AUCKLAND ON A PEDESTAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 153, 19 September 1927, Page 10

AUCKLAND ON A PEDESTAL

ONLY UNBEATEN RUGBY TEAM SHEEN AND BATTY EXCEL ON SODDEN GROUND DISMAL v/eather provided a damp setting for Auckland’s crowning triumph of the 1927 Rugby season. Wellington, on Saturday, was outclassed by the Auckland forwards in the second spell of a memorable struggle. Brilliant on attack and defence, T. R. Sheen was the outstanding back on the ground, and W. Batty was the star forward. Berridge was kicking consistently, and hoisted four goals.

TN&PIKI2D forwards led Auckland to a victory which completes a remarkable record. The team has, in ten matches, scored 241 points and has had only a meagre 33 scored against it, and the sequence of ten wins, of which the victory of Wellington was a glorious climax, makes it the only major representative team to have gone through its 1927 programme without suffering a defeat. Auckland may, therefore, legitimately be reckoned the side of the year. Aucklanders themselves, curiously enough, have long cherished the delusion that the side’s main strength lax- in its backs. The Otago and Wellington matches demonstrated conclusively that this assumption was fallacious. Mhoen, who was injured in the Wairaiapa match, and could not play against Otago, came back to the team to give a brilliant display. The outstanding back on the ground, he should certainly be one of the first men picked for South Africa. Berridge, the young Ponsonby player, came back to form against Otago and Wellington, and he. too, should have excellent chances of selection. No visiting half-back this season has yet excellent McManus, who is a wonderful wet-day player, and has, therefore, found recent conditions to his liking. For Wellington Kilby was hampered by the collapse of his forwards in the second spell. He contrived to do many clever things, but his exhibition was not up to that of the consistent McManus. REPUTATIONS OVERBOARD In the case cf some of the other Wellington backs reputations went overboard. Mark Nicholls was responsible for clever footwork, but he failed to exploit the wet conditions, and wasted several free-kicks by futile short kicks which simply played into Auckland’s chief strength, the footwork of its forwards. Lance Johnson was quite the soundest of the Wellington backs, and he rarely failed to dive on the ball—a gallant recourse in the face of forwards of the calibre of the Auckland pack. South, at centre, has any amount of pace, and that commodity allowed him to save several tries by beating the Auckland forwards in a sprint for the ball after it had rolled over the line. Like the other Wellington backs, however, he developed the speculation mania very badly in the later stages of the game, and the result was that the stalwart Auckland huntsmen did more damage than ever. ANYONE’S GAME With the scores level at half-time, the match looked anyone’s game. Wellington had a. trifle the best of the lirst spell and Olliver, Pringle, and MoHardy showed their class as fine forwards. who incessantly harassed the Auckland backs, causing many promising movements to crumple. The first try came just after Pringle, heading a loose rush, had been hauled down only a few inches from the corner. A high kick floated back to Mark Nicholls, and the Wellington skipper swung an amazing dummy to the Auckland pack, which automatically streamed toward midfield while Nicholls dar ed round the blind. With him were Johnson and Pringle, who handled in turn. Paewai brought Pringle down on the run, but failed to force the ball when it rolled over the line, and the auburn-haired Olliver came up with a dive which put Wellington three points ahead. Nicholls made a fine effort to goal from a very steep angle, but his kick rebounded from the prop. Wellington 3, Auckland 0. The Northerners immediately retaliated, Batty breaking away from a scrum with Knight in support South, coming across with all team on, managed to clear the threatened goal, but his clearing kick fell at the feet of Hook, who simply dribbled across, and fell on the ball. Wellington attacked for the remainder of the spell, but the scores were still evel at three all when the interval came. AUCKLAND FORWARDS DOMINATE Without delay the Auckland forwards got to work in the second session. and they dominated the remainder of the proceedings. Faults which have marred their earlier displays. such as a constant tendency to pick up the ball, were not in evidence. Wallace Batty was quite the best forward on the ground, and he fully earned the try which followed a sweeping rusii which be instituted near the close of the game. Before then Auckland had rung on two more tries, both converted by Berridge, and had a comfortable lead. 0r.9 try came when Lucas sent a. pass on the outside to Sheen, who centred cleverly for his forwards to carry on. McWilliams touching down. Auckland continued to hammer, and McManus sent his backs away, Berridge making a nice opening before tossing a long lob to Hook, who outpaced Rush brook and Malcolm and ran round near the; post. Always it was the Auckland pack which made these efforts possible. Commanding scrums and. line-outs they maintained unremitting pressure on the Wellington line, and before their fiery onset t ie Welling :on backs were now beginning to wilt perceptibly. Batty was always the outstanding forward and it is unfortunate that his touch o* Island blood may rule him out of consideration for the trip to South Africa. Full of dash and a footwork artist, li€ is one of the finest wetground forwards in the country. AUCKLAND SECURE With tries by McWilliams, Hook and Battv, and two conversions and a penalty goal by Berridge. Auckland’s position was now secure, and the lead of 21—3 was maintained without difficulty. Paewai was occasionally called on to stop spasmodic sallies by the Wellington forwards. Playing great football, he had no trouble in stopping the attacks. The opposing fullback. Malcolm, had a hectic day. and got through it well considering the difficulties which confronted him. The crowd which watched the match—largely under miserable conditions, a driving rain swept into the stands—was a ive to the fact that it was witnessing a struggle between two teams confidently expected to contribute substantially to next year’s All Bla« k ream, but on the Wellington side, at least, it saw* no more than one or two beyond those whose talent or prospects are already widely known. B..ta the visiting wingers were im- ■ pressive, ltushbrook for his fine physiISftk *J ue a . nf * clean handling, and Chenney M for occasional snappy movement H J™ b l ** resolute tackling of Lucas, but IJH failure of their forwards allowed ■■ Vhem uu chance of association in com-

