League Carries On

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 715, 15 July 1929, Page 6

League Carries On

SENIOR PLACINGS UNAFFECTED

Devonport’s Comfortable Win

POOLS of rain and slusli formed the setting for Saturday’s League games, played before a mere handful of spectators on water-logged grounds. Even in the mud, all the teams ran true to form, and there were no surprises in any of the matches, the games simply serving to put Devonport, City and Ponsonby further ahead on the competition ladder. The Marist-Ellerslie match could not be played owing to the Domain being declared unfit for play.

SHORTLAND PROVED A POWER IN CITY’S WIN

NEWTON MEN SURPRISED The appearance for City against Newton of Willie Sliortland, former Maori All Black, who was making his surprise debut in League, was nearly sufficient to dwarf the difficulties of a struggle in mud and water. Some of the Newtonians were not aware 'of Shortland’s presence until they were on the field. After the initial shock the Newton forwards kept a close eye on the diminutive but solid little half. And yet, in spite of the wariness and all the obstacles facing a half on a sodden ground and with a ball liberally coated with slush, Shortland played a masterly game. City won, .16—6. by asserting itself in tho second half, and if the backs could have handled an elusive ball in all the chances Shortland provided, the score would have been higher. Shortland early impressed the crowd as the League’s biggest, “find” this season. Time and again he left Newton standing by jinking round the blind side of scrums in a fashion rarely demonstrated this season. On a dry day City will make capital use of his snappy passing and shock runs. LOST IDENTITIES Under the conditions free, open handling was not to be thought of and the forwards had to plough along in solid, good-humoured bustling play throughout the game. It was sucli a messy business in the mud that, near the end of the game it was not possible to distinguish some of the packmen. Hair, ears and eyes were all smeared with sticky Carlaw Park soil. The backs were not much better, and the crowd thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle. Only in the scrums did the Newton forwards lose. Otherwise they played up to City. At half-time, with the •core six points each side, it was any-

body's game, but Newton had to give way in the second spell. Francis, Middleton, Hammond and Ferguson were efficient Workers in the Newton pack, and City had a reliable quartet in Clarke, Len Bar chard. Townsend and Pascoe. Newton’s? half, Cammick, played well with his limited opportunities. K. Peckham and Wilson, the fives, defended well, and Little. wing-threequarter was handy. Incidentally, he added largely to his reputation for his extraordinary knack of keeping his jersey clean. Iveson, first five-eighth for City, was useful, but the ball was so slippery that ho could not handle even Shortland’s direct passes with surety. George Perry, his partner, was uncertain in tho mud, but he put in one or two clinking runs. GOOD CENTRE Reynolds, who went from the base of the scrum to centre in favour of Shortland, did a lot of good work. He was a worthy substitute for McLoughlin. who is still on the injured list. At fullback, Watene had a difficult day. On the whole,, he did well and worked off one or two dodges in handling which effectively fooled the losers. Still, the City and Newton teams, which had to play on a ground already cut up by an early game, will not relish another day of similar wetness. There were not many of the backs who could claim to be true mudlarks. City is a dry-day team and Newton had to endure another adjustment to its backs. One thing League followers will want to see now—How the Shortland - Iveson -G. Perry set of inside backs will shine on a firm ground. The possibilities of the combination are sufficient to cause thought. When City faded in’ the first round it could have done with such a trio. Scoring details:—City, 16 points (Laurie Barchard. a conversion and a penalty; tries to TV. Perry, Reynolds, Hadley and G. Perry). Newton, 6 points (tries to Cammick and Francis). Mr. W. Simpson was the referee.

RICHMOND CRUMPLED UP IN SECOND SPELL

DEVONPORT BACKS GOOD After the game fight Richmond put up against Devonport in the first spell, it was rather surprising the way the Western Suburbs crumpled up in the second spell. Although Shore was leading s—o at the interval, it was Richmond which had made the pace in the early stages, and it had done quite as well as Devonport up to half-time. It was Handon’s inability to get to a long kick by Seagar which let Len Scott away with a full head of steam

for a simple try, but it was just Richmond’s bad luck to get caught at that stage. Up to half-time it was a pretty even break. After lemons, Shore woke up. The backs started to uncoil some of their old elusive' cleverness, Beattie especially showing great brilliance under adverse conditions. Devonport rattled on three more tries before the linish, none of which was converted. Rule was the pick of the Shore forwards. Light, but strong, he was quick on his feet, and was always paddling round in the vicinity of the slippery leather. McCarthney played a good, solid game, and Ruby also shone out. Alf Scott showed that he is steadily recovering from his recent injury. Beattie and Trevor O’Leary were the best of the backs. Beattie was at the top of his form in the second spell, and was especially good on .attack. O’Leary was sound and reliable all the time. Simons, at fullback, gave a solid display. Jenkinson (Richmond) was the best forward on the ground. He was in everything. Lennie also caught the eye on a number of occasions for good play in the pack. The Richmond backs did not link up too well, although they showed flashes of individual brilliance. Prentice and Mincham were best. Grace, a newcomer, shaped promisingly. Scoring register.—Devonport (tries by Len Scott. McCarthney (2) and Beattie one, converted by Simons), 14 points; Richmond 0.

