LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20277, 10 June 1929, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR COMPETITION. FINAL MATCHES IN ROUND. / MARIST AND DEVONPORT DRAW. The last series of matches in the first round of the Auckland Rugby League's senior competition was played at Carlaw Park on Saturday under ideal conditions. Marist provided a sensation by playing a drawn game with Devonport, after having established a big lead in the earlier stages. Devonport was decidedly lucky to finish with the honours even. Ponsonby played splendid football against C'ity, whose weak defence allowed its opponents to win easily. The result lias placed Ponsonby within one point of Devonport. Newton and Richmond contested a close game on the No." 2 ground, Newton winning by a narrow margin. Kingsland displayed better form in its game against Ellerslie and svon comfortably. The results were as follows: — Ponsonby, 37; City, 11. Marist, 13; Devonport, 13. Kingsland, 17; Ellerslie, 5. New tori, 13; Richmond, 10. The positions of the teams are as follows : ' Points. Chp.

MARIST V. DEVONPORT. Marist surprised the crowd by attacking from the kick-otf against Devonport. and soon obtained r. good advantage. Devonport, aided by Simons' good goal kicking, drew level half-way through the second spell, but the champions were lucky to. draw The Marist backs opened the game up and Gregory and Brady were prominent in a passiug bout, which forced Devonport to defend. Devonport'e oacks got a few opportunities to score but too much kick in™ was indulged in. McDonald made a fast run down the sideline, but his pass to Brisbane was knocked on and a try lost. Marist was having the better of the play and Bracky made a nice run after Moisley and O'Brien beat the defence Brady sent on to Gregory, who scored a clever try between :he posts. He converted his own try. A minute later the Marist forwards swept over the opposition and Johnson scored. Campbell failed to convort.. Marist played with renewed vigour, while Devonport failed repeatedly to combine effectively. A penalty agaiii3t Marist saw Simons kick a goal. Good playby Gregory and Hassan saw the latter cut in nicely and pass to McDonald, and Brady taking the final pass on the inside, raced over to score a tine try. Gregory converted. T. O'Leary made a nice opening and passed to Beattio, but L. Scott slipped wljen a try seemed possible. Marist was on the attack when half-time came, with the scoresMarist, 13: Devonport. 2. From the kick-otf the Devonpoit forwards drove Marist to its goal-line, and after some strenuous scrum work Marist was penalised and Simons; kicked a nice goal Saxon made a good run through the Marist defence, but liia pass to Casey was la to and a chance waa lost. A glaring case of obstruction by Johnson did not escape the notice of the referee, whose decision—r. kick where the ball landed—was correct. Simons kicked a goal. Devonport rose to the occasion tnd T. O'Leary made a beautiful opening tnd passed to Be'attie. The centre cleverly evaded several defenders, but a doss for ward checked the movement A minute later Coiighlnn ran round _ the blind side and passed to L. Scott, cross-kicked. Ruby gathered possession and raced on to touch down for a great try. Simons converted. Brisbane brilliantly beat ihe opposition and looked certain to score, but L. Scott's pace saved a dangerous situation. The Devonport backs revealed some of iheir best form when C'oughlau ran round tho blind side and passed' to L. O'Leary. From a short punt L. Scott iust failed in a dive, the ball rolling into touch. From a penalty Simons equalised the 'cores. In some strenuous forward play Ruby, Devonport, and Courtney were ordered off. Both sets of forwards worked hard lo gain the advantage, but after a succession of attacks by the Devonpoit backs file gome ended with the scoresMarisl, 13; Devonport, J3. Mr. r. Rogers was referee.

