THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22149, 1 July 1935, Page 15

THE LEAGUE CODE

SENIOR' CHAMPIONSHIP RICHMOND'S EASY VICTORY MOUNT ALBERT BEATS NEWTON Tho third series of matches in the Fecond round of tho Auckland Rugby League's senior championship was played oa Saturday under most unfavourable conditions. Rain during tho •peek made tho ground very heavy and at tho closo of tho games tho forwards of tho teams were quite unrecognisable. Heavy showers during the "play also militated against good football. Richmond surprised by scoring an easy victory over Devonport in tho principal match, the winners running up 28 points, while Devonport failed to score. In the second spell of this game A. E. Cooke, the Richmond captain, suffered a broken nose, but ho / played on until tho end. A keen curtain-raiser between Mount Albert and Newton ended in favour of the former bv a margin cf throe ' . points. Tho match between Ponsonby and City, set down for tho No. 2 i ground at Carlaw Park, was played at the Domain and resulted in a win for City by two points. Richmond and Mount Albert are still equal in the lead for championship honours. Following aro the results of Saturday's matches: — Richmond, 28; Devonport, 0. Mount Albert, 3; Xewton, 0. City,' 10; Ponsonby, 8. SOME BRIGHT STAGES MINCHAM'S FINE DISPLAY In spite of the bad conditions there were home bright stages in the chief match, between Richmond and Devonport. Better team play carried Richmond to victory, but the side won by a surprisingly wide mar--1 gin. Well supported by the forwards, tho Richmond backs frequently flashed into the picture in nice movements. On 'ho other hand tbo Devonport backs failed to work up any combination and all efforts were of an individual nature. The Divonport forwards started with plenty of dash and it seemed the team would gain the upper hand in this department. However, once settled down, the Richmond forwards played well, keeping together much better than in recent matches. The result was that tho backs had numerous (importunities, and they turned some of these to good advantage chiefly through tho fine play of Mincham, / Bt centre. It was a day for kick-and-follow tactics and these were generally adopted. 'Richmond placed its kicks to much better advantage than Devonport, while the Richmond vanguard proved more clever in dribbling and keeping control of tho ball. In stopping ryshes players often lost control „of the greasy ball, but on occasions the handling of the Richmond backs was good under tho conditions. There was far more thrust in the Richmond attacks, in spite of the fact that vhe team lost its fiveeighths, Bickerton. early in the first spell through a head injury. An outstanding game for Richmond was ■played by Mincham at centre. He made some clever openings and was instrumental in several of the tries being scored. A speedy runner with a deceptive swerve, Mincham often left the opposition standing, while his work on defence was also of a high standard. Cooke, at fullback, played another fine game, and was ap : plauded many times for tho manner in which he checked 'rushes nnd got his .kicks, in with rho forwards'right on 'him. At halfback Powell showed a return to form and gave easily his best c.isplay of "ths season. IT© mado somo tiice openings and got thfe ball away well, while he was a tower of strength on defence. Mitchell, on the wing, showed plenty of dash and scored a fine try ns the result of determined .running.

Adams, at fullback for Devonport, was too deliberate, in his movements and often got his side Into trouble. He is lacking in the necessary experience for thin position Jn the senior grade. Rhodes, five-eighths, was easily the, best Devonport back and tlie only inside player who attempted to ■penetrate to advantage. Cowan, at halftiu was prone * OO much solo work. Hall showed dash on the wing, but was starve.d for opportunities. J. Satherley played a. fine garie in the .Richmond forwards and he received good support from C. Satherley, Tetley and Tel'iord. Simpson, Hunt and Souter wero the best Devonport forwards. Tries for Richmond were scored by Telford C. Satherley, Mitchell, Mincham. McAeu and Fletcher. Fletcher converted three tries and C. Satherley one. Fletcher also ■tacked a penalty goal. Mr. M. Wetherill was referee.

