LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19740, 13 September 1927, Page 16

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

ROOPE ROOSTER CONTEST. FINAL MATCH NEXT SATURDAY. ELLERSLIE WINS STALLARD CUP. The semi-final of the Auckland Rugby League's Roopo Rooster competition was played on Saturday, and as a result Devonport will meet Richmond in the final next Saturday. Richmond is the present holder of the trophy. Each of the four teams engaged in the semi-final had its best players away with the Auckland representative- touring team. Consequently several new players were called on to fill the vacancies. Devonport's victory over Ponsonby created much surprise, but the winners displayed fine form, and outclassad Ponsonby in one of the most interesting matches seen this season. The Devonport backs played a fine game, and each attacking movement was pressed home by sure handling. It is a long time since Devonport had so many young players in its ranks, and ijb will not be surprising if the team plays a prominent' part in the club competition next season. Devonport has not won the championship since 1915. Against Ponsonby on Saturday, particularly in the first half, the Devonport team, both backs and forwards, threw the ball about in pleasing style. Three times in the first'spell, the ball was passed to Holmes on the wing, and then passed back infield. Every man was in position, when the ball travelled back toward the centre. The ground resembled a ploughed field, and it was difficult for players to retain a sure foothold Nevertheless, both teams entered into the battle with vigour. A Dashing Exhibition. Superior speed and clean handling gave Devonport an early lead. It quickly ran up 13 points before Ponsonby crossed, its line. Several heavy showers fell after the interval. Ponsonby played better at this stage, but its passing, usually so certain, was very faulty and at least two tries were missed. Each attempt made by the Ponsonby backs was frustrated by Devonport's speedy forwards, who gave a dashing display. Their tackling was hard and sure.

Continual possession of the ball from the scrums gave Devonport an advantage which it rarely failed to turn to account. Devonport has only to repeat its display to hold a great chance of winning the Roope Rooster. Simmonds gave a fine display at fullback. His fielding was very reliable, and he is a young player of considerable promise. Holmes made a good impression in his first game of League. In scoring his tries he ran with strong determination. Holmes showed sound judgment in pas sing infield when pressed on the touchline. L. Scott played well on the other wing. Beattie Shows Promise. Beattie was the pivot of the attack, and ha is a centre who is sure to make a name for himself. His clever work in beating the defence made him very prominent. Seager is one of the most elusive fiveeighths in the code, and near the goal-line he is a dangerous scoring back. Cleaver also played a great game, giving his supports plenty of chances. Rhodes did well behind the pack. He sharpened up the attack by snappy passing to the five-eightbs. The conditions suited the speedy Devonport forwards, who exploited the shortpunt successfully. Ruby played a great game for the winners, his pace and deadly tackling continually hampering the defence. A. Scott is an ideal type of backrow forward. He was first to break away from the scrum, giving his backs splendid support. Rule was conspicuous in the open by fast following-up. Stephens and Sadgrove worked well and St. George was tiie Better hooker.

The Ponsonby Players. For Ponsonby Langiey was called upon to do an unusual amount of work, but his defence was very sound. His kicking could be improved. Delgrosso played a reliable game and defended well. Grey made several fine runs, but he is not suited to wing-threequarter play. Ponsonby could have improved its attack by playing Grey at five-eighths. Usher is Ponsonby's best centre and he made the best of few opportunities. A pronounced weakness was revealed in the five-eighths line. Both K. Peekham and Cole were uncertain in handling and were too hesitant in sending the ball to Usher. T. Peekham played a fine game for Ponsonby in spite of his lack of chances behind the scrum.

Fagan was the pick of the Ponsonby forwards and was always on the ball. Ward was going well until ho retired hurt. It is understood he sustained a fracture of a rib. Gardiner's weight did not greatly strengthen the Ponsonby scrum. His lacked dash, while in passing runs his handling was weak. Stevens', Allen and McNeill played well, but the Devonport forwards generally outplayed their opponents in the open. Richmond again demonstrated its ability to win games on No. 2 ground, on which it has sustained only one defeat. On Saturday Richmond won comfortably from Marist. The winners gave an excellent display, their clean handling being a feature. The form of the Marist team was disappointing, as its backs, although receiving plenty of opportunities, failed to take advantage of them. The ground was a sea of mud, and it is understood the referee was of opinion it was not fit for play. As the match progressed it became apparent the referee would have been justified in declaring the game off. Ori many occasions the players were unrecognisable.

Taylor's Fine Kicking. A feature of the match was Taylor's fine kicking. He placed three goals. Two of his efforts, with a mud-covered hall, were great kicks. Ho ' was also Richmond's best back. Hanlon played a sterling game and proved a reliable custodian. B. Davis and Jenkinson showed perfect understanding. Jenkinson scored two fine tries as the result of clever play by Davis. Telford and Lennie were outstanding among the forwards. Brisbane was the only Marist hack to show good form, and tries would have been scored if he had received better support. King was weak at fullback. Hansen was the best of the threequarters. The Marist forwards revelled in the mud. but the sound defence of the Richmond backs prevented them from scoring. Moisley played a great game, being the best forward on the ground. Keenan and Graham were also prominent. A well-contested match between Ellersli£ and Kingsland was won by the former. Its success gives it the Stallard Cup for the knock-out competition in the B section. There was little to choose between the teams, Ellerslie displaying more finish to its attack. S. Crewther, who several seasons ago played for City, scored a particularly fine try, and he" was Ellerslie's best back. R. Johnson and Shand combined well, making clever openings. Herring and Simms were Kingsland's best players,; *