THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21871, 6 August 1934, Page 14

THE LEAGUE CODE

RICHMOND BEATS PONSONBY i * • WIDE MARGIN OF POINTS LOSING TEAMS FAIL TO SCORE 'A # The Auckland Rugby League's senior Championship wan continued on Saturday under very unfavourable conditions, heavy grounds and rain making it almost impossible to play combined football. In the principal attraction Uichlnoml, tho leading team, proved too good for Pon son by and l'an out easy Winners. Ponsonby lacked finish to its hidvoments, while Richmond was quick to take advantage of most of ittf opportunities. Richmond is now assured of .championship honours. Devon port caused a surprise by gaining a seven-points margin over Newton in tho ouftain-raiaoi', while at StnrgoH Park, Otahuhu, Marist accounted for City. It was a cjoincidenco that all three losing teams failed to score on Saturday. Results welo as follows; — Richmond, 18} Ponsonby, 0. Devonport, 7j Newton, 0. Marist, 11; City, 0. - ——-—- { BETTER TEAM PLAY RICHMOND'S EASY WIN The better team play and finish of tho Richmond tealn enabled it to (iiiin on easy will 1 over Ponsortby, The latter fought well in the first rfpell, b«t Was gradually worn down by the opposition* unci in th© second half Ponsonby's efforts wero more or less of an individual nature. Early in the game the Ponsonby backß swung into action on several- occasions and went closo to scoring. They hftlidlod the ball splendidly considering the conditions, but later, when the Richmond vanguard settled down, the Ponsonby rearguard Was not nearly so prominent. It is hard to understand why from penalties, and there were many, Ponsonby persisted in kicking to Cooke, who repeatedly drovo it back with excellent and welljudged line kicks. Cooke played at second fivo-oighths and was a tower of ttrength to his sido in all-round work. If tho Ponsonby players had been instructed to kick to Cooke they could not have done the work better. Keeping together well, the Richmond forwards wore chiefly for the team's win and they received fine support from iv Bolid back line, which never once wilted under pressure. Powoll, Prentice, Cooke, Fletchei, Mincham and J. Satherley. fullback, all did great work in checking the opposing forwards. Lawless played a line game in the Richmond forwards and Was ably supported by Satherley, Tclfors and Brosdhead. At halfback for Ponsonby Halloran played well and is unlucky to be passed over by the selectors for the representative match next Saturday. Stockley, Kay and Shera were prominent for good individual play, but it was not a day in which the passing game waa effective. Ponsonby would have done better to havo kept the ball at toe more. In a hard-working sot of forwards Hutt, McLcay, Brown and Davis were the most prominent. The Ponsonby vanguard did not hunt togetlior so well bs the opposition, and in the second half espooially tho Richmond forwards were allowed too much room in which to break through. ■Richmond led at half-time by 5 points to nil and added 13 more points in the second Spell. Tries for the winners were scored by Mincham, Powoll, Jenkinson (2). C. Satherley converted two and also kicked a penalty goal, Mr. S. Billman waa referee. NEWTON BELOW STRENGTH jLAING PLAYS FINE GAME Soon after the commencement of the game between Devonport and Newton the playing area became u sea of mud and good football was out of the question. Newton was not up to full strength. Both Hall and JBrimbl* had influenza, and wus absent owing to the death of his lather. The first half was splendidly contested and neither side scored points. Tho Newton forwards had a little the better of the prame and were unlucky not to neore. Devonport defended well, particularly Seagar and Laing. After half-time Newton continued aggressive tactics, but failed to croßfl Devonport's line. Devonport scored a rather lucky try, although it was a reward for fast following up. Seagar took a penalty kick, which hit the crossbar, anc". Smith, following through fast, dived to touch down alongside tho feet of several Newton players. Tho Devonport backs were superior in the second half and the rear division successfully attempted to open up the game. The backs handled the ball surprisingly well and some nice passing bouts were witnessed. In concluding stages Devonport proved the better team under the wet weather conditions.

