HANDSOME WIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 75, 20 June 1927, Page 10

HANDSOME WIN

Berridge Scores Twenty Points in First Rep. Game AUCKLAND SIDE IMPRESSES ADMIRABLE readiness to fling the ball about characterised the play of the Auckland Rugby representatives on Saturday, when a big crowd watched Thames suffer an unholy trouncing at Eden Park. Only in the forwards could the visitors compete, and the weakness of their sluggish backs flattered the Auckland attack.

'JJ’EW faces made their appearance in the Auckland side, and their owners were pronounced successes. Most notable of all was the Ponsonby five-eighth, Berridge, who in physique, pace and clean handling is reminiscent of Handley Brown, All Black centre, at his best. For his club Berridge plays at first fiveeighth, and has been prone to occasional selfishness, a fault never apparent on Saturday, when he ran straight and handed on good passes after he had drawn his man in approved style. GOAL-KICKING STAR Kicking like a thorough tradesman, Berridge hoisted goals with complacent regularity, and his trusty boot was responsible for 17 points, of which seven were conversions. That he docs not do the place-kick-ing for his club is rather more a tribute to Short—who does —than a reflection on his own skill, and if Saturday’s effort.** form a criterion of his ability, then Auckland has discovered a goal-kicker worthy to rank with its eminent th^past. Though Auckland wound up the proceedings with an impressive tally, the match did not become a procession until the final quarter. One canto —the second —was scoreless, while on the other hand 34 of the 47 points were put on in the first and last spasms. Paralysing speed was the keynote of Auckland’s earlier moves, in which the backs played with refreshing zest. Two tries to Lucas, two conversions by Berridge, and a third try by Hadley, put on 13 points in as many minutes, and the Devil’s number was still on the board when the second spell opened. THAMES CONCEDES THE BALL A quaint notion that their fortunes could best be served by giving Auckland possession led the Thames forwards to concede Auckland the ball in the opening scrums. If the Thames hookers did not actually kick the ball through, at least they made no effort to prevent the Auckland front-rankers from raking it in. The racehorse pace of the Blue and White rearguard speedily revealed the futility of this policy, and an effort was then made to keep the ball tight.

While this was maintained Thames was at its b.-st, the result being a moderately-balanced contest in the second and third stanzas. Though they were good forwards, honest toilers not afraid to mix things merrily, the Thames scrummers lacked the finesse of the Auckland pack, and they had no Keene to harry the opposition backs. Moreover, though they themselves tackled well, their backs let them down badly. Only A. Winder, McMahon and Moran could be relied upon to go low. With others it was a case of ’ let the rest of the world go by.” How far the weakness and slowness of the heavy-footed Thames backs flattered the Auckland fliers it will not be possible to say until the latter are seen out against more proven opposition. The home backs enjoyed a day out, and played pretty football, which uncovered no serious weaknesses. ALL SPEED-MERCHANTS Berridge might make a better centre than Sheen, who did not seem too happy, though he defended flawlessly, and dummied artfully. Badeley, firm in defence, varied his attack in heady fashion, and worked well with McManus. who got the ball away in methodical fashion. Kuril’s mercurial methods pleased the crowd, but his reckless one-handed passes were a violation of an elementary principle of football, and the nimble native must cultivate more orthodox methods. Lucas deserves a paragraph to himself. This season he is playing delightful football, refreshing because of his cleverness and quickness of movement. On Saturday his fielding was just about impeccable and his pace dazzling. An onlooker most of th.e day, Paewai held overhead balis with all the classic neatness of his former colleague. George Nepia. Twice he was beaten by rolling balls, but the errors were not serious. He impressed the crowd. Paewai’s experience as a five-eighth allowed him to open up the game with speed and discretion, but many would like to see him in a position where his attacking skill could be yet more serviceable. With such backs available, the Auckland team will now be as strong as its forwards, and on Saturday they were not a bad lot. For the reason that they loiled unceasingly, the work of Palmer. Righton, Hadley and Finlayson is to be commended. Palmer emerged from the ruck to make a clear break. How he got through the scrummage with the ball must remain a mystery. Batty led mnny rushes, but still infringes over-much, while Knight and Cathcart played grandly in the loose, though inclined to await developments when the ball was not handy. Among the opposition Burkhardt, M. Hayward, Lomas and Strange proved their mettle as good forwards in a pack lacking nothing in enterprise, though a lot in polish. On the fringe of the battlers Pollock was quite overshadowed by Keene, while among the backs McMahon was the only one who disclosed attacking skill. Duftv, a son

