RUGBY FINAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 223, 21 September 1931, Page 12

RUGBY FINAL.

AUCKLAND-WELLINGTON.

HOME SIDE'S FINE WIN.

BEST DISPLAY OF SEASON

MARK NICHOLLS' L^ST

APPEARANCE,

After 3. series of games in which they were rarely impressive, Auckland crowned their 1931 rep. season by a meritorious win over Wellington at Eden Park on Saturday. So another clash between the two provinces has passed into history. It was a great struggle, played in an ideal setting, a sun-baked ground, little wind and everything offering for one of those bright and open exhibitions of the game which spectators look forward to. The score was 27 points to 19.

Once again a big game did not provide all that is best in Rugby. Big games are usually that way. It was a hard and tense struggle, woth both sides fighting for the lead, the scores alternating in the second half of the match, and Wellington gradually fading out of the picture. Two years ago at Eden Park Wellington beat a strong Auckland team and there were many who thought that once again the match would end that way. However, Auckland began to pick up points right .through the first half., to end the spell with a clear lead of nine, and Wellington were pointless.

Tt was obvious on Saturday that the Wellington players had some heart to heart talking at half-time. When the second spell began, they opened up the game at all coats and played to their backs. For about ten minutes, they more than held their own, but they could not sustain their effort, and save for occasional counter-attacks, they gradually faded out.

Right through the Auckland forwards carried the burden for their side, and seldom were the backs impressive in combined play of the kind that one expects from an Auckland baek division. Still, solo brilliance began to'emerge, and some of the infiltrative play roused the big crowd to great enthusiasm. Near the end, Wellington rallied for the last time, but only to reduce the points margin that had piled up against them. They could not win—the margin was too great. It was a game of incidents, spectacular and interesting, and a game in which individual effort was more outstanding than team work. Right through the Auckland forwards were too good for the opposition. The two back divisions broke about even on the day. In attack the Wellington passing was the more impressive.

The Individuals, Daviea, the Auckland full-back, gave another fine exhibition, fielding fautlessly and kicking a splendid length. He outclassed Pollock on the day. although at times the Wellington lad did some splendid work. The Auckland three-quarter line pave a good display, the wings running with fine pace and determination, and defending soundly. Canghey, in the centre, showed up well, and his. hard, straight running brought golden points to his side. Three tries came his way, mainly because of his splendid backing up and hard and fast running. In the first half of the game, one was inclined to despair with the Auckland five-eighths. They played at sixes and sevens, and looked anything like a representative pair. Jamieson played no better nor worse than he had'done earlier in the season. He is still below representative form, and one wonders why the selector has persevered with him. Haslam was scarcely more impressive \over the first half, but in the second' part of the game he developed solo brilliance and on several occasions he cut the defence o® the Wellington inside backs to shreds. Corner was patchy at the start, but came on his game better later on, and on _ the day's play he and Kilby provided an interesting duel, with the honours slightly favouring the Wellingtonian. The best Auckland forwards were Batty, Knight and Satherley. It was an even pack, truly a great one on the day, which played hard and determinedly all the; way through to outspeed, outstay and outclass one of the best vanguards that Wellington has sent on tour m recent years. v

Accepted the Dummy. Pollock showed himself to be a player of fair class, but he was not as good as some of the players who have been there for Wellington in other years. When Haslam scored his try under the posts, Pollock accepted the dummy with all the courtesy of a host to his visitors. He did what most players would have done under the circumstances. »His job was to save the try. If he had tackled Haslam, the man outside the Aucklander would have had an easy task. He summed up the position, waited for the pass that never came and then started to run on to the wing—■ and Haslam went inside him. \ Ball, the ex-Wanganui player, who wag seen in the Test match against the Wallabies a week previously, again showed splendid pace and dash on the wing and he made the best of every opportunity that came his way. Page, the centre, another Test man, gave a better display that he did against Australia and landed one spectacular try with a lightning cutin that left the Auckland defence lamenting. Mackay, on the other wing, waa not np to. interprovincial form. He had not properly got over influenza and a thigh injury was also troubling him. _ Wellington tried the experiment ot playing Griffiths, a 19-year-old youth, at seconcf five-eighths. The colt showed up well in attack, drawing his man every time, but his defence was tragically weak and -he made a faulty spot where the Auckland attack was launched incessantly, Kilby 'played at the top of his form behind the Wellington pack, and there were no two opinions about his claim to be regarded as one of the best scrum halves in the land. His delivery from the scrum was beautiful. j

