THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23968, 19 May 1941, Page 12

THE LEAGUE CODE

►SENIOR PREMIERSHIP

SEVERAL BRIGHT DISPLAYS

PONSONBY SHADES MANUKAU

There were few dull moments at Carl.au j I'ark un Saturday, when three matches in ; the Auckland senior Rugby League champion-! ship were played before a large attendance of spectators. Sparkling back play featured 1 all the games, there being many instances! (if high-class movements, attack and counterattack being so swiftly and skilfully staged thai the territorial advantage was constantly fluctuating. Ponsunby. showing superior cohesion, earned a clo.-e victory over Manukau in the principal fixture, which provided a bright display. ( ily and Mount Albert also produced an excellent contest in the curtain-raiser, victory going lo the former. Newton defeated Pa pa k lira after, a willing struggle on No. 2 ground. Following are the scores: PoiisMiiby, K>, Manukau. 7; City. Mount Albert. Jo; Newton, i'apakura. 10. Ponsonby v. Manukau.— More acciliale handling and a better conception of combined movement gave Ponsonby a slight advantage over Manukau. which, however, with licue forward raids and occasional brilliant opportunism among the backs, remained a constant threat. Ponsonby got the ball regularly from the scrum, which was another distinct disadvantage to Manukau, which for a great pari of (lie time was forced to adopt dose covering tactics in an attempt to destroy poiisi.nby's combination and profit by the opposition's mi-take-. Demi's goal-kicking was not impressive, otherwise the Manukau side might have ,st ilen a win. The young Pon-j son by fullback, Scott, attracted attention tori hi- splendid handling and well-judged clear- ; ing kicks, lie is improving with every game. , McMaiins and Nurse were dangerous wingiiifn. who by quick interception were responsible for starting promising movements. Ihe ability of the Ponsonby backs to change direction swiftly and efficiently had an unsettling ellecl on Manukau. Kay and Riley gave lorce lo the back line, holli on atlack and defence. Dunning. Thomas and Bluciier goi through some hard work in the forwards. Good anticipation by ilemi frequently got his team out of trouble, while Martin also saved repeatedly by quick backing-up Butlel and Murray ran strongly in the backs, while Chase was also quick to take advantage ol an opening. His try was well conceived and brilliantly executed. In a very even pack, Ririiiui. Marsh and Shiiton battled most sue- ; cesslully. Riley scored two tries lor Ponsonby and Hughes and Kay kicked penalty goals. Chase scored a try I t Manukau, Heml and j Butler kicking penalties. Mr. G. Kelly was j referee. City v. Mount Albert. -City showed improssive tram-wurk t«> defeat Mfiunt Alnert : comfortably in a last, open game. 1 lie City | backs, served well from the scrum by (iiotte. i made the most of I heir opportunities. Both I sets (jf forwards were well matched. City, it I anything, being a little superior in the loose. | The .Mount Albert backs did not function too well and most of the passing was wild. Both ' Mclnnarney and Cowley missed chalices as the result of bad passes by the inside hacks i In the second half, however, the Mount Albert backs did better. A movement between < teiii eiit s. Hetherington and Mclnnarney was a line effort. At fullback for City, Clarke : phi veil a sound game, and opened up the play I for the backs. Grotte at halfback was a lower of strength, and tie varied his p.ay well to beat the defence. His form at pro-cut is as high a- ever. Gould oil tt\e wing revealed a lot of speed and was the best ot the threequarters. McManus. at centre, also played a 1 line game. Outstanding among the forwards I was It. Mataira, who ably led the vanguard. Jackson and Morris were also prominent. Me--1 una rue v and Cowley were the best ot the Mount Albert hacks. Lonergan played soundly at fullback. Shadbolt, Leatherbarrow and List did well among the forwards. For City, tries were scored by Gould (2), Grotte (2), Mataira (") and Simpson. Donovan converted two tries and kicked a penalty goal Clarke also kicked a penalty goal, for Mount Albert, Mclnnarney scored two tries and < owley one. Crunch kicked three penalty goals. Mr. .1. O'Sliannessey was referee. Newton v. Papaluira. —Newton was a little 100 good for I'apakura. although the scores were no indication of the run of the play. Actually Papakura had a territorial.adv.. ntage for most of the game, but then was more finish to the Newton attacks The game for the most part was routined to th forwards, and in this department Newlin v as 'superior. Newton developed better (ombina ; iioii as the game progressed. Kveritt ... lu. j forwards and Knius m the backs wen I. ru > I responsible for Newton's success. Both slnn I i speed and were on hand in every movement The five-eighths. Green and 1 redrea. s| ill. <1 down to play constructive football and n pair were well served by Uatkius. al haltback. Cheater used his speed lo advant.jgt and was prominent on attack. Besides Lv rill Bradv and X.iii.ineriiian showed up well in | the forwards. Cinders did a lot of work but was inclined to hang on too long. 1 apakura fielded a very youthful team. who j went well at fullback, is a priinilMi.g p.a>< r. |ln the I hreeqiiarters hue. Mel nness am .. j Kalsev were prominent. Osborne at hallhack 'worked well. In the forwards. I info.d. I Tate.' Clarke and Bentle.v were c.mspicuous. I K«»r Xewtuii tries were senred by ! Kveritt (21, Watkins (2) and (. inders one. Kiniis cnverled two tries for 1 apakura I Pinfold. R. Halsey and ( larke scored a O leach. Mc 1 nness converted two tries ami . v--1 iiiour kicked a penalty goal. Mi •! i was referee j LOWER GRADE RESULTS Reserve Grade. —Mount Alln'i't. K 1 "iiI Minbv Kllerslie. 13. Point Chevalier I I. 1 Fourth Grade.—Point Chevalier, o JHch- | niond. ii; Avondale, o, North Shore, 3. I Fifth C»rade. —Point Chevalier. W». Kul»I mom!, 0; Kllerslie, 13, Papakura, II Sixth Grade. —Newton, <>, North s>hori, (1. I Seventh Grade. — Kllerslie. In. Green | '"'schoolboys.— Senior grade: Mount A'bert. 0; Newton. 0; Avondale won from ! bv default. Intermediate grade: Mount Albert ! won from Ponsonby by default; Newloii. 10. Screen Lane (>, Point Chevalier, -in. 1mI«t.~!le. li- Avondale. 11. Richmond, 3. Junior grade: Mount Albert. 12. Glenora. Green Lane s Ponsmby, n ; Marist A. s. KA .. «»; Maust j |i, Norlhcote, n. GAMES IN OTHER CENTRES i Christchurch. —Sydenham, 3■, J-invyoml, •> ; ' Riccarton, vl3, Addiligton. I; Woolston. JO. , Waimairi, H».