South Sydney Turns Tables

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 799, 21 October 1929, Page 6

South Sydney Turns Tables

SPECTACULAR REVERSAL OF FORM

Big Win in Return League Match

IT would be hard to find a more complete and sensational reversal of form than that shown in the return match between .Marist and South Sydney at Carlaw Park on Saturday. A crowd of more than 15,000, most of whom had witnessed the Tykes’ well-deserved win the previous week, w;;.-> left in a state of puzzled bewilderment at the crushing defeat of the Auckland club champions—a defeat so severe and unexpected that at first sight it almost seems to defy explanation.

it was generally expected after South Sydney’s overwhelming defeat of a strong Huntly side last Wednesday that the Tykes would find the Sydney club champions a different proposition to that of the previous week. But nobody could possibly have been prepared for the staggering margin by which South Sydney reversed its first defeat in New Zealand. South Sydney won so convincingly that it is no disparagement to the visitors to say that Marist was a long way below the form it showed the previous Saturday. In any case, there was not 16 points difference between the teams on the run of play. The main factors in South Sydney’s victory were: (1) Its forwards surprised everybody by out-playing the Marist pack. (2) It showed a much greater degree of inter-related combination between backs and forwards. (3 It consistently retained possession of the ball, whereas Marist made the mistake of kicking the ball to the other side. At least two of South Sydney’s tries were a direct result of this. (4) Marist’s faulty positional play, inability to hold the Sydney forwards and weakness in defence. There is no need, however, to pursue the last-mentioned line of argument too far. Bad tactics are bad play and the margin of victory was too big to permit of excuses. The plain truth is that South Sydney was much the better side, and it is to be congratulated on its brilliant victory. Its forwards were magnificent. They lost the ball from set scrums in the early stages, but gradually they got a grip on the game. In addition to holding their own with Marist in the tight, they started to open out in the loose in sectional passing attacks, with demoralising results.

With but one exception South Sydney’s tries all came from hard, fast running down the centre. The visitors gave a masterly display of working their markers out of position to give them the extra man in at the finish and their backing up was a treat to watch.

In A. O’Connor and Eggcn the visitors showed that they possess two

great loose forwards. Binder, F. O’Connor and Bennett carried the brunt of the battle in the heavy stuff, and the former especially proved himself a little champion for his size. All the backs showed a big improvement on the previous week. Wearing’s size and speed made him a constant menace. There must be some great threequurters with the Australian team in England if lie could not find a place. Blair proved himself tricky and resourceful, a skilful little leader, and a past master in the art of running his scoring men into position. P. Williams, Why and Eyers were sound and resourceful; in fact, every man in tho backs acquitted himself well. Spillane got a nasty knock on the arm in the first spell, and that took the edge off his play, but he has done enough in Auckland to show us that he is a very brilliant exponent of fullback play. One feature of the visitors* play was very noticeable. No matter where a man got the ball, his first thought was the opposing line. When Williams went through at the finish, it looked a hundred to one chance, but the sheer unexpectedness of his determined dash caught Marist napping, and all he had to do was to hand the ball on to Binder for the latter to score. Marist has given so many brilliant displays this season, and the club has done so much for tho present tour and the success of this season’s football, that there is no call for harsh criticism. Even the best of teams and tno best of players have their off days, and tho Tykes deserve credit for agreeing to meet the visitors again for the sake of the financial success of the tour when they had little to gain by another victory and everything to lose by defeat.

The team never seemed to be able to do anything right on Saturday. Tho backs kicked too much (mostly with bad direction), and tho forwards lacked the fire and dash of the previous week. Of the backs, Brady alone was up to the high standard of attacking work given by the visitors. His fine, straight running and powerful tackling commanded attention. He is Marist’s next League All Black.

Brisbane gave a great display' on defence. He tried hard to rally his side, and male one or two nice dashes, but he could not counteract the overpowering staleness that seemed to have crept into tho side. A knee injury was no doubt responsible for Gregory kicking to avoid hard tackles wherever possible. because there is no question as to this player’s gameness. Apart from that, Gregory was sound and resourceful.

