LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20917, 6 July 1931, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

PLAY IN THE SECOND ROUND. MARIST DEFEATS PONSONBY. SUPERIORITY OF REARGUARD. The second series of matches in the second round of the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship was played on Saturday under good conditions. Some fast and good" football was witnessed in the chief match between Marist and Ponsonby, the termor winning somewhat easily owing to the splendid combination of its backs. On the No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park Richmond and City fought an even contest, Richmond scoring the winning try just before time. At Devonport the home team proved much too good for Newton. Ellerslie had the bye on Saturday. The results of senior matches were ns follows: Marist, 25; Ponsonby, 10. Richmond, 11; City, S. Devonport, 20; Newton, 5. The following table shows tlie present positions of the senior teams:—

BETTER COMBINATION. MARIST BACKS EXCEL. Better combination and splendid passing by the Marist backs, who played their best game this season, gave the team an easy victory over Ponsonby. Ponsonby set up an immediate attack and Delgrosso was unlucky with a fine kick from a penally, the ball hitting the post and rebounding. Hassan set the Marist backs off in a good passing rush from halfway, which ended in Batclielor dashing over. Clark failed at goal from a good position. Fast play followed, wit i Ponsonby getting possession from the scrums and doing most of the attacking Marist hooked the ball in its own twenty-five, and again the backs were seen in fine passing. List beat Thompson, at centre and, running strongly, made a good opening before sending an in-pass to Brady. The Marist player outpaced the opposition and scored between the posts. Meehau easily converted. Marist lost a good opportunity, when Hassan made a great opening, but Brisbane dropped his pass. Ponsonby drove bact, White running round the blind side of a scrum on the line. Cyril Thompson finished the movement with a try at the corner. Delgrosso failed with the kick. Immediately Batclielor followed up a high kick, gathered possession, and in-passed to Brady, who scored wide out. Meehau made a poor attempt to convert. Marist was penalised in a handy position and Delgrosso made no mistake with the kick. Skelton retired at this stage, being replaced by Dear. The Marist backs were always dangerous, Median once losing a try by failing to accept a transfer from List. Obstruction against Marist saw Delgrosso land a fine goal. From the kickoff Gardiner broke through and mishandling by Marist enabled Ponsonby to break through. The ball was kicked over the lino and Friend won the race for the touch down. Delgrosso failed at goal. Marist came back in a strong counter rush, Mcehan scoring at the corner. Clark failed at goal. Hall-time came, with the score:— Marist, 14; Ponsonby, 10. Hooking the ball in the scrums Marist kept up a continual attack and eventually List scored at the corner, although he appeared to be forced into touch in goal before grounding the ball. Raile.y failed with the kick. Ponsonby tackled better with the result it made some attacks from Marist's mistakes. However, Campbell, the Marist fullback, proved very safe and repeatedly saved his team with fine kicks. Brady, who had made good openings all through the game, ran List into position for the next try, which Batclielor easily converted. List failed to ground the ball in diving over for another try, but Median was handy and touched down. The scorer failed at goal, and the game ended with the score:—Marist, 25; Ponsonby, 10. Mr. L. Bull was referee.

DEVONPORT SUPERIOR. NEWTON'S SOUND DEFENCE. After an uninspired exhibition by both teams in the first half, Devonport forced through a strong Newton defence in the second spell at the Devonport Domain, and won by 20 points to 5. Newton kept Devonport in midfield until Ituby secured and. running strongly, beat the defence and scored. Simons converted. Newton set up a back attack, but Devonport forced play back, and from keen scrum work Simpson sent the ball to Ruby, who bustled over. Simons failed with the kick. Half-time came with the scoreDevonport. S: Newton. 0.

Upon resuming Emanuel replaced Mollett in the Newton pack. Newton dominated the first minutes and from an infringement Hill kicked to Pope who scored near the posts. llill converted. Devonport held the Newton backs in check and A. Scott "dummied" his way over to score between the posts. Scagar failed with an easy kick. Devonport still held the territorial advantage and nfte.r a brisk encounter T. O'Leary sent O'Donnell over. Simons could not convert. Simpson carried the ball at toe through the defence and from a spectacular forward burst Ruby scored wide out. Simons failed ' at goal. Ruby was again prominent in a run, which ended in T. O'Leary scoring. Ruby did not add the extra points, and the game ended with the score:—Devonport, 20; Newton, 5. Mr. E. McCall was referee.

Pis. Ch P. W. L. D. L-\ A. Pt.8 Devonport ..8 7 1 — 131 64 14 Marist . . .871 — i:w til 14 Richmond . . 8 4 3 1 79 71 9 Ponsonby .. 7 3 3 1 97 85 7 City . . 8 2 G 1 95 1011 5 Newton .. . . 8 1 5 2 41 98 4 Ellerslie . . 7 — G 1 42 142 1