Protest Against Obstruction Try

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 102, 3 May 1938, Page 16

Protest Against Obstruction Try

RICHMOND'S WIN.

SHORE DISSATISFIED.

HIGHLIGHT OF SATURDAY'S LEAGUE. THREE TEAMS IN THE LEAD. The climax to the sensational ending of tile main League attraction, Richmond and North Shore, ie the entering of a protest by Shore against the awarding of an obstruction try to Richmond, the conversion of which meant defeat for Shore. The matter will be diecussed to-morrow night by the Control Board, and there seems a possibility of a replay. The referee, Mr. S. Billman, blew his whistle before G. Tittleton crossed the North Shore line. As a matter of fact there was no need for Tittleton, had he been aware of the facts, to cross the line at all. Mr. Billman hae been a League referee for the past twelve seasons. He has lectured to the various clubs on the rules, and thie season was invited to be the official critic of the League Referees' Association. Spectators and reporters were under the impression that V. Scott, of North Shore, had been obstructed by a Richmond player when endeavouring to prevent Tittleton scoring. When the try was allowed there wae a hostile demonstration by the crowd. The referee states that he awarded Richmond and obstruction try on account of an action by a Shore player. The point which may lead to controversy ie where the conversion kick should have been taken frjoni. ae Tittleton's try wae converted from under the poet*, where he touched down. After Saturday's play Mount Albert, Newton and Richmond are at the top of ladder with eix points each. Ban ham Injured.

Shore were an unlucky team in more waye than one. In the early part of the game Banham, the Sydney coach, began to play brilliant constructive football. He started to make gome great openings for his eide. Then he had the misfortune to get hurt, and had to go off. It was impossible to replace him with a reserve of the earn* calibre, and the Shore backs suffered for the rest of the day. They should have done better. Their forwards raked the ball cleanly from the set ecrume, and Brown sent out good paeees to hie eupporte. Yet not once in the game did the ball reach the wings from a set position. There they had in L. Scott and Zane two players who were right at the top of their form. They were compelled to play individual games. Scott scarcely saw the ball in organised attack, but his defence was a fine feature, and he always g°* . hie man - Za °e showed Hashes of brilliance. Interception and pace gave him a great try.

J. Smith continues to show good form at full-back for the Shore, and his contribution of four penalty goak was invaluable. At that stage he lost direction, and after a couple of misses V. Scott was called up to kick a very spectacular penalty goal.

In Sowter, Mclntoeh and E. Scott Shore have three forwards ae good as any other club can can muster.

Furnell is the beet full-back that Richmond has had since the retirement of A. E.Cooke, *and'ie etill improving. Hie conversion of four tries was the real factor in Richmond's victory. Walker continues to give great service at half-back for Mount Albert, and gets the, ball away with sharp, well-directed passes.

The Mount Albert five-eighth* did not team too happily, but there wae individual merit in the display given by Mclnnarney, and he cut through brilliantly on one occasion to cross the Marist try-line. Further back Miucham and L. Schultz played just as well as players might be J expected to do when they are not presented with reasonable chances by combinative back work closer to the scrum. Herring continues to maintain good form in the Mount Albert forwards. Injuries to Glover and Haelatn in a previous match deprived Mariet of the services of two of their best backs. The re-arrangement meant the trying out of Uhlman at full-back, where he gave a good display, fielding the ball cleanly and clearing with well-directed kicking. Murdock, who ie a five-eighth, was called on to play at centre, three-quarter, where he did quite well. Grotte continues to play: brightly behind the Mariet pack, and looks like being a fixture there for the season. Woods, Breed and Anderson played notable games- in the Marist forward line. Players on Injured List. Like some of the other teams, Fonsonby has had the mteforune to lose players through injury, with the result that Black, their promising half-back, is not available, and so far Kay, their beet penetrative three-quarter, is not. yet. back in the side. Still they have a lively ami experienced half-back in Halloran for the scrum work, and for their five-eighths line, probably the best man in Auckland in Riley. Nurse and McNeil have plenty of pace for the three-quarter line, and Schroeder, who wae recruited from the King Country, ie making good headway. Papakura continue to play on the principle that perseverance will eventually lead to success. The suburflan team has not won a match yet since admission into the League senior fold, but they give bright exhibitions, and their conception of the League game ie much closer to high - standard than that revealed by tome of the other teame in the competition. Brimble Outstanding. The City sequence of wins was interrupted by Newton, who had much the better of a very ragged exhibition. The strength of Newton is still centred in Wilfred Brimble, who. with his brother, E. Brimble, is showing the best combined play close to the scrum in Auckland. For speed and cleverness in attack W. Brimble ie the outstanding Auckland half-back at the moment, i City appeared to lack in general team I play. Their forwards were solid enough, with a leading pair in the McCarthy brothere, but the work of the backs lacked in general combination. There was some bright work by Rata in the centre, and hie centre-play this season has been of a very 'high standard.