RICHMOND SUPERIOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 236, 5 October 1936, Page 13

RICHMOND SUPERIOR.

Richmond made 110 bones about the champion of champions contest, and ran out easy winners against Manukau by 30 points to U. Last season's champions struck form with a vengeance, and their nip, pace and cohesion at times had this year's winners of the premier honours in a quandary. The first spell was more or less an "even break," Richmond being one point up, but, following the cliangc-over, there was really only one team in it — Richmond. They dominated the play, and their backs rattled on try after try in that grand style which so delights llugby League crowds. For Richmond supporters it was a delightful 40 minutes, with points coming to their favourites at the rate of one every two minutes. Manukau were just not in the hunt. For the vanquished it might be said that they were without the services of Kawe and Wliye, two forwards who have worried many a side this season, and they were unfortunate to lose the generalship of Steve Watenc. their captain, late in the first spell. The substitutes called upon were indifferent, but it is doubtful whether Manukau, even at their greatest strength, could have resisted successfully tlie fine team work of their opponents. Richmond were right on their toes from the word go, and, though a trifle over-zealous at times, were not to lie denied. They: applied the pressur# right from flic jump, and maintained it to the end. It was a

very frayed Manukau thirteen that was struggling to avert utter annihilation at the end, and only one tiling can be written in summing ui> the encounter —the better side carried the day. With their forwards playing grandly—Broadhead, Telford, C. Satlierley and Tetley always being in the van—Richmond had the bulk of the opportunities, and they, certainly made the most of them. In the* loose the Richmond forwards always had appreciation of their speedy backs, while in the set scrums they heeled the t ball consistently, knowing full well that to keep the ball tight against such hard working opponents as the Manukau sextet would lie fatal. Thus studied, Powell, the Richmond lialf-back, opened up the play as only Powell can on his day. The Richmond chain, ably fed by their halfback, worked with precision, particularly in the second spell. Without going into detail, it might be said that l'owell, Mincham and Wilkie were the best backs on the ground. Powell engineered a good percentage of the tries, and the perfect understanding, speed and resource of the other two mentioned players set the seal to excellent team work. .At no stage did the Manukau backs rise to great heights. They were fsimply overshadowed by the opposition. Ilemi played his part well in the live-ciglitlis line, while Murray, the fullback, battled gamely against great odds. The great weakness in the Manukau chain was in the three-quarter line after Broughton had retired injured, and Richmond, sensing this, swung the play that way with good purpose. All the Richmond forwards gave of their best, while for Manukau ruckineii who never slackened their effort, although they realised that they were playing a losing game, were Broderick, Uuu. Uutlierford and I'iekrang. Watene was not at his best, being troubled throughout by an injury sustained the previous week. He gamely carried on until a fresh knock compelled him to retire. The match was fought at a great pace, and, while it was robbed of its interest considerably by Richmond's delinite superiority in the dying stages, it was a lifting end to the Rugby League season —one which has bene lull of surprises and gruelling and interesting football.