Kingsland's Keen Fight

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1005, 23 June 1930, Page 6

Kingsland's Keen Fight

BRIGHT LEAGUE GAMES Marist Too Strong For Newton WITH one exception, all the senior League games on Saturday were well contested. Ivingslaud put up a great fight against City, although the latter was without some of its best men. The heaviest defeat of the day was that suffered by Newton against Marist, but the game was a good one to watch.

City was weakened by the absenci oL’ Wetherill, Clarke, and the tw< Watenes in its match against Kingsland. The first spell was as dull a: ditch-water, but the second half provided some bright and breezy football. It was to Kingsland’s ci'edit tha this was so. When it saw that Citj was taking things easy, it started tc make the pace a cracker, and Citj was all out at the finish to win. Ponsonby had a close tussle on No 2 area with Devonport, which, although without Seagar, was strengthened in the pack by the return of A Scott. Newton made a good fight of i: against Marist in the first spell, bui faded out in the second session, anc was finally beaten by the big margin of 31 points to 10. Richmond carried too many guns foi Ellerslie at Grey Lynn Park, winning a well-contested game by 8 points tc 0. NEWTON NEEDS HEAVIER MEN IN THE FORWARD* YOUNG SIDE’S PLUCKY EFFORT Once the crack club team of Auckland, Newton is finding the road back to its former high estate a hard and rocky one. It ran up against the formidable Marist side on Saturday, and took a tremendous trouncing. But the Newton men (it would be better to say boys) need not be disheartened. It is said that the oldest man in the team on Saturday was only 24, and, apart from that, therei s any amount of promising talent coming on. Where the side definitely needs strengthening, however, is in the forwards. There is rich promise in the Newton backs, but no set of backs can win matches if it is net getting the ball. Light, skirmishing forwards arc not the type for gaining possession from set scrums and loose rucks. Newton wants at least two bigger and tougher men in front to carry the brunt of tho heavy work, in company with Kirk up. Newton held Marist well in the first spell, but right through the match its inability to secure the ball gave it no chance. All of Newton’s scores were secured by mistakes on the part of the opposition, and not by constructive play. It seemed a shame that brilliant little backs of the calibre of McLeod, the two Brimbles, and Murray should have been penned up on defence most of the day. And apart from the forwards not being able to get the ball, Newton’s halfback was not as spry as he might have been. MARIST CUT LOOSE Marist went along amiably In the first half, but in the second the whole side seemed to be right out to pile up the points. From start to finish of Lhe match if was good, bright footuu.il, and, oiifc-siaeu na the game looked on paper, the piay was last ana exciting. and there need be no regrets auoi., nav.ng pul this match on No 1 area. hack ana forward, Alarist gave a c.ear uemonsiration ot what a magnificent ciuo side it is. it is too soon yet to say what effect the departure of Brisbane ana Gregory for Australia will have on its play, but they are bound to be a big loss. For this reason, the splendid form shown by some ol the younger members of the side on Saturaay must have been gratifying to the keen heads of the Marist Club. Young played a magnificent game in the forwards, and Brady and Hassan were at the top of their form in the backs. After many weeks of drift, which has proved a deep disappointment to many keen followers of League who always like to see a promising young player come into his own, Brady did at last give a glimpse of that form which led A. Blair, Lhe South Sydney skipper, last season to name Brady as one of Uie likeliest international players of tho future. It is a pity Lhat it came too late lor tlie Australian tour, but Brady is young enough yet to make good, provided he concentrates on the ball and the line, and leaves the man coming at him severely alone. There is no need to sny much else about the team’s play on Baturduy. Livery man in the siae was in form. Drew looks as if he will ao well this season. Practically all of tho Newton backs played well. The fragile-looking Dempsey belied his looks as fullback, fie defended like a veteran, ana his iieiaing ana kicking were clean, accurate, and Well-timed. The backs got lew real chances. E. Brimbie, the ex-Manukau Rugby man, shaped nicely. iiis brother, too, was in everything that he could find his way into, and his speed and elusiveness were frequently in evidence. McLeod is as tricky as ever—one of the best men on the side. Kirkup was easily the best forward, lie is a good, solid type, and he has plenty of pace. Francis was not so much in tne limelight as usual, and he could not afford to be, his weight being required in the scrums and in the tight. Middleton and Bt. George also aid well. Scoring Register.—Marist (tries by Ilassan, Brady, Batchelor, O’Brien, Batchelor, G. Campbell, and Gregory tour goal* by Gregory, and one by Batcheloi), 81 points; Newton (tries by McLeod and St. George, a goal each by Hill and C. Brimbie), lu points. DRAB CURTAIN-RAISER CITY DEFEATS KINGSLAND It was a drab exhibition of the code witnessed at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when City defeated Richmond in the curtain-raiser to the big attraction by 17 points to 13. The football seen in the first half was pexTiaps the most ragged and uninteresting played on the Park this season, but during the second half, when Kingsland burst forth with surprising dash and ran up to within one point of City’s score, the game brightened considerably. It was lackadaisical football in the opening stages, and neither side appeared to bother a great deal. City was scoring with an amazing amount