Hassan has played well in both matches. Like Brady, he is one of the Marist colts who have improved out of all knowledge this season. Batchelor will have to pay more attention to defence if he wants to keep his place in the team next season. He is a good player on attack. N. Campbell, unfortunately, had a day off, but he has done enough during

SATURDAY’S SOCCER

tho season to show that lie is the makings of a high-class performer. The same applies to McDonald. Ono does not know whether this is Jim O’Brien’s last League game—he only came out midway through the present season to help his team through, but the form he has shown this season is sufficient to warrant the hope that we have not seen the last of a really great forward. Although Moisley is captain of the

Marist team, he might on form have quite easily been left out of these two matches. It is gratifying, therefore, to be able to say that he came back to something like his best form. If anybody should have stood down for Duane, it was hardly Graham. The burly “Jock” has been in great form all the season, and his rugged style of play was needed on Saturday. There were too many loose forwards in the pack on Saturday. Duane was rather disappointing after the great game he played in the Roope Rooster final. Clarke is still in representative class as a breakaway forward. If he gets into hard training early next season, he will take a lot of beating. The scoring register was as follows: South Sydney (tries by Eggen (2), Wearing, Eyers and Binder, three goals by Wearing), 21 points; Marist (try by Batchelor goal by Gregory), 5 points.

AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS

BARROW TEAM DEFEATED Australian and N.Z. rress Associatioyi LONDON, Sunday. The Australian League football team defeated Barrow by 13 points to 10, after a fast and exciting game. There were 10,000 spectators and the gate receipts, £I,BOO, were a record for a match at Barrow.

FOURTH GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL COMRADES V. GLEN EDEN The teams were: Comrades.—Donaldson, Webber, Kinaird, Egen, Crockett, Page, Turner, Francis, Lonergan, Marven, Skinner. Glen Eden.—Leadbeater, N. Rogers, Constable, Allen, Keilly, Wilson, R. Rogers, A. Rogers, Jepson, D. Rogers, Hitchens. Comrades were rather better in combination but Glen Eden was forcing tho play and it was a matter of luck that Comrades were first to score. Skinner put Comrades ahead about half-way through the first half and despite Glen Eden’s efforts Marven added a further score shortly afterward after breaking through tho halfbacks and outpacing the backs in a fierce run for goal. After the spell Glen Eden’s efforts were rewarded when a goal resulted from a scrummage. The Comrades’ forward line was too clever, however, and a neat passing movement saw Turner net. Final scores:— Comrades .. 3 Glen Eden 1

THIRD GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP

KIWI V. NEW LYNN The teams were: Kiwi.—Somerville, Jacob, Treason, Strathdee, Ritchie. Grieve, Fauland, Black, Smith, Montrose, Dimery. Glen Eden.—Heap, Lithgow, Gregory, Darby, W. Munro, Mclnnes, Munro, Carr, Galloway, Armstrong, J. Carr. Both teams were failing in combination. Wild kicking tactics characterised the early part of the game and play moved unsuccessfully from goal to goal. A neat wing movement saw Munro cross for Galloway to net easily. New Lynn’s combination had improved considerably, and play was for the most part restricted to the Kiwi’s half.

After a determined but ineffectual rally by the Kiwi attackers, the New Lynn forwards carried the play to the other end and Galloway essayed a high shot which the goalie misjudged and let fall over the line. Shortly before ha f-time Ga.loway added a third goal to New Lynn s score. Half-time: New Lynn 3 Kiwi o New Lynn started off well in the second half when the centre-half, W. Munro, converted a corner from close in. Shortly after Armstrong scored with a powerful drive from well out. Kiwi was extremely rattled, and it was not long before T. Carr added j three more goals in succession to New j Lynn’s score. Final scores: New Lynn 7 Kiwi 0

