THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23412, 31 July 1939, Page 14

THE LEAGUE CODE

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY MOUNT ALBERT PONSONBY SURPRISES MARIST Bv defeating North Shore in the principal game at Car law Park on Saturday, 'Mount Albert placed the result of the senior grade championship of the Auckland Rugby League beyond doubt. Only two more games remain to be played and Mount Albert is live points ahead of the nearest tertm. This is the first occasion Mount Albert lias won the senior championship sipco the club was formed four years ago. Until heavy rain came on just before halftime, tho game was very even, with plenty of fast, open play. Mount Albert, however, was the better team nil round, especially the forwards, who outplayed the North Shore vanguard. Both teams were weakened by the absence of the New Zealand players now on their way to England. B. Donaldson, the Mount Albert fivc-eip;liths, gave one of the best displays seei.i this season and greatly assisted his team to victory.

Ponsonby played really good football to easily beat Marist in the curtainraiser. The form of the Ponsonby backs was a surprise, for they outplayed the Marist set. which has shown high-class form of late.

No. 2 ground was a quagmire alter the recent rains nnd in a sen of mud City played a drawn game with Manukau. City was rnthcr unlucky not to win. In the curtain-raiser, Richmond just managed to beat Pnpnkttra by a single point. The results of the senior matches were as follows: Mount Albert, 8; North Shore, 0. City, 0; Mamiknii, 9. Ponsonby, Hi: Marist, 5. Richmond, 11; Pa pa k urn, 10. The following table shows tho positions of the various teams in tho championship:— Points Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Mount Albert It 11 1 2.18 1"><( 23 North Shore. 11 9 .5 IST l -ifi is Newton ..It 7 (5 1 .I'M 1-1 Ponsonby ..II 7 0 1 17(! 100 !•> Manuka a ..14 7 0 1 232 'JO I 15 Richmond ..11 7 7 City .. ito 7;• 2 120 top 12 Marist .. lo 5 10 I'apakura ..13 2 11 2 12U 2 til 0

MOUNT ALBERT ON TOP

TOO STRONG FOR NORTH SHORE

Monti I Albert was (06 strong in (lie forwards for North Shore, and gained an early advantage, having a lead at half-time of eight point's, which was retained until the finish. In the second half, however, North Shore forwards rose to the occasion splendidly and frcqupnt strong rushes had Mount Albert busy defending. On the day, Mount Albert was the better team, and well deserved its first championship success. Donaldson, at five-eighths. gave one of the best displays seen at Carlaw Park this season, being in every constructive movement. The easy method in which lie beat tho opposition showed Donaldson to be the best attacking back in the frame in Auckland. Behind the scrum played a fine game and varied his attack to suit the conditions, llis try was a very fine effort. Marshall, at centre, did not play so well as usual, the greasy ball being against his style of play On the wing. Hardgrave did not get many chances. MacLachlan, at fullback. fielded the greasy ball well and tackled soundly, but his kicking was often badly directed. Among the forwards. Gunning was the outstanding player. He was always on the ball anil took part in most of the passing bouts. Cameron, Shadboll and Tristram also played good games and Herring was prominent in the loose. The North Shore backs promise to develop into a good combination, and the three juniors promoted to replace the New Zealand players all played well. Perry, at halfback, and G. Brown, on the wing, were prominent throughout. Hall, at fullback made few mistake?, although his kicking was weak. Wilkie. at centre, made several nice openings while the ball was dry. Condon was the best of the forwards, being well supported by Fields, Scott and Hapeta. North Shore forwards rnshed play to Mount Albert territory and Cheater missed a penalty kick fn front of the goal. Gunning. Tristram and Cameron were prominent in a strong rush, bnt G. Brown saved brilliantly and turned defence into attack with a dodgy run and a deep kick hack to halfway. A nice line kick by Donaldson gave Mount Albert a chance and Gunning scored. Play was surprisingly fast and Donaldson made a clever run to' halfway, where his pass to Donnelly was intercepted by Wilkie. Fields, Condon and Scott headed North Shore forwards, but a knock-on proved a lucky escape for Mount Albert. Donaldson again proved the stumbling block, cutting in nicely and carrying play to the North Shore line, where Walker snapped the hall un and scored a fine solo try. The tackling of the North Shore backs weakened a little ami twice Mount Albert nearly scored. Heavy rain and hail swept the ground and passing now became difficult. Donaldson improved Mount Albert's score with a nice penalty goal, and again was prominent in a strongrun before passing to Herring, hut Tlnneta came fast and saved a try. At half-time Mount Albert led by eight points to nil. On resuming Donnelly made a fine run but Herring was again stopped short of the line. Tho game developed Into a dour struggle between the forwards, with the North Shore set gelling a little the better 'of the Open play. K. Scott broke away and kicked to JfacLachlan, who was caught in possession. From « set scrum Perry passed to .Chatham, who cut in nicely, but his pass to L. Brown was ruled forward and North Shore lost a chancft of scoring. Donaldson started a fine movement and nardgrave raced nearly to the twenty-five, where Cheater effected a brilliant tackle. Tt was impossible to distinguish the forwards, who were covered with mud. The conditions made no difference to Donaldson, who bent the opposition badlv. but his pass to Cameron was forward. Wilkie was prominent for North Shore and raced back to halfway, bnt Mount Albert maintained its lead to the end, For Mount Albert Gunning and Walker scored a try each, and Donaldson kicked a penalty goal, Mr. K. McTver was referee.

