Rugby Championship For 1941 To Army Team

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 205, 30 August 1941, Page 1 (Supplement)

Rugby Championship For 1941 To Army Team

BRIGHT FINAL MATCH

Gallant Effort By Manukau Foiled By Army's Brilliant Inside Backs: Military Team At Its Best

Before a large crowd at Eden Park to-day the Auckland Rugby Union championship final was played between Papakura Army and Manukau teams, the former winning by 24 points to 9. When the second spell was fifteen minutes old, Manukau led by 9—6, and spectators were envisaging a surprise, when the Army turned on the best football it had played during the season A burst of brilliant combined work by the Moss-Bilkey-Brady combination left Manukau's defence helpless, and in twenty minutes put on 15 points, to settle the issue. Army scored six tries, to Manukau's one try and two penalty goals.

The teams were: — I'apakura Army.— B. H. Warner, A Mclnnarney, W. l v I'erriam, L. Werner, i). Brady, H. Bilkey, IS. M OSiS, A. C. Hubhard, A. If. Brown, W. B. Massey, V, i'ayue. W. E. Coxhcad, A. Wishart, K, Kaiquharson. H. 1". McLean.

Manukau Rovers.—J). Hetherington, D Boiyer, 'I'. Angus. K. Douglas, l\. I'larke, A. Patterson, D. Hewitt. T. Kcnnie. K. Harley, D. Young, (_'. Heighway. H. i'ancoe D. Yazey, G. Blown, F. Dane.

Manukau won the toss and played against a alight wind. The Manukau forwards, following a high kick fast, had Warner in trouble when the Army fullhack mishandled. Out came the ball to the backs and Manukau was almost over, a five-yard scrum being ordered. Good kicking by the Anniy backs relieved the pressure. Fast breaking by the Manukau pack and quick covering by the backs caused erroiw in Army rearguard attacks, but by getting the ball in the scrums Army gradually gained the advantage. Manukau's forwards were going well, but once lost a fine opportunity when one of them line-kicked with' all the backs in support. Hetherington was in trouble through waiting for the bounce, and from a penalty in a handy position McLean failed at goal. Army kept up the pressure, a cross-kick by Brady nearly resulting in a try. Manukau relieved with a high kick which Warner took safely, beat two men near half-way, and sent on to Mclnnarney. The Army wing clapped on the pace and outwitted the defence to score a fine try at the corner, with Hetherington, the Manukau full-back, caught out of position. Perriam failed to convert.

Army Holds Advantage Army continued to have the better of the exchanges except for spasmodic attack by the apposition, whof»e forwards were etill holding up well. Warner essayed a pot from outside the twenty-five, which fell short, and when Manukau attacked the Army forwards, led by McLean, drove back in a loose rus-h. Good tackling was keeping the Army backs in check when they were set in motion with swift and accurate passes by Mose the half-back. The weight of the Army forwards was telling its tale in the scrums and tight exchanges, but Manukau was disputing every inch of ground with equal tenacity. Brady went through nicely in a back attack, his pass, however, being knocked on by Perriam. A minute later McLean got away from a ruck and dashed through four tacklcs to go over in a likely position. Perriam could not convert.

A Six-Point Lead Six points in the lea<l, Army, with iUs forwards now getting iroto the fray better, was goon pressing hard again near the Manukau line. Army's line-finding was superior to that of its opponents, and Manukau lost good ground as a result. Penalties were aiding Manukau to keep Army out. Then Manukau went to the attack bint the backs could not link tip and at other times attempted c-ross-kicks. Warner and Perriam. however, were too safe for this method to succeed, and relieved with good kicks. The handling of the Manukau rearguard was uncertain, while splendid moves by the Army in reverse passing with McLean, Bilkey, Brady and Mclnnarney prominent, always gained valuable ground. The Manukau forwards came through in a fine rush which had the defence troubled, and Douglas had a chance from a defender's cross-kick, but failed to take the ball. Half-time came with the score: Army 6 Manukau 0 Manukau Scores

The second spell had been in progress only a couple of minutes when Manukau went to the attack in a loose rush. Hewitt sent out a pass to Patterson, who made a dash to get over. Patterson lost the ball but Hewitt was handy and dived over. Boryer failed to convert from well out. Manukau, enlivened by its success, kept Army pressed and Boryer had a chance to equalise from a penalty. He failed, but was successful with an easier kick a minute later. With the score level, enthusiasm ran high among the spectators while Manukau had Army penned in its twenty-five for the most part. Good play by Patterson when he gathered a poor pass by Moss nearly resulted in a try. However, Boryer kicked his second goal from • penalty fairly close in.

