LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20947, 10 August 1931, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

CHAMPIONSHIP TO MARIST. FAST MATCH WITH DEVONPORT. DOUBTFUL TRIES AWARDED. Senior championship honours in the Auckland Rugby League's competition were decided on Saturday, when Marist and Devonport, the leading teams, met, the former winning a fast game by 12 points to 5. Play was much more even than the score would indicate, Devonport putting up a great fight and being very unlucky on occasions. Two doubtful tries were awarded to Marist, the second at a stage in the game which may have made all the difference to the result. The Marist team was more solid all round and this carried the team to victory. Little interest was taken in the other senior matches. Richmond was successful over Ponsonby, and Ellerslie caused a surprise by defeating City at Ellerslie. The principal match was watched by easily the largest attendance of the season. The results of matches were as follows; Marist, 12; Devonport, 5. Richmond, 14; Ponsonby, 5. Ellerslie, 14; City, 10. The following table shows the final positions of teams in the senior championship;— Pts. Ch. P. W. L. D. P. A. Pts. Marist . .. 12 11 1 Devonport . . 12 10 2 178 178 92 20 Richmond . . 12 7 4 1 143 93 15 Ponsouby ~ 12 6 5 1 152 143 13 Newton . . 12 2 8 2 83 140 (5 City . . .. 12 2 9 I 132 179 5 Ellerslie .. 12 1 10 1 85 237 3

