N.Z. LEAGUE TRIALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 151, 28 June 1926, Page 11

N.Z. LEAGUE TRIALS.

AUCKLAND V- SOUTH AUCKLAND.

VISITORS OUTCLASSED. ALTERATION" AT ILVLF TIME. ALT KLANDKRS STRENGTHEN TEAM. On Wednesday Inst the South Auckland League ic.ini gripped down to Wellington and made siiucihing m a. name I'm; themselves by defeating tlie Wellingtoilians by I<> to 12. Both these scores, nnd then some, could have been given mi to the Waikato men on Saturday, and then they would have lm n complete!v lieaten by tlie Auckland representatives. It was the lirst of the scries of trial matches which are to be played in Auckland. and as these games are expected to play an important part in the linal selection of the team to ,so to England. Saturday's game was distinctly disappointing. At full strength the Waikato men could not hope to more than make a fair showing against the Auckland team, but with a weak side it was hopeless for them to even put up a moderate stand. A crowd estimated at 8000 or more patronised Carlaw Park, aud in the first half of the match were treated to the most one-sided game seen in Auckland fur a long time. The visitors were hopelessly outclassed, and with the score, at interval 33 to 3 in favour of Auckland it was not surprising that there should be an alteration made. When the teams filed on to the field for the second spell it was noticed that' several changes had taken place, and included in the South Auckland tram were the local reps.. Gregory. Mansill, Littlcwood, Herring, Payne and Kirwan. Littlcwood bad been in the 'team in tlie first half. The strengthening tip of the visitors saw a great chancre, and though Auckland continued to have a shade (lie best of the game, it was not very much, and the oxhibit&m was value for money. Auckland linallv ran out winners by 10 io l."i. The teams: Auckland (blue and white): Fullback. C. Dufty: threequarters. 1.. Brown. IS. Davidson. F. Del grosso; live-eighths. 11. Cole. M. Wethorill: hnlf. T. Peckham; forwards. •T. O'Brien. F. Townsend, A. Singe. L. Hutt. .1. Clarke, 11. Avery (captain).

South Auckland (blue." red. and white): Fullback, M. Sherlock: threequarters. J. Littlcwood. T. Shaw. McLea 1: five-eighths, N. Jackway, F. Jackson: forwards. .1. Menzies. .1. Hooper, Parkes. 1.. Simpson, 11. Mac Donald, C. (iieson.

i South Aucl'iand cet the game going. ! and won the ball from the first set | scrum, but Wetherill smothered Davies before he could get the ball out. Jacksou tried to dash across, being downed j by Davidson. A fine relieving kick by I Dufty was smartly followed np by | Brown, who got Sherlock, and from the ! resultant play Avery, offside, settled a 'great scoring chance. Dufty next wended j bis way through the opposition before ] handing to O'Brien, to Avery, to Peck--1 bam. a nice movement eliding when 1 Sherlock' threw Peckham out, with only a few yards to go. Cole made a smart dash, but Delgrosso missed tlie pass, 'nnd Davidson, dribbling the ball at toe, lifted it over the bar. Auckland 2, South Auckland 0. In tlie next minute Brown was streaking for the line when Littiewood gave chase and downed the Auckland winger. Next moment Delgrosso made a tricky run out towards the sideline, but suddenly turned and cut in to beat two , opponents neatly. Dufty goaled. Auckland 7. South Auckland 0. Two minutes later. Hutt picked up the I ball, ran to tlie visiting full, then passed to Delgrosso, who ran round to score behind the posts. lie missed the easiest of sinus. Auckland 10. South Auckland 0. Littiewood and McLaren showed out in an attacking movement which ; threatened the locals' line till a good boost by Dufty changed the venue. Cole was r,-sponsible for the next Score, Given the ball by Peckham. he cut through : brilliantly before banding on to Davidson, to Delgrosso. the latter scoring in tlie corner. Dufty missed, but when ; Avery scored a minute later. Dufty made ' no mistake. Auckland 18. South Auckland 0. It was an awfully one-sided 'game, the Blues throwing the ball about witli an almost reckless abandon, which iliad the visitors in a complete tangle. (Jieson nnd Davies made a good run for [ South Auckland, but it availed them ' nothing, and the locals were soon ; slumming on the points. Brown I and Delgrosso each .scored inside j a. minute. Dufty failing with the shot I Pitch time. and the score read: Auckland 24. South Auckland 0. To itbe surprise of everyone. South Auckland caused the boy on the score ' board to climb the ladder when from n I rugged forward movement. Parkes. j Davies and Oieson handled, for tlie last j named to score. Littiewood missed the I shot. Auckland 24. South Auckland ::. I Singe then started a movement, which | Davidson finished off with a score and i Auckland's tally went up to 27. This wns treating the visitors unkindly, hut I there was no let up and Peckham, Brown | and Avery hauled for Avery to score, and | :!0 went up on the locals' board. j Keeping the number plates handy, the j boy on the scorp board tagged three more i on io Auckland's score when Cole made an opening for O'Brien to get across. i Sherlock, the visiting full, who bud been having a busy aftenoon. retired hurt Mid the crowd called "Put Gregory on." Mansill. the Newton three-quarter, cam,, in with only a minute to go to half lime. At the interval tlie score rend: — A uckland .I.°> South Auckland :1 The first spoil had been farcical and there was a cheer when i he visitors •nine mi again strengthened by the Aucklanders Gregory, .Mansill. Herring. Kirwau and Payne. lint the debacle ■ontiniieil. and in the first two minutes Peckham and Cole scored, neither |iv being converted. Vucklaia! :!'.l. South \nckland ::. Tin- crowd almost jot excited when Herring. Payne. iinl Davies brought oil' nice passing .which produced n score. t Ire-gory made a gum I though unsuccessful attempt to goal. Man-ill then .laced a poimitv goal and South Allcklllld's tally rose to eight. St reli.L't boned iv tlie local additions. South Auckland ,\erc now making a much better -1i..-.\, md .Man-ill pill over another penalty roiil. making the visitors in. Their -uc-•e-s put rcneui-d life into the game, ni'd villi Davie-. Jackson. Kirwau and Little.vood doing some good, the local team ivas not Inning the nicnir- they enjoyed n the first half. Davies sent Man-ill iway with n scoring chance, but the ivingpr had the bad luck to put li is foot Ivor tlie side-line. Shaw- was making" some line openings for the combined

