THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21521, 19 June 1933, Page 12

THE LEAGUE CODE

high scoring matches defeat of leading team EASY VICTORY FOR MARIST The second series of matches m the second round of the Auckland ftugby League's senior championship was plaved on Saturday before a larg;e attendance at Carlaw Park. The grounds were in good order, and except for a strong southerly wind conditions were -High scoring resulted in all matches and in the principal attraction Marist inflicted a severe defeat on Devonport, the championship leaders. Richmond outclassed Ponsonby in the curtainraiser, while City gained an easy victory at the expense of Newton. As the result of Saturday s games Devonport still has a lead o. wo points in the championship, followed by Marist and City, which are equal in second place. The results of Saturday's matches were as follows; Marist, 35, Devonport, 9. Richmond, 36, Ponsonby, City, 35, Newton, 13. The following table shows the present positions of teams in the championship:- Po . cU cfa

Marist's Good Form Afc no stage of ill© game against Marist did Devonport look a winning team. Even with the advantage of the Wind in the first spell Devonport could not hold the honours, and at the interra! Marist was leading, by two tries, one converted, to two penalty goals. Marist went into the fray vnth zeal and determination right from the start and never let up at any stage. Ihe Devonport forwards stood up to their task well in the first half, but were clearlv overshadowed in the second spell." As a result the Marist backs had plenty of tlje ball and the rearguard gave its best exhibition of the season. Many times the backs were seen in splendid passing which had the opposition palpably 'puzzled. Hassan, Brisbane and Dunn made a most effective combination behind the Marist scrum and overshadowed the opposition inside backs, who lacked combination. Dunn played his best game for a long time, his brilliant thrusts through the defence making, excellent openings and his three tries were all well deserved. List and the threequarters, Schultz and Drew, were on form and all played well. Brisbane proved a great tactician, his clever all-round play at first fh-e-eighths giving his outside men plenty of opportunities. Except for a tendency to hold on too long at times, Hassan played his usual fine game behind the pack. Campbell, fullback, was very safe. Like the backs, the Marist forwards were seen in their best form to date. - They kept together well and did splendid work both in the tight and the loose. All did their share with perhaps S. Laird, Campbell, Flanagan and Herring the most outstanding. There was no better all-round forward than Campbell, ; hooker, who seemed to be in everything. Ivesen spoiled pome good work through holding on too much with players in support. Rearguard Fails Although Devonport was unfortunate to lose It. Smith and Laing it was a well-beaten side when these players retired with injuries. The pair were Devonport's best backs, who failed to settle down at any stage. Radonich was also conspicuous for some good individual play. O'Donnell, second fiveeighths, showed weakness in failing to come up to Dunn quickly, and let the Marist player through repeatedly. The Devonport forwards played themselves to a standstill, ana of a hardworking pack, Simpson, Donald, Leatherbarrow and Souter were the pick. The first-named played a particularly fine game and will be unfortunate if he fails to catch the selectors' eye for future representative matches. Splendid team work enabled City to score several good tries against Newton. The backs played great football, and on this form City will be hard to beat in future matches. The first half was evenly contested. Newton had a territorial advantage but its movements lacked finish. * Newton was handicapped in the second half by losing Cameron, and Hall played five-eighths. From this on the game was never in doubt, and City scored tries in quick succession. The inside backs played with good understanding and the threequarters received plenty of the ball. The City forwards figured frequently in passing bouts. Fine Anticipation Many of City's tries came as the result of McLaughlin's fine anticipation. •! He was in every movement, and was ! the outstanding player. Both Axeman | and Purdy played with good judgment, j Wayne and Perry, the wings, were in food form. Watene had a tendency to ick too much after Purdy made good | openings. Turei was clever on attack I although a little uncertain in handling, i Hughes was a disappointment at fullback. Pierce and Clarke played good games in the forwards Dempsey did a lot of useful work at fullback for Newton. Brimble and Porteous were the' best Newton "backs. Of the forwards Nathan and Hall were prominent in the loose. - Richmond gave another good allround display, particularly in the second - half when Ponsonby was outclassed. In the early stages the game was well contested and Ponsonby looked capable of extending Richmond. The latter, however, rose to the occasion and splendid passing bouts were started from all positions. The vanguard gave the backs excellent support, and the | handling was good to watch. The Pon- : sonby backs had opportunities in the .second half but .wild passing broke I down promising movements, j Good goal kicking by Marshall was i a feature of the game. The Richmond i wing kicked five splendid goals. Hanlon | played well at fullback ana Prentice did I good all-round work. Young played an | improved game. Telford was the best forward, wnile Satherley and Lawless were also prominent. For Ponsonby, Kav and Keosing played with plenty of dash. Bright also showed football ability. Fagan and Lunn were the best forwards. DEVONPORT'S FAILURE SUPERIORITY OF MARIST After holding Marist fairly well l'n the early stages Devonport fell away badly later and was soundly beaten. In spite of the fact that it had the advantage of the wind Devonport was early on the defence until K. Smith drove Marist back with a fine kick. Good play by R. Smith enabled Devonport to attack and once from a cross-kick Radonich just failed to score at the corner. Devonport maintained the pressure, good tackling holding up strenuous efforts by the Marist forwards. A brilliant run by Hassan from the scrum was spoiled when he delayed his pass too long. Laing countered in a nice run. Then from a penalty against Herring H. Smith kicked a nice goal. A great passing rush by the Marist backs at hnlf-way saw Dunn cut in brilliantly and run to Laing. List came up to take the pass and when tackled from behind sent on to Drew, v.'lio dashed over at_the corner. Campbell failed to convert. Fast, play followed, first Devonport and then Marist attacking. Hassan sent the Marist backs away and Dunn again cut through. He kicked to a gap and, following through fast, scored near the posts. Campbell converted. A penalty against Laird saw R. Smith goal with a beautiful kick from 10yds inside half-way. Good play by Brisbane placed Marist strongly on attack until R. Smith and O'Donnell drove it back. Hassan and Drew soon nullified the advantage, but Lning found the line well in the Marist twenty-five with a splendid kick. The Marist