iiMTtranninn f inure _ue outstanding figure on the Wellington side was Mark Nicholls, playing his Farewell game in Auckland. Eleven seasons ago, he was a brilliant colt—on Saturday he was a staid and clever veteran. With the passing of the years his pace has faded, but he was still able to get of! the mark smartly, while right through the jame he was a real leader for his Bide. With a discreet use of the dummy pass, Nicholls often made a few more yards ivhen on the move. It made the Aucklanders hold off temporarily in anticipation of a pass, and it gave Mark Nicholls ;he chance to get a little further on the iourney before sending the ball on to supsorting players. So Auckland saw the veteran tor the last time at the Wellington helm. Members of the Auckland team jarried him off the field shoulder high at -,he conclusion of the game, while the :rowd gave him an ovation. It was a wonderful tribute to. a player who has lone much for the Rugby gamo m New Zealand. , _ „. , ' , The best of the Wellington forwards ;vere Diedrich, Barry and McPherson. In 'act, Barry was probably the best foryard on the field, McLean, the All Black, lashed in and out of the picture. _ For iim it was truly an off day. The display >f the Wellington team did not satisfy ;hose who knew the side at its best. They ;onsidered that a hard club season m Wellington was responsible for an indifferent showing and that a tiring journey to Auckland did not add to the general standard of physical fitness. The bald act remains that the Wellington team aded hopelessly after a great rally when Jiey threatened to dominate the game. Chey met a better team on the day, and idmitted it. It is not broadcasting a secret to say ;hat the visitors were not at all impressed vith some of the methods which appear havo become part and parcel of the ame in Auckland, and more in sorrow ,haa in anger they thought that some of he Auckland methods were dilatory. In Wellington it is the practice to speed the up as much as possible for the sake >£ the spectators. After a for9e down or a try, the Wellington players came

promptly up to the line to restart the play. The Auckland way was to stroll up. It is a little something that should he removed from the game here.

The teams were:— Wellington: Pollock, Mackay,_ Page, ißall, Griffiths, Nicholls, Kilby, Price, Jeseep, Coulston, McLean, McPherson, Barry, Diedrieh, Reid. Auckland: Davies, Milliken, Caughey, Hutchinson, Haslam, Jamieson, Corner, Sojomon, Hadley, Palmer, Finlayson, Knight, Batty, Anderson. Satherley.

HOW THE POTNTS WERE SCORED. Auckland's 27 points camo from five tries, three of which were converted, and two penalty goals. Wellington piled UP their points by four tries, two'of whieh were converted, and one penalty goal. _ Auckland were the first to score, with two penalty goals, one by Davies and the other by Corner. Milliken scored Auckland's first try. He picked up a clearing kick and raced down the grandstand flank. Ball, with amazing pace, overhauled him, and with a magnificent flying tackle, pulled the Aucklander down as he scored in the corner. Soon after the start of the second spell Wellington scored their first points. Near the Auckland twenty-five a scrum was formed following a line-out. Kilby and Nicholls worked the blind side and the five-eigliths passed infield to Barry, who crashed over.

Then came Page's lightning cut-in. From a scrum the ball travelled along the line to Page, who, wjth a brilliant cut-in, riddled the defence, and, side-stepping Davies, scored under the posts. Nicholls converted. Auckland's next points came as a result of a clever piece of. work by Haelam. He drew two men and ran Caughey into position for the centre to score easily. Within three minutes Haslam again paved the way, for a try. He cut in and passed infield to Solomon, for the rover to' change his direction and catch the Wellington defence at sixes and sevens. He passed to Caughey, who, with a great burst, raced round behind the posts for a splendid try. Corner converted.

Again Haslam flashed into the picture, and, picking the ball up in his stride, he made a clean breakaway with Caughey and Hutchinson backing up. When Haslam reached Pollock he sold a beautiful dummy, cut infield again and crossed under the posts. Corner converted. Wellington brought their score up to 11 with a penalty by Nicholls 30 yards out. Once more Haslam shattered the Wellington defence with his cut-in, apd when confronted by Pollock, he passed to Caughey, who scored under the posts for Corner to convert. Wellington forwards came to light with a rush from near half-way, and within a few yards of the line Barry passed to McLean, who dived over. Pollock goaled. With the end in sight Nicholls engineered one more brilliant move. With a paralysing cut-ip he ghot past Jamieson, outfield again and then into his forwards to pass to McLean. With only Davies to beat McLean passed to Barry, who scored his second try. Auckland 27, Wellington 19.

