RUGBY, FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 216, 10 September 1923, Page 9

RUGBY, FOOTBALL.

N.S.W. V. AUCKLAND. A SPECTACTJXAR GAME. THE AUSSLES' GREAT DASH. •AUCKLAND HELD FOR A SPELL. N.S.W. FADES AT THE FINISH. There was an attendance of about j fifteen thousand people at Eden Park I on Saturday, when the match between ' New South Wales ana the combined Auckland-North Auckland fifteen was iplaved in dull but fine weather. The j eanie was a duel between two attacking learns, and was the fastest and must brilliant seen here this season. Opening with the wind in their favour, the Australians made a great showing in the first spell, at times having the local team almost demoralised by the abandon ■with which they threw the ball about. They took the iep.d in the scoring, and held it till close on half-time. Both teams made it fust and open, and the pace of the visitors, combined with a deal of bad hick, compelled the home team to play second liddle in the scoring till within ten minutes of half-time. Then Auckland got into their stride, and •β-ith two tries, one of which converted, they took the lead. As a matter of ■fact, however, the Welshmen had the honours of the spell, missing at least n ■ couple of tries through sheer hard luck | while their goal-kicking was also at fault- In the second spell the story was quite' a different one. The Aucklanders •jumped into their stride with beautifully crisp and purposeful passing bouts and' fine breakaway footwork that smashed through the visitors' defence. Though the other side more frequently •got the ball in the scrum, the local men ecored off the mistakes of their opponents: and while the Sydney boys came eway time and again with spectacular bursts of passing, their efforts lacked the purposeful finish. Fine player though he proved himself, Erasmus was entirely outshone by the brilliance of Lucas in putting the finishing touches to a scoring moveruent. while Nothling. whose mana is great as a fullback, proved throughout the game a veritable dead-end to attacking effort as a wing three-quarter, partly the result of the effective tackling of his vis-a-vis. Malloy. In short, the visitors, whose fine showing 5n the first speTl Tiaa Auckland supporters very anxious, were completely outplayed in the second spell, and overeagerness cost the htime team at least three more tries which should have been icored. THE PLAY IN DETAIL. New South Wales opened up a passing bout from the kick off, but Nothling was stopped by Malloy, and # Auckland retaliated. Cooke dropping a pass. From & line-out at midway Auckland backs had a run. Lucas streaking to the corner, and passed to Cooke, who was smothered near the line. Lucas soon after made another elusive run with Fletcher to back him up, and an open period of play followed, Gregory saving, but when Malloy attempted to clear a return kick Crakenthorpe took the ball on the run and dashed into the corner, where Nothling joined him, and scored in the corner. Stanley failed at gcal. New South Wales 3, Auckland 0. A mistake by Gregory let New South Wales to the attack, but from half-way Cooke dribbled through, but bad handling by Lucas and Gregory let the visitors back- Then Auckland backs had a nice combined run, and Malloy reversed infield again to Badeley, to Arnold, when the home team were awarded a "free." \rhich Badeley did little good with. Knight broke atvay from a line-out, but j George saved, only to see Auckland attack again in a passing bout to the corner. Here Wright gave Lucas a j chance, the winger evading the opposition, but his transfer infield to Cooke ■was forward. Mingay saved with a punt from the scrum, but Gregory returned it well, and Righton, getting offside, New South Wales got past halfway with a penalty. Both sides were throwing the hall about freely, but there was nothing decisive until Greatorex made a dash, but when he passed infield Righton saved. ; New South Wales got a penalty when ! Malloy too eagerly collared Nothling. Finlayson marking, and the Casey brothers followed up and eairied the kick to halfway. Auckland backs had a bout which promised well, but Badeley | missed a reverse pass from