LEAGUE' FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 136, 12 June 1933, Page 14

LEAGUE' FOOTBALL.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCH.

AUCKLAND DOWNS TARANAKI.

STRENUOUS; FIGHT BY VISITORS,

The first of the representative matches to be played under the League code this season was staged at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when Auckland succeeded . in- defeating Taranaki ... by 32 points to/20 in a most exciting game, particularly: the second half, when the visiting forwards kept the large crowd highly excited as they battered away continuously at the Auckland defence. In the early stages the Auckland backs dominated' the position, and it was not long before Smith scored a rather simple try by cutting in. He converted, and Auckland were' 5 up inside a few minutes. Taranaki evened the score when Referees Wetherill awarded an obstruction , try, which Fraser goaled. Auckland . then took charge, and the backs began to throw the ball about. Bright put on two nice tries, and Laird and Turei also 6cored' before half-time, and Smith, converting two of them, Auckland led .at 'the interval by 21 points to 5. Everything pointed to Auckland scoring a runaway victory, but - the state of affairs in the second half was a strong contrast to the first spell. The Taranaki forwards, keeping the. play tight, literally ran over the Auckland men and, never letting up, they had the crowd on their toes continuously. Arnold notched a try which Fraser converted, and a little later Hunt scored. Then Fraser made the best possible use of a penalty, and Auckland's lead was reduced «m----siderably, the scoreboard showing 21 to 15 in the locals' favour. McLeod put on another try for the visitors which Fraser goaled, and the tally went to 20, but in between times Auckland increased their score, Turei going over the Taranaki lino twice, and Bright also put on a try, making his third during'the afternoon. ; Smith converted one, and the bell went with Auckland taking the honours by 32. to 20. Mr. E. Wetherill was referee.

RUN OF THE GAME. [DASHING, TARANAKI FORWARDS.v. In. what' was undoubtedly one of the most strenuous games played at Carlaw Park for-some: time Taranaki went under to Auckland,' but just wliy tliey went under is not easy to decide. Even the most ardent supporter of the local men must agree that in the second spell the forwards played, all over our men, and their showing was reminiscent of the occasion of- the North v. ' South Island match some seasons back when a great iSouth Island pack came along and gave the Auckland scrummers the merriest time they had had for years. The League code is not so firmly es'tab- • lished in Taranaki as it is in Auckland; there are not the number of players to select a team from, but those offering are players above the ordinary, and in the Taranaki pack were two or three who would warrant inclusion in any side. In the first half of the game the position was dominated by the Auckland team, thanks to the work of the backs being smarter than that of the visiting rear division, who, by the way, did not get many opportunities to show their real ability in attack. This was due, not to any superiority on the part of Auckland, but because the visitors, obviously somewhat nervy at the start, concentrated upon keeping the play tight and allowing the forwards to do the hard work. 4 s it happened, the Auckland hbokers got more than a fair share of the ball, 'with the result that their backs were frequently sent away, the Taranaki men being given the job of tackling. All things considered, they stood up to it creditably, despite the margin Auckland had on the scoreboard at half-time. Earned Every Point. The first half was always interesting, but the second half was almost one continuous attack by Tdranaki. Their forwards threw themselves into the game, with a determination to batter their way through the defence at all costs. And. they did it, but not quite so often as their vigour deserved. Every point they put on the board had to. be earned by hard graft, and in more than ono instance the scoring player had to hurl himself through and make his weight carry him over. None of their scores was by any means, in the nature of "presents," although Referee Wetherill in the first half did award .the visitors an obstruction try.

Playing for "Five." When time was called Taranaki had 20 points to their crcdit, but their tally might quite easily have been more, although they probably -would not have wiped out the whole of the 12 points margin which the looal men .inished up with. During the second half Taranaki frequently were awarded penalties, not always in a difficult" position,'but instead of taking advantage of a reasonably good chance of adding two points by kicking a goal, they preferred to adopt the "up and under" method and play for live. As a team Taranaki's positional, play was somewhat lacking, the inside backs standing too deep, failing to realise that their forwards were controlling the game. The result was that when the Auckland backs obtained possession they were able to get up speed before the defence, and enjoyed more room to work in than they should have been permitted. This suited a tricky player like Smith, who was able several times to cut in and find gaps. For a team lighter than Auckland the visiting spearhead drew the admiration of the crowd. Taking the winning side first, Laing did some clever work, but was rather too often caught in possession for an international full-back. However, he had an extremely busy afternoon, and it must be conceded the opposing forwards did not allow him to take his own time. Tnrei and Bright were both good on the wings, Turei's speed being his greatest j asset, and he may-have shown out even better than lie'did had List handed him better passes.. List was' inclined to go too far before getting rid of the ball; but he was -Very solid in defence. Brimble and Smith .were both snappy, particularly Brimble, . who was always , in attacking movements. Smith made some ■fine openings!, and his side-stepping had the opposing five-eighths thinking all the afternoon: Hassan got few chances. The Taranaki forwards, keeping the play tight, gave the local half no peace. Laird and Lawless were the outstanding' forwards,. and were ably supported' ; by Satherley and .Leatherbarrow. Of the Taranaki side too much praise cannot be given to the forwards. Never did a pack ..-work harder. The backs were ijot greatly in the picture, their i job being to;put a stop to any attack 1 the Auckland backs might launch. Priar was sound enough a.t full-back; and of the thrt'eiquarters Hunt was the best. Arnold' was- mojre, prominent than Mc- , Laggan at. five-eighths y..while -rCowley,

behind the pack, was not called upon to open up the game as much as one would expect. This was duo to the forwards controlling the position. The forwards were a willing set. The two McLeods and McLeay were perhaps the shining lights, but there was little to choose between any of them.

