RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 163, 13 July 1931, Page 12

RUGBY.

THREE REP. GAMES.

HAWKE'S BAY BEAT AUCKLAND COOKE'S BRILLIANCE AGAIN. HOME TEAM BEATS SOUTH

AUCKLAND.

After leaving the field at half-time with the score at three all, Auckland collapsed in the second half of the match with Hawke's Bay played at Napier on Saturday, and were beaten by 19 points io 8. It was even going in the first spell, but in the second the Bay backs got to work, and with the genius of Cooke to guide them, clapped on 16 points.

Out at Eden Park an Auckland B team had a win over South Auckland by 14 points to 8. The Auckland backs, given more than a liberal share of the ball, failed dismally. It was a disappointing exhibition.

Taranaki and Southland' played the only other representative fixture, and Taranaki won on their home ground by £2 points to 15.

AUCKLAND'S FAILURE.

HAWKE'S BAY PILE ON POINTS,

NAPIER, Saturday,

A crowd of 6000 attended the Hawke's Bay v. Auckland Rugby match at McLean Park on Saturday. The weather was fine, but the ground was greasy, owing to two days' steady rain during the week. The teams were:—

HAWKE'S BAY. Full-back: Evans. Three-quarters: IHiodes, Cooke, A. D. Smith. Eive'■ighths Setford and Howell. Half: Carnbie. Forwards: McKay, S. Gemmell, Wanoa, Steere, Campbell, Anderson, 1' itzgibbons, Wilson.

AUCKLAND. Full-back: Davies. Three-quarters: Caughey, Stuart, Milliken. Five-eighths: ■lamieson, Smith. Half-back: Corner. Wing-forward: Solomon. Forwards: Finlayson, Satherley, Anderson, Knight, Batty, Palmer, Hadley (captain). «

Owing to the fact that the colours of the two provinces are much the same, the Bay players wore light blue jerseys. A series of kicks between the two sots of backs followed the visitors' kickoft, but the Auckland forwards moved to the attack, only to be repulsed by the Bay pack after being in the Bay territory for ten minutes. , Two penalties gave Auckland opportunities, and from the second Davies kicked a fine goal.

Hawke's Bay returned-to the offensive, _nd the crowd came to its feet when i\liodes flashed down the line. He was collared by Davies, five yards from the goal line, but Anderson followed up and forced his way over at the corner. Rhodes' kick missed.

After a strenuous forward melee Anderson (Auckland) -had to retire, and lie was replaced by Newdick. The score was unchanged at half-time. Hawke's Bay reached the visitors' territory from the kick-off, but a fine run by Stuart put Auckland in a good position, and from a line-out twenty yards from the goal-line, the Auckland backs went away, Milliken scoring after the whole line had handled. Davies converted. *"" .

The Bay retaliated with a spectacular h-y by Howell, between the posts, after six men had handled in a fine, run down the side-line. Setford converted.

Less than two minutes later, the Hawke's Bay backs ran through the rlefence, Setford passing to Cooke, and the latter sending Smith away, to score between the posts. Again Setford added the minor points. After a quarter-hour spell of open play, Cooke improved the Bay's total with a try, scored after following up and securing the ball behind the line. Evans failed with the kick. The home team's total was further increased by a try by McKay, just on time, winch Setford.. f&iled to conveit> and the game ended Hawke's Bay Auckland 8 raSFENCE WEAK. DAVIES AND BATTY PRAISED. Superiority in defence and ability to make more of opportunities requiring, instant action, gave Hawke's Bay the victory over Auckland on Saturday. Although the visitors showed they had a backllne which was attractive in offensive work, they lacked the defensive strength necessary to withstand the repeated attacks of the Bay pack and rearguard. » ' . TinM forward work characterised much of the first spell. The succeeding strenuous interludes were punctuated by occasional flashes by the Auckland rearguard, and loose bursts by the Bay's forwards. The second spell, however, produced Tast and sparkling football, with a number of spectacular tries. Both backs and forwards contributed to the home team's offensive, which was (constructed of material sufficiently strong to outplay the visitors in practically every department of the game. The Aucklanders, admittedly tired their long and arduous journey on Friday, must be given credit' for an exceedingly game fight in the last half-hour, but any claim made on their behalf must lie qualified with the reiteration of the assertion that their defence repeatedly failed. ;> , . Xo player was responsible for the Bay's success more than Cooke. His brilliant anticipation, combined with inagnircent defensive play and remarkable ability to turn opportunity to advantage, stamped him as the outstanding player of the day, and as still bejng without a peer as an inside.back in New Zealand Rugby to-day. Almost without exception his touch-kicking was faultless, and he saved his Side points time and again. ' Evans, the Bay's full-back, was another who played .a sound game. His defensive work and line kicking were consistently safe. Through him the Bay pack was saved a great amount of work. A well-balanced scrilm „ was responsible for much" of the Bay's success, there being no passenger in the pack. *■ Davies was unquestionably the most attractive of the visitors' backs. His suoctacular fielding and accurate linekicking always found favour with tin •oj'ectators. Corner and Jamieson both playec resourceful Rugby, the-half-back feeding his backs freely, and ;being caught ii possession only very occasionally. Jamie don was particularly attractive-in "blin< side" work. Stuart and Ceughey were alway ■ apable of a useful run when it wa necessary, and Milliken proved exceed useful, scoring a fine try afta

