LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20905, 22 June 1931, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. FIRST ROUND COMPLETED. MARIST DEFEATS DEVONPORT. The final scries of matches in the first round of the Auckland ltugby League's senior championship was played on Saturday, when in the chiof match at Carlaw Park, Devonport. the leading team, sustained its first defeat at the hands of Marist. The match, which was played before the largest attendance of the season, was keenly contested, but the Btandard was rather disappointing. In the other match at Carlaw Park, Ponsonby and Richmond played a draw, while at the Domain, City had an easy win over Ellerslie. Devonport and Marist are now equal in the leail for championship honours. Aa a mark of respect to the late George W. Drew, a former member of the club, who died as the result of injuries received through a fall of earth at Waitakaruru earlier in the week, members of the Marist teams wore white armlets on Saturday afternoon. Prior to the commencement of the main game between Devonport and Marist, tlie teams stood in silence. The results of senior matches were as follows Marist, 11; Devonport. 4. Ponsonby, 2: Richmond, 2. City, 20; Ellerslie, 2. The following table shows-- the present positions of the senior teams: — Pts. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Devonport . . <> 5 1 OS 54 10 Marist . . t> 5 1 Richmond . . 0 3 2 1 05 55 7 Ponsonby .. ti 3 2 1 87 00 7 City . . .. 0 2 3 1 82 79 5 Newton . . 0 Ellerslie . . 0 SUCCESS DESERVED. DEVONPORT'S FIRST DEFEAT. A keenly fought game between Marist and Devonport resulted in a deserved win tor the former. Devonport sustaining its first defeat of the season. From ail early scrum Meehan joined in a Marist passing bout from the blind side and cut in cleverly. Running strongly he just failed to scoro. Simons tackling him from behind. Marist, hooking the ball in the scrums, kept up the pressure and Mcolian missed an easy chance from a penalty. The Devonport forwards drove back into the Marist twentyfive, where a penalty relieved the defenders. Marist continued to dominate tlio scrums and once Meehan lo3t a chanco through kicking instead of going for the line. Devonport made a couple of brief attacks, only to be driven back by scrum penalties. List was prominent in a fine run and then Marist was awarded a penalty bcaule the posts, Meehan missing the easy chance. Marist lost some scoring opportunities by narrow margins, but eventually from a penalty well out. Clarke kicked a nice goal. Marist had the better of the play and was rewarded when the backs set off. Batchelor went over at the corner, although the scorer appeared to knock the ball on in gathering possession* Clark made a good attempt to convert. Devonport camo away t/irough clever play by Seagar and L. Scott just missed a try near the posts in diving for the ball over the lino. Simons made a bad error in waiting for the bounce and Meehan kicked on and eventually scored a fine try. Clark failed to convert. Just on half-time Seogar kicked a penalty goal for Devonport, making the scoro at the interval:—Marist, 8; Devonpoit, 2.^ Fast play followed the opening of tho second spell, each side attacking in turn. Devonport then maintained an offensive for some time and once Seagar mado a poor attempt at goal from a penalty. A free kick against Young for a lato tackle gave Simons an easy chanco and ho added tlio goal points. Marist set up some strenuous attacks and hard tussles ensued on the Devonport line. Tho Devonport forwards gradually worked back and Simons wen • close from a penalty. Poor handling by the Devonport backs lost chances and Marist gradually worked back and Meehan was unlucky in missing a try by '"f 1 . 