LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20247, 6 May 1929, Page 15

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. RICHMOND DEFEATS MARIST. DEVONPORT'S EASY VICTORY.

Three closely-contested matches were a feature of the second series of games in tlio Auckland Rugby League's senior competition, played in beautiful weather at Carlaw Park on Saturday. The chief fixture, between Richmond and Marist, provided a large crowd with plenty of excitement. Two iriiuutcs before time Millcliam, who scored all Richmond's nine points, gave liis team victoiy by one point with a splendid goal from the sideline. City and Ellersiio fought out a fine game on No. 2 ground, the former, with a try late in the second half, winning by three points. Ponsonby and Newton showed good form in the curtain-raiser, and after, an interesting match Ponsonby won by live points. At Devonport, Kingsland was comfortably beaten by the local thirteen. The results were as follows: Richmond, 9, Marist, 8. City, 1L; Ellerslie, 8. L'onsonby, 8; Newton, 3. Devonport, 29; Kingsland, 7. The, present positions of the teams arc as follows; — Pts. Pis. Ch. P. W. L. D. 1". A. Pis. Devonport . . 22 Richmond . . 22 City ..2 2 - 32 11 4 Newton . . 2 1 1 Ponsonby . . 2 1 1 l'i 23 2 Marist . . 2 Ellerslie . . 2 - If. 33 t) Kingsland .. 2 - . 2 - IM 50 0 AN EVEN CONTEST.

A very even game resulted between Itiehhiond and Mawst, tho former winning on time. Hanlon was early prominent in a tricky run which placed Richmond in a good position. Clarke, however, relieved and set the Marist backs in motion. Brisbane and Brady made a dangerous raid which placed Richmond on the defensive. Richmond's backs came away beautifully and Mincham, on the wing, beat all but Gregory. Agnew cleverly worked the blind side and passed to Davis, who sent Cooke over near the corner as the hist-nnmed was tackled by Gregory. All appeal by the referee to the linesmen resulted in a try being disallowed. Mincham made a sensational run through the Marist backs, but the bounce beat tho Richmond wing and Gregoiy cleared. At this stage Prentice replaced McDonald. Fast piny followed and Telford and Lennio rushed play to Gregory, but the Marist fullback saved in great style. Richmond again experienced misfortune and Harris retired, being replaced by Colcbrook. Marist was penalised for obstruction and Mincham kicked a fine goal. Richmond's forwards broke away, but Brisbane saved a few yards from the Marist line. After a splendid passing rush Mincham raced over, but a forward pass was ruled. Richmond continued to attack strongly and eventually Mincham found a weak spot, in the defence and scored a nice try. He converted with a beautiful kick. Richmond's backs had the better combination. and several times tho ball travelled to Cooke on the wing. It was only Gregory's magnificent defence that saved Marist. The first half ended with the scores:—Richmond. 7; Marist, 0. On resuming Richmond's forwards fought hard to break Uirough, but the Marist defence was sound. Then the Marist forwards rushed a high kick which Moisley fielded, to score a nice try, which Gregory converted. Richmond was penalised and Gregory placed the ball for a kick at goal. In a. flash the Marist fullback snapped it up, short-punted, and raced on to score a great try to the astonishment of the Richmond team. Batchelor failed to convert. Play continued to be fast and exciting, wiili Marist showing improved form. Davis and Hanlon were associated in good play which placed Marist on the defensive. Moisley. however, gained much ground with a dashing run. Both sets of forwards were engaged in a great struggle for superiority, but eventually Moisley, with the ball at toe. gave Marist much needed relief. Hanlon started a passing run and the ball travelled to Mincham, who made a great effort to placo his team in the lead. Marist again had a trusty defender in Gregory when Telford and Stewart had all but the fullback beaten. Richmond was awarded a penalty and Mincham placed his team in the lead with a magnificent goal from (lie sideline. With two minutes to go tiie Marist forwards made herculean efforts to regain the advantage, but they failed and the game ended with the scores :■—Richmond, 9: Marist. 8. Mr. L, Bull was referee.

