RUGBY FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 199, 24 August 1925, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL

AUCKLAND BEATS WAIKATO. 35 POINTS TO NIL. I .SPEEDY BACK PLAY. Ideal conditions favoured the contest at Men Park on -Saturday between the Auckland and Waikato representative teams, and there was a ' attendance of spectators, considering' the multiplicity of counter-attractions nllered by the races and several other' football games of special Interest It : was fully expected that the Waikato ]il.<yers, after their Southern expert- j i-nces, would oiler a stout resistance, ! and 111 point of fact they had a much lal-μ- share of attack than the score would m<l it .11 c. and were, very unlucky in not scoring on several occasions, j I'laced at a disadvantage from the Marl, from the fact that their regular half-lmrk did not appear, necessitating t lie playing of one of their three-quarters in the position, the visitors were fro- j tjuently at odds in their back play, but 1 their forwards quite matched the *Aucklnnders in the close play. When the pame opened up, the ail-round understanding between Auckland's forwards and backs pave, their concerted attack a pace that broke down the defence time and ajjain, despite pood individual tackling. , When it was man for man the Auckland backs were not able to do a great deal in the matter of side-step-ping and ciitting-in, but they used the :ii-puss and return pass el'eetively by reason of the good Lacking xip of thenforwards. In the first spell the home team scored lli points, and they added another 1!) in the second spell. The teams were :— Auckland;—-O'Brien, Mntson. Lucns, Broderick, Cooke, Sl|'on, Wright, Kcajie, Batty, Macdonuld, Me.Williams, Sorrensoii, Gallagher. Waikato : —Thomas, Stoupe, Thompson, l.atta, Kemp, Batchelor. Johnston, Howard, j VVallls, Hooper, Bourko, Thomas, Christie, I Courtney, Charleston. Auckland Starts Well.

VW:en the tcaiss settled down after the opening exchanges play was outside Wnikato's iwenty-tive, but the visiting forwards rushed pla.v to Auckland's quarter, where Ihompson hud nn unsuccessful shot at goal, nnd Auckland forced. Close play in Auckland* twenty-live saw the Waikato backs get awiiy l>ll r Kemp tried to go too far and Butehelor had to kick to the line to keep the ground. A free, let O'Brien find touch at the centre. Wallis led the visitors back, bur a break away by Cookc, when Batehel >r Uroppud a pass, took Auckland to the attack. A series of kick exchanges ended in a dasli by Sheen nnd Broderick to near Waiknto's line. Wallis broke away to Auckland's twenty-live, where Wright saved by cut i ins off i he pass. Kraut set Auckland attacking again with a tine dribbling breakaway, and then Jiatson had a dash down the line, and in-passed for Keniie to carry to the goal Hue. where he was stopped, but Goulu came up to got the ball nnd score a try. Lucas' kirk failed. Almost immediately Auckland scored again. McWllliams and Keane opening up a handling bout in which Coeke, Lucas. Matson and Lucas handled before the last named got a try. Cooke's kick struck t he bar and came back. A line return by O'Brien and a beautiful kick by Cooke from a free had Auckland again attacking when the quarter ended.

Waikato made a good start on resumption, a bustling forward rush being followed by a handling bout in which Kemp, Batchelor. Thompson and Stoupe took play to the Auckland line. They lost ground when their backs tried again, but good pla.v by Howard brought it back to the Auckland line, where the defenders saved by forcing. From the drop-out Lucas got possession and sent Broderick away to noa-r Wafkato'a line, and the visitors forced. After the drop out a long return by Thomas was mulled by IMatson, and Waikato crowded hot to the attack. Wallis and Thompson being downed at the line. A rush by Batty, and a handling bout by Cooke, Lucas and Broderick lifted too iliege. Play was fast and hung at tht centre for a time. A bout by Thompson and Stoupe was stopped by Lucas intercepting:, but when he centre-kicked Howard got '.way to set up a hot attack on Auckland's line, and Courtney just missed a try. From a scrum near tin , line the visiting backs opened up, but Cooke intercepted and sent a pass to Lucas who made a nice opening and returned the ball to Cooke, who had a cleatrun from the centre to score between the posts. Cooku converted.

A series of kick exchanges left play at the centre live, an offside tackle by a visiting forward put the advantage again with Auckland and a series of attacks ended in Waikato's territory. From the drop-out a score came sensationally. Sheehan had dropped a pass at the centre when Luca» recovered the hall and beat two or three men before sending an in-pass to Macdonnld, to Gallagher, who scored. Cooke converted. There was a spell of ragged and rather uninteresting play at the centre of the ground, with passing bouts and interceptions, before the spell ended with the score: Auckland IG, Waikato 0. Local Backs Too Fast.

