THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 14

THE LEAGUE CODE

CLOSE SCORING AN EXCITING MATCH RICHMOND BEATS NORTH SHORE . . • . ■ .i i Close scoring tr-as a feature of the matches played on Saturday at Garlaw Park under the control of the Auckland Rugby - League. "Weather and ground conditions were ideal and there was a good attendance. After an exciting contest in tfee principal match between Richmond and Nortjj Shore the former was lucky to take the honours by a point. Shortly before time North Shore was leading by 19 points to 15. Richmond then broke away and. G. Tittleton scored an easy try between the posts after a defending player had been badly obstructed by a Richmond support. The goal points gave Richmond the win. Tho {spectators hooted tho referee for a few minutes and tho demonstration was continued as the teams filed off the field at the end of the match. In the curtain-raiser between Mount Albert and Marist play was even until the final stages when Mount Albert gained the advantage. City suffered its first defeat of ibs season at the handß of Newton in the principal match on the No. 2 ground. Newton was much superior in team work. Ponsonby gained its first win by defeating Papakura in an interesting curtain-raiser. Following wero the results of Saturday's senior matches: — Richmond, 20; North Shore, 19. Mount Albert, 18; Marist, 13. Newton, 28; City, 11. Ponsonby, 19; Papakura, 13. SEVERAL MISTAKES SPECTATORS EXCITED < Although both teams made several mistakes the closeness of the scoring in the match between Richmond and North Shore always had the spectators keyed to a high pitch of excitement. After leading at halftime by 14 points to 10 and maintaining the adiantpge for most of tho second spell North Shore was decidedly unlucky to walk the field a beaten side. Richmond took the lead shortly before time with a convened try after a North Shore defender bad been badly obstructed. The incident caused a demonstration from the spectators. North Shore started with great dash and had J. Smith been in his T>est kicking form the result would have been placed beyond donbt in the first spell. Richmond was freely penalised for obstruction round the scrum and other scrum breaches. Richmond received most of the ball from the set scrums, but there was a weakness in Graham, at centre, and the backs rarely functioned as a unit. The early stages were confined chiefly to thy forwards with the fullbacks, Furnell and J. Smith, occasionally having a kicking duel. Poor play by North Shore on its own line resulted in Bickerton kicking through and scoring. Furnell converted. North Shore had Richmond penned for some time and only good tackling kept it from scoring. J. Smith, who liad missed at goal earlier from a somewhat easy position,' opened North Shore's account from another penalty. Shortly after Smith was again successful from in front of the posts, following a scrum breach by Richmond. ■ North Shore gained the lead when Zane , Intercepted cleverly in the Richmond twentylire and dashed over wide out. J. Smith conTerted with a fine kick. Bisnham was injured at this stage and was replaced by Cossill. North Shore scored a good try when Hunt fielded a clearing kick by Furnell and passed .to Zaine, who in-passed to Mcintosh, the latter dashing over at the corner. Poor stopping, by< , 6cottv;saw Tetley gather possession well and score a good try, which Pfrnell. converted. Just on half-time J. Smith kicked a penalty goal and North Shore led at the Interval by 14 points to 10. fluctuated rapidly in the second spell and there were many thrilling exchanges. Tbe lforth Shore forward! gave the defence a torrid time while Richmond was always dangerous. North Shore went further ahead when E- .Scott touched down and later on V. Scott kicked # fine ijtai from a penalty wide out. Shortly before this sfago Mills scored for Richmond and Furnell converted. Then came Richmond's winning try, which seemed to take the dash out of the North Shore side. All the players stopped for an instant when the obstruction occurred. Tittleton would probably have scored at the corner In any case, but the obstruction allowed him to get behind the posts and make the convention much easier. For Richmond Furnell played well at fullbwk, but- was liable to be bustled on occasion G. Tittleton was the best of the threequarters. Graham, at centre, was never hanpy and upset some promising passing rushes. Bickerton and "Watklns combined well and sf the latter did good work on defence. Tetley, and Devine were outstanding among the forr'ards. , . , , J Smith played a cool game at fullback for North Shore. His handling and kicking were rarelv