PONSONBY'S SCRUM SUCCESS. Ponsonby, by reason of il3 success ii winning the ball from the scrum, was con tinually on the attack against Newton, anc twice Kimberley went close to scoring Little placed Newton in a good position, but Delgrosso saved. From a penalty Del grosso failed at goal, and Hardgrave bril liantly, beat several defenders. L'lay swunp back to Newton's territory, where McLeod failed to field a high kick, and Winter, following up fast, scored a simple try. Delgi'osso failed to convert. Little made a good run down the sideline, but held on with plenty of support. Hutt and Factau were associated in a dashing forward movement, but Brimble saved splendidly when a try seemed certain. Juet beforo halftime Payne and Stevens headed a Ponsonby forward rush, only Ilardgrave's pace: saving 11 dangerous situation. The halftime scores were:—Ponsonby, 3: Newton. 0. Within a minute of the commencement of the second half Newton's backs attacked and Hardgrave brilliantly beat the opposition to score a great try. Butlcrworth failed to convert. Brimble was prominent in a. fine run through the opposition, but Rhodes held 011. and Newton was unlucky not to score. Hutt headed Ponsonby's forwards in an offensive which swept half the length of the field, but Ilardgrave. from the opposite wing, cleverly saved. Delgrosso, who had moved from to five-eighths, broke away and passed to Gardiner, but Little stopped the movement near Newton's twenty-five. Several times Ponsonby's backs attempted to beat Newton by passing, but a change of play proved successful. Moore short-punted and regained possession for Delgrusso to outpace the opposition and score a. good try, which he converted. Newton tried bard lo wipe off the deficit, and Payne stopped a possible try. Butlerworth broke through the centre, but the movement lacked support. Newton played well in the concluding stages, and twice Hardgrave was prominent in splendid individual efforts. Play came buck to half-way, where Hall held tip Ponsonby's attack. Newton's backs combined well, but failed to penetrate the defence, and the game ended: —Ponsonby, 8: Newton, 3. Mr. P. Rogers was referee.

DE VOXPORT'S COM]) IN ATI ON. Devon port bad too much combination for Kingsland, nnrl the champions, after a bud start, had little difficulty in winning comfortably by 23 points to 7. Early in the same, the Devonport backs. stu rted .ofi with a strong offensive, and O'Leary outpaced the opposition to score a nice try. A. Scott failed to convert. Kingsland s backs showed some combination when Lucas passed to Angelo, who made a nice openill". and Carter was stopped a few feet from Devonport's line. .The Devonport forwards were too superior in the loose, and from a scramble Rule scored between the posts. A. Scott converted. From a. free kick Herring opened Kiiigslund's score with a. penalty goal. From a scrum Cough,an made a try easy, but A. Scott knocked-on. and Kingsland sent piny to half-way. Just before the spell ended Ruby broke away. IraL List saved. The spell ended with the scores:—Devonport. S: Kingslimd. -. On resuming Vork headed Kingsland s forwards in a promising offensive which beat the opposition badly. Simms was prominent ill good play and R. Carter improved Kinssland's position. A. Scott kicked hard and Casey, following up fast, scored between tlie posts A. Scott converted. The Devonport backs threw the ball about, and after Deattio had made an opening O'Leary scored near the corner. Ruby failed at goal. Then A. Scott scored for Devonport and Kuby converted. Lougville was prominent in a well-planned attack, and Angelo scored between the posts. Perring converted. Good back play resulted in Rhodes scoring for Devonport. In the last few minu'es McCarthy rushed play to Kingsland's line where Rule scored and Beattie converted. The game endedDevonport, '29: Kingsland. 7. Mr. A. McKubrey was referee. CITY'S CLOSE CALL. The meeting of City and F.llerslie on the No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park resulted in a very even game. Play alternated from one end of the field fo the other and it was only in the closing stages of the game that City pained the requisite points for victory. Ellerslie's forwards soon carried piny to the City twenty-five, but the lalter's backs •.•leaved. Ellerslie was holding the advantage and Hemingway kicked a penalty goal from outside the City twentyfive. From :i serum near the F.llerslie line, the City backs swept into action, but Mays relieved. Oiiy continued to hustle the Ellerslie defence until Hndlcy picked up