KINGSLAND DEFEATED IN STEADY DOWNPOUR

PONIES’ NINE POINTS Squelching soil and sheets of rain were the unpleasant lot for 26 Ponsonby and KingslandAthletic Leaguers, Mr. Vic Simpson, the referee, and the lineumpires in a somewhat curtailed match in the early game at Carlaw Park. THE players were disconsolate when they filed out into the downpour. The irony of it was that the rain stopped with the final whistle. To start with, the officials switched the fixture from No. 1 ground to No. 2, with a view to saving the main area lor the afternoon’s feature match. .The teams, encouraged by the crowd, did not seo eye to eye with the decision and lodged themselves on the main ground, while the referee stood on the adjoining area, blowing his whistle vigorously. After three or four minutes, what was nearly comic opera ended when Kingsland yielded to the referee’s call. It was a diversion for the crowd. The game could not be ranked as football. It was a depressing affair—sheer push, kick and struggle in clinging dampness. Ponsonby won, nine points to nil, but Ivingsland, handling well at one stage, should have scored if more determination had been shown. Both teams played substitutes. Most interest centred on Pat Skelton, formerly of the Grammar Union Club, who was playing his first League game

for Ponsonby, associated with Lelgrosso in the five-eighths. Skelton stood out in several good pieces of work. In Mclntyre’s absence, versatile “Looley” Moore came from his position as Ponies’ fullback to halfback. He played sturdily. LUCAS KEEN The player who was most at home on the day was Lucas, half for Kingsland. He followed up keenly. Angelo was good at five-eighth, and Claude List, centre, lost no time in upsetting several Ponsonby movements. Possibly the best player on the ground was W. Skelton, who continues to show dash in the Ponies’ van. Quick off the mark, Skelton reveals unusual anticipation and is always a trouble to opposing backs. Hailey, York and Hamm pegged away for Kingsland in the forwards, but they had a solid proposition in the weighty Ponsonby van, which produced a useful pair in Payne and Gardiner. Ponsonby’s two Skeltons—they are not related —will continue to fit in well with the scheme of things. Lelgrosso should be able to start off effective positional plaj' with the assistance of the new back. Trv-getters for the winners were P. Skelton. Gardiner and W. Skelton.

SENIOR B GRADE

STALLARD CUP COMPETITIONS OTAHUHU UPENDS POINT CHEVALIER A striking contrast to the majority of matches played on Saturday, the Otahuhu v. Point Chevalier senior B grade match in the first round of the Stallard Cup competition, was played on a ground at Mangere Domain surprisingly free from mud. teams have met on three preA vious occasions. Up to this match honours were even, with a win to each and a draw. The usual high standard of play was shown, and Otahuhu gained the honours of the day with a converted try to .nil. The Otahuhu thirteen showed a

[ complete reversal of form from the j previous clash last Saturday, and held ! the balance of play for practically the j lull time of play, ! Playing for Otahuhu, Harris took the j ball at toe from the half-way line, and 1 scored in a handy position. Eustace | had no trouble in converting. ! For the winners, Philps, at fullback. ' played his usual steady game, and Ellery and Matson were outstanding |in the backs. The forward division all

mi played well, with H Hart, White and ■ Jury showing to H advantage. || For Point ChevJg alier, Cronin at « fullback, made a « number of brilliant ■ saves, and was S well supported in g the backs by Hum- | phreys and Monaghan. Goodwin and

I McPherson were outstanding in the forwards. Mangere v. Richmond Played in a sea of mud and slush, the Mangere v. Richmond senior K grade match .in the Stallard Cup competition was absolutely devoid of anything in the nature of thrills. After a gruelling display of hard-slogging football. Mangere emerged winners by 17 to 3.