In the second spell O'Brien, -who had been hurt, was replaced at full-back by McGregor, The game had hardly got going when Matson had to retire with an injured knee, and his place was taken by Loft. Auckland set up au attack, and from a scrum Wright made a nice opening with a dash and a pass to Gould, who sent on to Batty, and the Grammar forward scored a try, which. Cooke converted. From the drop-out Waikato set up an attack in which I.atta marked wide out, and had a drop-kick at goal, Auckland forcing. Auckland at once went again to the attack., .when Batchelor made a mistake, but Broderick missed his pass at the line and the visitors forced. Fast play outside Auckland's tnventytive saw the visitors getting the ball in the Bcruni, nnd though their backs handler! badly the forwards supported to dribble down to Auckland's line. Here the rally was desperate and Waikuto forwards failing to push over, the backs had a try, but lost ground, Auckland clearing. A clash by the Auckland backs Baw Cooke stopped at the corner. In good forward play the-visi-tors cleared and Howard led them in a breakaway, but Cooke saved by his speed. Thomas showed up well in ikick exhanges, nnd McGregor was rather lucky to get the ball safely out at his twenty-five. Waikrtto pressed Auckland hard in light work,- but when the hall went loose Auckland bncks and forwards got away, and after a couple of dashes the ball was sent out to Broderick who shook off Stoupe's tackle and scored. Cooko's' kick failed. Auckland 24, Waikato fl. Just before the change round for the final twenty minutes, the visitors lost Hooper, who was replaced by Bourke. Ihc visitors opened, play by rushing the game to Auckland's twenty-five line. Auckland were forced by a drop at goal by Stoupe, and from the drop-out, Latta made a nice (lush to near the line. Then Johnston made ji dash, to bo stopped at the lino. Waikato strove desperately in hard forward work at this stage, and they got a free from which Bntchelor first missed placing a goal, Auckland forcing. With play outside Auckland's twenty-five, Keane sent his backs away, and though Htoupe blocked Lucas pass to Broderick, the latter recovered the ball and put in a nice dash. Hβ re urne tbc ball to Sheen, who scored beside the nosts and Cooke converted. A couple of handling dashes by Auckland took play to Waikato's line, wiere Batchelor reversed the position by intercepting nnd cassinc to Thompson, whose kick had AuckFand in trouble. Exciting play wen: across five, a Waikato bout broke down and Cooke the blid side and sent wl^or'eraTrv 11 t^ the whistle went with the score:—

Auckland 0 Waikuto "' Mr. F. B. Sutherland was -refoiee. POLLARD CUP. Thr. Krartoe w5? abandoned, ssalnst Marist Old Boys.

