LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 202, 28 August 1933, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

FINE INTERPROVINCIAL GAME. WEST COAST JUST DEFEATED. CHALLENGE CUP MATCHES. What might have been! This wae the feeling at Carlaw Park on Saturday when the Auckland representative team defeated West Coast, holders of the Northern Union Challenge Cup, by a margin of six pointe in a high scoring game in which the play swung from end to end of the ground with delightful uncertainty. Auckland did not win easily. The West Coast forwards, a young, virile, robust pack, shaded the Northern six all the way. As a setTolf the Auckland backs were infinitely superior to the visiting back line, and occasionally they chimed into telling combination and scoring sequence. It was a bright, open game all the way, with kaleidoscopic and changeful phases. With an Appleby or a Dufty in their team West Coast might have won. Many golden pointe went begging when the crossbar and goalposts were in range. ' The large crowd at headquarters was well entertained by the Challenge Cup series, the real surprise of the afternoon being the triumph of the Ponsonby colt team over Richmond. The teams were:— West Coast.—Backs: L. Martyn, J. Devonpovt, P. Hart, H. Morris, J. Dodds (captain), J. Masters, T. O'Connor. Forwards: ,f. Calder, H. Hunt, G. Scott, G. Newton, W. Glynn, J. Bebaoi. Auckland. —Backs: N. Campbell, L. Schultz, L. Wayne, R. C. Bright, A. E. Uooke (captain), S. Prentice, Axeman. Forwards: S. Clark, Leatlierbarrovv, J. Donald, R. Lawless, C. Satherley, T. Hall. Auckland faced the sun, and playsettled momentarily in Coast territory. A T ewton and Glynn had a clearing rush and Dodds found the line in Auckland's twenty-five. Coast won the first set scrum, but quick tackling prevented the backs opening up. The crowd was brought to its feet when Cooke, from half-way, cleanly beat Dodds, and, sailing straight ahead, side-stepped Martyn to run on and score behind the posts amid cheers. Campbell goaled. Auckland 5, West Coast 0. The visitors began to play in lively fashion, and Newton and Glynn handled snappily. Calder was up for the final pass and went over in a good -position. Dodds equalised the scores. Auckland 5, West Coast 5. Auckland's rearguard, with Cooke doinp| heady things, was going well. In five minutes from a loose ruck, Hall picked up and went across, with Morris clinging desperately to him. Campbell goaled. Martyn fumbled a long clearing kick, and Satherley, following through, had no difficulty in going over. Campbell goaled. Auckland 15, West Coaet 5. The superiority of Auckland's backs was beginning to tell its tale, and Prentice took a pass at top. Cooke received, to change direction and go straight in diagonally under the posts. Campbell kicked his fourth goal. Calder kicked a penalty goal from long range before the interval, when the board read: Auckland 20 West Coast 7 The virile young cup-holders opened the second half with great dash. Devonport snapped up in the loose and dived over. Doddfi miissed a good chance. Newton accepted a short pass from Dodds, and shot across amid excitement. Masters kicked a "grubber." Auckland 20, West Coast 13. The pace was now on> with a vengeance, and a judicious kick by Cooke placed Auckland oii the attack. Campbell threw away Auckland's advantage by kicking too hard, and the ball went dead. Martyn went off hurt, and Morris took his place, O'Brien going on the wing. From brilliant passing between Cooke and Wayne,, the former received again to send Bright sailing across. Campbell missed. Auckland 23, West Coaet 13. Rousing play by the visiting forwards carried deep'into Auckland's zone. Newton picked up and dispatched Dodds away in a sharp thrust to the corner. He scored, but Calder failed to convert. Auckland 23, West Coast 16. Scintillating play by Auckland," with West Coast defending resolutely, now marked the contest and the crowd was well entertained. Dodds failed to get the line at midway with a penalty. Schultz fielded the ball and sent Campbell away. He timed a pretty pass to Axeman, who was accompanied by the übiquitous Cooke, who flashed across with several defenders holding him. Campbell goaled. Auckland 28, West Coast 16. The Coasters continued to battle out the issue in dauntless style. Storming up close, O'Connor pushed into a ecrum and gained a try. Hunt missed. Auckland 28, West Coast 19. From another great charge by the Coast "flying column" Newton emerged from the ruck to score. Dodds failed with the kick, and the bell went with the scores Auckland 28 West Coast 22 Mr. P. Rogers was referee. SPECIAL ROUND. The series of special matches for senior teams was continued on Saturday. Results: — Marists 10, beat City Rovers 5. Newton 14, beat Devonport 5. Ponsonby 3, beat Richmond 0. TO PLAY HAWKE'S BAT. AUCKLAND REPS. FOR SATURDAY. The Auckland representative team to play Hawke's Bay at Carlaw Park on Saturday next is :— Full-back.—Campbell (Marist). Three-quarters. — Bright (Ponsonby), Cooke (Richmond), Wayne (City). Five-eighths.—Brisbane, captain (Marist), Prenticn (Richmond). Half-back. —Hassan (Marist). Forwards.— Hali (Newton), Satherley (Richmond), Lawless (Richmond), Clarke (City), Campbell (Marist), Donald (DevonReserves. —Leatherbarrow (Devonport), Laird (Marist), Axeman <City), L. Schultz (l Players must attend practice Tuesday and Thursday nights next at Carlaw Park at 730 p.m. Any player who is unavailable must notify E. Asher immediately. GRADE GAMES. SECOND GRADE. Mangere 15, beat Point Chevalier 3. THIRD OPEN. Marist 15. beat Ponsonby 0. Glenora 13, beat Mangere 3. Mt. Albert 5, drew with Ngaruawania 5. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Marist 14, beat Richmond 6. I Northcote 5, beat Papakura 0. FOURTH GRADE. ' City 3. beat Newton 80. Newton A 22. beat Ponsonby 0. Marist A 7, beat Manukau 0. Point Chevalier 15. bent Marist 4. Richmond 5, beat Northcote 2. FIFTH GRADE. Championship Final: Richmond B 13, beat Richmond A 0. SIXTH GRADE. Manukau beat Devonport by default. SEVENTH GRADE. Ellerslie beat Devonport by default. Richmond A 10, beat Richmond B 0. FRIENDLY GAMES. Auckland Gas Co. 18, beat Bycroft's, McKendrick Bros. 31, beat Australian Waste Products 0. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. NAPIER. Final of Senior Knock-out. —Clive 29, beat Taradale 10.