For Devonport Laing played a fine came at fullback. He haitdled the greasy ball well and kicked with good judgment. O'Leary vfaa perhaps tbO best of the bncks. Many times his speed and good handling turned defence into attack. Seagar was also in good form. Both Miller and IJhodea got through a lot of useful work. The Devonport forwards played with plenty of dash. Leathorbarrow and Smith were prominent in the loose and Donald was a towor of atrength in all departments. Donaldson at fullback for Newton played ft sound game. Hickey, at centre, was the best of the backs, Ho was unlucky not to score after getting over tho Dovonport lino. Stephens played with his usual dash, but did not set many opportunities. Porteous played well behind tho Newton pack. Blacklaws was easily the best forward, being prominent in tho loose. Middleton and Nathan also played good football. For Devonport Smith scored a try, which Laing converted. Laing also kicked a penalty goal. Mr. P. Rogers wna referee. MARIST'S SUCCESS CITY FAILS TO SCORE Marist decisively defeated City in a hard game played under wretched weather conditions at Sturges Park Otahuhu. The winning team was definitely 011 top throughout and merited its 11-point win. City was on defence practically the whole of the first, half when facing a driving rain and a stiff breeze. The second spell wus more oven, but Marist still held tho advantage. Considering the conditions, the ground wtis in surprisingly good order, and both teams made the play open. Marist's defence was solid in every department. the fielding and kicking of Campbell at fullback being outstanding. Watene, the City fullback, was not in his best form. Turei lacked determination, but Wiberg wus the best back on the ground in all-round play. The forwards were a good match for the Marist pack but Clark, Ragg and Nathan earned special mention. Grotte, Smith, Loader and Glover were prominent in the Marist back division, and Laird. Keans and Bakalich showed up in the forwards. For Marist Brisbane. Laird and Smith aoorcd, Campboll converting one try. Mr. M. "VVetherill was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Reserve Grade,—Richmond, 11, Ponsonby, 8; City, 5, Marist, 3. Second Grade.—Mangere, 7, Papnkura, tj. Third Grade.—Richmond, 10, Ponsonby, 0. Third Grade Intermediate.—Ponsonby, 3, Richmond, 0; Point Chevalier, 11. Devonport, 0. Fourth Grade.—Newton won from Papn kurti by default : Richmond, 0, Point Chevalier, 0. Fifth Grade.—Mount Albert, 8. City, (i; Ponsonby won from Manukuu by default. Sixth Grade.—Devonport, ( J!), Point Chevalier, 0: Ellerslie. 9, Richmond, 3. Seventh Grade,—Richmond, A, 9, Richmond B, 0. MATCHES IN PROVINCE The following accounts of Rugby League matches played in the Auckland Province on Saturday wero forwarded by correspondents of the Herald TuaKau,—Manuia is the winner of the Northern Waikato Rugby League's championship, with Huia runner-up. Mnnnia defeat ins Huia by 'JC> points to 3 The four Cooper brothers Wore outstanding players in the winning team. The honour of winning the Ivan Culpan Shield goes with the championship. The Northern Waikato League wn»" inaugurated this season and has tho gratification of knowing that the matches have produced nood football. Waluhu.—The League game was introduced t<s Waillkn when Mangere and l'apaJturu met the final of the Aucl-'yrii ■Rugby League's second grade competition. Mangere, won by 7 points to C after a good, hard game. Playing conditions were bad, rain falling almost, throughout. Tho. halftime scoro was:—Mangere, 7; Papakura, 3.

The second half saw the Papaltura wing throw away a winning chance when, after crossing the line, he attempted to run round and lost the ball, Pftp&kufa floored a try in tho closing stages, but the final whistle came with Mangere the champions by tho margin of one point. A curtainraiser between local teams, Pakeha v. Maori, was won by the native team by 10 points to 3. Whangaroi.—The Rugby League carried out its fixtures notwithstanding the heavy rain. The grounds were in o very Beaked condition but interesting games resulted. In the senior grade the Northland A. representatives, 24, defeated the Northland B representatives, nil. In the junior grade knockout. competition Whakawuro. 13, defeated Onerahi, nil. REPRESENTATIVE MATCH The following team has been chosen to represent Auckland against Northland at Carlaw Park next Saturday:— Fullback.—Dentpsoy (Newton), • Threcquarters:—Stephens (Newton), Kay (Potisoiiby), flurdgraVe (Newton). Five-eighths.—Riley (Pondoiiby)i Brimble (Newton). Halfback.—Axeman (City). Forward!.—Front, row: Laird (Marist), Quirke (Newton), Clarke (City), Hall (NeWtOn), Hutt, captain (Ponsonby), Scott (Devon port). nlmerijoncips.—Forwards: McLeny (Ponsonby), Simpson (Devonport). Backs: Halloran (Ponsonby), Stockley (Ponsonby), McLaughlin (City). No Richmond players have been included as the team will bo on tour. The Auckland players arc requested to attend training at Carlaw Park to-morrow and Thursday evening at 7.30 o'clock. MATCH BETWEEN MAORIS [nv TKLKGftArjj-—'PftEfcN ASSOCIATION! NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday In a League football match yesterday the Taranrtki Maoris defeated the' Hawke'i Bay Maoris by 10 points to 11. MATCHES IN THE SOUTH [I)V TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] Christohurch.—Hornby, 25, RufU, 12; Addington, 20, New Brighton, 6; Sydenham, 14, Linwood, 11. Dunedln.—Christian Brothers, 16, City, 13; Pacific, 11, Athletic, 7.