LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21213, 20 June 1932, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS. PONSONBY DEFEATS NEWTON. ./ cm' AND MARIST DRAW. Heavy ram and muddy grounds made conditions unfavourable on Saturday when the Auckland Rugby League held the second series of matches in its senior grade competition. The playing area at Carlaw Park was in its worst state this season and good football was impossible. In tho principal game, however, between Ponsonby and Newton, there was plenty of excitement for tho spectators. Newton mado great efforts in tho second half to save the game, but ponsonby retained its two-points margin. City upset Marist's position in tho championship by playing a drawn game, thus giving Devonport a 'lead of two points. City's form was very impressive. In the curtain-raiser, Devon port proved too good for Richmond. The results wero as follows: Ponsonby, 7; Newton, 5. City, 13; Marist, 13. Devonport, 13; Richmond, 5. Following are the positions of the teams in tho championship:— n . ? W-L. D. F. tS A. Pts. Devonport .. 7 5 Marist . . . . 7- 4 1 2 93 CO 10 Ponsonby .. 7 4 3 Vnyton .. 7 2 3 2 76 07 6 Richmond .. 7 2 5 S3 95 4 City . . .. 7

BETTER COMBINATION.

NEWTON'S SOLID GAME. Ponsonby had too much combination for Newton., which put up a solid game. Ponsonby was more than two points a bettor Fide. Alien touched down a minute after the kick-off. but was ruled off-side. The Ponsonby forwards excelled on the heavy ground, ana Hutt and Pagan carried play to the Newton twenty-five.- Newton drove Ponsonby back and from a good position Derupsey missed at goal. Then Delzrosso missed a penalty for Ponsonby. Thompson , made a good solo effort and Ponsonby wa3 unlucky not to score. Heavy rain made the ground a quagmire and play was dull, ilclntyre made a good opening, but Portecus tackled well. The Ponsonby backs attempted to pass but the movement broke down when Friend might have scored. Hutt snapped up in the loose and, with McLeay. carried play to .Newton's line. ilclntyre started a passing bout, which resulted in Thompson being held up on the Newton line. The Ponsonby forwards con tinued to control the game, and several times went close to scoring. Ponsonby was awarded a penalty and Delgrosso succeeded. Fast following up by Crooks almost rewarded Newton with a try, Thompson forcing just in time., With the ball at toe. Crooks and Emanuel broke away, but Delgrosso made a good save, and Ponsonby was attacking at . half-time, the score being:—Ponsonby. 2: Newton, 0. On resuming Ponsonby pressed hard and from a scramble Mills touched down be tween the posts. Delgrosso converted. Mills and Thompson did good work on attack, but Dempsey cleared. Pope headed the Newton forwards in a strong offensive, the pack losing ground in attempting to pass. Brimble made a brilliant run through the Ponsonby team and was onlv stopped ten yards from the line. Then Cameron made a nice opening and passed to Allen, who scored. Porteous converted. A minute later Ponsonby was luckv to force after Brimble had beaten Delgrosso. Stevens. Ponsonby. was ordered off, and as p. result. Newton had a rood chance of making the game a draw, but Porteous missed n fairly easy free kick. The Ponsonbv backs did well in a passing bout. which had New*on on the defensive. .Tust before ti'-'e. McT.eay almost scored, and the came ended:—Ponsonbs'. 7: Newton. 5. Mr. W. Simpscn was referee.

