Best Game This Year

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 981, 26 May 1930, Page 8

Best Game This Year

THRILLING LEAGUE CLASH Marist Backs Win Day ALTHOUGH marred by a certain amount of rough play, the Marist-City match at Carlaw Park on Saturday was a magnificent exhibition of League football. The score was close enough from start to finish to keep the excitement of the crowd at fever-heat. But there were, in addition, many beautifully timed movements and spectacular individual ‘efforts which made the game the best and most thrilling contest that has been staged at League headquarters this year.

This match, taken in conjLinction with Ellerslie’s dramatic victory over Devonport, and Newton’s great fight against Ponsonby. clearly shows that there is nothing wrong with the League game this year. It is safe to say that the standard of play is stronger than ever in the backs, with the exception of the wing threequarter position, and there is a wealth of young forwards about, who are fast filling th© gaps that were in evidence last season. Mr. George Rhodes and his fellow officials of the Auckland Rugby League are to be congratulated on the sound, steady progress of the game to date. It is pleasing to see that some of the formerly" weak teams are gradually evening up the score with the four leaders, and a more uniform standard of play is in evidence all round. Saturday’s game between Marist and City deserves to rank with the greatest games which have been played at Carlaw Park in recent years. It was a triumph for But there was. nothing in it at any stage, and it was Gregory’s trusty boot that pulled the game out of the fire for Marist right at the “death-knock ’’ The wonderful skill and cleverness of the Marist insides was the dominating feature of the first spell; that and Batchelor’s dashing display on the wing. Jn the second spell City altered its tactics. It sent its powerful young forward division in to batter the Tyke spearhead in the close stuff. It was the right game. For a long time, it was touch and go with the Tykes. Len Barchard, Clarke, Pascoe and Watene were playing magnificently in tight and loose. They had more compact, weight than Marist. But. ably led by Jim O’Brien, the Marist forwards saw it out to the finish, and cleverly manipulated the ball from set scrums to their waiting backs to relieve the pressure in front. Here again, it was masterly tactics. BRILLIANT PLAYERS Gregory was the best back on the ground. He was as safe as a church on defence, and his attacking work was consistently brilliant. On his game on Saturday, he is still one of New Zealand’s greatest players. Brisbane, too, is far from being a spent force. He runs straight as a die, and has lost none of his old dash. Both of these men are fit for a New Zealand team tomorrow. Batchelor was magnificent on attack, but is still weak on defence. Cannot some of his team-mates show him how to tackle a rrjan round the legs, instead of clutching at his shoulders? This is the only weakness that stops Batchelor from getting into big football. Brady, Hassan and Campbell were sound and solid. Hassan is one of the best halves in the senior competition. Sweeney was very fair. O’Brien. Campbell and Young put in great work in the tight. But all of the pack went well. For all that, however, Marist is badly in need of at least one heavier forward. City has a magnificent pack of forwards in the making. As mentioned recently in this column. Len Barchard has all the attributes of a champion, and on Saturday he gave a taste of his true form. Clarke continues to maintain his form. Pascoe and Hadley are a couple of splendid workers. Iveson gave a great display of fast, breakaway play. The backs did not go too well together. Wetherill was off his game. He missed his man several times and kicked too much. Davidson was suffering from a nasty injury throughout the game, which did not help him to give of his best. The trouble with City seems to be that it is embarrassed by having too many men to draw on. The result is that changes are constantly being made in the team, and it is unable to settle down to a consistent standard of play. S. Watene created a great impression on the wing His try in the top corner was a splendid example of sheerdash and determination. His kicking, however, is inclined to be “all over the shop.” McLaughlin got few chances on attack, while on defence he was weak. He consistently refused to go low for his man, and he gave away at least one try through this fault. He is a better man than his display on Saturday indicated. Both he and George I-'erry are the same—give them plenty of ball and they are as dangerous as a live wire.

Laurie Barchard was solid at fullback. Shortland did a lot of useful work, but if he is going to go in his cwn, he must run straight instead of galloping all over the paddock. Scoring Register.—Marist (tries by Batchelor (2), and Sweeney, two goals by Gregory), 13 points; City (tries by S. Watene and Len Barchard, two goals by S. Watene and a potted goal by Perry), 12 points. PONSONBY’S LUCKY WIN OVER NEWTON GOOD FIGHT BY RANGERS Ponsonby had the fickle goddess on its side on Saturday in de-. f eating Newton in the three o’clock match on No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park. The Newton men wrested the lead from the blue and blacks before half-time and hung on to it till near the end of the game. The Ponies were considerably below usual strength owing to recent injuries to members of the side. Three of the old hands made their first appearance for the season—Usslier, McIntyre and Gardiner. To add to this, Delgrosso’s knee gave out earlv in the game, and he had to give way to “Dooley” Moore. Ponsonby was the first to score, Angelo getting over for an unconverted try. Shortly after, however. Brimble turned a penalty to good account for Newton. Tries to Beattie and Brimble. one of which was converted, saw the Rangers take a 10 to 3 lead, and when half-time came Newton was still ahead by 10 points to 6. Play in the first half had not been of a very brilliant nature. There was not a great deal of combined work, and although Ponsonby had had the

