LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20253, 13 May 1929, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

CITY DEFEATS RICHMOND.

CLOSE AND EXCITING MATCH

The Auckland Rugby Lcaguo continued its senior competition in beautiful weather on Saturday, when a large crowd witnessed 'two closely-contested games at Curliiw Park. Tho chief fixture, between Marist and Ponsonby, resulted in a narrow victory for Ponsonby by four points. Richmond and City played the best match of the series on No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park, City's backs snatching victory in the last minute, after much exciting play. At the Domain, Newton narrowly defeated Kingsland, the try being scored near the end. Devonport's speedy rear division proved too good for Ellerslie, on the lattcr's. ground, although only four points separated the teams. Tho results were as follows:

Ponsonby, 14; Marist, 10. City, 15; Richmond, 12. k Newton, 12; Kingsland, 10. Devonport, 16; Ellerslie, 12 The positions of the teams are as follows : P(s. Pis. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. Ag. Pis. Devonport .. 3 3 City .. .. 3 3" Richmond ..3 2 1 Ponsonby ..3 2 1 Newton .. 3 2 1 oO 38 4 Marist .. 3 Ellerslie ..3 - 3 - 23 49 • 0 Kingshmd ..3 - 0

I'OX SOX Hi' V. MARIST. The match between Ponsonby and Marist on No. 1 ground at Garlaw Park was full of incident. At half-time Ponsonby was leading by 12 points to 5, but in the second ) half the Marist thirteen made a strong effort to equalise—a great battle between the opposing forwards resulting. A period of close play followed the commencement. From a penalty awarded to Ponsonby, Delgrosso liit the upright from wide out. Beautiful work by the Ponsonby back division bustled the Marist defence. Mariat retaliated, and from a scrum near the Ponsonby lino the backs got possession, and the ball passed out to the wing, who inpassed to Moisley, the movement ending in Mac-Donald scoring under the posts. Clarke converted. Shortly afterwards Brady put Marist on attack, but the wing was pushed out near the corner. The ball travelled back to the Marist twenty-five, and from a scrum about 10yds. out Delgrosso secured, cut in neatly, and was nearly across. The Ponsonby forwards set uj) a determined offensive, and Payne scored, Delgrosso converting, making the teams level. A penalty to Ponsonby saw Deigrosso's fine attempt from about 40yds. out fall short. Play. however remained in Marist territory until the Ponsonby backs secured the ball from a scrum, and a fine passing movement' saw Thompson sprint over near the corner, Delgrosso converting from a difficult angle. An infringement by a Marist player resulted in Delgrosso kicking a nennlty from a handy position. Halftime arrived with the scores: Ponsonby. 12; Marist, 5. . Ponsonby pressed on resuming, but _ a penalty held tip the attack, and Marist was compelled to force a few seconds later. Clarke broke away and dashed down the sideline passing in to his backs, a fine movement culminating ill Brady racing ! round to score between the posts' after five men had - handled the ball. Clarke converted. Hard play followed in midfield. Securing the ball from a. scrum near halfway, Thompson cut-in brilliantly and transferred to. Riley, but the latter was held up I by a penalty when within a few feet of the Marist line. MacDonakl received facial injuries and had to retire, being replaced in the backs by Moisley. Ponsonby was attacking strongly, yid Marist had dimcully in defending its line. Brady cleared with a fine run and transferred play to the other end. Hassan received the ball from a scrum and cleverly worked the blind side, but Batchclor. who took his pass, was pushed out near the corner. Fast and vigorous play among the forwards followed. A free kick to Ponsonby enabled Delgrosso to add another two points to the score, the same player just missing with another penalty from near half-way. Time was called with play in midfield. the scores being:—Ponsonby, 14; Marist, 10. Mr. P. Rogers was referee.

