LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19733, 5 September 1927, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE) ROOPE ROOSTER SERIES. GRADE CHAMPIONS BEATEN. MARIST'S CONVINCING WIN. The Roopo Rooster charity games played annually by the Auckland Rugby League, were commenced on Saturday. Bv their wins Marist; Richmond, I'otisonby and Devonport will contest the second round ot the competition. At Carlaw Park, 6000 spectators witnessed Marist inflict a convincing defeat on Newton, the grade champions, by 27 points to 13. On No. 2 ground, City and Richmond fought out a great con-" test. At the call of timo both teams were level and accordingly five minutes extra time was played. Richmond scored the winning try after four minutes of extra play. At \ ictona Park Ponsonby won a closely-contested game against Athletic. The teams at Carlaw Park wore black bands as a mark of respect to the late Messrs. W. Cunningham and J. Endean. The results were as follows: — Marist, 27, beat Newton, 13. Richmond, 22, beat City, 17. Fonsonby, 27, boat Athletic, 16.

MARIST'S GOOD WIN. Newton was not, up to full strength. Duity and Clarke being on the injured list. However, Marist gave a finished display. A feature of the game was the brilliant football of Gregory, who played at five-eighths. Each of Marist trie- came direct.lv from his good work. , , ~ ~ Within two rmnut'-- kick-oft, the Marist forwards swept over the opposition, and O'Brien cleverl "dummied his way over to score a nice try which Uregory converted. Newton wor from u scrum near niidCeld, and their backs got away in a good passing bout Hargrove obtained possession and outpaces the opposition to score a splendid try. Herewmi failed at goal Good play by Gregory saved Marist, and Brisbane and Drew carried play to iMewton s twenty-five. Marist continued to show superiority in tho opei Sweeney missing a try by inches. Gregory beat the defence, and passed to Knott, who dropped the pass, but kicked the ball or An exciting race followed, and Knott scored foiMarist. Gregory failed to convert , Wild passing by Sweeney put New'on in a good position. Rhodes dribbled past Kirwan, and Mclntyre scored near tho posta Herewmi goaled. A dash by Brisbane looked dangerous but a pass forward held up tho movement, c ast play followed a Marist offensive and quickly Gregory made a brilliant opening for JNoble. to score a great try Gregory missed the kick. Newton then attacked strongly. A fine run down the side-line by Little had Marist defending. Newton was awarded a penalty, and Herewin kicked a neat goal. Gregory beat the opposition with a clever run and kicked harr 1 for Newton s Ime. Drew showed a lot o c i ee, an ' Dent Hardgrave to score a goo try Gregory missed the kick. The spell ended with the scores: Marist, 14; Newton 10 „ The second spell openc i with Marist attacking. Gregory meat- r nice opening and passed to Sweeney who kicked too hard, and Newton forced. The Marist backs proved too speedy in th" open and Gregory passed to Brisbane, who burst c 'enn through the centre and scored between the posts. Cronin missed an easy goal. Somers and Henry were prominent in a dangerous forward rush, bur Gregor proved too elusive and boat practical 1 the whole Newton team in a great run. From Gregory the ball was passed to Brisbaiu to Knott whose paco carried him well in' Newton .; territory, and Sweeney race 1 over to score. Knott converted with a -fine kick. Marist again attacked, but intercepted and raced the length of the nelcj only to be overtaken by Moisley a foot from the line. Hall then dived oyer, and the referee's ruling of no try evoked disapproval from tho crowd Good play by Mclntyre was well supported .by McLeod, but Kirwan tackled Irvine right on the Marist's lino. Marist showed easily the best piece of combined play, when Kirwan raced down the side line and passed to O'Brien, and tho ball wnt handled by eight players. Noble scored and Cronin converted. , _ Kirwan held up another Newton offensive and raced the Marist hacks into a scoring position, onlv to see Little intercept, and race 60 yards to score a sensational try. Herewini missed the goal. The game ended: Marist, 27; Newton, 13.

