THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22505, 24 August 1936, Page 13

THE LEAGUE CODE

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP LEADING team defeated easy victory for manukau The senior grade championship of the 'Auckland Rughy I was continued oh Saturday, Richmond, the leading team, being defeated l>y Devonport in an exciting and vvell-i'ontostcd panic. Carlaw Park was in surprisingly good order considering tho licnvy- rain. The Devonport forwards pave a fine display, and good handling hy each rearguard was a feature of the panic. Manukau easily defeated Mnrist, in the curtain-raiser and took flic lead in the championship. The matches hotwoon Ponsonby and Newton, and City and Mount Albert were postponed. With only one more series of matches .... to be played, the championship has reached a most interesting stage. Manukau is one point ahead of Richmond and Devonport, while Mount 'Albert is in third position. The game between City and Mount Albert will ho played, as it has -a hearing on Mount Albert's position in the championship. Results of Saturday's matches were as follows: Devonport. o; Richmond, 3. Manukau, 24; Mnrist, 7. FINE EXHIBITION HONOURS TO DEVONPORT "Easily the best wet day game (his season was witnessed when Devonport defeated 'Richmond by the narrow margin of t<vo ooints. The score, "> points* to It at half-time, regained unaltered when the final bell ran?. Tits Pevo'iport forwards played fine football and adapted themselves well to the heavy Ciornd conditions. Richmond's backs opened ui the.-game, and in the first half impressed wj)h clever handling. Owing-to brilliant play by Kerr, at fullback fbr Devonport, the Richmond backs were held in check in the first half. Play had not been long in progress when Devonport was awarded a penalty kick, and Milieich kicked a nice goal. The Richmond forwards won the ball from most of the prrums, and Tow ell initiated good passing bouts. Wilkie came in fast from the wine to u,!.kc the extra back an 1, after Minchain bad teaten the defence, Kerr saved with a fine tackle. Devonport was pressed for some minutes. and twice Tiitleton went close to scorliij. Well-placed kicks by Powell at halfback , pave Richmond a chance, and these tactics proved successful, Mincham kicked over the Devonport iine. for (3. Tittloton to score 11 spectacular try. „ The Devonport forwards played well as a pack, and the vanguard was dangerous with (he hall at toe. From near halfway Simpson broke away and E. Scott gathered the ball. ( lose passincr rewarded Hollows with a try. Devonport gamed ,the upper hand soon after play was resumed in the second half, and a mis-take by Greenwood nearly let Hunt over, j. Satherley made good ground, and for a time the Richmond forwards did effective work. Kerr, however, proved the s'umbluig block am! repeatedly drove Richmond back * ith well-directed kicks. W. Tittleton and Kitkerton often (hecked sweeping attacks by '.the Devonport foiwards. Play :.n the last five minutes was very exciting. Richmond made (treat efforts to save the game, but Dcvonpjort dominated the play, and deserved the Lonours, although there was little to choose between the teams. Kerr plaved a faultless game at fullback tor Devonport. He gathered in the greasy ball with exceptional skill and kicked with uucanny judgment. His exhibition was the best seen at Carlaw I'ark this season. V. Scott, a junior player, was prominent on the *iu£C in the first half, and should do better under more favourable conditions. Seagar played a heady game at centre, although ho nearlv gave Minchain a try through looking for an interception. Brooks was a little uncertain. Hunt and Rhodes, at fivc-eiprhths. did a lot of cseful work, .-specially the former. Cowan played a good game at halfback, although he was overshadowed by Powell. Sowter and Simpson were always prominent among the forwards, while 13. Scott did good ttork in following up and tackling. Greenwood was patchy at fullback for Richmond. Bickeiton. at five-eighths, was perhaps the best of the haci-'s. ife was often dangerous on attack. Minchain and AV. T'.ttlcton played good games. Hadley was the best of the Richmond forwards, while C. Satherley Bnd J. Sathirley wotted hard. For Devonport. Hallows scored a try and Jlilicicb kicked a penalty goal. G. Tittleton tiored r. try for Richmond. 