THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22475, 20 July 1936, Page 13

THE LEAGUE CODE

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY ON HEAVY GROUNDS MOUNT ALBERT STILL LEADS The fourth series of matches in tho second round of tho Auckland Rugby League's senior championship was played on Saturday under tho worst weather conditions which have so far prevailed this season. Heavy rain made the playing areas very muddy and the ball was difficult to handle. Toward the close of the principal match the players were not recognisable and play was suspended on several occasions while mud was wiped from the players' eyes. In the principal fixture Mount Albert proved too strong for l'onsonby and won a keenly contested match by a margin of six points. The curtain-raiser between Manukau and City provided some good forward play, in which Manukau took the honours. On the No. 2 ground Richmond gained a narrow win over Marist, and Devonport defeated Newton after a fast second spell. Mount Albert is still leading in the championship by one point from Richmond. Following are the results of Saturday's senior matches: — Mount Albert, 10; l'onsonby, 4. Manukau, 10; City, 6. Richmond, 3; Marist, 0. Devonport, 21; Newton, 18. MOUNT ALBERT WINS BETTER TEAM PLAY The match between Mount Albert and Ponsonby started at a fast pace and considering the conditions tho Mount Albert backs combined to good effect. Mount Albert gained possession from the scrums practically throughout the game and tho Ponsonby backs were seldom seen in an attacking role. The winners were the better side and there was more method and thrust in their attack than that shown by Ponsonby when in possession. The Mount Albert defence also covered more quickly, while the forwards kept together better than tho Ponsonby vanguard. Mount Albert pressed hard in the early stages, hut over-eagerness on the part of the forwards gave away several penalties. Mount Albert hammered away at tho Ponsonby line and Halliwell kicked a good goal from a penult v. Ponsonby made a few brief attacks during one of which Jones equalised the score with a nice penalty goal. Near halftime Dunne scored a try for Mount Albert after a clever attacking movement by Watkins and Halliwell, in which the reverse pass heat tho opposition. The score at the interval was:—Mount Albert, 5; Ponsonby, 2. Mount Albert had the better of the second spell, the backs being always dangerous. Mount Albert added five more points, a penalty goal by Herring and a try to Petersen after Jones had misfielded the ball. Jones kicked another penalty goal for Ponsonby. For Mount Albert J. Schultz played a fine game at fullback. He handled splendidly, kicked to advantage and often ran strongly to set his backs in motion. Tho threequarter line, B Schultz, Ilalsey and Dunne, did well, a feature of their play being their determination in going for tho line. L. Schultz played an outstanding game at second five-eighths. Both on attack and defence he was frequently in the picture and his omission from the Auckland team is surprising. Halliwell played a good game at first five-eighths, his speed off the mark giving his outside men opportunities. Watkins played a very sound and heady game at halfback, his all-round play making him one of the outstanding players on the ground. The Mount Albert forwards kept together much better than usual and frequently made deep gaps in the defence. Petersen, Herring, Gunning and Shadbolt were always to the fore. Rush, the Ponsonby fullback, was uncertain at times in fielding, but otherwise played well under the circumstances. The threequarters did not have many chances, but hay was easily the best back. He made some good runs which should have been turned to better advantage. Ilalloran played a good game behind the scrum, doing a lot of hard defensive work. Morgan, Carter, Davis and J. Stocklcy wero the best forwards. Mr. P. Rogers was referee.

