BACKS TOO CLEVER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 745, 19 August 1929, Page 6

BACKS TOO CLEVER

SOUTH AUCKLAND GOES DOWN GAMELY FALWASSER AND CO. Sparkling play by Falwasser and a general all-round superiority in the back division gave Auckland B a seven-point victory over South Auckland. The Southern forwards played a bustling game that strained the home defence severely at times, but the visitors’ backs lacked the cleverness of the Auckland men, particularly as far as the insides were concerned. Soutti’s tackling was good, however, and, but for several remarkable efforts by Falwasser, the positions on the scoreboard might easily have been reversed. Loose rushes by the visiting pack looked dangerous at times, and a pair of hard-galloping wingers would have been hard to stop had they been given more leather. Among the Auckland backs, Falwasser was the undoubted star. The dry ground suited him admirably and he gave his best display this season. Time after time he dodged along the side-line, beating men with apparent ease and clutching the ball with one hand. Toward the end of the game Crotty and Brownlee were watching the Maori closely, and he was not allowed to get far. Much of the credit for Falwasser’s display, must go to Bell. Although the centre handled badly and dropped some easy passes, he fed his wingers consistently, and made some clever openings. Stoupe was below form, although he was prominent in some tricky passing bouts. Ho would probably have felt more at ease nearer the scrum, where he has been playing some good games lately. Cammick, as second five-eighth, was a clever opportunist. His defence was only fair, and he relied too much on intercepted passes, but he was not slow to take advantage of any chance that was offered him. Jenkin, one place nearer the scrum, was the backbone of the defence. His passes were slow, however, and he did not shine in aggression. McManus was also a little too slow, but his work behind the scrum was solid without being at all clever. Both fullbacks had powerful boots, but were not so sound in handling or tackling. Wilsori converted three of Auckland’s four tries and made a good attempt at a difficult kick with the other. Hira seemed nervous and was easily bustled. South was fortunate in its threequarter line. Crotty and Stephens were wingers with plenty of dash. Brownlee was a clever centre and would have been a very dangerous I man had he seen a little more of the j ball. Wood and Hamilton were fiveeighths of promise. At present they are inclined to hang on a little too long and attempt the more spectacular play instead of remembering that a liveeighth’s duty is to run straight and beat his man if he can. Howe made few mistakes at halfback. Stanford. Kerebs and Massey were the pick of the South pack. Stanford made some great solo dribbling runs. The other two shone in the loose. Solomon led the Auckland vanguard, lie gave the Southerners a lot of trouble in the ruck and started his backs off after making some great openings. Unfortunately he gave South one try as a gift, punting foolishly infield from the Auckland line So that the South backs had only to cross the line for an easy try. Sotherly and Peacock were perhaps the best of an even pack. Play was kept interesting by the tact of Mr. G. Peace, who did not play so many solos on the whistle as he .quite easily might have done.