THE LEAGUE CODE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 12

THE LEAGUE CODE.

MARIST BACKS IN FORM. A VERY FINE COMBINATION. RICHMOND'S SURPRISE WIN. The Marist backs gave a splendid exhibition. of tho league gamo in outclassing Newton, whose form ( caused tho Auckland Rugby League to place tho game as the principal fixture at Carlaw Park. Although beaten by a wide margin, Nowton put up a fairly good game and it is doubtful if any other team would have beaten Marist on tho day. .Superior pace and splendid handling paved the way for tho Marist backs to score several nice tries. Ono movement in the second half saw seven players participate, and as tho ball swung back from the wing, n forward scored. Several Newton backs have only to gain experience to become high-class players. It was pleasing to see Newton's backs attempt to beat Marist with open play. Several times failure to support tho player in possession caused Newton to iniss tries. Tho rear division was opposed by some really good players, and the big score did not represent the margin between tho teams. A'featuro of the game was tho splendid football of Gregory and Brisbane, who wcro making their last appearance prior to visiting Australia. Tho pair were excellent on attack and paved tho way for most of Marists' points. Tho Marist combination will certainly bo weakened by tho absence of Gregory and Brisbane. Brady Plays Well. Brady played easily his best gamo this season. Tho Marist centro mado beautiful openings and drew his man with rare skill. Brady has only to retain this form to gain representative honours. His try was a really good.effort. Campbell lacks variety to bo a good fullback. 110 could improve tho attack by running more with tho ball and passing instead of kicking. Of tho wings, Batchelor gave tho best display. He has pace and runs with good judgment. Tho Marist winger is a little unlucky in missing a place in the New Zealand team. Drew did not get many opportunities. Hassan played a sterling game behind the Marist pack. Tho Marist forwards were good in . the loose and all played well. Campbell, tho hooker, was as good as any forward. Ha was frequently prominent in passing bouts. Graham and Wobbcrlcy also played good football. At fullback for Newton Dempsey played a splendid game. He fielded well and kicked with good judgment.. McLeod was tho best threequarter. He has plenty of paco and is a very promising player. Hill was good on attack, as was Murray, who did well against Brisbane. Cammick was too slow to be of assistance to the five-eighths. Light Forwards. Newton's forwards are too light to make much impression, but keenness in following up often rosults iu tries. Tho vanguard was always on tho ball and was unlucky not to score more often. Ferguson and Francis played well, while Middleton was also prominent. Davidson's. return to . his best form greatly assisted City in its win over Kingsland. Tho City captain played splendid football and mado two fine runs which' resulted in tries being scored. City's last try was a fine effort, started by Davidson and completed by the same player. None of tho four players chosen for Australia assisted City. The winners, however, showed good form and tli'a team is likely to be a successful combination, even allowing for the loss. Reynolds was a 'good substitute for Shortland behind the scrum. The City halfback played fine football. G Perry and W. Perry stood out prominently on attack. Tho former's try was a nice effort. Barchard played a useful game at fullback, but McLoughlin was weak in defence. Tho Hadley brothers and Len Barchard were prominent among City's forwards. Kingsland Improves. Kingsland's form showed improvement, particularly that of the backs, who compared very favourably with those of City. Lucas, List and H. Carter were the best of the rear division. Simms stood out as tho best forward on the ground. Yardley and Atkins also played well. Richmond gained a surprise win over Ellcrslie. Tho, Richmond backs got better support from the forwards and were able to outplay Ellerslie. Good, solid tackling by tho Richmond five-eighths completely upset Ellerslie's combination. Patterson was Richmond's best back, his try being a beauty. B. Davis and Prentice got through a lot of useful work. Mincham did well with limited opportunities and Lee, at fullback, played well. Among the forwards Jones and McCarthy were prominent. Dufty played a sound gamo at fullback, although his fielding was a little uncertain. With the exception of Webb and Hemingway, Ellerslie's backs gave a disappointing display. Hobbs was easily tho best forward. Ponsonby Backs too Good. Thero was little to choose between Ponsonby and Devonport, tho former winning by the narrow margin of two points. The Devonport forwards adopted bustling tactics and wcro equally as good as tho Ponsonby pack. However, the Ponsonby backs got moro than a fair share of the ball from tho scrums, and combined to better advantage than tho opposition. Wilson, a young Papakura recruit who played his first gamo for Ponsonby at fullback, is a playor who will improve with more gtfmos. • All tho Ponsonby backs played well, while of tho forwards, Stevens, Lunn and Gardiner were prominent. Saxon, at fullback for Devonport, played a sound game. Of the threequarters, Smith, a junior player, was easily tho best. Transferred from fullback to five-eighths O'Donnell played a really good game. Rhodes, at half, was equally sound on defence and attack. Casey, Dixon and A. Scott wero always to the fore in any forward rushes.