Canterbury’s Downfall

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

Canterbury’s Downfall

OUTCLASSED IN FINER POINTS One-Sided League Rugby Game GAME, plucky triers as they proved themselves to be, the Canterbury League players had no chance with a reconstructed Auckland side at Carlaw Park on Saturday. Auckland won by 47 points to 18, and it would be foolish to suggest that this margin did not represent the difference between the two teams.

Canterbury started on an encouraging note, and there were bright prospects of a keen game in the early stages, especially • when the forwards wero quite holding their own in the tight and the backs were tackling fearlessly and well. Both sides were puzzled by a tantalising new ball, which played queer tricks if it was allowed to bounce. It looks as if the League might very well consider getting a different class of ball. By half time, however, it was apparent that Canterbury had shot its bolt. The tackling of the visitors had then lost some of the tigerish intensity displayed in the first 20 minutes, and

the forwards were plainly disheartened at the failure of their backs to keep the racing Auckland insides in check. Auckland was exploiting fast passing play down the centre >of the paddock, and changing the direction of play 10 bring its quickbreaking forwards into the movement

—« w*v*i* v_, Canterbury was quite unable to cope with this form of attack and toward the end of the game the visitors were a badly demoralised side, although they never gave in, and even profited on two occasions from carelessness on the part of the home side to score a try. Saturday’s team was undoubtedly the strongest that has represented Auckland this season, and those who know the difficulties the selectors have had will be quick to express full appreciation of their work. The forwards, especially, showed a tremendous improvement, even despite the fact that they were carrying on their backs a player, who, through no real fault of his own (except possibly over-keen-ness) was a passenger for the greater part of the game. The backs, too, went splendidly together, and even at fullback there was cause for congratulation at the way a new player rose to the occasion in his old position. STILL IN FIRST FLIGHT J. O’Brien gave ample proof of the fact that he is still in the first flight of New Zealand football. He. gave a masterly exhibition of consitsent allround play, being good in the loose and tight alike. Payne:, another of the veterans, also made a convincing ‘ come-back” to big football. His work in the open was a treat to watch. Two youngsters also created a fine impression. There have been grave doubts about the wisdom of Francis’s rapid elevation to North Island honours, chiefly on the score of his lack of weight and experience, but on Saturday the speedy Newton breakaway played brilliant and dashing football. How he would fare against a weighty pack of international calibre is another matter, but in the meantime he has fully justified his selection in the Auckland team. Pascoe, too, showed sound and satisfactory form. He and Campbell are two entirely different types of hookers, and each, in his way. has given no cause for worry in assuring a reasonable supply of the ball, provided the weight has been behind him. Moisley played a much better game than he did the previous week, and although he did not often get into the limelight, he did is full share in the hard stuff. Ruby was limping badly toward the close and naturally his play showed the effects of a severe leg injury. The selection of Shortland has been criticised, and judged by previous

games, rightly so;

but on Saturday the little City player rose to the occasion like a champion. It was the best game he has played in Auckland for the 13-a----side code. His passing out from the scrum was so clean and fast that the backs had no difficulty in getting away with

the run on, and he was neat and

clever in the rest of his play. He is to be congratulated on the exhibition he gave. Variety in attack was the keynote to the success of the Auckland backs. Every man in the line had his speciality—Delgrosso with his lightning cut