advantage early in the game, half-time came with Newton in the ascendant. Play in the second half was a great improvement all round. An unconverted try to Schofield took Ponsonby to within one point of the Rangers’ score. Newton looked certain to have added another try to its tally when St. George got over under the goalposts, but the referee awarded a scrum. The winning try for Ponsonby was scored by \Y. Skelton. K. Peckliara converting. The Newton men put up a great fight in the second half. Outstanding among the backs was Brimble, who 'was here, there and everywhere. The division as a whole played well. Dempsey at fullback was a distinct success, and Hill at centre was another player to create a favourable impression. Beattie m the five-eighth line played a fine game, and of the forwards St. George, perhaps, was outstanding. Francis played with all his customary dash, till he was slowed up with a couple of blows. With so many changes things were not in a particularly happy position in the Pony ranks. The back lino did not work like a well-oiled machine. A man like Pat Skelton was su.dly missed. Winters seemed to be below form, and Peckham spoilt a fair display by bad passing. For a first game of the season, Mclntyre at half did quite well. Among the forwards, Bill Skelton was always in the fight, and put in some good solo dashes. Gardiner, who has put on quite a lot of weight since he last played, soon tired. It was the Pony forward division which eventually carried the day. ELLERSLIE SURPRISE DEVONPORT DOWNED IN RAGGED GAME LEADER’S FIRST DEFEAT Leaguers received a surprise on Saturday when Ellerslie, the lowly team of the senior grade championship, downed the leaders, Devonport, to the tune of 13 points to 5. The surprise was not confined to those who saw the game, but was a topic of discussion in football circles on Saturday evening. The game was not a particularly thrilling encounter and the football at times was very mediocre. Concerted play was mostly conspicuous by its absence, but several individual efforts were brilliant. At the start of the game, Devonport pressed momentarily, but Ellerslie retaliated with a rush which took play to the Shore twenty-five, and there it stayed for practically the whole of the first half. On only four occasions did Devonport take play back to Ellerslie’s twenty-five. Shore livened Lip somewhat in the second half, but the Ellerslie defence was excellent, and although Shore looked like scoring on one or two occasions, there was usually an Ellerslie back handy to save. On the play, Ellerslie deserved to win. The team work was better than that of Devonport, which was inclined in the first half to stray out of position, particularly in the back division. Ellerslie’s 13 points were all. scored in the first half, Grogan, Hemingway and Chapman scoring, and Dufty converting on two occasions. In the second half Dixon scored a well-earned try, and L. O’Leary converted. Shore’s only points. As usual Dufty, at fullback for El-

lerslie, was his usual imperturbable self and was always handy to save or to take part in a passing rush. Grogan and Webb were the other outstanding backs. The forwards all grafted hard. L. O’Leary was the shining light of the Devonport back division and his brother. T. O’Leary, played a safe game at fullback in the second half when he replaced Beattie. Rhodes occasionally dashed into the limelight and Hooker proved himself a regular racehorse on the wing. Dixon and MeCarthney were the pick of the forward line. RICHMOND’S VICTORY “NIPPY” BACK SET DECIDES GAME The fielding of a “nippy” set of backs by Richmond proved a deciding factor in the senior game on the Domain on Saturday when Kingsland Athletic suffered defeat by 1 0 points to 3. It was noticeable from the outset

LEAGUE COMPETITION TABLE

The positions of the teams in the senior League competition are as follow:

P. W. L. Pts. D. For Aq. Ch. Pts. Devonport . 4 3 1 — 54 29 6 *M arist 4 3 1 — 62 42 6 Ponsonby 4 3 1 — 53 52 6 City 4 2 1 1 75 53 5 E! lersiie 4 1 2 1 34 46 3 Newton 4 •f 3 — 52 65 2 Kingsland 4 1 3 — 29 51 2 Richmond 4 1 3 — 39 60 2 *Marist lost one game on a prote St.