THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22778, 12 July 1937, Page 14

THE LEAGUE CODE

SENIOR COMPETITION MANUKAU DEFEATS MARIST CLOSE CALL FOR RICHMOND Tho second scries of matches in tho second round of the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship was played on Saturday under fine conditions although the grounds were heavy alter rain. In tho principal contest .Manukau defeated Marist after a rather disappointing match, although there were several bright incidents. Marist led by a point at the interval, but in tho second spell the Manukau backs settled down bettor and combined well at times. City was unlucky in being beaten by Mount Albert in the curtain-raiser, in which both sides lost several scoring chances. The surprise of tho day was the fine light put up by North Shore against Richmond, tho leading team. North Shore held tho lead until the last few minutes and was unlucky to be beaten. In tho curtain-raiser I'onsonby scored an easy victory over Newton. Results of Saturday's senior matches were as follows: — Manukau, 'JO; .Marist, 13. Mount Albert, G; City, 13. Richmond, 11; North Shore, 9. I'onsonby, 26; Newton, 7. DISAPPOINTING GAME TEAMS LACK FINISH Tho match between Manukau and Marist was very straggly in the first spell, but tiiero was a decided improvement in the second half. Both sides indulged in a good deal of kicking. The Marist inside backs adopted (ho policy of playing right up to their men and smothered many movements early. Jf 'Marist could have combined better the result may have been different as the team had several good scoring opportunities. Much fine individual work was done, but this was all spoiled through lack of finish at the critical stage. The forwards were evenly matched, but Marist held the advantage in hooking, especially in tho first spell. The Manukau backs did not have many opportunities in this half, but in the second spell they showed more thrust than their opponents. Two of the tries scored by Manukau came from splendid openings by Mahimu, halfback, and Brimble, first five-eighths. Marist held the advantage in the first spell and should have had a lead than a single point at the interval. Manukau could not settle down and seemed to be troubled by the bustling tactics of the opposition. However, after the interval the Manukau backs were seen in some nico combined movements and, well supported by the forwards, the team gained a well-deserved victory. For Manukau Hcmi played a fine game at fullback. His kicking was of great value to the side, while he showed that ho is a vastly improved player on defence and he did great work in this department. The wings, Ji rough ton and Allen, showed dash, but the latter was badly beaten by Halsey when the Mount Albert wing-thrceQuarter scored. The Chase brothers were seen in some good all round work, T. Chase standing out for fine defence. Brimble was closely watched, but he made a few openings in brilliant style. Mahima played a good game at halfback. He is, however, developing a habit of trying to do too much alone. Among the forwards Painter played an outstanding game and lie was well supported by Brodrick and Wateno. For Marist Clover was safe at fullback and tackled well. Tho wing-three-quarters, Halsey and Midgeley, had few chances. Haslain was prominent at centre both on attack and defence, while the five-eighths, Murdock and McLaren, tackled well, but were not prominent on attack. Crocker did a lot of useful work at halfback. Breed, was the best forward, while Anderson stood out in the loose. For Manukau Watene. Painter, R. Chase and Allen scored tries. Henii converted two tries and kicked two penalty goals. For Marist Anderson (2), and Halsey scored tries and Anderson kicked two penalty goals. Mr. F. Thompson was refcreo.

CHANCES MISSED CITY AND MOUNT ALBERT The match between City and Mount Albert was disappointing and the former was • unlucky to be beaten. Both sides lost some great chances. Xeither rearguard combined effectively, the City players being too slow and taking their passes standing. Mount Albert gained the/ball from most of the scrums, but the backs could not take advantage of their opportunities. Only lack of finish in the final stages robbed City of tries. The City forwards showed improvement and Mataira played a fine all-round game. He was ill the thick of the play all through and showed his football ability in some nice moves. Donald and Johnson also played good games. Hutchinson, hair, was easily the best, of the City backs, while Wiberc was sound at fullback. Tawhai was uncertain in his passing. Crancli played u good game at fullback for Mount Albert, but the backs ns a combination were not impressive. Watkins did a lot of hard work on defence, while he got the ball away smartly to his five-eighths. Herring. Leatherbarrow and Tristram were prominent nmonz the forwards. For Mount Albert Herring and McLaughlin scored tries and Tawhai scored a try for City. Mr. T. Evans was referee.

AN EASY VICTORY GOOD BACK PLAY Good play by tho Ponsonby backs was a feature of .the game against Xowton, which was easily beaten, although there was little between the two teams in the first half. Early in the game the Newton hacks missed several chances of scoring through faulty handling. Play was fast and open, and the Ponsonby forwards gave tho backs excellent support in passing bouts. Newton put up strong opposition and when Deiiipsey moved from fullback, to centre tlireoauurter Ponsonby was more subdued. However, late in the second half, Ponsonby got the upper hand, and its backs scored several nice tries. The Xewton forwards were beaten in all departments of the game and were no match for Ponsonby in scrum work. For the winners Jones played a fine game at fullback and started many good passing bouts. Riley was the best of the backs and played well on the wing. Kay and Stocklcv were often prominent in nice runs through the defence. Black did a lot of good work behind the scrum. Pickrang and Morgan were the best of the forwards. Davis and Keane also played well. For Newton Dempsey was the best back ami tackled soundly. Crooks and Hill also played well. Quirke and Fraser were the pick of the forwards. For Ponsonby tries were scored by Riley (3), Davis, Kay and Stockley. Jones converted three tries and kicked a penalty goal. For Newton Fruwer scared a try which Hill converted and Sissens kicked a penalty goal. Mr. A. Kinnaird was referee.

