Better Combination

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1071, 8 September 1930, Page 6

Better Combination

ENTERPRISING AUCKLAND BACKS

Too Good for Wairarapa

REPRESENTATIVE matches between Auckland and Wairarapa can always be relied upon to provide interesting Rugby. Although Saturday’s game can hardly rank as a classical display, there was sufficient incident in it to sustain the interest of a fairly large gathering of the public. Auckland’s victory by 21 points to 11 was the result of better combination both among backs and forwards. The home backs were more ready to take advantage of the opportunities that came their way and their work also showed much more finish. In the forwards, however, the only superiority that Auckland could boast was in respect to better understanding.

The Wairarapa forwards, ably led by lan Harvey, penetrated time and again with slashing attacks and, had they been better supported, might have succeeded in considerably narrowing the margin of Auckland’s victory. In the scrums the visitors held the advantage.

When Auckland rattled on ten points with surprising suddenness shortly after the commencement of the game, it must have been rather disconcerting to the visitors. They were both good tries. The first was the result of the adroitness of Lucas, who made a nice opening for Hook. Bush converting with a magnificent kick. Then Haslam secured in a passing rush, and had burst through before the opposition woke up. Auckland did not score again in the first half, but Fuller hoisted three points for the visitors with a magnificent kick, and R. Jury scored a good try. making the score 10—6 at the interval. Hook got a rather lucky interception try early in the second half, and then Weir/ cut in beautifully for Angus Finlaysoh to score, making the totals 18j» 6 in Auckland's favour. Two more tries were scored. Best (Wairarapa) getting one, and Lucas the other. VISITORS GET THE BALL The absence of Swin Hadley made a big difference to the home pack. For the first time for a long while Auckland failed to dominate the scrums, the Wairarapa pair easily getting the lion’s share of the ball. This natur-

ally had a big effect on Auckland’s back play, the rearguard having to rely mostly on field opportunities for the passing rushes. In this style of play the Auckland threequarter line—Jones, Lucas, and Hook—showed to better advantage than the Wairarapa trio, which was far more orthodox in its methods. Lucas gave one of his best displays, showing a good deal of his old clever opportunism. However, it was play of rather an individual type, and hardly suitable to a fast winger of Jones’s stamp. The Maori threequarter got few opportunities in the open, most of the passes being handed on to him when he was well jammed the sideline. The style of play suited Hook much better. Weir, for his rushstopping, and Haslam, for his penerating work, both caught the eye. Haslain tackles well, and his work is gradually assuming polish. BUSH ON HIS GAME Corner, doubtless due to the attentions of the Wairarapa breakaways and rover, did not get his transfers away as cleanly as usual. At fullback Bush gave a fine display, his line-kicking being particularly good. A very fine goal, kicked from wide out and beyond the twenty-five line, also fell to his lusty boot. Another good fullback display was given by Fitzgerald. Although a little on the slow side, he was very sure, and on occasions saved well in the teeth of considerable opposition. Fuller, whom Aucklanders remember as the man whose goal-kicking boot robbed this province of its chance of winning the Ranfurly Shield last season. showed a nice turn of speed on the wing, and also demonstrated that while he was about, it was unsafe to give away penalties anywhere on the wrong side of the halfway line. Of the inside backs, Denby was the pick, showing the more penetration of the two. HARVEY OUTSTANDING The Wairarapa forwards are a fine lot. lan Harvey,'the ex-All Black lock, was the best forward, on the ground, and he showed that he still ranks among the very best forwards in New Zealand. Not only did he lock his scrum well, but his lineout play was a treat to watch. He was also in the forefront of most of the loose rushes, and, anywhere near the line, was always a hard man to pull down. Fairbrother, K. Reid, and J. Le Quesne, who held the roving commission. also played fine games. Le Quesne, although playing more of the wing-forward type of game, was most effective, not only as a spoiler, but also in the loose rushes. A strong runner, and hard to pull down, he should make a very worthy successor to Jim Donald. L. Knight, Kahu, and Finlayson. were the pick of the Auckland front division, which was hardly up to its usual standard. , . There is no doubt that had Wairarapa brought its strongest team, a much more interesting game would have resulted. With Hart half, Mill and Corkill five-eighths, and Stringfellow at centre, the visitors would have had a much improved inside combination. At it was, Roach, the usual fullback, had to play at centre, a position in which he was not always at home. With this combination, more sparkling play from the Wairarapa wings would have been seen.

