LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 142, 18 June 1928, Page 15

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

FIRST REP. MATCH.

NORTHERN UNION CUP.

AUCKLAND DEFEAT SOUTH

AUCKLAND,

There are many League enthusiasts in Auckland, but the martyrs are in the minority, and it required real hardihood to stand in pouring rain at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon to see football, however attractive it was. The pavilion accommodation is limited, but it was filled to its utmost capacity, and the rest braved the elements and stood in the open. Auckland regained the Northern Union Cup as the result of a convincing display against South Auckland, the Waikato men failing to show the necessary finish to realise the allimportant points which assist victory, although in the second half of the ga,me they held their own very well, and prevented the metropolitan players from adding to the big lead that they had established in the first half. Brilliant football on a day of pouring rain, when the ball was a slithery, elusive thing, was out of the question, but in the first half at least the Auckland backs threw the ball about with a glad abandon, and some of the concerted movements

carried the hall-mark of real class. For positional play, finesse and trickery some of the progressive passing, with an occasional reverse pass or dummy, recalling the touring Queensland standard of a few seasons ago, and engendered hopes that the League cub of Auckland will be a formidable opponent for the British lion, which will soon be here. In patches the Waikato men played well. Gallantly they stuck to a hard task, and had the back play been up to the standard that their forwards disclosed, the result may have been different.

Taking into consideration the game was played in steady rain, that the foothold was insecure, and that the ball wao at times as elusive as mercury, the standard of play revealed was surprisingly good. The Auckland team gave a very convincing exhibition, and on the day were superior to their opponents, although in the second half of the game, when the Waikato men relied 011 forward play and sweeping rushes, there was little between the two teams. Early in the game Auckland reached the ascendancy. The forwards only got a fair share of the ball, but the backs were daring and enterprising. They backed up splendidly, threw the ball to one ! another unselfishly, and the result was a run of scoring which looked at one stage that the game would be onesided. In the second half of the game, much for the reason that they did not see so much of the ball, the lustre of the Auckland back division was dimmed, and they did not penetrate the Waikato defence. The sound play of the Auckland backs, and the high standard of team work that was revealed, will probably add to the troubles of the selectors, who will shortly be called upon to field a team against the touring English team. Neither Wetherill nor Gregory was available, yet without them a very wellbalanced back division was gathered.

Dufty's Wonderful Game. At full-back Dufty played a wonderful game, teaming in to make the extra man in attack, and showing superlative defensive powers.

L. Scott and Hardgrave were ideal wings in the three-quarter line, while List, in the centre, without quite reaching the Davidson standard, played soundly and made repeated good openings for the men outside him.

Both Prentice and Seagar played at the top of their form, and made a perfect pair in the intermediate line. The Richmond man more than justified his inclusion, while Seagar, with his long loping run, was an ideal connecting link with the centre.

Peckham, at half-back, fully justified his choice, and should be sure of the position in the big games to come.

The Auckland pack was very even, their best work being in the loose play, where Scott, Clarke, Payne and Hutt particularly shone.

The South Aucklanders gave the impression that they were a pood team, but just a shade deficient in the finer points of the League game and the team work that is necessary to get the best results. Sherlock, at full-back, was sound, while B. Paki was the most impressive of the three-quarters, and even more impressive when shifted up into the five-eighths line. Of the others Davies and Smith played brightly, but there was fatal lack of combination amongst the others when scoring chances were on. The Waikato forwards put up a wonderful fight, and more than held their own in the real essentials of forward play. Menzies was always prominent. and Stephenson, Timms and Jones showed great stamina, and played their best to the bitter end. Late in the game Williams, one of the reserves got a chance. He distinguished himself with a try that had quite a brilliant toucjL and on another occasion crossed the Auckland line, only to lose the hgil]

AUCKLAND V. SOUTH AUCKLAND

For Auckland tries were scored by Hardgrave, Hutt, List (2), L. Scott, an'd Payne, Duftv converting two. Williams scored a try for South Auckland. Auckland 22 South Auckland 3

JUNIOR RESULTS.

SECOND GRADE. Newton 3, beat Remuera 0. Ponsonby beat Richmond 0. THIRD GRADE. Richmond 0, beat Ellerslie 0. New Lynn 0. boat Otahulni 2. Athletics 3, boat Mount Albert 2. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Ponsonby 5, beat Newton 0. FOURTH GRADE. City 17, beat Ellerslie 0. Akarana a, beat Northcote 0. FIFTH GRADE. Devonport IS, beat 8.8. and G. 3. Akarana 6, beat Richmond O. SIXTH GRADE. Richmond 8, beat Marists 0.

GAMES IN THE SOUTH.

CHRISTCHURCH. Hornby 10, beat Addington 3. Woolston 9, beat Sydenham a. Marists 29, beat Waimairi 5. DENEDIN. Pacific 6. beat Kaikorai 5. Christian Bros 0.8. 8, beat City 7.