A BUSY WEEK-END

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

A BUSY WEEK-END

Events in League Rugby RICHMOND WINS THE ROOSTER Athletic Loses Senior A Status STAR items on the week-end League budget were Richmond’s win in the Roope Rooster for the second year in succession; Ellerslie’s defeat of Athletic in a senior challenge match; the victory of the Anckland touring team at Dunedin; and the selection of the North Island teum for the inter-island match at Auckland next Saturday.

RICHMOND’S SURPRISE ROOSTER GOES WEST When Newton defeated Ponsonby in the final of the championship a few weeks back the victory on the part of the Newtonians was up until that time undoubtedly one of the biggest surprise packets of the results of the League games staged at the Park this season. But there is some doubt whether the surprise would equal the one on Saturday when the men from the western suburb came to light and defeated Devonport lor the Roope Rooster. The fans held Shore as the favourites, but the fact is fairly certain that there were very few indeed who sat on the stand who realised as they saw the hefty blacks file out facing a sea of mud and slush in an annoying drizzling rain that this team was going out to simply ignore the shocking playing conditions and to make the game an open oone. This alone is a surprise well worthy of note, and ori this point Shore lost the match. Of course, with an “if.” For instance, “if” it had been a fine day with the playing field in good order, Rich-

mond’s chances in having to face such rearguard men as L. Scott, Holmes, Cleaver and Seagar, who know the meaning of fast and open play, would not have been too brilliant. But the j contest was not favoured with decent! weather conditions and Shore knew this as well as Richmond, who played | the right game for the day, and the fiery fight for the “bird” resulted in no more than a grim struggle between | the maroon pack, which is a rattling! good one, and the Shore backs, who found the ball too greasy to handle. BRILLIANT WINGERS The two invincibles of the day were the two wing threequarters, Taylor (Richmond) and L. Scott (Devonport}. Both proved themselves to be of invaluable assistance to their respective teams by being the only players to gain points in the match. Taylor scored the only try for Richmond and then came out later on to win the game for his team by kicking two penalties. Taylor won the day for the maroons just as Dufty had done so for Newton a few weeks previously. Devonport’s six points were obtained by L. Scott, who scored two exceptionally brilliant tries. The game had only been in progress a barfe sixty seconds when Scott rushed up to score the first try. It was the result of good following up, and it came as a thunderbolt to Richmond, who now looked as though they were sure to be defeated. Instead, it brought that real stuff that tells out of them, and it proved to be the beginning of a series of wild and tigerish bouts by its pack, which immediately took play to centre-field to hold its own and put into the game that real kick derived so often from a good League tussle. Tirae and time again in the first half Devonport made vain attempts to oend its backs sailing away, but it was of no use. In the second half the Shore men were inclined to keep the ball more to their forwards (evidently the result of a korero among the “heads” at the interval), but even then they had an aching to throw it round, and on occasions it was seen being fumbled about in the open. Richmond stuck to its forward game throughout, and played it well. Both Shore and Richmond had an ox-Rugby man each to assist them. The former played Holmes on the wing, who shone out the previous Satnrdav in the game against Ponsonby, while Richmond had Finlayson, a very useful forward, who was playing his first game at Rugby League. Holmes made a great showing against Ponsonby by scoring two tries, but on those occasions beautiful openings were made for him, while on Saturday he was given quite a different game to play. He is a strong runner and his clever cross-kicking was the result of hemming Richmond in on a serious defence, but he played a verv m-and-out sort of game, and it wa« because he failed to clear a crossKick delivered by Jenkinson for the Richmond backs to operate, that he gave Taylor the try. A RUGBY ACQUISITION Finlayson, on the other hand is a legular crackajack, and he was the prominent leader and shining light in the majority of those deadly Rj.-h- ---” d forward rushes and attacks in witUhim 6ry colleasrue forward was Davis at halfback was very safe and knew what to do with the ball to ke"p flvc'eiuM. 6 forwards. Jenkinson. at first mfIUY S m ° re Prominent in the first half than m the second. He Dlaved a good game, although by failing" to °£ t s£i Wht n ? pass would have been of v.tal importance to them he spoilt good chances of a score. Back in the scrum again for the second time since a number of games A If®’Scott n l i ayed , centr o-threequarter, •Air. fecott played a much better game dld on ,he previous Saturday A feature of his play was his gr<- '• t f ™ s *y c wtork and throughout the nfJa 6, efcpeclai “y in the second half ] le made some fine saves by going on the ball at the toes of the hefty on coming Richmond forwards ' three B ins'iHo C b a T er and Beat tie, the pe r c e ted m^ e t£ I n r Tse n tUt° n t? ltloriS ’ Snd U was n ° surpnse that they could not go sprinting However the?' 1° «”,? PaSnTbouS? , - the> ere by no means off coiour and did some fine solo work but since the Richmond backs were not given the ball to throw round they grot very few chances to show their form on the defer^ve.