in; Seagar with what a barracker intended as a compliment when he called it “his silly run”; and Brisbane with his powerful straight running down the centre. List rather over-did the in-pass, but this style of play was well suited to fit in with the fast following up of forwards like Payne and Francis. Both Delgrosso and Brisbane were at the top of their form, but Seagar was not so good as usual. Still, it is hard to see how the present line of inside backs could be improved on. More thrust and driving power, however, is called for on the wings, for well as List and Carter played, they have yet to show' the scoring ability that Scott and Hardgrave possessed last season. GREGORY BRILLIANT Gregory pleased everybody by the quickness with which he picked up his old position at fullback. His fielding of the ball was magnificent, and his kicking was sound and well directed. At times he took risks, which, no doubt, he would not attempt against stronger opposition. It w as in the finer points of the game that Canterbury was hopelessly beaten. Otherwise the visitors played a solid sort of game, which could be considerably improved on if they went in more for a faster passing style, especially among the backs. The forwards were very good in the i tight, where Woodgate, Mayne, Minnard and Green were especially pro- i minent. Spencer, the old City and Auckland representative forward, showed up well in the loose and. as might be expected, was more in touch with the Auckland style of play than any of the others. Dobbs is a fine stamp, although he threw away a great chance once by wild kicking. Woodgate, too, ought to have known better than to have attempted to pick up the ball when he could quite well have kept it at his feet. That happened on at least two important occasions. O’Connor had a heavy afternoon’s work at half, and he stood up to it in fine style. Amos did some splendid work at times, and Stapley created a good impression on the wing, though he got few chances. Spillane looks to have put on a lot of weight since last year, but he showed in the second spell that he is still a dangerous scoring man. Scoring Register.—Auckland: Tries by Payne (3). Carter, Seagar, O’Brien, Francis, Brisbane, Pascoe, Delgrosso, and List, and goals by Delgrosso (4), Gregory, Frances, and O’Brien —47 points. Canterbury: Tries by Green, Spillane, O’Connor, and Amos, and goals by O’Connor (2) and Sanders. RETAINS SENIOR RANK ELLERSLIE HAS CLOSE CALL C. DUFTY PLAYS AGAIN In a dull contest which failed to feature any exciting or spectacular play, the Ellerslie Leaguers retained their senior status when they defeated Point Chevalier, the winner of the senior B championship, by 5 points to 0 in a curtain-raiser to the representative fixture at Carlaw Park on Saturday. „ - To a large extent the game resembled a loose scramble from beginning to end, and while Ellerslie failed to give a display approaching that of senior grade standard, Point Chevalier’s exhibition as the best team in the senior B division was far from convincing. Dogged forward tactics were prevalent for the most part, while both sets of backs failed miserably at any attempt to start a passing bout. On occasion, individualists would race away into the open, but for the want of better combination and following up, their efforts were seldom of any account. One feature of the game was undoubtedly the reappearance of Dufty, who has come back into the fold as quietly and as suddenly as he faded out of it, some weeks ago. He was custodian for El-

lerslie, and although not getting a great deal to do was able to produce some of his old finesse which marked him as likely to gain representative honours again this season. Half-back Olliff made vain endeavours to send his rearguard away, and he was the or-

iginator of some very promising movements, but through weak combination they broke up badly. R. Crewther at five-eighth made a few spectacular runs, but they were usually short and lacked finish. Chapman, a break-away forward, was in the limelight a great deal and with his determined running perhaps worried the opposition more than any other player. After a great run in the second half he was unlucky not to score, but he managed to take bis side to the attack for Arthur to dive over. For Point Chevalier, Monaghan at half-back figured prominently, but he must take the blame for a mulled pass which lost a good score. Generally, however, he played a good, sound game and was always up with the play. PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL The following A and B trial teams of primary school Rugby League boys, chosen by the selector, Mr. E. Crowley, will play a match on Carlaw Park on Wednesday afte,rnoon at 1.30. with a view to the final selection of the team to go to North Auckland at an early date. A Team.—Fullback, Scott (Devonport); threequarters, Phillips (Mangere), Godfrey (Newton), Trainer (Newmarket); five-eighths, Johnson (Otahuhu). Hastings (Papatoetoe); halfback. Cobb (Mount Albert); forwards, L. Jack (Newmarket), Lunn (Newmarket). McGuire (Mangere), Lupton (Richmond), C. W. Wintle (Onehunga), Rucker (Otahuhu); emergencies, backs. Edkins (Newmarket), McNeil (Devonport); forwards, Mclnnarney (Ellerslie). Pennal (Devonport). B Team.—Fullback, Andrews (Newton); threequarters, Munro (Onehunga), Halsey (Papatoetoe). Henderson (Ellerslie); five-eighths, Paton (Onehunga), Smith (Newmarket); halfback, Randell (Newton); forwards, Hamilton (Newton), McCarthy (Richmond), Whitefield (Newmarket). Neil (Akarana). Owen (Richmond), Rice (Mangere); emergencies—backs. Smith (Newton), Watts (Newmarket): forwards, Hayward (Ellerslie), Elliott (Newton).