THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22173, 29 July 1935, Page 13

THE LEAGUE CODE

SECOND ROUND FINISHED A REPLAY NECESSARY MOUNT ALBERT AND RICHMOND The fin.nl series of matches in the second round of the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship concluded on Saturday, and, as both Richmond and Mount Albert won on Saturday, a replay for the championship between them is necessary. The main ground at Carlaw Park was heavy after rain, but the match between Richmond and City was interesting throughout. Richmond was decidedly the superior team in the first half, scoring nineteen points. City put up a better showing in the second spell and Richmond failed to score, although the latter won comfortably. Mount Albert gave one of its best exhibitions this season in defeating Ponsonby in a well-contested game as a curtain-raiser to the principal fixture. No. 2 ground was a sea of mud, and conditions were bad for the game between Newton and Marist. The former won by a narrow margin. Results of the matches were as follows: — Richmond, 19; City, 6. Mount Albert, 17; Ponsonby, 11. Newton, 7; Marist, 5. RICHMOND SUCCESSFUL POINTS SCORED IN FIRST HALF Richmond once again proved a fine combination by defeating City in a bright exhibition of the code on a .ground in places heavy with mud. The City backs started off well and for a few minutes gave the impression of providing a surprise. However, Cooke, at fullback, started a smart Richmond offensive, and City's weakness was soon revealed. The five-eighths repeatedly let the opposition in and weik tackling gave Richmond three tries almost in similar manner. Flash s of bright play followed each movement, but, halfway through the first half, Richmond quickly added points and soon the result was placed beyond doubt. The City forwards showed improvement as the game went on, aad did good work in covering up ths defenre round the scrum. The Richmond five-eighths, however. wer« often dangero is and most of the damage came from that line. In breaking through the City defence, the forwards gave splendid assistance. Time and again, Tetley swept into the movement and proved a fine attacking player. City should have adopted better defensive plana to check the extra man in passing bouts. The City side row forwards, however, did not have enough pace to be of assistance to the backs. City was unlucky to lose Johnston, who retired a few minutes after the kick-off when he had made two very determined efforts to score. In the second half. City showed va3t improvement, but the tackling was still uncertain. In possession of the ball, which was rare, the City backs made a good impression, although over-anxious when tries looked possible. The five-eighths passed too often when standing still, when a short punt would have been the best means of attack. The Richmond backs were not given so many opportunities ii the second half, which was a little in favour of City. Richmond's margin should not have been so great. Fletcher's try looked doubtful, as both Brown and Thompson appeared to touch down previously. Tetley 6cored just before half-time from an obvious knock-on. Cooke did not have a great deal to do at fullback, but he played a very safe game. His well-directed kicks _ got Richmond out of many awkward positions. Mincham played a very fine game at centre and made some nice runs through the defence. His duels with L. Brown were a feature of the game. Both McNeil and Mitchell played with dash on the wings Bickerton was prominent at five-eighths and cut in nicely on occasions. Prentice proved that he is far from a spent light and was responsible for good work both on defence and attack. Fletcher, who replaced Powell behind the scrum, played ably. Tetley was the outstanding forward on the ground, and his knowledge of five-eighths play was the factor in most offensivea. C. Satherley, Telford and Broadhead were also prominent in the loose. Outside of a weak kick which gave Richmond an easy try, Turei played well at fullback. Good tackling saved two tries. Brown was the most impressive back on the ground, showing keen anticipation