KING'S V. GRAMMAR,

■ Ilayed at Mangere on SatuHnv the fiVn a %? Ui } b, ' tw(,, '» King's College and {.'.: A,lck '«'»l Grammar School attracted a ffi cr °W<l of supporters of both schools. j King s sot the ball rolling ami following J a line-out were penalised for handling in ~ tf rUm - A run & Bpll l l,lf Grammar ■"" tin; attack, until King's wore awarded ', ,' .McCrystnl secured from .1 scrum ,"-.u nair-wny and sent Korr-Tnylor away !..Li? i as!l down tlle side lino, but Ilintou ]U(k(.(i np an< i brought relief. When inin m J" ar s . ot »P - ,1 1 »"t attack Storey came into the picture with .1 dash, which took play downflelrt. McCrysta) put In somo poor! work for the reds, but was well ,tackled by Corner. Near the end of the quarter, King's carried out a strong passing .movement, which put the blues on the ( letence, until Matheson relieved with a long luck, (irammar then took control and a movement, in which Mntheson, Burke, and Bell participated, ended with a try I ""hind the posts by Bell. Watkiu coiiI verted. Cirammar 5. King's 0. Even play in mldflehl was tlio order during the early part of the second quarter. After a run by the College backs. Wallou short-punted, and in the scramble over (he nines line, Ngahuia forced. The Kinc's hookers were Retting the best of the scrums, and their backs were securing more opportunities than their opponents A scrum was ordered five yards out from the (.ramiiKir line, but when Kliir'4 hooked ; SlpurtaoußP s pass to Walton went begging. ! King a attacked etrougly for a lengthy .period, nnd after some louse piny. Merrilees 'went over for a try, which Gillett failed to convert. The scores at half-time were.:— Grammar 5, King's 3. Grammar were thp first to show prominent In the second half, but over-eager-nesM spoilt their chances, a penalty to Kings sending them back. The reds "were Hemmed In until a sparkling piece of passing by Storey. Merrilees nnd Forbes took- the game downfiold. Matheson nnd Hell broke away in good style until Merrilees intercepted nnd broke down the attack. humbling by the red backs allowed Grammar into their opponents' twenty-five. where Mntheson got possession nnd sent on to Xgnhtiin, who passed to P.nll. The liiFtnnnierl went on to score his second try. The kick failed, (irammar 8, King's 3. After this reverse. King's rallied, and (.illett .in«t missed from a penalty. In the last quarter Grammar made the pace, nnd were in enemy territory until Fnrhos cleared. When the reds got possession from n scrum Mnorhouse put in a fine run. hut was downed by Robinson. King's continued to press, nnd a dash by Merrilees took piny to the- bluPß' line. From a scrum King's hooked, nnd MeCrystal nipped round for a try. Gillett equalled the scores with a good kick. Grammar S, King's S. Excitement ran high at this stage. Gramj mar having the belter of some very close ! piny. OfTside piny by Keepa brought the reds relief, and a timely kick b y Boyd had Grammar in trouble. A scrum was put down five yards out. but Moorhoiisn missed a high pass from McCrys>fal and the elianee was lost. King's, however, were not to be 1 denied, nnd when Walton had just missed a sciire. Leslie secured from n lineont and ; dived over for the winning try MeCryst.nl i converted ns the final bell nine, the game i finishing amidst great excitement. King's 13 Grammar s Mr. Shepherd was referee. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. KING'S BEATS GRAM MA It.

At Mangere the return match between King's and Grammar attracted a large attendance of supporters of the schools, and a very close and interesting game resulted in a win for King's by 13 points to S. A try by Bell, converted by Watklns, for Grammar School, was scored in the first twenty, and in the following twenty Merrilees scored a try for King's, the' first spell ending s—.'! in Grammar's favour. Bell scored again fairly early in the second spell, and McCrystal got a try which Gillett converted for King's, equalising the score. Thus the points remained until just on time, when Leslie scored a try. which McCrystal converted, giving King's 1 he win. MT. ALBERT V. NORTHERN WAIKATO. Mr. Albert Grammar first fifteen beat Northern Waikato Junior at Pukekohe by 17 to 0. Mr. ('. Moffatt was referee. For Grammar School Monk scored three tries and converted one. Butler and Gilmour scored one each. For Northern Waikato Ilarriman and Fallows kicked penalty goals.. The game was an open one and the visitors were able to show superiority hy reason of their training and combination. The home team had never played together before, and taking this into consideration, they played well. Carter, one of the star players for the Waikato, had to leave the field in the first quarter, owing to injuries to his ankle.

FIFTH GRADE. Grafton beat Parnell by default. SECOND GRADE. Marist 0.8. 17, bent University 3. Training College 22, beat University 3. North Shore 10, bent City Council C. THIRD GRADE. (OPEN.) Marathon" 3, drew with Eden 3. INTERMEDIATE. Semi-final. —Parnell 15, beat Ponsonby 5. FOURTH GRADE. Semi-final. —Ponsonby 15, beat Grafton 3. FIFTH GRADE. Manukau 11, beat Eden S. SIXTH GRADE. Ellerslie 6, beat Marist 2. COUNTRY MATCHES. DARGAVILLE. There was a large attendance at the representative football match In Rugby I'ark, Dargaville, when North Auckland 1G points defeated King Country 11. Juniors. —Pukehuia 8, beat Maropiu 6; Southern 10, beat Kuawai 3. CAMBRIDGE. The only match played at Cambridge on Saturday at Victoria Square was the first challenge match for the newly presented Boyce Bros. , cup, between Cambridge nnd Waipa junior reps, the game resulting in a win for Cambridge by 9 points (two tries and a penalty 'goal), to 3 (a try). MORRINSVIIXE. Morrinsville and Matamata third grade reps, played an even jrame, Matamata winning by ten to seven. The Maiarnata points -were two converted tries scored by Adams and Tuck, Egan converting both. Poison potted a goal for Morrinsville and Dyke scored a try. HAMILTON. The Morris Cup first round resulted: — Railway -'0, v. Post and Telegraph 6; Central -Power Board 2.">, v. Butchers 3. Fire' Brigade defaulted to Borough. Third Grade. —Auckland Marist IS, beat Hamilton Marist IU. TE AWAMUTU. Proceeds from matches played under the auspices of the Waipa Rugby Union wore devoted to the widow of a ou.e-time representative player, and it is expected a fairly substantial amount will be handed over. The chief attraction was between Hamilton and Waipa third-grade representatives. Vfter a hard and even game Hamilton won i>v 14 points to 3. For the winners, Drube (3) and Latta scored tries, Hogg convertin" one. Death scored an unconverted try for Waipa. Rev. Burrims refereed. In the senior match between Ngahapi and Te Awnmutu the former won by 17 points to 12. Mr. P. Quin refereed. TE KUITI. After'a close contest the Wairoa touring Rir r bv team defeated Maniapoto by 11 point's to !). In the absence of the King Country representatives it was expected that the local team -would have been defeated more heavily. The visitors had the advantage in open play and In the scrums, while Maniapoto was superior in the forwards, and in close play generally.

