DEVONPORT’S FIRST CHECK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 684, 8 June 1929, Page 12

DEVONPORT’S FIRST CHECK

Marist Draws With Champions

TODAY’S LEAGUE MATCHES

rE champion club team of the Auckland League, Devonport, received its first check this season at Carlaw Park today. "With four of its best men unavailable, the seasiders were lucky to make a draw of it against Marist, chiefly due to the goal-kicking of Simons. The Ponsonby backs were the deciding factor in that team’s decisive victory over City. Kingsland easily beat Ellerslie, and Newton carried too many guns for Richmond in a closely contested game on No. 2 area.

Shore v. Marists 1 The teams: Marist.—Campbell, McDonald. Brady, Batchelor, Gregory, Brisbane, Hassan, Courtenay, Duane, Moisley, O’Brien, Campbell, Johnson. Devon port.—L. Simons, O'Leary, Beatty, L. Scott, O’Leary, Rhodes, Coghlan, Saxon, Ruby, Rule, Clarke, St. George, Casey. With a number of its best players out of the team because of injuries, Shore was far from its usual strength. Play opened in lively fashion, the Tykes battling hard and keeping play for the most part in its favour. Shore was not featuring the combination in its movements as of past Saturdays, and at times it appeared as though the versatile Brisbane would break through its defensive to score. Ridiculous off-side play spoiled many chances for Marists. From a scrum in the Shore area, Marists secured and started a loose in-and-out passing bout, which ended when Brady whipped in a pass to send “Pope” Gregory for a converted try under the posts: Marists 5, Devonport 0. The Tykes again rushed away in a jazzy passing turn, which took them within an ace of scoring. Then, Saxon’s clearing kick was smothered, and Johnson raced to touch for Marist’s second try. The kick failed: Marists S, Devonport 0. A smart kick-through by Ruby put Shore on the attack. A penalty against Marists under the posts saw Simon goal, making the score B—2.8 —2. Again on the attack, Marists pounded at the Shore defence. Brady rushed down the line to score a-good try in the far corner. Gregory converted. Half-time: e Marists 13 Devonport 2 A few minutes of play and a penalty against Marists gave Simons another chance to goal, making the score 13 —4. Another penalty against Marists saw Simons again step out to kick, making the score 13 —6. Then came Shore’s first try of the day. Len Scott put in a brilliant run down the line to cross-kick and for Ruby to race up and score. Simons converted: Marists 13, Devonport 11. Matters now became interesting, and play most willing. Then as time drew near Marists was again penaiised in its own territory and Simons evened the score with a swerving kick. Final score: Marists 13 Devonport 13 City v. Ponsonby The teams were: Ponsorfey. Peckham, Schofield, Riley, 'Winters, Thompson, Delgrosso, Mclntyre. Kimberley. Payne, Hutt, Skelton, Fagan, Moore. City.—L. Barchard. Lawrence, Watene, Hall, Iveson, W. Perry, Reynolds, Hamilton, Pascoe, Barchard, Hadley, McLaughlan, Clarke. City jumped into its stride immediately and worked the Ponies to a hard defensive. Play evened. A neat passing turn featuring all the Ponsonby backs opened the game up. A wild pass by one of the Ponies gave City its chance and McLaughlan pounded through to score well out. Watene missed the kick. City 3, Ponsonby 0. One of City’s characteristic forward rushes took it to the attack where Pascoe scooped up from the loose and sent Hamilton over. Watene converted making the score B—o. Ponsonby rallied, and a great burst of passing in the City twenty-five ended in Winters scoring a, brilliant try- No goal. City 8, Ponsonby 3. Ponsonby was now finding its best form. A little later, another fine bout of passing between Thompson, Riley and Schofield ended in the latter scoring. Delgrosso just missed. City 8, Ponsonby 6.

