LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25297, 3 September 1945, Page 3

LEAGUE CODE

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RICHMOND BEATS PONSONBY The final of the major championship of the Auckland Rugby League was won at Car'aw Park 011 Saturday by Richmond, . which defeated Ponaonby by a margin of four ■ points. Rain which fell hampered the players. There was, however, a good attendance, and J the match provided some spectacular flashes of football. Ponsonby played below its usual , form, while the Richmond backs rose to the 1 occasion splendidly. , A scries of the Roope Rooster matches , was also decided. In the curtain-raiser between City and Otahuhu '2O minutes' extra time had to be played, but the game still ended a draw. It will be replayed next Saturday. Extra time / was also necessary between North Shore and Point Chevalier, the former winning by a penalty goal. Manukau won from Mount Albert after a stirring contest. Marist had an easy victory over Newton at the Domain. The results were:— Richmond, 7; Ponsonby, 3. City, 7; Otahuhu, 7. North Shore, 17; Point Chevalier, 15. Mount Albert, 18; Manukau, 15. Marist, 28; Newton, 9. Possession of the ball from set scrums stood to Richmond in its win against Ponsonby. Richmond had a little the better of the play throughout, although Ponsonby was unlucky not to make it a drawn game. In some exciting play near the end of the second half Ponsonby carried the ball over the Richmond line on four occasions and Nordgren and Mitchell appeared to touch down. The referee, however, ruled otherwise. The Richmond backs settled down early in the game lo take the initiative from the faster Ponsonby set. Throughout the first half Richmond did all the attacking and its forwards rarely lost the ball from set scrums. The covering defence of the Ponsonby fiveeighths, Kay and Allen, was excellent, and determined attacks were frustrated. The Ponsonby forwards made mistakes in breaking too fast instead of hunting the ball in tight rucks. A smart run by Lowther gave Richmond (he initiative. From a set scrum the ball came out smartly to Rennie and the Richmond halfback raced clear through the defence, his try being a nice effort. Ponsonby lost. Hughes, its fullback, who was replaced by I). Hardwick. The Ponsonby backs could not settle down and fine tackling by \V. Tittleton checked Kelly from making play for the wings. .Just before half-time the ball travelled a little slow lo Nordgren, who had moved fast to take the final pass. Prenter, however, tackled splendidly. Thompson. Potter and Satherley stormed the Ponsonby goal line and Richmond went close to scoring. The half-time score favoured Richmond by 7 points to 0. .Early in the second half the Ponsonby tacks adopted more successful tactics and Hull and Mullett broke away. Kay made a beautiful opening and the Richmond defence was hopelessly beaten. However, at the critical moment an in-pdss to G. Tittleton slipped from the halfback's hands and Ponsonby lost a try. Richmond continued to be in the picture and Rennie and the Williams brothers proved solid on attack. A dash by Allen, supported by Kay, gave Nordgren a chance, but the wing's dash was stopped by Magill a yard from the goal. line. Ryan headed (lie Richmond pack in a fine offensive which gave Ponsonby some anxious moments. Play was carried back and from the loose Nordgren raced hard to score a well-merited try. In the last ten minutes Ponsonby struggled hard to retrieve its position and had a good deal the better of the forward play. However, on the day, Richmond deserved its victory. For Ponsonby it was a match of missed opportunities. The scorers were:—Richmond, 7 (Rennio scored a try and Lowther kicked two penalty goals), Ponsonby, :J (Nordgren a try); North Shore, 17 (tries by Graham. Clarke and Taylor. Clarke converting two and kicking a penally goal. Hunt also kicked a penalty goal) Point Chevalier. 15 (tries by Kirby, St. John and Barnes. Walker converted one try and kicked two penalty goals); Mount Albert. IS (tries by Cranch, 3. and Hadley, Crunch converting one try and kicking two penalty goals), Manukau, ,15 (tries by Hira, uogtr* and Murray. Butler converted one try and kicked two penalty goals); Marist, 28 'tries by Hale, 2, Davidson. 2, Curran and McLeod. Anderson converted four tries and BrocUliss one), Newton, 0 (Woolley scored a try and converted it and also kicked two penalty goals); Otahuhu, 7 (Martin scored a try and Riley kicked two penalty goals), City, 7 (Simpson scored a try and Silva kicked two penalty goals). Match at Christchurch.