WIN FOR WELLINGTON

CANTERBURY BEATEN BY EIGHT POINTS Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. On a ground affected by heavy rain Canterbury was defeated by the Wellington touring Rugby team at Lancaster Park this afternoon by 11 points to 3. Wellington was unquestionably the better side. The heavier forwards of the visitors were the chief factor

in the team's success. They used their weight effectively, showed greater alertness in making and using opportunities, and greater dash and combination in the loose. The teams were:

Canterbury.—Fulton, Oliver, J. F. Robilliard, Lilburne, Innes, Hay. Mullan. King, Carson. Chamberlain. Manchester, Robinson. Stewart. Cottrell. Pease.

Wellington. Heazlewood. Olliver. Mackay, Ball, Foley, Nicholls, Kilby. Price, Reid, Deldrich, McLean. McPherson. Barry, Jessop, Couiston. Wellington played with the wind in the first spell, and was soon on attack, but a combined movement by Canterbury caused the visitors trouble. The Canterbury backs attacked in a good passing rush, and the ball went along the line of backs to Oliver, who passed infield to King, but King was brought down not far from the line. Wellington cleared, and the forwards rushed play to Canterbury’s twenty-five. WINGER SCORES FIRST

Price was held up on the line, but from the resulting scrum Kilby sent the ball out on the short side to Nicholls, from whom it went to Mackay, and the wing scored at the corner. Heazlewood converted with a beautiful kick.

A spell of lively play followed, just outside the Wellington twenty-five. Mullan sent the ball to his backs, but Foley intercepted a pass and ran straight down the centre of the field until Oliver stopped him in the Canterbury twenty-five. Price came up quickly and carried on, but his pass to another forward was knocked on in front of the Canterbury goal. Wellington opened the second spell with a sharp attack, and after some close passing the ball was shot out near the line to Mackay, who scored at the corner. Heazlewood failed to convert.—Wellington, 8; Canterbury 0.

Canterbury had the advantage in the next movements, Olliver relieving by forcing. From the kick out Wellington again forced. A passing rush by the Wellington backs broke down and Lilburne sent Robilliard away. However, he had not pace enough to get away from Mackay. CANTERBURY BACKS FAIL

Wellington scored a great try by taking advantage of the long, slow passes and bad positional play of the Canterbury backs. Mullan had set his backs going, but a pass by Innes fell at Lilburne’s feet. Foley kicked the ball through. Ball followed fast, picked up, swerved on past Oliver and beat several men before passing to Olliver, who touched down.—Wellington, 11; Canterbury, 0. Canterbury missed another try just afterward. Lilburne made a good run to Heazlewood before passing to Oliver. A good pass accepted would have meant a try, but it was a bad pass and dropped to the ground. On Wellington’s twenty-five McLean was offside, and Lilburne’s kick hit a post. At last Canterbury scored a good try The backs got control outside their own twenty-five. Hay kicked over the heads of two opposing backs Robilliard. following fast, picked up the ball and dashed for the line. Blocked near the corner, he threw the ball infield over the defenders’ heads. Lilburne took it well and dived over. There were no further scores, the game ending: Wellington 11 Canterbury 3

The Wellington junior representatives beat Canterbury by 13 points to 7.

SOUTHLAND BEATS OTAGO

WET GROUND SPOILS MATCH Press Association DUNEDIN, Saturday. The Southland Rugby representatives defeated Otago at Carisbrook yesterday by 17 points to 11. Intermittent showers, a muddy ground and a greasy ball following on all-night rain made finished play impossible. The game was even for the most part, but in the latter stages of the second spell the Southland forwards asserted themselves. Seven minutes from the call of time the score was 12—11 in favour of Southland, but continued pressure by the visiting forwards had the effect of increasing the margin before the final whistle sounded. Otago had the better of the first spell and after temporary dominance by Southland kept play continuously in the visitors’ twentyfive.

HAWKE’S BAY DEFEATED

TARANAKI’S 12-POINT WIN Press Association NEW PLYMOUTH. Saturday. The Taranaki Rugby representatives defeated Hawke’s Bay by 22 points to 10 at New Plymouth today. The match opened quietly but developed into a fast, gruelling and interesting contest. Taranaki had a substantial margin, but many bright incidents were provided by each side. Hawke's Bay did better than was expected as Taranaki, late in the season, has developed into an exceptionally strong side. The Hawke’s Bay score included an excellent field goal. Taranaki's total Included one penalty goal.

GAME OF LOST CHANCES

AUCKLAND B TEAM BEATEN AT THAMES POOR BACK PLAY From Our Own Correspondent THAMES, Saturday. Weakness in the back division and a "Benny Osier" spelt defeat for Auckland B at Thames today by 13 points to 11. The game generally was ragged and the new, light balls played ha.vpo with handling. It was a disappointing exhibition of Rugby.