FORWARD STRUGGLE HONOURS TO MANUKAU The match between Manukau and City was chiefly a forward struggle, in which the honours went to Manukau. Both sets of backs made mistakes in passing. The Manukau rearguard, however, was occasionally seen in good movements. City was hampered by losing the ball in the scrums and the threequarfcrs rarely had possession. Manukau's first try resulted from a nice opening by Trevathan and Broughton touched down. Watene converted from near the posts. Shortly before half-time Rata made a fine run from -10 yards out and completely beat the defence. The half-time score was:—Manukau. 5; City, 3. Manukau pressed practically throughout the second spell and the forwards held enough superiority to pave the way for victory. Mason scored a nice try after the backs had handled accurately in a fast attack. Watene converted with a fine kick from well out. Soon afterwards L. Brown flashed into the picture at halfway and outpaced the defence to score a splendid try. Murray played well at fullback for Manukau. his'fielding and kicking generally being accurate. Trevathan at five-eighths was the outstanding back. He made some good openings, while his defence was very solid. Pickrang, Watene and Gault were the best forwards. . . Pufty, the City fullback, was uncertain in handling am! cost his side valuable ground on several occasions. Rata did well with limited opportunities, while L. Browit was always dangerous in individual movements. Wiberg, five-eighths, and Portcous. halfback, played sound games. Raymond, TTerring, Clark and Johnson played well among the forwards. Mr. M. Wetherill was referee. MARIST UNLUCKY TRY DECIDES ISSUE Marist was a ill tic unlucky to be defeated hv Richmond by a try to nil on a ground inches deep witu mud and rain. Good football was out of (he question, but it was surprising that Marist, could not score after launching many determined forward attacks. Early in fin' ganie the Richmond backs started a fine lassina; bout, in which Tittleton wis proponent. Marist was hard pressed, and Glover got his team ort of difficulties with a timely kick. The Marist forwards adopted up-and-iindcr tactics, and the vanguard swept downfield, but good defence saved many hard attacks. Marist was unlucky a few minutes inter when TTaslam made a good run and passed to Reeves, who beat the defence badly, but slipped a few feet from the line. Tittlcton and Powell got through a lot of usful work and kept the Richmond 'ine inta:t. Play swung in favour of Richmond, and from a scramble Wilkie scored, alter several Marist plavers failed to touch down. Soon after the start of the second half heavy ruin made conditions worse. The Marist forwards, with Breed and Finlayson prominent, went close to scoring. Then Bakalich was held up over the Richmond line. The forwards of both teams fought a great battle over the last 15 minutes, and each side threatened to score. Kiciimond must be credited with the honours for splendid defence, although Marist dominated the game almost throughout. For Richmond, W. Tittleton played an outstanding game at five-eighths. Powell played well and cleverly turned defence into attack with well-placed grubber kicks. Mincham and 0 Tittleton were prominent, while Bickerton, five-eighths, and Greenwood, fullback, made few mistakes IJadley, C. Satherle.v and Tellord played good games among the forwards, especially in covering the defence. Tetley was good in the loose.

Glover played a sound game at fullback for Marist. Loader made some good runs on tho wing and was unlucky not to score. Both Haslam and Reeves did a lot of useful work. Behind the scrum. Aro played a fine game and compared favourably with Powell. Breed, Anderson and Finlaysori played dashing games in the forwards. Mr. F. Thompson was referee. HIGH SCORING GAME DEVONPORT AND NEWTON A well-contested game was witnessed on No. 2 ground, where Devonport defeated Newton in a high-scoring match for a wet day. The Devonport forwards were a little superior on tho day, although the backs wero evenly j notched. Play in (be first half was confined chiefly to tho forwards, but the Newton backs wero dangerous. Several times \V. Krinible started passing bouts from defensive [rfisitions, and the backs bandied the greasy ball well. The Devonport forwards were seen lo advantage, and Simpson and E. Scott diibbled cleverly (o the Newton line, where Hall .scored. Kerr kicked a fine goal from the sideline. A few minutes later the Devonport vanguard again attacked, and Hunt was prominent to support L. Scott, who scored. Newton was rewarded for persistent attacks, and Oinders scored after Bright cleverly beat tile defence Sissons converted, and a few minutes later Wall touched down and equalised the score. Devonport was unlucky at this stage to lose, Kerr, who was playing well at fullback. On resuming. Bright brilliantly scored, and Sissons kicked a splendid goal. Play was keenly contested, especially in the forwards Tries were sco-ed in quick succession, and Hall got over for Devonport. With two points between Ibe teams Devonport dominated the game, and good play by the forwards gained Sowter a try. Milicich converted. Devonport was now on top, and Hollows got over after Dempsey had made a fine tackle. Milicich converted. A few minut'js before time, Clemm scored for Newton, which was hard-pressed to keep Devonport out. For Devonport, Simpson, Sowter and Donald played splendid trames among a good Tanguard. E. Scott and Hollows were also prominent. The hacks did not get many opportunities, although bolh wings, L. Scott and Ilall, played good games. Scott used his weight to advantage. Hunt and Rhodes were alsn prominent on attack For Newton, Dempsey played a good all round game, although he misjudged the ball on occasions. Bright and Sissons were the best of the backs, and Clemm also did a lot of good work. Nathan, Johnston and Quirke were the pick of the forwards. Mr. W. Simpson was leferee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Senior Keserve Grade.—City, 24, Manukau, 7; Mount Albert, 11, Ponsonby, 0; Marist, 8, .Richmond, 3. Senior B Grade. —I'apakura, 8, Green Lane. 6. Second Grade. —Richmond, 8, R.V., 6. Third Grade. —Newton, 23, K.V., 3; Ellerslie Green Lane, 0; Point Chevalier A, 8, Mount Albert. 3; City, 14, Ponsonby, 11; I'apakura, 4, Manukau, 0. I'ourth Grade.—Marist, 8, Mount Albert, 0; Devonport, 14, Point Chevalier, 5; City, 0, Ellerslie, 0; Richmond, 11, Ponsonby, 0. Fifth Grade. —Northcote, 0, Glen Ora, 0; Richmond, 22, Newton, 0. Sixth Grade.—Richmond, 43, Avondale, 0; Papakura, 0, Green Lane, 0. Seventh Grade.—Point Chevalier, 14, Papakura, o. ... Primary Schools. —Senior grade: Richmond. 19, Ponsonby, 0; Mount Albert, 5, Devonport, 5. . v Intermediate Grade. —Newton, 23, Northcote, 0; Marist, 3, Manukau, 0; Otahuhu, 11. Mount Albert, <>; Green Lane, 11, Balmoral. 3. Junior Grade. —Ponsonby, 0, Manukau, 0..

