LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1552, 23 September 1912, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

TOUR OF "BLUES." THEY WALK OVER AUCKLAND. (Br Telejraph.—Fnn AMoelallon.l Auckland, September 21. Tho return match between the New South Wales ■ League football team and the Auckland representatives was played to-day on 'the Domain in the presence of about 9000 spectators. Tho ground' was fairly dry in-tho early stages of the gamo, but, aftor the interval, heavy rain- fell, making tbe ball slippery. Auckland failed to reproduce the form of the first game, and New South Wales had little difficulty in winning by 25 points to 2. ; New South Wales had the benefit of,a strong wind in tho first spell, and at once set up a hot attack. Auckland, however, put up a capital defence, and at times even assumed the offensive. Now South Wales obtained tho ball in the majority of the scrums, but the Auckland backs tackled splendidly, and the gamo had been in progress for sixteen minutes before there was any scoring. Hargraves was responsible for the first try. Hβ attempted to\boat too many men, with the result that half a dozen Blue forwards wcro left with a clear field, and Burge scored under the posts, Frawley converting. Ten minutes later a Blue forward rush pierced the Auckland defence, and Halloway scored at the corner. Frawley, however, failed at goal. New South Wales continued to ptcss, and, as the outcome of a passing rush, Frawley got over under the posts, but once more;no.goal was kicked. The score then read: Now South Wales, 11 points; Auckland, 0. Auckland now went all to pieces, and, until halftime, were almost always on the defensive. Heavy rain fell after play resumed. Early in tho second spoil Auckland rushed play into New South Wales territory, and, for on infringement, tho visitors were penalised, and Hargravra goaled. New South Wales, 11 points; Auckland, 2 points. The visitors apparently wcro roused by this reverse, and some clever work on the "blind side" by Halloway, Norman, and Frawley ended in a try for the Inst-nnmed. Norman failed at goal. Now South Wale?, 11 points. Auckland, 2 points. Shortly afterwards Norman, who was playing a great game, mad'j a fine opening for Frawley, who scored a simple try, and Xornian goaled. Now South Wales, 1!) points;- Auckland, 2 point". 'After this Auckland rarely got into thoir opponents' base, their poor play being a great disappointment to the crowd. Before "no side" was called, Norman and Frawley added unconverted trioa, the final score being: New South Wales, 25 points; Auckland, 2.points. The gaino was not particularly interesting, nor was the form of the winners very good, hut it was played in excellent spirit. The New South Wale-s players ieavo by the Maheno for Sydney to-morrow.

CANTEKBURY-HAWKE'S BAT. (By Telctraph.-Prcss AssociU'on.) . Napier, Poptembor 22. The Northern Union match, CnnteTbnry v. Hawko's Bay, was played at. M'l#.in Park yesterday, in the pre-sence of a moderate attendance. The ground was very rough, and a. high .wind militated agauist the success of tho game, which was comparatively uninteresting.. It ended in favour of Canterbury by 10 points to 8. In tlie first epell Shadbolt scored a fry for Canterbury, and Duvall one for Hawke's Bay. neither !>eing converted. In. the second spell. Read scored' for the visitors, and Shadbolt converted, and the latter also kicked a splendid penalty goal. P. M'Carthy also scored for the home, team, Johnson converting.

"GRAB! GRAB! GRAB!" (By Teleenph.-PreM Auociatloa.) Auckland, September 22. In the course of an explanation of the recent friction with' the Now Zealand League, nnd the criticisms which have appeared, Jlr. Miller, manager of tho New South Wales team, speaking on. behalf of himself and his co-manager Otr. Blue), said a statement inferring failure on tho part of the New South Wales'team to adhere to ifs financial agreement concerning the lour was absolutely contrary to fact. After referring to the attitude' (re. carding money mailers) of tho New Zealand tram in Australia, Mr. Miller said: "It appears to be a case of grab, grab! grab with the New Zealand Council, and 1 hope, in the interests of a good game, that, it will not. continue. The "other centres of the Dominion- do not appear satisfied with the way in which innttera are'being carried on at the headquarters of tho I/engue. : Mr. Miller went on to say that he did not make these statements with any feelins of antagonism, but simply to clear up any misapprehensions with regard to the conduct of the tour «o far a« (heir League wac concerned.