INTER-PRO. LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 205, 30 August 1926, Page 11

INTER-PRO. LEAGUE.

AUCKLAND V. CANTERBURY.

AUCKLAND TOO GOOD. That a bit of weight is useful in the backs as well as in the forwards was amply demonstrated at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when the Canterbury representatives met the powerful Auckland ler.ni. As the game resulted, Canterbury were beaten rather comfortably by 33 points to 15, but they did not go under without putting up a good fight, particularly in the first spell, when they had the advantage of the wind and were getting the ball from almost every scrum. The crowd numbered about 7000, and had I their interest sustained throughout. I The teams were:— I Canterbury (Red and Black).—Fullback, G. Blazey; three-quarters, J. O'Mal- | ley, F. Warr/c. Batchelor; five-eighths, F. Tonkin, A. Mundy; half, A. Mackie; ! forwards, W. Woodgate, Le Warne. A. Collie, E. Spencer, G. Dawkins, P. Brynes. Auckland (Blue and White).—Fullback, CI. Rayner; three-quarters, G. Wade, A. i List, I. Littlewood; five-eighths, M. ! Wetherill, S. Prentice; half, W. Ghent; I forwards. A. Scott, H. Dixon, J. Payne, J. O'Brien (Devonport), St. George, J. O'Brien (Marists). The Play. Canterbury opened with a fitful westerley breeze behind them and immediately tried to open the game up. The Auckland forwards broke through with Payne in the lead. A Canterbury back

failed to field the ball on the bounce, and Payne dribbled across to score wide out within a minute of the opening of play. Scott missed the shot. The Canterbury backs began to throw the ball about in breezy fashion and put Auckland hard on the defence. In ruck play in Canterbury's twenty-five O'Brien (Marist) swung the ball to Ghent and on it went via Prentice, Wetherill, List to Wade who outpaced the opposition and then circled to score behind the posts. Scott converted.

Within a minute Auckland were over again. At mid-field List shot through a gap with Wade trailing in support. The centre drew Canterbury's last line of defence, and then 6ent Wade across wide out. The angle was too wide for Scott.

At the Auckland end Mackie sighted an opening and darted through. He gave a crisp pass to Dawkins, and the latter, amid cheers, dived over alongside the post. Collie sent the flags up. At the Auckland end Batchelor, with plenty of pace, shot out on a diagonal line towards the corner flag. Three Auckland backs converged on his course, so he stopped and passed infield to Mackie. The latter shot ahead, doging one opponent and dummying another. He gave a pass at the opportune moment wide to hie right, and Le Warne, in a final dive threw himself across the line near the posts. Collie sent the flags up with a straight shot.

Auckland 11 Canterbury 10 Half time came a minute later with the game in the neutral area. Second Half. When play restarted Spencer broke throught with a dribbling run until Rayner saved. The Auckland backe got off a passing run that had both snap and thrust, but they were met with superb tackling which raised the enthusiasm of the crowd. Ghent got the ball away to Prentice who raced towards the aide-line, and after cuting a man out sent to List, who accelerated the pace of the movement, and although hard pressed, got over at the flag with a couple of the Canterbury backs clutching at him. Rayner made a great effort to raise the minor points, the ball dropping just under the bar. The hopes of the visitors' supporters rose when Mundy broke away, sending to Tonkin to O'Malley, but the wing was crowded out on the side-line. Auckland hit back. At the fringe of the Canterbury twenty-five Dixon snapped up the ball and went in eolo style for the corner. He steered clear of one dive at his ankles, and went across to cap a great individual effort with success. The phot was resultleas.

Auckland kept in scoring vein. The ball was kicked across the Canterbury goal-line, and Wade put in a lightning sprint to get it before the ball rolled into touch. The City flier won by inches, and Kayner, despite the acuteness of the angle,, put over a beautiful goal.

Collie put in a dash for the visitors and passed to Lβ Warne, who raced goalwards with an open field. Rayner came from the clouds and downed the latter right under the goal. Auckland were penalised and Collie found the mark.

Mackie set the Southern backs moving, and straight running and crisp handling by Mundy and Tonkin in turn made a great opening for Warr, but the centre elected to kick, despite the fact that O'Malley had raced into perfect position for tfie pass. Prentice and List combined in a nice effort, but the final pass to Littlewood was of the impossible variety. A long kick saw List and Blazey have a great race for possession, the Aucklander winning by a touch. Kayner put over a magnificent goal right from the touchline.

It was in the finer points of the code that Canterbury were being outmatched. The home pack, with scrambling play, drove Canterbury back, and a crosskick saw Littlewood field cleverly off the grouud and dive over at the flag. Rayner found the angle too difficult.

A cross-kick by O'Malley gave Canterbury a chance and Burns and Collie battled through to the line, and then Mackie got his backs going, Warr dropping a pass when a score appeared to be certain. Canterbury plugged away, and a combined rush saw Bachelor finish it off by diving across under the bar. Collie missed a simple conversion chance.

• Although the pace was beginning to show a bit, both teams were still putting sparkle into their play. The home forwards drove in wedge formation to the Canterbury end. O'Brien snapped up the ball in the ruck, and swung a long pass to Wade. The wing jumped into his stride in a flash, cut in swiftly to beat Blazey, and continued on to register the final score behind the posts. Wetherill missed the shot, and the game ended: — Auckland .' 33 Canterbury 15