LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20965, 31 August 1931, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

ROOPE ROOSTER COMPETITION PLAY IN THE FIRST ROUND. • PONSONBY DEFEATS CITY. The Auckland Rugby League's club fciatehes. were continued zt Carlaw Park on Saturday, .when the first round of the Boope Rooster competition was decided. Conditions were ideal, but. the principal game, between Ponsonby and City, was disappointing. /At one st3ge. City looked like winning and get within one point c: Ponsonby. The recovery, however, ■was short-lived, as Ponsonby made the Etost of City's mistakes, and eventually won by 24 points to 12. City's backs played fine football in patches,' although Ponsonby was superior all rotind. Devonport gave a high-class display of ib_- passing 'game and outclassed Newton "by 41 points to 8- In the other match Bichmond defeated ElSerslie after a keen contest. With the competition played on the elimination svsiem, Devonport, Ponsonby, Bichmond"and Marist, which had the bye, remain in the semi-SnaL The results were as follows: — Ponsonby, 24? City, 12. JDevonport, / 41; Newton, S. Richmond, 15; EUerslie, 11. BETTER. TEAM WINS. CITY MAKES MISTAKES' Ponsonby was the better all-round team lend deserved its win against City, which made many mistakes. City was prominent early through a splendid run by Iveson, Trho* raced 40 yards, but passed wildly i to Davidson. 'The Ponsonby backs attacked End Riley made a pood opening. which Bk-ridson" cheesed. P. Skelton found a weakness in City's defence, but held on and Ponsonby missed a try. Both sides indulged in too much kicking, and for a time play was uninteresting. Watene and Davidson were associated in clever passing und a minute later Davidson raced through trd passed to Len Barchsrd, who scored. Watene missed an easy geal. City's backs beat Ponsonby, and Stanaway made a nice opening, only to pass, wildly. From a scrum in "City's territory Winter passed to Hutt. who scored in tne corner. Delgrosso kicked f. fine goal. Half-time came with the score:—Ponsonby, 3; City, 3. "Within one minute of the kicit-on weai tackling bv McLaughlin let Winters score. Pelrrcsso "kicked a beautiful goal. . Soon £-'te-wa T ds came the best movement in th» game. ~~ Winters started a passing bout near halfway, and six players handled before McLeay scored after Watene tackled poorly. Pelnrosso fa.iled to convert. A little later Skelton missed 7 a long kick, and Stanaway secured and passed to Laurie Barcnard, who scored.- Watene failed to convert. City continued to do well and Reynolds sent a long pass to McLaughlin, who scored a nice try. Stanaway failed to convert. City s backs made a great recovery, ana Ivesoa outpaced the opposition to score. Watene *-:i e d to convert. The advantage was again with Pcnsonbv through Watene'3 weakness find Hutt easily scored. Delgrosso failed t:> ronvert. • MeLeav placed the game bevond doubt by scoring in a good position. converted. A minute later Sevens scored. Delgrosso failed to convert and the game ended with the score:— Ponsonby, 24; City, 12. . Mr. B. Emeraii was reteree.

