LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 238, 8 October 1934, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

SYDNEY TEAM DEFEATED.

RICHMOND'S SECOND SUCCESS

SPECTACULAR LOW-SOORIXG GAME

Before another bumper attendance at Carlaw Park, with all conditions favouring fast play, Richmond Rovers, the championship winners of Auckland, on Saturday defeated Western Suburbs, premiers of Sydney, for the second time, in the farewell match of the Australians' tour. It was a thrilling clash, and the crowd rejoiced in the speed and incident. As in the first fixture between the teams, the attacking power and skill of Wests ■were countered by a superb defence and kicking tactics, which suited the home side, but detracted from the exhibition from a strictly Rugby League technical point of view. Wests fought valiantly to the end. The big game was preceded by a zestful curtain-raiser, in which City third intermediates defeated Papakura by 30-29. The Run of Play. The teams were:— Western Suburbs: Sharman, Ridley (captain), Tancred, Sheehan, Hines, Hey, Williams, Green, Eairall (hooker), Blak-j, Gray, McCoiineli, Hartwell. Richmond Rovers: Cooke, McNeil, Fletcher, Ycrrall, J. Satherley, Prentice (captain), Powell, Telford, Broadhea,d, Ginders, Satherley, Lawless, Tetley. Soon after the opening, with the teams sparring in Richmond territory, Williams missed with an easy penalty jijot at goal. The maroons were attacking when Ridley and Sharman scissored brilliantly to save. The latter, within five minutes, fielded the hall from Cooke and sent to Tancred, n-ho crammed on the pace down the centre, and, when he had cut past Cooke, sent a long and deft pass to his left. Hines timed it well and finished off a clever surprise movement to sweep across and score wide out. Williams failed to convert. Western Suburbs 3 Richmond Rovers 0 The game now fluctuated in rapid manner, with Wests' backs revealing joyous flexibility against a defence just warming up to the occasion. Cooke was steady and dangerous on defence. The tide changed through a breakaway by Tetley, succeeded by a nice piece, of collaboration on the part of Fletcher, Cooke, and McNeil. Fletcher missed with a penalty, and the "Magpies" threatened to race away through neat work by Sharman and Tancred, Sheehan fumbling when the way was clear. There was a period of whirlwind exchanges, and Richmond's try came in simple fashion when the forwards smashed through towards the left corner, Tetley touching down. Fletcher missed with the kick, j and both sides missed penalty chances before the interval, when the score board read:

Wests 3 Richmond ... 3 When they resumed, Richmond faced the sun, which had blazed out early in the firstk half. Cooke was now centre to Fletcher, J. Satherley -being at fullback. Richmond promptly took the initiative, and the forwards battled close to the line. Cooke failed with a penalty shot, but Richmond held the fort for 10 minutes inside Wests' twenty-five area. After a series of scrums there was some loose play in front of the goal. Sharipian, endeavouring to clear, the ball struck the fast-following Lawless, who went on to fall over the line for a try. Cooke added the goal. Richmond 8 Wests 3 ~Tfie visiting"bacfte agMn'got under way, aiid'swift attacks on both flanks were "met j by severe tackling. Tetley, Verrall, and Cooke sparkled with counter inner-passing, Cooke not .being quite on hand for a final return. The game was moving in exciting fashion, with Ridley striving to get his team in formation. A brilliant kick by McNeil aroused applause, and Gray responded with a towering dummying run down the centre. The ball was not going properly into the scrums, but from one Prentice sent on to Cooke, whose pass was too low for Verrall, with a try in prospect. Shortly after, through a low kick by Cooke, Verrall was narrowly beaten in a race for the touch-down. With -play surging on thrillingly between the quarters, the forwards were battling put the issue to Richmond's advantage until- Williams broke away round a scrum to' spoil the effort when a try was on by tackling illegally. Tetley shifted the danger, and when serious trouble loomed, Ridley ran around to _ clear by beating Fletcher and side-stepping Cooke to give to Sharman. The latter's cross-kick had the Rovers on the run, and, when McNeil and Satherley saved, a penalty was ruled against Weste. Awarded several penalties in succession, Williams preferred the up and under kick to goal shots. Cooke and Ridley had a thrilling race for possession, and Tanbred featured in some bursts through the loose. C. Satherley broke awa- from the ruck and gave to Prentice, and, in an exciting dash, Hines kicked the ball dead. Over by the terraces again. J. Satherley picked up and passed to Tetley, who kicked, and Sheehan was tackled in possession 'behind. Then Cooke goaled a penalty. Richmond backs were playing with confidence, and the bell sounded the end of a grand struggle, with the final figures: Richmond Rovers 10 Western Suburbs 3 Mr. P. Rogers, who was referee, collapsed after the game.

