NORTH V. SOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 155, 3 July 1922, Page 8

NORTH V. SOUTH.

GREAT GAME IN THE MUD. A BATTUE OF FORWARDS FAST AND EXCITING. SOUTH WINS BY A POINT. Tbe universal disappointment among followers of the Rugby game when the recent spell of fine weather gave way to rain on Friday, and continued on Saturday, dissipating all hopes for a really spectacular display of football in the North v. South match, was marked in the attendance, which was probably a little under 7000. But those who did follow first intentions and attend the game were fully rewarded, for it is doubtful if Eden Park has ever been the playing ground for two finer sets of Bugby contestants, and the match from end to end was crammed with incident and excitement, and with the fine points of firstclass players adapting themselves to the conditions, culminating iv a last minute win by the South by nine points to eight. Although it was a forward's day, and they grasped the opportunity with both hands (and feet), it was bj no means the forwards alone that made the game what it was. Handling by the backs was frequently flashed out in unexpectedly brilliant fashion, and botii head and foot work was delightfully displt.-ed by the rearguard at moments, while at other times the forwards would come to light with a flash of snappy passing. In short it was one of the best wet ("ray matches ever played in the annals of North v. South matches, and one cannot avoid the reflection that, part from the calibre of the players, the new restraint on the touch-kicking between the twenty-fives was a considerable factor in keeping the game fast, open and exciting when it might easily have degenerated into a scramble of monotonous bullocking. The North had a little the better of the luck of the conditions in that a high wind that helped them in the first spell moderated a good deal later, but the South had some luck in the play, for among the casualties near the end of the game was included Bellis, who had been a conspicuous pack leader throughout for the North, and it was after his retirement that the other side got their winning scoTe. The swung from end to end throughout the game in such fashion as to puzzle the most experienced critic as to who would be the ultimate winner, and to keep the spectators guessing as to where and how the next score .vould arrive. Garbed ln the all-black of New Zealand the Northerners were first into . the limelight with some very nice passing bouts that promised to break through the defence of the white-clad Southerners. But it was the forwards that put on the finishing touch, and a fast dribbling dash ended in Brownlae scoring a try that H. Nicholls converted. Several times the white forwards came away with sweeping rushes, topped off with nippy back play in which Fea and Fitzgerald were conspicuous, but they could not break through, though it was only weak place-kicking that saved the North having a couple of penalty goals against them. Then the North brought off a series of mixed passing and dribbling .bouts that were capped by smart work by Byrne and Hwkey, giving Hi«key a try, which was not converted. At half-time North led by eight points to nil, but such was the run of the game that everyone was agreed that it was as yet anybody's match. In the second spell excitement came early when the Southern forwards and backs combined in clever footwork to the line and then swung the ball out for Steele to use his pace to score a corner try. Both teams played at a solid pace, the "North forwards, with Bellis, Browlee and Cupples prominent, doing great work, several times threatening to score, but were beaten back, and open forward and back footwork swung play to the other end, where Williams scored from the rush. They were attacking in turns in most determined fashion, with the north having somewhat the better of it, when Bellis had to retire, and almost immediately South went to the attack, and an exciting rally of open dribbling ended in Fitzgerald following fast from the fringe of the rush and : scoring the deciding try. The only j weakness of the winners was their placekicking which should have given them at least half a dozen more points. THE TEAMS. The teams were:—. NORTH ISLAND. Brook. Hickey. Siddells, Borreli. If. Nicholls, Byrne. ' H. Nicholls. ' L. Bellis, McC'ullough," Shearer, ( O'Brien, Cupples, i Brownlee, Calcinai, Masters. SOUTH ISLAND. R. BelL i. Steele, Svenson, Fitzgerald. Fea, Dickinson. Mathieson. | Carnegie, Smyth, VVhyte, Richardson, Petersen. Turpin, Goodall, Williams. Heferee— Mr. W. J. Meredith. NORTH TAKES THE LEAD. A strong breeze was blowing obliquely across the ground, and the Northerners : •had the first advantage of this. South kicked off, and Goodall headed an 'invasion to North's twenty-five, where Mathieson opened up a passing rush, which resulted in the ball being kicked too hard, and it reached the dead-ball boundary. From the drop-out North attacked, and after a passing rush had broken down the forwards carried on. Hickey failed to stop the rush, and Brownlee dribbled over and scored a try, which M. Nicholls converted. North 5, South 0. The game went on at a great pace, and after a raid by the Southerners the Blacks attacked in a series of passing rushes that ended in Steele being stop" ped at the line and Byrne taking a pass that he threw on as he crossed. From a scrum a free-kick was awarded South who cleared, but immediately afterwards they were forced as the result of a long '■ kick by Steele. The North Island ■ for wards had the better of the play for a ' time. Brook put play near midfield. but a breakaway by Dickinson saw South go to the attack. Goodall further improved the position, and a cross-kick by Hickev fi! a i!rA, try , appea " r imminent' as Fea Wked th \ ba11 " Svenson ' towev er, Wb ! h i S P^ S ' and from the scrum certal Irt ?£ *"* Play *? Fea «w a certain try thrown away as the result of Svenson failing to gather up !t„VV chance to score came when th» -* Cr were awarded a f .1 Wt " lt€S Pass to Shearer, and the llu S through four hands before tSF «£»! was stopped in Souths twenty^ ?%t *ame was taken on to the '

