LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19710, 9 August 1927, Page 15

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

MARIST again defeated. PROSPECTS FOR CHAMPIONSHIP. PONSONBY AND NEWTON LEAD. The Auckland Rugby League's senior grade competition is still providing followers of the code with interesting games. With little to choose between the leading teams, some good matches can be looked | forward to during the next two weeks, j The defeat of Marist by Newton has j placed the former team out of the runl ning and Ponsonby and Newton are now | m the lead. Devonport may upset calj culations. Should it beat Ponsonby and ■ Newton, Devonport will win the chamI pionship. On present form Ponsonby and Newton appear likely to meet again in the final for grade honours. Last season Newton was last in the championship. Its rapid rise this year has been due to more consistent form than that of any other team in the competition. On Saturday against Marist, j Newton gave a finished display and its | speed all round was a deciding factor. Its : backs, however, indulged in too much | kicking and the attack would have been | more effective had they passed more | often. Lack of experience will be New- { ton's only handicap should it play off with Ponsonby." Several times on Satur day the Newton backs were caught out of position, but fortunately for them the Marist handling was weak and gave them time to recover. Newton Forwards Improving. Each Saturday the Newton forwards are improving. They possess the speed required to break up the opposing back divisions. Against Marist the whole, set ran speedily and passed the ball with the ability of a threequarter. Their tackling, too, was very effective. Newton's wellformed scrum was a vrvst improvement on some of the crude formations of other teams this season. Somers' clean hooking gave Newton a great advantage. Hall is at the top of his form at present and was a thorn in the Marist side. Clarke proved a great spoiler, while his pace greatly assisted his backs. Rhodes,"Stack and Henry all ably assisted. Little, on the wing, played a brilliant game and his splendid opportunism gained a good try. The Newton man is perhaps the speediest wing in Auckland. Hardgrave, on the other wing, also played well. His opening try was a spectacular effort. Dufty proved a tower of strength, both on attack and defence. He kicked a little too much, several times when three 'supporters were racing for the line. Of the five-eighths, Morman was the | best and made several good openings, i McLeod spoiled the combination, and | Newton's attack would benefit by shifting Hardgrave into five-eighths. McIntyre behind the scrum again displayed good form, his quick, snappy passing | being of material benefit to the back line. Marist Lacks Enterprise. The Marist attack lacked the enterprise shown earlier in the season. The team's general display was patchy. Marist was seen in its best form in the dying stages of the game, when it made several brilliant attacking movements. Knott's try just before the game ended was the result of a fine passing bout, no fewer than seven players handling the ball in turn. Gregory had the misfortune to receive a bad knock, causing slight concursion, and he was not seen at his best. Knott was in go}J form on the wing, but got few opportunities. Sweeney has plenty of pace, but his handling is uncertain. King played a fair game at centre. He lacks the necessary pace to fill the posi- | tion with success. Brisbane stood out as ; the best defensive player, on the ground. | Kirwan marred an otherwise good display by giving Little a "presentation" try. Cronin was an improvement at halfback* The Marist forwards were beaten in the loose by a faster set, but in the scrums they did well. Moisley was the best of the vanguard and made some fine runs. Keenan and O'Brien were also conspicuous in some dashing runs. Ponsonby's Indiflerent Form. I On several occasions this season Ponsonby's form on No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park has been very indifferent. On Saturday, in spite of a good margin in its favour against Athletic, Ponsonby's all round play was at times erratic. Gardiner was in good form and kicked four splendid goals. Delgrosso was the best of the Ponsonby backs. He scored two verv fine tries as the result of splendid individualism. Usher was elusive in some fine runs. T. Peckham proved a tricky player and several times cleverly beat the opposition. K. Peckham and Riley combined well at five-eighths. Payne was Ponsonby's best forward, and Ward and J. Peckham played well in the loose. Avery and Herring ably led the Athletic forwards, but outside />f Bryer they received little support. Christmas ,shows improved form and should develop into a reliable centre. Angelo made several fine openings; while both L-ucas and Stevenson played well against strong opposition. At fullback Longeville gave a sound display. Richmond Outplayed. Devonport gained a clear-cut win over Richmond in a game that was uninspning Each side was too intent on matching the players in their respective positions to allow for much open play. Speed and quickness to take advantage of an opening gave Devonport two tries, ihe winning team's forwards were always forcing the pace and in the open they outplayed the Richmond front division. Beattie, who was moved from the wing into centre, made a success of the position and was Devonport's best ( back. Stokes gave an impressive display and L. Scott on the other wing, used his pace to' advantage. It is surprising Devonport called upon B. Laing to play again, particularly at this stage. His form will need to improve considerably to justify his inclusion Webb was verv Repressive on attack and combined well with Seagar. who made several Rood open ings. , . ■, *> A. Scott nlayed in the scrum again and gave a rrl'mose of his best forrm Rubv and O'Brien were outstanding in the Prentice was Richmond's best back. He and Hyland showed perfect understanding. Jenkinson's play was marred bv weak passing. Swift and Hanlon nlaved well. Bass and Stewart were the best of the forwards, while Redwood and Telford gave good support. An interesting competition is being contested in the B section. has_a lead of one point from Kingsland. At the Outer Domain next Saturday the final • will bo played between these teams. j