THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24070, 15 September 1941, Page 5

THE LEAGUE CODE

CHAMPIONSHIP ENDS HONOURS TO NORTH SHORE MANUKAU IN SECOND PLACE

An interesting senior grade championship of the Auckland Rugby League was brought to a close at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when North Shore won the honours for 1!M1. North Shore was successful against Newton, which led at half-time. During the season, North Shore was beaten only twice in 10 games played. If is the first occasion North Shore lias won th& championship since 1933. In the principal match. Manukau easily defeated Mount Albert, and thus finished second in the championship, one point behind North Shore. On No. 2 ground, Marist narrowly beat City, and Ponsonby was successful against Papakura. The resulls were as follows:—Manukau, 33, Mount Albert, IS; North Shore, 19, rXewton, 9; Marist, 8, City, 5; Ponsonby. 1.2, Papakura, 9. Manukau v. Mount Albert. —Manukau gave a very fine display to defeat Mount Albert in the , principal game at Carlaw Park. Mount Albert took the initiative at the outset and scored several tries as the result of good back play. However, once Manukau settled down, tries came quickly. .The Manukau backs' team work was of a high standard. The forwards also played their'-part well, and outstanding tactics were shown by Watene and Ririnui. The pair were responsible for most of the tries scored. Although beaten by a superior set, the Mount Albert backs did really well iu the first 'JO minutes, and Cowley, Carter and Hetherington surprised the crowd with several nice movements which resulted in tries. .Playing at fullback, R. Martin often made the play for the<• threequarters. The wingers, Gregory and Awhitu, were good en attack, and both Hemi and Chase pivoted the attack. Hemi's goal kicking was excellent. Te Tai and Thompson also played good games. Tries for Manukau were scored by Gregory (2), Ririnui, Te Tai, Chase, Awhitu and Butler. Hemi converted five and kicked a'•penalty goal. For Mount' Albert. tries were scored:,by Cowley, Tristram, Sanderson and Clements. Clements converted two and Cranch one. Mr. (i. Kelly was referee. North Shore v. Newton. —Superior team work and ability to make the most of Newton's mistakes carriedithe day for North Shore ins a game full of interest. Newton made a surprisingly good showing, and the score was not,., a true indication of the run of play. Throughout the first half Newton was superior and North Shore was five,points down at halftime. North Shore was better round the scrum, and this was the principal factor against Newton. The best back on the ground was Clarke,-the North Shore fiveeighths, who made many fine openings. Naugh-ton.-fcthe centre, played well, as did Greenwood"'on the wing. Both Chatham, at fiveeighths, and McArthur, halfback, rose to the occasion iri the second half. The North Shore forwards were sometimes too bunched. Petersen, Stuart and Graham were prominent in the loose. Tredrea, at fullback for Newton, often turned defence into attack. Kendall on the wing was also prominent. Behind the scrum, Green did a lot of good work. For North Shore, tries were scored by Petersen, Chatham and Clarke, Smith converting two and kicking a penalty goal and a field goal. Brady scored a try for Newton, and Tredrea kicked two penalty goals and converted a try. Mr. ,T. Donovan was referee

Ponsonby v. Papakura.—ln a well-con-tested game, Ponsonby had a little the better of the second half, and generally showed improved form. The Ponsonby hacks, however, were superior. The second half opened very favourably for Papakura. and from a fine opening by Fleming, Hosken scored the best trv of the game. Ponsonby was behind at this stage, but the side's backs settled the issue in the concluding stages. Scott's excellent handling at fullback saved Ponsonby. Riley was outstanding in the threequarters. and behind the scrum Black gave good service. Briggs and White were the pick of the Ponsonby forwards. Wellon, Hosken and Fleming played good games for Papakura. For Ponsonby, Funnoil scored two tries, and Black and Riley one each. For Papakura. Hosken scored one try and Wellon kicked three penalty goals. Mr. T. Evans was referee.

City v. Marisf. —Marist had a territorial advantage over City and deserved its victory. The Marist vanguard more than held its own and were superior in the loose. Marist dominated thp game in the second half, although in the last ten minutes City made a great effort to pull the game out of the fire. Among (he Marist backs. McWilliams. at five-eighths, played well on attack, and Hughes and Costell'o also did useful work. Smith showed his usual dash on the wing. Barchard ably led the forwards, and was well supported by McLeod and James. McLeod and Williams scored tries for Marist. and Barchard converted one. For City, Grogan scored a try, and Clarke kicked a penalty goal. Mr. A. Pearson was referee.

RICHMOND TEAM'S DEFEAT [hy telegraph —press association]

WELLINGTON, Sunday

Although steady rain throughout the match and a greasy ball militated against good football, a crowd of 3000 witnessed some

excellent play in a special Eugby League fixture played at the Basin Reserve yesterday between .Richmond Rovers (Auckland) and the champion Wellington club team, Miramar. The latter was strengthened for the occasion by the inclusion of five leading players from other Wellington clubs, and brought off a surprise, hut a well-deserved, win by 12 points to 8. Although in finer points the losing team was much superior, it found great difficulty in exploiting them to the full. Miramar led "j—o at the interval, Woods scoring and Fitzgerald kicking a. penalty goal. This was increased to 10—0 early in the second spell, Cleland scoring after a loose rush and Fitzgerald goaling. Richmond then had a long spell on attack, Potter and Broadhead scoring from clever passing movements, and Williams converting one try. The visitors were most unlucky in not adding to their score, once crossing Miramar's line, but losing the ball. 1 light on time Miramar pressed, and Fitzgerald potted a goal.