RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 173, 24 July 1928, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

REPRESENTATIVES' TWO WINS. THE GAME AGAINST THAMES. GOOD THKKIvQI'ARTER LINE. The general opinion of the AucklandThames gnme on Saturday was that it was ."tiime." Auckland won. and won by a comfortable margin. but there were few (if any) who really enthused over tho display. As a spei-iaeif the game would nut fetch a. very high figure if submitted to an Eden Park crowd. Seldom during the course of the ninety minutes' play did the spectators show any excitement, and what applause there was was greatest when Thames scored their second try early in the final quarter, reducing tho margin in the scores to a hare three points. Thence to the end Auckland were complete masters of the situation, and they collected eleven points in quick time, thus taking their total into the twenties. It is seldom, even in club Rugby, that a try is scored without, some measure of applause, be it ever so little, but such was the case on Saturday. Maybe the dismal weather conditions had something to do with it.

It will not. be denied that the majority of the crowd of between live and six thousand Rugby patrons which kept the turnstiles going merrily went to the Park expecting to see Thames well beaten. The gulf town to-day, as a Rugby stronghold, i* nothing like it was Borne little distance

down the road of the years, when the annual meetings between the teams ranked high in the fixture list, and in most circles the game on Saturday ■was regarded in the nature of a picnic. Perhaps i t was, with the picnickers not making the

most of their holiday. Certainly when Thames got to within three points of Auckland's total the locals stepped out merrily and left the visitors a lonix wav behind.

As was expected, it was the Thames forwards who gave Auckland the most trouble. Led by their veteran skipper (Morgan Hay ward) and Lomas, they bustled away in dour style, their chief purpose being to let the Auckland backs get tha ball as seldom as possible. Their own backs were comparatively weak, and the Thames pack were fully aware of the fact that their best chance was to keep the ball to themselves, except when play was well on the Auckland side of the half-way line. But though their efforts were successful to a point, they were unable altogether to prevent the locals from opening up the play, especially at the end, when the wear and tear of the earlier part of the game were beginning to tell their tale.

Auckland were ably led by Waltei Batty. He was at the head of almosl every forward rush, and he was always there to set an example when the Thamei van were making things hot in the locals' territory. Skipper of the A tick land team, he was about the best forwarc on the ground., Aucklauders were glac to see Keene back as rover. His games in past seasons have won him their confi dence. He proved on Saturday that his lay-off, caused by an injury, has done him little harm, and his characteristu dashes were responsible for at least one of the blue and whites' scores. C'athcart and Anderson both got tries, the lastnamed being one of the best of the pack. Local critics, who were disappointed with the showing of the Auckland rearguard, could find little fault with the

three - quarter line.

L. Hook, in the centre, was as versatile as ever, although he dropped a pass or two. His footwork was excellent. Minns played a fine game, showing a good turn of speed., Like L. Hook, he scored twice. R. Hook was not given the same opportunities as Minns, but his work was of a high standard, and there is no doubt that he is one of the most improved players in local Rugby this season. I'aewai was in good form, although his goal-kicking was not as accurate aa usual. Falwasser was at times brilliant, galloping out in front in great style, but his exhibition was hardly as sound a» that of the three-quarters. It was in near the scrum that the backs were not as good as one would have wished, neither Jeffries nor Jenkin reproducing the allround form that got them into the rep. team.

It was unfortunate for Thames that they were unable to put their strongest team into the field. As it was the forwards played a fine game and Strange, who shines in the loose, so impressed Mr. Meredith that he has been selected to go south with the Auckland touring side. Dufty, who has the reputation ol being a "pot" artist, got few opportunities to show his skill.