LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20911, 29 June 1931, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

SENIOR GRADE MATCHES. SECOND ROUND COMMENCED. DEVONPORT DEFEATS CITY. The second round of matches in tho Aucklnnd Rugby League's senior compelitiou was commenced on Saturday 011 heavy grounds and a few showers during HlO play made tho ball greasy. Chief interest centred in tho meeting of City and Devonport at Carlaw Park, and afte.r a keen struggle Devonport ran out rather easy winners. In tho other gamo at Carlaw Tark Newton proved too strong for Ellerslie. A close gamo resulted at Western Springs between Marist and Richmond, victory eventually going to tho former by u margin of iivo points. Tho results of senior matches were as follows : Devonport, 10, City, 5. Newton, 11. Etlcrslio, 3. llarist. 8. Richmond, 3. Tho following table shows the present positions of the senior teams: — l.'ts., Cli. P. W. L„ D. F. A. j'ts. Devonport .7 0 1 ' l4 5D 12 Marist ..7 •> 1 r >' 12 Richmond .73 3 I '>B ? Ponsonby . <> 3 - 1 87 (,<l ' City . .. 7 2 4 1 87 05 5 Newton . . 7 I 4 2 30 73 4 Ellcrslio ..7 t> 1 42 14- 1 DEVONPORT IMPROVES. CITY REARGUARD FAIJ,S. Devonport showed improved form against City and won by 1G points to 5. Tho City backs failed badly aa a combination. Fast up and down play marked tho opening stages, L. Scott just failing to score after S. Wttteno had fumbled. Tho City backs wcro prominent in nice passing, and once McLaughlin "dummied" cleverly in the Devonport twenty-five. Considerable ground was gained but a try should have resulted, Ivcson losing a splendid chanco by passing infield instead of out. Savage was injured in a tackle and went off for a few minutes. Immediately 011 the restart Simpson broko through cleverly and T. O'Lcary cunio into the movement before sending Maseneld over between tho posts. Senear converted. City mado some brief attacks but Devonport was soon back. O'Donnell cut through and Scagar just failed in a dash for the lino. From tho looso play which followed Rhodes dashed over by the posts. Seagar again converted. Earchard was injured and had to retire, being replaced by Munce. Devonport had ft lucky escape when a City rush carried play over tho lino and Ivoson, M. Wateno and Clarko all missed in an effort to touch down. Poor play by the City backs enabled Seagar to gain possession, tho Dovonport centre making a good opening which L. Scott finished off with a try wido out. Seagar failed at goal and tho score at half-time was: Devonport, 13; City, °. Early in tho second spell City was awarded a penalty, S. Wateno making a poor effort at goal. A little later Wateno was successful from a penalty right in front of tho posts. Devonport kept up tho attack and Seagar and then E. Scott narrowly missed scoring. Free-kicks against Devonport allowed City to drive back, and Alderton went through a scrum 011 tho line and touched down wide out. S. Wateno failed with the ltick. City lost some good opportunities and tho Devonport defence held. Then O'Donnell followed on a Devonport rush and kicked cleverly past S. Wateno. Although obstructed O'Donnell was fast to tho touch down. Scagar failed with a difficult kick, and tho game ended with tho Bcore: Dovonport, 3(5; City, 5. Mr. P. Rogers wa« referee. MARIST EXTENDED. DEFEAT OF RICHMOND. In a filernly-conteeled, although spasmodic gamo at tho Western Springs Stadium. Marist was fully extended by Richmond to win by 8 points to 3. Tho greasy ball and tho Richmond pack wcro too formidable an opposition for tho combined movements of tho Marist backs, which rarely dangerous. From a scrum infringement Clarko kicked a goal for Marist. Tho Richmond van forced play which degenerated into a series of infringements by both sides, Iho Richmond team made a powerful offensive with