31 r. F. Thompson was tho referee. DEFEAT OP MARIST | HEMI IN GOOD FORM The game between ?tfanukau and Marist was interesting throughout, and better combination by the former was responsible for a comfortable victory. Playing at five-eighths Hemi gave a brilliant display and cat tho defence to ribbons with neat football. Ho was the pivot of the attack, and most of the tries came from openings made by him. Tho Manukan backs gave a hi?h-clas3 display and handled the greasy ball well. Some of tho morements were warmly applauded by tho crowd. Manukau attacked from the kick-off and a Bice run by Hemi resulted in Mahima scoring a good try. The Marist forwards held the a advantage against a heavier pack, and after Finlayson and Scrra trained good ground Loader went close to scoring. Pickrang broko away and beat the defence badly hrfore passing to Hemi, who scored. Wateno kicked a fine goal. The Manukau forwards played with great dash and pressed Marist. From a srrum Hemi made a beautiful opening and the ball was handled splendidly before (.ault, on the wing, scored at the corner. Wateno converted with a great kick. Mahukau continued to dominate tho ganic anri its hacks 1 la.ved clever football. F'vo players handled cleverly and Broughton cut-in nicely to score a fine try. Wateno converted. Then Marist took a hand and attacked , strongly. Kreed and Serra were prominent . in forward rushes, and the latter scored, lhe 1 exchanges, however, always favoured Manu- . kau, and from good passing bouts Malumii and Mason scored. The Manukau rearguard , played surprisingly good" football under the conditions. „ , Marist did not field its best team. Several ( forwards played in the backs and the combination was somewhat disorganised. Jlemi was the best back on the ground and made tries easy bv clever play round the scrum. He made several beautiful openings and showed a lot of speed Trevathan also played a fine game, and has evidently benefited from his games against the English team. Mamma sent out accurate passes from the scrums ana never missed a chance to play, to Jlcl "'■ Mason also played well 011 the wing, as did Cault, the icpresentativo forward. At lU'lback Murray played a sound game, and mado lew mistakes Pickrang was tho best of tho Manukau forward rami had good support from Buthcrford and Watene. Aro played a good game behind the Marist pack, doing useful woTk on defence. DO.I ier ( (lid well with limited opportunities on wit ( wing and was unlucky not to score two tries. Itakalich was also prominent. IJrceji, Scrra and Finiayson were the pick of the , Marist forwards. ( T For Manukau, Mahima <2), 1 ; Broughton and Mason scored. a 10, ,° ] verted three ties. For Marist Serra scored j 11 try. Anderson converted and kicked a. pen ] ally goal. Mr. W. Simpson was referee. ( WIN FOR. TARANAKI [by tklwuiaimi—'own coniucsi'ONDF.-vr] XCAKUAWAHIA, Sunday A heavy ground and wind interfered with P'a.v in the Rugby League match between Taranaki and South Auckland. During the 1 first spell, playing with the wind, laranaki 1 had the better'of the ganio I 1 Taranaki attacked and Arnold took play to the line ami scored from a scrum. Hod- • , ford's kick failed.' l.eatherby crossed after I receiving from Arnold. Hertford failed witn , / the Wick. South Auckland attacked, but the A Taranaki forwards dribbled clear. After even v Play Bedford kicked a penalty goal for ara- . naki. Tawate made a strong run and llmil v rarried on to the South Auckland lino, I'razor scoring. Bedford failed to convert. Again Taranaki carried plav to South Auckland quarters. Powell gathered the ball, but allowed ' Bunt >to lake it from him and score. I»edford converted and tho spell ended with tlio score:—Taranaki, I<>; South Auckland, ()• Taranaki opened tlio second spell by «lttacking, but (i. Tukere carried play to midfield. t Then South Auckland attacked and Tukere scored a good try, which lovyell to convert. Hoon after, from tno r "ek, Jfiki cut in well and scored by tho fosu, P. Tukcro converting. Play, now ti «vened up and South Auckland marie tho fi

Knme more exciting. Tnrnnnki attacked, but McGreal carried j>lay to mid-field. Tukere failed to goal from a penalty. South Auckland attacked on several occasions, but could not score. Toward the end of the game Taranaki made several attacks, but could not cross the line. The final score was:—Taranaki, Jii, South Auckland, 8. Mr. Knnpper was referee. For Taranaki Hunt. Arnold and UedTord were prominent in the hacks and Frazer, Cates and Leatherby in the forwards. Miki, K. Tukere, K. Tukere and Shaw were prominent in the backs for South Auckland. Among the forwards Brooks, MclJrcal, Timing and j Scott did good work. GAMES IN THE SOUTH [itY TF.LKCIIAPII —I'UKNS ASSOCIATION] Wolllnßton. —St. fJeorge, 2'J, Central, 7; Petone, 33, Hutt, IS. ! Christchurch.—Hornby, 13, Addington, 11; ] Linwood, •_'!», Sydenham, 10.