LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19691, 18 July 1927, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND COMPETITH)NB. MARIST DEFEATS RICHMOND. TWO CLOSE SCORING MATCHES. Matches in the second round of the Auckland Rugby League's sonior competition were continued on Saturday. Close scoring marked the two games played at Carlaw Park. The weather was fine, but the playing areas were muddy in places. Tho principal game, between Marist and Richmond, which was watched by a crowd estimated at 9000, was one of the most exciting matches played this season. Richmond made a splendid effort in the second spell, and toward the close of the game it completely outplayed Marist, which was a little lucky in gaining a three-points' win. On No. 2 ground Ponsonby was hard pressed to win a close game from City, adding two tries to its score in tho last seven minutes. Owing to the ground at tho Domain being considered unfit for play the Devonport-Athletic match was cancelled. The results are as follows: — Marist, 5, beat Richmond, 2, Ponsonby, 15, beat City, 8. The present positions of the teams are as follows: — Pts. Ch. P. W. li. D. For As. Pts. Marist .. 9 7 2 140 140 81 14 Newton ..8 5 2 1 Jl7 102 11 Ponsonby .. 8 5 2 1 115 87 11 Devonport . . 8 5 3 Richmond .. 0 3 5 1 103 100 7 City . . . . 9 2 6 1 105 168 5 Athletic . . 7 RICHMOND'S FINE BACKS. The Richmond hacks gave a brilliant display against Marist and it was only Gregory's great defence that saved Ins team from defeat. Marist opened the attack and Knott made a line run down the side-line and cleverly cross-kicked. but Taylor drove Marist back to half-way. Parkes made a beautiful opening and passed to Swift, who raced down the touch-line and passed infield to Buss. Jenkinson then received but slipped and Marist was lucky to save. From a penally Taylor opened Richmond's score with a good goal. On his own goal-line Davis passed to Bass and the ball was handled by nine players in an irresistible rush that went within an ace of producing a score. Moisley cleverly dribbled past half-way, where Kirwan joined in the movement and put Marist in a good position to score. Twice in succession, however, Richmond offended and Grestory missed goals from fairly easy positions. Bass headed a dangerous forward rush. _ but Gregory sent Richmond back to_ mid-field. Passing bo/tween Parker, Jenkinson and Prentice saw tho last-named make a sensational run through the defence, but Kirwan grassed him with a . great tackle. Then King missed an easy kick at goal. Bass broke away and passed to Hanlon, who bent several defenders in a run In the Marist twenty-five. Here he sent a reverse pass to Jenkinson, who was brought down inches from the line. At half-time the scores were: —Richmond. 2; Marist, 0. F,arly in the second spell Marist attacked strongly and passing among its backs ended in King scoring a between the posts. Gregory converted. Keenan and O'Brien headed a dashing forward rush, but Taylor saved with a fine kick. Hanlon made a brilliant run thrqjagh the Marist backs, and passed to Parkes, who held on a trifle too long when racing Swift into a scoring position. It was not Richmond's last effort. Taylor made a remarkable save, and beat several players in a great run to the Marist twenty-five. Here Hanlon joined in the movement, but Gregory again proved sound. Kirwan raised the Marist hopes as he burst through the defence, and passed to Knott, who made a determined run before kicking past Taylor. O'Brien and Noble were first to reach the ball, but a knock-on resulted, and a chance to score wtts_ missed. A brilliant passing bout by the Richmond rearguard completely beat the oposit'.on. A try should have resulted, but Gregory forced Swift into touch . just as ho wns about to return the ball to Parkes. The game then ended, the scores being:—Marist, 5: Richmond, 2. CITY AND PONSONBY. Contrary to expectations. City made a splendid showing against Ponsonby. For the greater part of both spells, f City was seen to advantage in the forwards. The better combined work of the Ponsonby backs gave the team victory. Ponsonby was quickly on the attack and Gardiner made a good run into City's territory. Mason and Spencer led the City forwards in a sweeping offensive that carried play to the Ponsonby line. Usher put Ponsonby on the attack by a good kick. City, however, was not to be denied and Mason dashed away, and passing between himself, Perry and "Wade enabled the lastnamed to score between the posts, for Mnson to goal. City continued to press, but Delgrosso made a brilliant run through half the City team. He held on too long, however, and a try was lost. Peckham beat the City inside backs and sept Hutt and Payne away with the ball at too. and Usher dived over to score. Delgrosso just missed the uprights, and City led by two points. Spencer was prominent in a good solo effort, but he kicked when a try seemed likely, and Ponsonby forced. Wetherill fielded the drop-out and dashed away, with Perry in support, but Usher intercepted a pass to Wade, who had a clear run in. Halftime sounded with tho scores:—City, 5; Ponsonby, 3. Play was very even on resuming, until Delgrosso badly beat Brown. Finally. J. Peckham completed the movement with a fine try. which Delgrosso failed to improve. Spencer and Pascoe threatened Ponsonhy's goal line, offside play holding tip a promising movement. Peckham paved the way for J. Peckham to score a good try, from which no goal resulted. A particularly good run by Gardiner was well stopped by Perry. With eight minutes to go, Wetherill sent Perry and Ferrall away in a passing bout, and the latter threw a long pass, to Wade, who fended three Ponsonby playera off in a great run to score near the corner. Austin failed at goal. Ward followed np a long kick and was favoured by the bounce, K. Peckham scoring a simple try, which Gardiner failed to convert. Jnst before time T. Peckham made a smart opening and passed to Moore, who raced over to score near the posts. The game ended with the scores:—Ponsonby, 15; City, 8.

SENIOR B COMPETITION. Ellerslie, 8, beat Northcote, 0; Parnell, 11, beat Otahuhu, 7. JUNIOR RESULTS. Second Grade.—Remuera, 8, beat Kingsland. 2. Third Grade, Open.—Devonport, 2G, beat Mangere, 0. Third Grade Intermediate.—Devonport, 8, beat Newton, 3; Richmond, 5, beat Ellerslie, 3; Ponsonby, 10, beat Athletic, 3, Fourth Grade.—Devonport, 10, beat Athletic, 0. Sixth Grade.—Point Chevalier , 5, beat Richmond B. 0; Richmond A. 0. beat Akarana. 0; Marist, 5, beat Point Chevalier, 0. Primary Schools.—Richmond, 6, beat Onehunga Convent, 0; Papatoetoe, 3, beat Onehunga, 0. CIJRI3TCHURCH AND DUNEDIN. [BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Sunday. In ft League contest yesterday, Hornby won the championship, defeating Waimari by 15 points to 10. DUNEDIN, Sunday. League matches played at Dunedin yesterday resulted:—Athletic, 12, v. Pacific, 3; City. 21. v. Kaikorai. 8.