THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24941, 10 July 1944, Page 5

THE LEAGUE CODE

CITY TEAM DEFEATED MANUKAU NOW IN THE LEAD The defeat of City, leading team in the senior championship, by Richmond was a feature of the Auckland Rugby League's matches played at Carlaw Park on heavy grounds on Saturday. There was a good attendance. In the principal game. Manukau was a little lucky to beat Otahuhu by a single point after a splendid forward game. Manukau now leads for the championship by one point from City. The curtain-raiser, between Ponsonby and North Shore, was well contested, being won by the former, which is a greatly improved team.

Richmond played easily its best game this season and deserved its success against City, which was not up to full strength. City was further handicapped by having one player ordered off ten minutes after the start. Numerous penalties were awarded against City, whose players were plainly puzzled b.v some of the rulings. Mataira and Jackson wero absent from the City forwards. Mount Albert narrowly defeated Newton on No. 2 ground, while Marist proved too good for Point Chevalier at Walker Park. Only one converted try, a brilliant effort by Murray at five-eighths, gave Manukau victory over Otahuhu. The latter had a territorial advantage throughout, and its forwards outplayed the Manukau set in the loose. Otahuhu was unlucky not to score a try early in the first spell when its forwards went over the goal line and Mills appeared to touch down the ball. The half-time score favoured Manukau, 5-nil. The second spell definitely favoured Otahuhu, and Speedv. the halfback, varied his play well to enable the backs to keep up incessant attacks. Results were:—Manukau, 5 (try by Murray, converted b.v Butler), Otahuhu, -l (two penalty goals by Brady); Ponsonby, 11 (tries by Williams, Brassey and Mullptt, Kay converting one) North Shore, 4 (two penalty goals by Laing); Mount Albert, t» (tries b.v Cranch, 2, and Jones). Newton. "> (try by Elliott and penaltv goal by Kiwa); Richmond, 13 (tries by Williams, Bradley and Oowiev .Seymour and Williams each converting one). City. 12 (tries by Salaia and A. Donovan, the. latter converting two and kicking a pen alty goal); Marist, 8 (tries by McWilliams and McLeod, Brockliss converting one), Point Chevalier, 0.