LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20887, 1 June 1931, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

PLAY ,ON HEAVY GROUNDS. DEVONPORT BEATS RICHMOND. POSITIONS OF THE TEAMS. The Benior championship of tit* Auckland Rugby League was advanaed a further stage on Saturday, when three matches were decided. For the first time this Beuson the grounds wexe in a greasy etate owing to rain and a few light showers fell during the play. This made the ball rather difficult to handle and players found difficulty in gaining u foothold. Consequently the pace was not so fast as usual. Chief interest centred in the meeting of the leading teams, Devonport and Richmond, on the main ground at Carlaw Park, and after a fairly even contest Devonport ran out winners by a margin of eight points. Marist accounted for Newton on the No. 2 ground, while at Ellerslie Pen-, sonby had an easy win over the local thirteen. . The results of eemor matches were as lollows

Devonport, 13. Richmond, 5. Marist, 18, Newton, 9. Ponsonby, 24, Ellerslie, 8. The following table shows the present positions of the senior teams:—

In the first match of the season Marist defeated Richmond by 11 points to 10 after overtime was played and the Auckland Rugby League decided to replay the game. Richmond has appealed to the New Zealand Rugby League against this decision. This match has been omitted from the championship table.

UNDEFEATED RECORD. DEVONPORT TAKES HONOURS. By defeat in k Richmond in a fairly even gnme Devonport maintained its unbeaten record. Within a minute of the start O'Donnell was hurt in tackling Prentice and had to retire, bsing replaced by Harding. The slippery ground hindered the players and there was little to choose between the teams in the early stages. Play was confined chiefly to the forwards, the backs on each side being called on mostly for defence. The fullbacks were engaged in some good kicking duels, with the honours in favour of Simons. Devonport kept up an attack, its backs settling down better, but they could not pierce the defence. Devonport was rewarded when a passing rush broke down and Simpson dribbled over cleverly to beat two opponents and score well out. Simons failed with the kick. Up to half-time the advantage lay with Devonport, but there was no further scoring, the board at the interval reading: Devonport, 3; Richmond, 0. Neither side could claim much advantng;e in the early stages of the second spell until Lee sent play well into the Devonport twenty-five. Devonport gradually worked back and then Richmond lost a glorious scoring opportunity. Patterson made a nice opening and with players in support B. Davis, on being tackled, sent nn offside pass. L. Scott then featured in a great run to score behind the posts. Intercepting in his own twentyfive he outpaced the opposition. feinting cleverly to run round Lee. A. Scott easily converted. Richmond was soon back on the Devonport line, where B. Davis made a clever opening from a scrum, which should have resulted in a try. Devonport began to assert itself and a clever kick by A. Scott saw Lee misfield badly. Casey picked up with half a dozen players in support to score unopposed behind the posts. A. Scott again converted. Richmond was at last rewarded when Dunne made a nice opening. Prentice corning up fast to take the pass and dnsh over fairly well out. G. Davis converted with a good kick. Strenuous exchanges followed until the end, but there was no further scoring, the game ending: Devonport, 13; Richmond, 5. Mr. B. Emerali was referee.

MARIST TOO POWERFUL. NEWTON'S GOOD PLAY. Marist was too powerful for the youthful Newton thirteen, which played really well in stages on a heavy ground. Early in the game Pope, the Newton five-eighths, cut in nicely and just missed a try. Newton swept over Marist and Francis passed to Brimble, who scored near the corner. Dempsey failed to convert. Good play by Emanuel saw Newton's forwards press. Marist, but Gregory cleared. Bad handling by List cost Marist a try. Hassan proved clever on attack and the Marist half raced over between the posts. Gregory converted. The Marist backs were superior in handling the wet ball and Brady broke through and Brisbane scored. Gregory kicked a fine goal. Then Gregory made a nice opening from which Brisbane scored. Gregory again converted and at half-time the score was: Marist, 15: Newton. 3. Newton did better on resuming and Francis and Harris went clobo to scoring. Marist, however, had an advantage in the scrum and its backs were often dangerous. Brimble changed the situation by outpacing the opposition to score for Newton. Middleton failed to convert. A few minutes later Brady sent Batchelor over for a good try. Gregory failed to convert. Just before time Pope and Beattie showed up prominently for Newton and the latter passed to Brimble, who scored. Middleton failed to convert and the game ended with the score: Marist, 18; Newton, 9. Mr. L. Bull was referee.

