LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20361, 16 September 1929, Page 15

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

ROOPE ROOSTER COMPETITION MATCHES IN THE SEiVII-FINAL. MARIST AND PONSONBY WIN. Tho semi-final of the Auckland Rugby League's Roope Rooster competition was played at Carl aw Park and resulted in wins for Pol i son by and Mariflt. In tho early match Ponsonby won easily : r rom Richmond after a dull and uninteresting game. Ponsonby was superior throughout, its backs having too much pace for Richmond. After beginning well. City disappointed against Marist, whoso ability to control tho ball in tho scrums gnvo tho backs a decided advantage. City's defence waa weak on occasions, and several of Marist's tries were made easy. The final between Marist. holders of tho trophy, and Poimonby will bo played next Saturday:—

The results of Saturday's matches were as follows:—Ponsonby, 23, Richmond, 0; Marist, 23, City, 7. MARIST V. CITY. Tho Marist forwards wero superior in scrum work to City, whoso backs started off brilliantly, but wero overshadowed as tho game progressed. City was awarded an early penalty and Wntene kicked a fine goal. From a scrum a little later W. Perry passed to Jladley. who raced oves. near the corner. Wateno failed to convert. Brisbane and McDonald were associated in a bright passing bout, which had City defending. G. Perry was responsible for placing City in a good position and McLoughlin dropped a smart field goal. Soon afterwards Gregory kicked a nico penalty goal for Marist. Wateno failed to field a long kick and Balchelor raced away, only to loso the ball. Brady, however, snapped it up and scored. Gregory converted. Wateno cleverly saved City, but badly missed his kick and McDonald had little difficulty in scoring between the posts. Gregory converted. Tho scores at half-time wero:—Marist. 12: City, 7.

On resuming Marist scored an easy try. Shortland threw a high pass to Iverson. who missed it and O'Brien touched down. Gregory failed to convert. A good run by G. Perry lacked support and City missed a chanco of scoring. From near halfway Botchelor cloverly evaded several City backs and with six Marist players in support again beat tho opposition with a "dummy" to sroro between tho piMs. Gregory missed an easy goal. City was nnfortunato to loso both Shortland and Hadley, who retired with injuries. From a scrnmblo Graham scored near tho posts, O'Brien converted. City was attacking when the bell Bounded with tho scores: —Marist, 23: City, 7. Mr. L. Bull was roforee. PONSONBY V. RICHMOND. Richmond sustained a defeat by 23 points to 0 at tho hands of Ponsonby after a dull and one-sided game. Five minutes after the commencement Delgrosso narrowly missed a penalty kick from quarter-way. A few seconds later a fino run by Winters enabled Skelton to dive over at tho corner. He was called back for running into touch, but shortly afterwards again crossed the line to touch down, Delgrosso converting. Richmond returned to the attack and Berridgo had an unsuccessful attempt from a penally in Ponsonby territory. Richmond infringed in midfield and Delgrosso kicked a good goal from about '4oyds. out. A long session of uninteresting play ensued, bad handling and combination, chiefly on tho part of tho Richmond thirteen, spoiling many movements. Tho interval came with no change in the score, which was:—Ponsonby, 7: Richmond, 0. Play livened lip considerably at the beginning of tho second spell, but neither team could make much impression. Berridgo missed at goal from a penalty well out. Tho Ponsonby backs obtained possession in their opponents' twenty-five, tho ball travelling out to Winters, who scrambled across wide out. Delgrosso failed to convert. Peckhani was next prominent, handing the ball to Mclntyro after a tricky run, tlio latter player getting over near tho po3ts. Skelton converted. Tho Ponsonby backs aguin secured the ball for Riley to score, Skelton failing with tho k\ck. Mclntyro retired injured at this stage. Another Ponsonby back movement culminated in Schofield scoring. Moore converting from a convenient position. The game ended with Ponsonby on attack, tho final scoro being:—Ponsonby. 23: Richmond, 0. Mr. V. Simpson waa referee. RESULTS IN LOWER GRADES. Senior Grado B.—Richmond, 9, Northcoto, 5. Third Grado Open.—Ellerslie, 10, Kingsland. 5; Pcnsonby A defaulted to Richmond. Third Grade Intermediate.—City. 11, Northcoto, 0; Newmarket, 12, Akarana, 2. Fourth Grade.—Akarana. 11, Richmond. 0; Ponsonby, 8, Kingsland, 0. Fifth Grade. —Richmond, 14, Point Chevalier. 4. Sixth Grade.—Newton, 2, Marist. 0: City, 11, Newmarket. 2: Dovonport, 12. Kingsland. 0; Point Chevalier, 10. Otaliuliu, 9; Ponsonby, 23. Richmond. 0. primary Schools.—Newton, 12, Mount Albert, 3; Newmarket. 33. Otaliuliu, 0; Ellerslie. 11. Akarana, C: Onehunga, 21, Devonport, 3. THACKER SHIELD WINNERS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. Addington won tho Thacker Shield to-day by defeating Sydenham at League football by 8 points to 5.