OTAGO BEATEN.

CANTERBURY'S CLEAR MARGIN. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The second interprovincial League match between Otago and Canterbnry was played at Sydenham Park. The ground was in excellent order. Munro replaced; Grenfell in the Otago team, and Forbes replaced Preston for Canterbury. From the kick-off play was fast and open. The Otago forwards bustled the home side, and play was taken to the goal-line, but Amos kicked clear. From a penalty Otago had an. easy shot at goal, and B. O'Connor was successful. Otago kept up the pressure, and O'Malley was pushed out a yard from the corner. After a determined dash Canterbury were penalised a"gain, and B. O'Connor goaled. The Otago backs were playing better than the home rearguard, and. a fine bout of passing between B. O'Connor, Schmelz and Foote almost resulted in a try. Foote received a push and lost possession of the ball on the line. On resuming Canterbury attacked hotly, and Merson and Amos made good runs. Otago had a brief respite, and when the Canterbury forwards, tea by Ward and Dunn, surged on to the Otago goal-line. From a ruck, Waghorn dived over. Stanleven converted. Canterbury 5, Otago 4. Canterbury were now showing better form and Palamountain, after a brilliant run, passed to Forbes, who scored. Stanleven failed to convert. Otago were mostly on the defensive, and only solid tackling kept the score down. Eventually Forbee, Amos and Brimble went away, and the lastnamed showed a clear pair of heels to the opposition. Palamountain's kick failed. Canterbury 11, Otago 4. In the closing stages Waghorn and Palamountain scored tries, one of which was converted. The game ended: Canterbury 19 Otago 4

THE KANGAROOS.

A VICTORY IN LANCASHIRE. LONDON, August 27. The Australian League football team (the Kangaroos) on Saturday defeated St. Helens Recreation (Lancashire) by 13 points to 9. The Australian team to play Leigh on Wednesday will comprise Smith, Ridley, C. Pearce, Laws, Neumann, Mead, Thicknesse, Gibbs, Little, Curran, O'Connor, Dempsey, Doyle.