LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 229, 27 September 1934, Page 22

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

NEWTON-WESTERN SUBURBS A TEN-POINT DRAW. HANGERS' PACE TELLS. The Western Suburbs team of Sydney, j championship winners of the New South Wales Rugby League, played the second match of their tour at Auckland yester- I day afternoon, when a keen, even and | exciting second half resulted ill a drawn match —10 all. It was not by any means ii good exhibition of the game, although the contest contained many thrilling moves. The struggle resolved itself into a measure of Western Suburbs' initiative, offset by the effective spoiling play of Xewton, who prevailed in the set scrums and, through their speed in attack, were able to hold their own through their assertiveness around the scrums and inside back play. Newton kicked away advantages in the first half, when they were lucky to lead by 7 —3, but in the second stanza they altered their system of tactics to suit the conditions following a heavy shower of rain, which made the ground surface and ball very slippery. Wests had several chances of establishing ascendancy through clever work by the backs, but these were spoilt by mishandling, or averted by the covering defence of Newton, ably abetted by the full-back, Dempsey, whose positional play and kicking were firgt-class. Newton won the set scrums handsomely. Wests' backs were held by a more resolute-defence and could not combine to advantage. The result; was not only an indication of the relative merits of the sides, but in another respect reflected improvement of the jjlane of play - in Auckland and New Zealand. The general opinion will be that the visitors will have to reveal improvement to beat Richmond Rovers on Saturday for the Walmsley Shield championship between the champion teams of Sydney and Auckland, and, given a dry ground, it should be a wonderful match. Sharman, the visiting full-back, was patchy, but completely overshadowed by Dempsey in the second portion of the game. The best of West's three-quarters was Hines, and to a lesser extent, Ridley, the insides being erratic. Hickey was slow at centre for Newton, while Stephens on the wing enhanced his reputation. He notched two magnificent tries. Brady did not get so many chances, but was generally reliable. Hey, the famous five-eighths, making a first appearance, shone on occasions. He was badly supported, Williams being much below par at half-back. Spoiiberg was the best of the West's forwards, with Blake, Hartwell, and McConnell as supports. Hutt, Blaeklaws, and Johnston (the last mentioned a newcomer) were resourceful ruckere, the fine work of Hall in the loose being one of the features of the match. Porteous was nippy behind the scrums, and Brimble and Cameron harassed their opponents by their pace off the mark, their collaborative work on attack, however, being less impressive. Run of the Game. Favoured by the north-westerly wind. Newton forwards drove to the corner, and Ridley came across to kick the ball dead. The visitors were thrice penalised, and a shot at goal was allowed again when Hartwell raised his hands above his" head. A clever move by Hey preceded a run down the terrace side by nines, who was overhauled by Cameron from behind. Then Hey was penalised for obstruction in play-the-ball, and Brady goaled. Newton 2, West 0. Soon afterwards, Hey snapped up ten yards from the line, and Sheehan knocked on with a sure try on hand. Retaliation came with a fast move down the stand 6ide to the corner J)y Hutt and Stephens, Ridley being bustled and lucky to force in time. In clearing, Tancred got off-side, and Dempsey failed with a shot. Hey brilliantly opened aip again. Sponberg flashed a pass to Sheehan, and Hines bumped off Dempsey to qcore wide out. Williams missed. rsWeste », Newton' 2. Wests were showing more rearguard cohesion, when a mistake by Sharman let the Newton forwards away right to the goal-mouth. Prom the ruck Porteous sent to Middleton,' and Stephens accepted, to cram on the pace and dash diagonally seven yards to beat Ridley for the line. Brady miskicked. Newton 5, Wests 3. The ball travelled rapidly up and down the field, and, for a penalty against Middleton Williams failed at goal, l although one linesman raised his flag. The half-back had another chance, but' placed and picked up the hall to do a short dropkick, a trick ably foiled by Stephens. ,Good play by Cameron put Newton vantage in, and, when , Hartwell was penalised, Brady goaled. The ' play was going at a lively bat at the interval, with .the scores — Newton Rangers 7 Western Suburbs 3 Resuming in heavy rain the forwards clashed, and, from a penalty against Stephens, Blake followed up keenly and scored near the posts for Williams to convert. Wests 8, Newton 7. Sheehan and Hines combined to give the visitors relief. Gray, Pairall, and McDonnell led an invasion, which was being stemmed when Sharman at the quarter line dropped a splendid field goal. Wests 10, Newton 7. Newton now commenced to reveal more confidence, and, after a holdup for Sharman, who "was tackled to the terrace fence, a Newton attack went dead, but wag followed by the best try of the match. From a set scrum at midfield, Hall broke away, and, obtaining possession, dummied and raced Stephens info possession. The winger beat Sharman, and, faced oy Ridley, again side-6tepped infield to.score wide out. Brady missed with the shot. Wests 10, Newton 10. The game continued at a merry pace, and, in rousing forays, chances on both sides were missed, the final figures being— Western Suburbs' 10 Newton Rangers 10 Mr. P. Rogers was referee. Harbour Excursion. On Sunday the Western Suburbs team and officials, together with the Marist, Newton, and Richmond teams, are to be entertained at a harbour excursion bein, s ' organised by the New Zealand Council, with the co-operation of the Auckland Rugby League.