THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24977, 21 August 1944, Page 5

THE LEAGUE CODE

MANUKAU DEFEATED THREE TEAMS SHARE LEAD Positions of the teams in the Auckland Kugby League'* senior championship underwent a considerable change on Saturday afternoon, when Marist inflicted a sujprise defeat on Manukau, the leading team. Mnnukan, City and Mount Albert arc now equal for first place with two more matches remaining to decide the honours. The games were played on heavy grounds and rain made conditions unpleasant. .Vlarist'g victory was decisive, and, for the first time this season, Manukau failed to score. The curtain-raiser, between Otnhuhu and Mount Albert, provided spectators with a most exciting finish. Otahuhu, which obtained three tries against one, was unlucky to be beaten. City defeated Point Chevalier in a well-contested game, while Ponsonhy was pressed throughout to win from Newton, which showed improvement. Richmond narrowly defeated North Shore at Devonport. Following are the results:— Marist, 12; Manukau. 0. Mount Albert, Otahuhu, 14. Ponsonhy, 13; Newton, 3. City, 10; Point Chevalier, 5. Richmond, S; North Shore, 5. Bustling tactics by Marist early In the first spell were responsible for the defeat of Manukau, the result being placed beyond doubt in the first 20 minutes. Winning the ball from n succession of scrums, the Marist backs, well supported by good forward play, caught Manukau out of position. Half-time favoured Marist by nine points to nil. The ground cut up badly in the second spell and Manukau failed to make any impression on the opposition. Marist rose to the occasion surprisingly well, and maintained the dash which characterised the early stages. At fullback for Marist Brockless showed greatly-improved form, and his defence and good kicking were factors in the win. Smith and Te Weri were prominent on attark, while Costello at five-eighths made many clever openings. Behind the scrum Crocker got through a lot of useful work, and played his best game this season. Among the forwards, McLeod, Best, Simons and Skinner worked hard. The best exhibition of the series came from the match between Olahuhu and Mount Albert Play was keen and exciting throughout, and. In spite of a heavy hall, good passing was frequent. A feature of the game was the play of B. ('ranch, who scored 12 of Mount Albert's l."> no i n I s. The scorers were: —Marist (tries by Crocker

and Smith. Broekless converting one and kicking: two penalty goals), Mount Albert (tries by Cranch, 2, and Clement, Cranch converting two and kicking a penalty goal), Otahunu (tries by Speedy, Simons, Brady and Fogarty, Riley converting one). City (tries by bal.ua and lnnes, A. Donovan converting one, and kicking a penalty goal), Point Chevalier (try by Porteons, and penalty goal by Anderson); Ponsonby (tries by Roy, Nurse, Brawey and Mullett, Nurse converting one and kickine a penalty goal), Newton (try by Elliott).

SHIELD HOCKEY GAMES Steady rain marred any spectacular play in the fiixth series of matches in the Auckland Hockev Association's Devonport Shield competition on Saturday afternoon at Papatoetoe. Somerville still leads witli I<> points, followed by Whenuapai 9, St. I,tike's 8. Owing to ttie term liotidays, University had to call upon four juniors, Whenuapai also being forced to use three players from services teams. The territorial, advantage in the first spell was slighlly in favour of University, although the score was 'J goals each at nalftinie. Whenuapai dominated open play in the second spell, and won by strong attacking forwards, led by Slade, Short and Bidggood, while Watson at centre half stiowed out with excellent constructive and positional play. In the curtain-raiser, the leading team, Somerville, iiad no difficulty in defeating WesleyUnited by 5 goals to 1 2. Somerville had a fourgoal lead at halftinie, but in the second spell Wesley-United showed vast improvement, only to find the defence very sound. Following were the scores and scorers:— Whenuapai, 4 (W. Bedggood, O. Slade, L Watson, r(. Short), University, 2 <B. Thomas 2); St. Luke's, r> (H. Mardle 1, P. Simpson. 0. Oldham), Grammar Old Boys, 1 (J. Raker 2, 0. Lawr.v. J. Alison); Mount Eden, t (W. Chester), Owai Rovers, ft; Somerville. .-» (L. Wyatt 2. B. McLisky, B. Spicer, N. Stevens), Wesley-United, 2 ((!. Bowling. R. Kenton); No. 1 Port Depot, 7 (McKenzie 2. ('. N'unn 2, Chambers. Ailkins. I. ('arruthers). Training College, 5 (A. Cilliver 3. I Wyatt 2) AMATEUR ATHLETICS Auckland Club.—Results of events held at the Outer Domain ill wet weather and on heavy tracks: —"fiyds handicap: G. Dragieevicb, IV,yds, 1; Wells. Ryds, 2; R. W. Farley. Syds, 3. Time, S T-.'>s. Two miles and a-half steeplechase: W. H. Nelson, scr, 1; M Howie. I tos, •_•; Farley, 20s. 3. Fastest time. Farley. 12m 17s. Pulling the shot: Dragice vicli, :s:!ft I in. I; F. It. I/Or.v, Wft, 2; Farley. 31 fl "Jin. 3. Throwing the discus: D. 11« Har ris, illft, 1; Dragicevich. Rllfl. 2; E. Mc--Inlies, MSft, 3