LEAGUE RUGBY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 693, 19 June 1929, Page 13

LEAGUE RUGBY

Next Saturday’s games: Newton v. Ponsonby. Marist* v. Richmond. Kingtland v. Shore. Ellerslie v. City. The feature game for Saturday is Sound to be the Newton-Ponsonby -.xture. There is nothing else on the irds which looks as though it might rove more interesting. Throughout season Newton has been a consistent performer, while the ability of the onies is well known after last week’s ..eat battle. A good game should . A Grtat Game Last Saturday's game between Ponaby and Devonport was undoubtedly e greatest match seen on Carlaw ark this season. It had a real interzonal flavour about it, and every layer on the field played like a man nspired. Over 12,000 fans witnessed he match, and this must be nearly a ecord for an inter-club game. Some indication of the interest which was maintained throughout the game may * gathered from the fact that no one jas seen leaving the park until tl*e ■nal whistle. The issue was in doubt aotfl the last.* The match was a splendid indic«tion of clean and clever football, ■*d members of both the Shore and Ponsonby sides must be conuntulated. There were no injuries received. * Scott's Injury chore’s supporters were caused '°rry when Alf Scott, the Devonport ader, was not able to take the field ■ the big match against Ponsonby. of course, Scott’s knee injury r Mch was responsible for his absence, •en for the match against Kingsland••hletic, although there will be no regarding Shore’s safety in spite kingsland’s determination to fight **7 inch, Scott is not at all sure that ‘av’I** 1 ** be in the correct condition for Another Shore man who has sucto injury is Beattie. He has ■i ln Jur*»d hip and may be missing Saturday’s side. Shore’s quota i r lnj , Uries been as heavy as those by other teams this season, ii w c * larn Pions have scarcely been jy* a disadvantage yet. Devon - J has a first-rate set of substitutes, saw the tussle -with Ponsonby ® Ihe sideline and his opinion on , Yras certainly the opinion of •e big crowd. “There was nothing the teams,” he said.

Notes and Comment.

Ellerslie fielded its complete back line, there is no saying what Richmond would have met. It was another stroke of bad luck for Ellerslie. Olliff, the clever half, was on the sideline, but he is certain to be playing against City o n Saturday. Hemingway, who

Shore’s Bright Chances The Shore Leaguers have indeed the very brightest of chances of clinching the championship honours for this season now that they have got Ponsonby out of the way. The Ponies always threatened tef give them trouble. Every playing Saturday during the first round was * favoured with line weather, and such conditions certainly assisted to a great extent in giving Shore the leading honours, but it is not likely that such ideal playing conditions will prevail throughout the present round. In wet weather Shore, which features the snappy, open style of play, may find it difficult to make such a good showing. Playing in mud and slush would not suit the seasiders and under such conditions any of the four, Newton, City, Richmond and especially Marists, has chances of defeating them. A Crack Centre While many critics may take List as the centre threequarter for the next Auckland rep. team, after last Saturday’s game, they have another guess coming to pick on the most heady centre in senior football. This is the Ponsonby rearguarder, “Spot” Riley, who gave a brilliant exhibition on Saturday and who has played with remarkable consistency throughout the season. He is certainly not the showy type of player, and possibly this is why he has been so often overlooked; but he undoubtedly has football brains and knows how to use them. Out Again Recovered from an injury and his illness, Telford, the handy Richmond forward, will bo in action again next Saturday. His services will be required by Richmond. Coote, the young back, who has shown more than usual promise, was also on the sideline last Saturday with an injured knee, but he expects to be able to pace it with the rest of the backs of his side in the approaching game with Marist.

More Bad Luck Richmond’s win over Ellerslie was not altogether the success the Richmond followers had hoped for. and. had

could not turn out as centre last Saturday, is expected to tile oat with Olliff, so weight is added to Ellerslie’s promise that City will meet a solid team. "With Duftv at fullback. Ellerslie should hays hopes of an efficient defence. Impressive Hanlon For coolness, no fullback in League is impressing more than Hanlon, of Richmond. Hanlon is carrying our his responsibilities with a high degree of efficiency and his knowledge ot positional play is proving of immense advantage to Richmond. There are other good defensive players in Richmond and it is certain that Richmond’s attacking line, holding McKinnon. Hamilton and Mincham m important positions already, could as -well do with Hanlon s judgment m a scoring position as for the team to keep him at fullback. . Still Has Dash • Shaver" Hardgrave has lost none of his dash this season and is definitely the best scoring back for NewI ton. Hardgrave's knack of sidestepping gives him a big advantage, and he has a fine turn of speed to ! depend on. , , | Newton's backs have not settled down as quickly as some of the other teams this season and have been decided! v below form on several occasions*. Assisted by better combination than has been seen in one or two recent matches. Hardgrave could have reaped a liberal harvest of points. As it is, he makes many of lus chances but Newton really played a sound * back game against Marist. This can i b<? t*ken as an indication of better I.things.