Tight Game in Mud

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1047, 11 August 1930, Page 6

Tight Game in Mud

TARANAKI’S PENALTY GOAL?

Auckland Rugby Reps. Unlucky

ALTHOUGH ground conditions made J'a>t, open football out of the question, two evenly-matched packs provided a. close game at Eden Park on Saturday, when the Taranaki representative Rugby team met Auckland. The ground, badly cut up by the curtain-raiser, was also very slushy and a few minutes after the game had commenced it was practically impossible to distinguish one side from the other. The game early developed into a forward struggle in which Auckland held a slight advantage.

Auckland was the first to show up on tho score board, when Bert Palmer forced his way across for a good try which, however, was scored too far out for Berridge to convert. Both Hook and Iladley were a little unlucky m not scoring. Auckland at this stage was pressing heavily. Just before half time Jones received a quick passout from Solomon and crossed on the blind side near the flag, making Auckland’s total six. Just before this, however. Collins, the Taranaki fullback, had an attempt at the posts from a penalty. It was plain that the ball fell short, but the referee, without waiting to observe that the umpires did not signal a goal, blew his whistle for three points. It was not until after half time when the fact was made clear that the goal had been awarded were the three points shewn on the score board. FAILED TO BACK UP Auckland appeared to have the game in hand and were attacking well with loose forward rushes, several of which just failed to get there. It was from one of these attacks that the position changed with dramatic suddenness for

Taranaki to score and bring the scores level. Jamieson had broken away and had passed to A. Knight. The big forward sent the ball to Jones, who was collared not far from the line. T. Robinson kicked through and Butler failed to gather in a greasy rolling ball. With a bad display of camkssness the other Auckland backs failed to back Butler up and in a flash two or three Taranaki forwards had pounced on the ball and swept down on the Auckland line to score almost under the posts. Taranaki had a great chance of winning the game, but Colling missed an easy kick, which, in view of Taranaki’s undeserved goal earlier in the game, provided a more satisfactory ending to the game. Although back play was out of the question, what there was came mostly from the Auckland side. , With the ground conditions as they were, however, the movements were rarely ever effective. the threequarters being caught and tackled almost in every instance before they I could get going. With the exception of his rather ; bad miss toward the end of the game, when he let the Taranaki forwards through to score. Butler played well under very difficult conditions. Of the threequarters. Hook, who captained the side in the absence of Lucas, was the most impressive, suiting his play more to the conditions than the others. Haslam did not appear to relish the heavy going, and in the mud could not get away as quickly as was necessary. His defensive work was good. Jamieson, who is much lighter on his feet, appeared to enjoy the conditions and gave a very fine dis- | play, showing up with a number of very heady runs. Conway, who was behind the scrum | in place of Corner, was another wno 1 gave a good display. Conway is a half of some promise. KNIGHT PROMINENT Solomon played another of his good games, combining well with the backs and opening up play at every opportunity. He also saved well on occasions. Of the packmen, A. Knight was the outstanding figure. In addition to toiling hard in the tight he figured in many loose rushes, several times showing a surprising turn of speed. Palmer and Hadley were others that toiled very hard and Finlayson was also a willing worker. In A. Collins Taranaki possesses a very useful fullback. Under very hard conditions he played a sound and solid game, his handling being particularly good. Taranaki had apparently arranged the team with defence as one of the first considerations. playing C. Hunt, a fullback, at second five-eighth, where he did some very good defensive work. T. Robinson, the Maori representative player, showed up well at first five-eighth, but like most of the backs on both sides had to content himself mainly with defensive work. Gudgeon, the visitor’s half, opened up well, giving indications that under bettor conditions ifb would be a very useful man. The forwards packed well and their rushes were always dangerous. Richards, Walter and Clarke were always conspicuous and Baldwin toiled hard in the tight, while A. Guy, rover, made the most of the opportunities that came his way. Mr. G. Peace was the referee. SOUTH AUCKLAND UNLUCKY TO GO DOWN HARD FORWARD STRUGGLE South Auckland was decidedly unlucky to suffer defeat by a margin of one point in a heavy, slogging forward mud struggle with the Auckland B reps Eden Park on Saturday. The home team won by six points to five. The visitors, who fielded a fine of fast forwards, possessed better combination than the home side, and by their “wet day” tactics dominated the r, in of play for the greater part of the

first spell, the Auckland pack livenin~ up in the second term to even up tfc*. situation to a large extenL Keeping the ball at their toes, tfc* South Auckland forwards were inait edly successful in the first half, whii* their fast breaking from the scro«s and lineouts enabled them to smotlV any movements of the home baci< which the greasy ball did not Keary was a splendid leader ol tfc.' visiting pack, showing up promineuhin the lineout work, and he was ml variably in the van in dribbling breakaways. He was splendidly supported by Stanford and Aitcheson. both cwhom showed marked dash in the lot? work, while the former was always jj the thick of the heavy As an attacking combination, t'l South Auckland backs had few, if a: chances to show' their paces, thour. they proved their worth as sound defenders, their tackling being particularly good. The former Auckland player Lawrie was a good five-eighth-, link in the visiting rearguard, showinc sound judgment both on attack and defence. The threequarter line had for chances, although the speedy centra Fallows, shone out several times fer his bright attacking work. The Maori fullback, Hira. was fairly sound in his handling and kicking, except for hi* one mistake, which gav< Auckland >:»- first try. The Auckland pack failed in the firr spell largely because it did not adopt its play to meet the greasy grouuc Gaining possession of the ball from tmmajority of the set scrums, it sent the leather to the backs, who time arc again attempted passing movements with little success. Not until the second term did the home forwards follow the example of the visitors and go through with the ball at their toe*. Heyward and Douglas were markedly successful in hooking, and with Hard:* were often to the fore in the looee rushes, particularly in tfie second ball The home backs shaped promisingly coccasions, handling the greasy ball weR at times in passing rushes, which, however, were given no thrusting in: petus by the inside backs. Harris performed soundly at the base of tfce scrum. sending away the backs smartly on attack and defending resolutely against fast breaking fo--wards. Cowper was the bright light o! the Auckland threequarters and despite the fact he was carefully marked, contrived to get in some slashing penetrating runs. He scored Auckland’s first try as a result of a nio» anticipatory run down touch to gather in his stride the bouncing ball that the South Auckland fullback had shortkicked to the line. Connolly, on tha other wing, had few chances, thoup’i he made the most of them by registering Auckland's second try. which came from a passing bout among the forwards from a lineout. Bush wa« unlucky not to convert the first try. tx ball striking the post, while Weir suffered similar misfortune when he attempted a dropkick from a mark. South Auckland’s only try was th° result of a pretty piece of in-an-ont passing between Cossey, Lawrie ar.J Fallows, the centre-threeqnarter crowing near the corner. Kearv’s goal fretr the sideline was a beautv. Mr. A. E. Austin refereed.