team, and so also was Jackson. The latter had hard luck in not adding a try. after boating all but the fullback. Parkes showed a lot of pace for a forward when he streaked across to score. Mansill failed to convert. Auckland 39. .South Auckland 13. From well over quarter way and right on ihe side line, Mansill landed a beautiful soal and with the combined team putting a lot of <la>h into their play, the blues were l>eing properly tested. The handling of the combined team was not as finished as the Auckland team, which wave the locals a big advantage. Delgro-so. l'cckham and Avery handled in turn for Avery to score under the posts and Peckham gnalcd. Anckiand 41. South Auckland !•">. -Mcn/ics bad a clear run in, but was called back fur a throw on. I.ittlewood had Brown completely bottled up and gave tin? Auckland-winger no chance. As a mailer of fact. Littlewood was playing a great game and he, Cole and Davidson, were easily the best hacks on the field. Singe and Avery went away with a clear field in front of them with Gregory and Jackson after them. Gregory got Avery, and Jackson Singe a fine piece of work. Avery, Singe. Townsend and O'Brien broke away, CTRrien scoring for Singe to goal. The bell then rang with the scores: — Auckland 49 South Auckland 13 Mr. Mincliam was referee. THE SECOND TRIAL. NORTH ISLAND TEAM. Saturday next will see the staging of the second of the trials to be played at Carlaw Park. This is the long-looked for game between the North and South Islands, and it will be noticed from the toim selected to represent the North, that the only player outside Auckland to be chosen is Desmond, of Wellington. who will take t>he field at centre threequarter. This means that B. Davidson will play on the wing and with his pace he should be quite at home there. The team is as follow: — Fullback. C. Dufty. Threequarters: T. Littlewood. Desmnnd (Wellington). TS. Davidson. Five-eisrlith*: M. We-theiill. 11. Cole. Halfback: T. Peckham. Forwards: F. Herring, F. Townsend. A. Singe. L. Hutt. J. Clarke. IT. Avery. An endeavour is being made to ar.ange a curtain raiser to the big match between teams chosen from senior players, and the players taking part will have every opportunity to get in the final selection of the men to go to Vr,n-1n,,,l

JUNIOR GAMES.

THIRD GRAPE. Athletics 10. bent Devonport D. Devonport 23. beat Clen Eden 0. Parnell 13. bent Kingsland 10. Grafton 19. beat Devonport 5. Newton 0. drew with Richmond 0. FOURTH GRADE. Ponsonbv 32, beat Newton 0. Ellerslie'lß, beat Point Chevalier 14 FIFTH GRADE. Richmond 0, beat Shore 0. Ellerslie 5, beat Ponsonby 0. SIXTH GRADE. Akarana 30, beat Northcote 0. City 7. drew with Grafton 7. Richmond 20. beat City 3. Richmond B 6. beat Devonport 0.

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE.

HAMILTON. The third round of the Hnmilton Rugby League competitions for the Innes Memorial Shield was commenced on Saturday a.tein.ion at Hinemoa Tark. Hamilton, the star attraction being the clash between I lilted and Frankton. the former winning . •>(3 to .". The difference in scores are nardlj •7 criterion of the game, for each side put •i lot of dnsh in their work, with Frankton just laekiiiß the finish to score. The results were: United 2« beat Frankton C ; Whitiora 18. beat Athletics 1-5.

LEAGUE GAMES IN SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Marist A 35, bent Hornby 14 Waimari 24. be.it Sydenham S. Addington 28. heat Woolston i. DUNEDIN. Rpsnlts: City 9. r. Christian Brothers ; Kaikorai '». v. Faciflc 2; Athletic* 2... . Kaitaugata 10.