PONSONBY V. CITY. The City forwards were prominvni ft cm (lie kick-off against, Pousonby and Hadle.v carried play to 1 ho line. W. t'cny made a brilliant run through the defence and passed to Iversou. who was held up 011 Ponsouby's line. From a scramble - Reyuolds snapped up in llie loose and short-punted. McLaughlin, racing through, touched down to score. Wateno failed to convert. With a. tricky run Watene placed City in a'gc od position and Iverson and Reynolds went close to scoring. City's backs combined well, and Perry neatly side-stepped Winters and passed to Iverson. After several forwards handled Hamilton scored a good try.Wa.ene converted. City's defence was soundly tested when Mclntyre sent, the ball to Delgrosso, who beat • Watene and passed to Thompson. The last-named made a voce" opening before he passed to Winters, who scored a v.ko try. Delgrosso failed to convert. City's tackling was very feel 1c and Riley easily .beat ,thc op[)osition and passed to ■ Schofield, who scored. Delgrosso missed tin* goal bri kicked a. penalty soon afterwards. Barohard made a poor attempt to field a long kick by Delgrosso, and after Perry had mis-kicked -Hutt scored. Delgrosso just misled with the kick. The scores at half-time were:—Ponsonby, 11; City, 8. Ponsonby commenced well and both backs rind, forward-; threw the ball about in good style, but City's tackling was very weak. Thompson easily beat Hadley and Hamilton and passed to Riley, who was beld up on the City line Ponsonby had too much combination, and from a scrum Mclntyre set the' backs iu motion, Riley racing' over for a fine try. Delgrosso failed to convert. Good play by Iverson placed City on the offensive, but Moore saved well. City's poor defenco was again in evidence ivhen Delgrosso received a pass from Mclntyre and raced over to score between the posts. The scorer converted-. Frdim a, scrum Reynolds paaseo to Iverson, and Ba'rcbard scored near the coiner, Watene just missed the goal. Near midfield City's backs again attacked, but W4tene.'s pass'to Iverson tho latter on 1 the shoulder and rebounded into Riley's hands and nn easy try resulted. Delgrosso converted. City was penalised and a quick kick saw Schofield race over to score an unconverted try. City was now hopelessly beaten and Thompson scored for Delgrosso to convert. Rilev showed a lot of pace and raced through City's defence, for Schofield to score between the posts. Delgrosso converted. The pame ended with tho scores:—Pousonby, 37: City. 11. Mr. B. Emirali was referee, '>■* . RICHMOND V. NEWTON. Newton was fortunate. to. secure a threepoint win over Richmond after a keenly contested game. Five minutes after the commencement K. Peckliam had an unsuccessful shot from a penalty, from about duarter way. Twice the Newton forwards were nearly over at the corner, but sterling work by the Richmond backs • kept them out. Brimble missed from a penalty, from well out.' Hardgrave was nearly over at the corner after a fine run, but was pushed out. Both sets of forward? were forcing the pace, play for some time being centred on the Newton, liile. MinchnVnV kick from a penalty thirty yards out along the line went wide. Richmond came on again but a penalty enabled Newton to clear. Several promising movements by the Richmond backs were being spoiled by bad handling. At this stage Prentice had to retire with a. broken finger. Francis picked the-ball up in the Richmond twenty-five and made a good run through, the .opposition, transferrins .to Hall, who ran round behind the posts. Hardgrave converted. A few seconds later a likely try was missed when 1 Brimble knocked on. Newton was not to be denied, however, and shortly afterwards Page dived across, Hardgrave again converting from a handy position. Hamilton .kicked p. beautiful penalty from v ;ell out, just on the ball, the scores being:—Newton, 10: Richmond. 2. A period of even play followed the resumption. Hardgrave made a fine run but was tnckled just short of tho line Littlewood held tip a bustling Richmond attack and after a spell of hard play in front of the JCpwton goal Coote secured from the ruck and pushed his wnv over. Hamilton converting with a magnificent kick, 13>rdtrrave intercepted a pasß near his own lino and evadpd the opposition to race the length of the field and score the best try of the match. Brimble's kick hit the crossbar.

