A GOAL THAT WAS WORTH £200

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 129, 22 August 1927, Page 6

A GOAL THAT WAS WORTH £2OO

“GIVE IT TO DUFTY” MEMORIES of days gone by were revived at Carlaw Park on Saturday in the Newton-Dev-onport match, when, at a critical stage in the game, Newton got a penalty, and the bankers shouted, as possibly some of their fathers before them had done at Potter’s Paddock, “Give it to Dufty!” The score was three all. There were 14 minutes of play left. The kick was given to Dufty, and he duly registered, the goal, which was worth £2OO or more in solid cash to the Auckland Rugby League, because it meant a play-off between Newton and Ponsonby for the championship. The game itself merits no extended reference. High-class football under the conditions ruling was well nigh out of the question, and when the final whistle sounded, 25 muddy and begrimed players wearily wended their squelching footsteps to the shelter of the dressing sheds and the luxury of a cleansing shower bath. The 26th player, Henry, of Newton, had gone off earlier in the game with a head injury. CLEVER WORK There were only two tries scored in the game. Devonport got theirs five minutes after the game started, thanks to a clever cross-kick by Alf. Scott and equally clever anticipation by Len. Scott. It took Newton nearly half an hour to equalise the scores, despite the fact that ••Wally** Somers was sending the ball out with his accustomed regularity, and that exuberant little mudlark, Mclntyre, was giving his backs plenty of chances. The Newton backs were obviously not relishing the mud, but shortly before half-time they opened out on an extended front, with the wing man, Little, overlapping the Shore line by several yards. Accurate passing was all that, was needed to furnish a try, but under the conditions of ball and ground, the movement which led to Little scoring could be reckoned a particularly fine effort. Half-timo came with the score three all. NEW RECRUITS Moat of the second spell was spent by the fans in summing up the merits of Shore’s latest acquisitions, a half and fullback, who had come over from the Rugby code. Symonds, a tall, wellbuilt youngster, who took Perry’s place, impressed as a player who, with experience, may turn out a first-class fullback in the 13-aside game. He has a very safe pair of hands, kicks fairly well, and on Saturday showed no signs of losing his head, even in the face of the hottest rush. He made a few mistakes, chiefly due to lack of knowledge of the fine points of the League game. With a better grasp of the play-the-ball rule, he should prove a very handy man in his position. The other tyro. Rhodes, was deputising for "Pip” Webb, who will be on the bank for some little time with a broken bone in his hand. The little chap seemed to be a little bit out of his depth at times (he could have been forgiven for coming along to Carlaw Park with swimming togs), but he stuck to the job manfully, and on a dry day would probably show up betterRULE’S DAY OUT Rule was one of the few forwards on the ground who did not seem to be greatly troubled by the clogging, sloshing turf. He scampered about like a sandboy, and showed up prominently most of the game. Ruby, too, caught the eye in the loose, and played one of his best games this year. "Snowy” Dixon devoted most of his energies to bottling up Dufty, and had severs’, playful tussles with that able the rugged battler, with honours easy. The spopgy grounds have given the fair-haired Devonportonian a great chance to nurse his injured leg, and it is to be hoped that he continues to carry on without further injury. Dufty himself was, as usual, the shining light in the Newton side. Devonport watched him very closely, but he accepted these flattering attentions with the equanimity born of long experience, and at the slightest signs of the opposition slackening, he was quick to take advantage of any 'hances that were going, and frequently went raiding in the close stuff with advantage to himself and his side. A LIKELY TRIO With the exception of Dufty and Mclntyre, the Shore backs man for man were more impressive than the Red and Black rearguard. Cleaver, Seagar and Beattie are a trio who have been steadily working up a first-class vinderstanding. and in the Kocpe Rooster games they may easily develop into one of the most dangerous inside combinations in the competition, that is. if the weather proves kinder to those who are expected to furnish the fireworks when the forwards have done their jobs. A big meeting shortly, Manukau electorate, citizens re Hotel Auckland, rommunicate with P. B. Greenhougb, 195 Broadway, Newmarket, . J

Wally Somers has piled up a formidable record of success this year as the pivot man of the Newton front rank, and is heading the right way for representative honours. Clark and Hall are another pair of hard-bitten pack forwards, who have helped keep Newton so much to the fore this year.