LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20301, 8 July 1929, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

the senior competition. • LEADING TEAM DEFEATED. CITY SIDE'S IMPROVED FORM. The success of City against Devonport on Saturday provided a mild surprise .'it Carl aw Park, where the Auckland Rugby League continued its senior grade championship. It was Dcvonporfs first defeat this season. City played greatly improved football and delighted a large crowd with excellent combination. Both forwards and backs outclassed tho champions. The championship is now more interesting as Devonport has yet to meet, an improved Marist team. On the No. 2 ground Ponsonby had too much combination for Richmond, although tho game was always interesting. At the Domain Marist won comfortably against Kingsland, while Newton defeated Ellcrslie by a narrow margin. The senior grade B championship was won by Point Chevalier after an exciting game with Otahuhu. Following were the tcsu'ls:— City, 17; Devonport, 8. Ponsonby, 21; Richmond, 16. Marist. 25; Kingsland, 10. Newton, 7.; Ellcrslie, 5. The present positions of the teams are as follows: — Pts. < h. P. \V. L. D. For. Ac. l'ts. Devon port ..11 •' 1 1 >*} j? Priu?oniy ii « 2 i ™ ;. City .. ..U 8 •! - - ..11 0 I'M J l '' J; Marist. ..11 1 1 3 b.7 111 '' Richmond •• "> Z - loi' - Kingsl.md . . 10 3 7 1 m ■> Ellcrslie .. 11 - II DEVONPORT V. CITY. The brilliant play of City's inside back?, aided by dashing forwards was art outstanding feature in the match with Dcvonpoi t. From the kick-off 'he Devon port backs raced to halfway. Clarke led the City forwards in a great offensive, which was iickl up on the Devonport line. From a scrum Reynolds shot through the Devonport defence and passed to ivcrson and Laurie Barchard was pushed into touch. A clever kick by T O'Leiny placed Devonport in a good position, and from a scrum A. Scott sect out a smart pass. 'I. be whole buck division handled :n turn and L. t* Lcary laced over to score a fine try. Simons failed to convert The City forv.ards were playing wiih great dash. and Lcn. Barehard toed the ball past Simons. In an exciting rare for the touch-down Laurie Barchnrd won. and City was awarded a try. Vatcnc failed to convert. Then came a brilliant run by O. [Wry. who gathered the ball near halfway The five-eighths "dummied" several opponents and raced straight for tho goal, with Mcf.oughlin ;nd IverFon in support. Near Devonpoit'B twentyfivo Perry passed to McLoughlin and the centre raced over. Watene missed an easy goal, The City bark? badly bent. Devonport and O'Leary saved when a try seemed certain. I'iom .i peniilty in a good position Wntene asain missed at goal. A clever short punt by Reynolds had Devonport in difficulties and City'a forwards tried hard to get across. Good play by Ruby relieved the situation, but, Iverson smartly bent tho Devonport forwards and croi s-kicked. Tn i> fiasi" G. Perry gathered possession, raced down the ririelinc and passed to l.auiic Barchnrd. who scored near the corner. V.'ateue failed to convert. ,\ eood run by Perry \ as frustrated by L. O'Leary. and ■Lf-time sounded villi l'..c scores:— City, 0; On rrsurein? Scat-ar made_ a fine op.v.ing. only to r-ee L. Scott get in front of the pass. Reynolds worked the blind side to ad von to ce and City was again on Devonport's line. IJein I'aijcoo dived over nonr the corner. Laurie Barchnrd just missed goal. Senear drew tho defence and passed to L Scott. who raced over to score a tine try. A. Scott- converted. A mistake by Simons saw Lcn Barchard gain possession, and n struggle ensued on Dcvonporfs line. From a scrum Reynolds passed to G. Perry, who cut in nicely, and heat several defenders, to score a brilliant try. Eatiri Barehard converted, and the gatne ended soon afterwards with the scores City, 17: Devonport, 8. Mr. V. Simpson was referee. PONSONBY V, RICHMOND. Ponsonby had too much combination in its game against liichmond, which fielded ;i strong thirteen. From the kick-off Mclntvre set, ponsonby'e backs in motion and Schofield went close to scoring Davis and Prentice wei- associated in some clever passim; which forced Ponsonby to defend. A mistake by Hanlon gave Ponsonby a. chance, and "H inters. following through f.lst. scored a, good trv DVlgrosso failed to con vert. A few minutes later the Richmond backs attacked strongly and Davis made au opening which resulted in Mineliam scorirg Hamilton failed to convert. The Ponsonby backs showed plenty of speed in parsing louts Delgrosso cut in nicely ano Schofuld scored. Delgrosso converted. Led by Jones the Richmond forwards ewent over til , opposition, but Moove saved well. Jenkinson was prominent in good play, but Patterson dropped his nass and a try was lost. Prentice phieed Richmond in u good position ano the forwards caught Moore iu possession. His kick was secured by Davis, who easily scored Mineliam converted. Riley jjext scored a nice try. which Delsrosfo eon veiled Good play hv Riley enabled I'aym to score, no ~oal resulting. A' half-timv the scores were:—Ponsonby, 10- Richmond. 8. ' On re?uming the Richmond backs n»I«ek'efj strongly and Prentice made a pood owning for .Tenkinson. who carried play to the I'oiiionlc liim. Foi some time both re's of forwards worked hard, but eventually Delgrosso cleared. The Richmond backs indulged in good passing and Prentice ra>-"d over t'i score Mineliam The Ponsonby backs again attacked and \\ inters scored Delgrosso converted. Riley made a clever opening but Mineliam saved a certain 11y. Jeukinsou and Goldv.ater broke away with He ball at toe, and the latler kicked past Moore. A scramble followed and Lennie scored a try for Richmond, which was not converted. The game ended soon afterwards with the scores:--Ponsonby, CI: Richmond, Hi. Mr. B. Emerali was referee. Mi Wit.lN V. F.LLIiRSLii:. Newton iust managed to beat Ellrrsbe in a well-contested game. There_ was little to choose between the teams. Newton was first to attack, and its forwards carried play to Ellerslie'fv line. Here Duft.v did some good work on defence and found touch near half-way. The Newton backs broke away, and afier good passing Lillle was pushed into touch near the line. From n. penalty Dufly just missed a goal. Brimblo was cunspicuous on attack, and just missed scoring Newton's forwards forced the pace, but the defence he'd goo.) Ol I iff made a gnat, opeuing. but Hemingway held on too long and a chime was lost F.llerslio bad belter luck in i's next offensive, when from a passing bout Tooir.au scored a fine try. Dufty converted Newton was attacking at the end of the first half, the score being: Eilerslie. 5: Newton. 0. On resuming Ferguson and Page forced Duftv to kick, and his return was well fielded by Hiil. who found touch near halfway. From a. serum McLeod made a beautiful ipening, and eventually Little scored n nice try. P°ekham converted. Play was fast and open and Ollifi delish|ed the