bined attacks. South shone out only as an individualist. His pace was helpful, but he was over-fond of flx'kicking, an unpardonable sin in big Rugby. OLLIVER AND PRINGLE Of the Wellington forwards, Olliver was the best, and he kept going throughout. Between the opposing packs there were at times very fiery exchanges, in which Thomas, O’Regan and Taylor were always there for Wellington. Pringle played finely in the first spell, and for a time seemed the best forward on the ground, but he was not so prominent in the second spell. His display suggests, however, that he should have excellent chances of a trip r.ext year. McHardy made a good substitute for Porter, and his handling was accurate, though in spoiling and dribbling Keene overshadowed him. With Batty, in the Auckland pack, must be classified McWilliams and Hadley. From a pack which registers its fine performances rather through collective fitness, speed, and cohesion, it is difficult to single out indivduals for anything but praise. Three at least of the forwards should find a place in next year’s New Zealand team, and if Saturday’s hooking is repeated in the trials the selectors may be forced to consider the inclusion of both Hadley and Palmer, the front-rankers who made such excellent scrum-work possible. The game on Saturday was witnesed by about 14,000 people. Had the day been fine, a new record for Rugby representative games might hatre been established, as the closest interest was shown In the match. As it was. the onlookers endured a cold wind, and incessant rain, and for their fortitude were rewarded with a rare exhibition of class Rugby, which places Auckland football on a pedestal for the 1927 season. SCORING REGISTER BERRIDGE WELL IN FRONT In ten representative games this season Auckland has now piled on 241 points against S 3. INDIVIDUAL SCORERS

PREMIER TEAM AUCKLAND’S GREAT RECORD At the conclusion of to-day’s match an enthusiast in the stand called: “Three cheers for New Zealand’s premier team,” and the response was a tribute to the team’s wonderful performance. Here is its record: v. Thames, won 47—3. v. Maoris, won 31—6. v. North Auckland, won 21—3. v. South Canterbury, won 32—6. v. Taranaki, won 23 —0. v. Manawhenua, won 17—0. v. Hawke’s Bay, won 26—0. v. Wairarapa, won 12 —3. v. Otago, won 11—9. v. Wellington, won 21—3. Points for, 241; against, 33. Waratahs Win DEVON CORNWALL BEATEN A BRIGHT DISPLAY By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright LONDON, Sunday. At a Rugby football match at Devonport, the Waratahs, the New South Wales team, defeated a combined Devon and Cornwall team by 30 points to 3. The visitors .gave a bright and inspiriting display. They took some time to settle down, and their handling of the ball in the early stages of the game left much to be desired, but the longer the game lasted the better the whole side played. The forwards heeled smartly, and were fast in the loose, while the halves were continually setting in motion well-conducted and fast attacks, which completely outclassed their opponents.—A. and N.Z. The New Zealanders, in the first match of the 1924 tour, beat Devon by 11 to 0. The 1905 team, opening against the same county, won by the sensational score of 55 to 4. The Waratahs" next game will be played next Thursday against Newport. GOOD SPORT AHEAD FOR AVONDALE BOWLERS If arrangements made by the Avondale Bow'ling Club count for anything it should experience a successful season this year. The flags will be flying at the suburban greens about October 14. Again the club will have four teams competing in the pennant competitions. Tournaments will be played on October 24. January 2 and 29. Arrangements have been made with the New’ Lynn Club to use a portion of the green until the end of January, as their own green will not be ready to play until then. i

fa fiicfli M h M I-* M M U 5 M10 M M M 4* ~T.S t* Cl Tries. 1 1 1 1 1 II 1 1 1 1 1 1 II 1 1 K Conversions. i ii iii i ! 11 ii 1 1 m • Penalty 1 1 1 1 1 1 II I 1 1 1 1 Ih II 1 MMMWMMaCJOlOSCi'OtS Potted goal. Total.