CITY V. RICHMOND. City showed a return to its old form b.v winning in the last' few ruimite3 a splendid game against Richmond. City owes its victory to more finished back play, while the forward play greatly improved. City opened with, a nice passing bout, but when a try seemed likely Perry was ruled offside, and Minchnm kicked a nice goal. Richmond's forwards played well in the loose, and Telford and Jenkinson headed a dangerous raid, which Hall held up. Clever play by Reynolds placed City in a scoring position, and Pascoe kicked past Leng. In the race . for possession Townsend scored and Barchard converted. Richmond's backs gave a delightful exhibition of quick passing, from which Minchnm scored a tine try. He failed to convert, and the scores were equal. Iladley and Clark were prominent in a dashing forward rush, which (swept over the opposition, but Prentice checked the movement on Richmond's line. For offside play, Richmond was penalised, and Barchard placed City in the lead with :t penalty goal. Perry got City into difficulties with a weak kick, but Richmond failed to make the most of the opportunity. Hamilton replaced Davis, and the former cut-in splendidly and started a fine passing bout, which ended in McKinnon scoring. Minchani failed to convert. Fast play followed, and City's' backs rose to the occasion. Perry started a movement near midficld, and Reynolds beat the defence with a clever " dummy." Tho ball travelled along the line to Lawrence, who passed infield to Perry, who scored a great try. Hall failed to convert. At halflime the scores were:—City, 10; Richmond. City started to attack and Richmond was pressed for some minutes. » Good defence, kept City from scoring, although Clark and Hamilton actually got over Richmond's line. Ilnnlon saved well,' and passed to Cooie. who gained much ground. Barchard let City down and Minchnm almost s'cored. Hall was prominent, in a City passing bout, but Lawrence dropped a pass and Prentice saved. Agnew opened up the play and ran to half-way, where he passed to Coote. to Prentice, but effective tackling saved a dangerous position City fought hard to clear, and eventually Reynolds short punted effectively" and placed City on attack. Its forwards excelled in the open and drove Richmond back to its territory. There, a great struggle resulted in Clark getting over, but no ley was allowed. Jenkinson was prominent in clearing Richmond's line, and soon afterwards Hamilton equalised tho scores with a fine penalty goal. With six minutes to go City tried hard to avert defeat, but .another penally goal bv Hamilton gave Richmond tho lead. Exciting play followed, and just on time I'wry. Hall and Iverson broke away, but a forward pass checked progress. From the resultant scnitn Reynolds. City's half, smartly snapped np the ball and in a flash raced over to score a great try. Hall converted with <l. fino kick from the side line. The game ended:— City, 15; Richmond. 32. Mr. B. Emorali w;t.s referee.

NEWTON V. KINGSLAND. After having a good deal (lie better of the came, Kingsland was unlucky to be beaten by Newton, which scored a. try near the end. Hardgrave was prominent in a Newton passing bout which ended on Kingsland's line. Brimble dropped a pass from Letton, and Longville and Lucas saved for Kingsland. Rhodes and Francis lieaded Newton's forwards, which for a time controlled the game. Longville tackled well and tjvice prevented Hurdgrave from scoring. Kingsluud's backs attacked strongly and Lucas passed tor Angelo, who made a beautiful opening, from-which Longville scored a nice try. which ho converted. kingsland continued to hold (lie advantage, and its backs threw the ball about in pleasing style. Prom a scrum Angelo was again prominent, and List raced through tho centre for L Carter to score a good try. Longville tailed to convert. Newton s tackling was \cry weak, particularly among the backs. A mistake by List gave Newton a chance and Hardgrave's pace enabled him to score. lie missed an easy goal, and the first half ended with the scores: I\midland, bj iNewton, 3. , , . Kingsland immediately assumed the offensive, and twice nearly scored. From 30yds. out Longville snapped up the ball and dropped a splendid field goal. Newton was beaten continuously for possession of the ball, but Little and Ilall broke through the centre, and Newton for a time lield the advantage. Longville, now at fullback, saved Kingsland repeatedly with splendid line kicks. Soon afterwards Brimblo kicked two penalty goals for Newton. LoiTgville was forced to kick when hard pressed. The ball hit Hammond, and the Newton forward followed on to score a rather lucky try. Brimble added the goal points, and tiir> game ended soon afterwards with the scores Newton. 12; Kingsland. 10,, Mr. A, Mclvubrcy was referco.

