THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23318, 11 April 1939, Page 14

THE LEAGUE CODE

RICHMOND TEAM WINS margin of one point FAST DISPLAY WITNESSED In a fast and brilliant exhibition of the Kunby League code Richmond defeated the combined Eastern Suburbs team, of Sydney, by 17 points to 16, at C'arlaw Park yesterday. Play was bright throughout, and Richmond maintained its early lead until near the end. Well into the second half the Eastern Suburbs backs played splendid football and almost saved the game. Richmond tli us maintained its unbeaten record against overseas club teams.

The teams stood up to a tiring task well and it was only in the concluding stages that tempers were frayed. One incident near the end, when blows were struck by players of each side, spoiled an otherwise interesting attraction. The visitors sluyved vastly improved form on that against Marist in the first game and should improve still further. Honours, however, were with the local team, which not only held the visitors in the forwards, but was a better attacking force in the .rear division. The inclusion of Tottey, on the wing, and Quealey, at five-eighths, undoubtedly gave tho visitors greater attacking powers. The, .Richmond forwards gave Eastern Suburbs strong opposition, and Devine and McLeod wero prominent throughout. Uroadhead played one of the best games of his career and was in every attacking movement. Hadley also played a good hard game.

Mills Plays Well Furnell was a little too confident at fullback and often got his team into difficulties by inaccurate kicking. Mills, on tho wing, played a splenuid game and paved t he way lor good tries. Tittle ton, at centre, did a lot of useful work and his tackling was very sound. Greenwood was prominent at fiveeighths, and is a promising player, Watkins played a good all-round game at halfback. The visitors' backs impressed as an attacking combination and Quealey, at five-eighths, played a brilliant game. Tottey was prominent on the wing and upheld his reputation as a fino scoring back. Mitchell, at centre, was disappointing and failed to penetrate the defence by nigged methods. Thompson did some brilliant work behind the scrum and is undoubtedly a fine player. He was not so successful at goal-kicking, otherwise the visitors would have emerged victors. Arnold and Pierce stood out. as tho best forwards on the ground and they were ably supported by Griffiths and Stehr. The lastnamed proved a fine leader. 'J'he hard ground caused several stoppages through injuries. A. Broadhead, a Richmond forward, suffered an ankle injury aud was off tho gmind for lo minutes. Tho halfback, A. Watkins, was removed from tho ground in a St. John ambulance after the game suffering from concussion. The teams wero as follows: Eastern Suburbs.—Fullback, J. Sharman; threetiuarters, F. Tottey, F. Hyde, A. Mitchell, D. Malison; halfbacks, J. Quealey, R. Thompson; forwards, Ji. Stehr, G. Watt, F. Griffiths, F. Pierce. J. Arnold, J. Redman.

Richmond.—Fullback, F. Furnoil; three quarters, L. .Tuck, W. Tittleton, W. Green wood, L. Mills; halfbacks. M. Potter, A. Wilt kins; forwards, A. Broadlicad, J. McLeod, G Mitchell, N. Metcalfe, W. M. Dovine. H Had Icy.

An Early Try E.iily in the tame Richmond attacked and Mitchell carried Quealcy over the line to take the ball oft' the visitors' five-eighths and score an ensy try. Dovine converted. Richmond, 5; Eastern Suburbs, t). 'l'lie visitors showed improved combination and Thompson started a splen.lid passing bout- and Tottey raced to halfway before being tackled by Furnell. Richmond was awarded a penalty nnd Devine kicked a nice goal. Richmond, 7; Eastern Suburbs, O.

From near halfway Thompson passed to Qucnlcy, and Mitchell made n fine opening which Hyde further improved. Outpacing the defence. Hyde passed to Tottey, and again Quealey flashed into the movement, to give Furnell a perfect "dummy" and score a brilliant try. Thompson failed to convert. .Richmond, 7; Eastern Suburbs, 3. The Richmond backs had a chance to improve the score, but Potter passed forward to Mitchell when a pass to the wailing backs would have probably resulted in a try. The (tame was full of excitement, and play moved rapidly up and down the ground, with Richmond holding a slight advantage, A fino dash by Pierco resulted in Manson gaining: more ground, but Tittleton and Mitchell impressed with strong rnns well into the visitors' territory. Mitchell, Eastern Suburbs, raced from halfway, and when a try looked certain Mills came fust and tackled the centre lO.vds from the goal line. Clever Combination Tiltlelon, AVatkins. Devine, and Mitchell carried play 70yds back to Eastern Suburbs' territory. Both teams continued to play unorthodox football, and the Richmond backs were not behind the visitors in clever combination. Half-time camo with the score:— Richmond .. .. ..7 Eastern Suburbs .. .. 3

Soon after the kick-off, the Richmond forwards rushed play to the visitors' line, where the bounce beat Sharman, and Devino raced over to*score, for Furnell to convert, liiclinionil, 12; Euslern Suburbs, 3. Thompson missed a penalty kick from in front of the piists, and Broadhead. who was playing -well for Richmond, was removed from the'field injured. An attempt to clear by Watkins was charged -down, and Arnold gathered in cleverly and passed to Quealey, Redman racing 30yds to score a good try. Thompson converted. Richmond, 12; Eastern Suburbs. 8. McLeod and Hadloy headed the Richmond forwards, and from the loose Mitchell snapped up, to race across for a good try. Furnell converted. Richmond, 1T: Eastern Suburbs. #.

Richmond threw the ball about in groat style, and McLeod. HAdley, Metcalfe and Devine were associated in a short passing bout which carried play to the visitors' line. Bad feeling crept into the game and some spirited exchanges were witnessed. First Mills, then Dcvine, made great efforts to score, only to be thrown out a yard from the line. Mansou made a brilliant run mid passed to Hydo, rnd Tottey raced over to score a nice try. Thompson failed to convert. Eastern Suburbs played grand football in the last few minutes, and after Ste.hr had gained ground, Tottey oulpncul the opposition to score a good try. Thompson converted and the gamo ended with the scores— Richmond .. .. ..17 Eastern Suburbs .. .. 10 Mr. S. Bilinian was referee. CLUB RELAY The club relay race, in which Eastern Suburbs competed, resulted in a win for PonHonby, which defeated the visitors by 2yds. Four, club teams competed. The Ponsonbv team wns as follows: —B. Riley, A, Kay. J. Campbell, P. Young.