FIRST LEAGUE TEST.!

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 211, 7 September 1925, Page 9

FIRST LEAGUE TEST.!

N.Z. DEFEATS QUEENSLAND. ■ WON BY A POINT. i A SENSATIONAL FINISH. j i Anticipations for a titanic game at Carlaw Park on Saturday, -when New ! Zealand played the champion State team of Australia, Queensland, in the 1 first of the two test matches, were fully realised. Despite occasional showers, there was an attendance of over 18,000 spectators, snd they were rewarded with | their full share of thrills. Playing in j I the first spell with a high wind behind i j them the visitors piled up a lead of j 19 points to 5. but New Zealand put J ten points on to their score in sensa-1 ! tional fashion at the opening of the i I second half, and from that point onward ; the game was a continuous sensation, j ending with a win by 23 —24 for New ■ ! Zealand as the result of a goal kkked ; just as the final bell soundeci. ! j The rain of the previous night, and ' the recurrent light showers of the after- j noon, had made the top surface of the ! ground greasy in. places, and this con- | j tributed to occasional mistake? by the j players on either side, but generally tlie conditions tested the reaj football ability j of the teams. Queensland were favored after the first few minutes by I i getting the ball continuously in the j serums. But against this the visitors were Severely penalised throughout the game for scrum illegalities, "shepherd- ! ing"' and ofi'-side play. Tn the game they had 49 free kicks given against them, and the New Zealanders were penalised 11 time*. Whether or not the visitors frit that they were unfairly treated they took the ruling? sportingly. The rulings rarely had tlic effect of j slowing up the game, for in the great bulk of cases the free-kicks were ruled at a time when play was stopped for a «?rum. or when a player was tackled and down w'th the ball. This feature of tlir> 2.j.me d'd. however, have the elVc :t of raU'Yie arguments and d'seus-<=i.-in= a num.™ the spectator*, and adding tn the gaictv nf the oecavon in between the L'me-- when either ?Me had onlookers mi t'loir feet with somo brilliant scoring movement. Tt was thrilling from end i" p"(.l. and of so even a nature that \> lit-n i. wa- all over the spectators were Wt guessing what would happen oil n roll wet day. or a r<-al fine day. The Teams. The teams were: QUEENSLAND.—Maroon. Fullback: Frauenf>ld»r (lOst 71b 1. Three-quarters: Patten (lOst 71M, (rorman (list S\M, Craig (list 21b), Aynsley (12st 21b>. Five-eighths: Moore* (list alb). ; Half: Connell (lOst »lb). Forwards: Potter (13sf 31b). Henderson H2.«t 71b V. Bennett (14st 41bl. Pteinohrt (13*t 71b). Pureell. Armbrustcr (l:i?t 1011.1. NEW ZEALAND.—BIack. ; Fullback: Gregory (lOst ISIbK Three-quarters: Parkes (13st), KirwaH | (list). Delgrosso (list 21bi. j Five-eighths: Wetherill (lOst 71b), j Saunders (list 21b). ; ! Half: Wilson-Hall (lOst 91b*. i Forwards: O'Brien (13st lllbl. St. i George (13st 31b), Herring (ISst 21b), Peterson (13st 41bl, Singe (13st 7!b), 1 A very, captain (13st 81b). | New Zealand skippered by Bert A very, were first out and were followed by the visitors, captained by Potter, who received a particularly warm welcome from the huge crowd. An Even Start. ■ A very called wrong and Potter elected ; lo play the Stanley Street end. A i line line kick by Potter saw the ball i go out at the blacks' twenty-five, but ; immediately afterwards Singe sent play j to the half-way line. Queensland were showing a lot of dash and backing up well, but O"Brien and Herring raised some excitement when they broke through, but they did not get far. A long j kick by Craig saw Gregory play for I safety by forcing. So far neither side had shown any material superiority although the visiting backs were displaying a lot more snap and dash. Craig ! nut the reds within ten yards of the blacks , line with k fine penalty kick. Scrummed, the blacks tore through and Kirwan. making a fine opening, they began throwing the ball about and had the visitors anyhow, but a long pass to Delgrosso by Saunders beat the New Zealand winger. Connell secured and J sent his team away. Gorman comitig