LEAGUE FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21811, 28 May 1934, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

RICHMOND TEAM WINS I DEVONPORT IN BETTER FQRM / PONSONBY DEFEATS CITY I /The fifth series of matches in the senior championship of the Auckland Rugby League was played on Saturday under good conditions, when some interesting play resulted. Richmond, the leading team, maintained its unbeaten record by defeating Devonport iij a fast and open game, the latter team showing greatly improved form. The principal match between Nowton and Marist was fairly dull in the first spell, but after the interval both nides threw the ball about and some good movements were witnessed. Newtqji was the better side on the day and gained a good win. Oil the ?so. 2 ground Ponsonby proved too cood for City. .Results of matches were as follows: Newton, 22; Marist, 13. Richmond, 10; Devonport, 9. ''Ponsonby, 18; City, 4. TEAM WORK LACKING j NEWTON BEATS MA HIST Although showing improved form against Newton Marist lacked a good deal lu team rlav the former saining victory through better combined play and finish to passing movements. Play in the tirst spell was lather raised, each side being unable to settle down and adopting spoiling tactic?. Newton led at liulf time. 7—^ In tne second spell both teams played better, there oeing more method in tactics and good combined movements. If Marist could have finished of! several promising attai/3;s the result would have S»no in its favour. There was not much between (ho tides on the mn of the play and only weak tackling by the Marist inside backs lost the tame. The tries scored by Brimble and Hall, when they went through a weak defence, cost Marist 10 points. Marist was unfortunate in losing both White aud L. Sclyultz in the first spell owing to injuries. Especially in the first half there was too much indiscriminate kicking and tijo standard sufi/red as a result. A fine came for Newton was played by Stephens, cn wing, and his try was the result of determined running, although it was stir•prising to see Campbell make a poor etlort to tackle. Dempsey was in great form at fullback and used splendid judgment in placing his kickß. Brimble - was the best of the other backs, being very nippy on attack. Quirke, Glover. Middleton and Hall played well in an even set of forwards, whjj kept together better than the opposition and were always slightly superior. _ t Marist played far too much as individuals and there was selfishness noticeable with some of the players. Campbell played a eouhd all-round gaine at fullback, while Hassan showed by his game behind the scrum that he is now appioaohing his beat form. Laird, Keane and Clark were the pick of the forwards, who, through poor team play, had a good deal of extra work tr.rnwn upon them. / Newton won by 22 points to 13. Tries 'for lhe ,winners were scored by Brimble. Middleton, Stephens and Hall. Dempsey converted all tries ind also kicked a penalty goal. Foi Marist Hassan, Herring and List nenred tries, Campbell converting one and kicking n penalty goal. Mr. M. Wotherill was referee. RICHMOND TESTED MATCH WITH DEVONPORT h * .Richmond was well tested by Devonport tM. the curtain-raiser to the principal match. For a good part of the game Devonport held a territorial advantage. The Richmond team did not play the same open game ns against Cits. Play in the first half was confined to the forwards, the Richmond pet receiving a setback from the Devonport vanguard. Superior pace by the Richmond threequaTters paved tjie way for two tries. McNeil scored two fine tries. The Richmond forwards played better football in the second half and gave the backs excellent support. If the Devonport backs had received more of the ball the score would have been closer. Several times the Devonport backs executed pretty movements and generally showed improved form. Their defence was particularly good. .Richmond has still to speed up the attack from the scrum to the centre threequarter. Many times O'Dojmell and Seagar caught Prentice and J. Satherley in possession. .The score*, IP> points to 9, was not a ilrue indication of the game. Richmond was the better side, but not by such a margin. Cooke had. a busy day at ful'lback for Richmond. The Devonport forward? pressed Wro repeatedly, but he played his usual Bound game. His splendid judgment in kicking waß a great help to Richmond. McNeil was!