LEAGUE COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20947, 10 August 1931, Page 11

LEAGUE COMMENTS.

SPLENDID PLAY IN FINAL, V FORWARDS IN GREAT FORM. FAST PACE KEPT THROUGHOUT. The large crowd of spectators, who assembled at Carlaw Park on Saturday to waitch the championship final between Marist and Devonport were rewarded with a splendid exhibition of the code. The hard, low tackling by each team naturally frustrated many movements, but there was plenty of bright passing, especially by the Marist backs. Devonport started in a manner which suggested it was out to play Marist at its own game. For the first 10 minutes it succeeded and then, for some unknown reason, tried to keep the play tight. Getting the ball from £he scrums tha Devonport rearguard indulged in soma snappy passing and the Devonport forwards were going great guns in the loose, a pace which the vanguard maintained right up to the final whistle. The Devonport backs seemed afraid to throw the ball about much after the early stages and E. Smith overdid the short kick. Otherwise he played a fine game, his tackling throughout being of a hig;h order. The Marist players took - all sorts of risks in the early part a.nd it took tha backs a time to settle down to their usual neatness. Some poor passes were given and the handling was not so clean as usual. At the same time, it has to ba remembered that the tackling of tha opposition did not give the players in possession much chance to proceed far. A weakness at the start was Seagar's tackling and List beat him on three or four occasions. After this Seagar improved and the opposing centre could not make his thrustful runs. More Experience Counts. Only more experience and all-round solid play carried the day for Marist against an opposition that is deserving of every praise for its great effort to save tha game. Even if Devonport had possessed a reliable place-kick it had a fine chance of reversing the result in the first spell, when two easy chances were missed. Devonport played without its captain, A. Scott, for the last 20 minutes, but even then the forwards held on tenaciously. Great credit is due to the lighter Devonport pack for its fast following up, splendid tackling and work in the tight against a heavier set of forwards. Tha play of the Devonport forwards was tha outstanding feature of the game and for once a strong Marist vanguard was slightly overshadowed. One and all played well, but special mention must be mada of the exhibitions of Ruby, Simpson and E. Scott. The Marist forwards presented a for. roidable opposition and worked well with the backs. Clark, Carter, Railey and Johnson were always to the fore. Tha Marist backs combined with more under* standing than the opposition and Meehaa again proved a good scoring man. It is a pity that in a match such as this two very doubtful tries were awarded. Meehan certainly appeared" to touch the corner flag in scoring the first try. A. Scott also appeared to touch the ball down twice over the line before Bachelor fell on it. At any rate, the referee was a long way from the incident and his decision took the great majority of those in a position to see what happened by surprise. Well Deserved Win. The game between Ponsonby and Richmond was keenly contested and the tatter's win was well deserved. Richmond played up to its best form and some of the passing bouts were good to watch. .Ponsonby had equally as many chances, but the backs passed slowly. The threequarters were hampered by "the inside backs, who often stood and sent out slow passes. It was surprising a change was not made, as Skelton at centra, frequently pierced the defence, but got little support. Richmond's forwards were more than a match for Ponsonby. The set followed up any advantage by the backhand frequently assisted in passing bouts. Lea at fullback got through a lot of useful work. Mincham used his pace to advantage and Dunn was the -best back, being responsible for several nice runs. Stehr did not., handle as well as usual. Prentice and Telford were outstanding among the forwards. P. Skelton was easily Ponsonby's best back. The centre made beautiful openings and if he had been better supported tries would have resulted. Riley played a good game, but Delgrosso was below form at five-eighths. McLeay and Cyril Thompson played solidly in- the forwards, while Hutt did useful work in the loose. Webb's Fine Game. Ellerslie and City gave a dashing display at the Ellerslie Domain, the former having its own way until close to' time, when City made a hopeless endeavour to add fourteen points in as many minutes. Ellerslie provided penetrative back work and fine tackling was the order of the day. The team gave a much better showing than in its game last week against Marist, Hickey and Webb in particular being outstanding^: City's backs had the better combination. Both packs played keenly and at times play was willing, frequent injuries testifying to the energy expended in the loose. Keesing was the better fullback, Maher, the City custodian, being uncertain* Hickey played a fine game in a hardworking threequarter line, his sure handling and speed being a decided asset. Webb, the Ellerslie captain, infused vigour into the side and the many openings and interceptions he made paved the way to victory. .