TECH. TOO GOOD.

Technical Old Boys were right out after the Pollard Cup in the competition final against Manukau on Saturday, and pulled off the game to the tune- of 16 points to 10. From a spectacular point _of view the game was disappointing, but neither side was sporting its early season strength. It was a hard struggle, however,- and the fitter side won, Manukau being run off their feet when time was called.

It was the Tech. forwards who won the game. Although lighter than the Manukau vanguard, they packed splendidly and pushed the blacks' all over the paddock. There were no passengers in the Tech, seven, but the same cannot be said for the Manukau buncli. Wicklund, Kaa, Jordan and MeCormick, however, were always in the tight, and all played well. Supreme in the forward department, the Tech- backs had plenty of the ball, but their movements lacked penetration, and the Manukau defence was good. Harris and Tutbott combined well, and Byerley showed dash when given a chance, D, Keane's kicking was handy, and his boot produced seven points. „ , . ' . Manukau were well served by Heazlewood, who gave his best exhibition since coming to Auckland. The other backs, however, were mediocre, and showed up more for their defensive than their attack Ing abilities. '

GRADE RESULTS.

POLLARD CUE 1 . Technical 0.8. 16, beat Manukau 10. THIRD GRADE INTERMEDIATE. SEMI-FINAL. Technical 9, heat Hamilton Technical Final.—Grafton A 28, beat Grafton B 6. FOURTH GRADE. SEMI-FINAL. Technical 0.8. 0, drew with Manukau 6. Technical 0.8. 6, drew with Hamilton Tech. 6. fifth GRADE. Technical 0.8, beat Northcote by default, Ponsonby 22, beat Suburbs 3. SIXTH GRADE. Marist 0.8. 5, drew with Tech. 0.8. 5. Manukau 14, beat Northcote 10. SEVENTH GRADE. FRIENDLY MATCH. Riverhead 14, beat Point Chevalier 12.

HOUSE MATCHES,

OTAKI CUP. H.M. Customs 19, beat Shipping Com, Pa Custom House Agents 13, beat Harbour Board 6. _ T . T . T FINAL. Customs House Agents 19, beat H.M. Customs 9.

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE.

WHANGAREI. Senior Knock-out Competition.—Maungakaramea 44, beat Old Boys 9; Hikurangi beat City 'junior.—Portland 18, beat Whananaki 14 * 1 PUKEKOHE. The final match for the Massey Cup, between Pukekohe "(holders) and Franklin (challengers), resulted in a win for Pukekohe by 9 to 3. Both teams were weak through the absence of prominent players. The first three tries, which were verted, went to Pukekohe, the scorers being Nathan, Parton and Brown. Sranklin'a try was gained by Hira. Junior Reps.—Pukekohe IS, beat Panmure 0. THAMES. Curtain-raiser. —Thames 8, beat Taranakl 7> MORRINSVILLE. Peace Cup.—Matamata 15, heat MorrinsVl Curtain-rafser 1 — Morrinsville High School 21, beat Matamata High School 0. PIO PIO Hetet Shield — PiQ Pio 14, beat. Athletic 3. WAIHI, Veterans 5, beat Athletics 3. High School 6, beat Old Boys 3.

GAMES IN THE SOUTH

TAIHAPE. Representatlve.-WVanganul 19, beat Ta-i----hape 16. luterelub. — Rangataua (Ruapehu) Jv, beat Hautapu (Taihape) S. PALMERSTON NORTH. Feilding Old Boys 19, beat Uniteds 3BLENHEIM. Buller 20, beat Marlborough 17. CHRISTCHUROH. Challenge Cup Final.—Merivale 19, beat Linwood 10. O AMARU. North Otago 14, beat Ashburton S.

LEADING BRITISH CLUBS.

LONDON, September 19. Following art the results oi matches played to-day under Rugby Union rules Bla<iScHeatb 8, Roslyn Park la: Cardiff 7, Neath 8; Gloucester 8, Moseley 3 ; Leicester 8, Plymouth 0; Llanelly 14, Crosskcys 6; Manchester 26, Bradford 11; Newport 14, Peoarth 5; Northampton 32, London Hospital 0; Swansea 18, Bristol 15; United Services S, Bath 10; Greenock 3, Glasgow High School 25; West Scotland % Glasgow Academicals 19.