/ easily the best back on the ground. His'first try was a brilliant effort. Mincham played well at centre and paved the way for a try. Prentice got through a lot of useful work on defence, but was inclined to run across the ground too much. Powel) played a good game behind the scrum. Telford and Satherley were the best of the Richmond forwards. Lawless was also prominent in the loose. Fitzgerald, a newcomer to the Devonport team, played an impressive game at centre. Several times he made nice openings. Seagar spoiled a good display by holding on too long. O'Donnell was a tower of strength on defence. Rhodes scored a fine try as the result of splendid anticipation. The Devonport forwards played good football ill the loosl Simpson and Donald were prominent. while Scott and Hunt played good games. For Richmond McNeil scored three tries, and Mincham one. Mincham also kicked two penalty goal?. For Devonport Rhodes scored two tries and Scott one. Mr. P. Rogers was referee. DEFENCE WEAKNESS j POOR HANDLING After playing like a winning team and having a territorial advantage Clty'e defence crumbled against Ponsonby. which scored 12 points in 15 minutes. Throughout the first half City had much the better of tho game, and frequently went close' to scor J ing. The first half ended without any ricore. Early in the second half City took the lead with two penalty goals. Ponsonby was a long time settling down, but once the backs gained possession' several good tries were scored. The defence of the City backs was very weak: B(jth' Piirdy and Tu;rei gave Ponsonby easy tries by poor tackling. Turei has developed a bad habit of playing too far away from his centre. After winning the ball from almost every scrum in the first half/ tho City backs failed to penetrate. The five-eighths handled poorly and rarely attempted to open the play. The 'Ponsonby backs showed better anticipation, particularly in the last IS minutes, when the rearguard outclassed City. It was in the forwards that City bad a great advantage. The pack beat Ponsonby in all departments of the game. .Tones was not very impressivo at fullback for Ponsonby, his kicking buing inaccurate. Kay, at centre, was easily the best back and scored a nice try, W, Stocklejr aiid Halloran were not so prominent an •usual. ..Riley was the best of th<i' inside backs. Midgcley showed a lot of pace on the wing. Brown and Hutt were the best forwards, the former playing a particularly good game. Why. who played well early in Hi© season, cost Ponsonby two tries through weak handling. McLaughlin, who played as an extra back, was City's. best player. White was dangerous pacli time he handled the ball, but ( hc lucked opportunities. Belslmm did a lot of useful work ut halfback, although he was inclined to kick too much, Clarke and Nathan were the best of a hard working puck. Herring also played good football. For Ponsonby tries were scored by Kay. Riley, McLeny and Halloran. .Tones kicked three goah. Fur City White kicked a penalty goal and Wihcrg a fitld goal. Mr. S. Bilbnan was referee. | -O \V KR GRA D H R KSULTS Reserve Grade.—Mariat, '24. Newlon. 8: Richmond, 23, Devonport 2: City, 14. Pon*onby, S. Second Grade.—Otahuhu, 8. 'Point Chevalier; 0: Mount Albert, 21, Ellerslie. 12: Pa pal; ura. 11. Mangere, 0. Third Grade Open —Richmond. <l2, Mangere, 0; Marist. <>. Pa.pa.kura, 3: Mount Albert. 12. Akarana, 3. Third Grade Intermediate.—Manukau A, Richmond, 5 ; Ponsonby, 13, Akarana, Marist, 5. Papnkuru, 0: City, 18, Otahuliu, 5; Manukau B, 11. Point Chevalier. S./, Marist. 5, Papakura 0. Fourth Grade.—Manukau. fi. Glenora. 5; Newton. 8. Richmond. 5: Marist. 2f>. Point Chevalier. 3: Papakura, 5, Ellerslie. 5. Fifth Grade.—Manukau, 6, Devonriorfc, 5; Mount Albert, 7. Ponsonby, 5; City, 17, Pspakura, 0; Richmond, 10, Otnhuhu, 0. Sixth Grade.—Richmond, 5. Newton, 2: Point Chevalier, 18. Elleriilie, 5; Devonport, 12. Avon dale, 0. Seventh Grade.—Richmond A, 16, Northcote/ 0: Richmond B, 31, Mount Albert, 0. Schoolboys' Games.—Richmond, 17. Marist, 2: Ellerslie. 11, Northcote, 0: City, 8, Devonport, 3. Saven-a-Bide: City, 8, Ellerslie, 0.

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE League football matches were played in some country centres on Saturday after-, noon, and tho following results were forwarded by HEnATiD correspondents:— Whangarei.—Seniors: City, C, Kensington, 0; Hikurungi, 3, Whakawaro, 2. Juniors: Kamo, 0, Onerahi, 5; Whakawaro. 3, Portland, 0. Tliakau,—Results in the third round of the Lower Waikato Football League's competitions are as follows: —Onepoto, 9, City, Oj Mania, 24, Huia, 3. Tauplri.—Taupiri defettted Hnntly by 20 points to fi. Tho forwards were evenly matched, but the combined play of the Taupiri backs was the decid ill if f actor.lrl es for Taupiri were scored by Hill. G. littleton, Pawson and Garry. H. George, converted three tries and Tittleton kicked a penalty goal. Mr. A. Waring was referee. Juniors: Taupiri, 11, Kia Ora, 3. Papakura.—The Papakura second grade travelled to Mangere and beat the home team by 11 points to 0. For Papakura Cornthwnite scored and converted, and 1,. Taylor and Gordon Wilson each .scored a try The third open team wijs beaten by Marist at Papakura by <i points (three penalty coals) to 3 (a try). Tho third in ermediate team suffered defeat in the last minute of the game by 5 points to 0 against Marist at the Domain. Tho fourth grade drew. 5-all, with Ellerslie ot Ellerslie, and the fifth grade lost to City by 17 points to 0. CONTESTS IN THE SOUTH [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] ChriStchurch.— Addington, 32, Sydenham. 10; New Brighton, 0, Li'.iwood, 7: Hornby, 23. Ruru, 15. Dunsdin.—Christian Brothers. 24, Athletic. 0; City. 17. Pacific, 13.