Caughey had drawn the defence cleverly. Anderson, until he retired, and Batty, Knight and Satherley were the most prominent of the visitors' forwards. Batty's game possibly was not surpassed by that of any other forward on the ground. Solomon was frequently at the head of the forwards, and often effective in breaking up movements by the opposition. Hadley and Palmer were definitely the better hooking pair, but the ball seldom got far along the back -line, as the Bay backs were always well up 011 their opponents. To sum up, Hawke's Bay defeat was never in sight after the second spell had been in progress ten minutes, while up to that time there was hardly anything between the teams.

POOR. DISPLAY.

SOUTH AUCKLAND BEATEN

DISAPPOINTING LOCAL BACKS

Auckland B beat South Auckland at Eden Park by 14 points to B._ It was a disappointing game, clistrac.tingly so. Hard and aimless just about sums up the play. One would have thought that Auckland's second team would have been capable of better things, but from start to finish it was just a dull, drab moncftone. ■ i j Forward, the teams fought grimly, and were evenly matched, with the rugged men from the country giving equally as much as they took; but the backs promised a great deal more than they accomplished. With the amount of ball fed to them by a pack that was getting frequent possession, the display 01 the Auckland backs was frankly disappointing. Certainly no new stars have come to light, and actually the whole of the back line failed dismally. All made mistakes, and all contributed to the general mix-up. There was no one clever or elusive enough to direct the attack. No one to hold them 1 together. Conw-ay .at half-back did Kp oc | and grotesque things. Year, m the hrst half, stood too shallow, and took the ball standing still, while he occasionally horrified his supporters by using a dangerous lob pass. In the second spell his play improved considerably, and he turned out to be the best of a modest lot of backs. He showed that he knows how to run straight, but frequently impaired his play by delaying his pass —a bad trait in the play of a first five-eighths. Vear brilliantly carved a passage- on one occasion, but threw away a certain try by hanging on too long. . Townsend coloured the picture faintly

ill the first spell, but was just mediocie in the second. He started oft' with plenty of dash and enterprise, but as the game progressed his play lost its earlier sting, the three-quarter line was fast, but had no finish. Brainsby at centre was serviceable —just that and nothing nioie. Kedgley was the more dangerous, and certainly the more reliable of the wings. Butler, at full-back, who had been playing well below his. usual standard in chib football, rose to the occasion and played his best game of the season. His play was all correct, and at times hei rose to brilliant heights. In fairness to the Auckland back-line it must be said that the attacks they launched were invariably met by a CO9I and resolute defence. Realising that their forwards were being beaten for possession the South Auckland backs stood up close and gave the local men little room m which to work. They were quick to smash the attack. In frequent possession they would probably have, been dangerous and got just enough of the ball to indicate this. LaWrie, at second five-eighth, was the best of the bunch, and did some, subtle work. He cut clean through the | defence *on one occasion, and if he had had a little more pace a try would have been the result of his remarkably clever bit of work. Winter, the South Auckland full-back, was as solid and sound as any of the country men. Except in scrum work, there was little between the forwards, what slight advantage there was being held by the visitors. The hooking of Souter and Haywood was definitely cleaner and better than that of the South Auckland men, but what the visitors lost in this department they fully atoned for in the loose; in fact, they played more vigorously than their opponents, but they played without finish.

