LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19637, 16 May 1927, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

PLAY IN WET WEATHER* TWO SENIOR MATCHES DRAWN. MARIST IN LEADING POSITION. Close scoring was a feature of the senior games in the Auckland Rugby League's competition on Saturday. The matches were played in heavy rain. A fair attendance at Carlavv Park watched two very interesting matches. City was almost defeated by Richmond, but drew level in the last few minutes; Marist defeated Devonport; and Ponsonby, making its first appearance of the season, drew with Newton. The results were as follows: — Marist, 12, beat Devonport, 8. Ponsonby, 5, drew with Newton. 5. Richmond 1 , 15, drew with City, 15. The positions of the teams are as follows : " Pts. Pts. Ch. P. W. L. D. For Ag. Pts. Marist t.-.- 22 City .. k*.' 2 1 1 38 34 3 Newton 2 1 1 18 13 3 Ponsonby .. 1 Richmond 2 1 1 23 28 1 Devonport .. 2 .. 1 1 8 20 0 MARIST-DEV ONPORT MATCH. In spite of heavy rain, the field at Carlaw Park was in surprisingly good condition, but in places surface water lay on the ground. Under these conditions good football was out of 'the question, but both Marist and Devonport attempted on many occasions to open up passing rushes. Marist won by 12 points to 8. The Marist backs showed superior form, and adapted themselves better to the conditions. Owing chiefly to the splendid play of Brisbane at centre, Marist was repeatedly on the attack, but; Devonport's defence was very stubborn. Its lighter rear division was, however, sorely handicapped, and ibe torwards, usually a formidable combination, were oveithadowed by Marist. A feature of t.he game was the brilliant tootbail > f the two opposing fullbacks, Webb and Gregory The Marist forwards soon swept to the attack, and almost scored. Kirwan ran through the defence and passed to Brisbane, but Webb saved. Marist maintained a strong offensivs, and its backs handled the wet ball well. From a set scrum Sweeney opened up the play and Kirwan made a good opening for Brisbane, who outpaced the opposition and scored a try, which Gregory failed to convert. Then Beattie raised Devonport's hopes with a swerving run which gained 50yds. Headed bv Dixon, the Devonport forwards outplayed Marist in the loose, and were pressing the latter for some minutes in a scramble, only inches from the Marist goal line. Seagar and Hemingway broke away, the former passing to Webb, who had run up in support, and the fullback raced over to score. St. George converted with a great kick from the side-line. Devonport had the misfortune to lose Webb, and Perry replaced him at fullback. Twice in succession Gregory's defence was well tested," but the Marist line remained intact. Lack of finish cost Devonport a try after Preston, Seagar and Hemingwav had handled in turn. Just before the Bpell ended O'Brien and Mo'sley dived for the ball as it crossed the line, but the greasy ball rolled away, a force-down resulting. At half-time the scores were:— Devonport, 5; Marist, 3. Devonport changed its tactics in the second spell, and its forwards kept .the ball close, making exciting dashes fco break through the defence. Gregory, however, successfully held up each offensive. Perry failed to field cleanly, and Brisbane, following up fast, dived on the ball for a try. Gregory failed to convert. Soon afterwards' Crewther cleverly regained a short punt, and passed to Mois'ley, who sprinted down the sideline. Near the Devonport twenty-five he cut infield, and passed io O'Brien, \vho raced over to score a fine try. The kick failed. From a scramble in front of Marist goal Scott scored, but Seagar missed an easy kio'k.

Marist's next try came from an individual effort by Brisbane, who picked up the ball in the loose, and outpaced the opposition. King just failed to convert. In the dying stages of the game Devonport made several efforts to break through, but there was no alteration in the scores, and the game ended:—Marist, 12; Devonport, 8.

RICHMOND CREATES SURPRISE. Richmond surprised City by the quickness of its n>ttack and scored 10 points before City had opened its account. City was without the services of L. Brown and P. Towcsend. The later's absence left City without a' hooker, and Richmond gained possession of the ball from the scrums. At half-time, when Richmond led by 15 points to 2, it appeared almost certain that City would be defeated, but its fine finishing powers were once again in evidence. In this spell it dominated the play< and equalised the scores at 15 jail in the last few. minutes.

