RICHMOND GOES DOWN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 661, 13 May 1929, Page 6

RICHMOND GOES DOWN

IMPROVED CITY SIDE SHOWS BETTER FORM While it was certainly far from general expectations that Ellerslie would run Shore to such a close game, undoubtedly the biggest suprise in Saturday’s senior League games was the defeat of the youthful Richmond thirteen at the hands of City. This match was staged on No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park, but proving itself to be a close battle and the most interesting clash of the day it could well have been staged on the main area. It must be admitted that Richmond did not feature in its play the sting and vim produced on the previous Saturday, when it gained the honours over j the Tykes. Rearguard movements were ragged, and City won the match by dogged forward rushes and oc- | casionai flashes of brilliant solo work. The sea-sawing to and fro of the score imbued the game with interest, for the game itself was certainly not a classy exhibition of the code. For its previous Saturday’s victory against Marist, Richmond must hand out most of the credit to Prentice and Hanlon, who, at live-eighths, proved a startling combination, deadly on both the defensive and the attack. But against City, however, these two elusive versatile backs were separated when fullback Leng left the field with injuries, and Hanlon took his place. This change may have had much to do with Richmond’s downfall. AMONG THE PLAYERS City has now proved that it has a set of forwards of a calibre to take it far in the competition, and with a general polishing up of some of the rearguard men, would prove serious opposition to the best senior team in the competition. In every game so far this season the team has shown a marked improvement in its play. In Saturday’s game Barchard was outstanding among the forwards. Favoured with a good physique and plenty of weight he puts every ounce into his play. He should go a long way in big football and may be stamped as one of Auckland’s future representatives. The rest of the pack men, Pascoe, Hamilton, Townsend. Clark and Hadley, all put a heap ol: pep into their work. Hamilton, Townsend and Clark especially made a good showing. „ _ ~ In Telford. Jenkinson. McDonald. Turner, Molloy and Harris, Richmond undoubtedly has a good pack and on Saturday it got the ball from the majority of the scrums. But had referee Emerakli been a little more strict, Richmond would certainly not have seen so much of the leather in the scrum-downs. Turner, the hooker, sat down on a number of occasions when the ball was thrown in and in several cases it rolled straight back. He certainly did not hook it, while on one occasion he even pushed it back with his hand and got away with it. A GOOD FORWARD Jenkinson, who was last man down in the pack, was prominent and his combining efforts with the rearguard were very noticeable. L. Barchard at full-back for Cit> appeared to lack confidence and spoiled one or two chances for his side. However, he has the ability as has been shown previously and it was possibly an off day for him on Saturday, Not a great deal was seen of Wilson Hall at centre-threequarter. He is nippy and has plenty of pace. Possibly the inside backs made a mistake by not feeding him better. Among the Richmond rearguarders besides Hanlon and Prentice, who are the stars of the side, Minehan and Coote, the two wingers, made a good showing. Minehan is very nippy and speedy and is the makings of a real crack, while Coote. too long in the stride to be the elusive type of winger, had plenty to do on Saturday and did it well. ROAD CYCLING SLATER HAYES IN FORM SATURDAY’S RACING The Manukau Cycling Club held a 22-mile race on Saturday afternoon over the live and a-half miles Manger© course, four laps of which had to be covered. Thirty-two riders competed, each rider being dispatched at intervals of 30s; starting positions were drawn for prior to the start. A strong and persistent south-westerly wind made progress extremely difficult. Whitten was the first home and also secured the fastest time. The following were the first four on time: J. Whitten, scr, 01m 435: R. G. Foubister, 435, 62m 325; L. B. Roberts, lm 50s, 62m 575; F. J. Casey, lm, 63m. The placings on the sealed handicap are as follow:—L. B. Roberts, lm 50s; J. Whitten, scr; R. G. Foubister, 455; W. Borland, 6m. Whitten was the only rider to register a lap of five and a-half miles in less than 15 minutes. His fastest he did in 14m 58s. The record time for a 22 miles unpaced ride was established by Whitten on July 28, 1928, when he returned 58m 375. His time last Saturday will give some idea of the retarding effects of the high prevailing wind. AUCKLAND CLUB The eight and a-half miles handi- : cap promoted by the Auckland Cycling j Club attracted 16 riders on Saturday , afternoon. At half way the leading bunch, with 1 Jacob, 2m, prominent, went past with 46 seconds in hand on the scratch men, S. Hayes and J. Lindop. D. Storey, the I other scratch man, had been dropped early in the race and passed 30 seconds behind his co-markers. The final issue rested with the ISm men, who accounted for the first three positions, the result being as follows: X. Whyte, Ijm. : 1; K. Rae, ISm, 2: F. Lowndes, lJm. 3. Time, 23m 555. The fastest and record time was re- j turned by S. Hayes, scr, in 20m 555. He beat Lindop by two lengths in a ! desperate finish for the honour.

SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS OF CLUBS SENIOR A

Traimva« F } V F 15 F A Pts iiamwajs .... 4 4 0 0 38 4 ft v°£ S ,° n ? y •• •• 4 * 0 0 17 9 8 e 4 2 2 0 11 4 Onehunga ••••4121 c 0 •% Thistle 4 1 3* 0 9 ? 0 Celtic 4 2* 3 (% 7 *>o 0 BRLMOXT .... 4 0 4 0 G IS 0 *A win by Thistle was awarded to < eltic as Thistle played an unregistered player.