LEAGUE REP. MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 229, 28 September 1931, Page 12

LEAGUE REP. MATCH.

AUCKLAND V. NORTHLAND. LEVEL SCORING IN HARD GAME,

WIN FOR JUNIOR REPS

With the scores alternating and the issue frequently in doubt, the match between Auckland and Northland League representatives, played at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon, ended in a draw, each sido scoring nineteen points. It was an entertaining game, brilliant in patches, and the int>?rc:?t of a fair off-day crowd was held to the end. Ar.ekland, who pinned their faith to a young and virile side, led the vray in the tirst spell, and irr. eatened at one stage in the second stanza to overwhelm the visitors. . The latter, however, rallied in great style, and with fine assertion brought the score to evens on two occasions. The Northern Union Cup, which the Kaurilanders iron from South Auckland several weeks ago, wr-s not involved.

The visitors were by no means as impressive as they were when they last appeared at headquarters, but with a trifle more luck might have won. They lacked the understanding among the backs which was anticipated of them. and. with one or two exceptions, were disappointing. The same might be said of the home side, which was not the best by a Ion? way which the selectors could have chosen. Apart from several colts being given their first rep. match, a reserve grader had to be called out to fill one of the important fivepighths positions. The forwards on both sides played splendidly, and kept the frame moving from bell to bell. The Kaurilanders had an advantage in weight in this department, and this told in the scrums and the tight. The Auckland sextet shone in fast raiding and work in the loose. For the visitors Payne, O'Callaghan and Wells were the pick of the bunch, and at times collaborated swiftly with their backs. For big men they showed surprising speed and elan. Euby was the hardest grsfter in the home pack, and his speed in the loose was always troublesome to the opposition. Carter, the Marist forward, also battled hard. Others j in the picture were Iveson. a good spoiler i and defender, and Lunn, the Ponsonby colt.

Meyer Best Back. The outsanding back on the field was Meyer, the Northland captain. He made some bright openings, showed appreciation of positional play, anticipated the trend of the game, scored a really magnificent try, and frequently pulled his side out of the fire by his quickness to sense loopholes in the defence, and his incisive tackling. Shortland, at half-back, played soundly, getting the ball away smartly and always starting trouble for Auckland when the opportunity to do so presented itself. The -Hamilton* brothers, who so impressed when last seen at Carlaw Park, did not produce the form expected of them, while little was seen of the wingers Cross and E. Cunningham. The latter's defence was palpably weak. Crockett, .it full-back, got through a lot of hard work, but did not pay sufccijnt attention to positional play at times. Behind the Auckland pack Haissan opened up the plav well, and was quick to get on to Shortlandwhen the visitors won the ball Lγin?, a Devonport reserve ?rader, and Smith, clso from the Shore, filled the five ?s,,vs swan. «»£>i^3S well. N. Campbell, the custodian, did all that' was- expected-of- -him/ The Play Described.

The visitors Lad the better of the openin'' palsies, and their persistency on attack gave them a try fifteen minute, after the commencement, Meyer beating o£ several tacklers with -a pretty side-step and darting across. C. Hamilton d;d the rest n retaliation the Auckland backs opened up the ball travelling right through the chain to Seagar, vrho dummied R. Hamilton sweetly and went on to make a beautiful opening for Minchani, who flevi across at the corner. Smiths kick failed. The home side cow began to assert itself both back and forward, and when play veered to the stand touch line well down in enemy country, Smith pathered to pass ~vor the head of the struggling packs to Mpchan, vrho wormed his way over wide our The kick was too far for Mincham. Shortly afterwards Auckland scored the easiest o'f tries. Northland began throwing the bull about on the defensive, and Seagar intercepted a high pass and strolled across under the posts. Mincham goaled, and halftime score;! were :

Auckland Northland

The second spell had not been Ion? in progress when C. Hamilton kicked a penalty goal for the visitors. Then Seagar penetrated deeply to send Minchain ig. Smith missed. Northland began to get a grip on the game, and when they were attacking Payne gathered, clapped on the pace and builocked his way over near the posts. C. Hamilton converted, and only two points separated the teams. This deficit was wiped off by the same player a minute later. There was now more sparkle in the contest, with Auckland doing the attacking. From the twenty-five the ball came from a scrum, and Smith sent a long pass to Meehan, who accepted and dived across, just inside the flag. Sea gar converted. After a period of give-and-take play the Auckland team was hopelessly demoralised by a passing rush started by Shortland in the visitors' own twenty-five, and finished off by O'Callaghan. C. Hamilton added the extras, and the final scores were:—

Auckland 19 Northland .... 19 Mr. P. Sogers refereed. GRADE GAMES. SPECIAL MATCH. Junior Reps. IS, beat Devonport 3. THIRD GRADE OPEN. Final Knock-out.—Ponsonby S, beat Marist 0.8. 2. FOURTH GRADE. Marist 0.8. S, drew with Newmarket S. SIXTH GRADE FINAL. Newmarket 3, beat Richmond 2. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. HAMILTON. Hamilton 13, beat Richmond (Auck.) S. HUXTLY. .Tuuiors: Huntly Pirates S, beat Huntly B 2. ENGLISH CLUB RESULTS. LONDON, September 2G. Following are the results of matches played to-day under Northern Union rules: Barrow 16, v. St. Helens Recreation 6; Batley 15, v. Oldhain 0; Bradford 7, v. York 21; Castleford 9, v. Wigan 25; Halifax 30, v. Hull 7 ; Hull Kinsrston Rovers 28. v. Keighley 3; Hunslet 2. v. Leeds 8; Leigh 10, v. "Rochdale 13; St. Helens 49, v. Dewsbuy 0; Swinton 19, v. Euddersfield 11; Wakeneld 16, v. Featherstone 2; Warrington 20. v. Bramley S : Widnes 7, v. Walford 14; Wigan Highfield 16, v. Broughton 10.