1 ® 3 after a clever run. Just before time Batchelor scored for Marist at the corner flag Clark missed the kick and the game ended with the score:—Marist, 11; Devonport, 4. Mr. McCall was refereo. COMBINATION OF BACKS. WEAK ELLERSLIE TEAM. The City backs had too much combination for a weak Ellerslie thirteen, and won comfortably in the concluding stages. Savage was prominent in a good solo run, which Davidson carried on. Hobbs and Howarth caught S. Wateno in possession and only good defenco kept Ellerslie out. Two penalty goals by "Watene » a four-point lead. \Vebb started Lllcrslie s backs in motion and Hickey made a great effort to score. City's forwards were too strong, however, and drove Ellerslie back. Play was ragged for some time. Hickey kicked a goal for Ellerslie and half-time came with the ecore. —City, 4; Klleislie, Both teams were weak in passing ana movements broke down. It took City s backs some time to combine and then tho score mounted rapidly. Good piny by Davidson sent Savage through and a beautiful passing bout ended in McLaughlin scoring between the posts. S. "Wateno converted. Superior pace placed City nt an advantage and McLaughlin again Wateno converted. A nice opening by Davidson saw Laurie Barchard score at the corner. Watene failed to convert. City's backs overwhelmed Ellerslie. and Savage and McLaughlin gave Barchard hi 3 second try. Watene failed to convert and the game ended with the score:—City, -JO: Ellerslie, 2. Mr. B. Emeruli was referee. GAME ENDS IN DRAW. PONSONBY AND RICHMOND. Owing to tho sound defensive work of both Ponsonby and Richmond, neither lino was crossed, the only scores being penalty goals. Early in the game Richmond attacked etrougly and carried play to its opponents' twenty-live. Ponsonby caina a way in a fine passing bout, in which Thompson and Winters were prominent. Richmond retaliated and from a scrum in Ponsonby's twenty-five Fail-man whipped the bail out to Dunne, who figured in a nice solo run until grounded inches from the line. Minchnm mado a brilliant run nearly tho length of the field, but tho movement failed, owing to lack of support. However, a minute after Minchara kicked a penalty goal. From a scramble Pell received and transferred to E. Estnll, who was unlucky <o be forced out near the corner. Half-time cnnie with tho Hcorc:— Richmond. 2; Ponsonby, 0. On resuming tho Ponsonby backs showed lip in a clever movement, which had tlio opposing rearguard in difficulties, but Fugan lost a certain try by knocking on. Richmond wns penalised and Friend kicked a penalty goal. Strenuous play followed in midfield. Telford and Lawless broke away, but could not pass the custodian. Some pretty manoeuvres by Friend and Winters compelled Richmond to force. Gardner failed with a penalty kick and Fairman threw away a good opportunity of scoring for Richmond by knocking on Richmond returned to tho attack and, headed by Estall, bustled over, but Angelo forced. The game ended soon after with neither sido having secured the deciding points. The final score was:—Richmond. 2: Ponsonby, 2. Mr. P. Rogers was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Reserve Grade.—Devonport, 30._ Marist, 0; Richmond, 15, Ponsonby, 10: City, 10, Ellerslio, 0. Second Grade. —Mangerc, 33, City 0; Point Chevalier. 12, Papakura, 0. Third Grade Open.—Marist, 27, Papatoetoe, 0: Richmond, 45, Glen Lynn. 2. Fourth Grade.—Marist. 25, City, 0; Akarana, 10. Avondale, 0; Point Chevalier. 2, Mount Albert. 2: Northcote, 19, Papatoetoe, 7. Fifth Grade—Marist, 5, City 2; Newton. 10. New Lynn, 0 Sixth Grade.—Richmond, 3, Marist, 0; Point Chevalier, 3, City 3; Newmarket, 16, Akarana, 0; Devonport, 7. Northcote. 3. Seventh Grade.—City, 5, Glen Lynn, 3: Ellerslie, 3. Richmond A, 0; Newmarket, 11, Richmond B, 0; Point Chevalier. 5. Papatoetoe, 8. Schoolboys.—Papatoetoe, 11, Newton, 3. RESULTS AT lIUNTLY. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HUNTLY, Saturday. The following are the results of matches played on Saturday: Seniors: Huntly 21, Hamilton, 0; Tanpiri, 22, Kni Ora. (Huntly). 9. Juniors: Huntly, 11, Ngaruawahia, 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. [ny TELKGRArH.—rRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington,—Old Boys, 7, Newtown, 0; Petone, 0, City, 5. Chrlstchurcli.—Addington, 24, Linwood. 22; Hornby, 34, Sydenham, 3. Dunedln.—Christian Brothers, 32, Athletic, 8; City, 23, Pacific, 10.