NORTH SHORE UNLUCKY BACKS TACKLE WELL After having much the better of (lie name North Shore was unlucky to lie beaten by Richmond, which scored the winning try two minutes before time. A feature of tho panic was the, effective tackling of the North Shore bucks, which were seen in their best, form 15a rly in tho game North Shore, beaten for possession of the ball, kept the game close and effectively checked Bickerton and Minchani, who rarely got moving. Zane and Smith were outstanding in this respect, and

it is a' long timo sinco such good tackling | has been witnessed. Richmond scored a nice try early in the name, when Bickcrlon raced round the blind side and centred past Kerr, who was beaten for possession by Mitchell nnd Telford scored. North Slioro was not to bo denied nnd although the game was not spectacular, it was full of incidents. A brilliant solo try _by Smith placed North Shore in the lead. Smith (fathered in the loose and cleverly beat Mincham and Bickerton and after a fast run for ■lO yards gave Fumell a perfect "dummy" to score near the posts. North Shore led at half-time by nine points to five. Richmond did most of the attacking in the second half, and Bickerton scored early. Ihc North Shore forwards rose to the occasion and played fine football. The pack gave the Richmond backs no chances on attack and some splendid tackling was witnessed. After ten minutes' play on the North Shore line Powell dived over for a try. ]f Smith had been in better kicking form North Shore would probably have won. Three kicks at goal from easy positions were missed, although the ground round the ball was very muddy The Richmond backs missed W. 1 ittleton, whose place was taken by Webster, a junior five-eighths. The latter was not impressive. Fumell played a fine game at fullback and could be excused for missing Smith. Neither of the winKS, G. Tittlelon and Wilkiu, got many opportunities on attack. Bickerton was easily the best of the backs and played a heady game. Powell got through a lot or useful work at halfback. McLeod and Mitchell were the best of the Richmond forwards. Telford and Tctley also played good tfiirnos in the open. Good hooking by. Satlierlev had much to do with his team's victory. 'Smith and Lane were the outstanding backs for North Shore. Kerr was not so prominent as usual, although he made few mistakes. V. Scott was not impressive at centre, but Sterling did (rood , work behind the scrum. L. Scott played with plenty of dash on tlio wing, and was unlucky not to score in the first half. Sowter, Simpson and E. Scott were the best of a Rood, even pack. For Richmond Telford, Bickerton and Powell scored tries, and Fumell converted one. For North Shore Smith scored a try and kicked two penalty goals. Kerr converted the try. Mr. S. Fisher was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Senior Reserve. —Marist, "20, Manukau, 5; Richmond, S. North Shore, 0; Mount Albert, 19, City, •">; Pon.son by, 12, Newton, ft. . Senior B Grade. —Papakura, <l3, Newton, 2; Point Chevalier, 7, Green Lane, 3; Bicbmotid, 11, Manukau, 10. Third Grade. —Otahuhu, 12. Ellerslie, 7; Papakura, !>, R.V., 0; Marist, 30, North Shore, 0; Richmond. 0, City, 5. Fourth Grade. —Ellerslie, 13, Ponsonby, 0; Richmond, 10, North Shore, 0. Fifth Grade.—Avondale, 3, Papakura, 0. Sixth Grade. —Green Lane, 0, Richmond, 0. Seventh Grade. —Richmond, 22, Otahuhu, 0. PRIMARY SCHOOLS' MATCHES Senior Grade.—Ellerslie, 8, Marist, 8; Manukau, 3(i, Northcote, 0; Point Chevalier, 7, Newton, 2; Ponsonby, 3, Green Lane, 3. Intermediate Grade.—Ponsonby, 21. Marist, O; Richmond, 21, Point Chevalier, 0; Avondale, 10, Mount Albert, 0; Newton, 32, Balmoral, 0. Junior Grade.—Green Lane, 3, Ponsonby, 3; Institute, 12, Marist, 0; Newton B, 3, Balmoral, 0; Newton A, 3, North Shore, 0; Mount Albert, .12. Point Chevalier, 0; George Court's A, 0, Manukau, 0; Richmond, 0, Avondale Convent, 0. MATCHES IN PROVINCE [FItOM HEKALD COHHKSPOXDENTS] Whangarci.—ln the final of the Northland Rugby League's senior championship at Hikurangi, Kamo defeated Hikurangi by three points to nil after an even struggle. Prior to this match Hikurangi had a one-point lead in the championship, and with two minutes to go, there was no score. In a brilliant movmcnt. in which most of the backs handled, L. Hooper ran half the length of the field to score a great try. Kamo also won the championship last year. In the junior grade. One Tree Point, 5, beat Hikurangi, 0, and Portland won by default from Kamo. One Tree Point and Portland will meet in the final next Saturday. Huntly.—Junior grade, Kneebone 'Cup final: Huntly High School Old Boys, 7, Ngaruawahia, 0. MATCH IN WELLINGTON [BY TEIjEGIIAFH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] Wellington.—St. George, 30, Petone, 11.