GRADE GAMES,

POLLARD CUP. Marist 13, beat City 8. Ponsonby G. beat Grammar 3. Manukau 17, beat Parnell 3. North Shore 8, drew with Col. Rifles 8. ' Training College .15, beat University 8. Eden 25, beat Mount Roskill 3. Technical Old Boys 17. beat Grafton 3. Otahuhu 16, beat Marathon 0. SENIOR B. Grafton 19, beat Royal Naval Reserve 6. Otahuhu 9, beat University B 3. THIRD OPEN. Panmure 14, beat Howick 13. Eden 15, beat Papatoetoe S. Suburbs 7, beat North Shore 4. Penrose 8, beat Technical Old Boys 3. Oratia -beat University 8. THIRD GRADE INTERMEDIATE. Grafton B S, beat Northcolc 6. Technical Old Boys 9, beat Dilworth Old Boys 8. University 14, beat Marist 0. Manukau 8, beat North Shore 3. College Rifles 0, beat City 3. Y.M.C.A. 9, beat Royal Naval Reserve 3. Grafton A 27, beat Training-College 0. Grammar 18, beat Manukau B 0. Eden 22, beat John Court's 0. FOURTH GRADE. Otahuhu S, beat Eden 3. < Technical Old Boys l>, beat Marathon 6. Ponsonby 25, bt?at Newton 0. Penrose 5, beat Suburbs 3. Manukau 17. beat Papatoetoe G. FIFTH GRADE. Eden 9, beat Grafton 5. Suburbs' 8, beat Otahuhu 0. Manukau 8, beat Nortbcotc 3. SIXTH GRADE. Suburbs beat Otahuhu by default. Marist 67.'beat EllerslieO. Eden 14, beat Technical Old Boys 0. SCHOOL CURTAIN RAISERS. SENIOR. Hamilton Tech. 3,' beat Technical College (Auckland) 0. JUNIORS. Auckland Technical G, beat Hamilton Technical 3. SECOND GRADE. - Marist 6, beat Grammar A 0. I. University A 21, beat College Rifles 11. Panmure 13,. beat Tamaki 12. Parnell 9, beat Trinity College 3. Grammar Colts -15, beat College Rifles B 0.Newton Gl. beat Northcote 0. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SENIOR GRADE. Grammar 25, beat Takapuna 3. Mount Albert 10. beat King's College 5. PRIMARY -SCHOOLS. "Vermont Street 12; beat Monte Cecelia 8. Tapakura 9, beat Ilowick 0. JUNIOR BOYS. ' ' SENIORS. ' ■ Suburbs G, beat Ellecslie 5. . INTERMEDIATE. ; Manukau 21, beat Suburbs 0. JUNIORS. Panmv.re 8, beat Penrose 0.

WAIKATQ REPRESENTATIVES

FOR WAIRARAPA AND WANGANUI MATCHES.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) MORRINSVILLE, this day

The following Waikato players have been selected by Mr. J. Mclntyre, to travel and play Wairarapa on Saturday next and Wangauui 011 the following Thursday : S. Egan, W. Carlson, C. Fausett (Matamata), A. Robson (Morrinsv'ille), A. R. Griffiths, It. Fitzgerald (Hamilton), P. Quin, A. Wilkes (Waipa), G. Denize (Hamilton), A. story (Matamata), Buster Cairns (Waipa), J. Leeson, A. and C. Cameron (Morruisvillej, Keginalds (Hamilton), H. Elisor (Mataniata), Stewart and Priscott (Hamilton). Hook and Robinson (Hamilton), and Vinson (Matamata) are not available. , ihe new men included are Fausett, Griihtlis, lcobson and Sairns. Of these Fausett and Cairns have not previously played tor W'aikato.

HURUNUI-APANUI SHIELD.

TE PUKE'S LAST-MINUTE WIN

A last-minute victory in a match for the Te llurunui-Apanui Shield was the result of the clash between llangitaiki (holders) aifd Te Puke (challengers) at Matata on Saturday. Te Puke were awarded a tree kick, which Dare put over. The score immediately before that was 10 —J, 111 favour of Rangitaiki. Time was called directly the kick was converted. After the match the shield was presented to Mr. J. Braun, president of the Te 1 uke Rugby Union.