RICHMOND DEFEATED

DEYONPORT'S GOOD WIN. Devonport v;as better to handle the ground ccviditions, and in both departments beat Richmond comfortably. Cle\er dribbling by Devonport was a feature ot the game. Devonport was aggressive from the kick-off and :.ts forwards had Richmond defending. Good passing between Olid and O'Donr.ell saw Devonport gain good ground. Afterwards Harding made a determined dash and almost got over, Powell was prominent in saving Richmond, and Johns gave good support. Devonport handled the gtea3y ball well, and R. Smith was to score, after O Donnell had dropped a. pass. Smith converted. Jenkinson and Lawless saved Richmond by clever dribbling, and Richmond launched its fiist impressive attack. Then the Richmond forwards battled hard to get over. Laing, however, cleared timely. It was a shortlived effort, ns 'Oevonport swept <lo\vn tiio field and Simpsch scored. R. Smith made 6 good effort to convert. After Rome minutes of dull play, the-Richmond forwards / headed by Jenkinson, broke through and Seagar failed to secure. Lawless kicked irigh and, following through, Johns fielded cleverly to scoro a well-deserved try between thei posts. 'Maishall converted, and half-time came with tlie score:—Devonport, 8: Richmond. 5. Heavy rain ("trenched the jjlayers and conditions v ere unpleasant. R. Smith was often dangerous with clever footworn. and Richmond was defending hard. Angelo raced through and kicked to Laing. who made a fine recovery, and found touch near •halfway. Ritchie dribbled cleverly and placed Richmond in a good position. R. Smith, however, saved, and raced from hallway, only to overrun the ball, and Devonport was unlucky. Richmond then lost Powell, fullback, who' retired after colliding with the fence. After Richmond had all the better of the play. R. Smith used good judgment witli his feet, and outpacing the defence, dribbled over to score between the Posts. Seisrar converted. It was impossible to handle the ball, and in footwork DevonPort was superior. Turner ran round trie blind side and the Richmond _ forv.aic pressed hard. Sengar cleared with a fire .. kick. Th'i Devonport forwards held command in the lcosc. only brilliant defence by Johns saving Richmond. The j r I nn , ir> er.deri with the score: —Devonport, 13: Kiel' fcond. 5. Mr. V. Simpson was referee.

STERNLY-FOUGHT CONTEST

MARIST AND CITY DRAW. In a etcrnly-fouirht contest City . Marist played a drawn tfame. City attacked from the whistle, Davidson scoring unusual trou 1 when lie kicked a rolling hail over th" bar. A raid by the Marist Pack spelt danger and Clarke evened the fcore with a penalty. Marist maintained the pressure for Clarke to pick up the ball in the ruck and scramble over. Be easily converted. Brady reUrcfl injured. Sennit? *ei>!aving him An incisive run by List had the f'itj .defence in d.ffi 'uHies, but the final transfer to MacDonrtld went astray. liist airain reached City's lino with cieveJ •ide-stei.tjing ard Cr.mpbell ncce:-ted a pass to forge sic:os.-i Clarke failed to convert. City re':.!i:it|.<-j wh« n Bnvid.-w>n sent Peck nam aivay 1,1 1 da-h down the sideline. Carnnbcil tinvif2 with a g-od tackle From a lilt-lee on -Hi.- Marist l:"e 8. Clarke fcrriniij ,-J! ~vor to score Watone concerted Willi a goo-] kick .In a ra ; d by the Mar.st v.incia-(] C':a'!;e b?ar Wat en <? in a thrilling race for the '■■■ll to touch down. Clarke's kirk fai'od \}■ ;r i~t wrs prc.-"ing stron'-'l-' . when v." u ! e play by Dunne spoiled the ttcvement. iin'f-tmc convn# soon after witli the scori-- Marist 13: City. 7. • On res*'ni:n*r t e City prck attacked nut MncDonald saved well. Failing to field the ball. let the City vanguard through for S. Clarke t«"> register a try. The nncle Was too difficult for Wntcne. With the field * CLUagrriirc- passing movements were t! and tho forwards took command. 1 eckhad the Marist defence in difficulties. a "ne having to force down. City initiated ?; series of attacks on the Marist line until V, r ,':c turned defence into attack with a l '"'h!ing rush, Clarke failed to take ad- . _ pontage of a. penalty and Perry snatched in tho ruck an the Marist line to regis,er "city's equalising try. Watene failed to convert, ajid the game ended with the \t e: r¥ ar ' st - 13: City. 13< *»ir. fc , Thompson was referee.

LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Reserve Grade.—Marist. 19. City, 8: Pon sonby, 6, Newton. 0; Devonport, 9, Richmond, 5. Second Grade.—Papakuro, 10, Ponsonby, 2; Northcote, 2, Mount Albert, 0. third Grade Open.—Richmond, 2, Marist, o; J, on f onb i'- Mount Albert, 5. Third Grade Intermediate.—Marist 7 Northcote, 0; City, 20. Devonport, 3; Rich-' mond, 15, Aknrana, 3. Fourth Grade.—Akarana, 3. Marist. 2Kirlynond. 3, Ponsonby, 0. Pn- i V l f? ra( r'~Newton, 8, Akarnnn, 0; Marist b'° O 8 ' Rlchmond - 6 : City. 5. Sixth Grade.—Point Chevalier, 19, Man^ere. b; Richmond A, 11, City 0 mod°B 0 Richmond A, 30. RichPrimary Schools.—Newton. 0. Ellerslie 0Richmond, 10, Northcote, 0.

NORTHERN UNION CUP

SOUTH AUCKLAND SUCCESSFUL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORttESPONDENT.] WHANGAREI, Saturday. Tho match for the League, football Northern Union Challenge Cup between Northland (holders) and South Auckland (challengers) was played to-day at Hikurangi in fine weather and was won by South Auckland by 15 points to 13. There was an attendance of approximately 1000 and the ground was in perfect condition. The South Auckland forwards had tho advantage of weight and the backs were, probably, a little heavier than Northlands. The game was very exciting throughout xnd was a good exhibition of the code, "he hooking was fairly even during tho game. For South Auckland. Menzies, Timms. Scott and Stevenson were the best forwards, while Lee, Abbott and Garry were tho pick of the backs. For Northland, W. Meyer and O'Callaghan were the best forwards and Connolly, Parkes, Shortland and E. Meyer were the best backs. Northland kicked off and shortly afterwards Baracat obtained possession and passed to Connolly, who, with R. Hamilton, took play to South Auckland territory. Connolly again obtained possession and passed to Parkes, who scored wide out after a good run. R. Hamilton failed with the kick. Another good run by Connolly just missed a try when he was pushed out at the corner. Abbott, for South Auckland, obtained the ball from Menzies and with a brilliant run scored behind the posts. G. Ti:tleton converted. R. Hamilton with a brilliant run scored from nearly half-way after having received tho ball from Short - land and Parkes. E. Meyer converted. At this stage W. Tittleton retired with an injured left shoulder and was replaced by T. Holland. Half-time came with the score:—Northland, 8; South Auckland. 5.

Shortly after the commencement of the second half Holland obtained possession and passed to Garry and Abbott, who scored in a good position. G. Tittleton converted. The most unexpected try of the day occurred when R. Hamilton intercepted a pass from half-way and with a great run scored between the posts. E. Meyer converted. Playthen became willing and the defence on both sides was excellent. G. Tittleton gained possession from Abbott and scored in the corner. G. Tittleton failed with the kick. With only a few minutes to go, excitement was high and both sides made great efforts to score. South Auckland was pressing hard when C. Hamilton cot offside and from a free kick in a handy position G. Tittleton kicked a penalty goal. At this ;stage T. Holland had to leave the field owing to an injury to the right eye. The game ended:— South Auckland. 15: Northland, 13. Mr. L. Bull, of Auckland, controlled the game. A curtain-raiser was played between Portland juniors and Whaka-"\Yaro and was won by the former, 11 —2.

RESULTS IN THE SOUTH. [by telegraph.—press association.] Christchurch. —Linwood, 39. Riccarton, 7; Hornby. 37, Sydenham, 17. Duncdin.—City. 15, Pacific, 0; Christian Brothers, IG, Athletic, 6.