LEAGUE FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21817, 4 June 1934, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

SECOND BOUND COMMENCED CLOSE CALL FOR RICHMOND PONSONBY DEFEATS MARIST The second round of matches in the senior championship of the Auckland Rugby ..League was commenced on Saturday, Richmond, the leading team, maintaining its unbeaten record by gaining victory over Newton by one point in a hard game. In the curtainraiser Marist, fielding many new senior players, fully extended Ponsonby. Jhe other seiiior match between City and [Devonport was not. played and will be decided at Carlaw Park to-day. The grounds on Saturday were heavy after rain and,tho greasy ball made accurate handling difficult, but both senior uames provided fast and thrilling football. The results were as follows: Pichmond, J3; Newton, 2. Ponsonby, .16; Marist, 7. HARD FORWARD PLAY A FINE DISPLAY In one of the hardest and best games seen *t Carlaw Park Richmond gained a narrow victory over Newton by a single Timnt. Two line sets of forwards fought out a Kicat struggle and at times sonic tlm ling back movements were produced by both teams. There was little between forwards in the tight play, but m the loose Newton was superior, lhe superiority of the Newton vanguard in the loose gave the Richmond rearguard a heavy day defence and never once did it fail. Olio ox the outstanding features of the game was the splendid tackling and defensive play o£ b °On the"nin of tho play Richmond would have been unlucky to lose, but several times Newton had the game in Hs hands. It is difficult,to understand why Newton persisted in up-and-under tactics from penalties in easy positions when one successful kick would have won the day. ihe Richmond backs were somewhat disor.gamsed when both McNeil and Mmcham had to leave the field through injuries. j Richmond was rightly penalised on eral occasions for offside play. put aon . ie 1 el" the Newton players escaped detection in j this regard and frequently bustled the defence. Richmond was fully tested and again Tiroved a fine all-round team, its defence being of a high order. At times tempers became frayed and each side was equally | to blame. In the first spell Lawless. Rich- , wand, and Kelsall. Newton, were - ordered j off the field, and after this incident both j teams settled down to play football. Richmond was, unpopular with a certain section of the spectators for no obvious reason as I the team won on its merits and played good j of the'' play were the oulstand- | ing exhibitions given by Cooke, the Rich- ; mond fullback, and Dempsey, the Newton ; custodian. Both played practically faultless j football and only the experience and brains of Cooke eaved Richmond from defeat, bey . eral times he started passing movements , and "was unlucky on at lea&t two occasions , that he did not get the ball again f rom an in-pass when tries were certa "\ 1 J made the fatal error of repeatedly kickin_ m po\vel°, k the Richmond halfback, played a fine all-round game and from clever play came the only try scored during the game. His exhibition must surely bring lnm •under the eyes of the . Auckland selectors. Prentice played his usual eolid name and J, Satherley frequently shone out in go 9 d defence. Tetley dronped several passes at critical moments. C. Satherley played an outstanding game m the Richmond forwards and was well supported by Telford By his display on Saturday tho 1M;ter proved' himself one of the best forwards in the senior competition, Brimble and Stephens were the best of the Newton backs, whose combination was upset through Hall, back row forward, having to Play in the line. Although Hall did gome good defensive work he kicked far too much on attack and was too. slow•off wiotit Tn a verv even 86t of forwards, played well, Middleton and BlacklaTßelforT s?ored eS an unconverted try for Richmohd and Dempsey kicked a penalty coal for Newion. Mr. P. Rogers was referee. GOOD TEAM PLAY J > PONSONBY BEATS MARIST and held the advantage at ha "^'p n - in the second half, however, the Ponsonby TS&t-a ejoril,,,l üb,otu b, ot aras best seen at Carlaw Park this seaßo ' l : came into the movement twice, and McLeay lost the ball when attempting to ground it under tho posts. Seven players handled