LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 12 August 1929, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

CHAMPIONSHIP TO PONSONBY VICTORY OVER DEVONPORT. MARIST CAINS ANOTHER WIN. Tbo Auckland Rugby League's senior grado championship was won on Saturday by Ponsonby, who boat Dovonport by 5 points to nil "in a splendid game at, Carlaw Park. The ground was in most places a sea of mud, but. some good passing bouts, especially by tho Ponsonby backs, were witnessed. Marist won the Thistle Cup competition by easily beating Ella's lie. Richmond defaulted to Kingsland. The results were as follows: Ponsonby, 5, Dcvonport, 0. Ma list, 26, Ellerslie, 0. Following are the positions of the teams at the conclusion of the championship:— Pis. Ch. P. W. L. D. for. ng. pts. Ponsonby .. 15 12 2 1 iiTH 110 '25 Devonport . . 15 II 3 I 236 113 23 City . . . 11 i) 6 Marist, ..11 7 1 3 100 150 17 Newton . . 11 7 7 Kingsland ..M 5 8 1 133 209 11 Richmond ..M 3, U Ellorelio . . 1-1 —' 11 bU 235 O PONSONBY V. DEVONPORT. Ponsonby's backs showed the better combination, the Dcvonport rearguard missing several opportunities of scoring. The forwards were well matched, Dcvonport, if anything, being slightly superior. Tbo cnuio opened with a rush by tho Ponsonby back line, but T. O'Leary saved well. P. Skelton raced down the side-line aud passed infield to Thompson, and Riley just missed scoring. Ponsonby'B forwardstook play to Dcvonport'a territory, whero Riley was penalised for not, playing the ball. Delgrosso kicked a fine goal after the ball had rebounded between tho uprights. Ponsonby, 2; Dcvonport, 0. Devonport'a bucks initiated a. smart passing bout aud gained good ground. W. Skelton broke away and found touch near half-way. Rhodes and Bcattie were associated in a nico passing bout, and Devonport was again the aggressor. Following a clever kick by Seagar. Beattie aud L. O'Leary beat White for the ball, but Ponsonby saved luckily. Good combination by Ponsonby's backs saw the ball travel to Winters ou the. wing. Ho passed to Riley, who was glaringly obstructed, and Ponsonby was awarded a penalty kick. Devonport's forwards stormed Ponsonby's liuc and Casey aud Ruby went close to scoring. Ponsonby's backs adapted, themselves to the wretched ground • conditions, aild good passing resulted. Although beaten in back play Dcvonport had the advantage in the looße, and for a time threatened to score. At half-time the scores were: Ponsonby, 2; Devonport. 0. . On resuming Devonport s forwards, led by Rule, enme awny, but Delgrosso made a great, save. Melntyre passed to P. Skelton on the blind' Side, and tho Ponsonby wing raced 40 yards in an effect, to score. The game was fust and open. Dixon intercepted a pass from Melntyre. and raced to Ponsonby's twenty-five, where P. Skelton effected a remarkable save. A little later Seagnr cleverly beat the Ponsonby defence and raced 30 yards before passing to Beattie. Delgrosso held up the attack, but a fine run by L. Scott placed Devonport on the attack again. The champions made a wonderful effort to gain the lead. and L. O'Leary went, close to scoring. Play swung once again in Ponsonby's favour, and the forwards stormed Devonport' 8 line. Oardiner snapped it up in tho loose, and forced his way over near the corner - . De!gTo6so failed to convert, Fousouby. o; Devonport. 0. In tho final stages of the game Devonport did some great work end with any luck Bcattie might have scored, between the posts, the centre losing the ball with Ponsonby's defenco beaten. The game ended with tho scores: Ponsonby, 5; Devonport, 0. Mr. L. Bull was referee. MARIST V. ELLERSLIE. Marist had little difficulty in beating Ellerslie by a comfortable margin. Marii-t was first to attack and O'Brien iu.'t missed scoring from a parsing. bout. Duano was prominent among Marist.'s forwards. who swept through the opposition wi*n good dribbling. Good play by Hassan enabled McDonald to score in the corner. Gregory just missed the kick. Grogan in ado a good dash aud OlifT gave excellent, support. . From a scramble. McDonald scored lus second try and Gregory converted with a beautiful kick. OlifT set. Ellerslie's backs in motion and Grogan went close to scoring. Marist's backs handled the greasy ball in good style, and soon had Ellerslie defending. At 'half-time tho scores werefc Marist, S; Ellero'.ie. 0. Gregory turned defence info attack on resumiiiK. and the fulhack beat fix players to score a brilliant try. lie failed to convert. Marist's forwards controlled the game and from a rush, Johnson scored between tile posts, and Gregory converted. Ellerslie was outclassed and a few minutes later Hassan scored for Greirorv to goal. Brisbane was prominent in a. fast passing bout, which resulted in Hassan again scoring. Gregory converted, and the game ended: Mnrist. 20: Ellerslie. 0. Mr. B. Fmerali was referee. CITY V. HUNTLY. The City team visited Huntly on Saturday. and after a well-contested game. Huntly won by 03 points to 13. Seuior B Grade.—Otohuhn. 7. Northcote, 3: Point Chevalier, 13. Mankere. 0 Third Grade.-Richmond. 0, Kingsland, 0 : Ponsonbv A. 13, Ellerslie. 0. Fifth Grade.—Richmond. 0. New market. 3. Sixth Grade.--Xc.wton. 5, Marist, 2. REPRESENTATIVE GAME. PLAYERS FOR TRAINING. The Auckland League selectors, Messrs. E. B. Fox. H. A. Avery and E.-Asher havn chosen tho following players to ,go into training with a view to meeting North Auckland next Saturday : Hacks: „Water." (City). Gregory (Marist). Carter (IvingslandAthietics). L. Scott (Dcvonport), List I Kingsland-Athletics i, Brisbane (Marist). Rilev (Ponsonby). Senear (Devonport), Delgrosso (Ponsonby), Prentice (Richmond). Melntyre (Ponsonby), and Shortlaud I City): forwards: Jenkinson (Richmond). Francis (New tou), Skelton (Ponsonby;. Ruby (Devonport), Moisley (Marist). I'Van 'Ponsonby/. Campbell 'Marist). I'nscoc (City), aud L. O'Brien (Marist). A. Scott, is unavailable. All players unable to-play .are asked to inform Mr. Ashcr immediately. Players must attend practice at. Carlaw Park on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. [r.v Tt:Lcr,RAT , jr.--i > nKss .\sson.vnoN.] Christ church.— Adding) on. 17. Waimairi. 11 ; Hornby. 12. Sydenham, 8; Marist won from Woolston by default. Dunedin.—Christian Brothers. 32. l\aitangita. 8: Pacific, 37, Athletic, 3; City, -IS, Kaikorai, 15.