of the famous “Give-it-to-Dufty.” showed by his prodigious punting that kicking is an hereditary art. The only Thames score came from goal-kicking, G. Winder doing the damage, but efforts which might have ended in tries were pursued by ill-luck, as well as by Aucklanders. For the winners the scorers were: Berridge (seven conversions, one penalty, one try); Lucas (three tries); Finlayson (two tries); Ruru, Hadley, Sheen and Righton, a try each. Excellent refereeing by Mr. W. J. Meredith was a feature enjoyed by both players and spectators. SENIOR B MATCHES NORTH SHORE FLOGGED THAMES The Thames versus North Shore match, a curtain-raiser to the representative fixture, ended in an easy victory for the Auckland team—l 7 to 6. The Thames team, in blue and black, looked much the weightier of the two as the players went out. The teams were: Thames. —A. Boyle, R. Bovell, R Baker, R. Graham, R. Milne, G. Mortimer, R. Vedder, W. Skelley, A. Adams, G. Lambert, A. Gillett, K. Baker, K Strange, E. Burr, and W. Geary. North Shore. —M. Jackson, C. Shea G. Wayne, L. Williams, N. Wallace M. Austin, D. Fraser, R. Wylie, E> Hagen, V. Hayward, S. Ranby, A. Chambers, P. Moore, D. Townsend, and W. Boswell. North Shore kicked off. Thames began with good intentions, but soon lapsed into bush-football, against which the Shore side showed up exceptionally well. Within 20 minutes Shore had run up 14 points, to the mystification of the country backs, who lacked pace and pep, and made little combined use of the ball when they had it. The Wayne - Shea combination slashed the Thames defence to ribbons as soon as the game settled down, Shea opening the scoring when he received the ball from Wayne outside the quarter mark, and ran down the line, evading several clutching hands. The next points were scored by Austin, the Shore first five-eighth, who pounced on the ball as it dribbled out of a scrum on the Thames line. From a line-out the ball travelled to Wayne at centre, and he- with a beautiful feint to the wing, and a neat swerve, went through the Thames defence to score a try, which he converted, making the score Shore 11, Thames 0. Offside play in a scramble enabled Wayne to add a penalty goal to Shore's total, which was completed by a try by Williams. Thames began to play up in the forwards, and had its share of the game by attacks which it was unable to finish off. Its six points were penalty kicks by A. Adams. Weak tackling, poor scrumming, and a general lack of finish accounted for Thames’s downfall. The referee was Mr. F. Rule. THE HEAVIES IN ACTION MANUKAIf ROVERS V. WAITEMATA Manukau Rovers scored rather a surprise victory over Waitemata by 11 points to 7. The teams were: Manukau. —Amonhanga, Albion, To Paa, Rata, Fletcher, Denize, Peru, Housliam, Wakefield, Laird, Satherlev’, Kahn, Taylor, Brimble, and Lips’ combe. Waitemata. —Kinlock Vercoe, Frost Waugh, C„ Fletcher, C. Wightman’ Shawtfeger, Clarkin, Ross, Colvin] Ross. E. Wightman, Litton, B. Fletcher, Colley and Weaver. Both clubs turned out heavy-weight sides, which mixed things wiliingly, to the delight of a big gallery. The ambulance men and the referee half a -busy afternoon keeping the peace and tending the stricken on the field Manukau took first blood through the agency of Denize. Lipscombe con - verted. Then Fletcher, with a flash of old form, put a splendid drop-kick across. P. Waugh was the only scorer for Waitemata up till tlie halftime whistle sounded, with the scores Manukau 8, Waitemata 3. The clash in the second half was marked by a casualty to Vercoe, who had to be borne from the field with injuries to his neck. But the pace never slackened, to the huge enjoyment of the spectators. Lipscombe finalised the scores with a try, making the final figures Manukau 11, Waitemata 7. RATHER DULL ELLERSLIE V SUBURBS Though the Ellerslie v. Suburbs match ended in a draw, six all, it was for the most part a very listless and crude game. A good deal of aimless kicking revealed the state of Rugby science on both sides. Cohen kicked a penalty goal for Elllerslie early in the game, but after a flashy opening play degenerated into a veiv uninteresting state. Neither side seemed to take the issue seriously. Early in the second spell Turner equalised the score for Suburbs. Trying* to show the line umpire his business cost Ellerslie three points toward the end of the game. Turner going down the line to score while an argument was under way. Suburbs did not hold their advantage long, for Christian soon got over for Ellerslie, and Cohen, failing to improve, the game ended six all. Mr. A. D. Sherwood refereed. TWO MEN SHORT MARIST V. NEWTON The Marist-Newton match’ at Eden Park No. 2 was not very interesting,

