Consistency Wins

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 739, 12 August 1929, Page 6

Consistency Wins

PONSONBY’S LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP

Great Uphill Fight by Shore

VICTORY TO BETTER-BALANCED SIDE

A SPLENDID record of consistent play on dry grounds and wet was crowned by the Ponsonby League team on Saturday, when it won the club premiership of Auckland from Devonport, last year’s holder. Played voider shocking ground conditions, the game was nevertheless worthy of a championship final. It was a tremendous, hard-fought battle all the way, and it was only toward the finish that Ponsonby definitely established its superiority, and that by tlie smallest possible margin on the run of play.

For a long time it looked as if a lucky penalty kick, which struck one of the tall uprights and then ricochetted over the bar*, was going to decide a whole season’s competition play. Fortunately for evei'ybody concerned, this unsatisfactory possibility was avoided when Gai'diner hurled his massive frame over the line for the winning try late in the game. Ponsonby won because it was the better balanced side on the day’s play. Devonport played a magnificent uphill game right from the time Delgrosso’s goal gave Ponsonby a big moral advantage, but it lost because its defence was not up to the high standard it set earlier in the season. It would be idle to speculate on what might have happened if the present extraordinai'y spell of wet weather had not caught Devonport in the full flush of its dry day combination and bi'illiance. However, in Satui'day’s quagmire, it is probable that Mai’ist would have beaten either of the two finalists, so that the final result can only be judged on the general run of play right tlii'ough the season, in conjunction with the championship playoff. On the run of play, Ponsonby was undoubtedly a shade the better team on Satui'day. Devonport appeared to be upset in the eai'ly stages by l'ulings which were decidedly hard to follow, and it was during that period that Delgx'osso landed his penalty goal. Gai'diner’s try, however, had the effect of removing' an uncomfortable feeling which must have occurred to every fair-minded observer that Devonport had the worst of the running in the early stages. In the light of after reflection, only one conclusion was possible, and that was that the better team on the day’s play won on its merits. Ponsonby showed cleai'-cut superiority in the scrums in the first spell, and

tXiwcLyo ill i.nu uucfront of the play, spui-ring his men on by personal example, as well as by word of mouth He and Rule were undoubtedly Devonport’s two best forwards, and they were well supported by St George and Dixon. The latter was the best loose forward on srmind

from Stevens to Mclntyre, the ball went out swiftly and cleanly to the backs. It was a great display of getting the backs away on the move, but after the ball left Delgrosso, the handling of the backs was far from good, and the pass- * ing broke down again and again.

mcintyre —* On two diffei’ent occasions, Riley and Thompson had a great opportunity to score, but the slippery ball beat them. There was ample excuse for uncertain handling, but in the second spell, Devonport made tactical eri'oi's in also ti'ying to exploit back play when the condition of the ground and ball had got vei'y However, mistakes in handling could bo pardoned on Saturday, and thei'e was much to enthuse over in the wonderful exhibition of hard, smashing forward play, in which no quarter was asked for by either side. The halves and five-eighths were magnificent in the way they stood up to the fierce inroads of massed forward rushes. Injuries were frequent, but on several occasions, badly battei*ed players limped back into the fray, refusing to leave the field. It was gi-eat football, and both sides are to be congratulated on the pluck and gameness they showed in one of the bitterest tests of physical endurance that has been witnessed at Carlaw Park in recent years; Fully onethird of the game was a despei'ate, hard-slogging battle through mud and rain, but the teams never let up, even when the rain was pelting down in toi'rents. Delgrosso was, as usual, the dominating figure in the Ponsonby side, and Mclntyre must be given ci'edit for a magnificent display of pluck and cleverness behind the scrum. But after that, every man in the team must be given equal credit for its victory. The forwards worked like one man, and tlie backs stood up to their* share of it in fine style. Payne, Moore, and Stevens were the backbone of the pack in the tight stuff. This trio played great football from start to finish. Skelton and Gardiner* were more at home when t/lay opened out, but — nnr*h in hie; wmv

each in his way did splendid work. Gardiner was responsible for two great pieces of play—the winning try. and a tremendous kick in the dying stages which was enough to dishearten any team which had forced its way ir. a last desperate rally right up to

uaramer “***•>’ **»**». the opponents’ line. Fagan marred his display by being frequently offside, but he played right through the piece. P. Skelton seemed to fairly revel in tho heavy going. Gifted with plenty of pace and weight, he was one of the most dangerous attacking players on the ground. With the exception of one or two mistakes, Riley gave a neat, workmanlike display at centre. The rest of the backs were very solid. It is good to see a captain the real leader of his side, and not a mere figurehead or the best individual player. Like Delgrosso, A. Scott was always in the fore-

