SOUTH UNLUCKY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1938, Page 17

SOUTH UNLUCKY.

COLTS WIN BY THREE. < FINISHING TOUCHES LACKING. Revealing brilliance in back play and soundness forward, South Auckland just lacked the vital finishing touches in the main game at Eden Park on Saturday and were unlucky to be beaten by the t Auckland eolts' side by 15 p.unts to 12. ' It was a game of spasmodic brilliance, J which again showed the possibilities of J the younger Auckland senior plavere in . the game. Those who stood out were Hare, Colts i captain; N. Thornton, vice-captain; and Molloy, the centre. Molloy added to the ' considerable reputation he gained last ' week against Thames Valley, but his ' handling was at fault, possibly" because of , a nasty knock received shortly before halt-time. South's back line performed well and it : would be difficult to differentiate between individual performances, Potier was out- < standing at half, and Boyce was sound at full-back. The forwards were an even lot. The visitors proved themselves a fine side and a little extra polish would have giverf theui the victory. The teams were:— Auckland Colts: Hare, Schubert, Molloy, R. Byerley, Graham, Wagstaff, Cato, Guy, Coady, Caldwell, Thornton, Carroll, Belgrave, Evans, Kerr-Taylor. South Auckland.—Boyce, Hewitt, Pickard, Dunn, McKobbie, Loughrin, Potier, Steele, Fowler, L'hipman, Kowe, Carter, Piggott, Fulton, Wilson. After a period of indecisive play, South Auckland's half-back, Potier, sprinted through a gap, but after taking the pass Rowe was pulled down just short. The first bright spot, in the game came about a quarter way through the spell, Potier making .1 break from the scrum. Lioughrin went through fast, Carter carried on, and threw a long pass to Hewitt, who went over at the corner. Loughrin missed a hard kick. The Colts' backs wore not functioning | well, mainly owing to poor passing and good tackling by South Auckland. Hare, however, was sound as the last line of defence. His full-back play was being more than matched by Boyce, who saved the visitors time and again with sound fielding and long, raking touch-tinders. Three times l'otict sent his backs away and was at last rewarded when he dived over in the corner after Fowler gave him the ball from a loose scrum. The kick missed. .lust before the spell, Molloy beat the defence badly, handed on to Belgrave for the forward to crash over. Hare converted and at half-time the score was: — South Auckland 0, Auckland .">. Jumpipg away to the attack right from the outset. South looked dangerous, and after the back line had swung into action. McKobbie, Pickard and Hewitt combined in a devastating passing rush which resulted in the winger Hewitt going over. The kick failed. Cato demonstrated his great attacking ability when he snapped up in the open, transferred to Guy, who raced past Boyce and gave Thornton, Colts' vice-cr.ptain, a try between the posts. Hare made an easy conversion and Auckland took the lead for the first time. South Auckland still kept up the pressure and Boyce gained the most spectacular trv of the dav when he took a loose kick frojn Kerr-Taylor at halfway, beat the Auckland team and short-kicked. Carrying on, he picked up the bouncing ball and raced over unopposed. He missed the kick. Play brightened immediately and from the kick-off the home forwards made a penetrative burst. The ball bounced right for Thornton, and he made his second ecore of the day, for Hare to convert. Three points down with the score 15—12, the visitors kept up a desperate attack. Play slackened badly in the final few minutes, the position remaining unchanged until the whistle, which came with the score:—Auckland Colts 15, South Auckland 12. Mr. J. G. C. Wales was the referee.