line, but Svenson nipped in cleverly and saved with a force. From the drop-out the teams battled evenly just outside Souths territory, and Carnegie was responsible for play going to the halfway flag. O'Brien (North) had to retire at this stage, and his place was taken by McXab. A breakaway by Bellis, supported by the Northern forwards, went to the side almost at Souths line, but a counter-rush took play to the centre. Here Fea opened up a passing rush that saw Steele downed close to the Xorth line, but from a scrum the blacks forced. Fea set the backs going again, and they were r only stopped in front of the goal posts, ! where the defenders were penalised, and , Bell again. missed an easy shot. The Xorth Island forwards maintained the pressure, and the backs opened up another combined rush, which saw M. Nicholls drop his pass. Siddells recovered and sent on to Hickey, who was brought down at the line. In the ensuing scramble he again got possession, j and scored. H. Nicholls failed to con- , vert. North 8, South 0. ! There was no further score before the interval. SOUTH WINS ON THE POST. On resuming the wind had dropped ■ considerably. The opening exchanges ' ended in play just outside North's • twenty-five, and at this stage the North- - erners were very luck in averting a 1 score, when Bell fumbled and left the - ball for Steele to dribble on almost at 5 the line. The ball rebounded from Bell, - and his men came round and saved the - situation. The Northerners, throwing t the ball about, got the opposition out of : place, and a dribbling rush saw Cupples : kick past Bell over the line, but he was t outpaced by Fitzgerald, who forced. V. ; Badeley, who had taken Bon-ell's place, i showed up in useful handling work, but . eventually good play by Fea and Steele • let the white forwards to the attack. The f blacks stalled them off, but a fast break- > away by Steele and a kick by Bell saw i play at North's line. From the throw- ; in the game settled in front of North's ; goal posts, where Mathieson got possest sion and sent on to Fea. The latter . threw a long pass to Steele, and he got • over near the corner. Dickinson failed ! to add the extra points. North 8, | South 3. At this stage Whyte retired through • injuries, and Stewart replaced him. The , Southerners continued to attack, and V. Badeley took a mark in front of the posts near his line. Tlie kick was charged down, and North forced. The Southerners then attacked, and Fea was just stopped in time, another force following. The Northerners then pressed, and a fine dribbling rush was only stopped by Bell on the line. A scrum followed, and South got relief by forcing. Dickinson cleared to the centre after the drop-out, but Bellis soon headed another attack, M. Nicholls missing a drop at goal. Bell cleared, and then Steele retired through injury, and his place was taken by C. Badeley. Shortly afterwards Bellis'also had to leave the field for a similar reason. Fea started another attack by South, which was carried on by Mathieson, Dickinson, and C. Badeley, the lastnamed cross-kicking to Byrne, who took a mark. He failed to find touch, and Carnegie, who took the ball, threw a long pass infield to Richardson, who was held up on the line.", From the rally Williams secured and scored. Bell failed to convert. North 8, South 6. South again rallied, and the ball being kicked past Brook enabled Fitzgerald to follow up and touch down. The kick failed, making the final- score— South j) North .'...'.' 8 Mr. W. J. Meredith was referee. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. ' A GRADE. Devonport 15, beat Richmond Road 6. B GRADE. Vermont B won from Takapuna by default. JUNIOR GRADE. Vanxhall 34, beat Nelson Street 0. Vermont 8, beat Richmond Road 3. Beresford Street 11, beat Napier Street 0. CHURCHES UNION. St. David's 14. beat Gordon 0. HELENSVIIXE AND WAIMAUKU DRAW. i Helensvllle 6. drew with Walmauku 6. Ruby and Charles Fletcher scored tries for Waimaulru. Pengelly secured a try for Helensville, and Moatt kicked a goal. The game was watched by a good gathering ot residents. JUNIOR GRADE. Kaukapakapa 9, beat Parakal 0. This was a forwards' game, and the ball was very greasy. WAIPA BEATS CAMBRIDGE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TE AWAMUTU, Saturday. Tlie Rugby representative match for the Findlay Cud was played to-day in showery weather between Waipa and Cambridge Unions. The game was very keen throughout, the standard .of play being uniformly good. Waipa 14, beat Cambridge 10. MATAMATA UNION. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) MATAMATA, Saturday. The Matamata Rugby Union's senior competition results to-day were: Patetere 0, beat Matamata 3. Walton 3, beat Wairere 0. Walton now leads Wairere by one point, with Patetere two points behiud the leaders. WAIHI AND TAURANGA DRAW. WAIHI, Saturday. At Rugby, Tauranga met Waibl this afternoon in wet weather. The match resulted in a drawn game,- no score. HAURAKI PLAINS. NGATEA, this day. I The second round of the Hauraki Plains Rugby competition opened on Saturday in wretched weather. In the seniors Waitakaruru by Xgatea by default, Turua beat Kerepehi by default. In the juniors, Ngatea 6, beat Waitakaruru 5; Turua 9, beat Kerepehi 5. TE AROHA MATCHES. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TE AROHA. Saturday. The Manawaru seniors forfeited to Waihou. Terrier Juniors 14. beat Waihou Juniors fi. Edmonds, Milnes, and Anquetil scored tries, and Whitten converted the latter, and Goldbnry kicked a penalty goal for the winners, while Stewart and Priest scored tries for Waihou. Mr. Young refereed. Ramblers Seniors defeated Rovers by a converted try to nil. McLaren scored for the winners. CAMBRIDGE. CAMBRIDGE. Saturday. At Leamington, in the junior Rugby match, City 9. beat Cadets 0. NO MATCHES AT OHAKITNE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OHAKUNE, Saturday. All foothall fixtures were postponed, the '. wcnther conditions being unfavourable. WAIRARAPA. MASTEKTUX, Saturday. In the senior matches Grevtown 16, beat Star 3, and. Carterton 14. beat Masterton 3. 1 I ine games .were played in the wet. I;