OFFICIAL DINNER, SHIELD TROPHY DOXATED. | Presiding at the largely-attended dinner held on Saturday evening at the Commercial Hotel to honour the Taranaki team, managers and officials, the chairman of the Auckland League, Mr. G. Grey Campbell, said the visit and the inatcn fulfilled a long-felt desire to have Taranaki back in the code, and the contest so greatly appreciated that day by the public proved that the province had fine footballers, and would be an important factorin future interprovincial and international fixtures. The speaker announced that a gentleman, well-known in Auckland, Mr. C. Walmsley, an invalid, who did certain art craftsmanship, saw the match at Carlaw Park. lie brought with him a trophy made with his own hands, a beautifully worked shield, featuring in colour the head -of a Maori chieftain. An old representative player, who had captained Thames, Mr. Walmsley thought lie would like to mark the occasion of this visit by a Taranaki team with a tangible momento, and the Auckland League .gladly acquiesced in the suggestion that the shield should be set aside as a special trophy to be competed for between the two provinces. The League desired, though Auckland won the first match, that the visitors should take tlie shield back with them, and perhaps it would be won back again by Auckland later in the season. Mr. Campbell heartily congratulated Taranaki on their fine play that day. Responding to the toast of the visitors, which was supported by musical honours, Mr. J. C. Sceats said the Taranaki team had learned much from the game, and the party appreciated the hospitality and facilities provided by the Auckland League. Mr. A. Adam, t«cretary of the Taranaki League, who also apologised for the absence of his chairman, Mr. V. Simpson, congratulated Auckland on its win, and said the team and League were very proud of the Walmsley Shield, which w.ould mean a great deal to Taranaki. C. Hunt, Taranaki captain, testified for his team to the pleasures of the match, and 6aid the visitors learnt valuable lessons from' it. Mr. J. Rukutai, a member of the board of control, toasted the Council of the New Zealand League, and referred to the great work being done to foster and develop the code. The president of the League, Mr. C. A. Sneddon, acknowledged the compliment, and after stressing the need for the council preserving a national outlook, referred to the lino co-operation now being given by all Leagues, particularly Auckland. Taranaki had shown itself well worthy of its place in iutcrprovincial rivalry. Remarks appropriate to the occasion were made also by Messrs. E. K. Asher and G. Hooker, aud by the Auckland captain, W. Hassan. The visitors returned homo yesterday.

GRADE GAMES,

SECOND GRADE. Mangere 11, beat Mt. Albert 0. „ Ellerslie IS, beat Manukau 3. Papakura 19, beat Pt. Chevalier 0. THIRD OPEN. Richmond 52, beat Papakura 3. Marlst 23, beat Mt. Albert 5. l'ousonby 24, beat New Lynn 0. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Devonport 15, bent Otahulm 11. Manukau B 5, beat Akarnna 0. Marlst .23, beat Richmond 0. Nortbcote 11, beat Papakura 2. FOURTH GRADE. Toint Chevalier 47, beat Manukau 0. City 28, beat Richmond 0. Devonport 15. beat Newton B 0. l'ousonby 7, beat Marist Ii 2. Newton A 19, beat Akarnna 5. Marist A 3S, beat Northcote 3. FIFTH GRADE. Richmond A 42, beat Ellerslie 0. Richmond B 5. beat Nortlicote 2. City 8, beat Akarana 0. Point Chevalier 30, beat Ellerslie 6. Papakura 10, beat New Lynn 0. SIXTH GRADE. Richmond 10, beat Devonport 4. Devonport 10, beat Newton 0. SEVENTH GRADE. Devonport 12, beat Richmond P. 0. Richmond A 13. beat Newton 0. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. Richmond 0, drew with Ellerslie 0. Avondale 3, beat City 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. WHANGAREI. Senior.—City 21. beat, Kamo 2. Junior.—Waka Waro 3, beat Kamo 0. TAUPIRI. Tauplrl 3, beat ITuntly 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH. Hornby 11, beat Addington 5. Linwood 11, beat Riccarton 7. DUNEDIN. Christian Brothers 8, drew with City 8. ■Pacific 14, beat Athletic 5. N.S.W. BEATS QUEENSLAND. SYDNEY, June 11. In a Rugby League match yesterday New South Wales defeated Queensland by 17 poluts to 14.