TAR AN AKI BE ATS SOUTHLAND,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday,

The Taranaki Kugby representatives dc- ii, fcatcd the touring Southland team by r - A points to 15 in a thrilling match played " line weather with a dry ball, Southland had a strong and dangerous team, but ( Taranaki kept its opponents in hand with superior back play and combination. Mrst one side and then the other was in the lead, and every try was a good one. _ laranaki exploited the short puut and quick follow up with success and the passing among the backs was good. Southland was alwajs 0 dangerous in the loose, as it proved in the a first minute of the game by sconn o a -unawav try. Taranaki gave a vastlj -impro/\ td dispjjiy compared with its match against Wellington. ' GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HAMILTON. Old Boys 9, beat Marist 3. Frankton 8, beat Technical Old boys 0. TAURANGA. Tauranga 14, beat Thames 9. Juniors. —Tauranga S>, beat Thames b. Five Thames Kugby teams visited lau- • ranga with a large number of supporters. I The senior game was fast and interesting, 1 with the Thames forwards dominating the > play, but. the result was in doubt till close - on time. * Schoolboys.—Tauranga High School A 9. i beat Thames A 3; Thames B 22, beat < Tauranga 0; Tauranga Primary 0, beat i Thames 0. 1 WAIHT. Senior championship final (Pilling Cup) : Katikati (last season's winners) S, beat Mataura C. The junior championship was won by 1 Mataura (last year's winners). j MORRINSVILLE. : Morrinsville 14, beat Taupiri 4. ] This was a match to decide which team j should play Hamilton in the first challenge for the Peace Cup on July 25. Morrinsville led 3 —o at half-time. Junior: United 12, beat Terriers 3. Third grade.—High School 13, beat Terriers 0 ; Kcreone 4, beat United 3. CAMBRIDGE. Championship final.—United 9, beat Tauwhare 8. Tauwhare had all the best of the first and led by eight points to nil. In the second half United reversed the position. With a minute to go the score was B—C in Tauwliare's favour, but keeping up a great attack. United scored the necessary try to win the match and the competition. For the winners Byrne and Amyes scored tries and Tapper kicked a penalty goal. F. Shaw scored a try for Tauwhare, and Pope converted it and kicked a penalty goal. The final points in the championship are : United 11, Tauwhare, Hautapu and Leamington 10, Karapiro 0. Juniors. —Matangi 31, beat United 0; Hautapu 3, beat Leamington 0. Third grade.—Leamington 0, beat United 3. TE KUITI. Toko 24, beat Hangatiki 3. Juniors. —Te Kuiti S, beat Mangaotaki 3. WHAKATANE. Whakatane High School B 11, beat Taneatua School G. WHANGAREI. Old Boys 11, beat City 0. Horaliora 9, beat Hikurangi 6. Dargaville 3, beat Oneralii 0. Old Boys 11, beat Wliakapara 0. Horahora 15, beat City 0. Third Grade.—High School A 3. beat Horahora 0; Old Boys 0, beat High School B 0. TE AROHA. Terriers 9, beat City 6. Whitten and Goldsburtt scored for Terriers, while for City Burgess secured a try and kicked a penalty goal. Juniors. —Elstow 3, drew with Springs 3. Fountain kicked a penalty goal for Elstow, and Horgan scored a try for Springs. Terriers 10, beat City 3. For the winners Hines. Crawford, Horgan and Everitt scored, and for' City a penalty goal was kicked by Gibbs.' HUNTLY. Peacc Cup.—Morrinsville 14, beat Taupiri 4. Third Grade. —Huntly 8, beat Waikare u. Primary Schools. —Rakaumanga 6, beat Taupiri 0: Huntly 9, beat Orini 0. MATAMATA. The Matamata Union was' without a representative fixture on Saturday, consequently the lloigard Cup fixtures were I representative of the clubs' full strength. Results were :— Seniors. —Matamata 6, beat Walton 3; Patetere 21, beat Wardville 9, Juniors. —Old Boys 17, beat Walton 0 ; Wardville 3. beat Hinuera 0; Matamata 0,beat Patetere 5. Thirds. —High School 11, beat Wardville 0; Hinuera 8. beat Patetere 0; Matamata defaulted to Putaruru. Patetere have a fairly secure lead in the senior competition. S. Egan, the Matamata and Waikato back, after playing brilliantly in the game against Taranaki on Thursday, has been under medical treatment since his return, out it is anticipated that he will be right ac;ain for the Waikato tour, which opens against Wairarapa at Carterton on Saturday next. PUTARURU. Putaruru played their first rep. game of the season, a Peace Cup elimination game, on Saturday, at Putaruru. The visiting backs were too strong for the home team, while generally Rotorua showed better team work. Rotorua won by 19 points to 3. PUKEKOHE. Seniors.—Play in the Pollock Cup competition opened pending the decision of the senior championship next Saturday. Results: —Patumahoe 12, beat United 0; Old Boys 20, beat Kia Ora Juniors.—-Old Boys 3. beat Patumahoe 0; Wesley College 2 V 2, beat Ramblers 0. Third Grade. —Wesley College 12. beat White Star 8. Wesley College wins the third grade championship, with White Star runners-up. tuakau. The annual match for the. Fleming Cup was woU by -North Frflnklni, wliic'i cus* feated South Franklin by 3 points to 0. In a curtain-raiser the Franklin junior representatives IT, beat St. Stephen's 12. CAMBRIDGE. The Cambridge senior championship ended with the ladder points as follow:— United 11. Tauwhare. Hautapu Learning toil 10 Karapiro 0, Leamington 9, Rarapirc ;j Junior grade: Hautapu 3. Leamington (j] Matangi 31, United 0. Third grade Lcamiugton G, United o. WAIPU. The final of the Otamatea Rugby Union's senior competition was played a t \\ aipu or Saturday, Maungaturoto emerging vietori ous over Paparoa by 3 points, un uncoil verted try, in the second half, to nil. PAEROA. Senior Grade. —East 3, beat Rambler: (Thames) 0: West. 10, beat Veterans 9 Junior Grade.—High School Old Boys 2beot Turua 7 ; Hikutaia 9, beat West 6. Third Grade.—High School 20, bea Esst r>. While playing for Turua It. Connor: received a nasty kick in the face and sus tained a severe laceration above the eyes B3 was rendered unconscious and was takei to the Pacroa Public Hospital. N. Pivott a High School Old Boys' player, was in jured in the chest and had to retire.