WE&NGABEI CTTP FINAL.

The final of the Wnansarei Senior Club's Cup tie was played at Kensington Park between the two leading clnbs, Hikurangi and Maungakaramea, in showery weather. In the first twenty Hikurangi showed to advantage, but the effort was not sustained. Maungakaramea, d.v snpenor forward combination and feeding the backs well, dominated the rest of the same, which ended: Maungakaramea, 13; Hikurangi, 3. For the winning side Bryce and Crawford scoreil tries, both or wmch were converted by Childs, while Childs also kicked a penalty goal. For the losers J. Hamilton scored a try. Mr. Nicholson was referee. The attendance was the largest this season. In the Junior fixtures Old Boys 13, beat High School 11; Portland 6. drew with Manila U. WELLINGTON MATCHES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. Marist 11, beat Petone 0. 'Varsity 5, beat Oriental 3. Poneke 8, beat Selwyn 0. CBBISTCHURCE GAMES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHTJRCH, Saturday. Chrißtchnrch 0, beat Sydenham-Lyttelton 5. LJnwood 'J beat Old Boys 0. 'Varsity 9, beat Merivale 5. Mariste 22. beat Albion 3. OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIP. DUNEDIN, Saturday. The senior Rugby matches resulted:— Alnambra 3, beat Tort Chalmere 0; Pirates 9, beat Southern 0; University A 40, beat Zion 9; Zingari 16, beat University B 11; DuaedLn 6, beat Taieri 3. MAORIS' BIG WIN. tSYDXEY, July 1. The Maori 'Rugby Union footballers defeated Waggn district by 45 points to 6. (A. and N.Z. Cable.)