AN EVEN CONTEST. DEVONPORT'S FINE FORWARDS

The match between Marist and Devonport proved very even, the score of 12 points to five in the former's favour being rather flattering on the run of the play. One of the features of the giime was the splendid all-round play of the Devonport forwards. Fast play marked the oxiening stages, each side throwing the ball about freely, although the Marist passing was inclined to be erratic. Poor tackling let List through in a back attack and the position looked dangerous until a ppor pass saved the situation. Fast, loose work by the Devorfport forwards had Marist in trouble, Campbell saving well with a fine kick. Devonport maintained the pressure, over-eagerness costing it a couple of froo kicks. Hassan _ made a fi.no ruji from u scrum on his line to halfway, but Bachelor failed to take his pass. Shortly afterwards List broke clean away, only to thrpw away a certain try by a wild pass. Marist was not to be denied, however, and Moehan finished off a passing moyement by dashing in at the corner, although he appeared to touch the corner flag. Gregory failed with the kick. Devonport soon drove back and R. Sniith missed at goal from a penalty in a fairly easy position. Marist was being penalised • for scrum breaches, and the referee spoke to the captain regarding the hooker. Gregory made a fine opening, which Meehan further improved, and although the movement was stopped by O'DonneU, Clarke dashed away and, passing between Gregory and Baohelor, enabled the last-named to score wide out. Gregory failed with the kick. R. Smith had a good chanco from an easy position, but his kick hit an opponent. Then from another penalty right in front A. Scott easily added the goal points. Half-time came with the score:—Marist, 6; Devonport, 2. Playing with the sun Devonport, by high kicks, was soon in Marist's' territory, Harding was prominent in a couple of dashes on the wing and from another short passing bout, when cornered, ho threw a long in-pass to Masefield who touched down. A. Scott made a good attempt to convert. Devonport had the better of the exchanges until A. Scott failed to gather a long kick properly and, although he appeared to touch down beiore Bachelor, the Marist player was awarded a try. Clarke failed at goal from a difficult angle. Devonport still kept Marist in its own territory and lost a certain try when R. Smith failed to take his pass in a back attack with the defence out of position. A. Scott was injured and had to stay oft' the field for a time. The Marist forwards gradually worked downfield and the backs came away in bright passing and Meehan scored a fine try at the corner. Clarke failed with the kick. A. Scott had to_ go off the field again at this stage. Marist kopt ud a strong attack until Ruby drove it back and E. Scott was conspicuous for clever footwork. Strenuous play resulted until the end, but there was no further scoring, the final score being:—Marist, 12; Devonport, 5. Mr. L. Bull was referee. INTERESTING MATCH. RICHMOND BEATS PONSONBY Richmond hud too much combination and won an interesting game from Ponsonby. Richmond was first to attack and its forwards swept over the opposition, a timely save by C. Thornton checking a dangerous movement. Fagan broke away, but was lowered in Richmond's twenty-five. Play swung back to Ponsonby's territory where Prentice passed to Minchain who scored. The scorer failed to convert. Fast following up had Thompson in trouble and Richmond gained the advantage. Davis secured and scored a good try. Mincham failed to convert. Dunne mado a splendid opening and raced to the Ponsonby twentyfive, but Stehr fumbled and a try was lost. P. Skelton was responsible for placing Ponsonby in a good position. Tljo backs, however, failed to follow up the advantage. Just before half-time Delgrosso kicked a magnificent penalty goal, and tho score at the interval wasßichmond, G: Ponsonby, 2. A good dash by the Richmond forwards saw Telford almost score. Agnew passed quickly to Dunn and Pell raced over. Davis missed the goal. Good play by Cyril Thompson and Hutt had Richmond defending. but Leo found touch near halfway. Ponsonby played improved football and P. Skelton raced 40 yards, but held on when Riley could have scored. A few minutes later Skelton made amends and scored in tho corner, Delgrosso failed to convert. Richmond rallied and Prentice raced over, only to bo called back for a forward pass. Good passing by Dunn and Davis enabled Blood to score. Mincham converted and the gamo ended:— Richmond, 14; Ponsonby, 5 Mr. E. McCall was referee. ELLERSLIE'S FIRST WIN. LATE RECOVERY BY CITY. A large crowd at tho charily match at tho Ellerslie Domain saw spectacular and keen play, when Ellerslie staged a nut-prise but well-merited win over City. From tho kick off Ellerslie bustled to the line where Hobbs scored wide out. fHenimingway failed to convert. Ellerslie kept play in City's quarter, and Watene had to. force. City gained ground by line-kicking, but Hickey followed up a kick and easily beat Maher to score. Chapman .could not convert. City forced play and Ellerslie was saved by tho dead-ball line. Tackling broke up' City movements and Hommingway, made a splendid line-kick to City terri- • lory, whero Webb took the ball from an opponent's toe to score under the posts. Boswell easily' converted. At half-lime the score was :- Ellerslie, 11; City, 0. On resuming Watene made a good shot at a field-goat from halfway, but just failed. Line-kicking by City improved tho position until Hickey .made a fine run to City area where Hobbs lost a sure try by lmockin"-on. Ellerslie was throwing the ball about well and Webb penetrated the defence, neat work ending in Drew scoring well out. Oliff did not convert. Injuries were frequent and Pascoe, City, retired injured. Drew intercepted, but a try was lost by Hemmingway Barchard relieved with a speedv run the length of the field and scored well out. Watene had ro trouble in converting. Citv was now on its mettle and from a scrum on the lino McLoughhn ran over near the posts, Watene converting easily. Time was called shortly after with City attacking, the final score being :—-Ellerslie. 14: City, 10. Mr S. Billman was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Reserve Grade.-Ponsonby, fi. Richmond. 5; Devonport, 3, Marist, 3; Ellerslie won from City by default. Second Grade.— Papakura, 4, Point Cheva--11 Third Cr.ade Open.— Ponsonby, 25, RiohmTbird°' Grade Intermediate.—Marist. 4Sf, Ponsonby, 0; Richmond, 19, Mount Albert, 0. Fourth Grade.—Marist, 6. Mount Albert. 0; Akin-ana, 6, Papatoetoe, 0. Fifth Grade.—Marist, 43, Mount Albert, 0; Ponsonby, 23. Richmond, 10. Sixth Grade.—Northcole, 8, Newton, 3; Marist, 23, Akarana, 3; Richmond,-5, Point Chevalier, 0; Newmarket, 2, City, 0. Seventh Grade.—Richmond A, 17, Glen Lynn, 0; Ellerslie, 31, Newmarket, 0; Point Chevalier, 11, 'Richmond, 0. ' Primary Schools.—Newmarket, 22, Northcote, 0; Papatoetoe, 15, Newton, 0; Ellerslie, 6, City. 3; Richmond, 15, Devonport. 0; Avondalo, 5, City, 3.