at' fault, whilo he tackled soundlj. The threequarters, L. Scott, V. Scott and Zane, were handicapped wh?n Banham had to leave 'the field, but all played well individually. L. Scott did some good defensive work when the Richmond backs had possession. Hunt and Mcintosh were prominent among the forwards. Mr. S.' Billman was referee. mount albert wins PROMISING FIVE-EIGHTHS Fast and open play was witnessed in the match between Marist and' Mount Albert, in which the latter scored a well-deserved victory- Neither set of backs settled 4°wn well at any stage, and at times 4he parsing was wild and of the lob variety. Mincham, the Mount Albert centre, was badly handicapped . through gutting poor passes, with a better connecting link at second five-eighths the Mount Albert backs would have befD seen to more advantage. •, One of the features of tho game was the promise shown by Mclnnarney at first fiveeighths for Mount Albert. A recruit from the Ellerslie third grade team, he made a good impression and scored a nice try. He has been tutored by the former international, C. E. Gregory, aud, although _ only 17 years ' of ege, appears to have a bright future. Marist led at half-time by nine points to eight, and at one stage in the second spell bad a five-points advantage. The Mount Albert'forwards gradually gained the ascendancy over the tiring Manst vanguard, and this gave the backs opportunities, which were turned to advantage. There was a good deal of indiscriminate kicking by the inside backs of both teams, while at other times players were caught in possession when support was offering. Two of the outstanding forwards on the ground were Herring, Mount Albert, and woods, Marist. Woods kept Herring wel covered, hut nevertheless the latter played another fine game. He was unlucky to receive an injury to his leg in tho second spell. Mount Albert was weakened by the absence of Hansen in the forwards, w'hilo tho Marist rearguard badly missed B.aslam. Both players bad to stand down owing to injuries. * Grotto played an outstanding irame ax halfback for Marist, and did a great deal o? clever all-round work. His gooffl play on attack would have been shown to better advantaso had the five-eighths given better support. Uhlman was very cool and sound at fullback. Besides Woods, Breed ai?d *inlayson played well in the forwards. Fmlaysor. is a son of the former New Zealand cricketer C. G. Finlayson. Pitt shone at fullback for Mount Albert In all-round play. His clever work when tie raced through tie defence led to a fine try. L. Schultz showed up prominently on the wing when an opportunity came his way and Mincham played well at centre. Walker mishandled at times at halfback, and was slower than usual in getting the ball away. Gunning and Tristram played good games in the forwards, the former. being prominent -throughout in both the tight and loose PlS for Mount Albert Mincham, Tristram. L. S-'iulti and Mclnnarney scored tries. Mmr'am converted two and Leatherbarrow one. For Marist McLaren scored a try which was converted by Anderson. The latter also licked four penally Roals. Mr. O. Chalmers was referee. , DEFEAT OF CITY DISAPPOINTING DISPLAY Newton .was too good for City in a very interesting game, played on No. 2 ground. City gave a disappointing display after its earlier successes. The Newton backs played with much superior combination and badly beat the City defence Tound the scrum. Newton had established a lead of 1« points at half-time, and, although City rallied in the second spell, the result was never in doubt. Early in the game both teams wero penalised, and Newton kicked two goals and City p.dded one. Good combined play between W. Bramble and Mackenzie saw the latter e»in ground and fllil passed to Fraser, who scored for W." Brimble to convert. A few minutes later Duncan, on the wing, made a determined dash, and Mackenzie stored. The City tucks could not settle down, and the hand-

ling was bad. Hutchinson started a promising City attack, but Welch missed the final pass and Hill cleared. The Newton backs had the better combination, and in quick succession. Mackenzie and Ginders scored. City settled down quickly after half-time and Rata reduced the margin with a penalty goal. From a set scrum Hutchinson made a nice opening and Thompson scored a good try. The Newton forwards, however, had an advantage in the loose, and McNeight scored. Just before time Newton scored easily the best try of the game, and after W. Brimble made an opening five players combined perfectly for Duncan to score. Newton played with a lot moro dash than City, particularly the backs, who dominated the game, owing to the superiority of W. Brimble behind