LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21207, 13 June 1932, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

SENIOR COMPETITION GAMES. SECOND ROUND COMMENCES. DEVONPORT BEATS PONSONBY. The second round of the Auckland Rugby Loaguo's senior grado competition waß commenced at Cnrlaw Park on Saturday. A shower of rain soon after three o'clock mado tho ball greasy and difficult to handle. The principal game, between Devonport and Ponsonby, was closely contested, and the grade loaders had to fight hard to prevent, Ponsonby fr>m taking tho honours. Marist had a comfortable win againßt Richmond, while City again showed improvement and drew with Newton. The results of Saturday's matches were as follows: Devonport, 7; Ponsonby, 3. City, 13; Newton, 13. Marist, 21; Richmond, 13. The following table Bhowa the positions of the teams to dale:— Pis. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Devonport G 4 Marist . . G 4 1 1 80 53 9 Ponsonby . G 3 3 Newton . . (J 22 2 71 00 6 Richmond .6 2 4. City . . 6 A CLOSE MATCH. DEVONPORT AND PONSONBY. What promised to bo nn interesting display was spoiled by a shower of rain early in the game. Ponsonby nevertheless put up a good fight against Devonport, and the score should have been closer. Devonport attacked from the' kick-off and splendid passing saw L. Scott race away. Seagar roceived from Smith and cross-kicked. Tlio movement looked likely to result in a try, but Leatherbarrow was ruled offside A well-placed kick by Bright put Ponsonby on attack. The greasy ball proved difficult to handle and both teams lost good opportunities. Ruby was offside and Delgrosso made a good but unsuccessful attempt at goal. The Devonport forwards worked their way to the Ponßonby line, where Delgiosso failed to hold the ball nnd Simpson scored an easy try, which Seagar converted. A. Smith broke away with the ball at toe, but Delgrosso made a great save. Thou Ponsonby missed a simple try. Laing failed to gather the ball and four Ponsonby forwards had only to dribble over. Fagan, however, kicked into touch. Mills was prominent for Ponsonby, but just failed to get his pass to Bright, who had a chance of scoring. McLeu'y headed a dangerous Ponsonby offensive, but Laing proved equal to the occasion. Play swung back quickly to Ponsonby's end, but good defence kept Devonport out. Just beforo half-time Ponsonby made great efforts to score, and a series of passing bouts ended in Fleming being forced into touch near tho Devonport lino. Half-time camo with the score .-—Devonport, 5; Ponsonby, 0. Ponsonby attacked on resuming, and Bright carried play to the Devonport line. Shera and Mclntyre gave good support, but tho defence wos sound. Ponsonby was a little unlucky when the whistle blew for Laing knocking on, as Riley could have scored. Good play by the Ponsonby backs had Devonport in trouble, Bright just failing to get over. Devonport was awarded four successive kicks. One shot at goal hit the upright, and finally Seagar was successful. R. Smith cleverly beat tho Ponsonby backs and kicked to Delgrosso, who got his team out of an awkward position. McLeay was prominent at the head of a sweeping offensive which carried play to halfway. Seagar nicely fielded a kick by Delgrosso, and started a passing bout which broke down in the Ponsonby twentyiivc. Mills and Riley broke away, but Seagar tackled soundly Twice Ponsonby was unlucky not to score. Tho Ponsonby backs gave a good display of clean passing. Riley and Bright figured prominently and Shera raced over to score a nice try. Delgrosso failed to convert. Ponsonby made a series of strong attacks which many times threatened the Devonport line. On one occasion Bright just failed to touch down. The game ended with the score:— Devonport. 7; Ponsonby, 3. Mr. L. Bull was referee. GOOD EXHIBITION. CITY UNFORTUNATE. The curtain-raiser, between Newton and City, was a good exhibition of the code. City had all the better of tho first half and was unlucky not to come out with the honours in it 3 favour. Newton assumed tho offensive from the kick off, but good defence checked the attack. Peckham made a nice run, but Hobbs was offside. City worked its way to Newton's territory, where F. Herring snapped up and scored near tho posts. Watcne converted. Allen and Kirkup headed the Newton forwards in a dangerous rush. Crooks showed pace on the wing and went close to scoring. City started a passing bout, but Purdy's pass to Davidson was intercepted by Pope, who scored an easy try. Porteous converted. Brimble and Pope were associated in good work for Newton, .but tho movement broko down in City's twentyfive. Davidson made a fine opening and carried play past halfway. Receiving the ball again, Davidson scored a nice try. Wateno failod to convort. City launched a series of attacks, but Newton defended ably. Atkins, however, received from J. Herring and Simnis scored. Wateno failed to convert. Just beforo half-time Porteous sent the Newton backs away and Cameron sent Crooks over for a fine try. Dempsey failed to convert, and half-timo came with the score:—City, 11; Newton, 8. The City backs attacked early and Herring and Hickey carried play to Newton's tweuty-five. A minuto later Brimble had the defence beaten, but Davidson caught him. From a passing bout the Newton backs handled tho ball cleanly and Crooks cut in beautifully to raco over between the posts and equalise the score. Porteous placed Newton in front by converting. Herring made a lno run for City, but held on when Davidson may have scored. City pressed hard and Purdy went close to scoring. Ilickey broke away, but City missed a try when the wing held on with Peckham unmarked. Davidson made a nice opening, but the suppoi/.s lacked pace. After getting tho better of the play, City was awarded a penalty and Watcne kicked a nice goal. r he gumo ended:—Newton, 13; City, 13. Mr. H. Carrol was referee.

