LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 246, 15 October 1923, Page 9

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE CURTAIN FALLS. AUCKLAND'S EASY WIN. j SOITH AUCKLAND OITCI.ASSED. j At ten minutes to rive on Saturday afternoon the curtain fell cm the League football season for 1!»2:>. nnd the*Aucl.land representative team made for tbe dressing-shed after treating the South Auckland team to a real beating. When the teams met sonic time ago at Hamilton a draw resulted, but there was a different result on Saturday. and the visitors, particularly in the second spell, were outclassed, and the local men scored almost when they felt so inclined. The first spoil was fast, though far from brilliant, but the second half was too one-sided to bo interesting. Perhaps tbe game would have been benefited had the referee been more strict. Tlie attendance was hi the vicinity of 7000. ; The teams were :— Auckland.- Duffs-. I.lttlewood. B. Davidson. Godlck. Wilson. W-therill. Poison. Thomas. Soniers. O'Brien. McDonald. Douglas. Bass. South Auckland.—S. Ravtior. Johnson. Stewart. (J. Kavnnr. J Kuftv. Jackson. I Beckham, Pavne, Neill, Nuki. Allen. Stevin son. McVoy. Tlie visitors kicked off. and after I Wetherill had threatened danger Johnson I made a fine run down the line, being grassed with only a few yards io g<>. A j "free" saw J. Dufty have',in unsuccessful 'shot. Then McDonald broke through with the hall at toe. and went the whole length ,of the field, hut kicked ton hard over ihiI (lend ball line. A moment Inter S. Itnym.r. | the visitor's fullback, bent the whole of the opposition till he reached the Auckland I back, when he passed the ball, which Jackson enrris-d over. J. Duftvs shot hit the post. South Auckland x. Auckland o.

A nice piece of passing by the Aueklai"! backs wns spoiled when B. Davidson ,r. r% a low pass to I.lttlewood, and then (VBr.e.i nnd Poison took piny u> the visitor's from I.lttlewood. and thus stopped a movement which threatened danger. Failure to allow Poison to play th.- ball gov,- C. Dufty n chance, am! from a yard or two inside half-wnv the Auckland full lauded a beautiful coal.—South Auckland ::. Auckland 2.

' Passing between Wetherill. Wilson and Poison saw the latter downed by S Raynor almost on the line, and I'er-khnm stepped in to gis-e relief. A short kick by Godick ! saw B. Davidson and McDonald follow up jfast. McDonald scoring. (". Dufty rose |to the occasion. Auckland 7. South Auckland 3.

Fast following up had the Auckland full hustled, and his puss not being accepted (he visitors dribbled over the line, and tn the race ensuing J. Dufty svas tirst. lie took the shot himself, nnd for the second time. hl( the upright. Auckland 7. South Aueklnnd (i.

Bnss wns next prominent, and should have scored but for obstruction, which passed unnoticed. Stevinson and Payne took the ball downfiehi. where Jackson mode a desperate effort to score. Beckham and Ravnor then brought bIT a dash which removed piny to the I-icnls" quarter, whore G. ltnynor picked up and potted a goal.

South Auckland J Auckland " The spell ended immediately The Second Spell. Immediately the game was resumed Thomas and O'Brien made nil attack, but lost the ball when within nn ace of scor ing. and Jackson relieved the sortie with a lone kick. From loose play the hall was kicked to Poison, nnd though tackled nn the line by Rnynor he struggled across lo score. Dufty added the necessary points. Auckland 12, South Auckland S. Payne showed out prominently In nn attack hy *oo visitors, and then olTslde by Godick pave G. Rnynor an unsuccessful shot at goal. B. Davidsou got across. but knocked on in gathering up the ball. Then Poison secured and sent on tn B. Davidson, who badly sidestepped the opposition to score under the posts. Dufty added the trimmings. Aucklnml 17. Ssmih Auckland 8. Thomas. McNeil, Somers and Godick then were associated in n mos-emont which ended in Somers. though caught hy Johnson, struggling over under the posts. Poison converted. Auckland 22, South Auckland S. Within three minutes when Auckland were attacking Wetherill sc„re,i._ rmfty just failed to convert. Auckland 2.). South Aui-kland S. In less than half a minute Wetherill was bnck again, this time accepting the ball from B. Davidson and plnriu? it behind the posts. Poison converted. Auckland -.0. South Auckland s. The game at this singe bad lost all interest, and accepting a short punt. 1-. Davidson dived across. Poison go n led Auckland 35, South Auckland S. A moment later Stesvnrt smothered Duftv's return, and the ball going over the line "l>ufty stood nnd watched the visitors score. Auckland •'•' South Auckland 11 The bell then closed the season lor 1923. Mr. Saunders was referee.