RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 19665, 19 September 1927, Page 10

RUGBY LEAGUE

OTAGO MAKE GOOD SHOWING AUCKLAND WINS A FINE GAME THE TEAMS. Auckland.—C. Dufty; three-quar-ters— G. Wade, C. Gregory, M. Little; live-eighths—M. Wetherall, S. Webb; half, li. M'lutyre; forwards—J. O’Brien. W. Homers, H. Dixon, L. Hutt, H. Payne, A. Clark. Otago.—Full-back, D. Sullivan; three-quarters—W. Clydesdale, B. Eckholf, 11. Oliver; five-eighths—E. M'Kcwen, J. Webber; half, H. Jacob; forwards—M. Quinn, T. Hunt, T. O’Connor, T. Townsend, J. O’Connor, H. Thomas. Despite two counter-attractions there were about 2,ODD people at the Caledonian Ground, when the first Auckland League team to visit Dunedin played Otago. Notwithstanding the predictions that Otago would bo hopelessly outclassed, the home team made a surprisingly good fight of it, particularly in the first spell. The Aucklanders came hero with a reputation of being a classy side, and they demonstrated beyond doubt that their reputation as such was fully justified. The hacks particularly showed resource, speed, and nippiness, plus combination. The latter factor in particular gave them the advantage over the Dark Blues. The visiting side included many players who are the idols of their city, and after seeing them in action this afternoon one would readily understand how crowds ranging from 8,000 to 20,000 Hock to Carlaw Park every Saturday. They gave the impression of taking matters a little easy, more especially in the earlier part of the proceedings, but even if this were the case they certainly were all out in the soueluding portion of the game. The first half was crammed with sparkling incident, and thosc_ present saw the League game in cxcelsis. There wore delightful passing movements started by both forwards and backs, and variety was lent to the exhibition by scissors movements and reverse passing. Man,' of these spectacular bouts ended through bad handling, this being due to overhand passing. _ln the second spell lobbed passing still flour■ ished, but the players connected moro cleanly. Wetherall, first five-eighth, was undoubtedly the star back of tbo team. Ho is a wonderfully tricky customer, although ho was inclined to overdo Ids theatrical stunting. He has a box full of tricks, but the Otago backs, after being badly deceived once or twice, cut short many of Jiis antics. Dully ,who was a member of the New Zealand team which met the Englishmen at Tahunn in August, 192-1, delighted the crowd to-day as he did then with his belly kicking. In tho second spell he replaeed. Gregory at centre, the latter going In lull-hack position. Dufty showed his versatility here, nno v as seen in practically every back - movement.

Gregory was brilliant at full-back, being safer on defence than Unity. S. Webb was not particularly impressive at second live-eighth, Oliver twice finding a gap between him and Wcllierall, the Otago wing man getting through to the goal line on one occasion (o score a great try.

Tlic young Newton half, .MHiityre, is a player wi Hi pnssiliil itios. ;i ml showed to-day that be has nil the tricks o! soiee of the older bands. IlnlortnmttcHy for his si«lo he was not always succes'-iul in iiis wily nuiiKcuvriiigs, his hn hit ol <1 i|>)ii nLr info Hie serum wit h his Imr.ds. ivsnlling in several penalties against the visitors. All the lonvinH were an impressive lot, (ho most sinking feature ill the play being their ability to handle the bull like bucks. Payne was outstanding in this respect. He retired hurt, in the second spell, ami was rephiccd by Hull. Dison and Clark eo-operaied in several of these passing inovemenls, tills trio he,iup, aim prominent in the nicks.

The Otago team, ailei a verv disappointing pc'rfe;a ,, "''e against Canterbury last Mat unlay. played with astonr-hing viin. and although ihe gaum went at a good pace niosi nl the alternonn ail the players lasted well until (he emi. Tin' maul id eliorl s ol the Dark Hines demonstrated that Otago has heller League players than some recent peiTonnanos would have led ono to suspect. they were meeting the cream of League plovers m the dominion, and il mint he conceded that they were it sponHhle for surprisingly pood showing that shonl-l give heart to the supporters in Dunedin. Sullivan. lull-hack, was iipiiiii disappointing:, tailing to pick up cleanly and hesitating too much. Clydesdale, on the winp. rravo another super!) perlonnance, and nest. to Oliver was the host back sin his side. Oliver showed a lot ol dash, but was inclined to cut in too ninth; but, unlike most, of the Otago backs, bo look his passes whilst on tho nunc. .Mdlvcwen inis also a habit of receiving Im jne-rs when stationary, but gave (piite a fair performance. Webber did not handle well, but Jacob, the hall, was tpiiic the equal ol tho opposing man (,Ininn. Tom O’Connor, and Townsend (oiled valiaiillv and were strenuously engaged all the afternoon. Tho former was ono ol tin; best lornards on tho ground. FIRST SPELL. \W the rail set tlm ball rolling for Auckland, and Clydesdale, the Otago wing, returned play to past halfway. Ahimst immediately the Auckland halves got moving, but the passing broke down at Webb (second iiveeiglnlH, and Oliver cut into the, passing only to see Auckland once more swing into action. x Tim first incident of note, came when Wade (wing) I.mud a hole in the field whh a good punt. Little (wing) following last to score a good try a tier three in nni i •■-' play. Unity converted. Auckland o, Otago 0. Auckland’ inamuiined flic pressure until Oliver (wing) made a solo break through,’ the movement coming to naught through lack of support. Wetlicnill picked up in the loose, bn tornado little ground before being collared, running towards tlio flank. Gregory made a jmky run, but was caught in possession, play hanging round halfway until MHntyre’ (half) sent his backs a wav from a scrum, all handling to Webb,'who cut in, and was caught in possession. Auckland passing from’ midfield broke down, aud O-kiiutf (.control made

