THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25309, 17 September 1945, Page 3

THE LEAGUE CODE

EOOPE BOOSTER GAMES WIN FOR MOUNT ALBERT Fast and open football was witnessed at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon when the Auckland Rugby League played the second series of its Roope Rooster competition games. The weather was fine, the ground conditions were hard, and there was a good attendance. Tn the principal match Mount Albert played easily its best football this season to defeat Ponsonby, which, on recent form, appeared certain to bo one of the finalists. The Mount Albert backs were too good on the day. while the forwards gave a finished display. In the curtain-raiser Richmond proved superior in a well-contested game against Marist. In the Phelan Shield competition Point Ctyivalier defeated Newton. Flags at Carlaw Park were flown at halfmast in respect for the late Mr G. J. Chapman, a life-member of the Ellerslie club, and L. Hemi, whose death occurred in Wellington last week. The results were as follows: — Mount Albert, 19; Ponsonby, 18. Richmond, 18; Marist, 12. Point Chevalier. 8; Nowton, 2.

Weak tackling gave Mount Albert an early advantage, and the smart hooking of Thomassen placed the Ponsonby backs on the defensive. Each attack the Ponsonby backs started was quickly subdued by the Mount Albert set, which moved to counter as soon as Black sent out the first pass. These efforts proved most effective throughout the game and the Ponsonby rearguard had few really jfood chances. The Mount Albert forwards, led by Milliken, Fielder and Rhodes, rushed play to Ponsonby territory, where Tittleton was injured and taken off. Nordgren missed the ball on the full and Clement raced over to score an easy try between the posts. The whistle was blown frequently for scrum breaches and this slowed down tho game. Kay raced through tho defence and actually got over the line, but lost possession in a tackle. A minute later Moffitt, Hardwick and Mullett, broke away and Black scored. A bad mistake by 0. Hughes, the Ponsonby fullback, gave Wiles a gift try. Mount Albert led by 10 points to 5 at half-time. Beeston replaced Padley on the Mount Albert wing when play was resumed. The Ponsonby backs started off well in the second spell and Kay made n fine opening to -race 50 yards, and from snappy passing Nordgren scored. Good passing and excellent positional play by the Mount Albert back resulted in Wiles again scoring to give his side Ihe lead again. Near.v showed fine initiative in this movement. Kay was once more the spearhead of a Ponsonby attack and Nurse used his speed to score. H. Zane played a sound game at fullback for Mount Albert, his defence being solid. Wiles, five-eighths, played easily his best game for some time and was a thorn in the side of tho opposition. Neary played very ably at centre and showed fine judgment on attack. Cranch again proved a match-winner, his goal-kicking being excellent. Clement gave good service at halfback, while J. Zane was also prominent at fiveeighths. Shad bolt, Millikcn. Rhodes and Fielder did fine work among the forwards. The scorers were:—Mount Albert, If) (tries by Wiles, 2, and Clement, Cranch converting ail three tries and kicking two penalty goals), Ponsonby, 13 (tries by Nordgren, Nurse and Black. Nordgren converting two); Richmond, 18 (tries by Bradley. 2, Prenter and Davis, Furnell converting three), Marist, 12 (tries by White and Simpson, Brockliss converting both and kicking a penalty goal); Point Chevalier, 8 (tries by St. John and Anderson and penalty goal by Walker), Newton, 2 (penalty goal by Woolley),