WIN FOR ENGLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 176, 27 July 1936, Page 13

WIN FOR ENGLAND.

GAME WITH AUCKLAND

VISITORS' IMPRESSIVE FORM,

THREE TRIES BY EDWARDS

Although given only a few hours in which to fiud their "land legs" after thentrip across the Tasnian, the English Rugby League team opened their New Zealand tour impressively at Carlaw Park 011 Saturday, when they met and defeated the Auckland representatives by 22 points to 10. The game was carried along at a great pace to keep a huge crov.\l interested throughout, but. while mere were occasional Hashes of fine concerted work, there was rarely combination 011 a brilliant plane.

Dominating the set scrums with their burly forwards, the visitors overshadowed the Auckland six. while their backs, given excellent service by their halves, exhibited pace and artistry which bewildered their opponents at tunes. The Auckland team played valiantly in an effort to stem the many headlong _ rushes for their line staged by the Englishmen, but after an early spurt it was obvious to all that they would be playing a losing game. They matched spoiling tactics and fast open play against tile speed, skill and combination of the visitors —which only comes when men have been playing together consistently and have appreciation of each others' tactics —and up to a jioint they were successful. Although ten of their side had figured in the last Test against Australia, it could not be claimed that the Englishmen were seen at their best. They gave the impression that they had something in reserve, and the result rather flattered the home team, which, nevertheless, played up to form. The Aucklanders, apart from occasional lapses, played excellently on defence and shirked nothing, but the opposition unwound movements which ir, would have taken super-footballers to stop. Auckland's Few Chances. On attack they had few opportunities, although ready to snap 1111 the slightest offering—offerings that came practically solely from mistakes by the visitors or from, fast raiding in the loose. The Aucklanders, however, must be credited with the best constructive try of the day. Engineered by Lou Brown and finished off bv the winger himself in grand style, the

effort showed just what the home thirteen were capable of rising to had they seen more of the ball.

A team can only play as well as the opposition will allow it to play, and that was just what happened—the Auck landers were not permitted to get into their stride too often. All tilings considered, tlieretv/-; for.e, the home to hold the Enghshme'hl'jto a six points margin, and it might be said that they lived tip fully to expectations. With clivious weaknesses in the lack of weight forward and the experimental nature of some of the backs, there were few who gave them a winning chance, and there were some who were willing to give a generous margin of points in and back England. Traditional English Game. Those who went to see anything new in League tactics from the Englishmen must have been sadly disappointed, for all they served up lias been staged before. They played the traditional game and relied on sharp delivery from their two halves to give their four three-quarters all the opportunities they wanted. For all this, their style of play was in marked contrast to that of the New Zealanders, as every man was on the move when the ball came to him and all ran straight without essaying too much on his own account. The main theme of attack was to get the ball out to the, wings. For all this, the play was well varied, with the wingers flashing into reverse movements to make the extra man, the half-backs drawing the defence by going on either the blind or open sides, or putting in lateral kicks in the hope of their wingers gathering the ball on the bounce. One try was scored off. one of these well-judged cross-kicks, A. Edwards, the fleet English winger, snapping up the ball and flying across in a dash which completely outwitted the defence. The scrum half, W. Watkins, and the standoff half, E. Jenkins, are as fine a pair as it has been the privilege of Carlaw Park crowds to see in action, and it was they who shone repeatedly for heady and incisive work, which drew the defence to a nicety or cut out a man. Walking yas mercurial in all his work, being particularly adept at working the blind side or at whipping a pass behind his back to Jenkins to puzzle the opposition, which was usually going his way, as he wanted tlieni to be. Jenkins was always ready to back up or swing the attack in the opposite direction in a twinkling. Tricky and Speedy Winger. Edwards was the outstanding threequarter, and with sheer speed, trickiness on the move and pace acceleration he scored three magnificent tries. He fully lived up to his reputation, and whenever the ball reached him the crowd was given a thrill. B. Hudson, on the opposite flank, was the hard-running, weighty winger that Auckland has known in other years, and he frequently added thrust to passing movements by moving in to make an extra half. T. McCue, although playing out of position, filled one of the inside three-quarter berths ably, while A. J. Risman, the Welshman, ran beautifully straight and hard in attack. J. Brough, the captain and full-back, was usually safe when called on, but he suffered .in comparison with the great ,T. Sullivan, who filled the role of custodian on previous tours. He has not the kicking range ot his predecessor, and, although his lorwards camped • offside as of old, lie could not drop the ball just in front of them with the same degree of accuracy as bullivan used to do. The English forwards dwarfed their opponents, but, despite the, "mountains of flesh" which they had to carry about, they were surprisingly nimble. T. Armitt, the hooker, had weight to spare for raking the ball and he was rarely beaten for possession by J. Satherley, tUc Auckland hooker. The other forwards played as one would expect of them and were of great assistance in sheltering their backs by quick breaking up or exploiting the ' Icing pass which cut out their half-backs. Hodgson revealed that he has lost none of his form since out this way last, while others who were constantly in the picture for solid all round play, '"'ero Beverley and the human dreadnought N. Silcock. Quick Covering Defence., The Aucklanders played with the disadvantage that all their plav had to come from the loose and even when they did manage to get under way they usually ran into a defence which was very quick to cover up. Summed up, it can be said that they played up to form. C. Dempsey, at full-back, had one of the hardest jobs on t';e field, and he played with credit. ■ He prevented several tries by fine tackling, '>ut on two occasions was hopelessly

