LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 187, 9 August 1926, Page 10

LEAGUE.

INTERPRQVINCIAL MATCHAUCKLAND V. OTAGO. VICTORY FOR HOME TEAM. Despite wretched weather conditions, a surprisingly good crowd patronised Carlaw Park on Saturday, when the Otago representatives met the Auckland thirteen. The latter were, in the light of tiieir easy win over the New Zea- i land team a week previously, regarded as certain winners, but the Otago men were quietly confident of making the i Aucklanders do their best, and this they I did. The teams.: — Auckland.—Fullback, Mansill; threequarters, Littlewood, List, AVade; fiveeighths, Wetherill, Prentice; half, Peckham; forwards, A. Scott, Payne, Dixon, St. George, Townsend, J. O'Brien. Otago.—Fullback. Sullivan; threequarters. Oliver, Hansen, L. Connolly; five-eighths, Eckhoff, Vorr at h; half, | Jacobs; forwards, E. O'Connor, J. O'Connor. Fitzgerald, Rodgers, Cameron, T. O'Connor. Otago kicked off, and nice passing between Peckham, Wetherill, List, and Wade took play well inside Otago's half. List mado a nice run, and with only Sullivan to beat passed to Townsend, the latter being obviously offside. In about a dozen scrums Auckland had received the ball every time. From Otago's twenty-five Mansill had a shot. The line umpire's did not raise their flags, but the referee ruled a goal. Auckland * 2 Otago 0 Rarely had the blacks handled the ball, and on the few occasions they did I they did not get far.. Eckhoff had two unsuccessful shots to goal penalties, j and Prentice miskicking a clearing kick, the blacks had a rare chance, which they failed to take advantage of. Eckhoff held on just a shade too long before passing to Connolly, allowing Wade to brush the pass aside. A breach in the local's twentyfive gave Eckhoff another chance, and he landed a fine goal. Auckland 2 Otago 2 Townsend got across for Auckland but he "was cAllfcd back for a knock-on, but not .to be denied the blues kept up the pressure till Payne sent the ball to List who' scored near the corner. Mansill missed the shot. Auckland 5 ' Otago 2 Fitzgerald, who was tackling beautifully, started his team attacking and with Cameron and Oliver, they looked dangerous. The one handicap the visitors were up againet was their inability to get the ball and they had to find it on the loose. After Jacob had dribbled -through, a breach in the scrum by Auckland saw Eckhoff laid a beautiful goal; Auckland $;■. . 5 Otago ..; 4 Hansen and Oliyer, by smart passing, shifted play to Auckland's end, w"here Wetherill got in a- clearing and List followed up! the ball beating them.- Just before Jialf-lime Douglas left the field, his plate being taken by L. Scott. Tho half-time ecore was: Auckland 5 Otago 4 When the teams filed out again Davis was included in place of Vorrath, who got a knock just on interval. Despite the wet conditions, the Auckland backs frequently attempted passing, whereas Otago preferred to keep the ball On the i ground. Littlewood finished off a bout of " passing by getting collared within a yard of the line, and from the ensuing scrum Peckham sent a pass to Wetherill, who whipped the ball right out to Wade on the wing, and he dived over just as Connolly and Sullivan got him. Scott made a good but fruitless attempt to convert.

Auckland 8 Otago ' 4 Periodically the play worked to either end, and Peckham brought off a fine try. The ball coming out to- him from the scrum he beat two opponents and went over the line. A Scott missed the shot. Auckland 11 Otago 4 The Otago forwards were playing a great game and hanging together well, and one combined effort almost brought a try, L. Scott just kicking the ball away as Cameron went to touch down. The effort deserved a" better fate. Wetherill was pulling Auckland out of trouble time after time. The rain began tt> fall heavier than ever, and with the players smothered in mud it was almost impossible to distinguish' them. Right on the call of time from a : scramble Payne scored.' Mansill failed \yjtK the shot and the ganu ended: J Auckland • 14 ;"Otago . 4 Mr, Harlock. was referee. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. In the League trial match on Saturday, B team beat A team by 25 points to 23.