THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21527, 26 June 1933, Page 12

THE LEAGUE CODE

PLAY IN SECOND ROUND CITY TEAM BEATS RICHMOND DEVONPORT STILL IN LEAD The third series of matches in the second round of the Auckland Rugby League's senior grade championship was played on Saturday at Carlaw Park. Conditions were ideal and there j was another good attendance of spectators. The principal game between City and Richmond was well contested, the former winning narrowly. City had a five-points lead in the first half and maintained the advantage in the second. The curtain-raiser between Devonport and Newton was won by t c former, which maintained its lead in the championship. Marist outclassed Ponsonby on No. 2 ground in a highscoring game. As the result of Saturday's games, Devonport still has a two-points lead from Marist and City, which are equal in second place. The results of Saturday's matches are as follows: — City, 12; Richmond, 8. Devonport, 11; Newton, 5. Marist, 34; Ponsonby, 17. The following table shows the present positions of teams in the championPoints Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Devonport . . 8 6 2 114 ll 4 107 12 Marist ..8 5 3 Citv . . 8 5 3 Newton !! 8 3 5 - 103 141 G Richmond -. 8 3 5 Ponsonby . . 8 2 6 City's Superior Speed The game between Richmond and City provided spectators with plenty of excitement without rising to any 8 r ® heights as regards good football, 100 much use of the whistle spoiled many splendid back movements. The City rear division won the day by superior speed. Its football was more finished than that of Richmond, which was unlucky not to make the score closer. It was unfortunate for Richmond when Prentice went over late in the second half only to lose the ball. Again, Marshall missed five kicks at goal by very narrow margins. Some of his efforts from the sideline deserved a better fate. On the day, however, City deserved its win. The backs have improved considerable. the first half City had much the better of the play. The winners were penalised no fewer than fourteen times, mostly for the forward pass. Only three penalties were given against Richmond in the first half. Richmond went into tho fray with determination right from the commencement of the second half and City supporters had cause for much anxiety. Hughes, at fullback, repeatedly got his side into trouble. Speed from the scrum, however, enabled City to turn defence into attack. The brilliant play of Wayne, at centre three-quarter for Citv, was a feature of the game. Time and again he cut the defence to ribbons, and ran straight after beating his man. Had Turei handled better, City would have scored two more tries as the result of Wayne's clever openings. The City centre, who has played but four senior matches, is a former Waitaki High School pupil.

Weak Link in Backs Hughes at fullback has a lot to learn in positional play. He defended ably, but at times kicked with poor direction. Axeman played a fine game behind the pack. His transfers were clean and quickly delivered. Purdy showed his usual anticipation in passing bouts. "Wateno was perhaps the weak link in the rear division. He held the ball too long in many movements. Turei showed a lot of pace on the wing. Both his tries were good efforts. McLaughlin again stood out among the forwards. His pace repeatedly saved City when Richmond broke through. Ragg, Clarke and Pierce did their share in the loose. The Richmond backs were evenly balanced and all played well. Prentice played his best game for a long time, his brilliant thrusts making excellent opportunities for the threequarters. In defence Prentice also did a lot of useful work. Behind the pack Abbott was in good form, although inclined to kick too often. Mitchell and Bennett played with plenty of dash. Hanlon was safe at fullback.

The Richmond forwards had a little the better of City in close play. It was no fault of the forwards that Richmond did not win the day. Satherley and Telford did a lot of useful work, while Lawless and Powell wero always prominent. Hawkes spoiled a good game, by paying too much attention tio the man. Devonport's Success Although Devonyort played without R. Smith it was lucky to win against Newton in a well-contested game. One of the tries awarded Devonport was a "gift." Devonport had the better of the first half hut at no stage of the second snell was Newton out of the picture. Both backs and forwards kept up a resolute attack, and their efforts deserved tries. It, was a great battle between the forwards and Newton shared the honours with the formidable Devonport set. There was little constructive play by the backs. Neither side handled with any certainty and thero was altogether too much kicking. In this respect the Newton rear division lost golden opportunities by kicking the ball to Lamg, who usually found touch. For a period of the second half the backs of both teams were engaged in ceaseless kicking. No advantage was attained and play was dull to watch. There was an absence of any individual effort to open up the game. Seagar, who came out of retirement to replace R. Smith, played a sound game. Laing was always a thorn in the side of the opposition. Rhodes played a good game on attack and defended ably. Oliff played well behind the pack, but O'Domiell was a little uncertain in his fielding. Radonich was the best of the wings. Simpson and Donald were the pick of the forwards, while Leatherbnrrow and Soutor did useful work. Newton missed Brimble, and the backs rarely got opportunities. Portions was outstanding behind the scrum and is an improved player. Dempsey and Pope wero the best of the other backs. The Newton forwards played with great dash and more than held the opposition. Nathan and Hall were outstanding, while Quirk and Thompson were prominent in the loose. Marist's Superiority By superiority in all departments of tho game, excepting goal-kicking, Marist had little difficulty in defeating Ponsonby in a high-scoring match. Marist, which controlled the majority of the scrums, scored almost at will in the closing stages. Nevertheless, in the first half, the game was well contested. 'J'lie absence of an accurate goal-kicker in the Marist thirteen resulted in only two if its ten tries being converted. For Marist, Ivesen and Laird played outstanding forward games, receiving solid support from Herring and Carter, while Campbell played finely in the tight, and hooked with conspicuous success. The Marist backs, who combined splendidly, proved an excellent attacking anr solid defending force, with List and Dunne, perhaps, playing best. L. Schultze showed dash and determination on the wing, while Glover, at fullback, handled faultlessly, and ran his backs into position frequently. As a team Ponsonby lacked combination and was outclassed. Riley and Rush, however, played well individually in the back division, and Jones was sound. The best forwards were Neale, Brown and Lunn.