INTER-ISLAND LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 140, 16 June 1930, Page 16

INTER-ISLAND LEAGUE.

. ELIMINATION GAMES, NORTH AND SOUTH DRAW. HARD FOUGHT BATTLE. PROBABLES BEAT POSSIBLES. Interest in League games quickened on Saturday afternoon when in addition to the inter-island clash, the Possibles and Probables met on Carlaw Park. The biggest crowd of the season assembled at headquarters in anticipation of being served with a feast of bright football. "Jhc? -arere rewarded to the extent that cne principal game produced rugged play in which the teams were evenly matched and fortunes fluctuated with rapidity sufficient to keep the issue in doubt till the final whistle. At the interval of the North Island v. South Island Test, the teams were on level terms, but, after the change over the Northerners went on to establish a big lead. Everything in the garden looked rosy till the Southerners' forward took command, and, with desperate efforts, levelled the accounts to make the final scores 22 points all. The curtain-raiser was interesting more for its individual phases rather than its concerted play. Victory went to the Probables, whose backs were better than those of the Possibles. Both matches veere keenly followed because they were to decide the selection of the New Zealand team which is to shortly trip across the Tasman. Honours Even. That it never does to count one's chickens before they materialise was demonstrated in the North v. South clash. The former in the second spell piled on a substantial lead and slackened off their endeavours somewhat. . -On the other hand, the visitors, were persistent in face of adversity, and quickened their efforts with such good effect, that they not only reduced the • leeway, but made a draw of the match. The game demonstrated that the League plane in the South is rapidly becoming the equal of that in the North, which is regarded as the home of the cb'de. , The teams which opposed each other were: — t South Island (White). Full-back.—W. Palamountain. Three-quarters.—R. Bond, T. McKenzie, H. Pearce. Five-eighths.—J. Dodds, J. Amos. Half-back. —A. Peddie. -. ■ Forwards. —A. Eckhoff (Captain), M. O'Brien, E. Griffiths, J. Calder, A. Townsend, C. Dobbs. North Island (Black). .*;■■ , Full-back.—C. Dufty. Three-quarters.—G. Perry, H. Brisbane, G. Tittleton. ' ' Five-eighths. —E. Meyer, M. Wetherill (captain). . > : Half-back.—W. Shortland.. ' Forwards.—A. Clark, S. Clarke, .T. Timms, J. Menzies, R. Stephenson, R. Trautvetter. Brattle of the Forwards. In the initial stages the game was not productive of a great deal of concerted play. The tackling on both sides was deadly, and this prevented the backs flashing in to the picture in the way. that makes League such a fasciuating spectacle. Consequently the match developed into a battle of the forwards —and what a great,battle it was between- two sextets straining every nerve'.to catch the. eyes of selectors. The .Southerners scored, first, Eckhoff raising the flags from a penalty, and some time later converting a try gained by O'Brien. Before the interval was called, Dufty put up . a similar performance—a penalty, and then a conversion coming his way when Clarke, the Marist forward, scored from a beautiful individual effort. Early in the second stanza the run of play was all in the blacks' favour, and a try by Timms was followed by a run away one by Brisbane. Dufty" gpaled in both cases and made the scores 17 to 7. It was the turn next, McKenzie bursting through from a passing bout initiated near, the blacks' last line, and Pearce goaling and kicking a penalty. Another" try by Brisbane and a conversion by Dufty altered the register again. It was at this stage, about 10 minutes before the end, that the Southerners' forwards to dominate the .play. O'Brien broke up ah attack and a passing rush was topped off by a try by Pearce. With a few-., minutes to go Calder forged, a passage through the defence, and Pearce balanced the accounts with a neat kick. Game not Brilliant.' : ; The game was not a brilliant spectacle, but it was punctuated with bright fea-\ tures. and flashing runs by soloists. North should have won the day, for, collectively they were the more polished side. Erratic handling arid not a little selfishness lost them, points that would liave meant the difference between a draw and a win.- Hampered by losing the"ball in the/scrum, the Southerners rnade reparation by fast raiding in the loose and relentless tackling that robbed the attack of a good deal of its sting. 'Conspicuous for their defensive work were Eckhoff (Otago)', Amos (Christchurch) Dodds (West Coast) and Peddie, the half-back., "The West Coaster, O'Brien was easily the best forward on the ground, his fast dribbling, short pass- .! iiig and tackling being pronounced at ' every stage. He was- ably seconded by , Griffiths, Calder and Dobbs. i ',

T. Hicks (Otago), who replaced Townsend in the second half, was good in the open. The South Aucklanders, Stephenson, Trautvetter, Tinims anrl Menzies, were always in the thick of the hard stuff, and the North Island breakaway Clarke shone out on many occasions.' Clark, the City forward, also gave a good account of himself. Shortland played well behind the northern serum and gave the inside backs a very generous share of the ball, but they were unable to function with the best results for several reasons. One was that Wetherill played too much solo, and his supporters were unable to follow up his deep thrusts. The outcome was that Meyer (Northland) was often in the shadows. The Norjbh Island virtually had to thank Brisbane at centre three-quarter for forcing passages through the defence. He was fast, elusive and dangerous, but the erratic nature of his inside men, combined-with quick smothering defence by South, prevented the wingers having many chances. Tittleton' shaped better than Perry, but neither showed much superiority over the other flankmen, Bond (Canterbury) 1 and Pearce. The lastjnentioned was the better* of the two. Dufty, at fullback, overshadowed his vis-a-vis, Palamountain, but the nine-teen-year-old eolt got through a lot of useful work and shows much promise. McKenzie at centre for the South was good on attack, hut can improve /lis The crowd was delighted with the South's final effort, which added sparkle to a keen fixture,

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