sive at second liveeighths, but the Newton halfback, Mclntyre, proved that he is a player with possibilities, and showed to-day that he has all the tricks of some of the older hands. Unfortunately for his side he was not always successful in his wily manoeuvres, his habit of dipping into the

BREEZY LEAGUE AT DUNEDIN OTAGO’S GOOD SHOWING AUCKLAND’S SECOND SPELL EFFORT 1 Special to THE SUN.) DUNEDIJC, Saturday. Despite strong counter-attractions, there were about 2.000 people at the Caledonians’ grounds to-day, when the first Auckland League team to visit Dunedin played Otago, winning by 2$ points to 13. Notwithstanding predictions that Otago would be hopelessly outclassed, the home team made a surprisingly good fight of it, particularly in the first spell. The Aucklanders came here with the reputation of being a classy side, and they demonstrated beyond doubt that their reputation as such was fully justified. The backs particularly showed resource, speed and combination, the latter factor in particular giving them the advantage over the dart blues. The visitors gave the impression of taking matters a little easy, more especially in the earlier part of the proceedings, but even if this were the case, they certainly were all out ia the concluding portion of the game. SPARKLING FIRST SPELL The first half was crammed with sparkling incident, and those present saw the League game in excels! a. There were delightful passing movements started by both forwards and backs, and variety was lent to the exhibition by pretty scissors movements and reverse passing. Many of these spectacular bouts ended through bad handling, this being due to overhand passing. In the second spell lobbed passing still flourished, but the players connected much more cleanly. Wetherill, first five-eighths, was

again' the star back of the team. He is a wonderfully tricky customer, although lie was inclined to over-do his theatrical stunting. He has a box full of tricks, • but the Otago backs, after being badly deceived once or twice, cut short many of his antics.

DUFTY’S KICKING Dufty, who was a member of the New Zealand team which met ti e Englishmen at Taliuna Park in August, 1924, delighted the crowd to-day, as he did then, with his hefty kicking. In the second spell he replaced Gregory at centre, the latter going to the fullback position. Dufty showed bis versatility here, and was seen in practically every back movement. Gregory was brilliant at fullback, being safer on defence than Dufty. Webb was rot particularly impres-

scrum with his hands often lesulting in penalties against the visitors. AUCKLAND FORWARDS IMPRESS All the forwards were an impressive lot, the most striking feature of play being their ability to handle the ball like backs. Payne was outstanding in this respect. He retired hurt in the second spell, and was replaced ty Hall. Dixon and Clarke co-operatfd in several of these passing movements, this trio being also prominent in tae rucks. The Otago team, after its vsry disappointing performance against Canterbury last Saturday, played wltn astonishing vim and although Lie game went at a good pace most of the aiternoon, all the players lasted well until the end. ATHLETIC GOES DOWN ELLERSLIE’S GOOD WW The game between Kllerelie and Athletic, played as a curtain-raiser i the big match on Saturday, prove® good, fast open game under the ! cumstances. The ground and _ tions were very much against gviw football. Before the game started* ground was all right, but the started first, and continued through. The ground being heavy, suited Kllerslie’s style- of play aaa against the lighter players Gl . tl£f etic. There is no doubt the d 1 team won on the day, and Lliers - to be congratulated on . also its right to a place in the A Ellerslie attacked right start and made it plain that it * a | :.ng to be hard to beat, as oAanted : big advantage in weight, and arl the i itself to the conditions better u: i blue and grolds. at ! For the winners Crewther | full-back and finished up at ; of the game at half-back. * ihe brains of the team, and 800 1 good knowledge of the £ arae ‘ -,ir and Little wood did his work wen i scored a pretty try. niavcd^ell Grogan and Johnson also P»*w in the backs. , T)ar*C£ * In the forwards. Shirtclilie,^ po lld ; and Cooke were the best oi ! pack. _ „ pot For Athletic J. McGregor success at full-back, i when shifted up to wing tb - and scored his side’s only . • Martin, at half, played a » ;.nd delighted the crowd. teai®usual, was the best back ‘ n hrf ni l aL Longville was sound if not b jjflOf the forwards. Herring -on were the outstanding P**j Mr. Simpson was the referee. Jk