LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19092, 10 August 1925, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

ROOPE ROOSTER CONTESTS.

DEVONPORT DEFEAT MARIST.

SEVERAL EASY VICTORIES

The opening games for possession of Roopo's Rooster were played by tho senior League teams on Saturday. Devonport succeeded in defeating Marist by a margin of three points on a heavy ground at Carlaw Park. It was a most exciting game, and the crowd, estimated at 4000, thoroughly enjoyed it. The North Shore backs roso to the occasion, and greatly assisted their fine forwards. On No. 2 ground, Ponsonby had a runaway victoiy over Athletic, giving a splendid exhibition of passing, At the Domain, City comfortably defeated Richmond. In the R Division of the seuioi -grade, Mange* e proved much too good lor Noithcoto. Owing to tho bad condition of the giound at the Domain the KingslaudUtahuhu match was not played. Results aro:— Devonport 15, beat Marist, 12. Ponsonby 50, boat Athletic, 23. City 29, beat Richmond, 8. Mangero 21, beat Northcote, 6. DEVONPORT V. MARIST. Marist opened up tho game against Devonport, Scott starting a passing bout; but (Jreig'a pusa went uatray and yood worn oy Singe enabled Manst to get into a good position. Although 'Hansen was tacKled just, short of tho line Manst kept up the pressure. Kirkland earned the ball to Devonport's line, where Hansen kicked over ana scored. bingo missed the shot at goal. the ground was very heavy, but oevonport made great etforts to open up the play. However Gallagher secured the ball ;in nnafield tfnd mado a opening, Wearing Devonport's twenty-five he whipped the out to Singe, who shot forward but a tine ta.cklo stopped his progress. From the ac'iini that resulted Ghent, on the blind side, sent Sweeney over to score. Sing© again missed at goal. . , , The quickntSß of tho laarist attack ha<i completely surprised Devonport, . whose backs were slow to get gomg. Picking up the ball in tho open Veart, instead of passing to one of four supports, kicked and a golden opportunity was lost. From a scrum Cleaver sent a low pass to K. Scott, who cut i through the defence and just failed to score. Passing in fine style Devonport tried hard to open their account, ana at last A. Scott picked up the ball near the line and dashed over to score, Yardley missed the kick at goal. Marist 6. Devonport 3. bingo dashed down the ground with the ball at toe, and after beating the defence was plainly obstructed, but the breach escaped the notice of the referee. Marist were having the better of the open play and from a scrum noar Devonport's line Ghent passed to Lenihan, who found a weak link in the opposition, and scored. Singe failed to add the goal points from a good position. Good play by Yardley took Devonport to their opponent's territory where Julian cross-kicked. Fast following by K. Scott saw Sweeney in trouble, but bad luck spoiled a possible try. the ball just rolling into touch. Almost immediately afterwards, however, better luck favoured the Shore players and Douglas touched down. A. Scott added the .goal points. Encotiragod by their success, jNorth bhore continued to attack, but a fine save by Gallagher pulled up their forwards. For some minutes bright football was witnessed and thero was great excitement as Johnson and St Georgo beat all but Ghent, who cleared in good style. Manst were penalised in their own twenty-five {or offsido play and A. Scot placed his side m the lead with a fine goal. Half-time sounded with no fuither score. Devonport .. •» • • •• *2 Marist J The first incident on resumption was a good dash by Cleaver, who beat several Marist players before Gallagher stopped progress with a good tackle and cleared with a well-placed kick. Attempts to pick up the greasy ball spoiled a chance as Douglas. Veart and Obrien . dribbled past several diarist men. Considering the heavy state of tho ground the football was good. Lning, after beating several opponents, threw away a great chunce by Belfish play, lieeping up the offensive Devonport tried vainly to score. Sweeney, running down the line, kicked hard and in .an exciting race Yardley just gained possession in tho nick of time. Devonport's hard working forwards cleared in great style, and the division swept down tho field, Marist being sorely pressed. Good play by Benihan was carried on by Cooke, and Hanson, and tho last-mentioned player found tho lino well into Devonport's twenty-five. From tlis scrum that followed Singe dashed toward tho line, and handed the bail on to Gallagher, who bustled his way over near tho corner. Cooke missed tho kick at goal: Marist, 12; Devonport, 10. The teams were evenly matched, and tho tackling waß hard on both sides. Sound defence blocked a bout by tho Devonport backs, and for some minutes tho two sets of forwards tattled in great stylo, first ono and then the other gaining tho advantage. Near the Marist twenty-five Devonport were awarded a free kick, and A. Scott made a fino shot at goal, the ball actually hitting one of the posts. O'Brien, following on fast, gathered up the ball, and dived over. A. Scott was successfull with tho kick: Devonport, 15; Marist 12. O'Brien hit tho post hard when he scored, and play was held up for oometime. Good play by Singe took Marist right to Devonport's lino again, but Douglas gave a quick pass Scott, who cleared with a useful kiclc. £ riet mado a fir.nl effort when Sweeney raced down the touch line, and kicked over Godick's head. lu a race for possession tho North Shore fullback was lucky to avert a try. The bell sounded soon afterward with the score: Devonport, 15; Marist, 12.

