LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 15

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

SUCCESSFUL OPENING HELD. DEVONPORT BEATS PONSONBY. NEWTON'S NARROW VICTORY. The Auckland Rugby League successfully opened its season at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when a crowd estimated at 5000 watched some interesting matches. The meeting of Devonport and Ponsonby provided spectators with Hashes of splendid football, with Devonport's backs too speedy for Ponsonbv. Devonport was successful in winniug, although halfway through the second half I'onsonby was only three points behind the champions. Newton and Marist fought out an even struggle and the former team just won on time by a point. Several of Newton's players were badly injured, notably Hardgrave and Rhodes, both of whom had to receive medical treatment. At Ellersl.ie .Richmond, with better combination, beat the local team. City's backs had too much combination for Kingslaud, which was defeated rather easily. The results were as follows; — Devonport, 20, beat Ponsonby, 3. Newton, 21, beat Marist, 20. City, 21, beat Kingsland, 6. Richmond, 22, beat Ellerslie, 8. ■ DEVONPORT'S GOOD DISPLAY. Devonport showed good form in defeating Ponsonby by —0 points to aKiiougii the champions hud to battle hard for their lead until well through the game. From a scrum near midrield at the c-turt, Cosh.au sent Itie Devonport backs away and tho champions raced to the attack with bplendid combination. Beattio beat the defence with a nice run and Rule was held up on the line. Devonport's forwards showed pace in the opeu and from a scramble. McCartbny passed to Coghlan,' who .raced over. A. Scott converted. Huit raced from Ponsonby s quarter and carried play well past half-way. Here Ihe Devonport backs again raced over the opposition and Beattie ran L. Scott into u, perfect position to score near the corner. A. Scott failed to convert. Revell rail through the centre but Ponsonby's backs handled badly and a chance was lost. In Ponsonby's twenty-five Devonport was awarded a penalty. Seagar kicked a goal. Thompson, the Ponsonby halfback, made a beautiful opening but again poor passing cost a try. Schofield made amends a minute later and scored a nice try Delgrosso converted with a good kick. Delgrosso then } a i]ed to field cleanly and Ruby rushed play to the Ponsonby line, where Rule just missed scoring. Play continued to be interesting, with Devonport's backs always prominent. The score at half-time was: Devonport. 10; Ponsonby, 5. Devonport was quick to attack and the hacks gave a glimpse of their best, form. Beattie.' Seagar aud L. Scott gained much ground. Ponsonby retaliated and twice Riley got within an ace of scoring. Schofield was prominent for Ponsonby. whose backs carried nlay into Devonport, s terntorv. A Et niggle ensued under Devonport s goal but Pule cleared. From a brilliant passing bout O'Leary got over for Devonport hut 11 forward pass was ruled. Good play by Ruby and Casey placed Devonport in a scoring position but Delgrosso saved wit.i 1 fine kick. Then Riley broke away and Thompson scored. f;>i3cd to coti--•er\. BoaUie boat "the defence and ".vith Seagar md O'Leary ran through the opposition with cle"er reverse passing. Seagar cut in nicely and passed to Beattie. who raced 40 yards*to score a splendid try IT. Scott converted. Superior pace placed Devonport on attack and L. Scott outpaced the field and passed to Ruby who scored between the posts. A. Scott converted nnd the game endedDevonport. '2O; Ponsonby, S. Mr. L. Bull was referee. NEWTON'S T.AST-MINTTE WIN. Newton and Marist met in a hard-fought struggle and it was only at the last minute that Newton gained the victory. Marist attacked from the kick-off and combined work by the forwards soon saw the Newton defence in difficulties. From a scrum near half-way the ball was passed to Little, the Newton wing, who made a stronir run but was collared inches short of the line. However. he received another opportunity shortly afterwards and evading several opposing backs scored well out. missing the kick. Marist made a determined effort 1 o equalise but Newton swept play to the other end where Little, following up fast, secured the ball and sidestepped Cronin to score under the, posts. Hardgrave converted. Play at this spell was very even, neither side holding the advantage. Hardgrave sustained slight concussion and had to leave the field, being replaced by Kenne. Shortly before half-time Brimble. ilie Newton five-eighth, got. possession and with a fine run from nearly half-way got through to secure a try underneath the post«. Butterworlh's kick failing. Newton very nearly scored again when Bulterworth beat Cronin for but Marist. cleared. Loose play in front of the Newton ~oal saw O'Erien break through to score. Cronin adding the major points. McLeod retired with a leg injury but resumed after attention. The interval was called with the scores: Newton. 11: Marist. 5. Th p commencement, of the second snell saw, M arist making strenuous efforts to make un the deficiency. After a succession of scrums in Newton's territory the M.irist forwards secured the ball and sent Graham over the line. Batchelor converting. Then a penalty goal by Batchelor gave Marist a lead of one point. After a* session of ragged pin; in the Marist twenfv-five Bulterworth kicked ty penalty awarded for off-side play by Graham and Campbell. Littie was next seen in n fine dash for the Marist line being tackled just short., but Brimble. who had followed ibrondi. picked up the bad and dived over. Rhodes converted. Th.ii Francis and Keane were combined in a passing bout., the former notching a try wide out as the resuh of a brilliant effort. Rhodes' kick failed Effective work by the Marist, pack sorely tried the Newton defence but eventually Duane crossed the line to score, Batchelor missing the kick Rhodes at 1 his stage left the field injured. Within 2 few minutes of time < *rshani dived oyer and Cronin converted. The game ended with Newton attacking, there being no further change in the scores, which were:— Newton. 21: Marist. 20. Mr. P. Rogers was referee. CITY TOO SC PERI OK. Within a few minutes ol the, start of the match between Kingsland and City Angelo 101 l owed up a kick and "cured for Kiugslund. The kick failed. City's backs threw the ball about, in good style and McLoughlin was prominent, lie retired a minute later with a broke j nose. Hamilton headed City's forwards and following on last lverson scored. Bare,hand failed to convert. City attacked for some minutes and Kmgsland was htird pressed In a. fine run Cox nearly scored but he held on too long. Webberley headed City's forwards in a. great, otf-.m-sive. but Herring forced down. Lawrence broke away near midfield and kicked past Herring. Reynolds snapper! up the ball and scored n. fine try between the posts. B.nvhand converted Martin cleverly worked the blind side and R Carter nearly scored for Kingsland. Lucas and Atigeln broke, awn/, but List's pass t<> it. Carter was wild The h.-ilf-time scores were: City, rt- Kingsland :i. Early in the second half Perry placed City m a good position with a. clever opening. From a scr.im in Kingsland's territory Hadley set City's backs in motion and lverson made a brilliant opening for Reynolds to score a splendid try. Barchnnd failed to convert. A few minutes later Cox neatly beat, the opposition nnd raced over to score neai the posts. Rarchand converted. Kingsland's backs threw the ball about in tine style and Angclo made a good opening for List, to score. Herring failc.j to convert. Kingsland's forwards forced City 1o the line but Hartley cleared. The Cilv backs showed excellent combination and lverson cut in and scored a nice* try. Rarchand converted. Martin made a great opening nnd sent, Kincsln.nd'a backs away, but Perry tackled List and stopped a certain try. The game ended with tlio scores City. '2l; Kingsland, 0. Mr. T. Chernside was referee