A FAST EXHIBITION. MARIST BEATS RICHMOND. In spite of a greasy ball and heavy playing conditions, which militated against open play, the camo on the No. 2 ground, in which Marist defeated Richmond by eight points, provided a fast exhibition. Richmond attacked nt the kick-off until Marshall missed an easy ponalty shot. Marshall flashed up the sideline in a fino run, but was forced out when a try seemed imminent. At this stago Telford received nn injury and wns replaced by Ritchie. Clarko pierced tho Richmond defence nnd transferred to Ivcson, who opened Marist's account with an unconverted try. A swift attack by tho Richmond rearguard, led by Angclo and Johns, resulted in a melee on tho Marist lino. Campbell retired injured nnd was replaced by Schultz. A raid by the Richmond pack saw Lawless snap up tho ball, trick tho opposition with a clever "dummy," and scoro Richmond's equalising try. Marshall failed to convert. A fino passing movement among the Richmond backs bore fruit when Reynolds put his sido in tho lead with a fino try. W. Jones failed to add tho major points. Marist swept down tho field and eventually Moehan scored wide out. Clarko converted with a magnificent kick. Marist increased its lead soon after when Brisbane swerved past tho dofence to touch down for a try, which Clarke failed to convert. Clarke turned a difficult penalty shot to good account nnd half-time enme with tho score:—Marist, 13; Richmond, 0.

On resuming both sides initiated attacking movements, wlr'oh hard tackling rendered abortive. List turned defence into attack with a fino kick and Brisbane secured to send McDonald over. Clarke's kick failed. A moleo on tho Mnrist lino saw Dunne ruled off-side and Marshall took advantage of a penalty in front of the posts. Dunne put Marist further in tho lead when he dribbled the ball down the field, picked it up on tho lino and scrambled over to register a try. Meehan converted. Powell put Richmond on the offensive with a welljudged line kick and play veered up and down, neither sido gaining ascendancy until off-sido play by Carter lost Marist a certain try. Several times tho Mnrist defence sought reliof by forcing, but Richmond was not to be denied, and just on time Johns forced his way over and Marshall converted. Ihe gamo endod with tho score:—Marist. 21: Richmond, 13. Mr. P. Rogers was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS.Reserve Grade.—Marist. 18, Richmond. 11: Ponßonby, 3, Devonport, 2; Newton. 11 City, 3. Socond Grade.—Mount Albert. 12, Ellerslie, 4; Point Chevalier, 8, Devonport, 7. Third Grado Open.—Ponsonby, 10. Marist, 0. Third Grado Intermediate.—City. 15. Richmond, 10; Mount Albert, 10, Akaraim, 0; Marist, 30, Devonport, 0. Fourth Grade.—Otahuhu, 5, Nowton, 2: Papnknra, 3, Aknrnna, 2; Point Chevalier, 6, Richmond, 8; Mari&t. 10, Ponsonby. 8.

Fifth Grade.—Marist B. 19, Akarana. 0; Point Chevalier, 2, Marist A, 2; Richmond, 14, Papatoetoe, 0; Newton. IG. Northcote, 4. Sixth Grade.—Richmond B, 18, Mangore, 0. Primary Schools.—Newton, 15, Avondale. 3; Devonport, 8, Ellerslie, 2. NORTHERN UNION CUP. NORTHLAND REPRESENTATIVES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANGAREI. Saturday. Tho following 17 players have been selected, as tho result of a trial game today, to represent Northland in the League match next Saturday nt Hikurangi, with South Auckland, for the Northern Union Challenge Cup:—C. Hamilton, R. Hamilton, A. Connolly, V. Barakat, W. Shortland, E. Meyer, N. Dunn, D. Parkes, A Wells, E. Cunningham, C, Keith, L. ißayner, C. Payne. W. Meyer, T. Berghan, C O'Callaghan, A. Swnnberg. SOUTH AUCKLAND TEAM. [from our own correspondent.] TAUPIRI, Saturday. Mr. S. J. Wilson, selector of tho team to represent South Auckland to play Northland, has announced the following team: — Fullback, Loes (Jluntly); threequarters, G. Tittleton (Taupiri), Garry (Taupiri), Whorskey (Huntly); five-eighths, Peckham (Huntly), W. Tittleton (Ngaruawahia): halfback, Abbott (Ngaruawahia); forwards. Laird (Ngaruawahia), Menzies (Ngaruawahia), Stevenson (Huntly), Scott (Huntly), Timms (Huntly), Jackways (Taupiri). Emergencies: Forward, Hogaii (Hamilton): back, Holland (Hamilton). MATCHES IN WAIKATO. [from our own correspondent.] HAMILTON, Sunday. In a Rugby League match between Ngaruawahia and Kia Ora at Huntly yesterday Ngaruawahia won by 5 points to 3. In a colts match, Taupiri defeated Huntly by 18 points to 0. RESULTS IN THE SOUTH. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch.r—Linwood, 10, Hornby, 3: Addington, 21, Riccarton, 2. Dunedin. —Christian Brothers, 14, Pacific, 0; City, 3, Athletic, 0.