DRAWN GAME IN MUD MANUKAU AND CITY Th# (fame between Mnnuknu nnd City wns snblled owing to the hcnv.v hailstorm .making Inn No, '2 ground unfit for piny. The mutch developed Into n mud scramble, and at the end of tho day the players were almost unrecognisable. All the scoring wns dono in the first hnlf, and, although the f)-nll draw wns n fair Irldicnllon of the piny. City held n definite advantage in the second spell, when loose dribbling wns the only effective means of nttack. City forwards revelled in the conditions, and go6d support from n tiumbfir of the backs kept. Manukau confined mostly to desperate defence. Ncpia proved a tower of strength for Manukau nnd was" chiefly instrumental in averting, defeat for Ills side. Manukau backs got going early, and Nepla, pinyi nfir nt centre, made a nice opening for Brodrick lo score ft try. City retaliated with a smart passing bout between Mndigan, Hughes and Brnssey. the last-named scoring. Thompson headed another City attack, which gave Smith a try, A further rush, led by Clllgren, saw the whole City pack take the ball the full length of the field, six players going across unopposed and Silva touching down /Or the try, which gave City the lead. o—Manukau came back with strong forward rushes, and Shlllori snapped tho ball up in the loose lo send a long tuiss out to Awhitu, on the wing, n try resulting. Jvepin started another passing movement, in which Rata, Brimhle and A whit ji joined, the Instnamed scoring again, nnd at half-tlmo the score was O-all. A heavy hailstorm rendered the ground a rningmire arid in the second Spell the players found-it almost, Impossible to handle Uhe onll. Tiny developed mostly into a mud scramble, In which the City forwards showed to advantage, and but for Nepla's solid work at fullbftck in this spell they would have scored more than once. Hughes just missed a try after a neat movement on the blind side of the scrum. Brodrick. who had changed from wing-threeouarter to' front row of the scrum, and Marsh repeatedly attempted to break through the City defence, tint there wns no score In the second hnlf, and City wns hard on the attack when the game ended: Maimkau. 51; Cit.v, D. Nepla, as usual, was • Invaluable to the winners, particularly when he dropped bark to fullback In* the second spell.- Wlberg. » n ,U e * A whlt n. wlng-threefiuarter, and Jahima, halfback. were the most noticeable in the fcocks. Brodrick. WreJKl- yet y prominent In - Whittle played , a good game at fullback for City, tint- Oonld wan weak at ftn d Smith w*» later brought in from i fiui h °'.bls limited [ chances. Saliva, five-eighths, and Hughes.

halfback, were the outstanding inside backs, both showing ability under extremoly difficult conditions. All the forwards went well, with Thompson, Jackson and Airey very prominent. Tries were scored for Martukau by Awhitu (2) and Brodriek, and for City by Brasscy. Smith and Silva. 'Mr. J. Hawkes was referee.