in ! scissors like and taking the ball from i Craig. Aynsley was quickly alongside ! and accepting a final pass, had a straight j j run in to score between the uprights, j i Craig goaled. ! Queensland r> ! Xew Zealand (I I Failure to allow a Queensland forward to play the ball saw Craig add to the score by goaling. Queensland 7 Xew Zealand 0 With play at the twenty-five line Delgrosso snapped up the hall and, after a useful sprint, sent in to i Herring, the latter transferring to • Saunders, who went on to score well out. Delgrosso made a fine, though , unsuccessful attempt to goal. ; Queensland 7 Xew Zealand 3 Queensland Pile Up Points. The scores had hardly been registered ' when the reds again got possession, the • ball being handled by Craig, Moore?, • Gorman and Aynsley, 'the latter cutting ■ in and leaving four New Zealanders standing still. Craig goaled. Queensland 12 Xew Zealand ;} Kirwan was responsible for putting the blacks on the attack and he was [ almost over when the bounce of the ball beat him. In some tight play WilsonHall got the ball and sent to Saunders, ' j to DelgTosso. who was downed right on ' i the line. Awarded a free kick in a ' j good position Delgrosso goaled. : j Queensland IS ,! New Zealand -5 i° The Queensland backs were getting a ; j much better share of the ball than the ' New Zealanders, but Parkes, Kirwan and Delgrosso brought oft' seme pretty 1 scissors passing which had been a feature of the visitors , play. The pace w»* fast, and with both sides standing close up the movements were g c « in ß quickly nipped in the bud. Cra.g J>*« 1 another shot from a penalty between : the quarter and half-way lines and made no mistake with the kick. ... 1* Queensland ...•_•• Xew Zealand • • • • • * • "• » A

A dropped pass saw Gorman snap up i the leather and run to Gregory before ! handing on to Aynsley, who scored his third try under the post?, for Craig to. goal. Queensland 1!) Xew Zealand 5 Eight on the call of time Craig had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Catching Up. Just before half-time. Armbruster retired injured, his place being taken by Liebke, the heaviest and tallest of Queenslanders. Eight at the outset. Gorman inter- ' cepted a pass and was streaking for tine line when Peterson got him. O'Brien broke away with the ball at toe and backed up by Avery and Kirwan. i Avery picked up the ball and struggled across with two opponents hanging on ! to him. Delgrosso failed to convert. Queensland 19 Xew Zealand The visitors were now playing with a strong sun in their eyes and the blacks, with O'Brien, St. George. Herring, and company, swooped down and went over the line, Gorman just getting in to force. O'Brien, St. George and Singe were again responsible for a brilliant attacking movement, and Gorman failing to plr.y the ball, New Zealand were awarded a. penalty right between the posts. Wetherill grabbed the ball, gave a little kick, secured it. and dashed over amidst immense excitement. Delgrosso goaled. Queen plain! 19 New Zealand 13 A centring kick by Davidson, saw Saunders going along just missing a score. Patten luckily touching down. Every little trick that could be produced was resorted to and one did not know what would happen next, neither side showing any quarter. The blacks had a chance when Kirwan set them going, but a forward pass by Wetherill closed a good opening. There were numerous free kicks to both sides, from j one of wh.ch Craig placed his sixth [ goal over the bar. Queensland 21 I Xcw Zealand 13 Smart following up by Avery forced Frauenfelder out and from inside the half-way Singe had an unsuccessful shot. Aynsley was too good for Davidson and consistently beat him. The play was hard and generally confined between the two twenty-fives, the great advantage the reds having being their ability to get the ball from th? scrums. Delgrosso made the best use of a penalty by goaling from inside half-way and the scores read: Queensland 21 New Zealand 13 An Exciting Finish. Wetherill nearly brought disaster when he passed the ball at random, letting the reds in, and it looked almost ! certain they would get across. A welcome penalty was made the best use of I by