from a melee in front of the goal and, sidestepping several opponents, dived across to escort. Barchard converting. Shortly afterwards Mays was again called upon to save, but the opposing forwards renewed their attack; Ellerslie sent the ball back and Te Puni got possession, passing on to R. Crowther, who, with a fine run, scored near the corner. Hemingway's kick failed. Ellerslie again launched a stroug offensive, Reynolds saving. A fSw minutes before half-time Ellerslie was again in difficulties, an infringement by a City player holding up a hot attack. Ellerslie returned play to City territory, and the forwards, with the ball at their feet, were nearly over the line,_ but Barchard cleared. Half-time saw neit'ier side holding the advantage, the scores being:—City, 5; Ellerslie, 5. On the resumption of play the City forwards attacker), but Hemingway cleared with a penalty kick. Barchard kicked into Hemingway's hands and the winger transferred to Littlewood, who dashed down the line but, was pushed out by Mays near the come From a forward struggle in front of City's goal Hobbs dived over to score, Hemingway's kick going wide. Lawrence got over to score a try near the after a tussle between the forlvards near Ellerslie's line. Barcshard failed to convert. City kept lip a solid attack in its opponents' line and on several occasions the Ellersiio defence was severely tried. Strenuous efforts on the pa.rt of Ellerslie took play to the City line, where Crewther raced across, but he lost possession, and Ti. Barchard cleared. Wilson Hall secured the ball and passed to W. Perry, who scored wide out, tlir Conner player's kick at goal failing. Ellerslie pressed and made a fine effort to equalise, but the City forwards sent the ball back. The call of time saw City 011 the offensive, the final scores being: —City, 11; Ellerslie, 8. Mr. V. Simpson was referee.

JUNIOR GRADE RESULTS. Senio, Grade B.—Point Chevalier. 10, v. Aortheole. Parnell. 2!), v. Mangere, 0. Second Grade.—Mount Wellington, 13, v. Aeivton. 5; Hemnern. 7. v. Kiucslnnd. 0. Third Grade.—Richmond, 21, v. Ellerslie. 2; .Newmarket, 'Za. v. Mount Albert, 0; Elllgslund, 7. v. Point Chevalier. 5; Ponsonby. 5, v. Grey Lynn, 3: Akaraua, 51, v. Xew Lynn, 0; TJfvonport, 7, v City, 2. Lo.irth Grade. —Devonport. 7. v. Rcmuern 0: Richmond, 21, v. Mount Wellington, o' Mount Albert, 8, v. Ponsonby, 5. Fifth Grade.—Richmond. 2G. v. City 0■Newmarket, 7, v, Marist, 0; Point, C'beva!i or. i2, v. Aknrann, 0. Sixth Grade.-Newton, 21. v. Richmond. 0; iWJbcote. 25. v. Ellerslie, 3; Ponsonby 5. \\ iNewton, 5: Otahuhu. 12. v. Northcote. 0: Richmond, 15, v. Newmarket. 0; Richmond. 37. v. Papntoetoe, 0; roint Chevalier, 11, v. City, 0. TAUPIfU DEFEATS HAMILTON. [RY TELEGRA I'H. —OWN COBItESI'ONDENT.] HAMILTON, Sunday. In the South Auckland League football competition Taupiri, 13. defeated Hamilton 6. GAMES IN' THE SOUTH. Press Association messages from the Southern centres stale that the following were the results of League football matches played on Saturday:— Christchurch.—Waimairi, 7, v. Hornby, (i: Marist. 39, v. Woolston, 0; Adding.oil, 12. v. Sydenham. 7. Dunedin.—Christian Brothers A. 10. v. City, 4: Pacific, 24, v. Kaikorai, 3; Christian Brothers B, 12, v. Athletic, 11.