SHORE DOWNS ELLERSLIE BY A BIG MARGIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 703, 1 July 1929, Page 6

SHORE DOWNS ELLERSLIE BY A BIG MARGIN

L. O’LEARY IN FORM The Devonport Leaguers were again successful on Saturday in clinching a victory over Ellerslie by 19-5. Although Devonport won by a substantial margin, the play of the Shore men was by no means up to its usual standard. Shore was without the services of Beattie and T. O'Leary in the backs, and this no doubt made a difference. Alf Scott played his first game for several weeks. Dufty, who is reported to be going to Melbourne to play the Australian

Rules game, did not turn out for Ellerslie. Ellerslie was also short of one or two other men, and filled up with juniors. DEVONPORT TOO SOLID There was no score in the first 20 minutes. Ellerslie played a good bustling game in the forwards, but gradually the Shore pack wore them down and got their backs going. St. George hooked well. L. O’Leary played a clever game at centre for Shore. He scored two dashing tries. Ellerslie played solidly, but its game was chiefly of an individual nature. F. Chapman and R. Crewther did good work in the backs, while Grogan and A. Chapman were tireless in the forward line. Easily the most outstanding player on the visitors’ side was Oliff, the half-back. This diminutive player was everything that a good half should be. Wherever speed and neatness were required, Oliff was on the spot. For Devonport, Simons at fullback played his usual good game. Rhodes was handy at live-eighth, while Rule and Ruby showed to advantage in the forwards. The scorers were:—For Devonport: L. O’Leary two tries, L. Scott, Rule and Seager a try each; Simons, two conversions. For Ellerslie: Quirke, one try and Oliff a conversion. Mr. McCowatt was referee.

DOWN AGAIN RICHMOND BEATEN BY IMPROVED CITY SIDE Failing to Hit anything approaching its first of season form with which it threatened to rival seriously the best sides in the senior grade competition, the Richmond League thirteen was outclassed by City on No. 2 ground, Carlaw Park, on Saturday, and defeated decisively by 24 points to 0. In a nutshell, the game was a dour struggle in mud and slush, relieved at times by clever rearguard play on the part of the City side. Just why the League officials should permit a team of juniors to take the same ground earlier in the afternoon and stir it up into a regular quagmire for the seniors, is difficult to say. With the players slithering about in all directions and the ball very greasy, the City backs did remarkably well in handling the leather as they did. The pace they set up was one of the chief factors of their victory.

Then again, City also appeared to have the advantage in the forward division, especially as far as weight was concerned. The wet conditions of the ground appeared to suit its forwards admirably, and they wallowed into it, to play havoc with the Richmond defence.

As for Richmond, it seems to have lost all that uncanny combination which led it to victory against the finest thirteens in the competition. On Saturday its defence; was patchy, and City appeared to have little trouble in finding the weak spots. Hanlon, at fullback, was as safe as a church, and had it not been for his sure handling and great defensive work, the score against Richmond would probably have been much greater.

Undoubtedly one of the features of the same was the duel between the fullbacks, Watene and Hanlon. With the ball so heavy, spectacular long punting was of course out of the question, but even so they were both continually in the limelight with clever play generally. There is one fact most noticeable in regard to the City side. This is the way in which it has altered its style of play. When it played that stirring battle with the Shore Leaguers in the first round and fans cited it as a likely team to put Shore under. City was throughout a forward team, and its veakness in the back division was eallv the reason for its failure in not naking a better showing on that occa;ion. Now, however, City has a strong [ml good combining back line, itrengthened a great deal by the services of McLaughlin at centre. As a forward he was indeed a handy man to his side, but as a rearguarder his services are certainly more valuable. He dummies nicely and made some clever moves during the game on Saturday, making good open-

ings for both McLaughlin wingers, Barchard and Perry. And since Prentice has been unable to take the field, Richmond has not teen the same team. At five-eighth he was a heap of strength, and with the assistance of a fine loose forward, Jenkinson, who can always take his place in a passing bout, lie was always dangerous to an opposing team. Then, with the bad conditions underfoot, the speedy winger, Mincham, could not get going, and in fact did not see a great deal of the ball during the game. Of the forwards, Jenkinson, McDonald, Telford and especially Rennie, were outstanding for Richmond, while Hamilton, Barchard, Clarke and Hadley proved an invincible quartet for City. Favoured with plenty of weight, Lerinie was the one Richmond packman who could well stand up to the onslaughts of the hefty City pack, but such men as Colebrook, although always at it and putting plenty of vim into the play, were too light for the heavy going.