THE LEAGUE GAME.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 177, 28 July 1924, Page 9

THE LEAGUE GAME.

A BRILLIANT DEBUT. ENGLISH TEAMS WIN. AUCKLANDERS OUTCLASSED. VISITORS' GREAT PASSING. TWEXTV-FOUH POINTS TO ELEVEN. A crowd of over 20.000 spectators at Oarlnv Park greeted the f ,rst appearance in Auckland on Saturday afternoon of the English Rugby League team, and witnessed a wonderfully fast and brilliant game, in which the visitors outclassed thff Auckland thirteen, and yon by 24 points to I!. The game was full of incident, but its outstanding feature was tlio perfect understanding between tlio English backs and forwards when they got into their stride in handling bouts. Those came frequently, and had the crowd up to their feet with excitement, as they broke right through the. Auckland defence in 1 milling style, and it was only a tendency to take passes offside which kept the score against the local team down to its ultimate moderate dimensions. In general team york the visitors were, so brilliant that the Aucklanders appeared to distinct disadvantage in comparison. Bright, nippy and versatile. I'arkin. in conjunction with the stand-off half. Whitty, and the back-row forward. Gallagher, engineered numberless openings, and the other backs, with Burgess, ! and Darwell of the forwards, frequently j bewildered the Aucklanders with their | clever concerted work in both attack I and defence. Parkin was the life and i soul of "the backs, and Darwell, Burgess and Gallagher amongst the forwards showed fine versatilty and initiative. The Teams. England: Full-back. Knapman; throequarters, Ring. Howley, Carr, Evans; half-backs, Whitty, Parkin (captain); forwards, Burgess, Bennett, Cunliffe, Darwell, Price, Gallagher. Auckland: Full-back, Gregory; threequarters, Delgroso, Brisbane. B. Davidson: five-eighths, Dufty, WethQrill; forwards, Herring, Somers, W. Stormont, Avery, Gardiner, Bass (captain). Auckland won the toss, and the whites set the game going. A kick by Darwell sent the ganae to the Auckland line, where, from a free, Burgess had an unsuccessful shot, and Gregory forced. The first scrum saw the locals get tlie ball, and then an exchange of kicks ended when Delgrosso and Gardiner essayed a passing bout, which did not get far. Then Parkin made a fine opening before sending to Darwell and Cunliffe, the latter being well tackled by Delgrosso. Then the first bright passing bout was produced by the visitors, the ball travelling right along the line of backs, with Ring dashing for the corner, and being pulled up only a few yards from the line. They repeated the performance less than two minutes later, and then Ring fielded a clearing kick, and ran through the opposition, to score in a good position. I'arkin goaled. England, 5; Auckland, 0. The blues brought a cheer from the crowd when Gardiner, Bass, and Delgrosso handled in turn, taking the play to the visitors , twenty-five. Lifting in the scrum by the Englishmen gave Dufty a chance, and he landed a fine goal from quarter-way. England, 5; Auckland, 2. Play was fast, and Parkin and Dsrwell were again coupled in an attack, when Dufty nipped in, and got in a useful kick. Gregory, Brisbane, and B. Davidson brought the crowd on their feet, but when Davidson cross-kicked j it favoured the visitors. Dufty pulled up an attack, and then Poison and Bass broke through to Knapman, who gave a free by playing the ball off the ground. There was plenty of excitement, as the Auckland backs tackled with deadly accuracy, and then Dufty made a fine solo effort. A caution to Burgess, and the locals, who were holding their own, were setting a smothering pace, which gave the big visitors no peace. Then came Auckland's first try, when Wetherill gathered up the ball and dived through before handing on "to Avery; tlie latter in turn passed to Davidson, for the hitter to score wide out. Gardiner failed with the shot, and the score read five all. The visitors then attacked, and a grand movement, in which all the backs handled the ball, saw Ring shortpunt over the line. He was obstructed by Gregory, and, from the free awarded, Parkin landed a goal. England, 7, Auckland, 5. An unsuccessful shot by Dufty saw the visitors refuse to force, and when Evans essayed a dash down the line lie was attacked by Avery. Poison next had a shot, but the visitors were handling the ball in good style. Gallagher got the ball from a scrum, and it travelled right through the line of backs, and was coming back again, when Carr dropped a pass, and a certain try was lost. However, there was no getting away from the fact that when the Englishmen began throwing the ball about it spelt trouble, and this was demonstrated when at least ten of them handled the ball, for Evans to finish off the movement with a score. Parkin failed to convert. England, 10; Auckland, 5, There was no question of the speed of the visitors, and when they got going they had the Aucklanders puzzled completely. The forwards seemed to lie as fast as the backs. The forwards appeared to be waiting offside, but it. was not so, and they were giving the Aucklanders the stipulated five .yards. Ring 'vas responsible for a fine solo effort, eliding in a scoro near the posts, hut Parkin failed with an easy 6hot. England, 13; Auckland 5. Several spectacular movements were spoiled by failure to take a pass, and just on time the blues came to light, when Davidson notched his Becond try. Poison gave the ball to Wetherill, and the latter streaked for the line, with Davidson alongside. He was given the leather, and dashed over right in the ' corner, being tackled by Evans just as he grounded the ball. Dufty made a poor attempt with the shot, and the spell ended: England. 13; Auckland, S. No Replacement of Players. At the interval 13. Davidson, ivhn was knocked out when he scored right on the call of time, was replaced by Brown, but when the latter walked on the field the English skipper objected to the replacement of a player, and Brown had to leave the field. Auckland had tbua to continue with, twelve men. Bass then came out to tie three-quarter line, Auckland playing five men in the pack. The first attack came from the locals, Bass and Poison making desperate efforts to dive over. Scrum in front of the visitors' goal, Base missed a pass from Wetherill, but, hocking the brill, Poison worked the short side of tlie scrum, and Bass had two attempts to force hjs way ovuf. Failure to jmt