MATCHES IN CHRISTCHURCH [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] CHRISTCHUKCH, Sunday League football matches played yesterday resulted:— Hornby, 14, Linwood, 3; Waiinairi, 23, Addington, 13. HARRIER RACING ANNUAL TEAMS' CONTEST SAVIDAN FIRST INDIVIDUAL / The fifth annual 10,000 metres crosscountry teams' race was held from Highbury Corner, Birkenhead, on Saturday, when 170 runners, representing nine teams, faced the starter. The race was run in a drizzling rain over a strenuous course of 6J miles at the back of Birkenhead and Northcote. The New Zealand champion and Olympic representative, J. W. Savidan, repeated his performance of the Onehunga-Anckland road race by again being the first to finish, his time being 30m 2s. Savidan thus won the gold medal, which is awarded to the first man home. R. Crompton, of the Lynndale Club, was second in 31m 38s, W. A. Briggs, also of Lynndale, was third in 31m 53s and J. Neil, of Presbyterian, was fourth, in 32m Is.

The teams' race was won by the Lynndale Club, which scored a total of 214 points. Presyterian was second with 301 points. University was third with 330 and Technical Old Boys was fourth with 424. The teams, of which the first ten men home counted for points were Auckland. Lynndale, Presbyterian, Hamilton, University. Technical Old Boys, Calliope, Wesley and Baptist. The runners lined up at Highbury Corner and were sent away to a good start. Savidan soon took the lead and, going up the hill, was well clear of the field. At the turn-off the field was still in close order, but the long trail down to Archer's Road found it spreading out. After crossing several paddocks, which were very soft and muddy, the course led back to the main road and downhill to a point near the start, the distance of 10,000 metres equalling <j% miles. Savidan breasted the hill on the run-in to the finish just 29 minutes out and. going well, crossed the line to win in 30m 2s, amid applause from a crowd of spectators, who had braved the weather to see the race. The finish was:— ~ J. W. Savidan, 30m 2s, 1; Crompton, 31m 3Ss, 2; Briggs. 31m 535, 3; Neil, 32m Is, 4; Hill, 32m Gs, 5; Hazard. 33m lis. 6. The next to finish were:—Stephens. 33m o} s ; McCarthy, 33m 265; Perrett, 33m,275; Henshell, 33m 325. The nest in order were:— Clow. Gardner, Robertson, Collins. Francis. Bradley, Birtwistle, Clapham, ®unn and F. Savidan. The prizes were presented at the Buffalo Hall by Mr. H. L. Towers, president of the centre. The ten men ol' the winning team and their placings in the race wero:—R. Crompton, 2; W. A. Briggs, 3; J. Perrett. 0; T. Collins, 14; T. Hensliall. 24; J. P. Dolan, 21!; W. C. McCombie. 28; A. Anderson, 29; G. Rogers, 38; A. Lowry, 41. VOLLELER SHIELD RACE [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Sunday After a hard-fought race over a 10-miles course tho Brooklyn Harrier Club yesterday wrested the Vollelcr Shield from the Scottish Club, which had held it for five consecutive years. Eight clubs with 127 runners competed. Following is the result:—Brooklyn, 168 pts , 1; Scottish, 181, 2; Olympic, 380, 3. The individual placings were as follows: — Riddington (Scottish), 06m 3Ss, 1; Stevens (Scottish), GTiu 555, 2; Prosser (Brooklyn), (>Bm 41s, 3.