LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 174, 25 July 1932, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

INTER-ISLAND MATCH. NORTH'S. COMFORTABLE WIN. SOUTH FAIL IX BACKS. In keeping with past history of the League code North Island again proved too good for South on Saturday, at CorlaV Park, in a game which was fast from bell to bell, and provided plenty of thrills lor the big crowd. Rain fell in thn morning, and the outlook then was far from promising, but before noon the weather cleared, and the conditions in the afternoon were ideal for football. On the run of the play the honours were decidedly with the Northerners, and the result, 27 points to 18 in their favour, was merited. Tho frame was played cleanly, but the tackling was always vigorous, and every one of the 26 players was there with the object of getting a place in the New Zealand team to play the Englishmen on Saturday. The teams were: — SOUTH ISLAND (White). Full-back: Harrison. Three-quarters: Devonport, Hart, Barbara. Five-eighths: Amos, Masters. Half: Fairman. Forwards: Griffiths, M. O'Brien, Glenn, Hamburger, Ward, C'aldcr. NORTH ISLAND (Black). Fuil-back: Laing. Three-quarters: List, Cooke, Scott. Five-eighths: Prentice, Brisbane. Half: Mclntj-rc. Forwards: Hall, White, Timnis, Laird, Stcphenson, Hutt. Brisbane led North on to the field, followed by South, headed by Griffiths. The latter set the game going, and play immediately went to North's twenty-five. North won the first scrum, and Mclntyre came round to take the game to half-way. A long clearing kick by Harrison saw Griffiths smother Laing's clearance. Calder and Griffiths headed an attack to North's twenty-five, where Mclntyre was penalised and Amos landed a fine goal from beyond the twenty-live line. South 2, North 0. Smart handling by the South backs brought the crowd on their toes, but the defence stood up to it, and little advantage was gained. South forwards took the play to North's twenty-five, where Brisbane got the ball from a scrum, and, making a beautiful opening, beat the defence before passing to Cooke, who ran over to Bcore, with List in support. Cooke failed with an easy shot. North 3, South 2. the ball, but the visitors were going fast the ball, but the viistors were going fast to the attack. Masters, O'Brien and Hart handled in turn, and the ball went back to Masters, but Amos failed to take the pass from Masters and a good chance was settled. Snappy passing by the white inside backs kept the defence busy, and Hart was making a good run for the line when Brisbane grassed him. Masters niade a tricky run and passed to Ward, who missed the ball. Barbara, being prevented from playing the ball when tackled, South were awarded a penalty and Masters landed a goal. South 4, North 3. A fine try came when five of the whites handled in turn. Ward secured and passed to Glenn, to Amos, to Hart, to Devonport, the last-named going over. Amos goaled. South 9, North 3. ■ Amos retired with an injured shoulder and was replaced by O'Brien. M. O'Brien was penalised for off-side and Hutt had a fruitless shot and E. O'Brien cleared brilliantly. Cooke took a pass from Prentice and had a clear run in, but he was offside. The forwards battled hard in the whites' area, where Fairman was penalised and Laing had a shot which missed. From some tight play in front of South s goal Mclntyre whipped to Brisbane, to Cooke, to Scott, who went across at the corner. Laing kicked a great goal from the sideline. South 9, North 8. White came through the ruck and sent on to Hutt, who was off-side, amd Griffiths attempted a goal without success. White sent the ball out to Brisbane, and it went along to Cooke, to Scott, who had a clear run across. Laing goaled, and half-time arrived. North 13 South 9 "Up and under" was the method adopted by the South forwards at the outset in the second half and twice in succession Cooke nipped in to save. Scrummed in South's twenty-five, Mclntyre, Brisbane, Cooke and List handled in turn, List, who had seen little or nothing of the ball all day, taking a one-handed pass and racing over to score. Laing co-nverted with a fine kick. North 18, South 9. The North backs were playing with dash and had the visitors sorely troubled. Awarded a penalty, Masters placed a good goal. North 18, South 11. The game was now fast and open, but while there was little to choose between the forwards, the North backs were more brilliant than "the visiting rearguard. Ine best score of the day came when Hamberger, who had been playing a great game in the South pack, broke away and dribbled half the length of the field score. Masters goaled. North 18, Soiith 16. • Eight along the backs the ball travel ed for Cooke to go over, but he was called back for a knock-on. Swinging into action again,' Mclntyre, Brisbane, Cooke and Scott handled for Scott to race round Harrison and score. Laing's shot missed North 21, South 16. . With only five minutes to go Cooke ecored twice for North, and Hamberger dropped a goal from the field for South, the final scores being: North • 27 South 18 Mr. P. Rogers was referee. PLAY AND PLAYERS. Though the result was against them oa Saturday the defeat was not nearly