TRIUMPH FOR "KIWIS."'

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 200, 25 August 1930, Page 11

TRIUMPH FOR "KIWIS."'

N.Z. LEAGUERS IN ACTION.

ECLIPSE OF AUCKLAND

TALL SCORING AT CARLAW

LESSONS FROM AUSTRALIAN TOUR

While League supporters had reason to be disheartened with the performances of the New Zealand League team in Australia, the match between 'the tourists and the Auckland representatives played at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon proved conclusively that the excursion across the Tasman was well worth while. Victory in a gripping if not brilliant struggle rested with the New Zealand side, the final scores being 34 to 27 in their favour. The "Kiwis" were not at full strength, the brilliant Brisbane, Wetherill and Dufty still being on the injured list. This necessitated the playing of Eckhoff. the Canterbury forward, in the fiveeighths line, and did not tend to make for the smooth working of the New Zealand scoring machine which was expected by the big crowd of spectators. Nevertheless the New Zealand side showed that they have profited by their experience on Australian soil against thirteens recognised as being equal to the world's best. While their tactics lacked lustre, the football they provided was rugged and interesting, studded with collaborative effort between forwards and backs, and individual flashes that were veritable Eugby gems.

No Fancy Tricks

The reason for the '■'Kiwi;'*" inability to draw the crowds in the Commonwealth was made abundantly apparent. They did not indulge in those delightful fancy tricks exploited by English and Australian sides, which make the League game such a fascinating spectacle Thenfailure as drawing cards was not because of weight or combination, but cheer lack of fireworks. In Saturday's clash, the bulk of the tries emanated from team work, and the forwards bucked into their task with elan. Features of the play were the ability of the tourists to retain possession of the ball —a lesson learned during a gruelling tour —by reducing kicking to a minimum. Auckland quickly realised the efficacy of these tactics, and. as far as possible, played the passing game in preference to kicking. New Zealand were superior in the scrums, and, with a preponderance of weight behind him, Stephenson, the burly Waikato hooker, raked the ball consistently. Practically the only

department of forward play in which the home side excelled was in the loose, Clarke and O'Brien being conspicuous for fast break-aways and raiding with the backs. Other Auckland forwards who were in the limelight for solid allround grafting were Ho'obs and Stevens. The shining lights in the New Zealand pack were Calder, Trautvetter, and Clark. Abbott Shines. The outstanding figure on the field was Abbott, the diminutive Waikato and New Zealand half, who scored four brilliant tries. While several of his scores were made easy for him, two, at least, were the outcome of his genius, quickness off the mark, variation of pace, and fleetness of foot. Eckhoff and. Amos were not a happy five-eighths pair. They were altogether too slow, and allowed themselves to be fooled by a fleeter inside opposition on occasions. It was here that the lack of dash by the Auckland backs was more apparent. Seagar, as pivotal centre, played right at the top of his form. At times he ran rings around the defence, and scored two nice tries. Seagar is perhaps the most improved player in the team. Neither of the wingers, Tittleton and Watene, j showed up in a iavourable light. Both men missed opportunities and generally showed to disadvantage. Gregory, at full-back, played soundly throughout. He defended splendidly, and frequently ran his backs into position. As an attacking force Auckland at no time rose to great heights. There was more snap in their work than that of the opposition up to a point, but then casualties intervened and reorganisation placed a check on their combination. The two most thrustful meu in the home rearguard, Eiley and Brady, were forced to retire early in the piece, and from then on the backs appeared to lose their punch. Young and Hassan, the Marist colts, came on, but the latter was the only one to prove his worth. Young played in various positions without success. Frankly he was not deserving of a place. Prentice, in the five-eighths line, gave glimpses of his former brilliance. Well served by the übiquitous Shortland at half-back, he gave _ good service until the rapid methods of interplay which the "Kiwis" began to illustrate, began to tell its tale. Perry and Carter, the wingers, were spasmodic and uncertain, but were effective on defence. A tribute has to be paid to the Eichmond colt, Lee, who gave a cool and steady performance at full-back. He defended well in face of great odds, but has a little to learn in regard to swinging his rearguard into action. How the Scoring Went. New Zealand had the better of the opening passages, but it was 15 minutes before the first points were hoisted, O'Brien kicking a penalty goal for Auckland. Two tries by Abbott and conversions by Eckhoff put the •'■' Kiwis" well in front, but. then Brady and O'Brien, with two tries and an equal number of conversions respectively, returned the compliment. Before the spell, when the scores were 1G to 12 in New Zealand's favour, Abbott scored his third try. and Seagar sent Jones across. Eckhoff missed both shots. The "Kiwis" opened out in the second spell, and looked as though they would overwhelm the home side. A try* to Clark and a conversion by Eckhoff put them further in front. In return, O'Brien kicked a penalty and Hassan sent Euby in for an unconverted try. The beginning of the end looked in sight when firstly Abbott, with a twinkling run, burst through to score for Amos to add the trimmings, and then Seagar cut through twice for tries. Tittleton converted once, and New Zealand led by 34 points to 17. Auckland fought back valiantly, and Carter and then Hassan were sent across. O'Brien, who had been kicking consistently throughout the day. added the extras to both tries.