THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21605, 25 September 1933, Page 12

THE LEAGUE CODE

WIN FOR ST. GEORGE TEAM DEFEAT OF DEVONPORT NINETEEN POINTS TO EIGHT The St. George Rugby League team, which arrived only on Saturday morning from Sydney, commenced its tour well by defeating Devonport, the Auckland " champion club team, at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon, by 19 points to 8. Conditions were ideal and there was an attendance estimated at about 9000. . , Especially in the first spell the visiting team w«s definitely superior to the opposition. Splendid passing, thrustful running and cleverness in changing the direction of the attack seemed to overwhelm Devonport and at half-time St. George led by 11 points to three. But for the good tackling of Devonport, the score at the interval would have been much greater. In the second spell the Devonport forwards settled down, and keeping the ball at their feet repeatedly worried the St. George backs, who at times were bustied into errors. Had Devonport adopted the same tactics in the first spell the result would have been closer. St. George made the play open from all positions, and the forwards proved equally adept at handling and passing as the backs. Some of the splendid movements executed proved clearly that Auckland players have still something to learn, especially in positional play and the manner in which tho forwards support the backs. In tho tight play in tho second spell, however, tho Devonport pack was superior to tho opposition, and with better support from the backs might have won the honours. There is no doubt that St. George waß the better team, but it was presented with two "gift" tries, and on the play the result should have been closer. Outstanding Feature

One of the best features of the visitors' play was tho manner in which players took their passes at top speed and ran with their weight. As a combination the Devonport backs, in comparison with the St. George rearguard, were practically a minus quantity. They were tar too slow in coming up to their men and the visitors were allowed plenty of room in which to work. Quick breaking by the St. George forwards hampered the slow-moving inside backs of Devonport, who frequently gave away possession by fruitless kicking. In strong contrast, the St. George backs kicked only on rare occasions. The game throughout was played at a fast pace, and the clever play of the visitors and the- fine rally made by the Devonport forwards in the second spell greatly appealed to the spectators. St. George will meet Richmond next Wednesday, and will probably find this team more difficult to Deat. At times against Devonport the St. George forwards committed breaches by "shepherding" their halves and should have been penalised more for this offence. The teams were as follows; — ST. GEORGE [ Fullback. —S. Robinson. Threequarters.—L. Brennan, M. Hollingworth, N- Tipping, B. Martin. Halves.—R. Daly, H. Mork. Forwards.—F. Hayward, P. Fairall, A. Sprouster, J. Rutherford, L. Kelly, W. Killiby.

DEVONPORT Fullback. —Laing. Threequarters.—Rhodes, Seager, A. Smith. Five-eighths.—R. Smith, O'Donnell. Hal f back.—Oliff. Forwards. —Simpson, Leatherbarrow, Donald, Souter, A. Smith, Scott. Reserves. Masefiold, Radonich, Powell. Devonport Scores First Devonport did the early attacking and once R. Smith failed at goal from a penalty. A clever cross-kick by Seagar had the visitors troubled, but eventually Mork relieved with a fine kick. Devonport maintained the attack and mishandling by the visiting backs let the Devonport forwards away. Oliff dashed in and scored wide out. R. Smith made a good attempt at goal. Devonport, 3; St. George, 0. The visitors' backs were always dangerous and a clever movement was started by Mork in his own twentyfive. The ball travelled cleanly to Daley, Hollingsworth and Martin, the lastnamed running strongly from halfway to score a fine try near the posts. Robinson missed the easy kick. Devonport, 3; St. George, 3. The St. George backs were throwing the ball about from all positions and only sound tackling prevented tries. From the loose Martin picked up and side-stepped two opponents before Bending in to Killiby. The latter transferred to Fairall, who ran over by the posts. Robinson easily converted. St. George, 8; Devonport, 3. The Devonport backs did not have the finish to their play that was shown by the St. George rearguard. However, the Devonport forwards were placing well and the local team had the visitors penned in their twenty-five for a period. Once R. Smith failed at gjoal from a likely position. The visitors were penalised on two occasions for obstruction round the scrum. Brennan started a fine movement by eluding several tacklers with a side-stepping run and eventually Rutherford scored wide out. Robinson failed to convert Half-time came a minute later with the score: — St. Goorge 11 Devonport -3 An Easy Try Shortly after resuming A. Smith kicked behind his own line and Hollingsworth took the ball on the full and placed it down by the posts. Martin made a poor attempt to convert. St. George, 14; Devonport, 3. The visitors' were having a foast of the ball, but Devonport tackled well. Devon port's forwards were beating the St. George pack and the exchanges were more even. After a period of closo play the Devonport forwards broke away in tho loose and R. Smith dribbled over, Leatherbarrow gaining the touch down in a good position. Laing converted. St. George, 14; Devonport, 8. Devonport maintained the pressure and once lost a great scoring chance when Sowter kicked with the opposition beaten and E. Scott in attendance. Mishandling by Laing gave St. George an easy try, Hayward scoring wide out. Fairall's kick hit the post and went inside. There was no further scoring, the game ending:— St. George 19 Dtevonport 8 Mr. M. Wetherill was referee.

