LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20349, 2 September 1929, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

ROOPE ROOSTER COMPETITION FIRST SERIES OF MATCHES. RICHMOND BEATS DEVONPORT. The first series of matches iu tho Roope Rooster competition was played under tho control of tho Auckland Rugby League at Carlaw Park on Saturday Tho defeat of Devonport by Richmond was one of tho Hurpriseß in tho series. Richmond had the services of several players from both tho Rughy Union aud Soccer codes. Al though it was the oarly fixture, tho match provided good football. Tho principal match, betweon Marist and Kingsland. wan disappointing. Murist hud tho better of the game, although Kingsland missed some easy opportunities early in tho first half. Ponsonby won easily from Newton, while City qualified for the semi-final by beating Ellerslic. Tho defeated teams will bo eliminated, and Ponsonby, Marist, City and Richmond will contest tho Bemi-final. Tho results of matcheß were as follows: Marists. 9; Kincsland, 3. CKy, 18; Elleralie. 9. Richmond, 17; Dovonporl. 12. Ponsonby, 31; Nowton, 24.

MARIST KINGSLAND. There was little to choose bctweon Marist and Kingsland. Tho latter lost several good chances of scoring by faulty handling but Marist backs wero superior on attack. Early in the gamo H. Carter made a fine dash but his pass to J. Wijßon was forward and a try was lost. Kingsland continued to hold tho advantage and List beat several Marist backs and passed to Revcll. who was forced out past halfway. Ivimcsland was unlucky when Simms, who was over tho line, mistook the corner flag and kicked into tho dead ball area... Marist had too much experience of positional may and Hassan worked tho blind side to make a try easy for Brisbane. Gregory failed to convort. Lucas and R. Carter wero associated in some bright passing, but McDonald intercepted and raced back to Kingsland's twenty-five The Kingsland backs combined effectively and List made a beautiful opening from which Jack Wilson almost scored. From a scrum near. tho Marist twenty-five Lou Wilson brilliantly beat several defenders to scoro a fine try. Joe Wilson failed to convort. A few minutes before the spell ended Hassan set the Marist backs in motion, and Brady scored. Gregory failed to Tho scores at tho interval wore:—Marist, 6: Kingsland, 3. On resuming York . was tackled, within a few yards of the line. The Kingsland forwards did somo Rood work in the loose, and twice Campbell was forced to kick quickly. Brisbane raced through the opposition but his pass to Duune was forward. Brisbane was again prominent in clever play which resulted in Batchelor scoring. Camnbell failed to convort. Marist had all tho bottei of the concluding stages and the game ended with tho scores:—Marist. 9; Kingsland, 3. Mr. W. Simpson was referee. RICHMOND V, DEVONPORT. Richmond was considerably strengthened for the mutch aguinst Devonport, and, by good individual play, won a well-contested gamo. Eerridgo kicked four goals for the winners 1 . Richmond assumed the offensive soon after the kick-off and established a lead of four points, Borridge kicking two fiuo goals. Devonport's backs threw tho ball about in good style, and Seagar mado a fine opening for T. O'Leary to scoro. Seagar conve'ted. Prentice placed Richmond in a good position, and Hamilton just failed to score. From a penalty Berridge kicked a magnificent goal. Richmond's backs played line football, and Hamilton and Berridgo attacked strongly. . Then Berridge was aga!j successful in kicking his fourth goal. Peckham started a passing bout, from which Patterson scored a nice try. Berridge failed to convert, and half-time sounded with tho scores:—Richmond, 11; Devonport. 5. Seagar was prominent in a strong offensive and L. Scott was pushed into touch. Berridge held up another Devonport attack and from a penalty Seagar kicked a fine goal. Hamilton brilliantly beat several Devonport backs and sent on to Berridge, and Patterson scored. Berridge just missed the kick at goal. Suxon cut-in • nicely in a back attack, Seagar scoring and converting. Just beforo time Berridgo made a. beautiful opening and Surtess scored between the post 3. Berridge.missed an easy goal, and the game ended with tho scores:— Kichmond, 17; Devonport, 12. Mr. K. Menzies was referee.

CITY Y. ELLERSLIE. Although City played one short for some time it had little difficulty ill winning against Ellerslie. Good back play assisted considerably toward • City's success. From tho kick-off City attacked strongly, and Shortland and Everson did aomo good work. W. Perry made a splendid run through the defence, and Clarko scored for City. Laurie Barchard converted. Dufty was a tower of strength tp Ellerslie, and saved well on several occasions At this stage Watouo came on to assist City. Hemingway gave Grogan a chance, but Allen saved by good tackling. City wa3 penalised, and Hemingway kicked a goal. Clarke led the City forwards in a determined raid, and Ellerslie was forced to defend. Sliortland started a passing bout iu which G. Perry out in nicely to score a fine try. Laurje Barchard converted. The scores at half-timo were:— City, 10; Ellerslie, 2. The Ellerslie backs were prominent early in the second half, and Grogan just missed a try. City, however, had oetter combination, and Everson scored in the corner. Barchard' kicked a fine goal." Oliff beat several City backs before R. Crewther scored between the porita. Hemingway converted. A few minutes later Dufty kicked a penulty goal. Just beforo time Len. Barchard broke away and passed to Laurie Barchard, who scored. The kick failed. The game ouded with tho rcores:—City, 18; Ellerslie, 9. Mr. S. Billman was referee.

