AUCKLAND WINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 190, 13 August 1934, Page 16

AUCKLAND WINS.

LEAGUE REP. MATCH. NORTHLAND'S STRONG BID. CONDITION DECIDING FACTOR. In an exhilarating display at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon before a large attendance, the Northland Rugby League touring team, after dominating the first half with brilliant inside back play, just failed in the concluding stages, when the form and speed of Auckland were manifested. A feature was the fine tackling of the visitors, who should greatly benefit by the gruelling test in their later fixtures. In the early game Otahuhu clinched the second grade championship of the Auckland Rugby League. The Game in Brief. Taking the lend within three minutes by a penalty goal, the teams sparred with refreshing vim, and play fluctuated in fast thrusts and countering tactics between forwards and backs. Auckland w;ere winning the scrums, but nippy inside back work by the Northlanders checked progress, although the city wingers occasionally flashed into action, only to be frustrated by a resolute defence. After 20 minutes crammed with incident, E. Meyer,, ex-North Island Union back and 1930 Rugby League Kiwi, who had been showing keen anticipation, outwitted the o'pposing five-eighths with a meteoric glancing run to score from 15 yards out. O. Hamilton, the tall centre, comfortably added his second goal. Keeping up the pace and bowling into the fray with determination, the all blues pressed to the corner, following another penetrating burst by Meyer. Cross accepted the ball on the rlv, and, just missing a splendid try, played the ball cleanly, picked up in the loose and flicked it to R. White, who touched down with a three-yard move, a couple of feet inside touch. Hamilton's trusty boot added the major points, to the tune of general acclaim. Stung by the mounting reverse, the Auckland team, the forwards playing with more fire, carried operations to just beyond half-way, Quirke being conspicuous. From a scrum, Axeman delivered the ball to Brimble. to Riley, who, careering at top pace, deviated to the left with the defence completely asunder, and went on to cap the effort with a wonderful solo try fairly wide out. Dempsey's kick at goal was low, the ball striking a post, so Northland's margin was reduced to seven points at the speil. The home side appeared to team better when they resumed, in spite of the fact that the visitors were getting a share of the ball from the scrums. The play was going at a faster bat than ever, and it looked as though Northland were going to hold their own. However, with Hall and Hutt distinctive, Auckland moved into position. The ball had been going largely to the left -Cvingahd ( now the rearguard barrage swept to the right, where Stephens was showing brilliant -initiative. Finding the straight road invariably blocked by his vis-a-vis, "White, he re-entered a movement for a reverse pass, and, striding out brilliantly infield, found,-his team-in line. Axeman accepted and skipped across from five j-ai-ds out," near the posts. Dempsey converted and Auckland were within two points of their opponents, and teaming in a style that was essential for success. A fine bout of '.forward passing, engineered by Laird down the terrace side, enabled Hall to score from a ruck at the corner, but a minute later Hamilton placed his side a point ahead with his fourth goal, 12—11. Auckland forwards were now on top and Clarke scored. Northland made grim efforts to retrieve the lead, but the effort petered out, and Kay- shone in a lightning burst. Demnsey adding the final points and making the final scores:

Auckland Northland Mr. P. Rogers was referee. Review of the Play.