Mincham, Pell and Lawless outstanding. Mincham was injured, and was replaced by Prentice. Many Marist attacks were stopped by tho Richmond forwards, but they were sorely tried by clever feverse passing by Bachelor and Brady. Tho ecoro at half-time was: Marist, 2: Richmond, 0. Tho initial stages of the second spell saw a strong Richmond attack, both divisions working well. Marist was in a tight corner but tho backs relieved with the fined series of movements of the day. Meehnn, who gave a fine exhibition of side-stepping and "dummying," Hassan and Brisbane werp in great form, and severely tested Richmond. Brady, Marist, and Telford, Richmond. received injuries at this juncture and left tho field. Tho Marist backs attacked, and after a great run by Meehan, Brisbane secured and passed to List, who scored well out. Clarke failed to convert. After a few minutes of ragged play Webbcrley scored for Marist. Median failed at coal from a difficult angle. Soon afterwards Jones scored for Richmond after some close play. Dunno failed to convert. Tho final score was: Marist, 8: Richmond, 3. Mr. F. Thompson was referco. NEWTON SUPERIOR. A RAGGED EXHIBITION. Newton was too good for Ellcrslio in a very ragged game. Within a few minutes of tho kink-off Ellcralie's forwards rushed piny to Newton's twenty-five, where a scrum resulted. Kcesing passe 1 smartly to Drew, who scored in a. good position. Hemingway failed to convert. The Newton forwards swept over the opposition and St. George scored a nico try. Dempscy failed to convert. Webb mado a fine opening, but weak handling prevented Ellerslie from scoring. Dempscy set, Newton's backs in motion, and Francis carried play to Kllerslio's line. Keeping up tho pressure Hill, for Newton, beat 1110 defence badlv, and raced across, lie also converted. Newton was superior in tho loose and St. George broko through and scored. Hill failed, to convert, and halftime came with tho score: Newton, 11; Ellerslie, 3. Tho kick-off in the second half proved disastrous for Ellerslie. Keesing attempted n short punt, and the bull rebounded for Francis to ecoro a. simplo try. Allen failed to convert. Popo was prominent among Newton's backs and mado a beautiful opening which ended in Kddleston being pushed into touch. Webb placed Ellerslie 011 the attack, but Dempscy saved well. Poor handling was in evidence 011 both sides, nnd little, football was attempted. The. gamo ended with the score: Newton, 31; Ellcrslio, 3. Mr. L. Bull was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Reserve Grade.—Devonport, 15, City. 0: Newton, IG, Ellerslie, 12; Marist Old Boys, 5, Richmond. 0. Second Grade.—City, 13, Mount Wellington. 0; Mount Albert, 5, Northcote, 0. Third Grado Open.—Marist Old Boys, G, Richmond, 3. . . Third Grade Intermediate.—Richmuid, 11. Glenora, 0; Akarana, 0. Ponsonby, 0; Marist Old Boys, 8, Mount Albert. 0. Fourth Grade.—Akarana, 11. City. 3; Northcote, 24, Avondnle, 0; Mount Albert, 5, Papatoetoo, 0; Marist Old Boys, 11. Newmarket, f>. Fifth Grade.—Northcote, 6, City. Newton, 15. Richmond, 0; Marist Old Boys, 7, Devonport, 0; Ellerslio, 12, Mount Albert. O " sixth Grado.—Marist Old Boys, P, City, 0; Richmond, 5i Ncwmarkot, 3; Akarana, 3,' Point Chevalier, 0. Seventh Grade.—Richnnnd A, la, City, 0; Ellerslie, 14, Point Chevalier. 0; Papatoetoo 20. Newmarket, 2: Richmond, 17, Parnell, 2; Newmarket. 11, Papntoetoe, 0. MATCH AT HAMILTON. [FROJI OUIt OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Sunday. Playing at Hamilton yesterday, the Hamilton .League team defeated Kia Ora by five points to three. GAMES IN OTHER CENTRES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ChrlStchurch.— Hornby A, 17, Addington, 13; Linwood, 22. Sydenham, G; Hornby B, 11, Riccarton, 10. Dunedin.—City, 9. Christian Brothers, 5; Athletic, 23, Pacific, 22.