Saturday's Sport Flashes

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 206, 1 September 1941, Page 4

Saturday's Sport Flashes

LEAGUE Strong Challenge Repelled.— North Slmiic. Liu* liMilcr in the Auckland Rugby I• c.r.:111• s si-iiinr «• 1 l;impioiiwlii]>, resisted a cii.ilU'iiuo by City at. (.'aflaw Park,

ami alter a keiiily-cniilested match wou Ij.v lo points In Id. Shore owed its victory to i-ei/.iiij; Moriiii; chunces in the first half ot the name, ami got a break of 10 points, two converted trie*, which came in quick sin t e;»iiiii. A third try in the second hall!

gave Sin.i e Ihe winning margin. It was a ina.li li marked by resolute forward play. 1 loth .-els oi backs found it hard to make pio_Lii>s i.« in; lo the stiong defence tlifiy

Petersen Gets Points. -The outstanding loose loiuaid in League football at the moment l- t'. S. Petersen, who scored two I lie-, ii. i Noi th Shore against City, r.oili tiles were a reward of being up with the pi,i.\ . and in the right position Lo

gather an in-pass alter attack had been working tow aids the wing. Petersen lias .-peed, handles well, and showed oil !>atiii day that lie is very quick to sense the I l end of plaj . New Shore Centre. North Shore fielded a new centre tor the match against City, the newcomer being L X a ugh ton, a North Shore Kiig-by player. N'aughton handled the ball cleanly, ran straight in attack ami sent the ball on to his wings with good judgment. In addition, he showed sound dcfcuce, and was quick to move up on to the City centre.

Starved Wings. - Wit'h R. Grotte in hie prupiT place at halt-Siack. and A. Donovan showing speed and dash in the five-eighth lin<\ the City backs played game open loolbali North Shore, but there weie lapses in the centre, and neither H. Cit\'s new \viiig-threeqiiart'er, nor •f. (lonld, jxot much in the "way ot'< real opportunities. who has been playin -j: lor Takapuna. van with tine n\<-»lution on tlie lew occasions that t'he ball reached him, and Goulil got a great kolo try. Irould is very fast, and its t'he ideal type for a club wing, 'but has suffered throughout the season by the failure of the City inside backs to hand out to him reasonable scoring chances.

Marist Show Improvement.—There was a noticeable Improvement in the Marist play in the main game against Ponsonby. Marist played as a team, and held Ponsonby all the way. although the Ponsonby backs proved equal to the Marist back-line. It was the solid play of the Marist forwards that carried the day. Excuses can be made for the uncertain handling, as the ball was heavy and the ground in a bad state after the heavy rain on Saturday morning. McWilliams. Hughes and Smith were the best of the Marist backs, Barchard and James were outstanding in the forwards, while Glover played a sound game at fullback. For Ponsonby Riley, Kay. Briggs and Murphy combined well, and R. Scott was equally as good as the opposing fullback. Ponsonby failed to score. Mayist winning by 9 points.

Manakau's High Scorc. —Manukau proved a big problem for Papakura in the early game on No. 2 ground at Carlaw Park. The Maori side repeated its performance of a few weeks ago by running up a big score. Papakura was no match for the fast-moving Manukau backs, and the former side simply played an uphill game from start to finish. Right from the kick-off Hemi. Butler Murray. Chase. Gregory and R. Martin were to the fore, going through the opposition with ridiculous ease. These versatile backs ha<* the full support of the forwards, and Watene, Te Tai, Shilton and Thompson were always in the picture. Chase made many spectacular runs, and was very elusive. Murray scored four trios. Hemi. three, Butler two, and Gregory and Te Tai one each, while Hemi was successful with three and Watene with two conversions. Papakura's only score was a penalty kick by Seymour. Manukau won by 43 points to 2. Newton Improving.—The fact that Richmond is not in the firing line for the 1941 championship honours may be the reason for fielding an Inferior team against Newton, which was out to gain their fifth successive victory. The game was very ragged, with little constructive play. The Newton backs were a much happier combination, and crcdit must be given them for an improving standard. Newton has yet to play North Shore and Manukau, and maybe a surprise is in store for the opposition, which cannot aflord a loss in the struggle for championship honours. Can Newton further improve is a question to be answered next Saturday against Manukau.

SOCCER

Comrades Lead.—Comrades' victory over Thistle by 6 goals to 1 places last; year's champions again in the lead for Soccer honours. The game was an txcellent one in tlhe first 'half, both sides being strengthened by the inclusion of their Army players. Thistle were first to score, per Wallace, 'but Masters converted a good pass from M. Francis to equalise the score just before the whistle sounded for the interval. Thistle was unlucky to lose Davis, who was playing well at back before he was injured, and Veteran A. Dunsmore replaced him after the adjournment. Tvat'er in the play Cocker, the Thistle custodian, was knocked out when saving a terrific drive from Masters, and also had to leave the field, Constable going into goal. The loss of these players dieorganised the side, and Comrades now had far the better of the game, Finoham, A. Francis (2), Walters and Masters scoring further coals.