TE AROHA. The Holand Memorial Cup competition was continued, when I'iako met Paeroa in the final round. The game resulted: Vi-iko 0, Paeroa 5. Hall scored for Piako and McLaren and Ryan kicked penalty goals Royal scored for Paeroa and Taylor converted. Two matches were played tor the knock-out competition cup in senior Rugby. Ramblers 16, beat College Old Boys 11 ; City 9 beat Physical Training 3. WHAKATANE. The semi-final of the Kusabs Cup was played under wet conditions at Whnkatane Domain between Opotiki and. Whakatane, the former winning by S to (5.

NEW SOUTH WALES TEAM'S TOUR

FIRST MATCH AT I'AIvMEKSTOX. COMBINED PLAYERS DEFEATED. (By Telegraph.— Special to "Star.") lUI/MERSTON NORTH, Saturday. The visiting Now South Wales team opened their tour of the Dominion this afternoon, meeting a tifteen drawn from .Manawatii. llorowhenua and "Wellington. l'l-um 11 mark shortly after the commencement uf piny. Ilrophy just missed the uprights. A lightning attack by New South Wales ended in :i penalty under the posts. Thorn missed twice, being given a second kick. A lengthy exchange of lucks saw a combined movement develop on the right wing. .lacoh secured and passed to Brophy, who got over at the corner. .lacob goaled. Combined 5, New South Wales 0

Shaw (New South Wales) was injured at this stage, and was replaced by Tarleton. Morrisscy (New South Wnles) got away nnd raced over, but went into touch en route. A brilliant cut in by Morrisscy, nnd a, pass to Thorn, saw the latter almost slip over. A free-klek relieved. A splendid run by Ilickey saw .Johnson thrown out at the corner, hut a minute later 11 brilliant attack by 'Walters, fliekpy and Porter, resulted in the last-named being collared on the Hue. A free kick relieved. In r. forward attack the visitors tool; the bull to the Combhif-d's line. From a scrum, which the visitiujr forwards held, Snoll set his backs in motion. The bull reached Held, who cut in ami soiled nicely. Lawton goaled. Xcw South Wales 5. Combined r>.

The visitors maintained the pressure. N. Smith beat the opposition and scored and r.awton goaled. New South "Wales 10. Combined .">. Half-time was then called.

Ites'.imption of play found Ttropliy. who was injured wl'en Shaw went oil. replaced by Law. A brilliant run by Roid put the visitors in an attacking position, a penally spoiling the movement. Fust play between the rival packs snw a Combined attack halted near the line. Jacob missed a simple goal from a penalty. T.ie visitors opened up a back movement f "oin halfway. I.awton sent the ball to Mmrissev. to Reid, in again to Morris Key. who scored, for I.nwton to add the extra points. New South Wales !.">. Combined i>.

The blue backs were working smartly, nnd in another attack two blues failed to reach tin- ball when was dribbled over Hie line nnd a sure try was lost. A kick from Walter to Toby saw a pretty back movement opened by the visitors' full-iciek. who passed to I.iuvton. to Ueid, to Morrissey. who added another try. I.awton gnale'd. New South Wales 20. Combined ;>.

In succeeding play the Combined team attacked, and Porter Instituted n p:issins rush. He sent to Johnson, to Law. whoso speed took the movement close to the line. \ nnss at the right moment was given to Wilson, and then the ball went on to Bailey, who raced over. Jacob faited witu the kick. New South Wales 20 ('oinhined * In the concluding stages two I'oml.ineil attacks broke down on the line, and the .visitors wvre attacking when the final whistle sounded. RANFURLY SHIELD. HAWKE'S BAY BEAT TARANAKI. AN EASY VICTOKY. (By Telegraph.—rre?s Association.! HASTINGS. Saturday. V large crowd turned out to-day for the Taranaki-Ilawke's Bay shield match. Despite recent rains, the ground was 111 good order. ■ ■ .

