Hard Rugby Battle

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 751, 26 August 1929, Page 6

Hard Rugby Battle

Auckland Team’s Fine Display

Victory Over North Auckland

POSSESSING a fast and heavy pack of forwards averaging at least a stone heavier all round, North Auckland set out to make a tight game of the annual representative match with Auckland at Dargaville on Saturday. Although Auckland took up a good set of backs it was practically a 1» representative pack, and it was in overrunning these that the North relied on for victory. But the Auckland pack, despite its lack of weight, staged n great fight. Every man was a worker, and in a hardfought battle they managed to give their backs enough opportunities to enable them to run out winners by 15 to 9.

It was a hard, rugged game full of spectacular flashes in which the speedier Auckland backs mostly figured.

From the kick off it was apparent that the heavier Northern pack was endeavouring to keep the play tight and away from the City backs. When the forwards could not hook it they attempted to push Auckland off the ball, often carrying the lighter pack yards down the paddock, but they contested every inch. Time and again North Auckland carried play to their line, but on each occasion the Aucklanders, sticking well to the leather, rallied again, and with tight and honest packing drove the invaders out. With the Northern forwards dominating the play it was the superior handling and finish of the Auckland backs that turned the tide of battle in the visitors* favour. Whenever they got a chance to handle the inside backs raced into action like a team of greyhounds, Cammick, who played a splendid game, invariably creating the openings for his outside men. It was Bush who placed Auckland In the-lead shortly after the commencement with a fine drop kick from between the twenty-five line and halfway. Getting the ball in a passing rush he steadied up and in a cool, calculated attempt the leather sailed fairly between the posts. Barrich then, scored a fine try for the North, and Jamieson followed suit for Auckland with a fine run after Cammick had opened up. Bush converted and at half-time the .scores were 9-3 in Auckland’s favour. In the second half North Auckland made desperate attempts to batter down tho resistance of the Auckland pack, but the lighter forwards held grimly on. A penalty kick by Hansen and a try bNicholls brought North Auckland feveL SATHERLEY’S GREAT RUN It was then that Cammick, cutting in beautifully, sent Bush across for a tine try. A little later Satherley broke away with a great run of about 70 yards, finally to fling himself across in the corner and place Auckland six points in the lead just before the final whistle sounded. Under the circumstances in which the game was played the performance put up by the Auckkind backs v;as highly creditable. With their forwards outweighted man for man and the home pack superior in the scrums, opportunities did not freely come their way, but what did, they made the most CAMMICK STANDS OUT

Turei was the ou His conversion of Taylor’s try was a good kick. Satherley gave a reasonable account of himself. Once after an excellent run he was forced out and the effort failed through lack of support. Falwasser was similarly unfortunate. Second j five-eighth Linden was often in the

Cammick was A. star, giving a line all - round exhibition both on attack and defence. Tho two tries scored by the backs were both the product of his penetrating runs. Both he and Jamieson, who also gave a solid display, outclassed the opposing inside

men. Rae, at halfback. carried tho

Auckland’s bright

•heavy, end-of the stick, but he acquitted himself well, sending the ball out promptly whenever the opportunity offered. The threequarter line. Minns, Bush and Lucas, worked well. Minns showed several very fast dashes, but it was mostly on defence that his best work was seen, his tackling being particularly good. Bush played a sound.

rugged game at centre. His defence as usual was very reliable, and his positional play was much better. Taken all round, it was a much improved exhibition. Lucas was a well-marked man, but nevertheless was able to give more than . a taste of his quality. Several situations he

pulled out of the fire with his clever handling and elusive running. At fullback Butler played a brilliant game. Although sorely pressed on many occasions by the bustling Northern packmen. he rarely made a mistake. Fletcher and Palmer were two hardworking hookers, Fletcher, in addition, playing a brilliant forward game in both tight and loose. McGuire was another who gave a particularly good exhibition. Not only was he a hard toiler from start to finish, but he used his head to good effect. Satherley and Kn.hu were also prominent, but for that matter also were Solomon. Peacock, and Keane. If one had played an indifferent game, the pack would never have held the Northerners as it did. Bright individuals in the northern back division were Kerr, a very useful type of fullback, but hardly up to the Butler standard; Hansen, a wingUireequarter with a very fast turn of speed; .and Bartley, the first fiveeighth. Hansen and Kerr both show considerable promise, particularly the latter. Nicholls, a brother of the famous Mark, also gave a promising exhibition at centre, but, like the rest of tho tlireequarters, got few opportunities. Bunny" Finlayson and W. Rika led the northern van. and did it very effectively. Finlayson appears to be paying more attention to the "tight stufT. and in this department toiled hard. His lineout work was particularly good, although he was seldom permitted to get very far. the tackling of tho Auckland packman, Satherley and Peacock in particular, being too good. Other outstanding forwards were Hamona. who retired injured, and , Yates. Wells, who incidentally go* ' away with a good deal of offside play. I was a good rover. GAME AT SHOWGROUNDS MANUKAU ROMPS WITH GRAFTON

