ENGLAND V. PROVINCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 180, 31 July 1924, Page 8

ENGLAND V. PROVINCE.

YESTERDAY'S GAME. VISITORS WIN AGAIN. TWENTT-EIGHT POINTS TO THIRTEEN. There was a good attendance for an off-day at Carlaw Park yesterday when the English team of League footballers played ihe fourth match of their tour in the Dominion. Their opponents were the Auckland Provincial representatives, and as a result of recent rain the ground was heavy and slippery in patches. The curtain-raiser between the Parnell and Newton third grade teams was won by Parneli by 1C to 0. The teams were: — England: Full-back, Knapman; threequarters, Bontham, Howley, Bacon, Rix; halves, Mooney, Hurcomhe; forwards, Burgess, Gronow, Cunlifl'e, Darwell, Price, Gallagher. Province: Full-back, Dufty; threequarters, Paki, Brisbane, Johnston; liveeighths, MeClymont, Wetherill; half, Lang: forwards, O'Brien, La wry, Herring, Te Whata, Avery, McDonald. The Play. Auckland came on the ground first led by McClymont. England won the toss and the blue skipper set the game in swing. A scrum followed and Bentham offside, and the locals were id the white 25. Avery sent a. long pass whicli ended in loose play with McDonald getting Knapman with the ball. Several times the visitors essayed to throw the ball about, but there was not the brilliant handling that characterised the play on Saturday. Te Whata distinguished himself in smothering movements by the visitors and the blue forwards were showing up in great style. McDonald, Te Whata, and Herring were working hard, and from the loose McClymont made a dash for the line. Then Wetherill gathered the ball, sent a long pass to Te Whata for the latter to send on to Brisbane who streaked for the line, scoring a fine try well out, after seven minutes' play. Dufty made a fine attempt at goal. Province 3, England 0. It seemed impertinence on the part 'of the Auckland forwards to throw the ball about, but they did it and did it well. Forwards and backs intermingled in ehort passing and Brisbane looked like scoring again, but when almost over lie passed forward to Te Whata and a certain try was lost. Lowry was hooking the ball in great style and as a consequence the Auck- j landera were, up to this stage, doing most of the attacking. There was altogether too much forward passing by the visitors and this brought to an end Host of their movements. From a penalty Gronow landed a grand gcal : rorn well over quarter way, and the score read: Province 3, England 2. A ■hot by Dufty from a free failed and hen the forwards headed by Gallagher |

i ana uarweii came down with the bal •. at too. Paki picked up and sent tc j Dufty who found the line. . Then GalI lagher and Bentham were associated ir I a passing bout, which was pulled up b> i solid tackling. ' The lirst scruni ir. Auckland's quarter came when Knapinaji found the line. A breach by Herring save Gronow an opportunity, but the shot produced nothing. Te Whata, following up fast, beat Knapraan for the ball, but when charged tlirew the ball over his shoulder and gave McDonald no chance to gather the ball. Another fine chance was lost. The next bright item was when Mooney and Rix beat the opposition pointless, and Rix scored under the post. Gronow goaled. England 7, Auckland 3. Within two minutes the visitors were over again, Bentham badly beating McClymont and then passing to Howley for the latter to place under the posts."England 12 Province 3. If the locals were in the game in the first quarter of an hour they were getting a bad run now. Delgrosso now came on and took the place of Paki, who had retired. Scrummed in Auckland"s twenty-five the whites hooked the ball to Mooney, who, instead of sending out to the backs, cave it to Darwell, who had just left the pack, and he bustled over. Gronow failed with the kick. England 15, Province 3. McClymont smothered Gallagher when the latter fielded, and then a bit of " hard" play by Darwell, in which Wetherill took a part, saw the i locals awarded a free, and Dufty i placed a fine goal. England ]5, Proi vince 5. Right on the call of time the visitors were throwing the ball hore, there and everywhere, and eventually Cunliffe handed it to Gronow to score under the posts. He converted himself. England 20, Province 5. Half time was then called. ! SECOND SPELL. Immediately on resuming Darwell, waiting offside, gave Dufty a shot at goal but it was unsuccessful, and then Avery and O"Brien took Gailagher over the line with the ball, but the referee gave a force. Price, offside, and Dufty had etill another shot. Scrummed near the visitors line Lowry hooked the ball and Lang attempted to thread his way through. He lost the ball and Johnston picked up and dived over. Dufty goaled. ' England 20 Province 10 I Te Whata was unlucky in missing the bounce, and then McDonald was notice- i able in line hustling work. The locals were showing up again, and Lang, O'Brien, and Delgrosso handled in turn, for the last-named to score. Dufty failed to connect: England 23 Province 13 Some hard and deadly tackling near the Auckland goal saw the referee issue a caution to the visitors, and the blues were tackling like demons. If the Englishmen had been having the best I of it before, they were tried right out now, and the blue forwards were giving the exhibition expected of them in the previous match. Lowry was booking wonderfully, and beating the visitors for the ball almost every time. Next score was the result of brilliant speed

II and passing between Bentham and Howo ley, the latter scoring under the posts. - Mooney missed an eaey shot: jjj England 23 ; t i Province 13 The next score came to England when - Price got across and Gronow goaled. t England 28, Auckland IS. , Thence onward play was hard, with r the local men doing most of the attaek--3 ing. There was no further score. Mr. Field was referee.