RICHMOND V. CITY. Playing on a very heavy ground, City had little difficulty in defeating Richmond, who, with other losing teams, drop out of the competition. City were first to attack and from a good handling rush S. Orewther scored. Ho also added the goal points. For some minutes Richmond had the upper hand and Bass, receiving a pass from"Hyland, badly beat the City devence, to score between the posts. Hanlon missed with the kick at goal. Some fine football waa witnessed when the City team lined out in support of Mitchell, who made an opening. Eventually the ball reached Reid, who raced over the line. S. Crewther wn3 successful with the kick: City, 10; Richmond, 3= Mitchell- again sent bis backs away, and R. Crewther passed to his brother, who, in turn sent the ball on to B. Davidson, The City contro badly beat 'ho opposition with a fine Rworvo, and passed to S. Crowthor. Wardlow receded the ball in turn, and scored an excellent try. S. Crewther kicked a fine goal from the side-line. Aided by resolute tackling Richmond kept City from scoring for seme time. Good work by McDonald was carried on by Hyland and Littlo, but overoagerness spoiled a chance, and Brown drove them back with a nice line-kick. City's forwards, with Reid and Ruby in the van, dribbled down to Hanlon. Richmond's fullback, but he saved in good style. Half-time sounded with tho score: City IS Richmond 3 Quickly opening the attack on resumption City's backs again showed their speed. Davidson kicked hard down the centre, and Hawkes, following up. carried tho ball on to score. S. Crewther again added the goal points. Richmond were getting a good share of the ball, but City's forwards were breaking Quickly, and stopped any attempts by their opponents to open up tho game, following a clever run by Russell, Baas slipped when a score seemod in sight. A few seconds later Mackic broke through and MoDonald and Townsend carried the ball to the other end, where Hawkes notched an unconverted try. Richmond kept gamely on, and on several occasions their forwards did good work. Good fortuno came their way when Bass followed up a rebound from Brown, and scored. Hanlon added the con 1 points with a fine kick. City. 23; Richmond, 8. Almost immediately afterwards City again linod across the ground, and tho ball 'ravelled out to Wnrdltvw, who ran over and scored. Ilawkea missed with tho shot at goal. Just on time Ruby followed up a long kick and, racing past several Richmond men. scored, making tho linul figures;— City, 20; Richmond, 8. PONSONBY V. ATHLETICS. Ponsonby had an easy win against Athletic, and although tho ground' was in a bad sinte, the winners scored from many passing movomouts. I. Pockham mado tho oponing, fiom which J. Peckham scored tho ivit trv. Gardiner sent the ball fairly between the posts. Ponsonby wero penalised loi oltside play and Malloy opened Athletic'a account with a good goal. From this stago Ponsonby added points in quick succession. Godley registered tho second try after all tho backs had handled tho ball. A good opening waa irmde by Gardiner and Donovan passed to Riley, who scored. Gardiner added tho goal points: Ponsonby, 13; t Athletic, 0. For a few minutes Athletic tried hard to got over. Mason and To Whata wero associated in a dangerous rush, but Herewini cleared. A high kick by Littlewood was followed up by Pockham, and McNeill, touched down. From a servjm in midfield Angelo kicked past tho Ponsonby backs and Te "Whata and Mason dribbled the ball over tho line for Webb to adore. Malloy missed with tho kick. Then Gardiner raced from halfway and scored between tho posts. Ho converted his try. Littlewood was next to score, and Gardiner again added tho goal points. Tho same player scored another try, and almost immediately afterwards Ponsonby ran through tho opposition, Herewini. the fullback, scoring. Juat before tho spoil ended Watkina received a pass from Malloy, and sent the bull on to Hndley, who scored: ■> Ponsonby 86 Athlctio uu r,-« bu to* 8

When play was resumed Gardiner beat several men before passing to Godley who Bcored. Gardiner added the extta points, faulty handling by Herewim gave Athletic a chance, and Te Whata outpaced tho opposition to score between the posts. Malloy goaled. Ponsonby, 41; Athletic, 13. Gardiner again ran through, from his own twenty-fivo, leaving a trail of players lying on the ground. He missed the kick at coal. In a dash that found a weakness in Herewini's doi'ence McGregor and Te Whata carried the ball over Ponsonby's line and Mason scored. Malloy was successful with the kick. Just before time Wilkie managed to cross the Ponsonby line, and Malloy converted. Then Peckham and Donovan scored lor Ponsonby, and Gardiner kicked a goal, the final scores being:—Ponsonby. 60; Athletio, 23. MANGERE V. NORTHCOTE, Mangere completely outclassed Northcote whose form was much below their usus.l standard. Mangere were fi;st to attack and a good oponing by Tukaki resulted in Wilson scoring Mangero's first try, Lipscomto missed with the kick. Tho Maoris were playing fine football and their forwards dominated the play. Good work by Speight drove Mangere back but Paul beat several opponents in a dash down the side line. From tho loose Wilson secured and again scored. Ansqll added the goal points. Northcote's persistent efforts were at last rewarded, Pennycook scoring. Wilkie was unsuccessful with the kick. Just before half-time Wilkie added another try for Northcote, but Green fail d to add the goal points: Mangere, 8; Northcote, 6. Tho second spell was marred by some unnecessarily hard play between the two sets of forwards. From a scrum near the half-way lino Tauahi passed to Wilson, who beat several Northcote players and scored between the posts. Ansel! added the goal points. Mangero's next scorer was Happy. Lipscombe missed with the kick at goal. Mangere, 16; No hcote, 6. Jifanpere struggled hard o» Northcote's line but the defence held until at last Rau worked his way over., Mangere pave their opponents no respite, and although Northcote showed rare pluck against a heavier side tho-y could not gain any advantage. Just on time Paul scored for Mangere. and the gamo ended: Mangere, 21! Northcoto, 6. JUNIOR RESULTS. Second Grade.—Richmond, 17, beat Devonprt, 6, fourth Grade.—-Athletic, 6, beat Pacifies, 5. Sixth Grade.—-Richmond A, 85, beat Richmond B, 0.