on attack. His tackling was of a high order, liapi, on the wing, showed a lot of pace and proved difficult to stop. Iverson and AViberg were not a happy combination at five-eighths. The first-named mishandled, while Wiberg allowed Prentice through on two occasions. Behind the scrum Belsham was only fair. Johnston, Clarke and Herring were the best of the forwards. McLaughlin showed better form when moved to fiveeighths. . , , „ , For Richmond tries were scored by letley (2), Fletcher, C. Satherley and Mitchell. C. Satherley converted two tries. For City Thompson and Btowu scored. Mr. W. Simpson was referee. GOOD DISPLAY BY BACKS VICTORY FOR MOUNT ALBERT The Mount Albert backs gave one of the best displays seen at Carlaw Park this season, the combination on attack being vastly improved. Several times the ball travelled to the wing and was sent back along the line. The five-eighths showed more thrust than in previous games, and this gave the threequarters more work than usual. Ponsonby was by no means outclassed in the backs, who played almost as well as Mount Albert. With a little luck on some parts of the muddy area, Ponsonby would have made the scoring closer. Early in • the game the Ponsonby backs swept over the opposition, but at the critical moment Stockley stumbled in a bad patch of ground. Mount Albert forwards, always good in clo9e work, were seen to advantage in the loose. Snappy passing by the vanguard was a feature of the game, which was always entertaining under the conditions. 4t one stage Ponsonby took the lead, and for some time played better football than the opposition. Superior combination in the second half gave Mount Albert two welldeserved tries. Ponsonby was beaten for possession of the ball from set scrums in the last fifteen minutes, when Mount Albert did most of the attacking. A try by Kay. the Ponsonby five-eighths, resulted from one of the best moves seen in the game. The ball travelled smartly to Holland after a rush bad been started by Kay. The lastnamed took the final pass racing at top speed to finish off. The concluding stages were well contested with both teams playing good, open football. There was not a dull moment in the second half and both teams well deserved the applause on leaving the grounds Wilson, at fullback for Mount Albert, I played ably. Both the wings, B. Schultz and McNeil, showed pace and sent nice in-passes when pressed. J. Schultz, at centre, was seen in nice work o« attack. The fiveeighths. Dunn and Morrisey, got through a. lot of useful work, especially the lastnamed, who was prominent on attack. Hassan was a tower of strength behind the Mount Albert pack Spiro was the best forward for Mount Albert. Shadbolt was unlucky to injure his shoulder, and his place in the scrum was taken by List, who played well. Irvine and Gunning also played dashing football.

Kay was the outstanding Ponsonby back, being responsible for clev»r work on attack. Kiley and Jones were also prominent, especially the last-named. Halloran did a lot of useful work behind the scrum, and Holland was also conspicuous on the wing. Hutt played a good game among the Ponsonby forwards, and was well supported by Stockley and Davis.

For Mount Albert tries were scored by Shadbolt, McNeil and B. Schultz. Morrissey converted the three tries and kicked a penalty goal. For Ponsonby Kay scored two tries, and Jones one, .and J. Stockley kicked a penalty goal Mr. P. Rogers was referee. GROUND AFFECTS PLAY NEWTON DEFEATS MARIST No, 2 ground was in its worst possible condition, and good football was out of the question. In some places the ground \va9 a sea of mud, and it was a little surprising that the match was played, seeing Marist and Newton_ have no interest in tha#- championship. Newton had a little the better of the first half, and Marist, which was not up to full strength, was defending for most of the time. Play was filled to the forwards, as passing was difficult. The Newton backs were more solid than the Marist set. and at half-time the former had added seven points, while Marißt failed to score. _ Marist did a little better in the second spell, particularly . the backs, who were successful in a nice passing bout. ?