WIN FOR BULLER

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' AVESTL'ORT, Saturday. The Rugby match between Buller and Inangahna was played on Victoria Square to-daV in fine weather. Buller, which fielded a good team, had no difficulty in winning by 26 points to nil. Tries were scored bv MeNeight (2), Caldwell (2), Goodall (2). Holder and Robinson, Caldwell converting one try. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. PALMERSTON NORTH. Kia Toa 8. beat Old Boys 0. Feildiug Old Boys 10, beat Massey Col-. IOSC 6 ' FEILDING. United 3, beat Feildiug 0. MASTER T O N. DalePehl 17. beat Masterton 11. For Daletield tries were scored by H. Parker (2). >1. Parker, Hart, and Bambry. one of which Henderson converted. Trass and McMillan scored tries for Masterton, one of which Roff converted. Roff also kicked a penalty goal.

WANGANUI. Kaierau S, beat Marist 5. Technical Old Boys lii, beat Pirates 8, Itatana 0, beat Old Boys 3.

WELLINGTON. Wellington 17, beat Marist 10. Puneke 15, beat Eastbourne 8. Petone 19, beat University 17. Hutt 21, beat Old Boys 0. Oriental 3. beat Athletic 0. Miramar 19, beat Berliampore 16. Senior B.—Johnsonville 13, beat Hutt 6

TIMARU. Old Boys 14, beat Celtic 12. Temuka 13, beat Zingari 6. Star 19, beat Waihi 6. CHRISTCIIURCH. Challenge Cup series: Christchurch 11, heat 'Varsity 3; Old Boys 19, beat Sydenham 8; Merivale 33, beat Linwood 12; Albion 29, beat Athletic 8. DUNEDIN. Kaikorai 3, drew with Southern 3. 'Varsity A 9, beat Alliainbra 0. 'Varsity B 9, beat Dunedin 3. Pirates 12, beat Union 0. Taicri 11, beat Zingari 3. With two matches to go, Kaikorai ana University are now equal, with Southern one point behind. Kaikorai and 'Varsity are likely to be the finalists.