THE LEAGUE CODE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20677, 24 September 1930, Page 16

THE LEAGUE CODE.

FINAL OF ROOPE ROOSTER,

PONSONBY BACKS TOO GOOD. CITY TO PLAY DEVONPORT. Ponsonby won the final jpatch of (he Roopo Rooster competition by defeating Richmond in a well-contested game. Tho Ponsonby backs mado the game open and this did pot suit Richmond, which was for ttie most part on tho defensive. In the first half Ponsonby ran up 15 points to Richmond's two, Tho champions always played like a winning team, although they failed to score in tho second half. Bright passing bouts by Ponsonby's rear division often had Richmond pressed in its own twenty-live, The Richmond forwards got a fair sbaro of tho ball, but the inside -bjoks failed badly to open up tho attack, Both Prentico and G. Davis received opportunities from the scrum, but tho pair did not vary their tactics. Poor passing ,w>d running across the ground by players in possession brought about Rich, mood's failure- The Ponsonby bucks played right up to form and rarely missed an opportunity to drive homo the advuntage. \ Play wag marred by several incidents in which players of both teams displayed temper. Tho Richmond forwards were guilty of obstructing and tho holding of playors' jerseys was frequently seen during the second haU. For Ponsonby Wilsou played a splendid game ftt fullback. _ tlo fielded well and kicked with good judgment. Tho Pon. sonby custodian gave a much improved display. The wings, Winters and Schofield, played with plenty of dash, the for. mer being in good form, Riley was again tho pivot of the attack. He cut through the dofenco by sheer speed off tbsi mark and ran straight in supporting the wings. Delgrossio stood up to somo hard tackling well and got 'through a lot of useful work. Angelo handled well and passed with fine judgment, Moore, a for. ward, fijayed a good game at halfback. The Ponsonby forwards gave the backs good support and this bad much to do with tho team's success, Gardiner played a dashing game, as did Stevens and Pagan. W. Skelton has only to improvo in his handling to bccomo a dangerous scoring forward,

Lee, at fullback, was easily tho best of the Richmond backs. He kicked strongly and waji always keen to pass to his threequarters Prentice was much below form. His passing was slow and ho. held on altogstfc&r too much. The threecjuarters suffered in consequence and rarely had chances on attack. Mincham played well and B. Davis did good work behind tin scrum. y Tho Richmond forwards were good in tho loose and more than held their own in scrum work. Ritchio, W. Jones and Lennie were the pick of a good even set. The Auckland League has arranged a special match between City and Devonport,. these teams being equal iot second place in 'the senior championship. Tho winners have the right to play Ponsonby in the Stormont Shield, which goes to the champion of champions. Spectators at Otahuhu on Saturday had an opportunity of seeing tho much-dis-eussed senior B grade players, who narrowly defeated Marist. The form of tho senior B team was generally good and a few players wero up to senior grade standard. Eustace is a five-eighths of possibilities, while Farrell/ behind the scrum, played an impressive game. Lawless was perhaps .tho best forward on tho ground. The Richmond representative should ,easily gain a placo in senior football next season.

BOWLING NOTES. CHALLENGE MATCHES PLAYED PERCENTAGE FOURS SYSTEM. BY SKIP. Tho fine weather on Saturday was responsible for increased attendances on all local greens. At Carlton the patronage exceeded the previous week'a record and three full-sized 'greens hud to be utilised to accommodate tho players. Rockv Nook, holders of the Edwin Stars, lost tho trophies to the first chal. lengers, Mount Albert. Tho gnmo was oue of fluctuating fortune and it was only on the conclusion o! the eventful 20th head that the ultimate winners were at all saffl. The Mount Albert president, E. J. Alleley, played hib usual aggrossive game and ho received good support from a consistent front division in Stewart, Garlick and Thomas, Tho two firstnamed,. both good drawing players at all times, were the means ox steadying the efforts of the opposing team and the fast driving of Loram was called upon on occasions to break up well-packed heads. KeatJey is a hard man to beat at any time and supported as lie was on Saturday by a fairly sound team it was a good performance on Alleley's part to tako tho trophjus back to Mount Albert. Tho nox-t challenger is Wells, Now Lynn.

The challenging team from Hillsborough in charge of Pariand had rather the worst of tho tuck in not annexing tho Denisoti Pins OKI Saturday from the donor of the trophies, W. Dcnison, Dominion Road. The holders held the very good lead of 16 to 6 with over half the gamo gone. The challongers, however, battled 011 to* such good purpose that they wore only one point behind with the last head to be playod. On this head the holders held shot uqtil Farland altered and lay shot to make a tie of tho gamo. W. C. Young. Remuora, is the next challenger. The annual fixture between tho representatives of the Press and Printers and the Carlton Club will be played next Saturday. From time to time some form of modification of tho original percentage fours' systom is suggested. While not much headway or alteration has been made, on occasions some good points have been noted and tried out with satisfactory results. Mr. P. B. Thomson, an energetic worker in bowling matters in tho Rawhiti Club, has lately suggested a system which he considers contains items which will improve tho present system. On reading ovor Mr. Thomson's suggestions there is one point which, whilo being really novel, appeals to ono immediately. Briefly the system is one on the old lines, with tho usual grading, but instead of the selector or selectors choosing the teams the work is placed upon tho selected skips of tho day and this is where the original idea comes in. The first two skips drawn out of tho hat aro called on and the first ono is requested to choose two teams of equal strength. When this is done his opponent is requested to tako his choice of tho teams. Tho saino procedure follows with the rest or the skips until the full quota of players is exhausted.

At first ono would perceive two flaws in the system, ono being that tho first two skips would take the very best men in their positions,, and the other, that it would take up too much valuable timo. In tho first case, however, it must be borne in mind that the luck of the draw would give the others a similar opportunity of doing the same thing on a subsequent occasion. Regarding the time taken up this would perhaps be best'answered by a practical experience as the loss of much time mty be more imaginary than real.