—A Press Association menage states that the Canterbury representative Rugby League team heat the Wellington representatives, 15—J3, at the Show Grounds on Saturday. Tho- game produced good, but not brilliant, football. The ■second spell was played in rain which hindered open play. Canterbury was down 3—lo at half-time, neither forwards nor backs showing much promise. Wellington dominated the game and it looked as if it would secure a runaway win. However, the second spell saw a marked change. Canterbury played much better, putting Wellington on the defensive. The score was 13-all a few minutes before time, when Davison (Canterbury) kicked a great goal from just inside half-way to give his .side a two-point winning margin. MATCH AT WELLINGTON The Auckland - Rugby League team will travel to Wellington next Saturday. The selectors. Messrs J. Clark. J. Kirwan and A. J. McGregor, have chosen the following players:—Fullback, T. Butler; threcquarters, B. Nordgren, P. Kelly. B. Lowther: fiveeighths, J. Murray, R. Clarke; halfback, L. Clement; forwards, D. McLeod. J. Rutherford. D. Ryan, A. Thompson, B. Graham, T. Hardwick. Reserves: Barks, A. Wiles. R. Nurse; forwards, G. Mitchell, R. Shndbolt. It is difficult to understand the omission of P. Ririnui, who is one of the best forwards the code has seen for a number of years. \ HOCKEY SEASON DEVONPORT SHIELD GAMES The final round of matches for section play in the Devonport Shield competition was played on Saturday and resulted in United and Owai Rovers winning their respective sections. Ihey will play off next Saturday for the shield. United was well held by University, especially in the first half, when the Jatter showed bet er combination to lead 11—l. The second spell saw United take the advantage and from a determined effort the score was made even. United maintained the pressure to win 3—2. Scorers were.—-United (Neal, Fenton, Stewart). University (Thomas, Jnriss). Air Force Central fielded a strong eleven against Owai Rovers and it might have npset the hitters run of successes if it had .produced the necessary combination. The Owai Rovers' team played its usual thrustful game with perfect understanding between backs and forwards. Air Force had its fair share of the play and had several opportunities from penalty corners. It was in the final stages of the game that Owai Rovers took the score to a 3—l victory. Scorers were:— Owai Rovers (Ritchie. Lawrence. Mills), Air Force Central (Camithers). Other games resulted:—Grammar Old Boys 7 (Torbett. 3, Ronghton 3, Cogle), Navy, l (Jossey); Somerville, 3 (Archibald, 2, Marshall). Ardmore, 1 (Molyneux). Ladies' Association.—Seniors (first round knock-out): North Shore, 5, Training College, 2; Eden, S, Wesley. 0; Technical Old Girls 5, Blue Rovers, 1. Intermediate: Mount Eden] T, Wrens, 0; University A, 2, Pukekohe, 1; Technical Old Girls. 1 Wesley, 0; Takapuna won from University B by default; Nurses, 1(5, Berlei, 0. Juniors: Takapuna, 3, Blue Rovers, 0; Pukekohe, 5, Y.W.C.A., 0: Wesley, I, Chi Ids wear, 0. Junior Representatives.—Following is the Auckland ladies' junior representative team to play Whangarei next Saturday:—Misses C. Craig (Takapuna), C. Jones (Takapuna), J. Locklev (Wesley), R. Howlitt (Childswear\ M. Mills (Wesley), N. Nicholson (Wesley), A. Eustace, Y. Forrest, K. Keep, J. Cadncss. V. Kitchener (all Takapuna). Reserves: M. Walker (Takapuna), J. Lewis (Pukekohe). CHALLENGE SHIELD GAME (P A.) CHRISTCHURCII, Sunday In a representative match for the Now Zealand Hockey Challenge Shield, Canterbury and Wellington drew 4-all in a hard £amo yesterday. .It was the first match played in defence of the shield since Canterbury took it from .Auckland three weeks ago. By holding Wellington to a draw, Canterbury retains the trophy. The first spell produced brilliant hockey on a perfect ground, with, both sides turning on fireworks. Wellington opened the scoring with a splendid goal and then Canterbury rattled on four to take a comfortable lead. Two bad misses let Wellington in twice and the .score at the interval was 4—3. Neither side played as well' in the second spell. Canterbury, in particular, falling away In the heavy rain which came on. Wellington scored another goal in the last minute of play. ROAD CYCLING RACES Auckland Centre Events.—The annual unpaced championships were decided on Saturday afternoon. The seniors' race over a distance of 35 miles from Point Chevalier to Knmoii and back and the juniors' over 25 mi!rs from Hobsonville and back. Results were:—Seniors: V .A. Hills (Manukau), 9!»m 2-ls, I; J. Stevens (Lynndale), 302 m 335, 2; A. Stonex (Manukau). 102 m 13s, 3. Senior handicap: G. R. Pnrdom, "10m, 1; ,T. West, 15m, 2; G. A. Grant, dm 355, 3. Juniors: L. B. Kent (Manukau), 77m 275, 1; R. Hughes (Lynndale), 70m 325, 2; R. H. Ingram (Lynndale), 80m 7s, 3. Junior handicap: A. G. Baird, sm, 1; Kent. scr. 2; Hughes, lm 30s, 3. Race at Hamilton.—ln n 50-mile race held by the Hamilton Amateur Cycling Club, R. G. Whitley, of the Manukau Club, was the winner, from a handicap of 13m. He also recorded the fastest time by covering the distance in 21i Biri 7s. Heavy rain commenced falling at the beginning of the race' and continued throughout and the wind was against the riders for most of the distance. A. Penrse and L. Griffiths, both of the Manukau Club, were second and third respectively from handicaps of 17m and 10m. Seventeen competitors finished out of a field of 32.