Richmond's noon combination. Richmond prove) lon good for in a. fast open same played on the In 11 or ton 111's ground. the visitors nh.wed wtcellent coml inn lion in both departments. Early in the game Hamilton broke mvny and passed lo Uanlon who was slopped oil the Ellerslie lino Littlewood pel the lornl backs mi million aud Hemingway kicked when 11 chance of scoring presented itself. Telford and Jenkinson were associated in n. passing movement, which ended in Colebrook seeing .lenkinson failed to convert. Richmond's backs wero in good form and twice Minc.ham almost, "cored Off-sidy play prevented Richmond's forwards from scoring and LitllSTvood luclcc' » penalty coal. Mav aoi Ellerslie out of difficulty with a well-directed kick Oliif opened up the play and Ellerslie s forwards swept owr the opposition R Crewther pained ground with a. strong run down the line and after several ej.chnneia H. '"rc.vtlier scored Hemill ffway missed an easy kick. From a scrum Davis to "Hamilton, who beat ihe defence badly, but no try resulted. Ellerslie'» backs combined well and Hemingway scored » tine try At half-time the scores were:—Ellerslie, 8; Richmond 3. "Richmond quickly attacked on resuming and Telford started a movement which ended in McKmnon scoring. M inch am goalcd with a splendid kick. The Rich-

mond forwards hod an advantage in tie ecrum and the backs made most of their opportunities. Hanlon made a nice open ing and several backs handled for Coote to score. Mincham failed to convert. Leniiie and Telford were prominent arnonc Richmond's forwards and from a scramble McKinnon scored for Hanlon to convert A minute later Mincham increased Richmond's lead with a clever try. which was not converted. Just befoie time Coote added an unconverted "try for Richmond and the game ended:—Richmond. 22; Ellcrslie. 8. Mr B. Emerali was referee. SENIOR GRADE B. Point Chevalier, 11, beat Farncl], 10. MORAN CUP MATCH. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANGAREI. Sunday. In a, League football game for the Moron Cup. played at Kamo. Hikurangi defeated Kamo by 13 points to 5. MATCHER AT CHRISTCHURCH. [BY TELEGRAFH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Sunday. League football matches played at Christchurch yesterday resulted:—Addington. 13. v. Waimari, 2; Sydenham. 3J. v. Woolston, 5; Hornby. 2G, v. Marist, 13. GAMES AT DUNE DIN. [BY TELEGRArH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, Sunday. Following are the results of League mutches played at Dunedin yesterday:— City. 21, v. Kaikorai. 0; Christian Brothers .A, 53, v. Athletic, 12; Pacific, 21, v. Christian Brothers B, 6.