the ball in properly by the Englishmen gave Gardiner a fairly easry shot, which he missed. The local men continued to attack, and Brisbane and Bass brought off a nice movement. Davidson Returns. Then B. Davidson returned to the field. A shot by Delgrosso proved_unsuccessful, and then Parkin was responsible for getting Iris side out of danger. Picking up from the loose, Poison dashed along, to hand to Avery, who had an open field, but not enough pace, and he was downed right in the corner, and with only inches to go. Then, for the first time in the spell, the visitors got in the locals' twenty-five, and a passing bout started by Gallagher saw Bennett put the polish on and get across. Bur- • gess did not add the extra points. Eng-1 land, Iti; Auckland, S. A few moments later Knapman essayed a goal, without success, and then an attacking movement was brought to a close when Darwell got offside. Tricky Handling. The crowd wondered when Gallagher sent the ball to Parkin. The latter stood, and threw it between his legs to Howley, and away they went, for Carr to score another line try. Burgess missed with the kick. England, 19; Auckland, 8. An attack by the locals, and from a free Bass tried himself as a goal-kicker, but he was on a par with the others. The Englishmen were too snappy and tricky in the handling of the ball for the locals, and when Dufty had pulled up one of their movements, offside by Cunliffe saw the Aucklanders get relief. A kick by Brisbane saw him follow up, and to get his man, and then hard tackling by Wctherill was noticeable. Ring and Howley were responsible $or a nice movement, the reverse pass to Howlcv being forward, and the locals had en escape. Avery and Bass were responsible for fast following up, and then a beautifully directed kick by Dufty sent the game to the visitors' line. However, it only wanted the visitors to get the ball, and the pressure was not only relieved, but danger threatened. Several promising movements saved Auckland by a forward pas?. Price picked Gregory up. and dropped him like a hot brick, and then Dufty brought off a solo effort, which did not get far. Next time the white backs set off every man got his man, Davidson getting Ring, the last man. There was no question about the speed of the Englishmen, and from play well inside the blues' twentyfive Whitty gathered up the ball in the loose, and dashed over to score. Knapman goalcd an easy shot. England, 24; Auckland, S. Play went to the visitors' half, where Davidson collared Ring twice in the same movement. Almost on the call of time, one of the visiting forwards was ordered off. Brisbane and Delgrosso each had a dash to get over the line, where some hard play ensued. A long pass by Wetherill was intercepted by Evans, but the latter knocked on. Scrummed, the ball went from Poison to Wetherill, Dufty, and Bass, the latter scoring in the corner. Gregory failed to convert. England, 24; Auckland, 11. CURTAIN RAISERS. : _____ EUerslie (6B) r>, beat City (6B) 2. The City-Richmond first junior game was close and exciting, Richmond being a trifle unlucky to be beaten by S points to 7. THE PROVINCIAL TEAM. The selectors of the New Zealand League, Messrs. W. Liversage, C. Pearce, and R. T. Hill have chosen the following team to represent Auckland Province against the Englishmen at Carlaw Park on Wednesday:— Fullback: C. Dufty (Athletics). Three-quarters: B. Paki (South Auckland), Brisbane (MaTist Old Boys), B. Johnston (South Auckland). Five-eighths: A. McClymont (Ponsonby), Wetherill (City). Half: J. Lang (Marist Old Boys). Forwards. J. O'Brien'(Mari'st Old Boys), F. Lawry (Ponsonbv). E. Herring (Athletics). H. Averj* (Athletics), W. Te Whata (Athletics), Tut Wilson (South Auckland). Reserves: Backs. Delgrosso (Ponsonby), B. Davidson (City); forwards, McDonald (City) or Bass (City). THE FIRST TEST. NEW ZEALAND TEAM. Messrs. Liversage. Pearce and Hill, the selectors of the New Zealand team to meet Britain in the first test on Saturday next, have chosen the following players to go into training:—Backs: Stewart, Fitzgerald and Gilroy (Christchurch), Dufty, Brisbane, Wetherill, McClymont, J. Lang. Poison, and Delgrosso (Auckland>, Paki and Johnston (South Auckland). Forwards: Ellis and Peterson (Christchurch), Mouatt (West Coast), Tut Wilson (South Auckland), i Lowry, Somers, Herring, Avery, Te I Whata (Auckland).

FIFTH GRADE. Richmond 23, bent New Lynn 2. For the winners, Itenzies pconnl four trirs, Schroder two, ami Biililick one. Edmunds converted one. COUNTRY MATCHES. " t (By Telegraph.—Press -Association.) HAMILTON. F.NIIEAN SHIELD. TLIP Endenn Challenge Shield. bfl.l by Ilatuiltou, was played for on Steele Park. Tbe weather was rather dull, but tliere was a fair crowd present. As a. curtain-raiser, Hamilton juniors played resultinc in n rim-over fur Hamilton by 31 to 5. The Tay!pr brothers, of Hamilton, were conspicuous by scoring practically tbe Whole of the points for rh<- local team. The Kntlean Shield match resulted in an easy win for Lower Wnikaip. The holders - -liamilton repreeentiltlves—did not play up to expectations, aud the game- Teas rather disappointing. Lower Waikato men won by 2t> points to 5. l-'or the winners, I'aki." Welch, Allen 12), Kaynur Ci, and .Volinson scored 'trie?. Ra.vnor converted one, Hall two. and S. Taylor pot tea .1 goal from the tield. For the losers Apple/by scored, and BllSSet converted. SOUTHERN MATCHES. CTIRISTCHURCH. Ma lists A t>. heat Hornby 0. Sydenham 23, beat "U'oolston 10.