N2WTOH OUTCLASSED. LARGE SCORE BY DEVONPORT. outclassed Newton in a highrazr's at Carlaw Park. From the l-'W-o! L. Scott was prominent and Snutn sc-c-ed He failed to convert. G-ooci play v- Vawton's vanguard was earned on or Fbri and Alien scored. Middletor copDevornorfs hacks played spiencid WKsil and" O'Donaeli cut through to epsble L. Scott to score. Smitn tailed to convert. A inmate ister Scott again dis--rl--e«3 fire pace ana scored. teeaear tailed io conven. From near halfway Rhodes set the Devonport backs in morion and i again Sco't outpaced the opposition. Smith converged made a beautiful opening t-nrf Scott scored his fourth try. Smith failed to convert, and half-time camejw*— Ike scoret— Devonport. 1"; Newton, o. Newton attacked and McCarthy passed to AY'*r. vrh.o scored. Middleton failed to convert. Then Hawkes scored a nice ity for Dsvonpori, but Harding missed the goal Hawkes Scored a mmnte la.er and t-"is"time Harding was successful with the kick Simpson broke away and Rnodes Korad, and Casey converted Devonport linker increased its lead with unconverted tries by Hawkes, Rhodes and Smith, and tie game ended: —Devonport, 41; Newton, o Mr. E. McCall was referee. RAGGED DISPLAY. RICHMOND TOO FAST. f7 av od a3 a .mrtain-raiser. the game between Richmond and Ellershe was a ragged display, with the issue never m coubt. looked dangerous in the opening stages of the second spell, but could not last t'n e pace set by the faster Ricnmond team. T-nra i> e kick-off EUerslie took cnarge, Hickey failing badly at a penalty shot. 3)n-n" broke through and for a, time tne Richmond backs dominated play, Mmcham kicking a penalty goal. The Ellershe paci worked well, but the opposing backs countered and Lenrtie sent Prentice over under the" posts. Mm-tham converted. A bout r: kicking ensued and offside play let Webo rc;fi easily. 'Play changed to Ellershe s and good t ackwork ended in Dunn scoring wide out. W. Jones failed to eon■vert." Richmond was penalised for a scrum infringement and Webb notched two points vr-% a £~« k : c's irom halfway. Dunn inter-<er-:Vd and t'ne Richmond backs came away. Ljtnnte scorir.s? rr.der the posts. Mincham Half-time followed shortly after, the scire 'being :—Richmond, 15: Ellerslie, 4. Up ana down p'av followed, until tne Ellerslie cack forced Richmond back. After ore fruitless attempt at ccai. another infringement gave Webb a" successful shot with a potted penalty goal .Pell made a speedy nm up the line, out lost nossesF.lon in attesvptiug to force. The Ellershe backs all handled aro Glenn just beat the defence to score well out. Webb failed from a dificu.it angle. Ellershe maintained the pressure and faulty Richmond play let Webb easily register a penalty goal. The r; 1 =core. was Richmond. 13; Eilersne, 11. Mr. W Simpson v.-as referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Rf serve Grade.—Ponsor by. 31. City, 0; Nevrton. 9. Devonport, 3. Second Grade.—Knock-out competition: panakura. 1»">, Mount Wellington, 0. Third Grade Open.—Final: Marist. 4. PonFonby. 2. • Fourth Grade.—Marist. 16, A.-tarar.a, 11: City, *3. Richmond. 2; Point Chevalier, 25, Papatoeioe. 2: Newmarket. 10. Mount Albert, 0. / . Fifth Grade.— Ponsonby. 12, Devonport. 2; North-ote,. 13. Richmond. 0. Sixth Grade.—City, 16, Newton, 0; Richmond, 3, Akarana, 0. LOWER WAIKATO BEATEN. 31A R IST WIN'S AT HAMILTON. [from o~f. ovts correspondent.] HAMILTON. Sunday. A -fast and spectacular League game between Auckland Marist and Lower Waikato was witnessed at Steele Park, Hamilton, yesterday. The Auckland team won by 13 points *to 11. The proceeds were devoted to the Hamilton Sunshine League. Waikato opened the score when Whorsky broke away, kicked, and following up, regained possession and crossed the _line. Tittleton's effort to goal failed. Waikato maintained the territorial advantage throughout the first half, but many promising, attempts to score were frustrated by infringements. Just before half-time sounded, Scott scored for the home side, and Jackways converted. Marist attacked strongly and the movement resulted in Bachelor scoring. Clark added the major points. Halftime sounded with the scores:—Lower Waikato, 8; Marist, 5. . On resumption Manat 3 score was increased when ; Campbell drop-kicked a fine >?oal from nearly- halfway. Tittleton, Brisbane and Young handled the ball well for Waikato The leather was returned to Tittleton who scored. The kick failed. Marint assumed the offensive and quickly /scored two tries through Bachelor and Clark. The game endedMarist, 13: Lower Waikato, 11. Mr. A. Harlock was referee. In a curtain-raiser Mount Albert defeated Hamilton by 6 points to 5. Cotter and ifattson scored for Mount Albert and Armishaw scored for Hamilton. Muir kicked a penalty goal.

ACTIVITIES IN HAMILTON. REVIVAL OF INTEREST. [FROH OCR OW.V COE.EESrOXDE.VX. ] HAMILTON. Sunday. A meeting of League football supporters calied for the purpose of reviving interest in the code in Hamilton was held last evening. Mr. C. A. Snedden, of Auckland, president of the Nov; Zealand League Council, presided over an attendance of about 20. It was reported that, in spite of an unfavourable beginning at the commencement of the season, the popularity of the code had grown considerably, and it was anticipated a second club team would be formed next Saturday. After Mr. Sr.edden ar.d Mr. W. Hammill, League organiaer, had addressed the meeting. 3 committee consisting of Messrs. R. Qv. inn, S. Muir, W. J. Taylor. T. L. Boyle. G. Gillett. G._ Sutton and R. Baudiley, was set up to further the matter. RESULTS IN THE SOUTH. [BT TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION*.] Wellington —Newtown, 11, Old Boys, 8; Petone. 5. City, 5. Chrlstchurch.—Aldington, 11, best Linwood, 6, in a match for the Thacker Shield.