AN EVEN STRUGGLE. Richmond and City fought out easily the most interesting oi: the series and extra time was required to decide the isstu in Richmond's favour. City put up a fine showing. The tackling on both sides was deadly, but the heavy ground conditions mad* good football impossible. City had the better o the opening play, and its forwards rushed play to Richmond a line. A good run by Prent'ce gav< Richmond a chance, and Taylor easily beat Hendren and Swift scored. Carroll just nnss d the goal-points. Pascoe and ilason followed up well, and Hanlon was caught before be could clear City was awarded a penalty and Spencer added the goal-points. Bass made a fine effort, but Reynolds saved well. City was unlucky m no -1 scoring after Wetherill and Wade had done good work. Just before the spell ended the Richmond backs raced away, and Taylor kicked hard, to follow on_ and 6Core a good try. The spell ended: Richmond, P Ci 1 City was hard pressed on resummy and several times Richmond was nearly over. Speed from the scru sav Davis send his backs away. Prentice paving the way for .Tenkinson to score Taylo l converted. A this stage City lost Hamilto.' and its scrum was reduced to five Spencer and Mason dribbled well into Ricnmond's territory. Here Ghent made das and Pascoe got over for Spencer to convert City'f backs broke through and Perrv made a good opening for Wade to score between the pos's. Spencer missed an easy goal that eventually cost City the game. A minute later however, Spencer kicke' 1 a fine goal from a penalty. Hendren was the weak link in City's defence, and he let Taylor over to score. Another good passing rush ended in Turton scoring a clever tr\ Tor Richmond City looked a beaten team, but made a splendid effort and its forwards ran through the defence and Pascoe score'- fc Spencer to goal, making the scores equal Time was now up, and five minutes extra was played Just before it. was up Telford decided the issue with a try which Carroll converted. The game ended: Richmond, 22; City, 37. PONSONBY WELL TESTED. Athletic gave an improved display, and had Ponsonby doing its best in a well-con-tested game. Ponsonby'- better team work won the game. Athletic was first to score from a ood rearguard bout, which resulted in Allen touching down. Delgrosso did good work in the open, and soon Athletic was defending. From a scrum Cole beat the opposition and passed to Ushei scored. Gardiner missed the goal Then Ponsonby indulged in a passing bout. Ward scoring A. minute later K. Peckham Bcor<v> ar.d Delgrosso added the goal-points Lucas made a pr.;at run through the defen e, Forbe- scoring a nice try which Lucas converted Ihe spell ended wit* 1 tb< scores Ponsonby 14; Athletic, 8. , , Ponsonby made the mos of a mistake by an Athletic back, and Usher scored after a good run Ponsonby did most of the attacking, but the oppositio. was solid in defence. A good run by Gardiner should have resulted ii • try bu' he hunr on too ,'ong. A neat cross-kick by tlFhei caught the Athletic b; cks ou- o posit on. and R. Allen scored. Goof, pla- by Martin was well supported by Lucas Allen scoring a good try, which Longville converted. Ihen Gardiner dashed away and bumped off several tacklers to scor- betwPer> the posts. Hutt converted. Just before time Athletic beat the defence with clever passing which ended in Martin scoring ar excellent try. The game ended: Ponsonby: '27: Athl'-tic 16. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Senior B Grade.—Kingsland. 13. beat Parn<Third Grade.—Kingslanß, beat City 2; Richmond, 21, beat Newton. 2; Richmond B, 6, beat Ellerslie. 0: Point Chevalier. 0, drew with Parnell, O. Fourth Grade.— Richmon 7. beat Ath6Fifth Grade.—Akarana 8,. beat Nortlicote, Sixth Grade.—Po'nt Chevalier, 6. beat Richmond, 0: Athletic. IS, beat City, 9; Akarana A. W beat Devonport, 0 , Sixth B Grade.—Ricnn'onH iron the sixth B grade championship from Marist. Primary Schools.—Newton, 11, beat Newmarket B. 0; Richmond. ?6. beat Oneluinga, 0; Newmarket A. 43. beat Papatoetoe, 8; Otiilmhu, 10, beat Onehmiga f onvent, 0. Otahuhu has woa the primary schools' competition. HUNTLY RETAINS DRAFFIN CUP. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ' HUNTLY, Saturday. In a League football match to-day liuntly defended the Drafiln Cup against Ngarnawahia by 32 points to 14. Although the margin was large a bright exhibition of football was given," and Ngaruawahia put up a great fight. PONSONBY DEFEATS ROTORUA. [BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] ROTORUA, Saturday. A League match played at Rotorua to-day between Ponsonby and Rotorua resulted in a win for the former team by 11 points to 8. HORNBY WINS GORE CUP. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN. Sunday. In a Rugby League match yesterday for the Gore Cup. a trophy presented for competition between the champion teams of the South Island, Hornby, Christchurch, defeated Athletic. Dunedin. by 19 points to 5.