wards came round the scrum in their own twenty-five off-side, and Del - grosso made the scores equal with a good goal. Half a minute later, Hutt scored the softest try of the match through mistakes by Laurie. Barchard and W. Perry, who miskicked behind his goal line. Hutt simply dived for the ball and scored. No goal. Half-time score: Ponsonby 11 City 8 The second half opened at a fast rate, Ponsonby having the better of the opening exchanges. The Blue and Black rearguard was now playing at its best, and all the backs took part in a movement which ended in Winters in-passing to Riley for a nice try in the corner. No goal. Ponsonby 14, City S. Delgrosso flashed out a few minutes later in a brilliant piece of solo play, completely beating the City insides for a try under the posts. The scorer goaled. Ponsonby 19, City 8. City rallied, and from a scrum Reynolds passed to Iveson, to Laurie Barchard, who scored in the corner. No goal, Ponsonby 19, City 11. Ponsonby got another presentation try a few minutes later, when Watene threw a pass to Iveson, which hit the latter on the shoulder and bounced into Riley’s hands. Riley raced over without a hand being laid on him. Delgrosso goaled. Ponsonby 24, City 11. A little later a smart piece of work by Delgrosso ended in Schofield scoring in the corner. No goal. Ponsonby 27, City 11. Skelton showed out a minute afterwards for Thompson to score, under the posts. Delgrosso goaled. Ponsonby 32, City 11. The game was now becoming very one-sided. Schofield raced over for an easy try which Delgrosso converted. Ponsonby 37. City 11. There was no further score. Final result: Ponsonby 37 City 11 Richmond v. Newton In the big game on Carlaw Park No. 2, the teams lined out as follow: Richmond.—Backs: Hanlon, Coote, Hamilton, Mincham, Noble, McKinnon, Prentice; forwards: Jenkinson, Colebrook, McDonald, Telford, Jones Lennie. Newton.—Backs: McLeod, Mardgrave, Butterworth, Little, Brimble, K. Peckham, Cammick: forwards: Francis, Hall, Norman. Middleton, Page, Hammond. Referee: Mr. V. Simpson. Newton clapped on the pace and Hardgrave stepped down touch in three lively runs. Newton pressed heavily and Francis just missed a bouncing ball on Richmond’s line. When Butterworth sent Hardgrave flying across in a corner, a section of the crowd objected to the referee’s ruling of no-try. Richmond was by no means in sparkling shape and Newton was enterprising at this stage. Richmond livened and the crowd applauded a clever run by Hanlon. Already with one man, Coote, hurt, Richmond lost Prentice when he received a painful hand smash. Francis came through for Newton, Hall scoring and Hardgrave goaling. Newton 5, Richmond 0. Page scored a simple try for Newton, Hardgrave again goaling. Hamilton notched a penalty for Richmond, the half-time score being: Newton 10 Richmond . . . 2 Dashes by Hardgrave ha dßichmond guessing early in the second half. Richmond took a hand and Coote, who had returned for the second spell, scored from the loose. Hamilton sent over a big kick. Newton 10, Richmond 7. Hardgrave intercepted a Richmond pass right on his own line, ran the length of the field to outpace the defenders and score. Brimble’s kick hit the bar. Newton 13, Richmond 7. Newton just managed to break up two smart Richmond rushes but a third saw Coote take a pass to score. Hamilton missed. Newton 13, Richmond 10. Francis, Brimble, Butterworth and Hardgrave handled, bLit off-side play lost a try. Then Mincham, for Richmond, gave Jenkinson a chance, but the forward was overhauled. The final score: Newton 13 Richmond 10 Ellerslie v. Kingsland Unluckily for* Ellerslie, its hack-line was disorganised—Littlewood and Roxburgh, two absentees, being rumoured to have gone over to City Rugby—in the game with Kingsland. The teams were: Ellerslie.—R. Johnson. Grogan. F. Chapman, Bennett, R. and S. Crewther, Olliff, A. Chapman, Hobbs, Cook. H. Crewther, Dance and Quirke. Kingsland-Athletic. Longville, R. Carter, List, Christmas, Nasey, Angelo. Lucas, York. Railey, Wilcox, J. Carter, H. Carter, Simms. Referee, Mr. A. Rae. From the beginning. R. Carter ran strongly, but was pushed into touch. Another run and the winger shot over for a fine try. Longville sent over a big kick. Kingsland 5, Ellerslie 0. After 20 minutes’ play Longville sent over a splendid penalty kick and Ell- ] erslie was seven points down. Ellerslie had a turn, but, after all the backs handed, a forward pass ruined the move. Ellerslie continued to press, but Olliff missed a penalty. Ellerslie lost a good forward when A. Chapman received a severe shin injury.

Even play took place for the rest of the half which ended with two more points for Kingsland when Longville kicked a penalty. The score was: Kingsland 9 Ellerslie 0 Ellerslie was unlucky in not cross;ng early in the next piece, but it was lot long before List replied by racing jver for a clever try. Longville sent his kick over and Kingsland led 14—0. Olliff and S. Crewther. shone in an

Ellerslie passing bout, and then F. Chapman got clean away, handing to Cook, who scored. S. Crewther converted- Kingsland 14, Ellerslie 5. Cook gained ground for Ellerslie with a huge kick, but Kingsland c ft me back. Solid play saw Wilcox hand to List, who scored, Longville missing. Kingsland 17, Ellerslie 5. Cook argued against a ruling by Mr. Rae and was ordered off. Ellerslie attacked at no-side and the score was: Kingsland - Athletic 17 Ellerslie .. •• «. .. 5