The Game In Review. The match -was a fitting conclusion to the Sydney team's tour. It was glorious Rugger as a spectacle and Richmond Rovers sealed the issue convincingly by a seven-point margin, to confirm their victory by 18—16 of the previous Saturday. 1 It must be confessed, without depreciating the success of the Auckland champions— and, for that matter, of other teams which contended with the visitors—that_ the game was not real Rugby League. Nevertheless, the calibre of home players—their individual fitness, skill and defensive Capacity—has been tested to the fullest extent by Wests, who, in the major contests, have demonstrated, much for the benefit of the code here, the ideals of scientific Rugby League play. It is easy to realise with tackling in ascendancy why the visiting three-quarter line was not seen at its best. Ridley again proved his worth, while Tancred, oheehan and Hi nee showed up spasmodically. Although Hey and Williams were bottled up by Prentice and J. Satherley, it may be said that Hey's rugged display was one of the highlights of the match. Hey, judged on his appearances, certainly is the most brilliant five-eighth seen here for many years. Williams was workmanlike and elusive on the day, but was meeting his match in Powell. The scrum Work on Saturday was the worst seen this year, the outside .men of the tunnel continually lifting and rarely allowing the ball to be put in properly. The referee, unfortunately elected to visit most of the Punishment for the offence on Richmond consequently the visitors had the hon s share of penalty kicks. Prentice and J. Satherley broke the back of the Australian attack and A. E. Cooke, who proved his genius on defence as full-back, was not so prominent when he came up in the second half to exchange Positions with Satherley. Fletcher was good at centre, and, while varying his methods, was sound on defence. McNeil was fair on the wing, and on the other nank, Verrall, who is a half-back, was set a task a bit beyond him in such company. The Richmond packmen were a telling power in the victory, C. Satherley, Lawless and Broadhead being shining lights. Most outstanding, however, was Tetley, who, after taking time to settle down, opened up the play in magnificent style as breakaway. His knowledge of back play stood him in good stead. Gray was the demon of Western Sjiburbs for- j wards and his powerful rucking was a revelation. Blake and Green gave him good support and McCoxmell wu a great player ia the loose^sho^ratgoßpeedaanneK 1

pation and determination. "Goldilocks" won the hearts of Aucklanders —on and oil the field. The record of Western Suburbs in Auckland is:—Beat Marist 21—19, drew with Newton 10 all, lost to Richmond 16 —IS, beat Ponsonby 26 —13 and lost to Richmond 3 —lo. They won two matches, lost two and drew one, scoring 76 points tc 70 against. The Teams Entertained. The Western Suburbs and Richmond Rovers Clubs were entertained to dinner by the New Zealand League on Saturday, Mr. E. Stallworthy presiding. Mr. ■). White, manager of the touring team, presented the Walmsley Shield to Mr. Ben Davis, president of the Richmond Club. The Western Suburbs players left yesterday morning for a trip to llotorua.

WAITANGI SHIELD. .WAIKATO DRAW WITH TAMAKI. In the Inst two minutes the Tamaki team (Auckland) drew level with Waikato to make the final for the Waitangi Shield played at Huntly on Saturday a drawn game, 5 all. The contest was part of the celebrations in connection with the first anniversary of the crowning of the Maori King Koroki Mahuta. Tamaki were the holders. Auckland attacked in the early stages of the game, but play was scrappy through too many dropped passes and bad tackling. For the visitors Watene was brilliant in patches. When the home team began to settle down and to show more combination they penned the visitors in their own twenty-live for a few hard minutes. Feckham clapped (heir efforts by kicking a penalty to make the score Waikato 2, Tamaki nil. Scott and Ngataki now began to do some hard hustling in the pack and there were fewer dropped passes and the tackling was more deadly. Throughout the game the home team were better Jn this direction. The home team spoiled things by individualists trying to do too much, but at the same time they were definitely on top. The Waikato half-back did very good work to dive through four men to get over the line. The kick failed, making the score Waikato 5, Tamaki nil. About seven minutes after the spell Tamaki made three hard thrusts, each one being within an ace of success, but the Waikato defence held and it looked as though they were safe. Then the unexpected happened. D. Nathan, starting from half-way, dodged and twisted his way through the entire field to ground the ball between the posts. Watene put the kick over to equal the scores. That left Waikato only two minutes and they could not add to their total. Mr. A. Ilarlock was referee. After the match Mr. G. Grey Campbell handed the shield back to Watene, the Tamaki skipper. GRADE GAMES. SECOND GRADE. Mount Albert 24, beat Huntly 12. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Manukau B beat Devonport by default. City Rovers 30, beat Papakura 29. Marists 18, beat Richmond 5. SCHOOLBOYS' GAMES. KNOCK-OUT SEMI-FINALS. Avondale 10, beat City 3. Marists A 10, beat Ellerslie 3. FRIENDLY GAMES. Papakura 23. beat Newton Rangers 11. Harvey and Sons 13, beat Browne Bros, and Geddcn 2.