SUPERIOR TACTICS BEAT RICHMOND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 147, 24 June 1935, Page 14

SUPERIOR TACTICS BEAT RICHMOND.

Memories of a fast and gruelling interIsland battle on a rain-sodden field a few years ago were revived by the hectic clash between Mount Albert and Richmond, with the honours to the former l>y 5—3, a decided reversal of the first round result, when the Rovers romped to victory by -7 ] The new senior grade thirteen had won three out of its four previous engagements, drawing with Marists in the fourth, so Saturday's win was thoroughly in keening with recent form. It was an amazing game under the conditions, some of the handling bouts and the fieldmf, ot the greasy ball being worthy of the best line-weather play, particularly tat fading stages, when there was a torientiai downpour of rain and semi-darkness prevailed. Only highly trained players could have withstood such a test and maintained noise and well-concerted purpose and unflagging speed to the end on the treacherous surface. Little wonder,' then, that the thrilled crowd, which packed the grandstand, and those who braved the elements on the terraces, cheered the contenders and registered unfeigned appreciation when the bell went with the Mount Albert team storming the ramparts. It was Bugger with a vengeance, and undoubtedly a contest that will not be readily forgotten. The first half was slightly in favour of the maroons, but in the second spell the blue and golds gradually took the ascendancy, and once they had the lead by medium of a penalty goal they played as a side inspired and clinched the laurels in no uncertain manner, although the maroons repeatedly broke away in desperate forays. Mount Albert packed a fine scrum and monopolised the ball. /hey had the astute Hassan behind to feed backs who understood the best methods to employ to harry an opposition always dangerous on attack. Sharp, slioct stabkicks and the follow-through—that policy was discovered by Mount Albert in the second spell to be effective, and they used it for all they were worth and thereby held to attack. For three-quarters of, the journey Cooke was a veritable master, fielding, kicking, clearing, and rescuing his side. It was beyond human endurance for him to have done more, and yet It was his genius that stopped tries in that throbbing finale as Mount Albert hammered with telling power for extra security points—and failed. The Richmond defence, with a man short—Couper having left the fielA—was really remarkable under the circumstances. The maroon five-cigliths, Bickerton and Fletcher, combined creditably, but on the day were outmanoeuvred by their opposites, Morrlssey and Dunn. Morrlssey, whose fitness was an eyeopener, starred in the later stages, using head, hands, and feet to advantage, and, of course, his goal was the turning point in, the game. A pleasant surprise was the dashing form of List at centre. Wingers B. Schultz and McNeil were better served than the Richmond flankmen, McNeil and Couper, and consequently the Richmond three-quarters were shaded.. Cranch played steadily at full-back, 'lo a' man the Mount Albert forwards did their part imperturbably, and it would be unfair to individualise. They combined in the loose and hooked from the scrums and never let up. The maroon pack, with Lawless ever featuring, made Herculean efforts to Save the game. Broadhead, Telford, and' the Satherly brothers were hard workers in the heavy rucks. Tetley was a vigorous breakaway for most of the way. Kichmond are next due to meet Devonport, whom they conquered by a point in the first round.