BRILLIANT WIN FOR NORTH AUCKLAND

Chronicle (Levin), 22 August 1946, Page 8

BRILLIANT WIN FOR NORTH AUCKLAND

AUSTRALIANS OUTCLASSEI) WHANGAREI, August 21. ' In a briiliant exhibition of ihe Rugby code at Whangarei today, North Auekland scored a meritorious viclory over the touring Australians by 32 points to 19. The game, the iirst of the Waratah ;s New Zealand tour, was the krst that the north has .won from an international side. Thrilling back niovemeuts and rousing forward play, particularly in the second spell, made the game a memorable spectacle for the (iUOU people present. The opening stanza was very evenly contested and the score stood at 3 all at the intervai. Australia scored a quick try on resumption but from then on the home team came into its own and, outclassing the visitors in all phases of plhy, raced .away to a eommanding lead and gave the Australians no ehauce of really fighting back. The visitors played attractive football' but the inside backs le,t fhe North-' laiiders through on many oecaSions, -By ..adqptfn|£ ?r°Xe: -of; ^ppOBiu.nist^ and uegl'ecting thtsir tadlcling. ■ :i- f 4 Australia iiooked tlie ball from 22 of the 38 set serums and gained poss.ession from 21 of the 34 line-outs but their backs could not make much impression on the North Auckland back line who tackled resolutely. The star of the game was Johnny dmith who repealedly left the opposing three-ciuarters standing with briiliant changes of direction and jiowerful running. His fellow ex-Kivvi, Ike Proc.tor, at Iirst iive-eiglith, also jilayed an outstauding game and Smith 's younger brother, Peter, outside Proctor, was (irisp and enterprising. The full back, G-len Hook, gave a very versatile display and ehimed in 011 the back movenients beaatifully. These tactics earned him a try. All the North Auckland forwards played niagnilicent football and their rousing ruslies with the ball at toe and fast following up, had the Australians non-plyssed. Hancox, Squire, Fraser and Isaacs constituted the spearhead of the North forwar.d attack. For Australia the stars were East.es on the wing and Allan at centre. Both are very fast with briiliant swerves and deft liands. Gremin found Proctor 's taekling too deadly and was alvvays floored when he tried to break through. Cooke, Buchanan and Windon were the best Australiitn forwards but none of them bore comparison with the ieaders of the North paek. For North Auckland ..flies were scored by C. Hancox (2), J. B. Smith, S. Pausina, I. Proctor, E. Weston arid G. Hook. J. Isaacs kicked a penalty goal and converted one try. P. Smith converted three tries. Australia 's points came from three tries by Eastes, a try each by Allan and Burke, and two conversions by Livermore.