LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 247, 19 October 1931, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

eastern suburbs beaten

STRONG DEFENCE HOLDS

VISITORS.

POINT MARGIN AT FINISH

The second Auckland match of the Eastern Suburbs team from Sydney—their fourth of 'the tour—drew to Carjpv Park on Saturday an attendance little short of the record of the previous week.' The hopes entertained by keen patrons and students of the game that the combined Pevonport-Marist team would assure a fairer and closer trial of strength against the brilliant visitors, who won handsomely by 41 —27 over* Devonport United the previous Saturday, were realised to the extent of a single point in i 27 total. In a tense, wavering and fast struggle Eastern Suburbs met their first defeat in New Zealand, but they went down gloriously, making such clever and determined efforts in the fading moments to snatch victory that the crowd was on its feet cheering them, as, in the same breath, it looked with some confidence to the defensive skill of the home thirteen. Eight from the outset it was a contest vibrant with fiashes of solo and concerted brilliance, manly ruggedness and exhilarating transformations, and in this it provided another of those football battles wliieh stamp the merits and possibilities of the code. Not the pace of the previous week's exhibition, it had more intensity, technical superiority, and the ingredient of turbulent moments that seem to .be inseparable from international clashes; but it was clean and free from any injury to contestants. To the crowd, which was also enjoying the ideal weather and ground conditions, it was a match that ran the gamut of sporting emotions.

Goal-kicking Decides Issue. Within a minute of the start the public received a pleasant surprise, when a smart movement on the left-wing allowed Len Scott to speed round past Tottey and score easily. In a few more minutes, as the result of good goal-kicking by Clark, the Aycklanders were nine clear points in hand. Just when wiseacres were beginning to nod heads in the belief that the combined team was set for an easy win, Easts, true to tradition as a great' offensive combination, replied with a gem snap try by the > centre-three-quarter, Brown, who brilliantly added another three points just before the interval. Boyle converted both tries, and the visitors, who delighted with a series of combined attacks at this stage, were a point in the lead when the teams filed put for the second stanza., Some hurricane play followed, and it was clear that the shock tactics of the locals had taken its toll of the visitors to some ,extent. In addition, the Auckland team was using the sun to advantage. Serum penalties were rather frequent for a period, bothin ; the hooking department and against the respective half-backs. The forwards. were about even, but • Sydney's pivotal five-eighths line was not functioning with usual ease or smoothness against a rock-like defence, which was swinging to attack by. centre rucking and raiding at onetime, and, at another, by centre-three-quarter 'breakaways. One of these spectacular bursts ended in a great run to the corner by Seagar. When his passage was blocked by the desperate full-back, he • merely -dropped the ball behind in that uncertain, but evidently understanding, manner learnt from the Australians. (Brisbane, who was in Support, ran round, i picked up arid dived the yard or so over ;to score near the corner. Soon after this Clark kicked his third penalty goal, and the combined side had a four-point lead, 14—10.- But any complacency was soon ; disturbed by a wonderful ranging East attack initiated by Pearce. Tottey accepted the pass on the right, and unfolded /one.of the'most resourceful runs of the day, dummying and side-stepping to sail infield before he placed the ball down. As Brown missed the goal, the scores were now 14—13 in favour of the Aucklanders. Spectators were stirred io pinnacles of. enthusiasm in 'the last memorable seven : minutes of the game as, play raged up and down the field, topped off by a .desperate j final rally by the Australians. Both sides ; made mistakes and lost opportunities, and it must be confessed, that, on the day, the > luck was slightly against the visitors. They 'were the first'to congratulate their opponents. These splendid young footballers made, no excuses or complaints; they re- ; cognised :that actually a stern defence : stopped them.

Unquestionably, the combined side gave a fine display.- for a team that has had little chance to work up the combination that'- tells.-' Still, it was evident that with quite a /small amount of attention to training the home thirteen was able to stand up to a gruelling test to uphold the . code's prestige in Auckland. The vigour of the local defence, which slumped slightly at times only, when the ipace was too sustained, was. no less admirable than the remarkable -ability of Eastern Sub-

'to-develop and change the direction \ 'last-handling attacks, in which their 'forwards' participated effectively. . This again went to show the value of good coaching by Mr. A. ("Pony") Halloway, —o is justifiably proud of his great ■.young club Bide, which contains at least j. tour .players certain of playing next year for the State and Australia, against the '•■Englishmen.