the ball in a splendid L,'*® forwards were well matched, and there was little to choose between the two packs. The Ponsonby vanguard did work in the loose, and adapted themselves, to the wet weather conditions. G°°d Pa ß ' the speed off the mark by the Ponsonby backs were features of the f">ine. , Kay, centre threequarter. was the best Ponsonby back. He made some clever openings, and used excellent judgment in making play for the wings. W. Stockley, at five-eighths, combined well with Kay. and did useful work on defence Riley was also prominent, but! kicked too frequently when the other backs wero in good positions Halloran played a fine game behind tho pack in the second half. On every occasion he fed the backs to good advantage. Medgeley and Sherer did well .with limited opportunities. Jones played a sound game at fullback. McLeay was the outstanding Jronsonby forward.. Hutt. Brown and Why were also prominent. Brisbane was given ft splendid ovation •when he came out' of retirement to lead Marist. The veteran was a tower of strength on defence. Campbell played his usually sound game at fullback, fieldinpr well &nd kicking with good judgment. Furlonger and Smith were prominent on attack. Jxmder made a good impression. Laird played a fine game, and was the best forward on the ground. Keane also did good work. For Ponsonby Medgeles. W. Stockley Biley and McLeav scored tries. .Tones converted two tries. Loader scored the only try for Marist. and Campbell converted. Keane kicked a fine penalty goal. Mr. M. Wetherill was referee. / LOWER GRADE RESULTS Reserve Grade.—Marist, 10, Ponsonby. 3: Richmond, 3s. Newton. 3. Second Orade.—Point Chevalier. 9. Ma7>ger« .3; Papakura. 12. Mount Albert. 0. Third Grade Open.—Richmond, 12, Papakura, 8; Glenorn. 12. Mount Albert. 5: Ponso/iby. 48. Mangere. 2. Third Grade Intermediate. —Mannkau. 0. Akarana, 0; Richmond. 3. Marist, 7; Papakura. 5. City, 0. Fourth Grade.—Newton. 0. Mantikau. 7: Marist. 13, Papakura, 3: Point Chevalier. 22. Northcote, 0. Fifth Grade.—Richmond. 5, Mar.ukau. 0: Mount Albeit, 6. Papakura. 0; Otahuliu. 13. Ponsonby. 0. Sixth Grade.—Kllerslie, 3. Richmond. 0: Avondale, 3, Newton. 2. _ Seventh Guide.—Richmond A. f>. Devonport. 0; City. 24. Mount Albert. 0: Richmond B. 6. Northcote. fi. Schoolboys' Games.—Avondale, 01. Otahuhu. 0; Richmond. 33. Marist B. 3. MATCHES IN THE PROVINCE Tile following results of League football matches played in the Auckland Province on Saturday were forwarded by correspondents of the Hekalo:— Tuakau.—Following an A and B trial match teams were selected to represent the Lower "Waikato Rugby League in matches a« Tuakau as follows: —A team, to play Mangere: Fullback. It. Kevin: three-quarters. .Toe T'aru, J. Cooper. R. Cooper; five-eighths. J. Hapi. D. Peters: half. .T. Tonga: forwards, Isaac, C. Moses. Ngataki, 13. Tlapi. G. Piggolt, W. Wivrbrick. Emergencies: S Heywood, A. Wade. B team, to play Ponsonby: Fullback. Broughlon: thccciuarters, Montgomery, Maloriy, Mahu; five-eighths, "W. Clark, S. Rnnjri: half, C. Anderson: forwards. V. Silva. T. Paul. M. Taupirx: B. Hapi. N. Markin, T. Cooper. Emergencies: T. Howard,. M. Rangi. Papakura.—Second grade: Papakura, 12, Mount Albert. 0. Third grade: Richmond. 12. Papakura. 8. Third intermediate grade: Papakura. 5, City. 0. Fourth grade: Marist. 13, Papakura. 3. Fifth grade: Mount Albert. 5, Papakura. 0. Taupirl.—ln the South Auckland League mutches. Taupiri defeated Ngaruawaliin at Tailpirl by 23 points to 5. In the first linlf W. Tittleton secured the first Iry.'H. George converting. Other tries came to C. Hill and G. Tittleton. the kicks failing, and the score at half-time being:—Taupiri, 11; Ngaruawahia. 0. Early in the second half Spencer scored for Taupiri. io be followed by Hill for Ngaruawahia, Muir converting. Garry (Taupiri) secured the next try. Twice in succession G. Tittleton secured the ball near midway and raced down tho line to score. Mr. W,, Payne controlled the game. The NgaruaWahia.Juniors defeated Huntly by 22 points to 0. Huntly seniors defeated Rototvnro by 8 points to 5. Whangaral.—Following are the results of senior games played under the jurisdiction of the Rugby League codeHikurangi, 27. (City. 6; Whakawaro. 24, Kcnbington, 10. ftnniorfi: Kajno. 12, .Wiiakayaio, 8.