DEVONPORT V. ELLERSLIE. Fine back played aided Devonport against Ellerslie, and the champions secured a lend of 13 points in the first spell. Ellerslie ployed bettor football in the second haif. but its backs failed to impress so much as tho forwards, which held Devonport's pack. Devonport had a steady breeze in its favour and quickly attacked. The local team was penalised, but A. Scott failed to convert. Prom a Irish kick Devonport's forwards rushed play downfield, and Masefield scored near the posts. Seagar converted. Hobbs and Chapman headed Ellerslie's forwards, but weak handling among the backs allowed Devonport to retaliate. Seagai' and Beattie beat the defence easily and McCarthy scored for Devonport. Seagar converted. The visiting team had matters all its own way, and I/. Scott's pace carried him to Ellerslie's line. Seagar made a nico opening, from which Beattie scored a splendid try. Senear failed _to convert, and the spell ended with the scores: Devonport, 13; Ellerslie, 0. On resuming Devonport's backs throw the ball about in finished style, and L. Scott scored near the corner. Hemingway got a elm nee from Oliff, but faulty passing cost Ellerslie a try. From a penalty Hemingway kicked a goal for Ellerslie. The local team played with better combination, and Oliff made a clever opening, for Littlewood to score. Hemirigway failed to convert, but was successful a minute later from a penalty. Just before time Johnson kicked hard and followed on to score near the posts. Hemingway converted, and the game ended:—Devonport. 16; Ellerslie, 12. Mr. T. Chernside was referee.

RESULTS IN LOWER GRADES. Senior Grade B.—Richmond B, 32, v. Mangere, 0. Second Grade.—Mount Albert, 17, vKingsland, 0. Third Grade Open.—Kingsland, 13, v. Ellerslie, 0; New Lynn, (i, v. Ponsouby A, 0; Richmond, 11, v. Ponsonby, 0. Third Grade Intermediate.—New Lynn. 6. v. Ponsonby, 0; Newmarket, 8, v. New Lynn, 0; Richmond, 11, v. Ponsonby, 0: Richmond, 32, v. Mount Albert, 3: City, 6, v. Akarana, 3. Fourth Grade.—Akarana, 27. v. Mount Albeit, 2; Richmond, 9, v. City, 0; Ponsonby, 17, v. Otahuhu, G; Remuera, 15, v. Mount Wellington, 4. Fifth Giade.-—Richmond. 11, v. Newmarket. 2. Sixth Grade. —Marist. 13 ; v. Devonport. 8; City, 5. v. Kingsland, 0; New Lynn, 6. drew with Richmond, 0; Richmond B. 27, v. 'Marist, 2; Richmond. 17, v. Newton, 0; Newton. 6, v. Ellerslie, 0. Primary Schools.—Richmond, 3, v. Newmarket. 0; Piynell. 17, v. Mount Albert, 3; Otahuhu, 0, v. Papatoetoe, (i SOUTH AUCKLAND MATCHES. (.El' / TELEOTIAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. J HAMILTON. Sunday. In the South Auckland matches played yesterday at Huntlyv the results were:— Seniors: Huntly, 20, v. Hamilton, 10: United, 8, v. Old Boys Colin. 0. Juniors: Old Boys. 1, v. Hinemoa 0: United, 3, defeated Kaipaki. SOUTHERN' CONTESTS. League football matches in the South resulted as follows, according to Press Association messages:— Christ-church.—Addington, 5, v. Hornby, 2: Marists, 18, v. Sydenham, 7; Waimairi. 12. v. Woolston, 3. Dunedin.—Pacific. 12. v. City, !): Kaikorai. 44, defeated Athletic: Christian Brothers A, 16, v. Kaitangata, 5.