SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19951, 21 May 1928, Page 12

SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.

THE LEAGUE CODE. DEVONPORT IN THE LEAD. RICHMOND TEAM'S DEFENCE. EACKS LACK COMBINED PLAY. Spectators who attended Carlaw Park ion Saturday in expectation of witnessing combined efforts on the part of both the X>evonport and Richmond rearguards must have been disappointed. Nevertheless there were plenty of thrills provided and eome spectacular rushes were indulged in by the two sets of vanguards. Play was always fast and open the closeness of the scores and the fact that neither team had previously suffered defeat this season keeping the supporters of either side in a high pitch of enthusiasm. As is sometimes the case in a clash between two evenly-matched teams, the standard of play sometimes fell below expectations. ,The Richmond team was bent on stopping the speedy thrusts of the Devonport rearguard, which has already given some bright exhibitions of the code this season and has always been a dangerous factor to the opposition. It must be admitted that the splendid bustling tactics of the Richmond pack, its excellent tackling, aided by the fine defence of the rearguard, succeeded in frustrating any combined play on the part of the Devonport backs. So outstanding was this fact that it can be realised how well the Richmond players did their part when neither L. Scott nor Saxon, the Devonport threequarters, handled the ball at the end of a straightout learguard attack. But the Devonport tackling and defence was just as sound, and herein lies the explanation why combined efforts were set at naught. Superior Hooking. There was little to choose between the Iwo sets of forwards all round, but Richmond was superior in the loose owing to the fact that it kept together and hunted hotter as a pack. In the tight play Devonport held a slight advantage. It ■was in hooking that Devonport was vastly superior,, St. George gaining the ball time and again. The Richmond break-a-way forwards and the five-eighths, however, nullified the efforts of the Devonport backs all the first spell. A fchange came over the scene in the second half. Every time the halfback and five eighths-received the ball from a scrum they adopted the up-and-unde* tactics ■which met with success and resulted in a try being scored by Ruby. The persistence with which these methods were carried out made it surprising that Richmond did not counteract the move. Wells at fullback for Devonport was not impressive. He made some bad mistakes, and it was only in the final stages of the game that he seemed at all sure. It is difficult to understand how he gained preference over Simons, who has been shaping very well this season. L. Scott and Saxon had no chances on attack, while Beattie had a regular day off. The Devonport centre failed to accept easy transfers and at times attempted to take passes one hand. After his fine exhibitions to date this season Beattie's display was very disappointing. It was a match for a good test, but Beattie was certainly well below representative standard on Saturday and was overshadowed by his vis-a-vis in the opposing team. Two backs who stood out for some fine work were L. Seagar, five-eighths, and Cleaver. The former was a host in himself on defence, while being always dangerous on attack. Cleaver executed a very clever movement when he drew the defence one way and suddenly changed the attack to the other side, the move resulting in a try. Hanlon Plays Well. A. Scott was conspicuous throughout the match, always being handy when required. He did some fine defensive work as well as scoring a good try. For an allround exhibition he was the best forward on the gronnd. Casey closely followed his captain, his fast following up and splendid tackling being a feature. Dixon and Ruby were perhaps the next best, but the whole pack played well. Hanlon, at fullback for Richmond, played a fine game. He was called on for plenty of work and he was never found wanting. His only fault was a tendency to be too deliberate, this nearly costing his side a try when he had bis kick -charged. The wings, Swift and Turton, did not get many opportunities, but Taylor, at centre, was always in the picture. He gave a sound all-round display, saving his side repeatedly while he made the best of his few opportunities on aTTack. Prentice was the better of the five-eighths, while Davis at half did not show up so much as usual. G. Stewart and Jenkinson stood out in a fine aggressive pack of forwards, both being dangerous in tho loose. The splendid combined play cf the Marist forwards, together with the brilliant individual work of Gregory, Hassan, and Brisbane, were features of the team's success against Ponsonby. Tho game, which was fast and open, was closely contested throughout. Although Marist had the better of the play, Ponsonby was by no means overwhelmed, and the losers continued to show improved form. Early in the game Ponsonby looked certain to win, so ;well were its backs supporting the forwards in the loose. Marist, however, set jup a solid defence, and some fine tackling jvas witnessed. Hassan's Fine Tackling. In this department Hassan was the shining star, hi 3 hard, low tackles being a treat to witness. His effort which stopped jHutt right on the line when a try looked pertain tvas a brilliant one. Marist has only to improve the team |work of its halfback and inside five-eighths to be a strong attacking team. On Saturday Moisley, a forward, played at fiveieighths, and although he made few mistages, there was no understanding between the five-eighths and Brisbane at centre. (The Marist forwards proved a formidable get and throughout tho game played bard £nd keenly. For Marist Gregory gave a masterly dis-

•play at fullback. His fielding was of a Jiigh standard and he rarely failed to set ' the threequarters going. One of his runs from his own twenty-five ended well into jPonsonby's territory, Johnson being the only other player to handle the bail before latter scored. The return to the game of Delgrosso is pleasing to note, as he will greatly Rtrengthen Ponsonby. In the second spell Delgrosso stood out prominently on attack and had he received better support, PonBonby may have scored another try. Ho picked a very fine goal from 40yds out. A good exhibition of the code was provided at Ellerslie, where the local team played Newton. Both teams were evenly matched, and the scores by no means indicate the difference between the two thirjfceens. It was a very even game, the better combined play of the Newton team (parrying it to victory. Hardgrave played well for Newton, his «ry from halfway being a splendid effort, fnuy was as sound as usual, while Somers tv, wero the best of the forwards, be outstanding player for Ellerslie was ex ~C*t,at?o League representative, *omc cleverToJk! m f °'