LEAGUE FINALE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 250, 22 October 1931, Page 16

LEAGUE FINALE.

EASTERN SUBURBS WIN AGAIN

CLEVER PLAY BY REARGUARD

AUCKLAND COLTS GO WELL

The brief and meteoric tour of the Eastern Suburbs Rugby League team came to a close at Car law Park yesterday afternoon when they defeated An Auckland colte team by 18 points to 13. On the day the better team won, although the Aucklanders made a hard fight of it all the way through. Light rain fell during the match, with the result that the standard of play did not reach the heights of the first match played in Auckland when the visitors gave a dazzling exhibition of back play.

The colts had the visitors in check through, the first half, much for the reason that they had most of the bail from the set scrums. In the second half the visiting forwards came more into the picture, the Sydney backs pot greater opportunities, and their clever interplay gave quite a sparkling touch to the game. It was obvious that the Sydney men knew more about the finer points or" the code than their opponents. Some of the shepherding was so subtle that it almost appeared to be accidental, but' it was a_ phase, of play which brought a trail of penalties in its wake. In the Sydney back divsion Boyle Brown and Norman stood out for their brilliant attacking play, while the youthful Thicknee.se opened up the game like a champion. Pcarce and Stehr showed up in the Sydney vanguard. The Auckland backs were very patchy as a combination, although Oliff. Dunn, and Scott showed up as units. E. Scott was the shining 1' lit of an even pack. The teams were: — Auckland Colts.—Full-back. Simons; three-quarters. Mincham, Dunn, L. Scott; five-eighths, Smnh and Hassan; half, Oliff; forwards. E, Scott, Carter, Leatherbarrow. Simpson, St. George, Lunn. Eastern Suburbs: Full-back, Pope; three-quarters, Paillas, Brown. Boyle; fiveeighths, Delaney and Norman; half, Thickncsse; forwards, Stehr, R. Brown, Pearce, Rogers, Gillam. Dyer. Auckland had all the best of the early exchangee, the score coming after 15 minutes' play. From a set scrum near the left corner Oliff whipped the ball to Hassan, and the Marist playen cut in cleverly to score, Smith converting. Auckland Colts 5, Eastern Suburbs 0. Thickneeee launched an attack cleverly in the Auckland twenty-five, and Brown, with brilliant speed, went through vritb Paillas trailing in support. A rapid transfer sent the -wing across in the corner. Brown sent the flags up. Auckland Colts 5, Eastern Suburbs 5. A .clever deep pass bv Thicknesso sent Sydney once more on scoring bent. The final pass saw Boyle jammed on the sideline, but with a great burst of speed he eluded Simons and went on to score in a good position. Paillas converted, Eastern Suburbs 10, ■ Auckland Colts 5. Smith wiped out two points of the deficit with a fine penalty goal. At halftime Eastern Suburbs were leading by 10 points to 7. When the sides turned round Auckland launched a sustained and searching attack. There was a fumble when the Sydney backs tried to clear and Mincham, coming up fast, dived over at the flag to bring the scores level. From a set scrum at centre Thicknesse started the most brilliant movement of the day when he swung a lightning deep pane to Paillas. Brown came into the .movement, then Pope, then Norman, and finally the speedy Boyle sailed away to get a try at the corner. Eastern Suburbs 13, Auckland Colts 10. With the Sydney backs in the ascendancy Auckland started to slip into the shadows. Another brilliant passing movement with great speed and thrust, saw Boyle again cross in the corner. Brown converted. Eastern Suburbs 18, Auckland Colts 10. Auckland were attacking occasionally, but it was spasmodic effort with the Home five-eighths unable to shake off the shackles of the. Sydney covering defence. In scrambling play Carter got in at the corner. Eastern Suburbs 18, Auckland 13. The Sydney backs were dominating the situation when the end came, and the-final scores Eastern Suburbs ........18 Auckland Colts :. ■■• 13

THE "CURTAIN-RAISER."

WATERSIDERS BEAT THE REST

The preliminary to the big game at Carlaw Park yesterday was an engagement between Watersider Workers and a thirteen drawn from the remainder ot the eidee which competed in the mid-week competition. ' Watereiders won by 8, points (R. Purdy scored, two tries anu Gardiner kicked, a goal) to 0 (tries by Graham and Chapman). Mr. W. Simpson was refeiee.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS' FIXTURE

\ League football match will be played ■at* Devonport at 2 p.m. on Saturday between teams from the Uevonport and Northcote primary schools.