TEAM ENTERTAINED MATCH AGAINST RICHMOND The St. George Rugby League team was the guest of the New Zealand Rugby League at dinner at the Commercial Hotel on Saturday evening. The president of the New Zealand Rugby League, Mr. C. A. Sneddon, in welcoming the visitors, said the game against Devonport was played in a splendid spirit and the St. George team gave an exhibition equal to those of pievious visiting Sydney olubs. It was to be regretted that representative Australian teams did ndt visit the Dominion more often. In thanking the council for a hospitable welcome, Mr. J. H. Mostyn, manager of the t St. George team, said New Zealanders always appealed to Australia by their sportsmanship in all forms of athletics. He conveyed the greetings of the New South Wales Rugby League and expressed the hope that New Zealand would have mora visits from Australian teams in future.

Mr. R. Johnson complimented the referee Mr. M. Wctherill. on his control of the C T e meoting of the New Zej, "^:y League on Saturday evening decided to play Richmond against St. George next Wednesday. It was stated that A. E. Cook had recovered from his recent injuries *P I ? would bo available. The request o Mans rinb for a game against . St. t*eorge nex* Saturday Was deferred until Wednesday.

LOWER GRADE RESULTS Junior Representative Matcli.—Northcote third intermediate, 29, South Auckland ' U Fo°urth e Grade!—Mar'ist B won from Point Chevalier by default: Richmond won from D Sixth°Grade.—Knock-out final: Otahuhu, Knock-out competUion: Ellerelie, 14, Richmond. 5; City. 8, Avoii dale, 5.

MATCH AT WHANGAREI PONSONBY TEAM SUCCESSFUL [from our own correspondent] WHANGAREI, Saturday There was a moderate attendance at Recreation Park, Hikurangi. this afternoon, when the Ponsonby, (Auckland) League team defeated the combined Hikurangi and City flenior teams by 23 points to 10. The weather wns overcast and cold, and the ground in excellent condition. In the first spell the game was not particularly interesting, and at half-time tho local team led by 7 points to 3 In the second spell, however, the game brightened considerably, and the visitors opened up the game. For the Ponsonby team, Hutt, Whye and and Lewis were the pick of the forwards, and Jones, Kay. Midgley. Riley and Bright of the backs. For the local team. Hazell. Rowe, Dunn and C. O'Callaghan were the best of the forwards, while C. Hamilton, E. Cunningham and Lennia -were the best of the backs. For Ponsonby. Kay, Hutt, Wliye, Midgley and Lewis scored tries, Lewie converting three and kicking a penalty goal. For the combined team, C. Hamilton kicked two penalty goals and E. Cunningham scored two tries. Mr. J. Petterson, of Whangarei, was referee. Match in christchurch [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday In a League football match yesterday Linwood defeated Hornby by 18 points to 5.