LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19098, 17 August 1925, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

ROOPE ROOSTER CONTEST.

* CITY DEFEAT DEVONPORT.

PONSONBY WIN BY DEFAULT.

Thcro was a good attendance at Carlaw Park on Saturday to witness tho semi-final of tho Roope Rooster competition betwen City, winners of tho senior League championship competition, and Devonport. Tho game was by no means brilliant. Dovonpoit failed to mako any impression on a weakened City side, in which several juniors were playing, 'lhe winners had all tho better of the gamo and won by 22 points to 11. Newton failed to field a team against Ponsonby, who thus won by default. City and Ponsonby will meet in tho final next Saturday. In tho B division tho semi-final of the Stallard Cup competition was played betwen Nortlicoto and Ellerslie, the former winning a closely-contested gamo by 3 points to 0. DEVONPORT V. CFTY. City wero on Devonport'a line soon after the commencement ol the game, but Cleaver beat tho City backs and found tho lino near halfway, Movements by the City backs were countered by goud work by tho Devouport forwards, who soon had City busily uolenduig. Xardiey missed a shot at goal, and from the Bcrum Mitchell scut the City backs away. Davidson and Wardlaw were associated in a good bout down tho line. Oity were getting the bolter of the gamo and good passing by the backs ended in B. Davidson scoring. G. Davidson failed to add the goal points. The Dovonpoit forwards, with Haddon in the van, rushod play right to City's lino, where Cleal beat tho oncoming forwards by cleverly gathering up tho ball. He ran to halfway, and paused to Towns end, but Cleal, who received tho ball in | turn,, slipped just as ho beat tho last North Shore man. A mistake by S. Crewther gavo Devonport a chance, and Ynrdley beat j Mackio for tho touch-down. A. Scott failed to convert. B. Davidson, following up fast, caught Richards in possession, but the latter passed to Julian, who had run back in support. However, a foolish pass saw B. Davidson secure the hall and scoro. G; Davidson failed to convert. City, G; Devonport, 3. Good work by Douglas was carried on by Johnston, but weak handling gave the City forwards a chance, and Hawkes scored between tho posts. S. Crewther added the goal points. Uninteresting play followed, From a scrum. Cleaver cut past the defence, and reached City's twenty-five, where he passed to Grieg. However, the latter's pass to Veart was knocked on and a scrum followed on City's line. From tho loose tho ball was heoled to Iv. Scott, who dived over. Ynrdley was successful with the kick. An excellent movement was witnessed when City's backs raced in support of Mitchell, who had found a weak link in tho North Shore defence. The ball finally reached Wardlow, who scored a good try. S. Crewther missed with the kick at goal, and half-timo came with tho scoro: City 14 Devonport 8 After tho interval Godick replaced Iv. Scott, who retired owing to an injury. Cleal stopped a dangerous North Shore forward rush, and McDonald and Hawkcs dribbled the ball back to half-way. Devonport were called on to stop a rush by the City backs, nnd then O'Brien and Douglas beat tho City forwards with clever dribbling. Crewther saved well and started a passing bout, which took City to their opponents' lino again. Yardley made a good opening and beat all except Crewther, but instead of passing to Uleavor, lie kicked, nnd a good chance was thrown away. A little later Richards failed to field the ball, which G. Davidson gathered up and scored. S. Crewther was euccessful with tho kick. From another high kick by Mackio, tho bounce of the ball ngain beat Richards, and Cleal, following up fast, scored. City. 22: Devonport, 8. At this stage Devonport's team work was distinctly improved, and foj some time they gave City a busv timo defending their line. Tho game had been very disappointing so far, but for some timo better football was witnessed. Devonport's forwards shor.e in dashing play. Crewther proved a stumbling block in tho path of the opposing forwards. However. with plav in City's twenty-Svo Douglas made a dash, before passing to Voart. who scored, Yurdlev just failed with the kick. Tho game ended soon afterwards with tho scores:—City, 22; Devonport. 11. ELLERSLIE V. NORTHCOTE. In tho semi-final of the 13 division knockout competition at Victoria Park, Northcote defeated' Ellerslie, winners of tho championship, by 3 points to 0. The gamo was very even and many of EHerslie's movements were repulsed onlv bv the stern defence offered by the Northcote men. Ellerslie had hard. luck in not scoring on soveral occasions in the first spell. Shand was prominent in two fine sola effortß. and in ono case a dropped pass spoiled a golden chance. Tho spoil ended with no score. Northcote wero first to attack on resumieng. and pood work by Green was carried on by Thompson, who ran well into Elleralio's twenty-five, whoro Cooko saved with a good tackle. Bad luck followed a forward rush bv Northcote. Wi'.lc'ns losing the ball when over the lino. The Northcote backs passed in good stylo and Speight cut through nicely, making an opening for Thompson who managed to open Northcoto's score. Wilkins missed with the kick at E?l°er'fllio mado great efforts to equalise. their forwards rushed plav to Nortlicoto's line, but Green was prominent in sotid delenco work. The gamo ended without further score,

JUNIOR RESULTS. Second Grade. —Ponsonby A. 9. beat Devonport, t>. , Third Grade.—Athletic, C. boat, ftfiw Lynn. 0; Ponsonby A. 2G, boat Suburbs B, 3; Kingsland, 2, drew with City, 2. Fourth Grade.—Richmond. 11. beat. Parnell, 0; Ponsonby, 23, boat Takapuna, 0. Sixth Grade.—Richmond won the sixth grado championship. They ha,ve not been beaten this season. AUCKLAND V. SOUTH AUCKLAND. SHIELD GAME ON WEDNESDAY. Tho selectors of tho Auckland League, Messrs. E. Fox. R. McDonald and E. K. Asher, have chosen the following team to represent Auckland against South Auckland at Cnrlaw Park on Wednesday:— Fullback, Hcrewini (Ponsonby): threequarters, B. Davidson (City), Gardiner (Ponsonnv), Littlcwood (Ponsonbv) ; livoeighths, 11. Cole (Ponsonby), Grenning (Northcote); Halfback. Poison (Newton); forwards. Singe (Marist). Townsend (City). O'Brien (Devonport). Pavno (Ponsonby), Douglas (Devonport), Bass (City). Keservea. —Backs: Peckham (Ponsonby), T.iHt (Kingsland), Hargreaves (Newton). Porwardtt f . McDonald (City). Mason (Athletic). Stormont (Maristl. . South Auckland won the ftorlborn Union Challenge Cup from Auckland in .1922 ami it has remained in the Waikato since. Ihe South Auckland team for Wcdnesdav is.— Fullback D. Johnston; tlirewmarters. B. Jac.kwnys. J. Homingwav. A. Finlav: fivee=ghths. S.. Raynor. B. Paki: halfback G. Tfn.-nor; forwards. R. Stevenson. L Hutt. C Geifon, .T. Menzies, J. Dufty. T. Wilson. Reserves: F. Jackson, C. Davica. limnia and P. .