Lucas, and Nothling cleared. Then Thorne made a \ fine breakaway, gaining forty yards, but Sheen a minute later countered with a nice kick past half-nay. Good following Up by Fletcher from a punt by Mallov i had the visitors in trouble in the corner, but they dribbled through from a nasty position. Judicious kicking pained them further ground. Nothling testing the defence along the line. New South Wales were getting plenty of opportunities from the scrum. Sheehan breaking through on one occasion, but Erasmus kicked when he received. Gregory forcing. With play at halfway Auckland backs had a run. but they were smothered, and when the visitors opened up the other side Xot'iling mulled a transfer. Crakc-nthorpt-marked a relieving kick by Wrieht. and the forwards missing, the visiting vanguard came through. Marriott being prominent. New South Wales were awarded a ponalty for an infriiirrpnipnt in a Ecram. Nothling"s kick forcing Auckland. YTPITORS' SECOND SCORE. A blind kick from the re-start was successful, Sheen. Wright and Malloy handling to halfway, where Wright marked a high kick. A tight scrum followed, from whicli Slieeiian broke away and swerved in. to beat Gregory, ami though Cooke cam? across and tackled him. Greatorex w;is handy. and fell across a? he was tackled. Miuiray failed at goal. New .South Wales G. Auckland oT Auckland were attacking when a long punt by Mingay sent them back past halfway, and when Auckland opened up Badeley dropped his pass. Arnold su\ing. Again Mingay made an opening, and Auckland were hotly pressed when they were awarded a penalty. The forwards followed it. and Finlayson got possession, passing near the line to Knight, who lost possession on the line, New South Wales forcing. Sheen dropped a transfer when Auckland received for once from the scrum, but an infringement saved the home side and another for a deliberate trip ■when Sheen and Lucas had starred a. run down the line, got Auckland to the quarter way. A nice run by Auckland gained ground, but a pass to Malloy in scoring position was cut off. The attack was sustained, and when Auckland were congratulating themselves that Sheen had nipped over, a penalty ■was given against him. A moment later Auckland forwards rushed through

a -weak link in the five-eighths, and Fletcher dived for a try, but New South Wales got the benefit with a force. I Auckland's pack were now overplaying them, Crakenthorpe saving just in the. nick of time. Wright gave his backs another chance, but the backs were not running straight. After several bouts they pot into the corner, and Lucas made a jinky run. sending on to Arnold, who dived across for Auckland's initial try. Badelev failed at goal. New South Wales <i, Auckland 3. AUCKLAND TAKE THE LEAD. A minute later a fine paesing bout brought Auckland another try. New South Wales had opened up a bout when Cooke intercepted and ran to J Crakenthorpe. who collared hire, but i let him go and sent a pass out to Malloy, to Fletcher, to Sheen, who scored. Fletcher goaled. Auckland P. Sew South I Wales 6." Half-time sounded a moment later. A STARTLING RESUMPTION. The second half opened in surprising manner. Auckland forwards, headed by R. Casey, rushing through, and when the ball bounced over the Marist forward's head. Knight snapped it up and scored by the posts. Badeley converted. Auckland 13, Xew i?outh Wales 6. Play at mid-field followed. Crakenthorpe saving from the forwards, but bustling by Thorne got his side some relief andthe visitors' backs then made a splendid passing bout which was stopped right in the corner, Gregory saving with a run along the line. Malloy marked a kick from the line-out 'by Mingay. Stanley intercepted a passing bout, but immediately after Badelev : speculated and pot possession, but had no support, and a sure try was lost. Auckland were not to be denied, Sheen sending a long pass to Cooke, to Lucas, who sped for the corner, beating an opponent. Badeley's kick went a little wide. Auckland 16, X.S.W. 6. Peters marked the kick out, and then Erasmus made his first breakaway down the line. Gregory tackling him well. Kighton intercepted a bout among the "Aussie" backs, and drew the