PONSONBY V. NEWTON. The match between Ponsonby and Newton resulted in a win for the former by a margin of seven points, although, if Ponsonby had fully exerted itself in the last half the difference might have been greater. Newton had the better of the opening exchange, but the Ponsonby forwards broke away and a passing rush in which W. Skelton was prominent ended in P. Skelfon scoring near tho posts. Deigrosso converted. Shortly afterwards Fagan charged down Mansill's kick and W. Skelton scored after a fine run Deigrosso failed to convert. The Newton forwards carried play to their opponents' goal, whero Cammick Bont Little over. Mansill's kick failing. Newton's turn camo again when Hill, by fast following up, secured ball in Ponsonby territory and ran ovet wide out. Peckham missed the kick. Then Deigrosso kicked a penalty from quarterway P Skelton cut brilliantly through the opposition and handed to Gardiner, who crossed tho line wide out. Deigrosso converted. From a scrum in the Newton twenty five the ball was passed out to Schofield who dived across near tho corner, Deigrosso failing to convert. A few seconds later Moore and Winters combined in a rush down the lino, tho former evading Mansill to score. Deigrosso failed to convert from a difficult position. P. Skelton obtained possession and ran through for a tiy wido out just before half-time. Deigrosso converted. The scores at the interval werePonsonby., 26; Newton, 8 White fullback for Ponsonby, retired with a broken collarbone a few minutes after tho commencement of tho second spell, Moore taking his place. A penaJty to Newton saw Peckham make no mistake with tho kick. A session of even play followed until P. Skelton ran the length of the field and Mclntyro ran round behind the posts Deigrosso converted. A good piece of work by Brimblo aud Francis enabled the latter to dive over near the flag Brimblo failing with the kick. Hammond retired at this stage with an injured neck. After a period of light play Francis picked up from the ruck to touch down near the posts. Peckham converted. Shortly afterwards Peckham was injured and retired. Brimble next figured , ! n a brilliant run down the line, beating Payne and Moore to score wide out. Mansill's kick missed. Mansill scored from a passing rush near tho corner, tho same player missing 'he kick. Moore left tho field in Ihe last mi nine of tho game with an iujured .knee. Tho final scores weroPonsonby. 31; Newton, 21 Mr. A. liae was referee. .

JUNIOR GRADE RESULTS. ijenior Grade B.—Stallard Cup: Richmond B, 11, Otahuhu, 8; Point Chevalior, 3, Northcole, 2. Third Grade Intermediate.—Dcvonpor.t, 8, Richmond, 3: Newmarket, 5, drew with Akurana, 5. Fourth Grade.—Ponsonby, 27. Otahuhu, 0. Fifth Grade.—Richmond. 'l3. City, 0: Marist, 13. Newmarkot, 8: Kingnland, 111. Devon port, 0. Sixth Grado.—Northcote B. 8, Marist B, 0; Northcoto 9, Kingsland, 0. Primary Schools. —Akarana, 3, Dcvonport, 0; Onehunga Convent, 11, Otahuhu, 2: Newton, 11. Papatoetoe, 0; Newmarket, 46, Mount Albert, 0. House Match. —W. E. Anderson's, 14, A. B. Wright' and Sons, Ltd., 12 HUNTLY DEFEATS FRANKTON. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Sunday. In ft Leas?uo football match played at Hamilton yesterday Huutly defeated Frankton by 6 points to 3.

INTER-ISLAND MATCH. THE NORTH TEAM CHOSEN. The selectors, Messrs. A. Harlock (South Auckland), "W. Liddlo (North Auckland) and E. V. Fox (Auckland), have chosen tho following team to represent the Norll> Island against tho South in the match at Curlaw Park next Saturday:— Fullback.—Gregory (Auckland). Threequarters.—Hamilton (North Auckland), Brisbane (Auckland), L. Scott (Auckland). Five-eighths.—E. Meyer (North Auck land), Delgrosso (Auckland). Halfback.—Shortland (Auckland). Forwards. —Trauvettor (South Auckland), Stephenson (South Auckland), Menzirts (South Auckland), Timms (South Auckland), Francis (Auckland), Borgan (North Auckland). Reserves.—Backs: Seagar (Auckland); forwards, J. O'Brien (Auckland). OTAGO BEATS CANTERBURY, [it? TELEGRAPH.—KRESS ASSOCIATION.] CIIRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Otago beat Canterbury in a representative Rugby League match to-day by 2G points to 18, afte- having rather the better of the play, both back and forward. The Canterbury backs showed little combination. In tho first half tho score see-sawed until at, half-time Canterbury led, 13—12. In tho second half Otago combined much better, and had Canterbury on the defensive until the. final whistle. The scorers for Otago were Richmicks (3), O'Malley, Blazey (2) and Pearce. One try • was converted by Poarce. For Canterbury tries were scored by Drury, Spillane (2) and Dobbs. Bond converted three tries.