LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21189, 23 May 1932, Page 11

LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP.

FINE FOOTBALL, WITNESSED.•; NEWTON EXTENDS DEVONPORT.. GOOD DISPLAY BY DELGROSSO. Some splendid football was witnessed at Carlaw Park on Saturday and Newton created a great surprise by playing a drawn match with Devonport. The leading team was rather fortunate to avoid defeat as the honours of the match went to Newton, whose splendid tackling and bustling tactics quite nonplussed the opposition on occasions. Although many mistakes were made in the principal fixture between Marist and Ponsonby, the game was full of incident and it was anybody's match until tho last, fifteen minutes, when a simple try to Marist altered the whole complexion of the game. The referee's decision did not find favour with tho spectators, who hooted the official for several minutes. After this incident tho Ponsonby team seemed to lose heart and slackened in their efforts. It was most unfortunate for Ponsonby, which at the time was one point behind, and having just as much an advantage as its opponents. The start of the match was dull in comparison with the curtainraiser and Marist quickly had a 10 point lead with two converted tries. Ponsonby then settled down and from this stage until near the end the spectators were treated to fast and good football, each team turning defence into attack with clever movements. Marist, especially in the first spell, got little of the ball from the set scrums and this hampered its speedy back line. When opportunities did come to the rearguard mishandling and forward passing spoiled great scoring chances. Both sides lost splendid chances and taken all round a draw would have been a fair result on the run of the play. Each set of forwards worked hard and the fine work of the Ponsonby vanguard in the loose hampered the Marist backs considerably, i'agan played an outstanding game for Ponsonby and was well supported by Brown and Hutt, but the whole set played well. Good Spoiling Work. Hutt. as back row forward, did soma splendid spoiling work and his attention to Hassan kept the Marist half in check practically throughout the game. His experience and anticipation were worth a good deal to Ponsonby. For Marist Clark and Carter were prominent, both always being handy when scoring chances were offering. Campbell, the Marist fullback, was not so sure as usual and mishandled on occasions when bustled, but his kicking was good. List, on the wing, was one of the best backs, while Meehan proved himself a good opportunist when his chance came. He should, however, have attempted to beat Delgrosso in the early part of the match instead of kicking. Brisbane did some good defensive work, but the line as a whole was not nearly so sure in handling as usual. Delgrosso, the Ponsonby fullhack, played a fine and heady game, his tackling and all-round play being splendid. Ponsonby was short of players and Skelton, a forward, was played on the wing. Thompson, at centre, made several penetrating runs, and Mclntyre, at half, played a good all-rotind game, his fast and accurate transfers from the scrum giving his outside men pleDtv of chances. . Ponsonby has a promising player in' Mills, who at first five-eighths, did some clever work and scored two tries. His vis-a-vis, Dunne, was prominent in the early stages, but when concentrated on later mishandled the ball. Surprise by Newton. By dividing the points with Devonpori Newton displayed surprising form. The Newton forwards overshadowed the Devonport pack, while the backs received more than their fair share of the ball from the scrums and the abandon with which they threw it about delighted the spectators. Devonport played better football in tho latter stages of the game, keeping the opposition almost continuously on the defensive. Although Devonport came within an ace of scoring the resolute tackling of Newton prevailed. Of the Newton backs, Crooks was outstanding. His handling was sure, while he initiated several incisive movements : which had Devonport guessing. Cameron gave him excellent support, while Brimble, as usual, was always a thorn in i the side of the opposition. The i\ewton pack rose well to the occasion and Hall was always prominent, especially in his anticipation of the play, i Seagar and Oliff were the pick of tha Devonport rearguard. Their elusive tac- [ tics and well-conceived movements were . a source of worry to Newton. Ruby stood out among the forwards. Better Combination. Richmond had too much combination ' for City, although the latter improved j considerably on the form shown previ- > ously. During the first half and for 15 ' minutes in the second spell City had much r the better of the game. Richmond, how-, ever, had all the better of the conclud- : ing stages when Ciiy was a very tired f team. Superior combination among the rear i division won the day for Richmond. Its I forwards gave excellent support in the loose while Jones hooked the ball from almost every scrum. In this department | City needs a hooker capable of giving its backs a. fair share of the ball. So far City's rear division has failed to impress on attack. The appearance of Johns, the well- ■ known boxer, was a matter of interest to Richmond's followers. Johns played I a clever game at centre three-quarter and was perhaps the best back on the giound. ; A neat side-step and clever " dummy " were features of his play. Reynolds, | halfback, gave a sound exhibition and , revealed some of the form shown with City a few years ago. When pressed by tho • Citv forwards Reynolds exploited a clever short punt. Prentice, too, played a heady game. Valentino was a disappointment i at fullback. His kicking often got the team into difficulties. The wings, Pell and Marshall, got few opportunities. Jenkinson was easily Richmond's best forward, being prominent in every attack. Lawless and. W. Jones were also prominent, Feckham was easily City's best- back. His work behind the pack was responsible for the improvement of the icar division. Davidson, as usual, did excellent work on defence. His try was a good effort. Hickev, at five-eighths, did useful work, while Longville played a sound game at fullback. Pierce and Clarke were tho tho forwards.