of freedom, and the result seemed a foregone conclusion. But after the spell List secured and sent a long overhead pass to Cartel’, who managed to scramble over in the corner to put the first points up on the board for Kingsland. This started a run of rapid scoring, which changed the bright prospects held for City. City was enjoying the better of 'the attack, and Davidson’s try “capped” the issue. Shortland was missing from the City rearguard line, but Reynold filled the gap and did it well. He was possibly one of the most notable performers on the field, while Perry can also be credited with some fine movements. Ben Davidson was not of a great deal of assistance to the side, and has a lot of training to do before he hits his old form. Chosen for the reps, for Australia, Wetherill is evidently not taking any chances of getting “cracked up” before the trip comes off, and hewas among the crowd on Saturday.

Of the Kingsland rearguarders, List and Carter were outstanding and were responsible to no mean extent for the showing made by their side. Lucas was one of the weak links in the defence. His attacking play was quite creditable, but his tackling was feeble, and he often missed his man. Herring was sound, and he made quite a good showing with his goal-kicking. Simms was perhaps the star for the side and his try, which he gained after sprinting half the length of the field, earned him considerable applause. Taking them throughout, both packs of forwards were a fairly even lot. Len Ba.rchard turned out, but he did not extend himself and perhaps, on the strength of his being chosen Cor the reps, was avoiding knocks. The two Hadleys and Pascoe were solid, while perhaps the best of the bunch on the day was Iveson, who did some good work in the loose. DEVONPORT RUNS PONSONBY CLOSE RETURN OF ALF. SCOTT Devonport United, with its pack revitalised by the reappearance of the burly Alf. Scott, former Auckland skipper, ran Ponsonby United to a close finish in the three o’clock match on Carlaw Park on No. 2 on Saturday. Tho final score was S —G, and this was also the half-time score. The second half was a hai*d-fought one, with first one side and then the other in the ascendant.

When the match commenced, Shore set off at a great bat, and the work of its forwards kept Ponsonby hemmed in for quite a time with much desperate defensive work necessary. The first try to Ponsonby was a most unexpected outcome of a deep kick by pelgrosso. The Shore fullback, Saxon fumbled, and Lunn, seeing his opportunity, picked up and sent on to Scho field, who set sail for the line. It was a bright effort, and one which turned the tables in Ponsonby’s favour. Shore’s first try came when Casey picked up near the line and battled his way over. Ponsonby was not to be denied, and its back line swung into

action time and again. From one of these efforts the ball travelled out to Winter, who cut his way through the defence to score an unconverted try. Just on half-time, the unexpected happened again, although it was Shore’s turn to benetit by it this time. Casey intercepted a pass, and transferred to Alf. Scott, who had a clear field ahead. The big Shore man raced over half the length of the field and reached the other end to be overtaken and ta.ckled on the line. However, his weight made it a certain try. PONSONBY’S RUGBY RECRUIT The Shore pack dominated the scene in the first half and early in the second spell, but faded away slightly toward the end of the game, when it might have been possible to have snatched a last-minute victory. AlfScott. although carrying a lot of condition played a good game, and in a week or so should be in great form. Casey had a day out, and of the other forward Dixon and Ruby were outstanding. Apart from Rhodes at half, the Shore backs gave a very disjointed display. To do them justice, however, it must be realised that Ponsonby saw much more of the ball from the srums. Beattie at centre dropped passes all day, but Smith, a promoted junior on one wing displayed distinct promise for a first match in senior football. The Ponsonby forwards, although overshadowed in the first half, lasted out well and at the close Ponsonby was doing all the attacking. McLeay again played a fine game, and Gardiner was responsible for a good share of the work in the tight. Moore, as breakaway, raided most effectively all afternoon. The whole Ponsonby back division played well up to expectations. Wilson, a newcomer—a convert from the Union game—played as the last line of defence and put in an efficient day’s work. Schofield, Delgrosso and Winter, the threequarter line, caused Shore no end of trouble. Mclntyre and Riley were the best of the insides. ELL.ERSLIE GOES DOWN RICHMOND’S HARD FIGHT On a slushy ground and with a greasy ball to handle, the Ellersiie Leaguers went down S —o to Richmond at Grey Lynn Park on Saturday. The game was very evenly fought, and though Richmond never looked like