backs were alwa.ya dangerous in possession and gained good ground. Devonport was kept on defence for a period until a penalty relieved. Marist was attacking strongly at half-time, when the score was:— Marist, 8; Devon port, 4. Soon after resuming 'Herring made a good attempt at goal from a penalty well out. Marist was vising its backs, but the Devonpiprt rearguard was now playing right on top of its opponents. Marist was not to be denied and Ivelon ran round the blind side from a scrum and sent Drew over wide out. Herring made a fine attempt to con- • vert. Campbell, forward, made play well for the Marist backs and from a cross-kick by Dunn Schultz juist failad to score, the ball going dead. Marist was all over Devonport now and Brisbane cut through nicely and short-kicked. Duiin raced on and gained 'the touch near the posts. Campbell converted. Devonport then took a hand and Brisbane had his kick charged, Leatherbarrow got the rebound and scored a good try between the posts. iR. Smith converted. The attack was f Short-lived, howeiver, as the Marist backs 1 net off and List cut in and scored between the posts. Campbell's kick hit the crossbar. R. Smith was injured in a tackle and went to fullback. Iveson broke ritrht away but his pans went astray. R. Smith had to retire with an injured ankle. A fino .interception by Dunn in a Devonport passing rush resulted in the Marist player scoring a nice try between the posts. Herring converted. Laing was hurt and had to be carried off, Devonport now having only 11 men. List waa next to score as the result of a strong run after a rearguard attack. Herring's kick from wide out hit the crossbar, Shortly after Drew scored from another passing bout. Herring failed to convert. Clever reverse passing by Hassan and Schultz gained half the length of the field and List came up to take his pass and ran in between the posts. List converted, making the final score:—Marist, 35; Devonport, 9. Mr. L. Bull was referee. BACKS IN FORM NEWTON OUTCLASSED The City baekri gave a splendid display of open football and outclassed Newton in a good game. City attacked from the kickoff, and in the first passing bout Turei missed a pass from Perry and a try was lost. Pop© and Porteous gave Newton relief, but City was soon back in Newton's twentyfive. Newton was penalised, and Watene kicked a goal. From a scrum near halfway 'Porteous passed to Hall, who ran 30 yards before passing to Crook. : The last-named dropped the ball, and Newton missed a chance of scoring. Nathan headed the Newton pack in a strong attack. From a scrum in City's twenty-five, Brimble made a beautiful opening and easily beat the City backs to score a fine try. Porteous converted. A few minutes later Turei raced through the opposition and kicked past Dempsey. "Wa- , tene picked up and ran over, but no try was allowed. McLaughlin broke away frcm near halfway and passed to Perry, who failed to take his transfer, and a try was lost. Axeman and Watene were associated in a splendid movement which resulted ia Axeman scoring. Watene converted. Mci Laughlin figured again in another good movement, Purdy broke away and passed to McLaughlin, who accepted a difficult pass to score a fine try. Watene converted. Half-time came with the score:—City, 12; The second half saw City backs outclass the opposition, which was. weakened by losing Cameron and later Brimble. McLaughlin accepted from Purdy, but was pushed into touch by Nathan. From a ecrum near midfield Wayne made a beautiful opening from "which McLaughlin scoied. Watene converted. Good play by Hall and Allen resulted in Thompson Bconng for Newton. Dempsey failed to convert. Turei supported a nice opening by Purdy and , scored. Watene converted. A few minutes later Axeman beat the defence and rent Perry over. Watene failed with the kick. City played fine football, and in quick time Pierce ecored two tries. Watene converted both. Just before time Porteous scored for Newton and also