SUCCESS OF PONSONBY SURPRISE DEFEAT FOR MARIST A feature of Ponsonby's victory against Ma fist was tlio jrood hooking of Flanagan, and 'a very promising display by Carr, promoted reserve jinule back. Maris! had shown really good form of late and was expected to ' win. Ponsonby. however, rose to (he occasion splendidly, particularly the backs, who Started passing movements from almost every position. Defence was turned Into attack' with a smart mil and a timely miss, mainly because Flanagan Brave the rear divi,«ion (he ball from almost every scrum, Ponsonb.v has only to repeat this form to take a lot of beating in the Koopo Rooster competition. , ; Among the young players seen at Carlaw Park. Carr. the Ponsonby five-eighths, gave a splendid display and scored two very gooil tries, llis straight running was a feature of flic game and liltle fault could ho found with his tackling, Petersen, usually a forward, and one of Ihc players seriously considered for the trip to England, played ft good game on the winff. Nurse, at centre, kicked 100 much and this cosl his team several tries. Behind the scrum, Williams played a heatl.v game, hut on occasions his passing .was badly directed, and Young, fit first five eighths, found it difficult to open up the game.. ~ ■ Bell was easily the best forward on the ground, being in every movement which gave the backs chances 011 attack. His knowledge of front-row forward piny greatly assisted the centre-forward, Flanagan, whose hooking was a feature of the game. Morgan was prrtj minciit in the loose, and Dunning also played 11 good game. , , ~ . I for Marlst, Hughes, at five-eighths again played well and nest to Curr was the best ! liack 011 the ground. Both It. flrotte and iClftiimes played good games, but never really got a clear chance on attack. Hudson was A tower of strength to his team, and made several fine openings at cent re-t hreeuuartor. Erickson, Bancbaril, Anderson and Finlay* son played prominently among the forwards. I'onsonby nllacked from the kick-off, »>l* lin ins passing to Young, who made a good opening and scored, Morgan converting. 1 onsonby pressed hard, but Hudson cleared and heat the defence, to send Anderson oyer for a good try. which the, latter converted. 1 on* sonby got n chance when llalsey hit the ball infield instead of letting it roll out of bounds Young snapped it up and cross-kicked, for Dunning to score, Morgan converted, and Ponsonby led at liaJMioio b.V 10 jiOifiift 100. Marist backs attacked early on resuming, and Chalmers made a nice opening, which Hudson improved, but Petersen came fast and lack led the Marlst centre. I'onsonby backs srot plenty of the ball from set scrums, and twice Nurse beat the opposition, but the passing to supports• was delayed.; In another excellent passing bout. Martin, fullback, joined in. only to see Petersen miss the final pass. I'onsonby continued to have mmli the betler of the game, but found the defence verv sound. Petersen penetrated deeply and passed to Nurse, but (Hover saved with a timely kick. Nurse and Funnel! were associated 'in a splendid passing bout, and C'arr showed a lot of pace to score a nice try. Bell, from the loose, fended off four Marist tacklers in a run of 10 yards and sent a short pass to Carr, who again scored, giving I'onsonby victory by Hi points ,">. For I'onsonby tries were scored by Carr (2), and Dunning srnl Young one each. Morgan converted two tries. For Marist, Anderson scored one try and kicked a penalty troal. ' - Mr. J. Jones was referee.