being beaten it had to fight hard at times to keep the Ellerslie men at bay. The game opened with Richmond playing, all out for a score. However, Dufty’s sound tackling and clearing kicks prevented a score for some time until a pretty piece of work by G. Davis put Patterson in a position to score. With a sound kick by Mineham this put the Richmondites five points up and started Ellerslie on several attacking movements that were unlucky to just fall short of scoring. Both sides suffered losses due to injuries in the fii'st spell. Potter (Richmond) received a severe cut over the eye and was replaced by Blundell. A few minutes before the spell. Hobbs (Ellerslie) hurdled over a Richmond man. and landed on the back of his head, his scalp being cut open. He was replaced by Calder. Richmond was decidedly unlucky not to score earlier in the first half. Mincham made a magnificent opening and passed out to McKinnon, who in addition to fumbling got his side penalised for off-side play. Shortly after the interval, Patterson got away in a brilliant solo effort, and l'or once caught Dufty off his guard. The try was not converted. At this stage of the game Dufty moved up to second-five-eighth and Webb came back to the fullback position. Even play followed to the end, with Ellerslie fighting hai'd to make up the leeOn the losing side, Hemingway, at first-five-eighth, and Dufty, at fullback, were prominent. Webb, at second five-eighth, and Olliff, behind the scrum, were prominent and saved their side from many dangerous offensives. For Richmond, Lennie McCarthy and Jones played good football, in the forward line, while in the back division, Lee, at fullback. Prentice, second-five-eighth, and G. Davis were noticeable B. Davis, at halfback, who was“playing his first game of the season in the senior division, was particularly good, his work behind the scrum being accurate and reliable at all times. SENIOR B GRADE OTAHUHU STILL UNBEATEN It was not until the final, quarter that the Otahuhu senior B grade 13 played up to its previous form, in its match with Mangere on Saturday. Neither team gave of its best at any part of the game, and Otahuhu’s victory by :i 7 to 10 can be chieflv attributed to the splendid work by Harris in working the blind side of the scrum. He registered three of the live tries for the winners, and was responsible for another. After ten minutes of hard slogging play, devoid of anything in the nature of the spectacular, Harris picked up the ball in a loose scramble, and after beating three of the opposing team, registered well out. The kick at goal failed. Otahuhu continued to hammer at its •opponents’ goal line, with intermittent relief, until Philp registered for Otahuhu as the result of good followingup. Mangere took spasmodic turns in the attack, and after a number of rebuffs, Young raced down the line and cored. The, kick failed.

Otahuhu’s'third try resulted from a good run upfield'by Harris, who passed out to Murphy, who scored well out. Nothing resulted from the kick. Before half-time was called Wilson, playing full for Mangere, added to its total with a good field kick. Play in the opening stages of the second spell was a repetition of the first half, with Otahuhu holding a slight advantage, until the Otahuhu forwards dribbled the ball through for .Hai'ris to gain possession and register his second try. The kick at goal was successful. It was not long before Otahuhu was again on the attack, and from a scrum the ball went out to Harris, who scored. Mangere set up a number of determined counter-attacks and as the result of a good back movement J. Wilson scored. Paul’s kick at goal added the extra points. From this stage of the game both teams took a new lease of life, and gave good exhibitions of the code, but neither was able to pierce the defence of its opponents. NORTHCOTE V. RICHMOND Northcote defeated Richmond on its home ground by 15 points to seven on Saturday. Wilkens scored three tries, two of which were converted by Simpson, a penalty goal also being kicked by the same playei'. Richmond’s score consisted of a converted try and a penalty goal. A splendid exhibition of the code was given by both teams, the game being fast and open. Lawless and Ragg, in the forwards, were outstanding for Richmond. For Northcote, Robei'tson was safe at fullback, while A. Thomas and Neal were the best of the backs. Wilkens, for Northcote, was the outstanding player in the game, his three tries being splendid efforts, while Simpson kicked three goals out of four attempts.

SCHMELING WILLING MAY MEET SHARKEY LATER XEW YORK, Saturday. Max Schmeling, the heavy-weight boxing champion, announces that he is willing to meet Sharkey again after visiting Germany, where he will be until August. On his return to the h nited States he will begin training. In a match at Chicago yesterday Stribling, 13st knocked out von Porat, 14st 71b, in the first round of a bout of 10 scheduled rounds. The winner, in spite of recent complaints of a bruised hand, handled von Porat easily. 'There were 21,000 spectators, who favoured the winner, but he was not expected to have such a quick victory Von Porat clinched and missed his blows, while Stribling bore in with repeated lefts to the face, head and body, and an^ occasional right cross to the face. The victory was easily the most sensational of Stribling’s career. lie showed great cleverness and tied up von Porat with his body blows and repeated blows on the jaw. until his opponent dropped fiat on his back and lay without a move while he was counted out, 20 seconds before the end of the first round.