LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19709, 8 August 1927, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS.

MARIST AGAIN DEFEATED.

NEWTON AND PONSONBY LEVEL

The senior grade matches in the Auckland Rugby League's competition were continued on Saturday under ideal con ditions. The ground at Cat-law Park was m good order. The principal match be tween Newton and Marist attracted a <;rowd estimated at 8000, and the specta tors were treated to the best exhibition of the code this season. Newton beat ihe grade leaders convincingly, thus gaining the lead with Ponsonby for the champion ship. On No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park Pon son by won comfortably from Athletic. At Devonport Richmond fought a stir I'irig contest against D&vonport, which proved superior., ihe results are as follows: Newton, 20, beat Marist, 10. Ponsonby, 31, beat Athletic, 7. Devonport, 18, beat Richmond, 7. The positions of the teams are as follows : r> ~, i'ta. Cil. T 1 . \V . D. D. tor. iii'. I'iti iNewton ..10 7 2 1 151 120 16 lousonby ..JO 7 <2 I l U 'j >ji l£, Marist ..11 7 1 Jso ill ).j Devonport . . .10 7 3 ~ '2OB yj M luchiuoiid . . II 4 6 t l;it 'l2l o City . . . 10 2 7 1 113 182 5 Athletic . . 10

NEWTON'S S UPERIOIUTI

Superior pace u,ucl weli-planned uttackniy lnovemeuts guve Newton ail advantage over Marist in two spells of good lootbaii. The' winners won the ball from the scruuib. und showed dashing combination in both divi sions. Their passing aiid backing up were •outstanding features. Marist played well up to form, particularly in the second spell Several exchanges of kicks followed the opening until Herewini sent the Newton backs off in a fine passing bout and Dufty kicked well into Marist territory Clark made a run round the blind side but a forward pass loaf a certain try Newton continued to press and O'Brien cleverly fielded a long return kick, and passed to Kirwan Dardgrave snapped up a bad transfer and beat Gregory in a splendid swerving run to score a good try, which Duffy failed to convert. Gooij play b.v Moislcy and Keenan carried play to the Newton line Brisbane raced for the line, but Herewini grassed him dashing run by Sweeney almost let King in. Then O'Brien came through with the hall at toe and scored near the posts for Gregorv to goal. The game was fast and opeyi and Somers gained 40vds in a great run through the Marist defence Newton's next try was an easy one The ball rolled oyer the Marist line and Kirwan followed it leisurely to force-down' when Little came fast and oiv ing for possession was awarded a try Dufty kicked a fine goal Marist desperate efforts to equalise and Brisbane O'Brien and Cronm were associated in a dashing passing run, which Duftv hold up The spell ended with the scores - Newton. ■ Marist, 5. f , n , Early in the second spell. Hall made a fine run to the Marist line, but Clarke was in front of the ball and no try was allowed. Marist was penalised and LJimv kicked a fine goal A minute later <>rogory added a penalty-goal for Marist. The Marist backs commenced an attack and Knott was tackled inches from Newton s line Newton attacked strongly and the ball went out to Little, who short-punted over Gregory's head. A thrilling race ensued be j tween four players and Somers was awarded a fry. Dufty converted. Newton was completely over-running the opposition, and Hardgrave was twice held lip on the Marist line. From a scrum near midfield Newton's forwards broke away nnr. ITenry dived over to score. Dufty coaled Gregory was injured twice in succession. He was moved to the five-eighths line and immediately made a brilliant run through the Newton backs. Knott eventually scored a fine try after several backs handled the ball. King failed to convert. The. match ended shortly afterwards, with sho scores: — Newton, 20: Marist, 10.

