North Unlucky

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 437, 20 August 1928, Page 6

North Unlucky

BRIGHT INTER-ISLAND CLASH

Auckland Forwards Shine

(Special to THE SUNJ CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. ENJOYING the better of the play territorially, and getting more of the ball, but with the strength of its attacks sapped to a certain extent by inexperience in the threequarter line, the North Island was, in some respects, unlucky in not winning the annual struggle with South for Rugby supremacy, played at Lancaster Park to-day. A crowd of 10,000 was thrilled by the changing fortunes of a speedy game played on a ground in good order, and in perfect Rugby weather. The South victory by 15 points to 14 was heartily received. As an exhibition of Rugby the game was bright and open, packed with high lights, and changing dramatically.

Soon after the start it was clear tnat the issue lay between the solid torwards of the South and the thrustful eager backs of the North. Aided by fine defence, which seemed to stiffen most in its own twenty-five, the South Island forwards held their own until they began to tire in the closing stages of the game. Then there was a period of almost continuous attack by the North Island, relieved toward the end by South’s last effort —a fine run by Holden and McClymont, who was forced out not far from the line on the blind side. The tall, fast, rangy Northern forwards enjoyed the advantage of hooking and line-outs for the first half, but things were evened up in the second. HAPHAZARD SELECTION The .result of the match shows that both teams were picked rather haphazardly, for there are better men in the North Island representative teams that have been seen in Christchurch than some of those who played in today’s big game. The same also applies to the South Island. Its choice of wing-forward was proof of that. Toby Robinson, a pack forward, was put in at wing-forward, and appeared as a babe at the game beside C. E. Borter. The North Island backs made some fine runs, passing crisply and cleanly, but the weakness of the side was in the threequarter line, and here many opportunities were lost. Anderson, Kemp (replacing L. Hook) and Carlson were not up to New Zealand standard. The best of the three was Anderson, but he appeared too light, and not resolute enough. The keystone of the rearguard was Cooke, and he played a characteristic game, stiffening up the threequarters and lending a hand everywhere. He scored a fine try and made another. Langlands, the first five-eighth, ran too far with the ball and hung on to spoil several movements. He played a fair game on defence. The half, Bramwell, was fair, but not up to standard. As fullback Roach was better than Stevenson, and played fairly well. NOT UP TO STANDARD The South backs would have appeared better than the North Island rearguard had Oliver taken his passes cleanly and given two good wing men their chance. Oliver played a poor game, although once or twice he sparkled. The wingers. McClymont and Snodgrass, played fine football on attack and defence, with Snodgrass up to his retirement slightly the better of the two. Holden looks like being the New Zealand half, although he should have let the ball away sooner instead of trying to run. Bradanovich was good on defence, but not inspiring on attack. D. Hav played solidly all through. Stevenson played a poor fullback game, being uncertain and hesitating. The North forwards were dangerous in the loose, but over-eager, with the result that they were often penalised. In the line-outs they played finely. Steere, Balmer and Finlayson were the best forwards in the tight and Knight and Batty in the loose. Many of the forwards appeared to be too soon in tho open and co-uld not have been doing their share of pushing. As wingforward Porter was in top form, though too often off-side. He played the best wing game seen on Lancaster Bark this season. The South pack was very even, with every man doing his share. Probably Batchelor was the pick, with Jackson, Clark, Howden and Freitas shining in the tight, and Marslin nnd Bird in the loose. The kicking was disappointing, and Langlands should have kicked the goal that would have given the North tlie lead by one point. Considering the amount of ball it enjoyed, the North Island should have won well, but it spurned several opportunities. The game proves that when 29 leading players are taken away from the Dominion the strength of its Rugby is badly impaired. Many of the players who took part in to-day’s game were not up to standard.

Auckland Gains Victory Over Bay

A FIVE-POINT MARGIN BAY’S SPEEDY PACK In a game which, except for a spell in the middle of the second half, was mainly dominated by the visitors, Auckland B representatives defeated Bay of Plenty by 19 points to 14 at Eden Park on Saturday. The game was played before 10,000 spectators. Auckland must be regarded as lucky to have won. The team seemed comparatively lethargic. Only three men in what should have been a rattling pack put any life- into the work in the open. In the tight, Cathcart and Knight grafted hard, and were responsible for plenty of useful work The fast-breaking Bay pack kept the game fairly open, however, and only Righton, Brimble, and Hindenach kept hard on the ball. The first-named was up with the hunt on all occasions, and his try was the direct result of keeping up with the play. Brimble was indefatigable, being one of the few men in the team to tackle hard and low. Hindenach gave a creditable exhibition, and Soloman played his usual sound game. Behind the scrum Judge was quite

