FINE FORWARD WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 194, 18 August 1930, Page 14

FINE FORWARD WORK.

GAME OF TWO PHASES.

WHERE AUCKLAND FAILED

OVERWHELMED IN SECOND HALF,

Much to the surprise of the spectators and the bewilderment of the Auckland team, North Auckland triumphed over the home side by 22 .points to 11 at Eden Park on Saturday. The match was played on a rain-drenched area, with the result that Auckland's artistic back play was quite out of the question. The home forwards were beaten by a better and more virile pack.

It was a game of two distinct phases. The first half provided drab and interesting football, with three tries by Auckland to relieve the arid waste. One try was converted by Cammick, and so Auckland led by 11 points to nil at the end of the first spell. Up to that stage Auckland had held a slight territorial advantage, and it appeared that they would win fairly comfortably. But in the second half Fortune's wheel turned many points in favour of North Auckland. Soon after play had started again Kerr, the visitors' full-back, dropped a •beautiful field goal, a performance he repeated towards the end of the game. The North Auckland forwards'took command, drew level, then forged ahead, and eventually triumphed.

Nothing was so arresting as the pace and mobility of the North Auckland forwards in'the second spell. The ball was never too fast, the prospect never too forlorn for them to pursue... Triers to a man, they chased every hope to the last ditch. These forwards played excellent and forceful wet day football. They made progress in business-like fashion. There was an admirable understanding among them; they were grim, dour, unyielding. They took an intermittent command at the beginning of the second half, and it was soon convincing.

Auckland's hopes faded and died. The inside backs had been under suspicion for the greater part of the game, but when they were asked to stop the smashing attacks of the visiting forwards they wilted, and their opponents pranced through, much to their consternation. Not even the Auckland pack could hold these grim Northerners once they got the lead. Auckland gradually subsided into a disillusioned team. The will to win evaporated. They failed to revive from the shock they received in the early stages of the second half.

lii spito of the greasy ball and the slippery ground, Auckland did their best to make the game open. As things turned out, it was their only hope, for their forwards were beaten in all departments in the second spell. The only hope was for the backs to carry them to victory, but the inside men failed, and so they were beaten. Conway did not stand out, his passes from the scrum being far too erratic. Wales was not a success at first five-eighth, and the conditions did not suit Cammick, with the result that the back line attack was disorganised. Added to this was the fact that the North Auckland backs were standing up on top of their opponents and giving them few chances to get properly on the' move.

Among the North Auckland forwards, the two Rikas, Fletcher, and Albert, who replaced Thomas early in the game, were the men who won the laurels. They played splendidly. Kerr, the full-back, earned .a lot of credit for his two beautiful field goals. In the Auckland pack there is -little to discuss or praise. None earned any bouquets. The pack isjcapable of better things. '