THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24989, 4 September 1944, Page 3

THE LEAGUE CODE

DEFEAT OF MANUKAIJ CITY-MOUNT ALBERT FINAL The defeat of Manukau, champion team of the Auckland Rugby League for three consecutive years, by Mount Albert was a feature of ah interesting series of this season's semifinal games at Carlaw Park on Saturday. The matches attracted a large crowd, but a few showers spoiled a fine programme. The cur-tain-raiser, between City and Ponsonby, was followed with considerable interest, as City had to win to gain the right to' play in the final. City gave easily its best'display this season, and was successful in the finest exhibition of the scries. Richmond defeated Otahuhu fairly easily on No. 2 ground, while Marist won a keenly l contested game against North Shore. City and Mount Albert now meet in the senior championship final, to be played on September 23. The results were as follows: Mount Albert, 10; Mauukau. 7. City. 11; Ponsonby, S. Richmond, 20; Otahuhu, ». Marist, 12; North Shore. 5. . Superior individual play, rather than collective teamwork, gave Mount Albert a welldeserved victory against Manukau. which fielded a stronger team than usual. The Mount Albert backs gave a splendid display, aud the sound tackling and effective covering defence checked most Manukau movements. There were far too many stoppages for minor breaches, and the continual blowing of the whistle slowed the game down. The first half was very even, and Manukau led at half-time by 2 points to 0. Play in the early part of the spell was bright, and the teamwork of Mount Albert improved greatly. Thonmssen gained the ball from most scrums, and Clement gave his backs plenty of chances. The Mount Albert forwards excelled in the loose, and Mtlliken scored the first try. Then a brilliant solo try by Clement gave Mount Albert a decided advantage. Mauukau was not to be denied, and it surprised the excited crowd with a remarkable recovery, und Murray obtained a try to bring the score B—7.8 —7. A penalty goal was the deciding factor in favour of Mount Albert, which deserved its success. Credit for Mount Albert's win goes to a great extent to the understanding displayed by the three inside backs, Clement (half), and Sumich and Jones. Their attack was sharp and incisive, and their tackling sound. H. Lane, fullback, played a particularly fine game, and compared favourably with Martin, who gave his usual polished display. Among the Mount Albert forwards, Milliken, Shadbolt and Mclvinnon worked well throughout. Ponsonby was a little unlucky to meet City on a day when the latter's backs wero right on form. The City set never put a foot wrong, and there was a good deal of highly constructive play. The rearrangement of the City rearguard proved a success. Silva, usually on the wing, played an outstanding game at five-eighths, while Cossey did much better than of late. Behind the scrum, A. Donovan never missed a change to improve his team's position. City's form was very impressive. The scorers were:—Mount Albert (tries by Milliken and Clement, Cranch converting one and kicking a penalty goal), Manukau (try I bv Murray, converted by Martin, who also kicked a penalty goal); City (tries by Bodman, Taylor, Silva and Salaia, and penalty goal by Silva), Ponsonby (fries by Bailey and Jordan, Nurse converting one); Richmond (tries by Lowther 3, Dowling. Potter, Seymour, T.owiher converting four), Otahuhu (try by Simons and three penally goals by Riley); Marist (tries by Smith 2, Brnckliss converting one and kicking two penalty goals). North Shore Orv bv Graham and penalty goal by Hunt)

MAORIS VERSUS PAKEHAS The annual fixture between the Maori representatives and the Pakchas will be played at Carlaw Park next Saturday. The teams are as follows: Pakchas.—Fullback, J. Magi!!; threequarters. R. Nurse, R. McGregor. J. Smith; five-eighths, 1. Sumich, A. Jones; halfback, L. Clement; forwards, D. McLeod, W. Rutherford, R. R. Hull. N. Johnson. T. Hardwick, F. James. Reserves —Backs: L. Jordan, J. Cossey. Forwards: W. Bodman. I. Simpson. Maoris.—The team will be selected from the following:—Backs: R. Martin. A. Tumata, T. Butler, P. Morris, J. Murray, W. Major, P. Salaia, W. Rangi. Forwards: H. Mataira, F. Hilton, A. Thompson W. Briggs, P. Ririnui. E. Apai, R. Ewe. G. Shilton. A. Rogers.

