CITY DEFEATS ATHLETIC IN SCRAPPY GAME

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

CITY DEFEATS ATHLETIC IN SCRAPPY GAME

At No. 2 ground, Carlaw Park, on Saturday afternoon, City defeated Grafton Athletic by 22-11 in one of the most scrappy games the League fans have had the dissatisfaction of witnessing on the park this season. THE play throughout lacked combination and while this may be expected of Athletic, since their inside backs had been changed round in rather an un-thought-out fashion and they appeared to be lost most of the time, there seemed little excuse for City. On various occasions fine solo attempts were made, but then again these ended where they started, for the teams failed to back up their main man in a good run. x Hudson, playing wing-threequarter, has the speed and if he gets a decent opening it usually means trouble for the opposing backs. But although he is a fast sprinter he is by no means a strong runner and consequently is not of the battling type. His work on Saturday was weak, but with more experience Hudson has good chances of becoming indispensable to his team. Herring in the forwards is a bullocking type of player and played a good game on Saturday. “You will find me where you will find the ball’* seems to be his motto and if it is, then he plays up to it well. The player of the day was Avery, the New Zealand All Black. It is seldom that you find this born leader “off colour” and on Saturday he was in the limelight more than ever and proved himself the crack of the field. For the City team Wade made him-

self of great use and from his position of wing-threequarter he made some great runs. He used his head during the game and did not fail to pass in again to the backs if the odds appeared more than he cou.ld handle. Citj'- have him to thank for many of their scores. Ghent as half played a nippy game and managed to have himself associated with most of the tries which were scored. Perry is another player who was in the limelight on Saturday. He handled well and proved himself of great assistance to Wade. THE GAME For the first 10 minutes of the game play remained with the forwards and mostly in centre-field. Then Athletic took play quickly down the field. Hudson secured and after a fast, tricky run down the line passed to Avery who, after a desperate struggle, managed to cross the line. City now made some very aggressive attacks, which were carried out among the forwards. Its: backs, so far, fumbled the ball and failed to combine. Time after time City rushed at its opponents’ line of defence, but failed to get through until Wade, obtaining the ball from the loose, succeeded in scrambling over. Both teams were now endeavouring to get its backs into action, but both sets made a shocking mess of things. Lewis, Ghent and Hadley, however, had one good run and a score seemed certain, but Hadley falling short of the line gave the Grafton forwards a chance to crowd round and move play back to centre-field. City was at last successful in making use of their rearguard, and Ghent securing the ball passed out to the backs. The backs were quickly in action, and after a good run Wade received from Wetherill and scored. Within two minutes Grafton had play shifted up the field in their favour, and Allen dribbling the ball from the ruck managed to pick up and score. City was again on the attack, and after a scuffle near the line Hadley secured and scored. As soon as the ball was in play again Perry made a great run, covering three-quarters of the field, and scored a clever try. Ghent converted. Beginning the second half, play was similar to that of the early stages of the game, and mbved up and down the field “scrappy,” and lacking combination. _ _ . At last Athletic was successful in the formation of a passing rush. Avery, taking the ball, passed out to Courtney, who made a fine sprint down the line. He then passed in again to Avery, who cut in and scored near the posts. After another 10 minutes of play in midfield City was successful in starting a rush among the rearguard. Wetherill, running hard, took the ball and passed to Perry. Perry made a fine run and passed out to Wade, who. after a sprint down the line, returned the ball to Perry to score. City was again on the attack and Ferrall securing from the ruck pushed his way over th« line.