defence, sending a long pass to Lucas a trifle out 'of his reach. Then Lucas came to light with one of his best swerving runs. Wright opened the blind side to Sheen, to Lucas, who swerved in past Crakenthorpe. and then beat Mingay. Cooke failed at goal. Auckland 19, New South Wales 6. The visitors were erratic in their pacing. giving Auckland frequent chances to intercept, and after breaking 'up an attack they came away from the line-uut. Peters made the opening, and when he got to the la*t line of defence he passed infield to Fletcher, who outpaced the opposition. Tne Kaipara forward converted his try. Auckland 24, New South Wales 6. Cooke receiving a kick from Armstrong set Auckland off again, kicking to Crakenthorpe, who was beaten by the bounce, and Malloy and R. Casey took the ball right into the corner, the attack ending in Crakenthorpe forcing ffom a high punt by Sheen. Armstrong retiredT at this stage. New South Wale? got past half way temporarily, but a lons kick sent them back. ERASMUS" LONG STRIDES. Then Erasmus made a run down to Gregory again, being started by Sheehan?and - though the full-back collared the long-stridinrr winger, he got the ball away to George, who transfered to Greatorex, to under the posts. Stanley converted. Auckland 24, Xew South Wales 11. Fletcher made another fine breakaway, getting within scoring range and transferring to Finlayson. -ho missed, and though Auckland went hot for a try they could not get in. a force followine a wild punt. George was smothered when New South Wales got possession next time, and Wright sent out to Lucas, who kicked over Crakenthorpe s head into the corner, but an infringement in a scrum got New South Wales ! relief. Gregory receiving on the run. came up and started Lucas off, but he passed forward to Wright. Later I Badeley got away again, but a long transfer to Knight was misse.l. and when Auckland attacked again the opposing full-back marked. He sent it to Gregory. whose return was smothered by Taylor who gave Nothing a run down the line, Cooke tackling him from behind. New South Wales had a penalty .which Lucas returned to Crakenthorpe", who was called upon ■to save well a moment later. Auckland J forwards were breaking through when a visiting forward infringed. Fletcher »ssavin<r from thirty yards in front, his i kick" going wide. Nothling was nearly ■ across at the end of a pretty passing i bout. Gregory coming to light with a wood save. i THE FINAL TRY. I The °ame was full of surprises, and !in the next spasm of play Cooke on receiving short punted, regained possesi Mon and when tackled transferred infield to Mallov. who scored under the posts. ; Fletcher's kick was a poster. Auckland ' •■>: New South Wales 11. ' Another fine bout among all the home i backs trot them to the twenty-hve flag. ! Auckland continued aggressive, and j though occasionally beaten in.the acrumImage* invariably worked back, t inlay--, ' son was nearly across from a l™-™*< j (but New South Wales Torced, and, Fletcher following up hard compelled, I another force. Nothling broke through . ■ the Auckland hacks and being well eupported a try seemed imminent but • intercepted. sending l-uc i away. and the winger waiting for support to come up enabled his opponents, to smother the in-passing. Georpe ; showed weakness in Auckland s tack ing making a run to half way. but the v tors again lost the and i Auckland forwards gave Crake " th °^^ • a hot time. The game ended *w« Badelev being robbed ot a tr> byon side play after Lucas had "W*™ (n.kenthorpe. Auckland 27, New Soutn ; Wales 11. I Mr. Atkinson was referee. I 3ECOIJDAKT SCHOOLS' WIN. i TOO FAST 20" HEPS. The match b'****" reps" "as l-nrk on Saturday proved to n Sl] , lnr interesting exposition fh<l nippiness and speed WPrP , n sn " j' t= to 10. ! schoolboys, who won by pom™ o , s( , n ■ Hopkins and Bonne scoreril for the side, hoth tries being con-erten. AUCKLAND JTXNIORS V. MAIfUKAtr. j The Auckland junior reps- be^ os f md" : kau by 13 points to S. after a I interesting game. ' REFEREES' ASSOCIATION V. KATPABA JTXNI° BS - The Referees beat Kaipara juniors t>7 * points to .T. JTTNIOR_MATCH£S. St. James 2S, beat WAMLI. 9.