WIN FOR CITY MARGIN OF TWO POINTS •^ ter making a good impression early in the fi-at half. City maintained its advantago and deserved a win by two points from Ponsonby, which f scored and converted just before time. The Outer Domain ground was in much better order than Carlaw Park, and some nice passing bouts were witnessed.. The City vanguard, which included two reserve grade players, showed up promir.ently and •Jn the second half dominated play. The lonaonby backs dropped several pusses when tries looked certain. The backs generally ™ere well matched, with the iuck in favour of City. v, v, ' a3 evenly contested and teams infused plenty- of dash into the Came. One splendid passing bout hy tho City !!j t' 11 ? ■ p ' ay . tnrcd-parts of the ground alj j r f l , missed a try. Ponsonby delentit'd ably and good tackling often checked City attacks. Vii! 1 l « e sc ? on d spell City attacked from the *'CK-otx and good play by Brown gave POll- - anxious moments. The Ponsonby forwartia showed up for a time, but good liofY)? - ep * *' ] o City lino intact. In the Jan 10 minutes the Ponsonby backs played improved football and threatened to score on several occasions. City, however, held its advantage For City Wiberg handled tho fiirn 8 i -L ' ? ,K ' Ployed 11 sound game at iuiioack. The wings, Thompson end Turoi, ere prominent in some dashing play, rown, centre, made some clever openings na repeatedly saved his side with splendid •fnifkTr Johnson and Ford pkyed good -i. Tr- flye-eiprhths and were well served behind the pack. Clark, McGee and We P;. " Ip host °f the forwards, while R l \ n was also prominent. «Jr„ n ~ ttrK ' Ri'ey stood out prominently among the Ponsonby backs. Murray fumbled but otherwise wast good at fullback Behind tho scrum Tlalloran gave ; s backs plenty of tho ball with wellirectetl passes. lie overdid tho short punt, Bwvever, Ilult, and Leutherbarrow played m ', ®fnong the Ponsonby forwards. Moran P oven a good player in the looso and was W S®» « n hand to assist the backs. , «?' Clty,_ Dye and McGeo scored a. try 1 L Ur ?' converted both tries. Moran converted' J^' CS r onson hy rtn d Jones Mr. P. Rogers was refefee. CLOSE CONTEST MOUNT ALBERT'S SUCCESS «-;fnJ! eer l a - n< ' a * times exciting game was Mn!!n» Be< iii m curtain-raiser between ft? 1 , Albert,, and X«wton. The splendid r V m tho second lit,lf to wipe of urn threo points' margin was a feature did ,h ' : f ». st half Mount Albert .i ,1 "Hacking, but on changing Xpu-ti: eUt " n , "fen swept over its opponents. Point* * might easily have won with a few Mount {W e > i* 1 ' llC ' { was nct it. uictilrn rl i T aa y "" means out of the obpvi ,V 1 ? hacks tried on many ocasions to ■csm«V P tV 50 , same, con when N-swton had -efnin i t' 1 J 1 " Mount Albert five-eighths -"rained from kicking a different result may Tk L en Voided, but ® heavy ground called for forward olay-, ball y ® hacks saw a lot of' the The \r i passing on occasions was good, binpj Iff <" hacks, in the second half, comon cctlve 'vant! often had Mount Albert len«lit was .awarded four and ;♦ • vm ln , rea aonably good positions, BoiTitL «. S '''lhc'iH to understand why goalUnder tactic" instead of up-and-fulib^rt I '' < make many mistakes at xr v°"i nt Alt, P rt - The wings, latter 'mVl- eil, were in good form, the centre m l k,n V°™. "plendid runs. List, at gained' ?,„°» Ve i a distinct improvement and nmnimr M • Rroun d .hy strong, straight WcVne ■°" ls, fy "Poilecl a good game by i' c • Hassan and Dunn nine wo. 4u en u 011 atfaci! and defence. Gun*nd SWiv! u of the forwards. Herring nadbolt were also prominent.

At fullbnck for Newton, Kerr played n very sound came. Splendid fielding wbb ft feature of his. play. Franich was the best back on the ground. He mado several fne runs and was unlucky not to score. It was not a fair test for Sissons, a junior fiveeighths, who, however, made few mistakes. E. Brimble was prominent on attack. Nathan and Middleton were the pick of n wellbalanced scrum. B. Schultz scored a try for Mount Albert. Air. W. Simpson was rcfciee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Senior Reserve Grade.—Richmond, 11, Devonport, 0; Mount Albert, G, Newton, 0; Ponsonby. 2, City, 0. Scniir B Grade.—Otahuhu, 7, Papakura, 12. Second Grade.—Green Lane A won from Otahuhu by default; Richmond won from Olenora by default. Third Grade.—City. 6, Otahuhu, 0; Devonport, 5, Ellerstie, 2. Fourth Grade.-—Richmond, 14, Northcote. 0; Point Chevalier B won from Otahuhu by default: Papakura, 17, Ponsonhy, I!. Fifth Grade.—Papakura, 3. Aknrana, 3; Richmond A won from Mount Albert by default; Richmond B, 3, Ellerslie, 3. Sixth Grade.—Northcote, 11, Devonport, 0; Richmond, 1(5. CJlenora, 2. Schoolboys' Games.—Northcote, 18, Ellerslie, 0. Seven-asido Matches.—Avondalo Convent, 3, Richmond B, 0. MATCHES IN OTHER CENTRES Wellington —Petono A. 5, St. George A, 3; Central, 12, Randwick, 4; Petono 13, 3, St. George B, 0. Christchurcli—Addington, 13. Hornby. 3; Ruru, 5, Sydenham, 5; Linwood, 17, New Brighton, 10. , MATCHES IN THE PROVINCE [FROM niSRALD CORRESPONDENTS] Waiuku. —Nev»ton fourth grade, 21, Waiuku third grade, I). Tuakau.—Tuakau, 20, R.V. (Auckland), 6.