Singe. Frauenfelder, with a fine, dodgy run, assisted Gorman to short punt to the line. Aynsley was after i the ball when Davidson dived for it and nullified the attack. Parkes, Davidson, Wetherill and Avery had the defence licked, but Avery when over the line j was thrown into touch. The New Zeai iand forwards were playing lik»~ cham- ) pions, and instead of hooking the ball i were breaking through the scrums. j Herring, O'Brien, Avery and Singe swept I through, and across the line. Singe scoring in a good position. Delgrosso goaled an easy shot. j Queensland 21 I New Zealand 20 Tbc , crowd were shouting themselves hoarse as the blacks tore into their work, and relied mostly on their forI wards. Delgrosso tried to put his side in front from a kick inside half-way, and the redoubtable Queenslanders were now resorting to everything they knew to maintain their one point advantage. All they had in their favour was the securing of the ball in the scrums, but against this they were giving away innumerable penalty kicks. The. scissors passing, for which they are noted, was not present, and they were simply doing the best they could for themselves, and were playing no different to the Xew. Zealanders. The visitors added to their score when Wetherill, after making a tine opening transferred to Saunders. The latter gave a wretched yiass to Davidson, which Aynsley snapped up, and, dashing down the line, badly beat Gregory and scored wide out. Craig failed with the shot. Queensland 24 Xew Zealand 20 Two minutes before the final whistle went Delgrosso broke away with Wetherill and Avery alongside. They each handled the ball for Avery to bustle over right in the corner. Delgrosso failed to convert, the scores being: Queensland 21 I Xew Zealand 2;5 With the ball still in play time was up. Still both sides were straining every effort, and being awarded a penalty, Delgrosso landed a goal amidst tremendous excitement exactly fifty seconds after play in the ordinary course '■ would have ceased. , The final score was: ' Xew Zealand 2"> ' Queensland M i Mr. L. Bull controlled the game. TEAMS ENTERTAINED. I On Saturday evening the teams were , entertained by the Xew Zealand Rugby Council at a dinner at the Chamber of ' Commerce. ■ Numerous toasts were honoured, and in reply to tbe toast of the Queensland Rugby "League, proposed by Mr. J. Carlaw, 'both managers of the Queensland team Messrs. J. Doyle and H. Sunder- . land,' made very fine speeches. Mr. ! Doyle said that Saturday «»ldp I down in the history of Rugta UngW 1 football as a red-letter day The Queen*. • landers were under a dep debt of ' Iramude to visit here, because the visit I r l °? nders d^ a SIS to'tii-"A/ey had reached II pinnacle which the players were rightly jealous or. There were many features which made for the betterment of the play, but when iIU was said the crame was the main factor. Queensland had come over to the Dominion to show their, ability as footballers, and good citizens. They had gone on to the field at carlaw lark not underestimating the strength of the Blacks. "We Wi beaten you twice recently "in Q ue en ß land," said Mr. Doyle, "but JT that you had improved simj th7n \Z hoped to win, but in troftint i : We one' point we have no^i^ 11 .* The game was nlaverl f« tv f ° make - end ! hop, it beSt Spirit ' A 1

defeat in tbc proper spirit—wo would have liked to have won. I cannot say I am glad we have been defeated; I am not glad, and it is only natural that wo ■would have preferred a win. All teams like to win, but when a defeat comes along we can accept it in the proper spirit. It is a game like that of to-day that goes far to break down much of the hostility the game has met with. Next Saturday we will have a chance of wiping out that one point defeat, but win or lose you will find us accepting the result in exactly the same spirit." I\lr. H. Sunderland began by taking from his watch chain his life membership badge of the Queensland Rugby League, and presenting it to Bert Avery, captain of the New Zealand team. The action was greeted with a storm of applause. Mr. Sunderland said that it gave him the greatest pleasure to hand the badge to Ml. Avery, a better