converted. The gaqa ended:— City. 35; Newton, 13. Mr. I. Billman was referee. RICHMOND TOO STRONG PONSONBY WELL BEATEN Richmond was too strong for Ponsonby and in the second half outclassed its opponents. Good play by the Richmond forwards was a feature of the game. Richmond attacked early, but Keesing and Bright saved well. Marshall was prominent in a passing bout and Richmond went close to scoring. Prentice snapped up in the loose and passed to Young, who scored. Milicica converted. A few minutes latet Jones opened Ponsonby's score with a penalty goal. Hanlon started a passing _bout and Marshall scored in the corner. His kick missed. Ponsonby played without any luck, and Kay just missed a try. Jones, however, kicked a penalty goal. Richmond had the better of the open play, and Mitchell scored a good try. Marshall kicked a fine goal. Clever play by Kay and Keesing, supported by Bright, resulted in Kay . scoring. Jones • just failed to convert. The Ponsonby' for- , wards beat the Richmond defence and Moran scored. Jones converted, and halftime came with the score:—Richmond, 13; Ponsonby, 12. , The Richmond forwards started with grew dash and Satherley scored. Marshall kicked a nice goal. Abbott and Prentice broka away, Telford being tackled a yard from 1 the line. Soon Powell scored and Marshall kicked another fine goal. Passing by the ■ Richmond backs enabled Young to score. Marshall failed to convert. Lawless and Powell were associated in a good passing bout, which Draper checked near halfway. Xituin and Brown led the Ponsonby forwards, but Hanlon saved well. From a penalty Marshall was successful at goal. Then Marshall scofed between the posts and also converted. Just before time Abbott made a nice opening and passed to Prentice. who scored. Marshall failed to convert. find the game ended:—Richmond, 36; Ponsonby, 12. . Mr. W. Simpson was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Reserve Grade.—Newton, 16, City, _0; Devonport, 3, Marist, 0; Ponsonby, 0,. Richmond, 0. . Second Grade.—Mangere, 21, Point Chevalier, 8; Otahuhu, 14, Ellerslie, 5; Mount Albert," 13, Manukau, 3. Third Grade Open.—Glenora, 9, Mount Albert, 6; Marist, 23, Ponsonby, 2; Otahuhu, 7, Manukau. 7; Mangere, 35, Papakura, 0. Third Grade Intermediate.—City, o> Devonport, 2; Northcote, 3, Richmond, 0; Papakura, 15, Akarana, 2. Fourth Grade.—Marist B, 10, Point Chevalier, 9; City, 17, Newton B, 0; Newton A. 8. Ponsonby, 6; Marist A, 50, Manukau, 0; Richmond A, 8, Northcote, 2; Devonport, 8, Akarana, 6. ' _ . , Fifth Grade.—Richmond A. 14. Point Chevalier, 2; Ellerslie, 44, New Lynn, 0; Richmond B, 3, City, 0; Otahuhu, 0, Devonport, 0; Papakura, 40, Akarana, 2. Sixth Grade.—Devonport. 0, Otahuhu, 0. Richmond, 22, Avondale, 0. Seventh Grade.—Richmond A, 28, Ellerslie. 3; Devonport, 17, Newton, 0 , Schoolboys' Games.—Avondale, 24, >onncote, 0. i GAMES PLAYED AT TAUPIRI [from our own correspondent] " • TAUPIRI. Saturday Seniors.—Taupiri defeated Rotowaro m the last two minutes of a hard game, tn® final score being: Taupiri, 10; Rotowaro. '• This victory for Taupiri decides tb# senior competition in the South Auckland League, ( Taupiri being the winning tenm. Juniors: Kia Ora, 15, Taupiri. 7. Kia Ora wins too junior competition, being unbeaten. ! NORTHLAND MATCHES [from our own correspondent] 1 WHANGAREI, Saturday Following are the results of matches played to-day by teams under the jurisdiction of the Northland Rugby 1 Seniors: Hikurangi, 7, Whaka IJaro, »' i Kamo, 10. Takahiwai, 10. Juniors: Kamo, > i Whaka Waro, 0; Portland, 11. Onerahi. i CONTESTS IN THE SOUTH > [by TELEGRAM —rRESS association] Chirlstchurch.—Addington, 15, Sydenham, ' 10; Hornby, 5, Riccarton, 0; Linwood, *>, New Brighton, 7. .vt.iia. Duinedin Christian. Brothers, 82, Atbieno» 8; City, lg, Pacific, 3.

P. W. L. D. F. A. pts. Devonport Mariet City .. Newton Richmond 5 4 4 3 3 2 3 3 4 4 — 103 93 118 08 129 100 102 10 67 8 105- 8 130 6 101 6 136 4 Ponsonby 2 5 —