LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21225, 4 July 1932, Page 11

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

MOST CONSISTENT TEAM WINS

MARIST BACKS BELOW FORM.

A. E. COOKE PLAYS cbOD GAME.

With only one more game to be played Devonport has placed the Auckland .Rngby League's senior grade championship beyond doubt. The championship has been keenly contested aiid oven games have been a feature of the season's play. By more consistent football Devonport deserves its succesji.

The gsime between Marist and Devonport was disappointing. The large crowd saw only flashes of the bright play which has been produced by both teams in former matches. Too much attention was paid to the man on Saturday. Had the Marist inside backs devoted more attention to football, the result might have been different. Although the margin in favour of Devonpoirt was small both teams lost opportunities of scoring tries. Marist was particularly unfortunate in this respect. Devonport, however, was the better team on the day, especially as the Marist backs had almost a monopoly of the ball. Weak passing from Dunne to Brisbane, who did not handle well, gave the threequarters few opportunities. Bet ween Brisbane and List Brady was the weak link. The second five-eighths took most of his passes standing. It is apparent that Brady's leg injuty has interfered with his football. Forwards Play Well. The Devonport forwards played a fine game. The var guard hunted as a pack and brake dowr! most of the Marist attacks. It was th.» bustling play of tho opposing forwaris which pat the Marist backs off their .^ame. A duel betweon the rival fullbacks was a feature of th» game and the honourt were clearly with Laiing. The Devonport custodian gave a fine all-rtiuncl display of clever kicking and handling. Campbell was just as sound, but lacked tha initiative of Laing. R. Smith played a heady gs.me for the winners. His tricky runs penetrated far into Marist territory. Seagar ably led his team miing go<id judgment in kicking. O'Donnell played soundly at live-eighths, although he irequently escaped with offside play. Oliff did useful work behind the pack. The wings,, L. Scott and A. Smith, had few opportunities. E. Scott, although small, played a dashing game among an even set of forwards. Casey and Leather barrow also played good games.

Meehan was perhaps the best Marist back, the wing showing a lot of speed. It was a pity he had few opportunities. McDonald, on the other wing, also played well. List, who is usually a thorn in the side of the opposition, was below form. The centre suffered no doubt, from the weak play of the five-eighths. The Marist forwards were penalised many times for infringements of the rules. In playing the liall the forwards offended, particularly Jolnson, who usually kicked before the ball touched the ground. Iveson was easily the pick of the pack. Clarke also played a good game. Splendid Exhibition.

The curtain-raiser between Richmond and Newton provided spectators with a splendid! exhibition of the code, in spite of rain soon after the kick-off. Richmond won the honouis, but there was little to choose between the teams. Newton had the better of ths second half Eind was unlucky not to see re. Ths appearance of A. E. Cooke, the well-known All Black, caused considerable interest. Throughout the game Cooke showed much oi his former brilliance and twice made nicj openings. His tackling was a feature ol his plav, while he kicked well with either foot. He only requires experience to le an outstanding League player. Johns, who played inside Cooke, was below his usual form. Angelo gave a nice display at fullback. Brown, who played his first, game ivith Richmond, showed a lot of pace on the wing. He is a decided acquisition to the team. Pell was weak at centre, while Reynolds, halfback, ha* played better g.imes. The Richmond forwards played with plenty of dash. Lawless, Jenkinson and Telford being outstanding. For Newton Dempsey played a good game at fullback. The five-eighths, R. Pop* and Brimble. \rere a!>s<jciated in some clever passing which delighted the spectators. Crook ;ind A. Pope olayed good games on the wing. Middleton and Clemm were the best of the forwards, while Kirkup did useful work in the loose. Surprise by City.

The match between City and Ponsonby at Northcote provided a game of fast and open exchanges. City, the dominant side throughout, showed surprising form, its victory by 14 points being a fsiir reflection of the play. Ponsonby was, outclassed both in the forward;; and tbo backs, except in the closing stages when, with Delgrosso at five-eighths, the Ponsonby rearguard staged a brief siege on the City b'ne. Delgrosso gave his usual polished display and outshone bis vis-a-\is, Watfine, who marred his play by too mach kicking. Until he retired injured Bright was outstanding in the Ponsonby back line. He infused plenty of dash into his play and the way he sidu-stepped the City defence to register Ponsonby's second try was a treat to watefc. Mclntyre, behind the scrum, was not in tfte picture so much as usual, while Mills, also was off form. Puxdy, Peckliam and Davidson proved too clever for IPonsonby's defence, which they pierced time and again with dazzling passing bouts and clever opportunism. Davidson is new in his besij form. He used hi:s speed 'frith devastating effect and on one occasion left, Delgrosso standing. The City pack overshadowed the Ponsonby forwards. Clarke and Hobbs were outstanding, w'hile Lunn and Hutt wera always prominent for Ponsonby, although they lacked support.