on the ground, being like a flash to get into an opening. Casey and Ruby also did good work, although a dry day is more to their liking. The tackling of the forwards was, however, a noticeable weakness right through the game, and Ruby also did good work, although a dry day is more to their liking. The tacklin'g of the forwards was, however, a noticeable weakness right through the game. T. O’Leary gave a high-class display at fullback. His tackling and rushstopping were magnificent for so light a player, and he handled the ball like an artist. Once or twice he foozled his kick, but generally he placed the ball soundly and well. The rest of the backs were not so strong on defence as they have been in other matches. Rhodes, however, was a notable exception. He gave a great display for a little fellow. Seagar got few’ chances to show his undoubted brilliance on attack, but he gave occasional glimpses of his true cleverness and speed on attack. Beatty got through a heavy day’s work fairly well, and L. Scott also did useful work under the handicap of a nasty injury. ELLERSLIE BEATEN IN MUD SCRAMBLE. TYKES PUT ON 26 POINTS Scrambling about on a ground which resembled a quagmire, the Marist senior League thirteen defeated Ellerslie at the Domain on Saturday afternoon. The match was one which was postponed from earlier in the season. As the game was a certainty for Marist even before it commenced, and as its result could have no heaving on the championship final, there was some talk of the game being called off on account of the state of the ground. However, Ellerslie went on with the game, hut after holding its own fairly well in the first half, could not keep out the keen thrusts of the heavy green men in the second stanza. Ellerslie was again without the services of Duftv and other former distinguished members of the side, so that

uemna tne Marist scrum, Hassan, Brisbane, McDonald, Gregory and Moisley figured i-e----peatedly in effoi'ts at passing movements, and when this means of attack broke down — as it did often with the greasy ball — they adopted successful kick and rush tactics, which were too much for the opposition.

its ranks had to be swelled out with junior- grade men, who, on the whole, acquitted themselves well. McDoanld first crossed the line for the Tykes in the first spell for Gregorv to have hard luck with his kick, when the ball struck the upx-ight. Even play of a scrappy nature ensued for a considerable period before another- try resulted. McDonald was again the responsible agent, and this time Gi-egorv made no mistake with the kick. Gregory began the movement in his own side’s territory, and the whole back line handled, the ball travelling from Gregory to Hassan, Brisbane, and finally McDonald. RUNAWAY VICTORY After the spell, the Ellei-slie men appeared to give up the ghost, and tlie heavy Marist side ran through the defence repeatedly. Gi'egory commenced the scoring pi'oeession, and was soon followed by' Johnston and Hassan, who succeeded in getting over the line twice. Gregory converted thi-ee of these four tries, and the scoreboard showed Marist with a 26-point lead. Tlie Tyke forwards, although handicapped by the state of the ground, were able to do pretty well what they liked with the much lighter opposition. On one occasion in the second spell however, the Ellerslie pack did manage to break through, but it could not drive its effort home in a scoring movement. Behind the Mar-

tne opposition. Behind the Ellerslie pack, Ollnf, as usual, diminutive but nippy, played a resourceful game, although on the day he was not well assisted by his forwards. Hobbs stood out head and shoulders above a very mediocre pack as a great loose exponent of the code. Andrews, a promoted junior, acquitted himself well. , . _ When Marist was within sight of 30 clear points, the game ended, obviously many minutes before the time had run out. STALLARD CUP OTAHUHU BEATS NORTHCOTE Keen interest was taken in the meeting of the two unbeaten teams in the Stallard Cup competition on Saturday, when Otahuhu defeated Northcote by the narrow margin of 7 to 3. The match was played on Victoria Park, and notwithstanding the deplorable condition of the ground, and the torrential downpours which fell during the progress of the match, both teams gave good exhibitions of the code. Play during the first half was very even, the rearguards of each team handled the ball well, and the forwards were conspicuous with numerous successful rushes, but the half-time , whistle sounded with a clean card. The second spell had not proceeded far before Harris, for Otahuhu, goaled from a penalty, and later was again successful with a difficult kick from near the side line on the twenty-five mark, and Conway registered as the result of a forward rush. For Northcote, Neal scored an unconverted try. During the match Pliilps, who was playing a sterling game at fullback for Otahuhu, retired on account of injuries; he was replaced by Whye. For the ■winners, Farrell at halfback and Harris and Eustace in the rear division, were the pick of a good lot, while Conway and White were outstanding in the forwards. In the senior B curtain-raiser, at Carlaw Park, Point Chevalier carried too many guns for Mangere, winning by 13 to 0. For the Point, Duncan, McLaren and Spearpoint scored tries, and Monaghan and Lane each kicked a gaol. REPRESENTATIVE TEAM PLAYERS FOR TRAINING The Auckland Rugby League selectors, Messrs. E. Asher. E. Fox and H Avery, have chosen the following 21 players to go into training for the match against North Auckland on Saturday next. Backs.—Watene (City), Gregory (Marist), Carter (Kingsland), L. Scott (Devonport), List (Kingsland). Brisbane (Marist), Riley (Ponsonby). Seagar (Devonport), Delgrosso (Ponsonby), Prentice (Richmond), Mclntyre (Ponsonby), Shortland (City). Forwards.—Jenkinson (Richmond). Francis (Newton). J. Skelton (Ponsonby), Ruby (Devonport), Moisley (Marist), Fagan (Ponsonby), G. Campbell (Marist), Pascoe (City). O’Brien (Marist). A. Scott was not available. Any other players not available for this match are requested to notify Mr. E. Asher. Practices will be held at Carlaw Park on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7.30. MATCH POSTPONED The Kingsland-Richmond game, fixed to take place on No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park on Saturday, was postponed. BOWLING VETERANS NEXT SATURDAY’S MATCH The Auckland Grammar School jubilee celebrations will conclude with a bowling match next Saturday, when a team of veterans, none of whom joined the school later than 1396. will play selected rinks from the Carlton Bowling Club. It was intended to play this match last Saturday week. but showery weather made play impossible, and it was postponed for a fortnight. For that match 48 old boys had entered, I but other names have come in since, j and it is expected that next Saturday I there ay ill be 56 or 60 playing for the | Grammar School.