THE LEAGUE GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19722, 23 August 1927, Page 14

THE LEAGUE GAME.

SENIOR GRADE COMPETITION. PONSONBY AND NEWTON LEVEL. A PLAY-OFF NEXT SATURDAY. After a series of interesting club games, the Auckland Rugby League's senior grade competition matches terminated on Saturday, but the championship is yet to be decided. The issue is to be fought out next Saturday between Ponsonby and Newton, who are now level. Both sides have well deserved the position they occupy and their football has at all times been pleasing to watch. Ponsonby has, however, set a very high standard and its best thirteen is a well-balanced side. On the other hand Newton does not appear on paper to be so strong a combination, but it has proved solid all through the competition, and this may assist the team in the final game Newton was fully extended on Saturday to win narrowly from Devoriport, who can bo considered one of the unlucky teams in the competition. With better fortune favouring it the Devonport team might have been in the lead 'with Ponsonby. The mud patches at Carlaw Park affected the game, and the ground proved tricky to the clever player. The exhibition was uninteresting and resulted in a battle between the forwards. Newton was not up to full strength. Rhodes was away, and throughout tho second spell Henry was absent. Newton again showed a weakness in the five-eighth line, and this will have to bo considerably strengthened to combat Ponsonby successfully. There is not sufficient pace in their work, and their passing is slow and uncertain. It is difficult to make alterations at the last hour, but the team's most ardent supporters would prefer a complete change. With a try each at tho end of the first spell, it was only to be expected the second half would prove a long and exciting struggle for supremacy. At times the slippery ball cost both sides tries. Newton, however, was for the most part the aggressor and it had Devonport continually defending Dufty's Penalty Goal. Dufty's penalty goal, ten minutes before time, put the issue beyond doubt, and only on one occasion afterwards did Devonport look like scoring. At fullback Herewini had an easy day. He made few mistakes, and ran his threequarters into position on several occasions by good dashing runs. , Little showed to advantage, and his try was a good effort. Sallen, a "junior, did well on the other wing. Dufty was a powerful asset to his side. His defence was excellent, and he kicked with fine judgment. McLeod was the best of the five-eighths. Morman was too slow. Beautiful quick passes characterised Mclntvre's display. His general knowledge of halfback play is good. The rival halfbacks would do well to adopt his style of placing the ball in the scrum. His quick, low delivery, as soon as the scrum is down, prevents the front row forwards from fighting for the loose head. Newton's forwards held their own against a heavy pack and in the open they were a little superior. Henry's retirement early in the game was the result of an injury to his eye. It now transpires that several stitches were inserted into the cut. It is to be hoped he will be ready for next Saturday. Stack played his best game this season, and was in all the heavy work. Clarke was conspicuous in the open and made several good runs. Somers gave his side a big share of the ball, and his clean hooking was a noticeable feature of the scrums. Hammond and Hall played good games. Devonport was not up to full strength. Svmonds gave a promising display at fullback. and he made some really clever saves. His strong kicking was very impressive. Rhodes did well behind the scrum, but he got few chances on attack. Stephens was the third, and he played well among the forwards. Cleaver stood out as the best back on the ground. Re made several spectacular runs. Seagar played <a fine game and paved the way for Devoi'port's only try. A. Scott was the best of the threequarters, while the wings, Beattie and L. Scott, got few chances. Rule played a dashing game and was Devonport's best forward. O'Brien was keen in the loose and strong in the ruck. Ruby was a thorn in the side of the opposition. His pace nullified Newton's passing among the backs. Dixon was conspicious in the open, and St. George also played well. Ponsonby Playing Well. Ponsonby is playing at the top of its form at present, and on Saturday the game against Richmond was better than usual under such bad weather conditions. A noticeable feature of Ponsonby's football is the numerous passes that take place in a movement, no matter how little ground is covered. The wing threequarters, on almost every occasion, pass the ball back.infield again, thereby improving the position for the scorer. Tt is the fine points of the game that will bo the deciding factors on Saturday next. Richmond is always a hard team to dispose of. and it was beaten only by superior team work. For the winners Langley played a solid game, but his kicking was weak. The New Zealand fiveeighth. 11. Cole, came out, of retirement to assist Ponsonby, and it is probable he will be seen in action again as a fiveeighth against Newton". When in form Cole plays fine club football. Delgrosso showed a lot of dash on the wing, a position that suits his style of play. Gardiner is in great form at present, and in scoring his opening try he displayed unusual determination. Ponsonby is unfortunate at this stage to lose K. Peckham, who sprained his ankle. It is doubtful if he will be fit by Saturday. T. Peckham, one of the most versatile halfbacks in the code, was the pivot of Ponsonby's attack. Grey was inclined to kick too often. Several of Ponsonby's forwards have adapted a bad habit of waiting offside and depending too much upon the backs to carry the movement forward. It may be a sound policy to have one of the front division playing with a roving commission, but on Saturday as many as three forwards were playing well into Richmond's territory. Too much confidence is being placed in the backs. Payne and Fagan did solid work, both showing pace on the muddy ground. Hutt was conspicuous in the "opening, and his clean handling was a noticeable feature. Prentice gave a fine display for Richmond. and 011 attack his individualism often completely beat the opposition. B. Davis was responsible for some effective stopping and made useful openings. Jenkinson was a tower of strength and defended ably. Swift and Dixon got few chances to show their pace. Among the forwards Stewart, Telford and Redwood played well. i Teams Below Strength. Both City and Athletic were below full strength ; nevertheless a close and interesting game resulted. City's narrow win by a converted try to nil was well deserved, although early in tho second spell Athletic was unlucky in not scoring a try in a fairly good position to goal. Reynolds, a fifth grade boy. showed promise of developing into a good five-eighth. Wetherill did well on defence, but on attack he ran his supports out of position. Wade was the best of the threequarters. Whitehouse, a junior, displayed a good deal of pace. Spencer was again City's best forward. lie was always on the ball. Hooker, who played for Devonport several seasons ago, also played a fine game. Hamilton and Home were prominent in tho loose. Longvine was the best back on the ground, and he saved Athletic time and again. With more experience ho should develop into a splendid fullback. Lucas made some good openings at five-eighths, and Martin, a junior, did well behind tho scrum. . McGregor was the best of the threequarters Bryer, Nelson and Herring ■were prominent among the forwards. i