NORTHERN UNION CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 201, 26 August 1929, Page 15

NORTHERN UNION CUP.

TROPHY STAYS IN AUCKLAND.

CANTEBBTJRY OVERWHELMED

HOME SIDE'S EASIEST .-WET.

Scoring pretty well as they liked in the dying stages, the Auckland League representatives rattled on 47 points to 18 against Canterbury, when they successfully defended the Northern Union Cup for the third time this season at Carlaw Park on Saturday.

The exhibition was drab, and the crowd of 10,000 that packed stand and terraces was singularly disappointed with the challengers' showing. Play at times descended to the depths of mediocrity, but it had its bright features —when the Auckland backs swung into line, and with rhythmic precisioir forced their way through a perplexed defence. Up till half-way through the first spell the match was fairly evenly contested, but, by then, the plainsmen had largely worn themselves out. They managed to confine the score at halftime to IS points to 5 against them, but it was then evident that the standard of their play, promising at the outset, was rapidly deteriorating. After the change over it became pretty well a continuous procession by the merry Auckland band to the visitors' last line. It was veritable child's play. Before these repeated onslaughts, however, the Southerners never became disheartened, and with battling tactics added to their own score at intervals. Theirs was an uphill, dogged fight by a blundering, youthful complement, against masters of League, who are up to every, trick of the code.

•Game Lacks Lustre. The match proved Auckland's easiest win in defending the Northern Union Cup. It lacked the lustre of recent encounters with South Auckland and North Auckland, when the holders had singularly close calls. With weaker sides, admittedly, they resisted the other challengers, but Canterbury, youthful and speedy, came with a reputation that warranted the selectors fielding the strongest possible side. No one was prepared for the cake-walk that resif ted, as Canterbury, since League was in the embryo, has been regarded as the '"home of League's" most serious rival. But the margin of difference represented by the scores hardly revealed the merits of the teams. Auckland, had it wished could have piled on points relentlessly, but scoring chances were deliberately frittered away by nearly every manjack of the team trying to add his quota to • the -tally, and being snowed under through palpable selfishness. Kicks right 'in front of the posts went begging because tlie first man on hand took ih,s

tilt ■^11

shot, and tries went west through players trying to give others a chance when ther"could have scored themselves with the "utmost ease. The thing was a fiasco, to say the least. One admired the plainsmen s earnestness of purpose and futile vigour particularly among the forwards, . comparison with the Auckland side, they were never in the hunt. They had one or-two outstanding players, but individually and collectively they were overshadowed on the day. Spillane, for instance,- was really brilliant at times impressing with smart cutting in. but, for General stability,; was no match lor the dazzling Brisbane. Stapler and 3lackie were two wingers who showed, a Tare turn of speed when in possession., but the selectors would hesitate before closing them for a New Zealand representative side in preference to either "List or Carter/, who played opposite them. Amos, in the five-eighths line, was responsible for many bright openings and always up with the play, and Captain- Sanders was a hard-working support. But compare them with Sea•rar arid Delgrosso—they were not in the same street. O'Connor got through much useful work behind a pack that held its own in the tight only and lacked understanding with its backs, so necessary in the League game. He was responsible for several bright runs, but like his colleagues was uncertain witn his handling at the crucial moment. Davidson, as the last line of defence, kicked and defended moderately well, hut was badly beaten and found out of position at times. It was not an enterprising line to say the least. Canterbury ?elied too much on orthodox tactics to carry them through, and too often took their passes standing. On defence they played too deeply and gave the opposition all the room they wanted to work in.

£."-. Delgrosso Best Back. Mayne was the visitors' outstanding forward being well supported by Dodd ?) SS Woodgate and Spencer. Francis was tie best forward onthegrounw mf r conspicuous for his fast folSn« up and dash. OSJrien and Payne aS e pla?ed splendidly, being tigers for work and giving their backs plenty of support Experience, in the finer pom s of the code and versatility carried the AuckLd backs through for aßecession of cleverly engineered tries. Bu.they Saved just as weir as the opposition I iJwed them to. Shortland, the dimmu-lai-lv happy inside combination, vei Sosso was the best back on the ground. GA.oS Sad a torrid time at full-tact, £t°grt through » «alth of work w,th honours. ... >

j GAMES IN THE SOUTH. _ DUNEDIX. Cup Final-City S, beat Chris tian 6. -'S : ; CBPRISTCHUKCH.--;.'. •Marisfc 20,< beat Hornby 14- :

VISITORS ENTERTAINED.

The visiting team and managers were the guests to dinner at the Commercial Hotel on Saturday evening of the Auckland Eugby League, Mr. George Rhodes presiding.

The Canterbury team were taken for a motor tour yesterday afternoon and were given a hearty send-off when they left by the Main Trunk last evening on their return home.

ELLERSLIE AT LAST.

Playing as a preliminai - y to the chief attraction, Ellerslie managed to gain their first win of the season by defeating Point Chevalier by 5 to 0. The game "was to decide which team would remain in the senior A competition nextseason. Both teams gave a very disappointing display and it was only on oc-casiorrf, that there .were promising movements in progress. After their many fine showings against better teams in the grade, Ellerslie were

expected to win by a comfortable margin, but the failure of the backs to combine spoilt numerout chan-ces. Ragged

play marked -the opening of proceedings, and. although

both teams made strenuous efforts to open the scoring, the interval came with the score nil all. Shortly after the resumption Dufty

opened . .cuersiies account with a. kick from a penalty in front of the post. Point Chevalier pressed hard following this reverse, but although Humphries was nearly over from a fine individual effort by McMillan, the team were lacking in that little finesse necessary for scoring. Again Ellerslie swept down the field and a melee on the Point Chevalier line saw Arthur dive "over for an unconverted try. Point Chevalier made determined efforts to reduce the deficit, but the game terminated with victory for Ellerslie.

For the winners, Dufty returned after an absence of about a month, and was as safe as -ever; . frequently- pulling Ellerslie out of tight corners. Drew, when shifted to the • wing, gave .a. much better display, putting in some brilliant dashes down the line. Hemingway was disappointing and the diminutive* Olliff was the only other back to play up to form. He was always making openings for his support, but .did. not get the backing warranted;- The forwards all toiled "hard, being : ably led ■ by; Hobbs, with Arthur and. Quirke always/ in attendance.

To say the least, the showing of the winners of the senior B section, Point Chevalier was not impressive. They had :the advantage of gaining YJ2 ball from 60 per -cent of the scrums, but this was more than counter-balanced by indifferent handling by the;, backs. * Callendar gave-a, fair; display, but was inclined "to "get bustled*when hard pressed.. Duncan was the "better of the two wings, showing a fine dash of pace. Moynahan and Humphries collaborated we'll together and solid defence by this pair saved the green and whites time and again. They were unlucky-'in losing the vices of McPherson;-!; who suffered* an injury, a.s this playerl- was giving -ia great exhibition in the , forwards, being always in the limelight with fast following up, besides making endeavour to set his backs in motion. Others to show up: were Goodwin and Spearpoint.

TEAM , WALKS OFF.

There was an unsatisfactory ending to the sixth grade League. match, between Xewton and Richmond B at the Domain on Saturday, Newton side walking off the field. It appears that a Newton player, was ordered .to the side line on a charge of using bad language, and that later in the game, a second Newton player, charged -with a similar offence, was also put off the field. _ The Newton team immediately left the ground as a protest. The score at the time was 15 —2 in Richmond's favour.