CROQUET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19739, 12 September 1927, Page 13

CROQUET.

LEAGUE FOOTBALL. ROOPE ROOSTER COMPETITION TWO SURPRISE VICTORIES. ELLERSLIE WINS STALLARD CUP. The semi-final of the Auckland Rugby League's Roope Rooster competition was played on Saturday under adverse weather conditions, the grounds being in bad order. In spite of this handicap two interesting games were witnessed at Carlaw Park. In the* principal' fixture I Devonport established an early lead against, Ponsonby and won comfortably. On No*. 2 ground Richmond proved too good for Marist. Both results caused considerable surprise. Next Saturday Devonport and Richmond will play the final. The results are as follows:—Devonport, 21, beat Ponsonby, 5; Richmond, 15. beat Marist, 0. DEVONPORT'S GOOD WIN. Devonport earned its place in the final by showing surprisingly good combination. Its passing and speed in the open kept Ponsonby on defence all day. Both backs and forwards adapted themselves to the conditions and although it wae a day for forwards, the Devonport backs played a large g»rt in the team's victory. ■ln the first spell Ponsonby failed to cross Devonport's line. Three of Devonport's tries were the result of beautiful passing and fine combination. Toward the end of the game several players of both sides indulged in .rough play, but the referee's prompt action saved the situation developing. ; Ruby was prominent in a forward dash and soon Ponsonby was defending. Rhodes sent the Devonport backs away and Beattie made a fine run through the defence. A long kick by A. Scott saw Ruby follow up fast, Langley being caught in possession Devonport maintained the attack, and its forwards nearly, scored. Rhodes made a clever run round the blind Bide, but A. Scott failed to hold a difficult transfer, and Ponsonby saved. From a scrum near midfield, Rhodes, j. Cleaver, ' Beattie and Holmes handled in a fine rush, the , last-named scoring a brilliant try. A. Scott missed the goal. Then T. Peckham raised the Ponsonby hopes with a splendid solo run, but Ruby s pace saved the situation. Ward retired injured and Payne replaced him. Rhodes sent Cleaver away and the latter cut in nicely and passed to A. Scott, who scored alongside the posts. Seagax. goaled. The Devonport forwards Mt up a dashing rush, but Langley proved a good defender. Ponsonby a backs tried hard to score, but their passing was weak, and on one occasion K. Peckham dropped the greasy ball and a try was missed. For some minutes Devonport was on the Ponsonby line, when Seager snapped up the ball in the loose and Deat the opposition to score a clever try. He also converted. Half-time was called with the scores :--Devonport, 13Ponsonby, 0. Ponsonby played better in the opening of the second spell, and its backs attacked strongly. Good play by Usher and Delgrosßo just failed to produce a try. Devonport's five-eighths cleverly exploited the short-punt, while its speedy forwards gave Ponsonby no. respite. Rhodes and Cleaver were associated in a good passing bout, and Holmes gained ground with -a good run. Brilliant play by Beattie saw Holmes flash over to score. With Rule and Stephens in the van, Deyonport's forwards swept over 'the opposition and L. Scott carried play close to the Ponsonby line. Langley cleared, however, and Peckham set his backs going. Delgrosso made a fine run down the tou<3h-line, and Gardiner scored. He converted with a great kick from the sideline. The Ponsonby backs continued to attaok, but Devonport had too much pace. Its last attack completely beat tho defence and L. Scott raced over to score. Simmonds kicked a good gcal. The game ended:—Devonport, 21: Ponsonby. 5, ' RICHMOND SUPERIOR.' Richmond showed superior combination and did all the attacking against Marist, which failed to make the best use of good individual play. Taylor kicked three splendid goals for Richmond. Good play by Brisbane placed Marist on< attack, but its forwards were too eager and the ball wes rushed over the deadline. Knott and Drew combined well and Hansen was conspicuous in a good dash. Brisbane just failed to. reach a pass from Hansen, a certain try being missed. The Richmond backs soon worked play back to Marist territory. From a penalty Taylor opened Richmond's score with J a neat goal. Then from a scrum near the Marist line Davis passed to Jenkinsoft, who dashed over to score a good try. Taylor converted: The Marist forwards," - headed by Keenan, attacked strongly and twice Hanlon saved Richmond. Kirwan made a good effort but his pass to Hansen was missed and Swift cleared. The spell ended with the scores:— Richmond, 7: Marist, 0. A minute after the spell opened the Richmond forwards beat the defence and Turley scored for Taylor to convert. Noble made a useful run and Graham and Moisley were nearly over. Richmond's, backs proved -too tricky and Davis broke away, and finally Jenkinson scored his second try, which was not converted. Near the end of the Kama Brisbane and Hansen broke away, but Hanlon luckily intercepted Brisbane's pass. The game ended:—.Richmond, 15; Marist, 0.

