COMPETITION EVENED UP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 661, 13 May 1929, Page 6

COMPETITION EVENED UP

Close Going in Senior League CITY RISES TO THE OCCASION CLOSELY-FOUGHT games on Saturday, with one unexpected result, still sees the senior League competition presenting a rare problem for so early in the season. Even the lowly Ellerslie rose to it on Saturday and kept the champions from Devonport hard put to it to win, while Brimble’s goal-kicking- was the deciding factor against Kingsland in its great fight to take Newton down a peg. The tit-bit of Saturday’s bill of fare was City’s unexpected defeat of Richmond, which leaves the Rel-and-Blacks and Devonport the only two unbeaten teams. Marist dropped another two points to the rapidly improving- Ponsonby side. Delgrosso’s leadership being- the outstanding feature of a good, clean game.

Littlewood, got the leather and after a great run down the side-line was successful in getting over. Hemingway kicked another penalty and converted a try by Johnson, which brought Ellerslie’s total up to 12, with about 15 minutes to play. The home side needed only a converted try to win, and it kept the Shore men on the jump right up to time, and was considered perhaps unlucky to lose, as the final score remained: Devonport 16. Ellerslie 12. The Ellerslie half-back, “Shorty” Olliff, has the makings of a fine player. He has the advantage of speed, but is rather lacking in weight. Hemingway’s kicking was faultless. He kicked two penalties and converted one try. Ellerslie’s effort to stave off defeat was a decidedly plucky one when it is remembered that Devonport’s total was 16 before they opened their account.