RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 199, 24 August 1931, Page 14

RUGBY.

AUCKLAND WIN. HAWKE'S BAY GO DOWN. GOOD FORWARD WORK ON BOTH SIDES. DISAPPOINTING BACKS. Defeat by Hawke's Bay earlier in the season vras avenged by the Auckland Rugby team at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon, when they beat the visiting Hawke's Bay fifteen by 19 points to U. It was a patchwork game, with little of the spectacular in it. Hard forward play was probably the outstanding feature of the match, and escept for an occasional bright individual effort, the back play of both teams was uninspiring.

There were times, however, when the play reached dazzling heights. At one stage of the second spell, for a period of about ten minutes, the Hawke's Bay defenee wae ribboned and ripped to shreds, and Auckland, galvanised with a new energy, and playing aa though inspired, clapped on two tries in almost a≤ many minute 3. That waa the turning point in the match. In those few minutea the home side gave a fleeting glimpse of real ability, a glirnpee of the old Auckland team of last year, of grim unyielding forwarde, of sparkling backs working in perfect unison, and the whole fifteen showing splendid collaboration. Then they faded, and there were periods when the play ot both aides wa3 juat a "dull, drab, monotone. Cooke Slews Up.

At the times when play was hopelessly tight, and tee ball could not be seen, one wondered, ~U this really a ' clash between two crack Rugby provinces ?_ Ir this ia the best they can do, it is a sorry look-out for New Zealand Rngbj> Just tben, Cooke saved the Bay, aad one wondered if there would ever be a counterpart to thia Rugby wizard. What a pity It is that jrenii of the calibre of Cooke flash like a meteor through the Rugby firmament, stay only for a time to dazzle, then, go their way.

Cooke is still a skilful player, _ still uncanny in hi 3 anticipation,- still a ehrewd schemer, but he has lost his pace, and -with it have gone those dazzling runs and the brilliance that made Cooke Cooke. But he retains definitely two things—his ability for quick-covering defence, and his amazing kicking power. One could see through the match that he was striving hard to do the things he used to do, and one could see that his pace would not let him; the mercurial Cooke had gone. Aueklanders may not see him on a Rugby field again. Cooke was good— just that, and nothing mare.

So a great player'e career draws to an end- Hie many excellences, his speed, his uncanny eye for an opening, M 3 unsurpassed knowledge of when to pass, his cleverness in intercepting passes, his elueiveness—he was supremely a great individualist, with judgment, superadded, wonderful exponent of inside play. And now, A. E. Cooke, who learned hk football in Auckland, and won his early fame at Eden. Park, ie 29 years old, and ie mercurial no longer. What.a pity! Solid' Forward Work. Hawke's Bay showed that they have no backs of the brilliant standard of 1926 (the days of Mill, Paewai, Cooke, Blake, Grenside, Falwasser and Nepia), but they demonstrated plainly enough, that they can still turn out splendid forwards. Although there was no Maurice Brownlie amongst them, they were a solid lot, .with grit and determination and energy aplenty. There were occasions when they completely shaded-the Aucklq*id pack, and all through their dribbling and open work waa infinitely superior. Those sweeping dribbling rushes were ever a menace to the safety of the Auckland line. Leaders in these dangerous excursions were generally Steere, Anderson and Campbell, with Fitzgibbon not very far behind.

It was unlucky for Hawke's Bay that they had a pivotal player who failed dismally. Setford waa committed to a dreadful chain of errors, and there were few features about his play for which he could be praised. His passes were hopelessly erratic in direction, and there was no pace in the flight of the ball from the base of the scrum. That naturally threw the whole line out of gear, and E. Howell at first five-eighth was not clever enough to retrieve Setford's errors. It was left to Cooke to correct any mistakes inside, and this he usually did r so that Grenside showed up in more favourable light. He was sound/but one believes he would have been far happier on the wing, even in spite of the fact ithat ie too has slowed down a good deal. Yates won most applause for two magnificent shots at goal and his sound all-round kicking. Auckland Forwards Improve.

If there was discouragement in the play of the home backs, there was consolation in the fact that the forwards indicated ■fchat they were coming back to form. Taken all through, they played better than they did the previous week. They won all their ibouquets in the first Ihalf, and although their display in the second was not so convincing, it was probably more for the reason that the Hawke's Bay men were playing a cood deal : better. In the first spell Auckland packed a beautiful s«rum. It was a deadly spearhead, with any amount of force behind it. The result was that Hadley and Palmer hooked the ball cleanly, regularly and with the greatest ease. Batty, Hadley and Palmer were the shining lights. The others, especially Knight, were spasmodic in their play.

Behind a .pack that must have won 90 per cent of the ball fi'om the set scrums in the first JiaM was a set of backs, that again failed. There was a complete misunderstanding among them, and the play of the five-eighths, more especially Jamieeon, was always under suspicion. Jamieson did some grotesque things. Several times he ran ahead of Mclndoe, so that the first five-eighths could not pass the ball ■without putting 'his partner off side. Mclndoe ehould have played a great deal better than he did dn view of the fact that he was .playing outside a halfback •who was Bending out ibeautiful passes with pace and .precision. Coraier ihas at las'; returned to form, and displayed the standard of football that won him All Black honours last season. One of tiie ■features of his play was his tsplendid (backing tup after he .had sent ihis backs away and this tactic saved Auckland at least twice during the match.

The three-quarter line won a -lot of honours/and several points. There was a dazzling try 'by MUliken and a brilliant intercept by Caughey, who gave Butchineon hia try. Davies, at full-back, played splendidly, kicking long and accurately with either foot, showing splendid anticipation, tackling resolutely, at "tunes »3-vin« brilliantly, and turning Bhadow "isio esadmic.

How the Points Were Scored. Auckland's point* eame from roar tries and a penalty ?roal (19). and Hawke's Bay's 14 points were made up oc three penalty jroals ami a converted try. Auckland's, seorera were llilliken, Hutchineon, Palmer and Batty, while Corner converted twoand Davieg landed a penalty goal.

Milliken/3 try was the gem of the match. The ball travelled alorsfr the line of backs to the wing, and, deftly eluding Smith, the winger raced on to corkserew hia way paat Yatea and C'ooke for ,i splendid try. Caughey. who 'had been watching for an intercept, at last got his chance. ' He flashed away downiield, with Hutchinson racing after him. Yates tackled him. brilliantly near the corner, but fiutehinson, with an amazinp: pick-uy ;roing at top, went on to score. The forwards' tries were opportunists tries, typical of the men -who. scored them. The teams were:— Auckland (red. white and blue).—Fmlbaek, Davies; three-quarters, ililliken, Caughey, Hutehineon; five-eighths, Jamieaon, Mclndoe; haif-back, Corner; wing--forward, Solomon; hookers. Hadley, Palmer; middle row, Batty, Knight.. Finlayson; back row. Satherley, Buntinjr. Hawke's Bay (black and white). —Fuilback, Yatea; three-quarters, Smith, Grenade, 11. Ho-well; five-eighths, C'ooke (captain), E. Howell; half-back. Setford: wm--rorward. McKay; hookers, Tucker, J. Gemmell; middle row. Anderson, Steere. Campbell;, back row, Fitzgibbon, Wilson.