Auckland Still Winning

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 131, 24 August 1927, Page 11

Auckland Still Winning

Set of Champion Backs All Black Candidates on the Way Hawkes Bay Without the Brownlies STILL winning, the Auckland representative team has in six successes shown that it possesses a set of champion backs, and forwards that are, at least, above the ordinary. The wins over Taranaki and Manawhenua showed the backs in the light of serious candidates for All Black honours.

AN Butler’s form on Saturday he must be ranged with the possibilities for the vacant position of full-back to the New Zealand team, and his mag-

nificent physique is an endowment that will certainly weigh to his advantage. Other candidates for the job are Harris, of Canterbury, Stevenson (Otago), and Yates (H a w k e ’ s Bay). Petty (Taranaki) is very game and very sound, but his diminutive stature—his nick-name

is “Dumpy”—will hardly be in his favour. * * * Yates Back to Form Yates, whom Auckland will see in action on Saturday, has not the ruggedness of Nepia, but if he is back to form his handling will be gracefully accurate, and his kicking sensational. Be became Hawke’s bay’s idol when his kicking was a big factor m the Bay’s winning the Ranfurly Shield. The following year, in 1923. he potted a glorious goal against Wellington, when the Bay won by ten points to six. * * * Kirkpatrick’s Goal In that match, Hawke’s Bay failed to cross Wellington’s line, but Yates potted a goal, Nepia hoisted a penalty and A. Kirkpatrick, who is manager of the present touring team, kicked a goal from a mark. The game was notable because it was Hawke’s Bay’s first reply to the charge that it was not good enough to hold the shield, and also because it brought C. G. Porter right into the limelight as a tip-top wingforward. * * * Manawhenua Standard The Manawhenua standard may be high in the forwards, but it is hardly so in the backs who are, except for Brophy, only ordinary if judged by last Saturday’s form. Though their tackling and fielding were sound, they had not the pace of the Aucklanders. If the red, White and blues do not lose the shield to Wanganui on September 3 they will want a lot of luck if they are to retain it against Canterbury whose challenge will be decided on September 7. Wise Counsels Hawke’s Bay has followed wise counsels in deciding to raise no further ado about handing over the Ranfurly Shield, and while the title officially changes hands it will still be generally conceded that the Bay is still the champion province. Though caught napping on June 3, the Bay redeemed itself on July 9, but in connection with the latter match there were two grave blunders —first. Hawke’s Bay’s re-challenge, and next, Wairarapa’s appeal. * * • Auckland’s Chances With its best team the Bay can still be regarded as the crack team, but the magnificent backs of other years are not there to-day, and the team relies more on its original strength, the crashing attacks of its forwards. On the present tour, however, it is short of the Brownlie brothers and Conrad, three of its best packmen, and on that account a win for Auckland on Saturdays will occasion no surprise. * * * Lacking the Leader Just after the defeat of Hawke’s Bay on June 3 Maurice Brownlee told the writer that he would not be coming to

Auckland, and he has kept his word. The Bay pack will therefore lack the inspiration of his superb leadership. No one who saw the match will forget Brownlie’s heroic efforts for Hawke’s Bay the day his side lost the shield. He also informed this critic that he would probably not

be available for South Africa, a circumstance that would be singularly unfortunate, as he is undoubtedly the Dominion’s king forward. Auckland Backs Shine The fine performances of the speedy Auckland backs put several of them in line for All Black honours. In the teams met so far this season have been several acclaimed stars, but none of them has approached, in individual brilliance, the members of the Auckland flying squad. On performances the Auckland three-quarters—Lucas, Sheen, Hook and Woods —are all worthy of selection, and if Lucas cannot go the need for gallopers like Hook will be accentuated. New Zealand will want fast men for South Africa. Paewai on the Line L. Paewai, formally re-instated after his flirting with another code, was on the line on Saturday, to watch his understudy, Butler, display all-round brilliance. But for indisposition Butler would hardly have been dropped, but an attack of mumps has now laid him aside, and Paewai will again be called on. It must be remembered that Paewai is not really a full-back, but a champion inside man, but the present combination is not likely to be broken to admit him. As an inside back Paewai has hardly, shown his best form in Auckland, but when on his game he is full of tricks. Training College Stars In the Wellington Training College team, which drew with Auckland Training College last week, were a bunch of star performers. L. J. South, Wellington’s star centre, was at Napier Boy’s’ High School with another schoolboy champion in Potaka, now at Otago University, who has failed to sustain his early promise. E Brown, S. Barry, and Irwin, of the Wellington Training

College, all played for Wanganui Technical College—a fine school team—in recent years. Blossomed Out After leaving school South played exceptionally well for High School Old Boys, and Norman McKenzie was popularly supposed to have had him “in pickle” for the Bay team. Unfortunately the astute selector’s plans miscarried when South left for Wellington. Also playing for High School Old Boys was W. Heffernon, a burly civil servant, who formerly played for Auckland junior representatives. He lias blossomed out since then, and is now in the Hawke’s Bay touring team, which Auckland plays on Saturday. * * * For Wet and Dry Saturday’s slushy conditions did not suit W. Wright, the Auckland halfback, who on his home ground failed to display the brilliance he showed at New Plymouth the Saturday before. In wet weather McManus is such a sturdy mudlark that the selector may canvass the advisability of keeping Wright for the dry grounds. That policy was followed by the 1924 All Blacks. Dailey was played wheneer the fields were heavy. For the Welsh match the more brilliant Mill was not selected until on hour or so before the match, when bright sunshine was drying the field rapidly. * * * Team for Bay of Plenty The team chosen for the Bay of Plenty tour, comprising four matches, of which the first will be played on Saturday, looks a good set of players, and the backs should stage bright

Rugby. In the forwards the lack of weight may be a handicap against the country packs, but Potter, Noakes, Stewart and Mathias are hard-working forwards. Stewart played last' year for Varsity', and this year has performed very consistently for College Rifles.

Pollard Cup Quite good football has been produced by the Pollard Cup competition.

in which Varsity A, at present holds the strongest position. The showing of City, particularly, has been gratifying. In the first year of its revival City has become a good team, playing clean and attractive football. Its game with Varsity last Saturday, when Varsity won 11-3. was thoroughly interesting. considering the state of the ground, and the capital form of Gilling, the Varsity half, was noticeable. School Rugby School Rugby that scintillated, in spite of the shocking sjtate of the ground, was displayed by Grammar and New Plymouth Boys' High School last Saturday. The surprising feature of the magnificent exhibition of the Grammar pack, which was on top at the end, in spite of the individual skill of the giant Wetere, New Plymouth's 16 stone captain. Handling the ball cleanly, the New Plymouth backs moved with delightful ease, and on a dry ground their efforts would have sparkled. Brown, the Taranaki winger, is full of dash, and the image of his All Black brother. Petty, who was grand at fullback, has a brother who represents Taranaki in the same arduous billet. Representative Honours Representative results, so far this season, suggest that Auckland is the strongest team, with Hawke’s Bay, Wellington and Canterbury next. Hawke's Bay has not yet met a metropolitan union. The touring side plays Wanganui to-day. With an imposing array of All Blacks Canterbury should be able to conquer all rivals. Wellington, too, is strong back and forward, though the back lacks individuals of proven ability. Southland and Otago have so far been up and down. The North Island, with better forwards, should again be able to defeat the South.