THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23436, 28 August 1939, Page 14

THE LEAGUE CODE

KOOPE ROOSTER GAMES > SEVERAL CLOSE FINISHES SURPRISE FOR NORTH SHORE Several splendid games were witnessed at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when tho popular Iloopo Rooster competition was commenced by the Auckland Rugby League. Tho grounds were heavy after rain early in the afternoon, and low scoring was general. The competition ii> played on the knock-out principle, and tho successful teams wero Mount Albert, Marist nnd Papakura. In the main gamo Mount Albert d«feated Newton after - a close contest, w although tho winner was superior throughout. All of Mount Albert's points wero scored in tho first half. A good deal of feeling was shown in this gamo, and several times tho referee hadoccasion to warn tho forwards. Tho surprise of tho scries was the defeat of North Shore, runner-up in the championship, by Papakura. The country team's success was popular. In tho cur-tain-raiser, Marist played good football to defeat Ponsonby. Richmond was pressed all the way on' No. 2 ground" to beat City. *rhe results wero as follows: — Mount Albert, 8; Newton, 0. Jliciimond, 11; City, 7. Papakura, 7; North Shore, 5. 7 Marist, 7; Ponsonby, 3. ; GOOD FORWARD PLAY MOUNT ALBERT'S SUCCESS /rood forward play hy the Mount Albert vanguard was mainly responsible for jits Ruccess against Newton, which put up a fine light in the second half. Mount Albert appeared a little lucky to be awarded ono try, when it seemed that the ball was thrown forward twice in a passing bout. In the first half Mount Albert's backs played really good football, and should, have added more points. Tho Newton backs did not combine so effectively, and on occasions woak tackling gavo Mount Albert an advantage. Two tries w<iro scored in the first half by Mount Albert. In the second half tho Newton forwards got moro of tho ball from set scrums, but tho inside backs, E. Brimble and McKonzie, failed to open up the attack cleanly. Xho grubber kick was exploited on occasions, duj the ball was kicked too far. Hansen. Mount Albert, was ordered off. , ... 'A feature of tho game was tho splenoma play of Hardgrave on tho wing for Mount Albert. He made many fino runs, and several times went close to scoring solo tries. Marshall, at centre, was very solid, both ,on defence and attack. Behind the scrum Walker played a heady game. did soino /pood work at fullback, and his excellent <de- " fence saved his team on many _ occasions. Donaldson was prominent at fiye-eigntns, JUS tackling often checking the Newton backs. Among the forwards Gunning played an outstanding game, and was in every attacking movement. Cameron also piayed well. J.ie is probably the most-improved forward In the code. Tristram, Shadbolt and Hanson also played Impressively. . ... , . Newton, Dempsey, at fullback, played a faultless game, and got his team out or many difficult,, positions. Brady, a Jo™-®' Auckland representative, gave a fine display on the wing. This* was his first appearance for - two years. Sander, at centre, ' was fireqnently prominent, while behind the scnim "A" Brimble did a lot of useful work. Taylor was the pick of the forwards, while Howeham and Blacklaws also payed fine gam ss. For Mount Albert, Hardgrave and Gunning scored a try' each, and Donaldson converted one try. ' Mr. R. Otto was refereo. BACKS HANDICAPPED GREASY CONDITIONS :ht but ineffectual play characterised ■'.L -nStkmond-City match, the state of ttho '* the backs from staging pround ven)ents . gp orac ii c rushes two oKthree players figured at, : '}^fTm(f^h^ r acte^rsed_^li& 4 which Ric'a"°Silvn most pro- ' minent ptayer. initiating many ifoWS lind >- displaying, commendable enterprise. .'-Able assist ninety came from the other five-eigfijfe?. Hußhcsi--while Gould was always handy, .L%e forwards played as- a solid pack, dackeot and Magee being most prominent. ; > Devine was a tower of strength in menmond's vanguard, :ind he received valuable aid from Davis and _ McLeod. Webb played a sterling game behind tho scrum. Graham and Potter were responsible for much good work, and McWilliams was sound, showing tip twice in breakaways. . , , , , Richmond's points were gained from tries bv Potter. Graham and Kronfeld, Webb converting one. Smith scored for City, and Sllva kicked a penalty goal. Mr. J. Donovan was referee. PAPAKURA ON TOP V ' DEFEAT OF NORTH SHORE Hampered by light rain and an extremely xfiuddy field, neither Papakura, which scored a surprise win by 7 points to o, nor North Shore could make an impressive showing on ' No. 2 ground, and the game devolved Into a forward battle, with the backs making valiant but ineffective attempts to open up the play. Papakura fielded a slightly header gack, which met strong opposition from a ard-working se& of North Shoro forwardii. Condon and Sowter displayed the most dash in . the North Shore pack. Scott filled tho halfback position with credit, while G. Brown *" played a sound game at - fullback. His tackling was opportune, and well-judged linekicks gained considerable territory at crucial moments. Chatham and Thomas showed, enterprise and Cheater was presented with .several chances of which he failed to / make the best use. Bentley played a sterling frame for Papakura until he retired in the later stages, and Francis rendered him useful assistance. Mclianes was sound as the last line of defence, and Gray was the best of tha inside backs. Papakura s points were scored from a 1 try by Wright, converted by Mclnnes, and! a penalty goal by Mclnnes. Sowter scored and Brown converted? for North Shore. Mr. K. Mclvor was referee. BACKS IN FORM j /'■ MARIST WINS NARROWLY Fast, open football was played by Ponsonby in the early stages of its gamo against Manst, which, however, gained tho advantage in the second half to win narrowly. It was an excellent game under tho conditions and slightly in favour of Marist. / Glover, at fullback, gave a high-class display for Marist. He was always ready to run with the ball and open up the game. Halse.v played splendidly on the wing, as 'did Midgley, who used his speed to advantage. Hudson played a sound game at centre. Behind the ■ Marist pack R. Grotte did some .very effective work and overshadowed the 'Ponsonby half, Williams, Hughes was sound at five-eighths and his excellent tackling subdued the Ponsonby backs. Among tho forwards, Haslam was a good worker .and was ably snpported by Logan, W, Grotte and Erickson. Martin, at fullback for Ponsonby. gavo a splendid display and is one of the most promising players in the code. His fielding was faultless, and there was nothing wrong * with his defence. Tho Auckland selectors could do worse than consider him for the team to play Wellington next Saturday. On the wing. Nurso played a good game, but has yet to make the most of his pace. The jnsido. backs. Young and Williams, did useful work on defence, but should have exploited the grubber kick to better advant- . age. Riley was not as prominent as usual. ' In the forwards, Morgan played a good game, as die" Bell and Briggs, who was a great worker in the loose. For Marist, Halscy scored the only try, whicn W. Grotte converted, and the latter also kicked a penalty goal. Riley stored for /Ponsonby. . ; iMr. 0. Chalmers was referee.