Hawke's Bay! won .they tow.s. Taranaki soon became aggressive, Blake saving with, a mark. The 'game then transferred to the visitors' territory, where the llawke s Bay forwards hammered at the line. A series of scrums eventuated, the visitors having to force down. Xepla tried a pot, hut was unsuccessful, and Irvine also did no good with a penalty kick. Taranaki got out of difficulties, and their forwards combined in smart work and sent play to Hawke's Bay's territory, but Ncpia sent it back again with a great kick. A penalty relieved the visitors. The Hilwkes Bay forwards got going and in succeeding play Xepia sent the ball to Falwasser, who made a pood run and passed to M. Brownlie, who got over. llawke s l-'.y i>, Taranaki 0. , Penucll stopped a rirong llawke s Bay forward rush and Coulton was also the means of stopping a try. Play went backwards and forwards. From a rebound m>lll the posts Barclay secured and le.l over the line, and Irvine converted. Hawke's Bay 8, taranaki 0. «Hawkes Bay were having the best of the game and piled on six more points per medium of Blake and Grenside, but both tries were unconverted. Irvine had to retire Ihrough an injury. Taranaki showed up better iv the ensuing lilav, and Robinson got across, but I»r..wn missed the kick. Ilawkes Bay 11, larana i{oberts retired hurt before half-time, but Hawke's Bay registered another 3 points, Mill being " successful with a penalty. Hawke's Bay IT, Taranaki :i. On changing over Hawke's Bay continued on the aggressive, and a minute from the start Barclay scored.- Mill converted, which increased Hawke'H Hay's su-ore to "2. Shortly iifler Hawke's Bay took play to the visitors' line, WylUe scoring smartly. Hawke's Bay '£T\. Thereafter the viators' forwards put up a great flllhf.-ancl towards the close of the game, had the better of the pla.v. Just before the liell Ilawke's Bay went away with a great burst of passing by the backs and forwards, from which Blake scored, pluy ending :

Ilawke's Bay 2S Taranaki 3 The visitors' forwards played good, hard football all through, but the Hawke'f Bay hacks were too solid. Hawku's Bay had also advantage of their opportunities. Nepia. at full-back, played a great game for Hawkc's Bay. BRAKE CHALLENGE SHIELD. NORTH AUCKLAND JUNIORS. WHANGAREI WIN AGAIN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Saturday. The first inter-district match for the Brake Challenge Shield for North Auckland junior reps, took place at Kensington Park, Whangarei, this afternoon before a moderate attendance. Fine weather prevailed, the ground being in good order. Whangarei (holders), 30, retained the shield against Bay of Islands (challengers), H. The visitors' only score was in the first quarter, when Whangarei wore penalised for playing the ball on the ground, which gave K. Kameka a chance, to notch a penalty goal. The Bay of Island backs lacked condition, which told against tlie-m, especially in the .second spell, apart from being opposed to a much better combination, in which the local forwards were particularly prominent. Against this, however, the home team's three-quarter line was not up to junior representative standard. For Whiingarei tries were .scored by Tilly (2). I'uki (2), Hamilton and Pirihi (1), three of which were converted by Abbott. A pleasing feature of the match was the clear, snappy control of the referee, Mr. J. Hollis (Whangarei). NORTHERN MILLS SHIELD. During the interval at the interprovinci.il game at Eden Park, Mr. J. Arnell, president of the Auckland Kugby Union, presented the Northern Holler .Mills Shield, won by the Auclclatad school representatives this week, to R. Milne, the captain of the winning, team. Milne made a nice little sr.eech in reply.

SOUTHERN MATCHES.

CARTERTON. Tte junior rep. match played at Carterton between Wairarapa and Hawke's Bayjuniors was won by Hawke's Bay by 28 to 8. DUNEDIN. A return match in the annual home and home game between Otago anil Southland resulted in a win for Southland by 25 to 15. CANTERBURY. A match between Canterbury and the Maori representative team was played on Saturday in fine weather. At half-time the Maoris led by 10 points to 9. In the second spell Canterbury put on another six points, the Maoris failing to add to their score. The game resulted: Canterbury 10, Maoris 10.