ELLERSLIE BEATS KINGSLAND. Ellerslie won the Stallard Cup by defeating Kingsland in the final of B. section knock-out competition on Saturday. Kingsland. which was playing without the services of List, centre, who is on tour with the Auckland team, pat up a great fight. In the first spell Kingsland led by 10 points to 9. Tries were scored by McSfanus and SLmrOB. both being converted by Herring. For Ellerslie, Crewther and Grogan (2) scored tries. The second spell was evenly contested. Ellerslie. however, played with good combination and tries were scored by Hall and Shand. The game ended lie, 15; Kingsland, 10. NORTHERN UNION CUP. r * ' AUCKLAND V. CANTERBURY. SOUTHERN TEAM DEFEATED. [BT TELEGRAPH.—KRESS ASSOCIATION.] " 'CnEISTCHURCH, Saturday. The representative League football match between Auckland and Canterbury for the Northern Union Cup, played to-day,- resulted in & wi.i for Auckland by i 24 points to 13. Auckland attacked early, being greatly assisted by th<> forwards securing the ball from almost every acrum. Presently, however, the Canterbury backs settled .down, and, throwing the ball about with confidence and accuracy, had Auckland defending for a time. Then I>ufty fielded the ball at midfield, a:ad running up, passed to Wethere!!, who kicked over the line. Payne scored and Dufty converted. Canterbury returned with a ruah which stvept play to Auckland territory where Burns • secured the ball and dashed over the line. Blazey failed to convert. Shortly afterwards H. M. Blazey, taking a pass from Burns, had a clear run in. G. Blazey failed with tha kick. Canterbury, 6, Auckland, 6. Again Burns made an opening, this time for jßobins to score. G. Blazey converted. Auckland attacked vigorously several times but the Canterbury tackling broke up the movements. Auckland were penalised outside its twenty-five and G. Blazey kicked a goal. Auckland attacked almost continuously and brilliant passing between Little and Payne allowed the latter to score at the corner. Butty's kick iust missed the goal. A high kick was fielded by Hutt and from a passing bout Webb scored. Dufty failed I to convert. Canterbury had the advantage from the kick-off, carried play to the line where Vivian snapped up the ball and scored; At half-time the scores were: Canterbury, 13; Auckland, 11. The second spell was mainly in Auckland's favour and tries were scored by Sanders, Hutt. Clarke. Dufty converted two and the final scores were: Auckland, 24 Canterbury, 13 OTAGO DEFEATS CANTERBURY. [by telegraph.—press Association,] DUNEDIN. Saturday. A League football match, Otago v. Canterbury, was played to-day in. splendid weather and on a good ground. The game watt fairly fast and interesting throughout. The visitors held their own in the first spell, but-the home team was superior in the second half and won by 10.points to 5. j

CLUB . AT RAETIHI. [BS TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] RAETIHI, Saturday. The following officers were elected at the annual meeting of - the Raetihi Croquet Club President, <fc Mrs. R. J. Boyd; viceMesdamea W. H. Sandford. F Thomson and' Drury; secretary, Mrtf Rieper; treasurer, -iMrs. R. Jennings; committee, Mesdatnes Windle. N. Lynch, Mit- '| chinson, Bowater, Brown, Plank, arid L. Fagg;teams: committee, Mesdames N. Lynch (captain), F. Thomson,, and Sandford. ■' '■ <■' The following notice of motion w&b given "That the annual subscription for members be raised from £1 10s to £2, and that the date of the annual meeting be changed from September <o May." It wnß proposed to open the green oc ; -Lafeoor -Day i*if >»< wo J . ■ iigflllsllll^