LEAGUE FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25178, 16 April 1945, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

OPENING_OF SEASON TEAMS LACK COMBINATION The Auckland Rugby League had a successful opening of its 1945 season at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon, when a fair crowd witnessed flashes of bright play. The teams, however, lacked combination, and a number of the players are not nearly fit. The crowd, and the players of four teams, paid an impressive tribute to the late President Roosevelt.. The chairman of the hoard of control Mr J. W. Watson, referred to Mr Roosevelt's untimely death, and all present stood for n minute in silence. Results of the matches were as follows; — Otahuhu, 17, Mount Albert, 4.. Marist, 17, City, 10. Manukau, 35, North Shore, 0. Richmond, 22, Point Chevalier, 6. Ponsonby, 11, Newton, -3. Considerable interest was taken in the main game, between Otahuhu and Mount Albert. The latter team included three prominent Rugby Union players, A. Wiles, A. D. Pike and il, Noary. Otahuhu had much the better of the play, although Mount Albert's forwards are the heaviest pack seen at Carlaw Park for some years Play in the curtain-raiser, between Marisi and City (last year's champion sirle), provided the best football of the series, and Marist's victory, although well deserved, came as a surprise. The biggest score of the day went to Manukau, which fielded a powerful team, to easily defeat North Shore. Richmond gave an impressive display and won from Point- .Chevalier, while, at Grey Lynn Park, Ponsonby narrowly beat Newton after a ragged game. Play in the match between Mount Albert and Otahuhu was very disappointing, there being little combination on either side. The Mount Albert forwards packed a very solid scrum, but in the loose the faster Otahuhu set did more effective work. The Mount Albert backs had few chances on attack. Wiles at centre, made several nice runs, but there was no real teamwork to assist. Neary, the five-eighths, was perhaps the more impressive back on the day. Reliable goal-kicking played a major part in the result and Riley, for Otahuhu, kicked four goals from five attempts Otahuhu led at half-time by 7 points to 1. Easily the best back on the ground was W. K Speedy, a promoted junior, who gave a fine display at five-eighths for Otahuhu, His brother, J. Speedy, was also prominent itt halfback. Riley made some splendid openings, and the three-quarters, Wellm and Simons, revealed good form. There was a lot of unnecessary whistle for minor breaches and this had much to do with the uninteresting play. The Johnson brothers were a tower of strength to the Otahuhu forwards, and Pognrty did good spoiling work.

N! i I liken stood, out in the Mount Albert forwards, and Shadbolt and Borich also played good games. Piko has yet to master the League style of hooking. Otahuhu appeared to be much the fitter team. The reappearance of J. Anderson with his former club, Marist, was a deciding factor in the defeat of City. Anderson made one spectacular run through the opposition, showing that he still retains all his former speed. He is an asset as a goalkicker. City did not field as strong a team as last season, but it will improve.

Following were the scores -and scorers:— Otahuhu, 17 (tries by J. Speedy, N. Johnson and Wellm, Riley converting one and kicking three penalty goals), Mount Albert, 4; (two penalty goals by Cranch); Richmond, 22 (tries by Potter, 2. Hoskins, Kinney, Robertson and Hilton, Lowfher and Seyniouth each converting one), Point Chevalier, (i (three penalty goals by L. Da vies); Ponsonby, 11 (tries by Nordgren, Nurse and Mullett, Bailey converting one). Newton, 3 (try by Woollcy); Marist, 17 (tries by Smith, 2, and Anderson, the latter converting two and kicking two penalty goals), City. 10 (tries by Legge. and J. Cunningham, Clarke converting one and kicking a penalty goal); Manukau, 35 itries by Ririnui, 2, Shilton, 2, Murray, Rogers and Pai, Butler converting four and Chase three), North Shore. 9 (tries by Head, 2, and Graham).