LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20863, 4 May 1931, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

OPENING GAMES PLAYED.

DEVONPORT DEFEATS CITY

CLOSE CALL FOR MARIST. The opening matches of the season in the Auckland Rugby League's competitions were held on Saturday, under ideal playing conditions. The grounds were in line condition for football after rain, and players were not afraid to tackle or 1 e tackled, as is usually the case in the open- | ing matches. There was quite a good at--1 tendance at Carlaw Park for an opening ! day. The principal attraction, between City and Devonport, provided an exciting contest, victory going to the latter team by a margin of five points. A keenlycontested match resulted in the meeting of Richmond and Marist on the No. £ ground, the latter winning in the last minute. Richmond's fine showing against a strong side came as a great surprise to most followers of the code. In an even game at Ellerslio Newfou played a draw with the local thirteen. The results of the senior games were as follows Devonport, 23; City, 18. Marist, 11; Richmond, 10. Ellerslio, 5; Newton, 5. LOST OPPORTUNITIES. DEVONPORT TAKES HONOURS. Devonport threw away soino great opportunities against City, but eventually won by a margin of five points. Neither Hide could claim any advantage in tho early stages, each being held up by penalties. Devonport held the advantago by hooking the ball from tho scrums, but mishandling •spoiled one or two likely chances. Devonport continued to have the better of the exchanges and mishandling by Kerr, the City custodian, had his team in trouble However, the attackers could not press homo the advantago and City was quick to lake advantage of mistakes. Then a fine .movement by City ended in a try after 'he ball had travelled three lengths of the field. Ivesou picked up ill tho loose and transferred to Reynolds, who received again after half-a-dozen players had bandied to score in a handy position. Kerr failed with ths kick. Sen gar made a good break through, but Kerr tackled him safely light on tho line. Devonport's luck was still out when Casey lost the ball over the lino City came away in a good back movement, and all hough it broko down, B. Davidson retrieved splendidly. After Laurie Barchard had made a good opening from the wing Perry took an in-pass to score a nice try between tho posts. Kerr easily converted. At last Devonport was rewarded when A. Scott broke through from the ruck and, running through Kerr's tackle, touched down behind the posts. Seagal' converted. The score at half-time was:—City, S; Devonport. t. Devonport soon took the leatl on resuming, T. O'Leary touching down behind the. posts after a loose, dribbling rush near the line Seagar converted. A few minutes later Harding scored easily from a kick at goal by Seagar from a penalty. A. Scott just failed with a fine kick. Iveson broku away on his own lino and at halfway transferred to Munce, who was overhauled by Harding. Fine passing by Reynolds. McLaughlin and Davidson aaw the last-named dash over by the posts. Kerr converted. A minuto later Seagar went over for Devonport, A. Scott converting with a fine kick. Maintaining tho pressure the Devonport backs came away and O'Donnell dodged his way over. Seagar converted from a f°od position. City semed a spent force, but retaliated in the final stages and B. Davidson touched down for his second try by tho posts. Kerr converted. There was no further scoring, the game ending Devonport 23; City, 18. Mr. L. Bull was referee.

WIN IN LAST MINUTE. MARIST TEAM LUCKY. Marist scored a somewhat lucky victory over Richmond after the second spell had been in progress two minutes over the usual time. However, the team rallied splendidly and deserves credit for its final efforts. The new ball troubled the players and the Marist backs found it difficult to handle. Lee and I'ell saved Richmond by clever reverse passing and Marist was forced back to halfway. Dunne made a fine opening, but a late pass to i'ell cost a try. Clever play by Campbell saw Marist in a good position, Hassap lucked into the centre, only over-eagerness losing Marist a try. Richmond was penalised and from an easy position in front, Brisbane failed at goal. Way was uninteresting and half-time came wiihout either wide scoring. . , ~ Within one minute of resuming, JlcKinnon made a good opening for Richmond, and Prentice dashed over near the posts. Davis converted. The Marist forwards swept play to Richmond's line, where Campbell bustled his way over. Kiley converted. Then a great effort by tiie Richmond forwards completely overwhelmed Marist and Telford scored. Davis converted with 11 nice. kick. Ibe Marist forwards were equally effective and Campbell scored. Riley failed to convert. IMay became exciting and made great efforts to save the game. Time was up when a scrum was in Richmond s twenty-five. Hassan set hi* backs in motion and Brady ran strongly before passing to List., wlm dashed over arr:id spectators to score the winning try. Railey failed to convert and the game ended: —Marist. 11: Richmond, in. Mr. P. Rogers was referee.

A DRAWN GAME. NEWTON AND ELLERSLIE. Newton drew with Ellerslie after a very closely-contested game, in which neither side showed to any great advantage. On the day the Newton forwards were the. better pack, but there was nothing to clionse between the backs. Ellerslie was hooking well and Oliff gave his backs every opportunity. Newton was awarded a penalty in I'.llerslie's twentv-five and Dempsey made no mistake with the kick. Porteous figured in a fine solo run, but through lacit of support the movement failed. Ilill failed with a penalty kick, which struck the crossbar. Afte.r a succession of scrums and penalties in the Newton area, J-.lerslie was rewarded when Dnfty equalised the score with a fine kick. Play waged up and down field, but half-time came with the score: —Newton, 2: Klerslic, 2. On resuming Prancis made an opportunity by evading several of tho opposition. <o send Allan over near Hie The try was not converted. Oliff pent his backs awav and Tlickey over. PtiHy failed to convert. Francis, f'raies and Porteous lieadnd the passing bout of the c'»y. vHch broke down just on Ellerolfe's lin p . Play at P'is staco vas mos' willing, both teams striving w*r the deciding neurits. The gajve ended with the score: —Newton, 5: P.llerslie, 5. Mr. E. McC'all was referee. LOW KB GRADE MATCHES. Reserve Grade —Ellerslie, 10, Newton, 2: Devon port, '.'.l, City, 5. Second Grade.—Mount Wellington, 10, Northcote. 0. Third Grade, open.—Pnnsonby. 11. Glr n Lynn. 2; Ponsonby won from Devonport by default. Third Grade Intermediate.—-Akarana, 15, Richmond. 0. Fourth Grade.—Mount Wellington, 'O, Papaloetoe. 0; Akarana. 18. Devonport, Newmarket, 5, Point Chevalier, 5. Fifth Grade.—Newton, 2". Devonport, 0. Sixth Grade. —Newmarket, 25, Newtoij. 0; Marist, •!, Point Chevalier. 0. Seventh Grade.—Richmond A, 0. Ellerslie, 0. CO NTESTS ELSE WIIK HE.. [BY TKr.EGKAPrr. PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] Christcluirch. —Addington, 31, Sydenham, r>; Linwood, 21, Hornby, I.'!. Taunlrl.—Senior grade: Ngaruawa liia, 23, Taupiri, 3. Junior grade: Taupiri, 23, Huntly, 0. Colt'i: Ngaiuawahia, 0, Taupiri. 0. Huntly.—Senior grade: Maoris, 13. Kia Ora, 9. Junior grade: Waiterimu, G. Huntl.v.