satisfactory. Though perhaps a little slow at times, he showed no aesitation in going down oil the ball, and his defensive work was excellent. Gerridg© and Cammick, though responsible for some delightfully tricky play, might perhaps have changed their tactics. They were frequently smothered and caught in possession by the speeedy Bay forwards, and perhaps a little less cutting-in and dummying and a little more straight running, would have been of more use at times. The two Ponsonby men were, however, originally responsible for three of the home team’s five tries, and their cleverness certainly pleased the crowd. Stuart, at centre, was on form, and playd one of his best games this season. With a little more of the leather he might have done even greater things. Though not playing up to his best, Stoupe was safe, but R. Couper, on the other wing, failed to justify the reputation he gained in club football. Bush was safe as a last line of defence, and though he had his kicking boots on, was not given a chance until three attempts at conversion in four tries had failed. Tackling was tlie chief weakness on the home side, and it was not uncommon to see one of tlie sturdy Buy men struggling along with a pair of Aucklanders clinging round his neck and trying to throw him. Black and Sheaf shone most in the keen Bay pack. The latter went on in place of Peebles, who retired with a leg injury.

Nuku and Davies were elusive behind the scrum, and Black was sound as fullback. The visitors’ star man, however, was the speedy right-winger, McKenzie. In scoring two of Bay’s four tries, this player seemed to slip through the ruck without the slightest difficulty. He also has the reputation of being a great goal-kicker, but was certainly not in form in that department on Saturday. M. Howell, on the other wing, also gave a good display, his try being a pleasing effort. Mr. F. E. Sutherland was referee.

AUCKLAND’S EFFORT

DETERMINED DISPLAY BY SKELETON SIDE OBSCURE RULINGS (Special to THE SUXJ WELLINGTON, Sunday. The skeleton Auckland side which suffered defeat at the hands of Wellington by 17-13 had no cause to be mortified over its showing. It cfominated the game throughout an exhilarating second spell, and but for the cruel luck, and one or two inexplicable blunders on the part of referee T. A. Fletcher, it would have put on two Or three more tries a thus have maintained the fine winning sequence established in the South. A singular feature of yesterday’s i match was that only one player, | O’Regan (Wellington), participated in ; last year’s fixture when Auckland 1 routed Wellington at Eden Park. Otherwise both teams were completely changed, this, in Wellington’s case, being apparently due to selector Millard’s reluctance to field the same team twice if he can avoid it, and in Auckland’s, to touring casualties and heavy demands made by the North Island selectors. But for the use of far too much i whistle, which made the first spell a mere procession of penalties, mostly against Auckland, complaints against the referee could be reduced to two or three. Unfortunately, these concerned vital points which swung the scale in Wellington’s favour. KAHU UNLUCKY Just before half-time Sly scored for Wellington from a palpable off-side, and early in the second spell, Kahu. the burly Manukau lock, plunged across in the corner for what seemed a perfectly legitimate try. Mr. Fletcher, interviewed later, said Kahu’s try was disallowed through a knock-on. This, however, was not feasible because Kahu went across in possession, and had a knock-on occurred the referee should have awarded a scrum instead of a kick at the twenty-five yard line. Fortunately in this, and other exasperating pieces of ill-luck, there was some consolation to be derived by Auckland from the brilliant, characteristic movements which, time and again, tore the defence to ribbons, yet broke down with fatal regularity when triumph was in sight. Wellington was at its best in the first spell when a blazing sun troubled the Auckland backs. Defensive uncertainty was also apparent, as R. Hook and Jamieson were failing to get their men. Thus Ramson was allowed to burst through the centre for a glorious try, which with conversion. Sly’s try, and a penalty goal, made the halftime tally 11 against Auckland’s five, which was the result of fast following by Anderson and Linton, Anderson bottling the fullback for Linton to intercept at half-way and race 50yds hotly pursued by the diminutive Coman for a grand try between the props. Auckland opened the second spell with fierce attacks until Jamieson, sighting a nice opening, went through for a typical Ponsonby try. Then followed spasmodic Wellington rushes, crowned by a penalty for a rather obscure obstruction by Jenkin, and the try, with which Brown capped off a crisp back attack after the Wellington forwards, !n a pounding rush. had drawn all the defence into a corner. A DESPERATE BID Having lost chance after chance Auckland had now some excuse for complete resignation, but instead took

