ELLERSLIE’S WIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 123, 15 August 1927, Page 6

ELLERSLIE’S WIN

B GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP POUNDERING round in the usual Carlaw Park No. 2 ground slush, Ellerslie was successful in clinching the Senior B League championship on Saturday afternoon by defeating Kingsland by 9—3. The game was a keenly contested one throughout, and the play remained mostly with the forwards, as the shocking condition of the ground hampered anything like open and snappy back play, which has always proved an attractive feature with the code. With the kick-off. the Kingsland forwards took control of the ball and rushed Ellerslie to a strong defence. But after 12 minutes, the attack weaken d and play moved quickly to the other end of the field. McManus, however, relieved the position for Kingsland when he broke through the attacking line with the ball at his toe. In a fast solo dribbling effort he took play rapidly down field, but had hard luck in being beaten in his dive for a try by Grogan. Again Ellerslie was hemmed in on the defensive, and time and time again was hard put to it in keeping the attacking Kingsland men at bay. But at last, it could hold out no longer, and Kingsland. forming a brief passing rush, gained the first points of the game when List secured and struggled over, wide out for an unconverted try. In this half Kingsland had had the better of the game, but it was in the second spell that it was to meet its Waterloo. After play had moved quickly up and down the field for a few minutes Ellerslie went to a strong attack, and, sending its rearguard sailing away on one or two occasions, made things look serious for Kingsland. Shirtcliff was a shining light in these rushes, and had hard luck in not scoring. But when there was 12 minutes to go Slater managed to cross the line for Ellerslie. In another few minutes Crewther scored and as time sounded Cooke broke through and crossed the line again, making the final score 9 3 in favour of Ellerslie.