Stce opening for Webber ([second fiveeighth), who elected to kick when he Ewd three men outside him. Gregory aleared the line, and a penalty kick to Otago was taken by Sullivan, , who failed to goal. Otago passing broke down at Webber {second five-eighth), but Oliver (wing), who was following fast, fielded a rebound off the post after M'lntyre failed to gather, and scored an unexpected try. Sullivan converted, making the scores; Auckland 5, Otago 5. Play was fast and interesting, and veered up and down field at a groat pace. , A free kick to Auckland was taken by Dufty, who failed to goal, Otago forcing. The Auckland rearguard was showing a nippiness in attack that was lacking in the home backs, though the forwards were fairly well matched. Gregory had an unsuc- . cessful pot at goal, and then Otago launched an attack, Clydesdale (wing) making a solo run, which failed to culminate after Webber and Oliver had handled. Hunt and Clydesdale were in the van of an Otago loose rush, but hard kicking let Auckland force. A minute later the scone of operations changed, and passing initiated by M'lntyre nearly let Wade score after a delightful bout of passing, Sullivan coming across to catch Wade at the corner. , ~ Clark showed up in passing by the Auckland van, which was checked by an infringement, Clydesdale clearing to halfway. Auckland was not to be ibnied. however, and Gregory made an opening as the result of which Auckland worked to the Otago twenty-five. The Auckland forwards, in which Clark and Payne wore prominent, were reeding their backs cleverly, but the Otago tackling was fairly sound, and eventually Eckhoff relieved the situation. * Little (wing) and Clark were in a nice bout of in-and-out passing on the right flank, Clydesdale, who was getting through a lot of work, checking the movement. . . . , Following an exchange ot kicks, Dufty (full-back) made a nice opening for Wetherall, who handed on to Wade, O’Brien, a speedy scrummager, coming into the movement to finish with a good try in handy position. Dufty converted Auckland 10, Otago 5. It was all Auckland n9W, and a minute later Dixon was in a clean breakaway which took play deep udo Otago territory before he was brought to earth. Jacob (half-back) dribbled through from a scrum, but Wad© stopped him at halfway. A little later Jacob sent the ball away cleanly from a scrum, but passing broke down at Webber (second five-eighths) after gaining little ground, the transfers all being taken at the stand. The Light Blue swept down the field a minute later, and Wade cross-kicked cleverly, but a likely score from the following movement failed to come off through an infringement. With Auckland attacking, Sullivan fielded a high kick, and eluding several men passed to Clydesdale, who punted into the Auckland twenty-five. Webb, the visitors’ second five-eighths, made a clever opening for Gregory, and the centre “jinked” his way through too opposition until, with Wade in good position, ho scut on to the wing, who scored, Dufty converting. Auckland 15, Otago 5. Otago rushed play to the other end, and obtaining in midfield Oliver made a dazzling run, and after almost losing the ball on the line held it and dived over to score well-earned try. Sullivan failed to convert. Auckland 15, Otago 8. The Otago forwards, with Townsend and Quinn in the van of a dribbling rush, now took a hand, and for a time the defence of the visitors was well tested, Gregory eventually clearing. Jacob, the home half, broke through on his own and “ grubbed ” a kick along the ground which put Otago in good position. M'Kewen (first fiveeighth) made an opening for Oliver on the wing, but the latter was caught after cutting in. Townsend, who was showing to considerable advantage in the Otago pack, T. O’Connor, and M'Kowen were at the head of a loose burst from which the last named snapped up smartly and dashed for the line, being brought down near the corner. Play of a fairly even nature followed until half-time was sounded with the score;— Auckland 15 Otago 8 i SECOND HALF. | Otago were at it right from the start of the second spoil, Townsend slipping and losing the ball when lie had a rare chance of getting home. Gregory, who was proving an elusive customer, burdied au opponent, dodging after a couple of others, but did not get far, the Otago vanguard taking charge. There was a brief tusfe on the Auckland line, where Quinn grounded. Sullivan failed to put on the trimmings. Auckland 15, Otago 11. Wetherall again delighted the crowd with his prancing and dancing through the opposition, but the solid tackling of the Blues kept him within bounds. All the Auckland backs were seen in a brilliant passing movement, Little being flung out of touch. Payne, the Auckland forward, who was playing magnificently, handling as well as any back on his side, made a jinky run that added little grist to the mill. A nioment later Wetherall passed to O’liricu, who was brought to earth. There were some bright flashes of back play which delighted the \crowd, both sides throwing the ball about with vim. Payne, who had been playing a brilliant game in the' pack, had to retire with a leg injury, and was replaced by Hall. Thomas started an Otago passing movement, which terminated when Clydesdale was thrown out of touch. Another scrum infringement saw Dufty place Auckland in good position, but spoiling tactics by Eckhoff regained the lost ground. Another long kick by Dufty gained nothing, Auckland being penalised for ah illegal tackle, which was purely accidental, Auckland swept downfleld again in snappy passing, which reached Little, who in-passed to Unity after a splendid run, the full-back being collared by Sullivan at the comer. Webb followed briskly and gathered in to score a rather lucky try. Dufty converted with a good kick. Auckland 20, Otago 11.