The Thames team which was something in the nature of a bold experiment from the reps, which have been defeated in every match this season certainly did better than the previous team, but even so is not much better than ordinary club standard.. In fact, the team would probably be better if the Physical Training back division, with the addition of Buchan at fullback, were transferred holus-bolus to the reps.

Auckland suffered very badly from faulty handling, and by making the game tight in the later stages played right into Thames hands. Butler had any amount of work to do and did it like a tradesman, but with the exception of Young, the rest of the Blue and White backs were far below rep. standard. Conway at half suffered from the attentions of W. Pollock, the Thames rover, who was too quick for him and played a really god game, as did his brother in the pack. FORWARDS EVENLY MATCHED In the forward lines the packs were about evenly matched in the line-outs with Auckland hooking the more cleanly. K. Strange, who partnered All Black Lomas in the front row for Thames, was far from a success. In the loose, the Thames pack was the better, but had little or no support from its backs with the exception of McMahon and White, both of whom played very fair football. Moran made a fair job of hia new position of centre-threequarter, but Cameron and Harrison at five-eighths were poor, the former particularly so. In fact, with the exception of his potted goal, he might as well have been an emergency.

The Auckland five-eighths shone In comparison with their opponents, but were no Spongs. Wales was the better of the pair, but Young, who was playing as breakaway forward, did the work of the five-eighth line as a rule and his was the credit for two tries.

In the Auckland pack, Hennessy and Hardy (until the latter went off hurt) did the best, with Hayward and Douglas fulfilling their job as hookers cleanly. Cornthwaite, who went to the rover’s post after half-time, was overshadowed by Pollock. The two Pollocks were the pick of the Thames pack, followed very closely by J. Strange and A. Winder. For some reason, the latter was never given a chance with the kicks on a day which would have suited him well.

Vedder, the Thames half, shaped well for his first rep. game, and was better than Conway on the day. Taken ail through, the game was not near representative standard, and Thames will have to do much better to lift the Peace Cup.

OTAHUHU WINS

POLLARD CUP GAMES CONCLUDED MANUKAU RUNNERS-UP Defeating Manukau by 25 points to 17, at Eden Fark on Saturday, Otahuhu won the 1930 competition for the Pollard Cup. The winning team also received the Jordan Cup, presented by Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., for competition between the two clubs. Mr. Jordan handed the cup to R. Inglis. the Otahuhu skipper, after the match. Otahuhu ran all over the lighter Manukau side at the start and rattled up 17 points to three before half-time. Manukau then took a hand and, by persistent attacking, brought the score to 17 points all. It then looked like anybody’s game but the weight of the Otahuhu pack was wearing down the opposition and the victory was put beyond all doubt by the eight points added in the final spell. For Otahuhu, Clark scored three tries and Pearson one; Pearson also kicked a goal from a mark; White converted three tries and kicked a field goal. Manukau’s score was made up of two tries by Sturmey, one by Kelly and one by McCoy; McCoy also converted one try and kicked a penalty goal. Mr. A. E. Austin was referee.

NOT HARD FOR GRAFTON

Grafton had no difficulty In Its match with Marathon, runninx uo 21 noints to its opponent’s 6.

Moore opened the scoring with a try. Davis, Halls and Wyberg also notched tries for Grafton. Moore converted three and kicked a penalty. Baton scored all Marathon’s points, kicking two penalties.

PARNELL'S NARROW WIN

A hard forward struggle at the Showgrounds resulted in Parnell narrowly defeating College Rifles by six points to five. The first spell ended without score and College Rifles were the first to open their account in the second half, when Pickering opened up a passing bout, transferring infield to Donald, who threaded his way through the opposing backs to score an easy try near the posts. Johnson kicked a goal.

The Parnell forwards, who had infused great vigour into their scrum and loose work, and were markedly superior in both departments, pressed hotly after this reverse. Their efforts were rewarded to some extent when a penalty kick allowed Dyett to land a good goal. Parnell kept up the pressure and shortly before time the winger, Hill, made a fine burst down the touchline to score near the corner. Dyett’s kick went wide.

The Parnell pack played with great dash throughout the game, never letting up to give the College Rifles backs a chance to open up the play. Warren showed up well as wingforward, while Pigjtering and McGregor stood out prominently in the backs. Capt. J. G. C. Wales was referee.

EDEN BEATS SUBURBS

The superiority of the Eden backs was apparent in their easy win over Suburbs at Avondale by 22 points to nil. The Green and Whites showed more dash and speed than their oppon ents and possession of the ball from the scrums allowed them to set their backs going: at every opportunity