RICHMOND JUST WINS

PAPAKUR.VS LATE RALLY

Richmond just managed to retain It? onepoint lead of the fir't spell in the early match against Papakura on No. 2 ground, but. while displaying better teamwork throughout, can be counted fortunate to stall off Papakuru's lute bid for victory. However. Jtlchmoml was responsible for whatever constructive football there was under very heavy ground conditions, and it was only when Papakura resorted to loose, dribbling tactics that the winner's back division became rattled in the last half-hour of plav. Richmond scoring movements revealed the essential understanding which the opposition lacked. Fogarty, who scored both tries for Papakura. stood out as the most consistent forward on the field, always keeping up with the pla.v. Richmond had the advantage in the opening stages, but the Papakura forwards swept through the defence in a loose rush, and Fogarty scored. Melnnes increased the advantage with a penalty goal, and Papakura led (">—o. Richmond carried the ball upfield in a counter-attack which ended in McLeod gqing over for a well-earned try. Richmond was revealing belter team work, and just before half-time Hadley gathered the ball in the loose and transferred smartly to "Graham, who scored, to give his side the lead, (i

Papakura kept Richmond in check, for some time on resuming, and, taking a turn on attack, went close to scoring when Wright just failed to reach the ball before it went over the dead-ball line. A good deal of aimless kicking was indulged in with the heavy ball, until Richmond forwards made, another sweeping rush the full length of the field. McLeod and Broadhead being prominent and the latter finally getting across for a try which Webb converted. Papakura kept Richmond defending in the closing stages of the game, and right, on time Fogarty was rewarded with a try as the result of a lucky interception. Melnnes converted, and the game ended with the score: Richmond, 11: Papakura. 10. Webb, halfback. Graham,, centre, and Bramlcy, fullback, were the pick of the Richmond hacks, Webb playing a fine game under the adverse conditions. McLeod. Hadley and Devine were always in the van of the forward attacks. Anderson, five-eighths, and Melnnes, fullback, were prominent for good work in the Papakura backs, but Crocker, halfback, spoiled several chances through holding on to the ball, Hoskey showed pace occasionally at centre. Fogarty was the outstanding forward, irtid Smith and Francis gave good support. For Richmond, McLeod, Graham and S. Broadhead scored tries, Webb converting one. For Pnpnkura. Fogarty scored two tries, one of which was converted by Melnnes. who also kicked a penalty goal. Mr. J. Donovan was referee. OTHER GRADE RESULTS Senior Reserve Grade.—Monnf Albert. SO, North Shore, 0; Ponsonhy beat Marist by default. x Senior B Grade.—Otnhnhu, 13, Point Chevalier, 3. Third Grade.—Richmond, 10, Northcote, 0; Otniiuhu. IS. Ellerslie, 3. Fourth Grade.—Mount Albert, 0, North Shore, Oj Ponsonhy, 10, Northcote, 0; Otahuhu, 21. Manukau, 0; Richmond, 21, Newmarket, o.

Fifth Grade.—Newmarket, 21, Point Chevalier, H; Richmond 0. Avondale, 0. Sixth Grade.—Richmond, 8, Otahuhn, 0; Mount Albert. 10. Ellerslie. 3.

Seventh Grade. —Papakura, 5, Ponsonby, 2; Richmond, I.l', City, 5.

GAMES IN WHANGAREI 11-KO.M oun OWN courtESrONDENT] WHANGAREI. Sunday Two visiting League tennis were seen in action in tlie Whangnrel district yesterday, when Newton reserve seniors defeated City (Whangarei) by '2O points to O. and Hlkurangi, 18, defeated Hnntlv, O. Scorers for Newton were Sanders (•'<), Proctor, Tredrea, Honsham and Preston. Sanders converted three tries and Hill one. For Cit.v, Gougli, Hlrtzell and Lenne scored. The visitors were on top right through Hie match, Ihc half-time scoro being ■21 —O in their favour. In the curtain-raiser Portland juniors beat Kensington. GAMES IN OTHER CENTRES [UV TKLKGItAPJI —I'KKSS ASSOCIATION] Wellington. League fool hn II matches played on Saturday resulted;—Cenlral, 8,, Miramar, 7; I'elone. 30, Newtown, 3. ChrlstchurcH. —Senior Rugby League matches played on Saturday resulted ns follows: —Sydenham, '27.' SI. George. Hli Rlcenrton. 13, Wuitnairi, '2; Addington, 2fl. Rakala. 3. WIN FOR QUEENSLAND (Received July 30. fi.s p.m.) BRISBANE, July 30 Queensland beat New South Wales by .23 points to 13 in the Rugby League representative match played ttwlay.