Otago came into the picture following the kick-oil', and hard-working Clydesdale made a mnant dash, to be upended short ot the line, there being nobody in support. The Dark Blues’ deleuce was sorely tried, but mishandling prevented tne Auckland rearguard irom adding to the score. The pantomimics of Wetnerall caused some amusement, the bnlliaut Auckland liveeighths getting back frequently to till tne hole in the held. Little, who was proving one ol Uie enterprising backs on ins side, gained a big slice oi ground with a dashing run and by “dummying'’ Jus way through to' the hue, micro lie was upended. Ho was almost over again a minute later, but laned to gainer, and Utago cleared. A kick into Gregory’s Hands looked dangerous, tlio Lignt tiluo backs being seen in another sparkling picco of passing. The (Jiago backs now took a hand, tne ball going from Jacob through mo three-quarter lino, Clydesdale making a bold dash for the line. .Instead or sending infield, however, he elected to beat the full-back, and was caught in possession, 'Webb was in difficulties, but managed to relieve by finding touch. Sullivan fielded a long kick by Dufty, but charged into an opponent’s hands. The Otago full-back lost the ball, and Little, who appeared on the scene fast, failed to gather, , The Otago backs were caught badly out of position, T. O’Connor, who was proving one of Otago's best forwards, saving the situation. . A moment later the same player broke away, but did net get very far. Mintyre gained possession, and sent on t> .Webb, who threatened danger before being spreadeagled. Auckland was being repeatedly penalised for scrum infringements, the half-back frequently' cheekily taking the ball out » of the scrunv

Webb performed like a merry-go-round, and ran across field, without gaining much ground-. Little was the next Aucklander to show up, but this time Sullivan made sure of his man, and brought him down. T. O’Connor was chiefly responsible for taking play to halfway, participating in a back passing movement. There was an exchange of kicks between Clydesdale and Gregory, which ended wdth honors easy. M'Kewen, with a lucky speculator, put Otago over the half lino temporarily ono of the few times this had happened during the second spell. The aggressive Eckhoff battered his way through the. opposition, but little-gain resulted to the homo side. Eckhoff attempted to emulate Dufty s goal kicking feats, and from a penalty kick he put a groat kick over from a difficult angle about 35yds out. Auckland 20, Otago 13. MTvcwen started the next Otago passing movement, but it failed to culminate. Just before time tliero was a sparkling bout of passing, in which most of the Auckland backs handled, Little looking to havo a clear run in; but Sullivan came across field, and smothered a pass to Clark, a forward, who followed very fast on the flank. Time was sounded, with the scores: Auckland 20 Otago 13 Mr G. Packer was the referee. VISITORS ENTERTAINED. Tho Auckland team was entertained at dinner by tho local executive on Saturday evening, Mr Rice (president)"'' being in the chair. Yesterday the team was motored to Taieri Mouth. CHRISTCHURCH CLUB SEMI-FINAL Hornby 18, Sydenham 6. JUNIOR FINAL Citv defeated Athletic by 10 points to nil. City win the Junior,Cup. Mr J. Byrne was referee. AUCKLAND COMPETITION Richmond H Dcvonport 6