so decisive as had been administered to other South Island teams by the Northerners Last year a mere 56 points were rattled up against the men from across Cook Strait, eo that Saturday's result, viewed from the angle of the League code interests ie most satisfactory, as it shows there is a marked improvement in the standard of play in the South. It was expected, because of what had happened in oth«r North v. South matches, that the visitors' vanguard would again prevail over the Northern pack, but this anticipation was not fulfilled. North won the majority of the scrums, and those that went to the South were not made the best use of when the ball went out among the backs. The defeat of the Southerners was due to the superiority of the Northern backs. The complete understanding between Cooke and Brisbane was the battering ram which shattered the defence, and time after time the brilliant pair made openings which gave Scott every opportunity to score, with the result that the winger touched down several times. List's chances were restricted, he being starved in the first half, while in the second half he did not see a great deal of the ball, but when he did he made the best use of it. Mclntyre, behind a winning scrum, lacked enterprise, and it was only because he' was getting the ball hooked consistently that he was seen at all. Prentice was disappointing. He was too slow; in_ fact, was so much out of position that in all attacking movements he was invariably excluded. Scott was uncertain. At fullback the colt. Laing, playing his first game in big football, was not seen to advantage in the first spell, but he redeemed himself as the match progressed. Stephenson must be given credit for his hooking, but the ball was not being allowed to drift through to Mclntyre uninterruptedly on occasions. Hutt was given a trial at hooking before the interval, and did very well. He, White, and Laird were a good solid trio. Harrison, the visiting full-back, thoroughly lived up to his reputation as a reliable custodian, and behind a beaten rearguard must be given credit for a very attractive display. Devonport, on the right wing, played a reliable game, but

somewhat lacked . pace. On the other tlank, Barbara, who appeared to be handicapped, because he generally plays on the 2£ii wln S> wae *?ot quite tip to standard, btill, lie was willing, and stood up to repeated demands, The outstanding \vas the ceutre three-quarters, Hart, one oE the most promising young centres seen in Auckland for many a day. He is cool, has a nice side-step, and is equally proficient in defence. Amos was playing a good game until he retired, his place being taken by O_Bnen, who got a lot of work to do m deieace, but very few chances in attack. Alasters was good, making some fine openings in the iirst half when his team was getting a sight of the ball. Fairman, behind the pack, was too erratic, and did not send the leather on to his live-eighths with a proper sense of direction. The forwards were a great set, all solid grafters from bell to bell, with Hambergcr outstanding. In the tight work or loose he was always battling hard, and his try, when lie took the ball half the length of the field, was the most spectacular effort ot the afternoon. He capped this later by dropping a goal from the field from thirty yards out. M. O'Brien and Calder were (lashing, and were well supported by Ward Glenn, and Griffiths. FIRST TEST MATCH. NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVES. The selectors of the New Zealand team, Messrs. A. McClymont (Auckland), A. Sergiison (Auckland) and J. Sanders (Christchurch), have chosen the following players to represent New Zealand in the first Test match against England at Carlaw Park next Saturday:— Full-back: A. Laing (Auckland). Three-quarters: P. Hart (West Coast), C. List (Auckland), L. Scott (Auckland). l< ive-eighths: H. Brisbane, captain (Auckland), A. E. Cooke (Auckland). Half-back: J. Masters (West Coast). Forwards: J. Calder (West Coast), E. St. George (Auckland), R. Stephenson (South Auckland), M. O'Brien (West Coast), T. Timins (South Auckland), L. Hutt (Auckland). GRADE GAMES. SECOND GRADE. Pr. Chevalier 10, bent Otahuhu 5. Alt. Albert 22, beat IX onport 0. Mangere 10, beat Papakura 0. THIRD GRADE OPEN. Marist 30, beat Akarnna 0. Richmond 36, beat Glenora 0. THIRD GRADE INTERMEDIATE. City 2, beat Akarana 0. FOURTH CRADE. Ponsonby 18, beat Newton 0. l't. Chevalier 11, beat Akarana 5. Richmond 3, beat Marist 2. FIFTH GRADE. Newton 5, beat Marist B 0. City 8, beat Ellerslic 3. * Northeote 10, beat Pt. Chevalier 0. . Devonport 48, beat Papatoetoe 0. SIXTH GRADE! Pt. Chevalier 10, beat Mangere 0. Richmond 9, beat City 0. SEVENTH GRADE. - Richmond A 3, beat Richmond B 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. WHANGAREI. Monteith Shield Knock-out Competition.— Hikurangl 28, beat City 8. Waro Waro defaulted to Takahlwal. HUNTLY. Juniors.—Kia Ora 3, beat Walterimu 2. Huntly won by default from Ngaruawahia. Colts. —Kin Ora 8, beat Huntly 6. GABIES. IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Llnwood 10, beat Rtccarton' 4. Hornby, beat Sydenham by default. DUNEDIN. Matches postponed because of -wet grounds.