THIRD CRICKET TEST

AFRICANS ALL OUT FOR 236 RUNS FREEMAN BOWLS WELL (United, P.A.—Uy Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian ana N.Z. Press Associationj ( U nit ad Service) ' LONDON, Saturday. The third test cricket match. South Africa v. England, was begun today at Leeds. There were 14,000 spectators and the gate receipts totalled £l,OlB. Injuries to the South Africans, Cameron, Christy and Taylor, had necessitated a broadcast appeal being sent out for Duminy, who had not played in test cricket since he appeared against Stanyf orth’s team in South Africa. Duminy hurried from Switzerland to take part in the match. The teams were: South Africa. —Deane, Catterall, Siedle, Morkel, Mitchell, Vincent, Quinn, Van der Merwe, Bell. OwenSmith. Duminy. England.—White, Sutcliffe, Hammond, Hendren, Duckworth, Freeman, Woolley, Bowley, Tate, Larwood, Leyland. SENSATIONAL OPENING The visitors won the toss and decided to bat. Play opened in perfect weather and in a sensational manner. Siedle was out for a duck when the score was one. Larwood took his off stump through the batsman playing inside the ball. The score rose steadily by singles until at 75 Mitchell was bowled after a valuable second-wicket stand. Morkel and Catterall survived until luncheon, when the score was 94 for two wickets. The spectators watched steady play when the game was resumed until Catterall, whose innings had been most praiseworthy, was bowled. After that Duminy was bowled and Morkel stumped in quick succession. Owen-Smith was caught off Freeman, whose length and spin, however, did not prevent Vincent hitting two sixes off him in the same over. Hammond dropped Vincent when the batsman had made 15. Tie also missed Van der Merwe. However, he atoned subsequently by catching Van der Merwe low down, a left-handed catch, after the eighth wicket had added 49 runs. The innings closed for 236. It had lasted 255 minutes. The moderate score was largely due to Freeman’s bowling. Vincent hit four sixes and six fours. ENGLAND STARTS WELL Bowley and Sutcliffe opened England’s first innings. They went confidently to the wickets after the tea adjournment. At the close of the day’s play the home side, had scored 106 for two wickets, leaving 130 to make to equal the visitors’ total, with eight wickets in hand. Details of the scores are: SOUTH AFRICA First Innings. SIEDLE, b Larwood 0 .MITCHELL, b Tate 22 CATTERALL, b Freeman 74 MORKEL, st Duckworth, b Freeman 17 DUMINY, b Freeman 2 DEANE, c Duckworth, b Tate .. .. 20 OWEN-SMITH, o Hammond, b Freeman 6 VINCENT, b Freeman 60 QUINN, o Ley land, b Freeman .... 5 VAN DER MERWE, c Hammond, b Freeman 19 BELL, not out 2 Extras 9 Total - 236 Bowling Analysis.—Larwood, 1-35; Tate, 2-40; Freeman, 7-115; Hammond, u-15; White, 0-24. ENGLAND First Innings. BOWLEY, c Bell, b Quinn .. .. 31 SUTCLIFFE, c Mitchell, b Quinn .. 37 HAMMOND, not out 30 DUCKWORTH, not out 5 Extras 3 Total for two w-ickets 106

ROAD CYCLING

SATURDAY’S RACING MANUKAU AMATEUR CLUB In spite of the weather conditions on Saturday atternoon, the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club staged two races over the Mangere circuit. Six juniors competed in the SJ-miles race, and ail iinished, the event resulting as follows: —B. liall, 255, 1; H. V. Gordon, 2m lus, 2; C. Heart, lin 50s, 3. Fastest time, lom 225, was recorded by B. Hall, 255, virtual scratch. The seniors were very fortunate for the rain ceased just betore their 22-miles time trial commenced. Competitors drew for starting positions and were dispatched at intervals of 20s. Whitten rode with marked distinction, breaking his old record of 58m 27s and finishing second on the sealed handicap run in conjunction with the race. Tne placed riders on time were:—J. Whitten, scr, 58m 11s, 1; H. R. Dwight, 3m, 60m 225, 2; J. H. Wade, lm, 6om 555, 3; L. G. Pinfold, lm 455, 61m 12s, 4: L. B. Roberts, 455, 61m 2Ss, 5; K. G. Foubister, 40s, 62m 355, 6. On the sealed handicap the order was as follows:—H. Borland, 8m 30s, actual riding time, 64m 51s, 1; J. Whitten, scr, 58m 11s, 2; L. G. Pinfold, lm 455, 61m 12s, 3; H. R. Dwight, lm, 60m 325, 4; D. Fletcher, 6m, 65m 51s, 5; J. H. Wade, lm, 60m 555, 6. THE AUCKLAND CLUB The Auckland Cycle Club held a fourlap race of 25 miles on Saturday. The event started and finished at the Mangere Bridge. Owing to the heavy rain early in the afternoon only seven competed. The outstanding feature of the event was the fine riding of the scratch man, J. Lindop, who had a lone ride throughout, just failing to catch the leaders, who finished with only 70 yards to spare. The successful riders were:—F. Potter, 3m 30s. 1 ; F. Lowdnes, 4m 30s, 2; W. Archer, 3m 30s. 3; X. Healey, 5m 4. Fastest lime went to Lindop, scr. hr 69m ss.