RESULTS IN LOWER GRADES Third Gradj>.—Mount Albert, 18, Marlst, f>; Newtou, :vj. Maimknu, /(; Richmond, 21, (-lt.v, 0; Glenora, .'SO, Point Chovalier, 5; 21.V., Avon'.'alc, 5. MATCH WITH WELLINGTON fe • AUCKLAND TEAM SELECTED t Hie Auckland Rucrby Lencrno's selectors, Messrs II Avery. H. W. Brisbane and E. V C l'!r rhose " ,ho - following team to play Wellington nt Carlaw Park next Saturday:—Fullbark, C. Dempsey (Newton); threequarfers, D. Nurse (Ponsonby), W. McKenzie (Newton), It. ITnrdprrave (Mount Albert); five-eiehths, B. Donaldson (Mount Albert), ,A. Graham (Richmond); halfback, M. Walker (Monti), Albert); forwards. A. Shad bolt (Mount Albert), J. Flannnan (Ponpon.by), A. Broadhead (Richmond), M. Devino M. Cameron (Mount Albert), L. Ptiersen (Ponsonbv). .Reserves; Backs; L. Sanders (Newton), Wilfred Brlmble (New- " ton). Forwards: C. Erickson (Marist).

The team is' to assemble at Carlaw Park for training to-morrow at 7 p.m. Any,, player not available is asked to advise tho Rugby, Leaguo office by noon on Tuesday. , 1 i Tho omission of .J. Gunning (Mount Albert) from the forwards comes as a great surprise. He has played in every representative game this season and was the player who gave the New Zealand selec.'ors so much concern when they wero choosing tho forwards for the English tour. Gunning is the outstanding forward in tho code on recent form. McKonzie, tho Newton cen;re, is lucky to gain a place, for he hns not shown any form in this" position, boing a five-eighths in tho Newton team. Either Harrison (Mount Albert) or Ilalsey (Marist) would bo preferreel to McKenzie. Riley (Ponsonby) also has played good games at contro. WAITANGI SHIELD AUCKLAND PLAYERS CHOSEN The second Waitnngl Shield challenge game will be played against Taranaki at Carlaw Park next Thursday. Tho Auckland team will bo selected from the following:—Backs, Kendall, Awhitu, Gregory, Munro, Nepia, Donaldson. Mahirna, Walker. Wilson; forwards, Ratu, Hapota. J. McLeod, Tristram, Housham, Proctor, Briggs, Just, Shalton, Marsh. Any pln.ver not available is requested to notify Mr. E. Asher immediately. GAMES IN WELLINGTON [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Sunday Leaguo football matches played yesterday re/;ulted as follows:—Miramar. 11, Central. 5; St. George. 13, Newtown, 12; Randwick. 10, Petone, 10.