FRAYED TEMPERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 229, 28 September 1933, Page 18

FRAYED TEMPERS.

ROUGH LEAGUE GAME,

RICHMOND AND ST. GEORGE.

[WIN FOR HOME SIDE,

"Scenes" were common in the League football match at Carlaw Park yesterday afternoon, when the visiting St. George team met and were defeated by the Richmond Club team by 13 points to 8 in a game which was probably the roughest played in Auckland for many years. Temper was consistently, shown _by the St. George team. Deliberate kicking and punching were indulged in, and the climax was reached when two opposing players stood over the side-line on the terrace side and fought. Players and referee had to separate the pair, whde the spectators became highly excited.

The match itself provided nothing startling in the way of football —as a matter of fact it was somewhat disappointing, this probably because many of the players lost their balance and were playing the man and not the ball. In the first half of the game there were , one or. two incidents which called" for a reprimand on the part of the referee, Mr. V. Simpson, but he was altogether too lenient, and had he been more drastic early the game would not have developed'into the "free-for-all" that it did.

It was in the second spell that the Sydney players lost their heads, when the Richmond forwards, playing with rare dash and determination, smashed any attacking movements initiated :by the visitors, and soon had them completely rattled. It may be that the -visitors took exception to being so freely penalised by the referee for shepherding, but even so that was no excuse for the rough tactics they resorted" to, and more than one player should have been ordered off for deliberately kicking" ail opponent." The crowd on the terraces and stand were almost continuously calling to the referee "Put him off," but Mr. Simpson did not go beyond issuing warnings. At one stage the players oh both sides were using their fists freely, kicking at each other in the scrums long before the ball was put in, and it was the man, not the: ball, they were playing. Richmond On Top. As a game <of football the match was played hard, but never did the standard rise to any height, and in every sense it was "scrappy." At half-time, St. George led by two joints, a penalty goal by Robinson, but in the second half Richmond quickly' wiped off the- deficit, and adopting smothering methods had the visiting backs well and truly rattled. The St. George men were getting plenty of the ball- and throwing it about, but there was no penetration in their efforts, and rarely did their inside backs make an opening which led to anything. The Richmond pack, well supported by their backs, smashed up anything in the way of attacks, and probably it was ; this, together with the referee consistently penalising them for shepherding, that caused the St. George to en to show temper, and resoi't to tactics which were far from being in keeping with good sport.

Early in the second half Milicich equalled the scores when he placed : a penalty goal, and then Satherley scored, putting Richmond in front—s to 2. Martin scored wide -out for St. George, and once again the scores were. but .an obstruction try to Richmond again put the- locals in the lead,- and "when Abbott scored later, and Satherley placed a penalty,. Richmond led 13 to 5. Towards the close Martin scored his second try for St. George, and'the game ended with the honours going to Richmond by 13 l)oints to 8. ' , On the Richmond side Prentice and Mitchell were 'the Outstanding backs. Both plaved hard football and tackled solidly, while. 'they consistently followed up fast. Powell was also a solid woiker. Of the forwards Satherley and Lawless were perhaps the best on the field. -They played vigorously, and never gave their opponents a moment's peace. _ The St. George men were disappointing. Certainly their backs displayed a keenness to open up the game, but once Richmond forwards took charge the St. George combination fell to pieces. Daly and Martin were always prominent, among the backs, and Rutherford, Fairall and Ivi Hi by were three hard grafters in the pack. Wednesday competition teams played the early match on No. 2 ground, Atta Taxis defeating Checkers 10—5. The curtain-raiser, resulting in a draw (<5 all) was -between Avondale and Richmond schoolboys. MATCH WITH MARISTS. At a special meeting of the council of the New Zealand Rugby League, after the match at Carlaw Park yesterday, it was decided that Marista Old Boys should meet St. George on Saturday. Mr. P(Rogers was appointed referee, and Messrs. L. Bull and M. Wetherill linesmen. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY. Following are the fixtures for Saturday:— Special Match.—St. George (Sydney) v. Marists, Carlaw Park, No. 1, 3 p.m., Mr. P. Rogers. Third Grade Intermediate. —Northcoto v. Marist, Carlaw Park, No. 1, 1.45 p.m., Mr. T. Fisher.

Fourth Grade.-—Marist A v. City, Carlaw Park, No. 2, 1.45 p.m., Mr. R. Otto; Manukau V. Newton B, Carlaw Park, No. 2, 2.40 p.m., Mr.R. Otto. Houso Match-—"Waste Products v. Auckland' Gas Company, Grey Lynn, 3 p.m., Mr. C. Boneham. f