SHORE LEAGUERS LEAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 359, 21 May 1928, Page 6

SHORE LEAGUERS LEAD

Saturday's Stirring Battle RICHMOND DOWN—NOT DISGRACED Record Attendance of Fans A RECORD attendance so far this season—9,ooo witnessed the big attraction at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon when Devonport clinched the lead in the Rugby League championship competition by defeating Richmond by 12 points to 7. On No. 2 ground, assisted by the invaluable services of Delgrosso, Ponsonby made a bold bid to gain a victory over Marist Bros., but after a hard-fought game left the field losers by a four-point margin.

A CCORDING to the large number of enthusiasts which crowded the stand and terraces round the main playing area, it was evidently anticipated that a game between the two unbeaten teams in the Rugby League championship competition could only result in a brilliant display of the code. And so it was; for throughout the game seemed to have an international flavour about it, and was by far the finest contest witnessed at League headquarters this season. Play among both the forwards and the rearguards of both thirteens was well up to the mark, and the fans showed their appreciation of a hard-fought, fast and open game, by loud and prolonged cheers. NO ROUGH PLAY There were two noticeable but pleasing features connected with the game. Firstly, the fine sporting spirit in which the game was played. Not at any stage was rough play seen, and Shore and Richmond gave an exhibition of how the game is meant to be played—a marked difference from some of the other senior fixtures which have taken place this season. Secondly, the great improvement in tackling, especially among the Richmondites, who, by going low, stopped many of Devonport’s desperates rushes and passing bouts. When the teams lined out, Levonport’s thirteen representatives seemed to tower above the lighter and more youthful Richmond men, and weight told a tale in the latter stages of the game. When the match started Richmond was away immediately with its usual dash and ran up a few points in a, surprisingly short time. But Shore got into its stride after about 30 minutes’ play and its backs and forwards alike, with heaps of speed and stamina., combined exceptionally well and started to run up the points. ST. GEORGE'S HOOKING Without the services of St. George there is just a possibility that Shore may have lost the game. As a hooker St. George, a big hefty fellow, is a crack-a-jack, and from 90 per cent, of the scrums he got the ball, and this gave the "black’ rearguard members some golden opportunities which in many cases they took full advantage of. But Ruby, Casey, Lixon, Hunt and Alf Scott were all hard at it and in some part of the game each one had a share of the limelight. For Ruby it was a regular day out, and he could well be ranked among the four best forwards on the field. Always up with the play and throwing his weight about, he played havoc at different times. His score was a fine one and was the result of good following up. Casey and Lixon gave great displays in the open and were invincible on the attack, while Alf Scott, as usual, was in the thick of it throughout. One of the star forwards among the Richmondites was Colebrook. His spoiling tactics upset many of Shore’s movements, while he was undoubtedly the gamest forward on the field. Jenkinson, with a bit of speed up his sleeve, did not miss any opportunities, and the Stewart brothers, Jones and McCarthy proved themselves a very solid quartet. Among the "well-fed” Devonport backs, Beattie was for a time the shining light, but during the game he hurt his ankle and this seemed to take a lot of pep out of him. L. Scott

proved himself the crack wing threequarter of the day, and after his recent performances should find a place in any of the rep. teams. Richmond made it its business not to send the leather in his direction, for he is a great scoring man and takes a heap of stopping. Wells at full-back is a newcomer to the Shore team, and although perhaps a little uncertain at times is sure to improve with more experience. Although certainly unlike his usual methods, T. Hanlon, the Richmond full-back, waited for the bounce on one or two occasions and he was lucky not to let his side down. Swift, on the wing, although very light, was true to his name and put in some good runs. Davis was quite at home, lurking behind the scrum, and he had two reliable backs with him in Wheaton and Prentice. Taylor at centre did some wonderful kicking, but in the rearguard rushes when, to pass out to the wings was obviously the correct thing, he invariably cut in, which got him into trouble. In loose rushes, however, he was very prominent. The points were gained:

For Devonport: Wells (two penalty goals; converted a try), A. Scott (try), Ruby (try). For Richmond: Taylor (two penalty goals), Colebrook (try).