LEAGUE MATCHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23336, 3 May 1939, Page 20

LEAGUE MATCHES

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP MOUNT ALBERT IN THE LEAD ATTRACTION NEXT SATURDAY Two wet Saturdays in succession have not been conducive to fast, open football, but in spite of the conditions there has been some very attractive play in the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship matches at Carlaw Park. Playing against North Shore in the principal fixture last Saturday Manukau executed some tine combined movements and gave promise of thrilling exhibitions on dry grounds. Mount Albert, which leads in the championship with City, is now the only unbeaten team, having won all three games played. City has played four matches and suffered one defeat. North Shore, Ponsonbv and Manukau are equal in second place and have each been beaten once in three games. Richmond, Marist and Newton are likely to play a more prominent part in future games, but 011 form to date Moi.nt Albert or Mamikau appear likely to be at the head of the table at the conclusion of the first round. There will be a splendid attraction for supporters of the code at Carlaw Park next Saturday when Mount Albert will meet Manukau and the result is likely to have an important bearing on the championship. On this occasion Manukau will be faced with strong opposition, both back and forward, and a great contest for the honours should be witnessed. Mount Albert has always fielded a stroug forward division, but has lacked effective combination and thrust in the inside back positions. This weakness has now been rectified by the player-coach, R. Banhani, first five-eighths, and B. Donaldson, second. The pair have been combining well and are a strong link both on attack and defence. Banham is in particularly good form and is a fine attacking player besides being very solid on defence. Donaldson, a Rugby recruit this season, is settling down well and shows promise of developing into a good all-round player in his new code.

In Marshall, centre, Mount Albert, luts a splendid tackier who works into combined attacks well, while Hardgrave is showing good form on the wing. On the other wing Mclnnarney is a neat and dashing type. McLachlan, fullback, is'always very reliable. HOOKING ADVANTAGE ELUSIVE BACKS

The Manukau pack is in good form at present and the exchanges between the vanguards next Saturday should bq decidedly interesting. Any advantage in ■hooking' will probably be with Mount Albert, which has a fine exponent in this department in Lcatherbarrow and success here may prove the deciding factor in Mount Albert's favour at the final whistle.

Manukau has a good and elusive set of backs with a splendid all-round player in T. Chase. W iberg. on last Saturday's form, is a halfback of ability, while Hemi is always likely to bring off a surprise move. He was very unlucky that one of these against North Shore did not result in a try. The wings, Broughton and Awhitu. have plenty of pace, while Panapa. first five-eighths, is a hard all-round worker. As the last line of defence Nepia, although he has lost some of his pace, is still very sound and a strong kicker with cither foot.

NEWTON'S REARGUARD

FIRST WIN FOR PAPAKURA

Although Newton has so far failed to win a match, its form against City was impressive. Little fault can be found individually with the pjay of the Newton backs, but they lack understanding and positional play. A majority of the backs would do better if they concentrated on hard, straight running. The threequarters, Kendall and B. and D. McKenzie, resorted to kicking against City, and these, were ' weak tactics, especially as City was leading. The Newton rearguard was favoured with a good share of the ball from set scrums, and more tries should have resulted. . ..

r The brunt of City's work was borne j by the forwards, who were superior in j the loose. The fast raiding tactics of Mataira, Jackson and Donald . showed the City forwards in a good light. Hapi, who last season played good football on the wing, was a thorn in the side of the opposition, and one of the best forwards on the ground. His speed enabled him to check the efforts of the Newton backs, and his tackling was a feature of the game. At times, City packed with only five forwards, and Hapi proved a good link with the inside backs. The game between Marist and Papakura was very ragged, and there was little combined play witnessed. Marist suffered owing to the influenza epidemic and six of the regular players were absent." However, it was pleasing to see Papakura record its first success, which may be the means of strengthening the rear division. So far. the backs have been disappointing. The Papakura forwards were responsible for a dashing display, and the vanguard beat Marist in all departments. No finer forward play was seen at Carlaw Park than that of Evans, who scored three of Papakura's four tries. He stood out? for splendid handling and deadly tackling Herkt is a forward of a similar type and a tireless worker in the loose. Milliken, the ex-All Black from Canterbury, is picking up the game fast, and the best has yet to be seen of this player.