RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 24232, 16 September 1940, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

AUCKLAND REMAINS UNBEATEN NARROW WIN AGAINST WELLINGTON (United Pres? Association) WELLINGTON, September 14. Securing almost a monopoly of the ball from set scrums and showing plenty of penetrative ability in the backs the Auckland Rugby team defeated Wellington by 12 points to 10 at Athletic Park today, thereby maintaining its unbeaten record. Each side scored two tries, a dropped goal by Hare, Auckland full-back, from 40 yards out being a substantial contribution to his side’s winning margin, but the two-points margin scarcely indicated the difference between the teams. Wellington played solidly but on the day Auckland was clearly master of the game and its win was thoroughly merited. The conditions were ideal and there was a crowd of 14,000. Before the game the players were introduced to the Governor-General, Lord Galway. The Auckland players looked very smart in the new jerseys presented to them by the manager, Mr A. Tilly, in recognition of the fact that it was the fiftieth Auckland-Wellington match he had seen. The play at all times was fast and oh several occasions it was so willing among the forwards that the referee, Mr H. Simmonds, had to administer several cautions. At the same time the game was disappointing as a spectacle. Possibly the high speed at which it was played led to frequent blunders. Nevertheless there were some spectacular scoring movements which thoroughly whetted the appetites of the crowd. SCHUBERT’S SPEED Schubert, the speediest back on the field, scored Auckland’s two tries, They served to show his great possibilities, but both tries were made by those inside him, Barlow going through a gap to make the opening for the first try and Wiles, a centre three-quarters whp looks capable of making All Black class, making a great burst past two defenders to pave the way for the second try. Hare’s field goal was a smart effoi-t. It followed from a stab kick in a Wellington passing movement in the latter’s half. Hare snapped up the ball and with just enough room in which to manoeuvre sent the ball between the posts from 40 yards out. Wellington’s points came from a grand try by Gillespie following a great passing movement. Gillespie had little room but he beat Colmore-Williams’ tackle and then crashed through Hare’s tackle to ground the ball at the corner. Cassidy converted with a great kick from the side-line, and later he scored and converted the try himself. Pearman, Auckland captain, was the pick of the inside backs and Wiles, at centre, created a most favourable impression. They were the outstanding players on the field for their constructive play. The tussle between the forwards was more even, with the exception of the set scrums in which Johnson won the ball with almost monotonous regularity. This feast of ball possession had a big influence in the game and enabled the enterprising Auckland backs to dictate a large share of the run of the play.

SEDDON SHIELD MATCH WEST COAST DEFEATS NELSON (United Press Association) NELSON, September 14. The Seddon Shield changed hands for the third game in succession when the West Coast beat Nelson by 19 points to 12. The heavier Coast forwards held a first-half territorial advantage and gained a far greater share of the ball from scrums. The Nelson backs were better than their opponents, Grindle being outstanding. The winners’ points came from penalty goals by Lindbom and Scott (two) and two tries by Kiely, both converted by Lindbom. For Nelson Grindle scored two tries and also kicked a penalty, and Hall scored a try. The half-time score was 14-6 in West Coast’s favour. Nelson early in the second half made a recovery with two tries which placed them within striking distance but the Coast forwards dominated tbe last 10 minutes of play.

SOUTHERN DEFEATS PIRATES (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, September 15. Southern won the 1940 senior championship by defeating Pirates by 10 points to 8 in the final on Saturday. IN OTHER_CENTRES CHRISTCHURCH University 10 beat Technical 6; Linwood 11 beat Air Force 8; Albion 34 beat Christchurch 9. Senior Reserve Territorials 17 beat Old Boys 0; MeriVale 24 beat Southern 3; New Brighton 18-beat Sunnyside 6; Army 16 beat Athletic 0. AUCKLAND Following are the results of Saturday’s games:— ' Marist 19, Otahuhu 3; Suburbs 16, North Shore 11; Grafton 22, Ponsonby 6'; Training College 14, Technical 3; Takapuna 11, University 3.