!■>; of. the game were the consistently good goal-kicking of Clarke (Auckland) and Boyle (Sydney)., the iWagnificent anticipatory play of the vjsit-centre-threequarter, Dave Brown, the exhibition of the Eastern Sub•bs forward S. Pearce, and the fine collaof Brisbane and Seagar in attack 4 • defence. Campbell's hooking for the | nnens was also praiseworthy. • '• [ !• Points on the Players. . Hong, the visiting full-back, played a ?!• , e and preferred to run his backs J- 0 Position. He did not falter all day '•'v V s a s strong on defence. Dave Brown brilliant attacking centre tu-n -^- uc kland for many a day. His ° one from near the scrum, were - cuted with the speed and finesse of ipla y er well calculated to go far ' i- feame. He has the pace, physique R . <l . Judgment of a star player, and that 'vf IVe dummy of. his were worth going in v " way to see. Boyle was not seen flml- 3 • ro ' e an d Tottey, on the other tf- ' ® v idently is a great scoring man. tiiW ?, Ce was a trifle shakey at 1,. Pope was good early in the piece , a out of the picture, and it was pji.y o E. Norman, his associate fiveiJl i to bear the brunt of the first-line work. This, Norman W VI , great credit. He had less opporshine than formerly,; but bis at vfi c T ere alw ays noticed. Thicknesse si.ivi • i was also seen in a more llßht - 'The Sydney packmen Z ( e ln great form, and, after Saturday s rmance ' Pearce must be classed as kest products of the code in a or • -0 years and isolid p. >ai , a ße~the worthy son of "Sandy' lW Ce V e doyen of Sydney hooker#. d a hand in almost every rnovel,working hard, in the scrum and running like a back. Ray tiivi good support 'but was. at Other good grafters tlirii U wvn > W. Dyer and M. Nixon, t,iL . last-mentioned was inclined to foW °?" side liberties. Rogers, the' lock 1 airi revealed 'his auper.b knowthe position and was alw-aja np

S h £A y ' i. He > a brainy exponent ™ s a vast improveteam,,it still fell below that Kf dl <* fairly well at full-back, but has shown to. better advantage. Len ™% was a «am in his element and, exRrmvn ° ne , ' ba 4 : miss of the meteoric Tl7^ e ' e lJ e \^ {MliT - Sea '« ar eta «'«l. xne more the ball went his way the better ■SiWS?*- Meehan, on the right wing, was rather indecisive, but the Marist star is yet a colt. Brisbane was wi C r ngPmof , therear S uar< i a nd besides an <* running well, tackled reuably. Smith performed with promise, tw'lw'n yGt to lea , rn ' the valu e of letting the ball away at the right moment when a sap has been forged in the opposing line. Hassan pleased behind the. scrum, troin which Campbell won the ball in generous style for Auckland. Ruby •bounded through .in the open tirelessly ana barter was .also good in patches. Uark played a different style of game as breakaway to Rogers, and his work in the doose had touches of brilliance due to- his pace and weight. His goal-kick-ing also proved valuable, though, early in the game, in careless vein, he threw away an extra two points by an: indifferent attempt from straight in front. _lhe details of scores were:—DevonportMamts:. Tries by. Scott and Brisbane; goalß, two conversions and two penalties by Clark. Eastern Suburbs: Tries by Brown (2) and Tottey, and two goals by Boyle. MID-WEEK MATCH. , COLTS TEAM SELECTED. The following players have been named to form the team to meet the Sydney side on Wednesday:—Full-back, L. fc-imons; three-quarters, Meehan, Mincham and ,L. .Scott; live-eighths, C. IHinn and A. Smith ; half, Hassan; forwards, Simpson, St. George, H. Lunh, Carter, Leatherbarrow and E. Scott. Reserves: Olliff and P. loung (backs) and MeLeay (forward). aot available: Iveson, K. Jones and Lawless. The players selected are to meet at Car.'aw Park at 5.30 p.m., Monday, and anyone unable to play in the fixture m required to notify Mr. E. Asuer, Shortland | Street. I;

the following Wednesday players, "The Rest," will meet the Mid-week champions, Waterside Workers, in the curtain-raiser on-No. .1 ground on Wednesday:—Davies, Hammond, Crook (Nicholson Park), Maher, Reynolds, Turner, Mills, J. Purdie and Porteous (City Markets), Chapman and Bowen (Town Board Rovers), Smith, Muncc and Graham (Stonex and Stormont's), and Burrcll, Gregson and Hawkes (Railway Loco.). Practice:is to be held at the Park on Monday evening. WEDNESDAY REPS. V. JUNIOR REPS. The match between the Wednesday reps, and the Auckland-junior reps, was played at Carlaw Park last Saturday, and resulted in an easy win for the former by 23 —G. Keen interest was taken in the match which was very fast and open, "both sides throwing the ball about in good style; but the Wednesdayites held too many guns for the junior reps and showed much better, combination. ■'" Good football has been produced by the mid-week players this season, and they have won both their rep. matches. They defeated Ta'upiri seniors at Taupirl by 24—12, and the. Auckland junior reps, by 23—C. GAMES IN ENGLAND. ' LONDON, October 17. The results of football matches played today under Northern Union rules are:— Batley 6, v. JTeatherstone Rovers 2; Bradford Northern 3, y. Barrow 16; Bramley 14, v. Hull Kingston Rovers 5; Castleford 21, v. Kefchley 3; Huddersfield 11, v. Wigan S ; Hull 3, v. Dewsbury 6; Hunslet 41 v. Widnes 7 ; Leigh 7, v. Halifax 6; Rochdale Hornets 20, v. Sti'.'Helens Recreation 4; St. Helens 31, v. Oldham 17;'. Swinton 15, v. Broughton' '.Rangers 0; AVakefield Trinity 8, v. Leeds 16; Wigan Highfleld 22, v. Warrington 7; York 2, v. Salford 2.

The county championship match between Lancashire and Yorkshire resulted in a win for the former by 11 points to 8.