beaten. Once lie was completely deceived by tlie tricky -I'idwai/ds and later was incapable of holding the hard-running Hudson, whereas a man of less slender build might have kept liim at bay. .Lou Brown was the most constructive 01 the Auckland chain, and roamed from wing to wing at times to good purpose in patching up weaknesses in the delence. W. Tittieton played soundly at centre, but I{. Bright, out 011 the right wing, barely got a chance all day. _ The inside backs, W. Stockley aiul A. Kay, revealed the results of good coaching, and although they were unable to cope with the brilliant opposing halves, they moved in quickly to tiieir men and defended with a will. K. Powell, behind the scrum, was starved, but shaped well m a defensive role. Fine Forward Display. Considering that with two exceptions the Auckland pack were under lost, the forwards stood up to the battering of the English scrummagers remarkably well. J here was not a drone 111 tile pack, and largely their last following up and ability to profit by the slightest mistake by the visitors that carried Auckland so close. J. Breed was always 011 hand when there was work to be done and he scored the first try of the day by being up with the play following a good opening by J etley. S. Vvatene and A. Ciault were a pair of willing workers also, while Sathcrley was always using his weight when required. Within seven minutes of the start Auckland had rattled 011 seven points, greatly to the delight of the crowd, a penalty kick by Watene being followed by a try by Breed, who flashed across under the posts. Watene did the rest. Then it was England s turn, first Kisman scoring after an opening had been made for him by Watkins and Jenkins, and then Edwards gathering a cross-kick to completely beat the home defence. Neither try was eonverted. Again Watkins sent Edwards away, and the Welsh winger left Dempsey standing to score his second try of the day. The kick failed, and then Watene made the score nine all with another penalty goal. Just before the interval the play swung from Edwards' wing to that of Hudson, and the latter fought off Dempsey to score near the corner. Kisman kicked a magnificent goal, and England led at half-time by 14 points to 9. Three penalty kicks within easy range came Auckland's way immediately following the change-over, and Watene landed yet another goal. For a lengthy period the play swung from end to end at a great pace, with the defence of both sides rising superior to the attack. Then the Englishmen swung into lively attack for Edwards to finish off the movement by crossing for his third try after eluding Brown. Risman's kick failed. Then came one of the best movements of the day. Brown started and finished it, after receiving splendid support from Kay and Tittleton. Watene kicked a beautiful angle goal and Auckland was only one point behind— 17 —16. With five minutes to time, Watkins whipped the ball to Jenkins and the English stand-off half completely shattered the defence to jink his way over near the posts. Risman converted and the game ended England 22, Auckland 10. Mr. M. Wetlierill was referee and occasionally his rulings on the play the ball rule were in conflict with the ideas of the visitors, who were obviously slow by design in rising following a tackle. THE CURTAIN-RAISER. The curtain-raiscr was provided by Richmond and City fourth grade teams. lhe teams were evenly matched in the hrst spell, and at half-time Richmond led o—4. City showed their superiority after tlie change-over, however, and rattled on pon*s in good style to win by 18 points to u.