Richmond opened play at a fast pace, and in a few minutes had City defending. Good play by Hyland gave Swift a chance, but he lost the ball,, and Paxton forced. Parke3 tvas prominent, and he paved tho way for Campbell to score. Carroll goaled with a good kick. Baas and Mackie broke away and were well supported by Hamilton and Hadley, but Hanlon saved a certain try. Richmond continued to gain the advantage. Bass obtained jx>ssession and, beating the defence, scored a pretty try, vhich Can-oil converted. A minute later N. Bass kicked a goal for City. R. Hyland, Richmond, then had to retire, Donald replacing him. Richmond's forwards were playing with fine dash, and from a scramble Telford scored. Carroll again converted. The score at half-time was:—Richmond. 15; City, 2. City's backs came away in a sweeping attaok soon after the Interval, and Davidson just missed a try. Keeping up the pi-ensure, Hamilton ?cored City's first try, which N. Bass converted. Bad luck followed good play by Richmond's backs, Jenkinscm losing the ball when actually over the line. Prom loose play in Richmond's territory N. Bass drop-kicked a fine goal. City was fighting hard to -avert defeat. Wade accepted a long pass from Davids'rn and scored in the corner. Bass missed the goal. In a brilliant effort Wetherill dribbled across and scored. Paxton failed with the kick. Richmond made a great effort in the last few minutes, but City was on the attack when the bell sounded with tli€> score 15 all

NEWTON AND PONSONBY DRAW. Playir.gr at Grey Lynn Park, Newton made a fine stand against Ponsonby, last year's champion (earn, and the match ended in a draw, _5 all. The ground was in a sodden condition, and before play had been in progress lonj it was a sea of mud. However. tho same was full of incident, and on many occasions Newton looked certain to win. Just before the final whistle Dufty ! made a fine attempt from a but the ball hit the crossbar, and jerr'in:led, Newton was first to attack, and from a scramble Mclntyre scored. Dufty converted. Ponsonby retaliated, and Hntt was unlucky in not gaining a .try. Time and again Dufty and Herewini held tip Ponsor.by offensives. At half-time Newton led by 5 points to 0. The Ponsonby forwards comnletely took control for a period after the interval. From a scramble Delgroaso scored for Ponsonby . and converted with a good lick Newton returned to the attack, but Ponsonby defended well. There waa no further score, the same ending:—Newton. 5; Ponsonby. 5. SENIOR R GRADE. Kingsland defeated Parr.eli by eight points to five. For Kingsland, List and Carter scored tries, one of which Herring converted. Ritchie scored a try for Parneil, BrockSiss converting. Ellershe defeated Otaliuhu by eight points to si*_. Carrier and Slater scored tries for EUersiieh Johnson converted one try. Whale and White scored tries for Otahuhu. Point Chevalier defeated Mangere by nine points to five. JUNIOR COMPETITIONS. Second Grades.—Renjuera. 29, beat Mange re, 0. Third Grade. —Richmond B. 5, beat Devonport, 0. Sixth Grade.—City, A. fce.it Richmond. 6. Ponsonby. 0. drew with Akarsna. <1; Afcarsna A. 15. beat Point Chevalier. 5.- Point Chevalier B. I'.!. heat Devonport. 0 HCNTLY DEFEATS FRANKTON. [BY TE.LjEGEA.PH. OWN' CORRESPONDENT. 1 ' HUNTLY*. Saturday. The Hun'.'? League football team <le tested b'rankton to-day by IS points to 5. DULLER V. WEST COAST. [BY IXIXGBAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION". ] WEST PORT. Saturday. The Leasee football match, Builer v. West Coast, wis played at Victoria Square this a:'sernocs in the presence of a large gathering of spectators. After s bright exhibition, of the jrode Bailer won by 12 points to 3. For Bailer A. McElwee and Clarke scored _ 1 r;os. C. McFlwee converted one try end kicked. two penalty goals. For West Coast O'Brien scored a try. The Town v. Cons try match, played on the Trotting Coarse. was won by Country by 3 to 0. CTIP.ISTCH UR CH RES CLTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday.' Letfo.» football mateies is Cbristeharcfc yesterday resulted :-~Waimsiri. H best Ad-c'.Hfc-.0r.. 13; Miir.st. 31. beat Sycenbam. S: Hornby, 13, beat W«.alon, 6.