Constable in Goal.—When Cocker was knocked out early In the second spell of the ThistleComrades match at Blandford Park Constable filled the breach as goalie for Thistle ind did remarkably well. On one occasion he ran out to meet and beat Masters for the ball when Masters had only the custodian to beat, while a few minutes later he robbed Walters when a goal seemed certain. Then he effected a clever save from a corner kick by punching well clear when hard pressed by the opposing forward. Prior to going in goal Constable had played a solid game at back for his side.

Two Penalties Missed.—Rarely does a side miss two penalties during a game, but Comrades did so against Thistle. Riggans took the first spot kick and shot wide. Fincham had the second and put the ball over the cross bar.

Dangerous Winger.—Scoring two goals against Eastern Suburbs in the match at Fowlds Park, Patterson, the Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys left winger, proved dangerous in attack. His judgment was good and his kicking was splendid. The young goalie King, against whom he pitted his attacks, was caught twice in succession by the winger, but after that he knew what to expect and rose to the occasion. Against the more experienced player the young Eastern Suburbs team, led by Welch, put up a good performance.

Shore's Bl* Tally.—Onehunga, with several replacements for players on service, put up a plucky fight against North Shore, although beaten 10 to 5. After having as much of the game as their opponents in the first spell, they faded out toward the end of the game. The pace was right on until the closing stages, when Shore eased up with a good lead. Shore fielded its strongest side to date. Craxton, an old New Zealand and Auckland representative goalie, turned out for Shore and gave a safe display between the posts. Sime also played his first game for two seasons and rendered good service for his side. Haycock (ex-goalie), Dacre and Kendall, in the backs, and Valentine, Price and Richards, in the forwards, were also prominent in the Shore side for good play. Richards gettincr five goals for his side. Blockley and R. L.indsay, who figured in the argument with the referee in the Onehunga-Metro-College game last week and were suspended for the remainder of the season, were allowed to play pending a rehearing of their case, and were, with Foster, the best of the Onehunga backs. In the forward line Brass, M. Lindsay and Sefont were a consistent, hard-working trio.

HOCKEY

Rep. Hockey.—The Auckland women's representative eleven visited Kensington Park to play Whan#arei. the game ending in a no-score draw. Heavy rain commenced an hour before the start, when the ground conditions were really not -bad. The downpour continued and in the second spell the "iris played in water iw to their ankles. The ball could not be driven for more than half a dozen yards, and the pi!»Ha tors were bespattered with mud. At Waitakururii the Auckland B team beat Hauraki Plains l—O. The Canterbury women's Xf. was victorious over Well ington, at Hornsby. 3—2.

RUGBY Army In Best Form.—The Rugby championship was won by Army from Manukau decisively 'by 24 points to i), and the success -of the soldiers was a satisfactory conclusion in the contest for t'he season's honours. Army scored sis tries, three of which were converted, to -one try and two penalties. In the first half Army led ;by 6 points, tries by Mclnnarney and McLean, but early in the second spell Manukau had taken the lead with a try ■by Hewitt and two penalty goals by Boryer. The advantage was short-lived, ;us the Army backs showed fine form and dominated t'he game, giving their most impressive display of the season. As Good As Ever.—Hugh McLean, who led the Army team to victory, played such a tine all-round game that his form recalled that of his palmy days. He set an inspiring example to his side and no doubt was responsible for the all-round improvement shown by the Army pack. McLean was in everything, whether it was in breakaways from line-outs or rucks, heading loose rushes or starting, and at other times joining in passing movements. His experience and leadership meant a lot to the Army side, which followed his example to such purpose that it produced the most brilliant football in stages seen in this season's competition. Typical Wing's Try.—The opening try scored by Mclnnarney for the Army was a typical wing-fchreequarter's effort, reminiscent of some seen in the old days. Or edit must also go to Warner, the fullback, who started the movement, but Mclnnarney finished it off in great style. Clapping on the pace he set sail for the line with great determination and dived over a yard inside the corner flag, with the defence in hot pursuit. Mclnnarney registered two tries, a feat also equalled by Denny Brady. Shield Presented. —After the match the Ga.llaiier Shield was presented to the Army team. Mr. A. A. Baker, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union, on behalf of the committee and all footballers, thanked Brigadier P. H. Bell and the canxp authorities for their assistance in allowing the Army team to play in tihe senior competition. Ho congratulated both the teams. It was particularly fitting, he said, that the shield, which commemorated Mr. D. Galla.hev, captain of the 1905 All Blacks, and who was killed in the last war, should liavo been won by the Army team. Mr. Harry Frost, president of the Auckland Rugby Union, in presenting the shield to Lieutenant McLean, captain of the Army team, congratulated :both winners and losers, particularly on making the game fast and open. Mr. Frost said it gave 'him particular pleasure to hand the shield to Lieutenant McLean, who had ibeen a great asset to Auckland football and to Rugby in other parts of Xew Zealand. In reply Lieutenant McLean said the Army team had always tried to play the open game no matter what the cost. He congratu'ated the Manukau team and also the referee, Mr. M. G. Parris. Colonel White said it gave them great pleasure to see the Army team win, but he congratulated the Manukau team on game. Mr. Owers, chairman of the Manukau committee also congratulated the Army team on its win.