the Newton pack. E. Brimble, at five-eighths, gavo his brother excellent supSort, and his speed often cut out the City ve-eigrhths. Duncan, on tho wing, was the most impressive Newton back. He s? the biggest wing in the game, and uses his weight and speed to good advantage. Both Mackenzie, centre, and Hill were on attack. McNeight was the best of the Newton forwards, and he received good support from Fraser, Ginders and Nathan. Rata was the best of the City backs, although his tackling could be improved. Behind the scrum Hutchinson did a lot of useful work, but there was no combination with Welch and Wyberg. The former was too slow on attack. The McCarthy brothers were tho best of the forwards, and Thompson was also tries were scored by Mackenzie (2). Fraser. Ginders. McNeight and Duncan. W. Brimble converted threo tries and Duncan one. Hill also kicked a penalty goal. For City, Thompson scored a try, which Hutcbinson converted. Rata kicked threo penalty goals. , Mr. R. Ott6 was referee. FIRST SUCCESS * PONSONBY BEATS PAPAKURA ■K. Ponsonby scored its first succ/ss of the season by defeating Papakura by a margin of six points. Papakura had much the better of the'first half and held the lead until 10 minutes before time. It took Ponsonby a long time to settle down, but in the final stage* its forwards attacked effectively, and th'# backs played with better combination. Godd passing by the Ponsonby backs turned defence into attack, and speed played a large part in tho last tfco tries. Early in the game the Papakura forwards, led by Evans and Fogarty, tested the Ponsonby defence, and two penalty kicks fave Papakura an early start. Too much icking was indulged in, and neither team seemed eager to throw the ball about. A dash by Herkt almost gave Papakura a try. The Papakura forwards swept over the opposition and Fogarty made a splendid run before sending Osborne over for a good try. Ponsonby was often penalised, and McInness increased the lead with two goals. Just before half-time the Ponsonby forwards, led by Morgan and Cootes, pressed hard, and Petersen scored 1 . On resuming ~the Ponsonby backs played with better combination, and Riley made a fine run before passing to Campbell, who scored. A few minutes later the Ponsonby backs did some more effective work, and again Campbell scored. Fast following up rewarded McNeil with a try and placed Ponsonby one point ahead. Papakura tired a little and Stockley started a good passing bout, from which McNeil scored. For Ponsonby Schroder, at fullback. made few mistakes, although his goal kicking was disappointing, after a brilliant goal from the sidelino in the first half. Campbell and Riltiy were the best of the Ponsonby backs, particularly the former, who is a promising player. Stackpole played well on tho wing, with limited opportunities, and is an acquisition to the team. McNeil was in good form, and his. two tries were full of merit. Petersen. Morgan and Cootes were the pick pf the Ponsonby forwards. For Papakura Wilson played a sound game at fullback, particularly in the first half, when good tackling saved two tries. McInness, on the wing, played well and kicked five good goals. A. Burgess was often, a thorn in the side of tho opposition, being elusive on attack Crocker played a good srame behind the scrum. Fogarty was the best of the forwards, while Evans and Herkt also played good games. , . For Ponsonby tries were scored by McNeil C2), Campbell (2) and Petersen. Schroder and Nurse converted a try each, tor Papakura Fogarty scored a try and Mclnness kicked five penalty goals. Mr. G- Kelly was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Reserve Grade.— Ponsonby, 13, 0; Richmond. 12, North chore, 37, City, 25; Marist 12, Mount Albert 3. Senior B Grade.—Grein Lane, 13, R.\., 0; EUerelie, 17, Northcote, 5 Third Grade. —Papakura. 11, Mount Albert. .5: Marist, S. Otahuhu 8. Fourth Grade. —Richmond, 31. Papakura, 0; Glenora. 5, Otahnhu. 3; R.V., 48, -Northcote, 0; Ellerslie. 34, North Shore, 0. . Fifth-Grade.—Green Lane 22. Point Chevalier, 0; Mount- Albert, o, rsorth Shore, •0; City, 23, Ellerslie, 4. Birth -Grade.—Manst, S, Ponsonby, 3; ■Richmond, 33, Green Lane, 0; Avondale, 8. Otahuhu. 3. Seventh Grade.—City, 5, Papakura, 0; Richtnoud, 14, Ellerslie. O _ Schoolboys.—Senior: Glenora. 5, Point Chevalier, 4; Richmond, 43, Ponsonby, 0. Jnnior: Glenora won from Ponsonby by. default; Glenora, 3. Green Lape. 0." MATCHES IN THE SOUTH \ [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] Wellington.—The first matches of the season resulted: —St. George, 20, Newtown, 0; Petone, 19, Bandwick, 18. Westport,—Waratah (Reefton), 18. Combined Westport-Denniston, 3.