* .;***»* -a *** * ***** fresh heart, and initiated a seri<- _ spectacular movements which in a meteoric dash by Fell. and Anderson and a great try by*u? last-named. Jenkin converted. ... with three minutes to go AuekuS renewed its desperate effort to snairt victory from defeat. The haras*; defence, however, lust held, deliberate time-wasting, which hardly consistent with true F portal principles. 'wruaj Auckland’s strength lay in its f O , wards, among whom Strange was ti» only vamper. Kahu. though wd spiked in the hand, played solid Rusbi but die finest trio was Fell. Andere. and Linton. Linton backed his able ca,. taincy with a great individual d!,play, which should put him in lint for international honours. Anderson and Fell were excephmu! in line-outs and displayed amui£ speed in the open. The weakness among the backs lay with R. Hook and Jamieson, neither of whom showed usual faculty for making opening. Jamieson, perhaps excusably, appears overawed by the occasion. The win* with few opportunities, were Fotrad Faiwasser being at times electric it his elusiveness. Goodwin, cripphe with an ankle injury, ultimately retiree to be replaced by Jeffries, who probably would have done better sertiee than Jamieson had he played at second-five-eighth throughout. Mention ratebo made of Butler, whose fielding was faultless and tackling Impeccable. The Wellington forwards were rn, to a standstill by the end of the ram. The real strength of the victors hr with a sturdy set of inside back,, among whom Kamson and Chaney ver„ outstanding.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

AUCKLAND GRAMMAR OVERWHELMED AT NEW PLYMOUTH A spectacular display of high-cksi Rugby was given at New Plymouth cn Saturday, when the Boys* High School beat Auckland Grammar by 49 potato to nil. The game was witnessed ly 7,000 spectators. For the winners, tries were scored by Fookes (4), Watson (4), Ekdalil, Gibbons and Thomas. Anderson converted eight out of eleven. A match at Tauranga on Saturday between King’s College, Auckland, and team of King’s Old Boys from tbe Bay of Plenty district resulted in a win for the Old Boys by 12 points to 9. For the winners tries were scored by Tassel 1, Gray, Phelan and Tanner. Ha Hi well kicked two penalty goals tor King’s and Meikle scored a try.

CITY BEATS PONIES IN HARD BATTLE

Although City finished up one point ahead of Ponsonby, it is doubtfu! whether they really deserved the decision in the hard-fought match play« at the Showgrounds on Saturday. Ponsonby had but seven of the senior team playing, the remaining eight positions being filled by third grad* players who had • just played ow game. The Ponies started off at a greai bat, the backs, fed by McManus, tlw younger, flinging the ball about r great style. The first two quarter* were marked by very' sound PonsonbT play both on attack and defence. CRT was on the verge of scoring sever 1 times, but the defence did not ** flurried, and at one stage the Potsonby fullback, Frazer, held off i&E attackers from the line. McLEOD BRILLIANT Among the Ponsonby 1 acks McManus and McLeod stood out. Mcl«oc •was pretty well marked, but he brok* away brilliantly several times. Me* Manus worked cleverly behind to* scrum and he showed that two least of the McManus family know * great deal about halfback play. City was unlucky in losing Ifwersor in the first half, because his footbai brain is almost certain to have some profitable opportunity. Doootf played a sound fullback game, ***• Kerr-Taylor was prominent on v* threequarter line.

MAORI RUGBY GAME

PRINCE OF WALES CUP FIRST CHALLENGE MATCH Press Association. GISBORNE. Sundir The first contest for the Prince of "Wales Cup. for Rugby ball competition among the _ tricts. was held at Gisborne in fine weather, before an attend*”" estimated at 4,000. While speaking to Sir James . roll during his visit to the ion. the Prince, who was ro icb press.-d with the Maoris, sal g like to do something to the visit. Later Sir James called the incident, and .. Coates was going Home to • ial Conference he lorwa ?'‘i,._ st oig tP by the Prime Minister sugK idea of a cup for Maori Rugby P" The Prince willingly The conditions of left with the Maori Advisory which decided that the trophy for competition among ®Pv* ,j ; rjdee districts. New Zealand j-oo into four parts, namely. QpoUtNorth Cape to K<A o rua_ana Tairawhiti, from East tape nevirke: Taihauauru. PivinesUvirke to Wanganui. ' j tb« and Wellington: Waipounam South Island. me scb'®* In view of the fact that", z«aoriginuted at Gisborne, inland Rugby Union and th - whitj visory Board declared aad “ first holders of the yeSterfirst challenge match. P The r-S dov, was against TokeraU tors won by 15 points to »