NORTHERN UNION CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 144, 20 June 1932, Page 13

NORTHERN UNION CUP.

"WON BY SOUTH AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph.— Special to "Star.") WHANGAREI, this day. The first match for the Northern Union which carries with- It the -Rugby League championship -of New Zealand, ever to be played north of Auckland took place ac Mlkurangi on Saturday. The weather conditions were, perfect, with a light wind mowing lhere:was an attendance of 1000. i c , nal lengers fielded their team as selected, and North' Auckland was fully represented with the exception of C. White, a ■&■'%, forward, .who is-In hospital. Mr. a. McClyirioht, North Island selector, was present. The teams were :—. SOUTH AUCKLAND. Full-back : Lees. Three-quarters: G. Tittleton, Garry and Whorskey. • • F've-eighths: W. Tittleton, Peckham. Half: Abbott. - Forwards: Laird, Menzies, Stevenson, Jackways, Scott, and Timms. NORTHLAND. Full-back: C. Hamilton. Three-quarters: Connolly, R. Hamilton, Barakat. Five-eighths : Parks, E. Meyer. Half-back : Shortland. Forwards: E. O'Callaghan, Wells, W. Meyer, Dunn, Payne, and Bcrghau. The visitors had the advantage of weight, <t t , s , trlppe<l a ver y well-balanced team. jNorthland gave the first fireworks. The backs were going well when R. Hamilton dropped a pass. Barakat kept the play open, w t , P nn °llJ' made a good run on the wing. iNorthland were overcoming their handicap in the scrum, and won the ball consistently, wild passing spoiling their opportunities. Shortland broke through alone, but Abbott intercepted the pass, and the visitors attacked. Stevenson lost u great opportunity by passing'aimlessly, and C. Hamilton picked up to clear when Scott looked like scoring. The first score ,was a beautv. Parks made an opening, and -with two men outside him should have passed. He was held up a yard from the line. North won the scrum, and the ball came across to Connolly who, shaking off W. Tittleton and scored in the corner. C. Hamilton missed the kick. North 3, South 0. South were unlucky not to equalise when Peckham cut through and kicked over the fullback's head. The ball went into touch in goal. North were throwing the ball about in most attractive style and play was full of excitement. O'Callaghan broke through, but with plenty of support lost another try. South scored when Jackways intercepted offside. He kicked Menzies followed through, and when tackled by Parks, sent on to Abbott, who ran the rest of the distance unopposed. C. Littleton converted. North 3, South 5. R. Hamilton . would have, regained the lead for North had he succeeded in gathering in a bouncing ball. Menzies took- play down field and Abbott kicked into the dead ball area.

Parks was missing his passes, but after Shortland and E.- Meyer had handled in a passing, rush from halfway, sent on to R. Hamilton, who, in a corkscrew run, shook off several would-be tacklers anil scored. E.Meyer-'landed a goal. North 8, South 5. .W. Tittleton, who injured a shoulder, was replaced by Holland. The visitors were now winning the scrum's, arid it was their'mistakes and the brilliant tackling of the home side that kept them out. Stevenson and Holland broke through. Whorskey ran round Barakat. Berghan saved well, and halftime sounded with the score :—

North 8 South 5 Eong-passing gave .South -Auckland a score three minutes after the resumption. From a'-movement initiated by Holland the ball wont to Garry, -who in-passed for Abbott to complete. G. Tittleton kicked an easy goal. South 10, North 8. South were pressing, but O'Callaghan and E. Meyer'saved. Tarks, Wells and E. Meyer starred in some -nice passing, but the movement broke down. At this stage matters were very even, and it looked anybody's game, but R. Hamilton changed the complexion by making a brilliant interception, and, catching Lees out of position, raced three-quarters of the length of the field to score. E. Meyer made no mistake. North 13, South JO. The visitors set up a determined attack and tested the home defence to the utmost. Several scrums were put down on the home line. Once was held up in a dive. A free kick brought easement ' for the North, but ■ the'challengers earned, the reward of concentrated effort, when, after 10 minutes' solid .offensive, G. Tltthjton flew over at the corner. The scorer narrowly missed from a difficult angle. North 13, South 13. • ■

The battle waged to and fro, and with five minutes to go, and even scores, excitement was intense. South threw the ball about, and it was only the defence of E. Meyer that prevented the visitors registering again. C. Hamilton was penalised for. not playing, the ball, allowing G. Tittleton to kick an easy one.

South 15 North ' 13 At this stage Holland left the field with a deep cut below the eye. With only a few minutes to' go the holders made strenuous efforts to retain their-hold on the championship, but South, with good defensive tactics, wfested. the coveted trophy, which they lost last year, by a margin of two. . • . Mr. -ii Bull, of-Auckland, was referee..

PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

. Newton 0, drew with Ellerslie. 0. Richmond 16, beat Northeote 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. WHANGAEEI. NORTHERN UNION, CUP. ■South Auckland (challengers)' 15, beat North Auckland (holders) 13. Junior.—Portland 11, beat Whaka Waro 2. . , , HUNTLY. Junlor.-T-'Waiterimu 0, beat Ngaruawahla 3.

GAMES IN THE SOUTH.

CHRISTCHURCH. Linwood 39, beat Riccarton 7. Hornby 37, beat Sydenham 17. DUNEDIN. City 15, beat Pacific 0. Christian Brothers Hi, beat Athletic 6.