\ear the end of the game Marist went close to scoring and with a little luck may have snatched victory. . For Newton, Kerr handled well at fullback, and kicked a smart field goal. Dempsey and E. Grimble were good on ®" acic and were associated with most of the attacking movements. Young also gave ,go°d support. Behind the scrum, W. Brimble played a sterling game. Kelsall, Johnston and Nathan were the pick of the Ivewton forwards. ji. Glover, at fullback, and Loader, on the wing, were the best of the Marist backs. Carrol and Chalmers also played well. Keane was prominent with fast following up. Gunn and Bailey also did well in the Marist pack. , For Newton, Kelsall scored the only try. Kerr kicked a field goal and a penalty .Roal. For Marist. Bailey scored and Keane kicked a penalty goal. Mr. O. Chalmers was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Senior Grade B.—Papakura. 8, Point Chevalier, 0; Green Lane, 11, Waiuku. 2. Second Grade.—Glenora, 6, Manukau. 0. Third Grade.—Popsonby, 11, Oity, 11; Otahuhu. 3. Manukau. 0. . Fourth Grade.—City, 20, Point Chevalier, 2; Richmond, 7, Ponsonby, 2; Papakura. 6, Newton. 6. Fifth Grade.—Richmond A, 3, Ellerslie 3 Sixth Grade.—Northcote, 8. Glenora. 0; Richmond. 6, Devonport, 2. Seventh Grade.—Richmond, 17. City, 0. Schoolboys' Games.—Avondale. 6, Green Lane B, 3. * . , . Seven-a-side Games.—Marist, 3, Avondale, 0. REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES AUCKLAND TEAM # CHOSEN The Auckland selectors, Messrs. E. Asher, H. Avery and W. Mincham, have chosen the following teams to represent Auckland at Carlaw Park next Saturday:— To play against Taranaki.—Fullback, N. Campbell (Marist); threequarters. E. T. Mincham (Richmond), L. Brown (City), K. Bright (Ponsonby); five-eighths, C. Kay (Ponsonby), A. E. Cooke (Richmond), captain; halfback, R. Powell (Richmond); forwards, L. Hutt (Ponsonby), Quirke (Newton), "W. Telford (Richmond), J. Laird (Marist), C. Satherley (Richmond), D. Herring (Mount Albert). To play South Auckland.—Fullback, C. Dempsey (Newton); threequarters, R. Hall (Devonport), C. Franich (Newton), E. McNeil (Richmond); five-eighths, B. Riley (Ponsonby). E. Brimble (Newton); halfback. W. Hassan (Mount Albert); forwards, S. Clarke (City), M. Flanagan (Mount Albert). H. Simpson (Devonport), D. Keane (Marist), J. "Woods (Marist), H. Tetley (Richmond). Reserves.—Forwards: Spiro (Mount Albert), Leatherbarrow (Ponsonby). Backs: McNeil (Mount Albert), Fletcher (Rich-: mond). SOUTH AUCKLAND TEAM [raou ora owx corbespoxdent] 1 TAUPIRI, Sunday The following team has been selected by Messrs. S. J. Wilson, I. Kasoof and J„ O'Brien to represent the South Auckland! League against Auckland at Carlaw Park on Saturday next: —Fullback, T. Shaw (Taupiri); threequarters, G. Tittleton (Taupiri), "W. Tittleton (Taupiri), R. McGreal (Ngaruawahia); five-eighths, T. Pawßon (Taupiri), R. Garry (Taupiri); halfback. K. Peckham (Huntly); forwards, V. Tims (Huntly), J. Flemming (Pukemiro), F. Hilton (Taupiri), "W. Hogan (Ngaruawahia). H. Mason (Ngaruawahia), P. Fox (Pukemiro). Emergencies: Backs, D. Pitt (Pukemiro); forwards. J. O'Brien (Huntly). CONTESTS IN PROVINCE [from herald correspondents] Whangarei.—Owing to exceptionally wet weather Jubilee Park, the home of "Whangarei Rugby League, was in an unplayable condition on Saturday afternoon. The senior game set down for there was transferred to Kensington Park, where conditions were quite satisfactory. The game between City and Hiknrangi Colts was a knock-out fixture in the senior competition and was won by City by 14 points to 0. In the other senior game Hikurangi United defeated Kensington by 9 points to 5. It was played at Hikurangi on a fairly dry ground. Waiuku.—Auckland Senior B competition: Green Lane, 11, "Waiuku, 2. Schoolboys: "Waiuku, 11, Richmond, 10. MATCHES IN THE SOUTH [BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] Christchuroh. —Waimairi, Jl3. Linwood, 7; Hornby. 21, Sydenham, 7; New Brighton, 11, Puru, 10. Wellington.—Petone, 6. St. George, 3; Central, IS, Randwick, IG.