Werner Just Fails •Vain the Army hacks flashed into the Picture. Werner missing a trv through an opponent just getting his toe. Army was now continually 011 the attack and Brady made a break through before sending a long pass to Mclnnarney, who went over for his second try well out. Perrinm added the goal points with a good kick. Army was now attacking from all positions with McLean. Brady. Bilkev. Perriam and Moss always in the picture. Although beaten, Manukau still worked hard to reduce the leeway, but found the Army backs too hard a proposition, while the Army pack was still playing with plenty of dash. On time. Farquharson broke away and sont Massey over at the corner. Massey failed to convert, and a fine game ended with the score: Army 24 Manukau 1) Mr. AT. G. I'arris was referee. ★

THIRD GRADE REPS. DEFEAT COLLEGES First to attack In the curtain-raiser were the College players, who started a passing rush from the kick-off. The ball was cleared and Bean. Auckland half, dodged round the side of the scrum to break away, but was brought down. From here he notched Auckland's first points with a penalty kick. The College backs now swung Into action several times and Auckland had to force when threatened by a blind-side rush started by Dunn. The Auckland rearguard quickly retaliated and Bayllss made an opening for Leach to score after a swerving run. Bean easily converted. The College forwards drove down and a passing rush resulted in Carew going over in the corner. Sutcllffe. who was playing a sound game at full-back. Just failed with the kick. Foreman, the captain of the College team, and Purlrl had to leave tile field with knee injuries and were replaced by Stanton and Porter. Even play continued till half-time.

Manukau's lead of three was short-lived. Aimy forwards set off in fine rush and from a loose scrum, Moss sent the ball to Bilkey who made a beautiful opening in weaving his way through the defence. Bilkey sent on to Brady, who finished a fine Wovement with a try near the posts. Perriam added the goal points to place Army two points up. Fine Army Movement

Mamikau drove back in a quick rush, put Army, from its own line, again retaliated in a splendid rush. McLean and Brady made a lot of ground and then a reverse pass by Brady to Perriam cut the defence to ribbons. Perriam. when challenged by Boryer, sent on to Mclnnarney, who went over, but the pass was forward. Mamikau lost Angus, its centre, through an injury, and E. Lipscombe took his jilace. Army kept at it ? , , '. l try when Mclnnarney failed o take his pass in a back attack with a clear field ahead. The pace which had been fast from the outset was still maintained, the Army lorwards being countered by fine loose play by the opposing vanguard. Werner making some dashing runs on the rmy wing, only sound tackling stopping mm. Army was not to be denied, and .made a splendid opening with y, m sl 'PPort. A well-timed in-pass no,? ®* , ' e '3 r taken and Brady went over *j Posts , for his seconcl try. Perriam ahead' & Army was seven points

Auckland bustled the opposition at the beginning of the second spell and threatened the Colleges' line, but the school forwards took the ball right down and were awarded a penalty in a handy position. Sutcliffe's kick again just missed. The points came, however, in a different fashion when Bowden kicked to the wing for Carew to gather in the ball neatly and run round under the bar. Sutcliffe's kick equalised the score. The College backs were combining better now and Carew was elusive on the wing. Auckland's defence was solid. The forwards at last broke away but were stopped by hard tackling. Over-much kicking by the inside backs lost the schools several opportunities. Auckland took the initiative and Bayliss scored from a neat blind side movement. Bean's kick just missed. In the last few minutes the College 'cam fought hard to make up the leeway, but Auckland's defence held until the final whistle sounded with the score:— Auckland f 11 Secondary Schools g Mr. L. H. Briggs was refeiet.

AUCKLAND 'VARSITY BEATEN (P A.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Auckland and Wellington University teams met in the curtain-raiser at Athletic Park to-day. Victoria College, playing into the wind, led by 6 points to nil at half-time ps a result of tries by Stuckey and Mummery. In the second spell Victoria aCded tries Dy Cooney, Reilly, and Cooney, Greig converting one. The final score was: Victoria College 17 Auckland 0 . (Comment on the Play appears on Page Two).