RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 193, 15 August 1936, Page 25

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THIRD GRADE REPS. MATCH WITH MANUKAU JUNIORS. The third graclo representatives had their second game of the season at Manurewa against Manukau Sub-Union junior representatives. The game was fast and open, the Auckland team's strength lying in its fine back play, while JVlanukau juniors fielded a powerful pack of forwards who had the support of good'individual backs, though lacking in combination. It was evident from the outset that the home forwards' were much heavier than the' Auckland pack and in the set scrums the visitors had their work cut out to hold them. When the Auckland backs got the chance to handle the ball, however, they had their opponents at a great disadvantage, their speed and understanding of one another's play being altogether too much for the Manukau team. The first score came to Auckland as the result of combined back play, Mansill going over in the corner. The kick failed. Within a few minutes the Manukau forwards took the ball at toe and finished off a good dribbling rush with a try, also too wide out for the shot at goal to be successful. Auckland came again and from their own twenty-five started a passing bout which ended in Mansill going over for his second try after a dash from half-way. Leatheart converted with a good kick. The next score to Auckland came from the best piece of play in the match. All the backs handled in turn, the ball being finally in-passed to Lee, at halfback, who beat the opposing full-back to score a fine try. The kick went just outside. Before half-time Auckland put on three more points, the scorer this time being Skeen, the left winger, whose pace and determination carried him over before being thrown into touch. The half-time score was: Auckland 14, Manukau SubUnion 3.

Early in the second spell the Auckland backs again went into action and Harris, centre three-quarter, capped a good handling bout with a try in a handy position. The kick missed. The next score came to the., forwards; after a dribbling rush from half-way, Rae broke clear and, gathering nicely, had just sufficient pace to get over the line and score between the posts. Both line umpires signalled the kick as over, but the referee overruled them. Harris was the next to score after another handling bout, but again the kick missed. The Manukau forwards, who right through had battled hard, were not yet finished with. and. putting plenty of vim into their, play, they swept down the field and gave the full-back no time to clear am" carried the ball over for a good try. The kick went wide. The final score was another try to Harris, who put in a beautiful straight run down the centre of the field, beating four of. the opposing backs on the way and grounding the ball under the posts. Leathart converted, making the result Auckland 28, Manukau Sub-Union 6.

Outstanding players for Auckland were Rae and Bieleski, forwards, and Lee, Harris, Skeen and Thompson, backs. Auckland wer.> unfortunate in losing their captain, D. Cochran, who went off midway through th, first spell with slight concussion and who from his position as second five-eighth had been responsible for several fine movements. The standard of play in the third grade this season is high, and in the two representative games so far played, excellent football has been witnessed, giving promise of some good recruits to the senior ranks within the next season or so.