M mukau met Grafton at: the Showgrounds on won by 12 points to 5. Manukau, which might have bright-

j ened things by running all over Grafton, was very content to maintain a simple lead. In the first quarter a free kick was given against Grafton and Turei was effective. Taylor (Grafton scored a try and Turei converted. Manukau put its only mark on tho slate when one of its forwards (another Taylor) got across, Wylie putting his kick over. Byers showed unexpected initiative with a drop--1 kick that added four points.

picture and indulged in a little good tackling. With some aggressiveness Grafton might have taken advantage of Manukau sufficiently to snatch the game. The best player on the side was Wylie, and Taylor also showed himself capable of good work. CANTERBURY’S EASY WIN SOUTHLAND BACKS FAIL MULLAN PLAYS WELL Press Association CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. By superior back play, Canterbury beat Southland at Lancaster Park today by the comfortable margin of 21 points to 3. The Southland backs lacked thrust, and certain brilliant moves by the Canterbury rearguard were the deciding factors in the game. Carleton was not fit to play, and Oliver was injured toward the end of the first spell, so that the match gave little on which to base judgment of the real strength of the Canterbury backs for the Ranfurly Shield match on Wednesday. The Canterbury forwards did* well against their heavier opponents, securing the baJl in the majority of the scrums and line-outs. Cottrell and Burrows, in the front rank of the scrum, proved an efficient pair of hookers The forwards ail worked well, showing no disinclination for the solid, tight work. Indeed, tjiere was not one opportunist among them. Mullan, behind the Canterbury scrum, played his best game of the season, and sound displays were given by Lilburne. Hart, and Steel. HAMILTON AGAIN RETAINS PEACE CUP (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, Today. At Rugby Park, Hamilton, on Saturday, the Hamilton Rugby representatives succeeded in staving off the challenge of Matamata for the Peace Cup, by 18 points to 11. Hamilton scored first when Allen crossed the line for an unconverted try. The defending backs played sparkling football and soon after Hamilton forged ahead again when St. George scored another try, which Halstead failed to convert. Just on half-time, a brilliant breakaway by Halstead saw him dummy his way over at the corner. The spell ended with the score, Hamilton 9, Matamata 0. Hamilton scored again early in the second spell, St* George being the responsible agent. For the fourth time the kick at goal failed. Matamata retaliated shortly after when Kneebone registered an unconverted try. Carroll followed up this effort by the challengers by kicking a penalty goal. Chapman scored again for Hamilton, and then Vosper added another try for tho challengers, which Carroll converted. The iinul try for Hamilton went to Mitchell, and the game ended: Hamilton 18, Matamata 11. VARSITY’S WIN OTAHUHU DEFEATED 111 the Rugby match between Varsity and Gtahuhu, at Kllerslie on Saturday afternoon, there was some exciting and, at times, almost brilliant play. I Both teams were prominent for j sood passing movements and splendid rushes, Varsity especially so. umc and again the latter’s forwards, who were very fast, got away, only to be foiled by bad luck or their opponents’ clever defence. The Otahuhu forwards, although quite fair, were neither as fast nor as clever as the Varsity vanguard. Jenkin, of the latter team, was the most outstanding player on the field. Ho nhK- by Clarke and

the pair figured in some very pretty play. The combination of both teams was good. Varsity combined especially well this Saturday and, in the last period, almost had the games in its own hands. Stotter, of the Varsity backs.

played a good game, as did MacGlashan. fullback, who was prominent for his kicking. Colgan also played a very good game, being outstanding on many occasions. Taken on the wh.ole the score, Varsity 14, Otahuhu 3," was a good indication of the respective merits of the two teams.