PONSONBY GAINS VICTORY. ELLERSLIE'S GOOD FIGIIT. After being fully tested in the first half Ponsonby ran out with a good margin of points in the match with Ellerslie played nt Ellerslie. Play was confined to loose rushes among the forwards until Ellerslie came strongly and Hobbs evaded Culpan to score in a handy position. Dufty was unsuccessful with the kick. In spite of good work by Fagan and Gardiner in the Ponsonby van, Ellerslie continued to press. Ponsonby retaliated, however, and from a scrum in Ellerslie's territory the ball was whipped out to Winters, who in-passed and Friend crossed the line under the posts. The scorer also converted. At half-time the Bcore was: Ponsonby, 5; Ellerslie, 3. Shortly after the resumption a misunderstanding among the Ellerslie backs allowed P. Skelton to score. The kick fniled. The Ellerslie van broke through occasionally, but faulty handling intervened at the crucial moment. Thompson following up fast, added to Ponsonby's points when Webb failed to field in the face of a loose rush. The kick was unsuccessful. Dufty put Ellerslie at an advantage with a sparkling run and Hickey, receiving, went over to score. Dufty converted. The game was being very evenly contested at this stage, but Ponsonby gradually wore down its opponents. a fine swerving run by P. Skelton cutting out the Ellerslie backs and Gardiner scored. The kick failed. Skelton and Angelo scored again before the finish, Fagan and Friend adding the extra points. The final score was: Ponsonby. 2-1; Ellerslie. 8. Mr. E. H. McCnll wna referee.

LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Reserve Grade.—Devonport, 21. Richmond, 0; Marist. 32, Newton, 0; Poneonby, 14, Ellerslie, 3 • Second Grade.—Papakura, IG, Ponsonby, 2- Point Chevalier, 8, Mangere, 0; Mount Wellington, 3, City 2: Mount Albert, 10, Northcote, G. Third Grade Open.—Marist, 3, Waiterimu, 2; Ponsonby, 12. Richmond, 2. Third Grade Intermediate.—Akarana, 2, Ponsonby, 0: Richmond, 6, Marist. 2. Fourth Grade—Akarana, 3, Richmond, 3; Northcote, 8, Point Chevalier, 6- Avondale, 3, Mount Albert. 0: City, 50. Papatoetoe, 21: Marist, 21, Papakura. 0. Fifth Grade.—City, 3, Newton, 2; Devonport, 3, Richmond, 0; Glen Lynn. 18, Mount Albert, 0; Marist, 35, Ellerslie. 0 : Ponsonby, 5, Northcote, 3. Sixth Grade.—Richmond. 12. Devonport, 0; Newmarket 7, Marist, 2; City, 8, Northcote, 0. Seventh Grade.—Ellerslie, 14, Richmond, 0; Richmond, 33, Point Chevalier, 0.

WIN FOR TAUPIRI. [fhom or;n own correspondent.] HAMILTON, Sunday. Taupiri defeated Hamilton in ft League match at Hamilton yesterday by 11 points to 6. MATCHES IN OTHER CENTRES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —TOKSS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch.— Hornby, 15, Sydenham, 10: Addington, 19,. Linwood, IS. Dunedln.—Christian Brothers, 98, Ath letie, 8; City, 8, Pacific, 8.

Pts. Ch. P W. L. D. F. A. PtB. Devonport . . 4 4 — — 85 35 8 Richmond . . 4 :s l — 56 40 IS Ponsonby . . 4 a i — 77 49 0 Muiist . a '2 i — 40 34 4 City . . . i i 3 — (52 77 o Ellerelie . 4 — 3 1 34 (13 1 Kowton . 5 — 4 1 25 75 1