The match was at all times entertaining and marked by the highlights of class football. Northland lived right up to the reputation, that had preceded them as a combination, which, opening their first North Island tour, would be a difficult proposition, even for the best of metropolitan thirteens. They have the weight, the speed, , and . other qualifications to warrant the opinion that, after Saturday's contest, they/will be a most difficult thirteen to defeat, Auckland won purely on the merit of better condition. It must be confessed that the.: visitors effectively offset the expected' cohesion of the city rearguard by reliable tackling and covering defence. McKinley, for his first representative performance as full-back for-the northerners, played soundly, throughout, lacking only in a little speed off the mark. R. Hamilton., was not as much in the limelight; as on other visits, but proved capable of thwarting Hardgrave. The centre, C. * Hamilton, was ; steady and resourceful, and R. White (ex-City Rovers) was a robust left-flanker. He was up against a very brilliant colt in Stephens, and did commendably in the circumstances. With proper coaching White should go far in the game. Meyer, while his form held, was the most dangerous of the visiting back 9, his try being a captivating effort of quite a number of electrifying . moves, which, " however, merited in some cases more advantageous support. Meyer was not so mxich in the picture in the second half, when Cross, at second five-eighths, was seen in some fine defensive work. Cunningham, behind the scrum, for the most part overshadowed Axeman, through his more varied play and sharpness. One of the outstanding players was Bergham, _ as breakaway. He put his weight well into the scrums, and was everywhere on the field bringing off tackles that were disconcerting to Auckland backs. Northland had three fine forwards in C. O'Callaghan (front row), C. White (ex-Marists) and Bowycr, although all went well. The firstmentioned should win consideration for the North Island team. White, who was four or five times laid aside, wasted energy going too far with the ball—too much bullocking. Bowyer is fast, and was always well up with the play. Wells was given a good deal of latitude in his method of hooking, but is a good type for the job. Quirke was quite a success in the department for Auckland, and Laird, Hall and Hutt played as great forwards. Hall, if anything, being the best forward on the ground. Dempsey fielded, ran and kicked creditably as custodian. The threequarter line did not harmonise as well as expected, and it seemed as though there w-as some misunderstanding. Hardgrave put in some attractive runs, but the ball rarely reached him until he was almost cramped to the touchline. This also happened on the other side, but Stephens displayed real ingenuity under difficulty. Kay, at centre, has played better games. Yet, it cannot be said that he failed. Both in his case and among the inside i backs, there was too much faulty passing and bad handling, off which Northland ] gained advantages. Riley took a long time to sett'ie down, and his try was the gem of the match. Brimble did some clever things, but was not assisted much by the extremely low and wide passes handed out from the scrum base by Axeman. Allowing for defects mentioned, the Auckland team deserved the honours. The contest undoubtedly emphasised that the city has much fine youthful talent for the future of the game. At the dinner tendered- to the Northland and Auckland teams.at Hotel Auckland, Mr. G. Grey Campbell, chairman of the Auckland Rugby League, congratulated the visitors on their fine exhibition of the code, which was a sure indication that the. ""Northland League was making progress. Playing against what was considered a very strong young Auckland team, the visitors went very close to victory, and the game augured well for the team's tour to Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and South Auckland. Mr. C. E. O'Callaghan, secretary of " the Northland League, thanked the Auckland, League for ite further evidence of hospitality, and hoped the Northland team would meet with similar appreciation on its southern trip. Mr. J. P. Johnson (the visiting president"), proposed the toast of the Auckland League, and Mr. L. Binns responded. Mr. R. J. Scott proposed the toast of the New Zealand Council, and Mr. Cyril Snedden. (president), in responding, said

it was gratifying for the council to have the assurance ot the full (support of the Auckland, Northland and other centres. The council also regarded the Northland tour ae a valuable move in the interests of the game, and proving the initiative that was at the back of modern management. Mr. J. Petterson, the team captains and referee were other speakers, and tribute was also paid to the work of Messrs. Ivan Culpan and J. E. Knowling, secretary and treasurer respectively of the Auckland League. The Northland team leaves to-morrow for Tnranaki.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCH.

Auckland 19, beat Northland 12. a 0 GRADE GAMES. fj SENIORS. £ Mount Albert IG, beat Tuakau 9. SECOND GRADE. * Mnnsere 7, drew with Ellerslie 7. » ■« Final. —Otahuliu 11, bent Mount Albert 3. THIRD GRADE. ® Richmond 28, beat Akaran.i 10. « THIRD INTERMEDATE. Akarana 8, beat Devonport _5. j Ponsonby 30, beat Otahuhu u. y Point Chevalier 3, beat Northcote 0. E Manukau A 7, beat City 5. Manukau B 10, beat Richmond 8. j C FOURTH GRADE. t Newton 27, beat Point Chevalier 0. Manukau 12, bent Marist 5. Papakura 11, beat Glcnora 10. FIFTH GRADE. City 27, bent Devonport 0. Richmond 12, beat Newton 0. Ponsonby 21, beat Mount Albert 0. Richmond 14, beat Manukau 3. SIXTH GRADE. Richmond 2, beat Newton 0. Ellerslie 10, beat Point Chevalier 5. I SEVENTH GRADE. 6 Richmond A 6, beat City 3. j SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. < i Northcote 10, bent City 8. Marist B 3, beat Ellerslie 0. SEVEN-A-SIDE. Richmond 6, beat City 0. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. WHANGAREI. ! Junior Reps. S, beat Senior B 0. j lIUNTLY. Juniors.—Huntly 11, beat Ngnruawaliia • 9. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. NAPIER. Richmond Rovers Club (Auckland) 37, \ beat Hawke's Bay 11. DDNEDIX. Christian Brothers 24, beat Athletic 7. City -20, beat Pacific 5.