PONSONBY'S TEAM WORK. Athletic put up a good showing against Ponsonby. but tho latter's superior teamwork paved the way for several simple tries Athletic was quick to attack and within one minute of play Anpelo eide-stepped several defenders and scored a clever try, which Lucas converted. Delgrosso raced along tho touchline and scored. Gardiner converting with a fine kick. Penalties to each side saw Longvillo kirk n goal for Athletic and Gardiner for Ponsonby. The [Vinson by backs then got going in a sweeping passing bout, K. Poekhnm scoring a try which Gardiner converted. Good play by Angelo was well supported by Stevenson and the latter was stopped inches from Ponsonby's line. Just before the spell ended. Delgrosso made an opening and sent Pagan over tn score. The scores were- Ponsonbv 1• Athletic. 7. Faulty passing by Athletic spoiled a chance after Avery had the defence beaten. Ponsonby, however, had a firm grip on the cranio and Delgrosso scored for Gardiner to convert with a greaf kick Then T Peckhnm Scored ft clever try between the roasts and nddp<3 the £rr>nl-pni nts. Tn (hp final stages of the match Gardiner nnd I" 1 "! grosso scored tries for Ponsonbv. The match ended:—Ponsonby. 31: Athletic. 7.

DEVONPORT V. RICHMOND. There was little to choose between the teams in the Richmond-Devonport match, and the scores did not represent tho respective merits. Several of Devonport's tries came as the result of the superior pace of its wings Tho Richmond forwards put up a strong fight against their heavier opponents, but it was left to the backs to olier serious opposition to Devonport. Prentice was prominent early in a fine run through the opposition, but he hung on too long and his pasa to Hyland was nullified by Seagar. Devonport's forwards broke awiiy and the ball went out to Ruby, who scored an easy try. which A. Scott converted. Good play by Bass put Richmond on the offensive, but its passing was weak and no try resulted. From a struggle near tho Richmond line Beattie scored and A. Scott kicked a fine goal from the sideline The Richmond backs did most of the attacking. Swift just failed on one occasion to reach tho goal-line. "Each side took turns at passing, and the play was of an even nature when the spell ended with Hie scores:—Devonport, 10; Richmond, 0. On resuming the Richmond backs almost got over Better fortune favoured the next attack and Hyland scored agood try. Taylor failing to convert. A few minutes later Richmond Tan all over the opposition and Bass scored, Carroll converting. Ricliiftond looked like winning and for a time had Devonpd"tt on the defence. However, Laing reversed the run of play and sent a. long nass to Beattie. , whoso pace carried him over between the nosts A. Scott coaled The Devonnort backs ntrnin had too much pace and Rule scored after a parsing bout. A. Scott failing to convert The game ended:—Devonport, 18; Richmond. 7.

SENIOR P GRADE, Parnoll, 11, beat Northcote, 8.

JUNIOR RESULTS. Second Grade.—Ponsonby, 20. beat Kingsland. 0; Richmond. 13, beat Mnrist, 5. Third Grade.—Richmond A, 10, lieat Purnoil, 2; Richmond B, 10. beat Kingsland. 2: City 39, beat Devonport. 3; Ellerslie. 8, beat Newton. 0- Ponsonby 5. beat Athletic. 3. Fourth Grade. —Devonport, 14. beat Ponsonby. 0. Fifth Grade.—Akarana, 2, bent North cote. 0. Akarana wins th© fifth grade championship. Sixth Grade.—Point Chevalier. 5, beat Athletic, 3; Marist. beat City B. 0; Akarana A. 5, beat Kingsland, 0 > Primary Schools.—Papatoetoe, 16, bent Onehunga, 0; Richmond. 14. bent Onehunga Convent, 0; Otahuhu, 18. beat Newmarket. 0.

CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN. [BY telegraph.—press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday.. Following are the results of League matches played to-day :—Addington, 27, v. Sydenham, 16; Wairoairi. 16. v, Hornby, 5: Marists, 24, v Woolston. 0. DUNEDIN. Saturday. League matches played in Dunedin today resulted :—City, 8, v. Athletic, 8; Christian Brothers, 13, v. Pacific. 0.