Richmond’s Big Chance

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 73, 17 June 1927, Page 11

Richmond’s Big Chance

Rugby League Competition Devonport Plays at Home THERE will be a division of forces in League Rugby tomorrow. Ponsonby and Richmond having been allotted pride of place on No. 1 area, Carlaw Park, while Devonport and Newton will meet on the former’s home ground at the Shore. Last week’s matches gave an interesting turn to the senior competition, and there may be fresh surprises tomorrow.

meeting of these two teams at Carlaw Park to-morrow is being awaited with interest, as a brief resume of the games played to date would show that the teams are evenly matched. Given a dry • day, there should be very little between them at the final whistle. But what there is, should be in Ponsonby’s favour. In the first # match of the season, Richmond was defeated by Newton, who, on the following Saturday, drew with Ponsonby. Hevonport defeated Richmond and Ponsonby, both by small margins. The final results have been so close that everything points to a battle royal to-morrow. Ponsonby will play an open game, and Richmond plays a great spoiling game, and, being a young, keen side, and well trained} if the Ponies do win they will certainly have to do their best. / Both teams have a first-clas3 fullback and be th are young and promising players. Out of Bangley (Ponsonby ) and Hanlon (Richmond), tne latter has had most experience, but both are good. Ponsonby’s three-quarter line will be the same as against Shore last Saturday. It is a formidable trio, but so also is Richmond’s three. five-eighth line, Riley and Delgrosso, are a heady pair of players who work w T ell together and have a good understanding between each other, but they also will be well after by Parkes and Prentice. The two halves are evenly matched, and so it w T ill be readily seen that whatever difference there is in the teams will be in the forw r ards. La wry is a good hooker, but he will have his work cut out to defeat Campbell for possession. This player is raking well and is also a good forwa.u in the heavy stuff. With a good young pack, Richmond should make the game lively all the way. CITY v. ATHLETIC This game, to be staged on No. 2 area, Carlaw' Park, will at least be a fairly even and closely contested game, with City weakened by the recent injuries and Athletic showing improved

foirm every week. There should not be a great deal between these two teams. A. Yardley, who has been on the injured list for a while, will be seen out again. Watkins, a junior, who was tried out on the wing, shows promise, and will be tried again this week. Brjter, who ithooking for Athletic, is doing well. The last two Saturdays he has been up against the two best hookers in the League, Somers and Lawry, and he has got his share of the ball on both occasions. Lucas, the half, is playing good football for his side, and is a player of great promise, being young and keen. He should be in the running for representative honours when the selectors put their thinking caps on later in the season.

NEWTON v. DEVONPORT This game will be staged at the Shore, and should be a hard, fast game from start to finish. Newton has shown good form this season, having been defeated on only one occasion, while Devonport seeiyis to be right at the top of its form. Perry, who played such a good game at full-back last Saturday, should now be assured of his position as last line of defence. Cleaver, who was unable to play last week owing to sickness, will be available again to-morrow. A. Scott, who made his first appearance this season against Ponsonby, will most likely continue on, now he has made a start. Pie is a very valuable man to his side. Webb will no doubt be kept close up to the pack after his showing last week. Shore’s forwards will be practically the same. Newton will no doubt have the services of Dufty this week after his enforced spell through an accident. Clarke, Newton’s break-away forward, will also be able to resume again. Stack, another of their leading forwards, will not be able to play for some time, which is a pity, for*this good forward was showing fine form. Given a fine day and a dry ball, this should be a fine game to watch, and many will journey across the water on Saturday to see it.