THE PLAY REVIEWED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 181, 3 August 1931, Page 12

THE PLAY REVIEWED.

WEAKNESS !N REARGUARD

SOLOMON TO THE RESCUE

-(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday

Three—nil, 6—o, &—5, 9—5, 9—B, and then, three minutes before time, Auckland's victory was sensationally o pirited away, in a game in which the Taran-iki back promise was consummated by the brilliant determination of Kinseila, the Taranaki wing, who, receiving a euappy pass, overwhelmed two Auckland defenricis standing shoulder to shoulder on the line waiting. for the human catapult. The crash came, and with the impact the winger leaped and turned turtle over the defenders to score.

The game, as scientific Rugby, was disappointing. The ground was heavy but dry, and Taranaki really showed better team play. Auckland backs were palpably weak, slow, and lacking in penetrating ideas. Auckland forwards scrummaged evenly with Taranaki, and when they secured the ball the Auckland inside backs proceeded to waste their advantage. The tactics of the Taranaki backs were better, but they saw less ball from the set scrum-! They had more from line-outs, but railed to press home their advantage, owing largely to internal mistakes.

laranaki forwards awakened in the second half, and out-lasted Auckland, pressing home their superiority in the loose and ruck. Auckland's constant lead, and the immunity of Taranaki assaults were due to "King Solomon," a oower unto himself, shadowing the five-eignths weaknesses and turning them into attack ihanks to Solomon's ability as a buffer and link, Auckland were probably saved from thorough defeat. The five-eighths seemed spent I'orres, most of the ofiensives on either side coming tioni short kicking on the part of the inside backs. The Taranaki passing was the more sustained. As a result of the Kicking tliere was much exciting play, but possession was in the lap of the gods. THAMES VAI/LEY WIN. DEFEAT OF KING COUNTRY. , TE KUITI, Saturday. -!■ he Thames Valley touriusi reD reseii tjitivp footballers defeated King Coun/ry bv three F'fctorv «(■»?» f Considering the unsatisfactory state of the ground, which was a sea of mud, both teams handled well, placing spectacular football. Mathias scored trom a forward rush just prior to the call of time. CANTERBURY HOME. GOOD WIN OVER WAIRARAPA. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Canterbury s Rugby fifteen showed improved form to-day and defeated Wairarapa by 28 points to 17 in the presence of 12,000 spectators. It was fast and exciting Rugby on a hard ground. At half-time the score was 20 to S in Canterbury s favour. Play was more even in the second spell. All through the Canterbury backs were faster and better _ combined than tVairarapa. Oliver, Day and Hart were strong points in the Canterbury attack, with Innes also going well. Stringfellow and Himona were the pick of the visiting backs. The Canterbury forwards won the majority of the scrums, but were overshadowed in other departments by the hefty Wairarapa men, who also prevailed in the loose. OTAGO CLUB MATCH. DEFEAT OF CHAMPIONS. DUXEDIN. Saturday. In the Ainge Shield match Kaikorai (runners-up for the championship) bear the champion University team by IS to 3. Both teams have met three times during the season. Kaikorai winning the first game, and University the second (to win the championship) and Kaikorai the third came to-day.