LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20941, 3 August 1931, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

''PLAY ON HEAVY GROUNDS. DEVONPORT DEFEATS PONSONBY L. HUTT ORDERED OFF FIELD. Heavy grounds and rain squalls were again experienced on Saturday for the continuation of the second round of the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship. Considering the conditions gpme surprisingly good play , was witnessed. The principal attraction was the match between Devonport and Ponsonby, the former adapting itself to the conditions better and running out winners by 13 points. Ponsonby failed to open its scoring account. Near the close of the ganio L. Hutt, Ponsonby, was ordered off. On the Xo. 2 ground at Carlaw Park Newton created a surprise by defeating City easily in a. high-scoring match. Marist had an easy win over Ellerslie at Papatoetoe, and was leading by 21 points to 3 at half-time when the game was abandoned • The results of Saturday's matches were as follows: — Devonport, 13; Ponsonby, 0. Newton, 23; City, 10. Marist, 21; Ellerslie. 3. The following table shows the present positions of teams in the senior championship : Pta. Ch.

BACKS PLAY WELL.

BETTER TACTICS PREVAIL. The Devonport backs played good football against Ponsonby under the conditions, and better tactics enabled the side to notch a comfortable victory. Play was fast and open from the commencement. Having the advantage of the wind Devonport adopted np-acd-under tactics with success. Angelo saved splendidly several times. Then Schof]eld intercepted in a Devonport back attach, and the position was dangerous until A. Smith saved well. Devonport kept up the attack, and. at half-way O'Donnell obtained possession, "dummied" cleverly,, and made a splendid opening, with L. Scott and A. Smith in support. Scott took the pass from. O'Donnell, and Smith finished oft the movement by dashing over near the corner. The scorer failed to convert. Fast following up by Devonport kept Ponsonby troubled, and from a scrum breach at the twenty-five 11. Smith kicked a goal. Shortly Afterwards R. Smith kicked high in a passing bout, the bounce beat Angelo, and Seagar dashed up to score by the posts. R. Smith converted. Friend, Ponsonby. went off injured and was replaced by Bright. Heavy rain fell just prior to half-time, Devonport. having had all the better of the play. The score at the interval was:— Devonport. 30: Ponsonby, 0. The teams changed round without taking the spell. Penalties against Ponsonby enabled Devonport to maintain the advantage and Pcnsonby. except for brief attacks, had to defend strenuously. Fast following by placed Ponsonby in a good position. The attackers were awarded a penalty right underneath the posts. Instead of taking a shot at goal Delgrosso tried to catch the opposition unawares with a cross-kick. The ruse failed and a force-down resulted. Pon- - sonby had Devonport in its own area for a period, but the defence was too good and Devonport rallied again, L. Scott just failing in a dash for the line. The same player v w?.s prominent in a run a little later._ On being tackled he in-passed and Ruby picked the ball off the ground and touched down wide out. R. Smith failed with the kick. About five •minutes before time L. Hutt, Ponsonby, was ordered off. There was no further scoring, the game ending:—Devonport. 13; Ponsonby, 0. Air. P. Rogers was referee. EASY WIN FOR NEWTON. CITY TEAM WEAKENED. "Newton's forwards were better ably to adapt themselves to the conditions, and the /team easily defeated City, which was minus 'five of its usual thirteen. An early attack by City saw McLaughlin and _ Davidson carry plaV to Newton's lino. Kirkup and Ferguson cleared, and from the loose St. George made a nice run and Ferguson scored. Porteous failed to convert. _ New- ' ton's forwards were successful in their rushing tactics, and had' complete control of the ball. Middleton followed a long kick and had little difficulty in scoring. .Porteous converted. Supported by Pierce, Davidson was held yp on the Newton goal line, and Reynolds went close to scoring. After Middleton just missed a penalty goal Brinftle gave. Pope a chance, and the fiveeighths scored a nice try. Porteous missed the goal. A few minutes later City's backs attacked and McLaughlin scored between the posts. Barchard and halftime came with the score:—Newton, 11; C;'{, 5. the ground was further churned up as the result of heavy rain, but Newton's forwards still' had control. Pierce headed a strong City offensive and Len Barchard scored. Laurie Barchard converted. Play was more even, and City had a great chance from a splendid run by Davidson. His pass, However, was dropped. City was penalised and Middleton goaled. The Newton forwards played with great dash, and Hill supported ■ splendidly. He passed to St. George, who ' fcored between the posts. Middleton converted. Another sweeping offensive saw St. fteorgo score again and Middleton convert. The game ended with the score:—Newton, £3: City,- 10. Mr. \V r . Simpson was referee. MARIST BACKS SUPERIOR. FT,! J-", lis LIE MATCH ABANDONED. rth-'.ve-itevlv squul!a made playing con-rl:;;o-i:i impossible in the Marist-Ellerslie psme si Pa pat oe toe. and at half-time Maris! T.-aa declared winner on the first spell fcore:—-Marist, 21; Eilerslie. The Marist j backs v.masters of the situation throughout. Eilerslie kicked off, the pack worked to the Lr,o and Hickcy scored, fie failed t-> eoiiVf-r. The Marist backs came away. Drew taking the hull to Ellerslie'3 line, where P. Young scored. Gregory converted Marist aga in' attacked and a misunderstandirm by Eilerslie left Clarke a clear run in. He could not convert. Eilerslie pressed, but List, broke through and touched down. Gregory converted. Eilerslie took the territorial advantage for a period and Bos well just failed with a field-goal. Marist countered with the backs and the ball came out tj Bachelor, who had no difficulty in scoring. Gregory converted with a good kick. Marist had • matters all its own way, and Gregory concluded the spell and the game •with an unconverted try, Marist winning on theJialf-time score:—Marist. 21; Eilerslie, 3. Mr. V.'Simpson was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Third (trade Intermediate.—Ponsonby, 2, Glenora, 0. Fourth Grn-Ie. —Newmarket, 3, Papntoetoe, Ol -Point Chevalier, 17. Devonport, G. Sixth Grade.—-Point Chevalier, 8. Devonport, 3. Seventh Grade.-City, 0, Papatoetoe, 0. RICHMOND BEATS WHANG AREI f'r.Y TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. i WHANGAREI, Saturday. Owing to the v*et weather, only a small crowd attended 'Kensington Park to see the penior match between Richmond (Auckland) r.nd Whangarei United. Richmond won by 13 to 1.1. Jonas and Davis retired from • the Richmond team owing to injuries to the knee and ribs respectively. In a cur-tain-raiser, Whakapara, 3, beat City, 2. 'games IN THE SOUTH. [by tblf.grArir.—press association.] Wellington—Old Boys, 3, Newtown A, 10; ?etone!. 9. Newtown B, 0. Chrliitchurch.—Hornby A. 13 (holders), fceat Addington,' 11, in the Vivian Cup chal- j lenee match.

P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Harist 11 10 1 — 192 83 20 Devonport 11 10 1 — 173 80 20 Kichmond 11 6 •1 1 129 SS 13 Ponsonby 11 G •1 1 147 129 13 Kewtou 12.' o ' S o S3 145 6 City 11 2 S 1 122 1(35 5 Ellerslia 11 — 10 1 71 227 1