crowd vrilh ;i good run, which wriß poorly supported HoLba waa prominent among Ellerslio's forwards, who beat the opposition in the loose Good tackling by Grosan cost New toil a try when Little Got over the lino onlr to lone tho ball Newton was awarded a penally and Peckham gave his team the lead with a pood coal. Just on time Ellcrslic made slrenuoti3 efforts to get over, but no score eventuated, and the game ended :—Newton, 7; Ellerslie. 5. Mr. S, Billman was referee.

MA 111 ST V. KINGSLAND. Marist defeated Kingsland by a margin of l.'i points uftei » very open exhibitiou. MrClou;,*hen ictired with an injured kneo a _few minutes aflcr the commencement. A ".strong attack by the Mariut backs culminated in Gregory scrambling over, the same player convcrtin l ,. The Ma rial baclre were gettin- plenty of opportunities nt this Blage but had handling nullified their effort?. O'Brien took a. long kirk from liOiigviile in his own twenty five, and net his hacks in motion. Uriabaiiu beating many of the opposition in a line run to half-way, 'whore Gregory and Hatchelor carried on and Hatchelor scorerl Gregory missed the kick. Fro,n a Hcrtitn in midfield t'uo M;i rist, backs got possession but Carter cleverly intercepted, evaded Campbell and transferred to List, who ran over to score. Ijongvillc missed the kick Longville a little later kicked a good penalty kick from lOydH. out. O'Brien burst through the opposition in a dribbling rush and McDonald ran up to secure and touch down behind the posts. Gregory convened. Offside play by Gregory then cave Longvillu an opportunity to kick a penalty from quarter-way. The half-time scores were: Maris!., lit; Kinsshmd. 7.

Tho second spell opened v.-ith play very even until the Marist hacks broke nwny in r panting r'inb, Lint just Efivin,". Marist persisted and eventually was awarded a penalty at quarter-way, Gregory kicking a soal. Marist returned 1o the nffnek, and alter a scrum tiear tho lino Brady ran through to score Gregory convert in::. Shortly afterwards Marist lirid Kinsshind bustle*) when Anselo was (added in possession beliind the line, but a penalty paved Both teams were inakini; strenuous cfforlq but neither held the advantage Then List, made a brilliant run down the line and beat Campbell, to touch down hu> he was called hack for running out. defence by both ects of backs prevented any scoring until Ft. Cartor after -i giron; run beat four men to force bis way over at the corner. Lonejnll' 1 fai lor to convert. Shortly before time McDonald ,rct over to score near the posts after a sood run. Grepory converting. Play ended with Marist holding (he advantage, tiie final ecorts bcills:—Marist. 25; Kimrsland, 10. Mr. AV. MiccLtcnj was referee. LOWEIi GRADE RESULTS. Senior Grade B.—Championship final: Point Chevalier, l.'i. Otahuhu, 10. Second Grade. -Mount Albert. 25, Reamera. 0; Ponsonby, 10. Kingsland. 0. Ibird Grade Open. —Ponsonby B. 20, Ellerslie, 0; City. 7, Kingsland, 6; Richnioiul, 19. Point Chevalier. 2. Third Grade Intermediate.—Richmond, H, Northcote. 2; Devonpoit, ">, Newmarket, IV Fourth Grade.—City, 7, Kingsland, C; Ak a ran a best Otahuhu by default. Fifth Grade.—Richmond. 8. Marist. ft; Point Chevalier 1!. City. 0; Newmarket. U. Devonpoit, 0 Sixth Grade.—Northcote. 12, Newmarket 2; Marist. 0, City, 0; Marist D. 11. Ellcrslic! iIESULTi, IN THE SOUTH. [by Tj;LEGn.\ru.—ritcss association. | C hiistciiurci:.—Ad'iinstou, P. beat Hornby, Dunedin.—Christian Brothers A, 33. Athletic. 12; City, 11. pacific, T.