THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22744, 2 June 1937, Page 21

THE LEAGUE CODE

MARIST SURPRISES IMPROVED FORM SHOWN MOUNT ALBERT'S FORWARDS The surpriso defeat of Ponsonby by Marist last Saturday lias made tho senior championship of the Auckland Rugby league all the more interesting. Up to Saturday Ponsonbv was leading by a point and is now one point behind Mount Albert and Richmond, which are equal in tho lead. Tho principal attraction at Carlaw Park saw Mount Albert gain a welldeserved victory over North Shore. M ount Albert lias a fine, even set of forwards and tho backs aro showing improved form so that tho team should bo hard to beat in tho championship.

Two matches have yet to bo decided before the completion of the first round. Mount Albert will meet Marist next Saturday and Richmond will try conclusions with Ponsonby. Both games should be evenlv contested.

Marist showed such greatly-improved form against Ponsonby that the side, if it maintains this standard, will prove a match for any of tho leading teams. Ponsonby had a bad lapse in form, but is likely to do better against Richmond. Jn spite of tho fact that Mount Albert scored a comfortable win by 13 points over North Shore, the winners should have had a wider margin. Mount Albert got the ball all day from the scrums, but the backs could not settle down until the second spell. A bad fault was that some players attempted to go too far and were smothered with the ball.

North Shore was without the services of L. Scott, the speedy wing, who stood down owing to an injury. His place was taken by Bennetts, a five-eighths, who did quite well in the position with few opportunities. The best back was Sterling, whose allround form stamped him as a player of considerable promise. Quick off tho mark, a straight runner with ability to vary his play, Sterling should not be long in gaining higher honours. Except for being caught in possession too much in the first spell, L. Schultr. pl-aved an outstanding game at centre for' Blount Albert. He came right into the picture in the second spell and was responsible for some good team play besides registering two tries himself. FAILURE OF PONSONBY TEAM BELOW FORM Ponsonby did not show anything like its form of earlier matches against Marist. The Ponsonby backs were not a happy set on attack and there was an absence of the combination which characterised their play against Manukau. The forwards were also beaten by a keen pack, which, if anything, was a little superior in the loose. Marist's form on the other hand was distinctly good. Marist is a little unlucky not to bo higher in the championship table, as North Shore was lucky to beat it by a narrow margin. From this game until Saturday the Marist backs have shown improved form, and beat Ponsonby badly in positional play. It was not, however, until Hasiam replaced Donovan that the plav of the rearguard became more effective.

A feature of the game was the excellent work on attack of Crocker, halfback, and McLaren and Murdoek, five-eighths. The two last-mentioned repeatedly beat Stockley and Jones, a pair with more experience. The Ponsonby five-eighths did not settle down and seemed to bo bustled by persistent tackling. Jones was caught with the ball more than usual, while Stockley failed to penetrate far. Hasiam, who has been on the injured list, made several nice openings at centre for Marist and was a thorn in tho side of the opposition. CITY'S HALFBACK PROMISING YOUNG PLAYER City was a little unlucky not to have beaten Manukau. The City backs on occasions revealed excellent team work. A feature of the game was the excellent football of McLaughlin, whose try late in the second half was a fine effort. As a combination the City backs have only to improve in handling to extend any team in the competition. Both Rata and Ha pi dropped passes when tries looked likely. When Hutchinson was promoted from the third grade much was expected of the City halfback, and he lias not been a disappointment. This player would bo more effective if the forwards could gain their share of the ball from tho scrum. We liner, the ex-Canterbury forward. was tried as a hooker and gave a promising display.