son beat G. Sellar, 5 and 4; R. D. Wright beat J. Macky, 3 and 1; L. B. Campbell beat E. Friedlander, 7 and 5; J. B. Lusk beat P. M. Hanna, 2 and 1; N. Hanna beat H. Hanna, 2 and 1; A. Kinder beat C. R. Palmer, 4 and 2; J. M. Barnett beat E. C. Bartlet, 2 and 1; H. Gilfillan beat A. B. Thompson, 2 up; W. W. Abbott beat N. R. Chapman, 2 and 1; T. N. Holmden beat J. M. Stokes, 4 and 3; C. J. Nathan beat H. P. R. Foster, 4 and 2; P. J. Western beat W. Wilson, 4 and 2. TITIRANGI EVENTS The third round of the Gardner Cup on Saturday l saw a walk-away by R. M. Da«re, who, on a 14 handicap, returned a brilliant 69 net, winning the cup with 74 and 69 as the best two of his three cards. *E. G. Tallis (11) with 73 and 77, A. S. Bailey (20), with 80 and 73, F. S. Ballin (14), with 80 and 74, and J. W. Hunter, (5) with 76 and 78, were next Dacre also won the Rendall vase, which was decided on Saturday’s round. GLENDOWIE LADIES' CLUB In the first round of the handicap match played by members of the Glendowie Ladies’ Golf Club for a trophy presented by Mris. MacMillan, the results were as follow: —Miss Friar defeated Miss Lundon, Miss Brookfield defeated Miss Arneil, Mrs. Miller defeated Mrs. Dickey, Miss Maden defeated Mrs. Me Guiley, Mrs. Hill defeated Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Hutchison won by default from Miss Wilstm, Mrs. Browne defeated Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Nairn defeated Miss Cullen, Miss Hill won by default from Miss Sharland, Miss O. English defeated Miss Katterfeldt, Miss M. English defeated Miss Searell, Mrs. Warwick won by default from Miss Appleyard. The next round will be played on Wednesday. The C grade match was won by Miss Lundon. WAITEMATA CLUB Members of the Waitemata Golf Club competed for the Ferry Cup on Saturday. The best cards returned were:— J. Hogan, 77 —10, 67; G. Jackson, 83—16, 67; T. Gooding, 86—18, 68; K. Baxter, 78 —B, 70; M. S. O’Connor, 84—14, 70; J. Prime, 82—12, 70; R. Wilson, 82—11, 71The qualifying rounds of the senior and junior championships, and the first round of an eclectic match will be played on Saturday. WAITEMATA LADIES’ CLUB Senior members of the Waitemata Ladies’ Golf Club will play a match for Mrs. B. Goldwater's trophy on Wednesday. On Thursday a C grade eclectic match will be played. Following is the draw:—Miss Benjamin v. Miss N. Mason, Miss Dunnett v. Miss Mason, Mrs. Jackson v. Mrs. Harper, Mrs. Creagmile v. Mrs. Spicer, Mrs. George v. Mrs. McDougal, Mrs. Williams v. Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Johnson v. Miss Stoddart, Mrs. MacIndoe v. Miss Ching, Miss Gribbin v. Mrs Cook, Miss Bartlett v. Mrs. Fitzpatrick, Miss Hislop v. Mrs. Kennedy, Miss Wight v. Miss T. Jackson, Mrs. Warren v. Miss King. The following team will represent the club in a match against Pupuke:—Mesdames Atkinson, Hay, Hogan, McCreadie. Clouston, Broughton, Rudge, Walsh. Misses McGlashan and F. Hall. Mrs. Rudge was the winner of last week s medal round.

although Marist registered a score of 17 to nil. The Newton side took the field two men short. For offside play Newton was penalised, and More turned it into three points. More was in good kicking form, and by half-time he had put three kicks over, with a score of 11 to nil. In the second half Hulton and Johnstone scored for Marists, but Newton failed to register a point. The final score was Marist 17, Newton 0. Mr. Stubborn refereed. AN EXCITING GAME VARSITY B V. TRAMWAYS A fast game ensued when Varsity B met Tramways at Victoria Park. The match was quite exciting and although it ended in Varsity’s favour by 17 to 5, Tramways were fighting hard all the way. Kaa scored twice for Varsity, and Blakey, Scott and Stoddart once each. For Tramways Fielder scored and McCoy converted. Mr. Longville refereed. CITY ON TOP SENIOR B RUGBY COMPETITION POINTS One of the most interesting competitions in the winter sports at present is the Senior B Rugby. City, which is at present at the top of the competition, has been unbeaten so far this season, although it has had one draw. Their chief foe is Manukau, which is running City very close, being only two points behind. The competition points are as follow: City, 17; Manukau, 15; Marists, 12; Waitemata, 11 (one match to play); Ellerslie, 9; Technical Old Boys, 9 (one match to play); Varsity B, 8: Tramways, 6; Otahuhu, 5; Suburbs, 5; Newton, 4. All teams which have not played Takapuna have had two points added on.