 13; Athletic, G. DEVONPORT V. NEWTON. Shortly after the start of the game between Devonport and Newton at North Shore, the latter were penalised, and B. Laing kicked a goal. Devonport forwards ru3ned. play to Newton's line, where B. Laing picked up, and, beating several men, scored. His brother, G. Lains, failed to convert. Newton's forwards, with McDonald and Clarke in the van. rushed the ball over Devonport's line, where Webb was lucky to force. Wheeler, North Shore's fullback, was very sound as Newton again invaded their territory. A good run by Clarke was well stopped by G. Laing, and Wheelor cleared. Hooker was prominent in a dashing ran that ended in a try. Webb failed to goal. Devonport, 8; Newton, 0. Anderson, Hargreaves, ■_ and Poison were associated in a fine passing bout, Anderson almost scoring. A scrum followed on Devonport's line, but B. Laing cleared 1o the centre. Hargreaves fielded and dashed straight over to score between the posts. Poison added tho goal points. Newton, 8; Devonport, 8. Devonport attacked strongly, and good work by Jv Laing carried play to.Newton's twenty-five, where Webb picked up and scored. B. Laing converted. Half-time sounded with the scores: Devonport .. r.v ..13 Newton .. .. .. •. .■ .. 8 Devonport opened the second spell with a good dash by Dixon. The ball went out to Webb, w-ho ran over and scored an unconverted try. Mansell was conspicuous in a fine solo run, but his pass to Anderson was intercepted by Hooker, who dashed down the field. HargTeaves, however, tackled well. Poison and Clarke carried play to Devonport's line, where Anderson followed up a kick and scored. Poison failed to improve tho score. Devonport, 16; Newton, 13,

The homo side were soon back to attack, and Scott mr.tie an opening before pa&mg to O'Brien, who scored. B. La ins goaled. Good work by Po'.»rin; 'saw 7Tsrsrtav«3 lose the bail just on She line, and Wheeler cleared with long _ kick. A Devonport passing movement - resulted in Cleaver crossing the line to score. B. La ins converted. B • DIVISION MATCHES. KINGSLAND V. NOUTHCOTE. The game between Kingsland and Northcole was played as a curtain-raiser to the City-Ma rist game, and a very close contest, was witnessed. For the winners Thompson scored a good try, and Wilkins added the goal points with a fine kick. Just, on time Wilkin a showed much pace ns he ran down the line to score in the corner. For Kingsland, McCoy potted a field goal, and List scored il try. In the other B division frame Ellerslie proved too good for Mangei'e. Ellcrslie's backs threw the ball about in great stvle. It was only tho splendid defence shown by the Maoris that kent Ellcrslie's score down t.o 12 points. The losers notched a try which was converted. JUNIOR COMPETITIONS. SECOND GRADE. Devonport, 1-1, beat Newton. S. Ponsonby B, 10. beat City, 3. Ponsonby A. 22. beat Mangere, 0. THIRD GRADE. Point Chevalier. 9. beat Newton, 2. New Lynn, 5. beat .Devonport, 0. FOURTH GRADE. Ponsonby. 10, beat Ellerslie, 5, Parnell,. 13. beat Athletic, 0. FIFTH GRADE. Richmond, 3. beat Ellerslie. 0. City, 5. beat Athletic, 0. Parnell, 17. beat Ponsonby, 0. SOUTEERN RESULTS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CIIRISTCHURCH. Saturday. Addington. IS, defeated Waimatia, 12: Marists A, 13, defeated Marists B, 3; Sydenham, .20. defeated Woolston, 0; Hornby, 20, defeated Linwood. 11 DUNEDIN, Saturday. Christian Brothers A, 30, beat Christian Brothers B, 8; City 34, beat Pacific. 2; Athletic, 10, beat Kaitangata, 'J.