LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20875, 18 May 1931, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

SENIOR GRADE CONTESTS. PONSONBY DEFEATS CITY. RICHMOND'S NARROW VICTORY The third series of matches in the senio competition of the Auckland Rugby Leagu was played on Saturday under ideal condi tions. The chief match, between Ponsonb: and City, proved somewhat disappointing and after an even first spell the forme ran out easy winners. Devonport provei • too clever for Ellerslie on tho No. 2 groum nt Carlaw Park, being too fast for iti heavier opponents. A surprisingly closi game resulted between Richmond and New ton at Western Springs, the former havint a margin of only three points in its favoui at the call of time. Marist had the byo or Saturday. Results of senior matches wero as fol lou-s:— Ponaonby, 24; City, 13. Devonport, 23; Ellerslie, 12. Richmond. 6; Newton, 3. The following table shows tho present positions of the teams in the senior championship :

LOST OPPORTUNITIES. CITY COMBINATION FAILS. City lost some great scoring chances in tho first spell against Ponsonby through hick of combination nnd failed to score in the second spell. A minute nfter play commenced S. Watene opened City's account with a nico penalty goal. City maintained the pressure for a time, its forwards overshadowing tho Ponsonby set. Tho backs of each side, however, were not seen much in action. I'ascoe broke away, and after making a nice run transferred to Laurie Barchard, who outpaced the opposition to ecoro well out. S. Wateno failed with tho kick. Ponsonby commenced to settle down better and made a couple of likely attacks before Delgrosso oponed its score with a beautiful goal from a penalty. S. Wateno hurt his ankle and had to receive attention. M. "Wateno broke clear near his own twenty-five, running strongly before passing to Reynolds, who further improved the opportunity. Davidson came up fast and finished off tho movement with a fine try between the posts. 110 missed the easy kick. Ponsonby 60on retaliated, Fagan diving over from the loose. Delgrosso easily converted. S. Wateno cleverly started the next scoring movement, in which Davidson also figured prominently before Len Barchard scored in ft good position. S. Watene converted, and halftime came with the score:—City, 13; Ponsonby, 7. Immediately on resuming Delgrosso made a fine opening from a ocrum near the Citj line and Thompson touched down by tin posts: Delgrosso converted. City was hard pressed. Delgrosso placed his team in front by kicking a penalty goal from a handy position. A minute later the same pluyet kicked another penalty goal from a similar position. Bright play followed, each side attacking in turn. Iveson miskicked on his own lino and Friend fielded the ball to score near tho posts. Delgrosso converted. Clever play by Delgrosso, followed by a cross-kick, led to the next try shortly afterwards, Winters scoring easily wide out. Delgrosso failed with tho kick. Tho gamo ended with the score:—Ponsonby, 24; City, 13. Mr. J. Stormont was referee.

BACKS TOO CLEVER. DEVONTORT'S FAST REARGUARD. Tlio cleverness, speed and combination of the Devonport rearguard wero the deciding factors in the mutch against Ellcrslio, Devonport running out easy winners. Play was uninteresting for some minutes until Drew made n determined run for the Devonport lino. Then Dufty kicked a field goal. Sea gar and T. O'Leary combined nicely and placed Devonport in a good position. From a penalty, Simons equalised the score with a good kick. Devonport's backs started a splendid passing bout and A. Scott cleverly fielded a low pass and Ruby raced over for a good try. Simons just failed to convert. Devonport lost A. Scott and Simons through injuries. Just before half-time Duffy missed two kicks at goal, tho score being:—Devonport, 5; Eilerslie, 'J. On resuming the Devonport backs com- | billed effectively and L. Scott outpaced the opposition. L. O'Leary converted. Fast, ! open play followed and OlifF made a beauti/ul opening, from which Drew scored Dufty kicked a fine goal. Superior pace saw Rhodes and Seagar bent the opposition and T. O'Leary scored. L. O'Leary converted. Seagar next sent Harding over near tho posts. Seagar converted. Another try by Scott, made Devonport's total 23. Just before time Quirke scored between the posts for Eilerslie. Dufty converted and the game endedDevonport, 23; Eilerslie. 12. Mr. W. Simpson was referee. AN EVEN DTSPLAY. NEWTON'S FINE EFFORT. The game between Richmond and Newton was notable for the brilliant passing bout by which Now ton secured its only score. It canio as ti surprise that Rich- | mond did not win by a greater margin of | points. After somewhat ragged play Popo i passed to Realty, who made a fine run, ] only to be brought down by Pell near tlio I Richmond line. Soon after Dunn headed a j promising rush, but the Newton defence | held and the advantage was quickly re- | versed. Just before half-time Prentice j secured from the ruck and passed to B. j Davis, who dashed over at the corner. G. : Davis failed to convert. Hal.f-timo enmo with tlio score:—Richmond, 3; Newton, 0. On resuming play becamo lively, and the Richmond backs proved very sound on defence. Durin was prominent in several determined solo efforts. After spoiling a beautiful chance by wild passing, Pope again received and headed a Newton attack, but the five-eighths was pulled down in a desperate melee on Richmond's line. After Richmond had kept play in its opponents' area for some time, Patterson gathered the ball and bustled over for a try near the corner. The kick failed. Willi about five minutes to go the Newton backs figured in what was undoubtedly the most spectacular passing bout of the day. Porteoiiß scoring between the posts. Ilill failed to convert. Time was called with the score:—Richmond, 6; Newton, 3. Mr. 11. Taylor was refcreo. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Reserve Grade.—Ponsonby, 8, City, 4: Devonport, 11, Eilerslie. 2; Richmond. 32. Newton, 0. Second Grade.—Northcote, 27, City 5; Mount Wellington won-from Ponsonby by default. Third Grade Open.—Richmond, 15. Glen Lynn, 0. Third Grade Intermediate'.—Marist, 11, Mount. Albert. 0; Richmond, S, City, 4: Akurana, 13, Grey Lynn, 2. Fourth Grade. —Mount Wellington won from Eilerslie by default: Point Chevalier 17. City, 3; Devonport, 10. Pnpatoetoe, 0: Akarana won from Ponsonby bv default; Richmond. 5, Mount Albert, 3: Avondale, 10, Papakura, 5. Fifth Grade.—Richmond won from Mount Albert by default: Newton, 2, Northcote. 0; Devonport, <l. Ponsonby, 2. Sixth Grade.—Newmarket, 14. Point Chevalier, 0; Marist, 11. tTewton, 0: Richmond, 7, Northcoto. 3; Devonport. 24, Aka rami, 3. Seventh Grade.— Papatoeroe.. 27, Richmond B, 0; Point Chevalier. ;4, Glen Lynn, 10: Richmond A, 7, Newmarket. 3.

CONTESTS ELSEWHERE. \ [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. J Christchi.'rch.—Addington, 15, Hornby, 8; Linwood, 12, Sydenham, 8. Duncdin.—City, 13, Christian Brothers, 10; Pacific, 11, Alhlelio, 4.

Pts. Ch. P. "W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Devonport . 3 3 — 72 30 6 Richmond 2 0 — — 31 38 4 Ponsonby o 1 1 — 33 33 2 Marist 1 1 — — 20 9 2 Gllerslie 2 1 1 17 28 1 Newton ! 3 o 1 8 37 1 City . 3 — 3 — 4(5 75 — In the first nintch of the season Marist defeated Richmond by 11 points to 10 after overtime was played, and tl o match is to bo replayed.