ASSOCIATION GAMES SEMI-FINALS OF FALCON CUP The semi-finals of the Auckland Football Association's Falcon Cup competition were played at Blandford Park on Saturday afternoon between Metro-College and Comrades, in tliQ early fixture, and between Nayal Depot and Eastern Suburbs, in the main attraction. In the early match neither side had scored at half-time, ami it was well into the second half when Metro scored the only goal of the match. The Comrades team had just as much of the exchanges, but poor positional play in front of the goal caused its downfall, and Metro entered the final. In the main game N&val Depot had a twogoal lead at half-time, which did not reflect the general run of the play. Good work by the Naval half-line, Massey, Rutherford and Oreen. kept tbp forwards supplied with the flail, anil Gisbv (centre) distributed the play nicely along the line, where the inside men, Swan and Leonard, were always prominent in making openings for attacks. The Suhurhs' defence worked hard and understanding between Gay and Gilbert caught the Naval forwards offside many times. Fine combination between Horrick, Espic and Diamond spoiled niany dangerous Naval attacks and good passing wnt the Suburbs' front line to the attack where Walsham showed out on the wing with clever footwork and deadly centres. The resi of the forwards worked hard, but there was an inclination to short-pass In front of goal, which allowed the Naval defence of Bell. Brown and Pratt to smother what looked like certain scores. The final will be played between the two teams which contested the championship final, in which Metro-College beat Naval Depot. Following were (lie scores and scorers;— Falcon Clip Semi-final.—Naval Depot. 3 (Gisby 2. Swnnn), Eastern Suburbs. 1 (Neesham); Metro-College, 1 (Hope-Ede). Comrades, 0. Medal Round.—Ponsonby. 4 (Fussell 2. Dowler and a defender). Air Force (Ardmore). 2 (Dufoe 2); Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, 4 (Holland 3. Needham), North Shore, 0. Second Division.—Dacre Cup knock-out: Eden, 9, Training College. 1; Comrades, 4, Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, 1.

HOCKEY SHIELD WON Somerville, this season's championship winner, completed the hockey double on Saturday afternoon at Papatoetoe, by defeating Training College by 7 goals to 3. It was the eighth series of games in the Dcvonport Shield competition and although one more series is still to be played, the result cannot be affected, as Somerville has a clear threepoint lead from its nearest rival. Whenuapai. Training College, playing one man short, and having only five of its regular players, could not slop the strong onslaughts or the short passing movements and fine combination of the Somerville forwards. It was fortunate that Training College bad a goalkeeper of Lascellcs' ability, otherwise a much liigher score would have resulted. Somerville led at halftime by 4 goals to I. Wesley-United accounted for Mount Eden by 5 goals to 2. Both teams were inclined to lift the ball, which often leads to dangerous play. Mount Eden was unfortunate in the first five minutes to lose R. Jenkins, the goalkeeper, who was carried off with a head injury, while K. Nairn, the inside left, retired with a leg injurv in the second spell. St. Luke's, the second team in the competition, was defeated by University by 3 goals, in a keenly-con-tested match. Whenuapai beat Port Depot by 4 goals to 2, and Owai Rovers defeated Grammar Old Boys by 0 goals to 4. Following were the scores and scorers:— Somerville, 7 (B. Spicer 3. S., Morgan 2. L. Wvaft, E. Archibald), Training College, 3 (I.* Wyatt 2, P. McGillivray); University, 3 (II Cooper 2, N. Juriss), St. Luke's. 0; Wes-lev-United, 5 (R. Fenton 3. R. Russell 2), Mount Eden. 2 (C. Morgan 2); Whenuapai. 4 (R. Bedggood 2, R. Short 2), No. 1 Port Depot (Auckland), 2 (C. Nnnn, R. Martin); Owai Rovers. 6 (R. Lawrence 2, G. Webb, M. Robbins, D. Chatfield, M. Hunt). Grammar Old Boys, 4 (G. Lawry a, I. Ross, J. Baker).