sport than whom ifc would be impossible to find. Touching the match, he said tliat what struck him was the splendid play, the spirit in which the game was carried out. and the splendid crowds. The hospitality showered upon the Queenslanders was something he would always have bnppy memories of. and looked forward to the time when the Rugby League game would, as was the ease in Queensland, be the only code of football played in the Dominion. " And when that time comes what an awful side you will bo to tackle/" he added. That afternoon had been a wonderful one for the New Zcalanders, and he heartily the thirteen players who' had earned the victory. During llie evening MY. E. H. Mnir. coach to the New Zealand team, was presented by the N.Z. League with a. gold medallion, having a greenstone centre, with raised gold fern leaf. The medallion was suitably inscribed. AUCKLAND V. QUEENSLAND. LOCAL THIRTEEN SELECTED. The Queensland team will play the second game ot their tour at Carlaw Park on Wednesday, when the visitors will meet the Auckland representatives. The following team has been selected to represent Auckland: — Full-bark: Gregory. Three-quarters: Dclgrosso, Brown, Littlewood. Five-eighths: Wetherill, Kivwan. Half: Webb. > Forwards: O'Brien (Devonport), St, George, O'Brien (Marist), Herring Singe, Avery. STALLARD CUP FINAL. OTAiHUHTJ Wltf« ; Otaauhu ; McDonald, fiame, EUeflfi Murray, Kirkland. Rray. Eustace, ToddJ Oroxon, Phillips, Hart. Brown, Scarborough;,Xortheoto: Stewart. Campbell, Neali Wilkins. Speiarbt. Greeninp, Green, PennycooK, Mason, King, Watson, Me* Langhlin. The first score came early, when in th 4 first few minutes Otahuhn attacked, and from a scrum Bray whipped the ball to Kirfelnnd. who badly beat three opponents ,fo score in a good position. Ellery failed to convert and Obihuhu led by 3 to 0. A useful kick snrt smart following up V>y Stewart put Xortbcote in a scoring position. , but a pass liy Mclaughlin to Greening was not accepted. Tbe blues were soon bnik in the Xortbeote territory and one of tin? ' forwards dribbler] over the line to scon-. ■ Wtlkins had a shot to make tbe best use • of a penalty, the hall soing just, outside i the po«ts. Greening was noticeable srt making several bright openings for Northi'ote. but he was not beins backed up. '. A feature of the game was the clean honk- . ing on both sides, but the backs were Indulging In too much kicking. In tlio ' second half Xortheote ninde strenuous efforts to break down the defence and morn tban ome they were a shade unlucky in not doing so. Wilkins opened Xorthcote's acount br placing a peualty goal, and the snore read (5 to 2 in favour of Otahuhu. > Ie was not ?00.l fooih.il) and only occasionally was a passing bout nttPtupro.j. There was no further .mil Ihe jrcrae ended Otahuhu 6. Northcof -. Mr. Kipley was referee. HAMILTON V. ATHLETIC. \ curtain rnisfr between Hamilton fifth eriifJe and the local Athletic fifth srade was won by Athletic by S to 15. SECOND GRADE. FINAL FOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Richmond 10. beat Ponsonby 3. i For Richmond trips were scored by , Brough. AVhitcombe, and Jenklnson, and > tbo latter secured three goals. For " Ponsonby, Wilson scored. I HOUSE MATCHES. ' ralmer. Collins and Whitaker 9, beat J. W. Wiseman and Sons 0. W. D. and H. O> Wills 19, beat Gordoi and Gotch 6. \ AUCKLAND TOURING TEAM. ** a The following is the personnel of the Auckland touring team which left, by th* ' Main Trunk on Sunday night :— s Hcrewini. full-back, agpd "0, 12.6; List, three-quarter. 22, l-t.O : B. Davidson, threeI nuartrr. 22. 10.10 : Kirkland. three-quarter, 21, 10.0: Cole. live-eighths. 23. 11.0: Riley, fivc-HEhthf". 20. 10.7: ppekham, bslf-back, 26; n.io: Orewthor. three-quarter, 22, 11.."; Hnrdjrreave. five-eighths. 10. 10.2. Fnrs wards: Mason. 21. l-i.T: Townspnd. 24, cr Te Whata. 2n. 1.1.1U: McDonald. 2.1, n 12.7: J7, 13.0: Bass. 27. 12.«; a Douslas, 31, 12.2. Manager, Mr. K. Dnble. t c SOUTHERN MATCHES. CHRISTCHURCFT. Hornby 10. v. Wnimarl B: Sydenham 12, V. MarlSt B s : Marlsts IS, r. Addmston 16. DUXEDIN. Tarific \ o4 v. City IJ (»: C'ty A 12. r. Uhlctic 7: Kaitangata JO, v. Christian I Brothers A 7.