Richmond was easily holding the advantage ut, this stage, repeated thrusts by both backs and forwards trying the defence. The backs were combining splendidly. Securing the ball from a serum the Richmond rearguard swept into action and fine work bv Hamilton enabled Coote to score near the corner. Hamilton missing the kick. Newton then attacked vigorously and a fine passing bout saw Hardgrave cross the line,, but Butterworth's pasß was forward. Shortly before the. end the Richmond .backs came away _in a fine movement. Mincham nearly getting over. The spell'finished with play in midfield, the final scores being:—Nowton, 13; Richmond, 10, , , Mr. V. Simpson was referee. KINGSLAND V. ELLERSLIE. Kingsland had no difficulty in defeating Kllerslie by a margin of I*2 points after a poor exhibition in the curtain-raiser on tlio No. 2 ground. Play centred in midfield after the commencement, and neither side held the advantage. Longville had an unsuccessful shot from a penalty from near quarter-way. Shortly after a passing rush by the Kingsland backs.saw R. Carter touch down near the corner, Longville converting. S. Crewther missed a penalty kick from wide out. Kingsland was pressing Ellerslie iu (he lattcr's twonty-five, but Crewther broke through, only to be penalised. Longville kicked a fine goal from about 4Clyda. out. The reverse put life into the Ellerslie thirteen, and good work by the forwards took play to the other end, where Chapman nearly got over. An infringement by }\in2sland gave Ellerslie an opportunity, but Olliff missed. A. Chapman was • injured and had to Retire. A penalty awarded against, an Ellerslie player enabled Longville to kick an easy goal iust oil the call of half-time. The score was:— KiiiKsland, 9; Ellerslie, 0. Kingsland pressed hotly on resuming, good work by the Ellerslie backs, led by the two Orewthers. clearing. A rush by Ellerslie's forwards had Longville bustled, and Christmas just saved. Kingsland retaliated and for a time Ellerslie had difficulty in defending. List was nearly over, : but wob held up by a penalty. Shortly after the same player secured the ball from the ruck near (he Ellerslie goal and cut through to score. Longville converted. The Ellerslie forward then broke through the opposition from near half-way. Dance secured the ball and sent on to Chapman, who evaded the fullback and transferred to Cooke, who scored under the posts. S. Crewther converting. Loose play followed until Wilcox broke away and passed to' List, who crossed the line well out. Longville missed the difficult kick. Cook was ordered off (lie field for disputing with the referee. Indifferent play followed, and neither team appeared -to be playing its best. Play ended with Ellerslie attacking, the final I scores being:—Kingsland, 17; Ellerslie, 5. [ Mr. A. Rae was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Senior Grade B.—Parnell, 33. Mansere. 11; Otahuhu, 13. Richmond, 0; Point Chevalier, 8, Northcote, 5. Seotond Grade.—Ponsonb.v, 11, Remuera, '2; Kingsland, 18, Newton, 9; Mount Albert, !). Mount Wellington, 0. Third Grade Open.—Richmond. 10. Glen Lynn. 2. Ponsonby B. 7. Kingsland, G. Third Grade Intermediate.— City. 21. Northcote, 0; North Shore. (5, Newmarket, 3. Fourth Grade.—City, 1(1. Remuera, 0; Mount Albert, 2, drew with Otahuhu. 2; Richmond, 5. Akarana, 0. Fifth . Grade.—Newmarket, 18. City, 0; Richmond. 29. Akarana, 2. Sixth Grade.—Marist., 18, Richmond. 0; Mnrist, 10, City. 8;. Northcote, 21, Newmarket, 0. Primary Schools.—Newton. 16, Papatoetoe, 10; Devonport, 8. Paruell, G; Otahuhu Schoolboys, 11, Onebunga Convent. 5. GAME AT NGARUAWAHIA. [BV TELEGRAPH.-" OWN CORRESI-ONDENT. j HAMILTON, Sunday. In a League football ma(ch at Ngaruawahia yesterday Ngaruawahia, 10, defeated Hamilton, 3.

MATCH AT WHANGAREI. [BY TELEGRATO. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 WHANGAREI, Sunday, [n a League football, match at Whangalei yesterday Athletic. 14, drew with Hikurangi, 11. GAMES IN SOUTH ISLAND. . . I.IIY TELEGRAPH.—rRESS ASSOCIATION. J Christohurch.—League Football matches played to-day resultedMarist, 8, Hornby, 2; Sydenham, G. Woolston, 0: Addington, 12. Waimairi. 4. Dunedin.—City. 8, Kaikorai.'O; Christian Brothers A. '29. Christian Brothers B. 15.

P. W. L. D. for. ag. Pts. Devouport . . 7 6 — 1 325 (50 13 Pousonby . . . 7 6 1 — 117 69 12 Newton . . . . 7 fi 2 ' — 85 86 10 City ..7 4 3 — 74 P6 8 Richmond . . 6 o 4 — 70 74 4 Marist .. .. 7 1 4 2 91 96 4 Kitigsland . . <3 1 4 1 08 126 3 Ellerslio . . 7 — 7 — 61 124. 0