GIANT ITALIAN BOXER

IS PRIMO CARNERA A WORLD-BEATER ? MENTIONED FOR THE TITLE (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Australian and N.Z . Press Association (United Service) LONDON, Friday. “Is the giant Italian a worldbeater?” ask the newspapers’ boxing experts, in view of Primo Camera’s lightning victory over Jack Stanley yesterday. He beat the British ex - policeman in the first round, Heavily punishing Him, so that the referee stopped the bout. Despite his 20st, and height of Cft lOln, Camera gets about the ring like a middle-weight. His punching power and ring-craft are amazing for one who is only boxing seriously this year. This is only his fifteenth fight. Most of his bouts lasted one or two rounds. The critics agree that he has mastered timing, short punches, footwork, right and left uppercuts, in a manner which usually takes at least two years. It is generally agreed that there has been no heavy-weight in the last 30 years with the same potentialities at the same stage of development. Also, the heavyweight title cannot be fought out without considering Camera as a challenger. The “Daily Express” in an editorial says: “Camera is an Atlas, a centipede, and a scientific boxer in one. He does not fight; he massacres. So long as ho stays in the game, everybody else may as well retire. ITe has made it ridiculous.” Matt Wells says Camera looks like a world-beater. Air. Bettison, manager of the National Sporting Club, describes Camera as a big discovery. Despite an apparent awkwardness, he dances about with agility. His boxing skill is obvious. Jimmy Wilde says Camera will create a stir among the big fellows in America. Eugene Corri is surprised at the accuracy and power of Camera’s left. On London form he is capable of beating anybody, Corri says. Jack Stanley says: “He is not human. I never hit him. It was like fighting the Tower of Lon-

The “Morning Post’s” boxing correspondent is doubtful if even in America at present there is anybody -who could beat Camera. Mr. Bennison, in the “Daily Telegraph,” says Camera would have passed for a world champion. His footwork was excellent and very speedy. There was meaning, purpose, accuracy and enormous weight in every blow of his. PROBLEM FOR CARNERA It is a problem” just how Camera, who virtually was unknown a week ago and who now has jumped into pugilistic prominence, will fit into the complicated scheme of things surrounding the world heavy-weight title. Phil Scott’s manager, cabling from New York, says Scott will not meet and will not recognise Camera in connection with the world title. He suggests that if Camera gets a post at Barnum and Bailey’s circus, as a giant for exhibition among the other curiosities, he will do his best tc assist him. However, it is interesting to note that Camera has already been engaged at a big fee to give boxing exhibitions in the Alhambra. Offers are rolling in all day long since his spectacular victory. A GREAT EATER Camera’s chief trouble is that he is unable to find anybody to hit sufficiently hard. “I am sorry for Stanley,” he said. “I had to win quickly. I wouldn’t hurt him for worlds. It is no credit to me this win. What else could I do? 1 have heard of Jeffries, Johnson, Burns, Fitzsimmons, Dempsey and Tunney; but they were only 14-stone boxers. If I find a 20-stone man I would love to hit him.” All this was said in Italian. Carnera’s only English is “Yes. Hungry.”

He has been besieged all day wherever he has gone in London. His manager’s chief difficulty is preventing him from eating. Camera will meet Young Stribling, tho well-known American, on October 31, at Paris. Stribling has had 268 fights, of which he has won nearly ■ 200 with knock-outs. SATURDAY’S CYCLING THREE ROAD RACES Eight competitors faced the startey in the 51-miles junior cycling rage conducted by the Manukau Club on Saturday afternoon. Results are as under: S. Pinfold (lmin) 1 C. C. Beart (lmin) , 2 H. V. Gordon (lmin) 3 L. Oxton (lmin) 4 Fastest time was secured by G. M. Lethaby, off scratch, in 15min 12sec. The results of the 27 miles senior event, in which there were 27 starters, was: C. I. Gainsborough (lmin lOsec) 1 J. C. Stewart (lmin 40sec) .. 2 E. A. Cleaver (lmin lOsec) .. 3 G. P. Clark (lmin lOsec) .. 1 Fastest time was registered by G. T. Gainsborough, olf lmin lOsec, in 45min Tho event conducted by the Auckland Club resulted: J. McDonald (3min 50sec) . . 1 K. Rae (3min 50see) 2 W. Pratney (smin 30sec) .... 3 R. Gardner (4min lOsec) . . 4 Time, 52min 35seo. Fastest time was registered by J. Lindop, off scratch, in 4l)min SSsec.

MILITARY BOXING TOURNAMENT TONIGHT The Auckland Military Sports Association’s annual boxing tournament will commence at the Drill Hall, Rutland S:reet, at 7.30 this evening. The tourney will continue each evening and some excellent boxing is promised, as very large entries have been received and many good amateurs are engaged. FOURTH GRADE RUGBY Tho Manukau and Otahuhu fourth grade Rugby teams met at the Showgrounds on Saturday, Manukau winning by 3 points to 0. The result means a play-off between tho teams, which