AUCKLAND LEAGUE REPS. WIN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 211, 6 September 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND LEAGUE REPS. WIN

Second Defeat of Season Inflicted on South Auckland Side: North Shore Increases Grip on Championship

Principal interest in the League matches to-day centred in the meeting at Huntly of the Auckland and South Auckland representatives, the game resulting in a win for Auckland by 26 points to 15. The play was hard and fast throughout, but in the end the greater polish of the Auckland backs proved superior to the rugged play of the home side, particularly the hard-working forwards.

On the "home front" at Carlaw Park, Manukau outclassed Newton by 41 points to 8, and North Shore easily accounted for Papakura by 35 points to 5. With one more game to play (against Mount Albert), North Shore leads in the championship by a single point from Manukau, and is a firm favourite for the honours of 1941. North Shore has not won the championship since 1925.

POINTS PILED ON IN THE SECOND SPELL (Special to Star) HUNTLY. this day Wide interest was shown in the Lower j Waikato districts in the return match between the Auckland and South Auckland League teams, which was plaj*ed at Huntly this afternoon. Rain held off, but the ground wag in a very heavy state, with pools of water in places. There was a fairly large attendance. The Auckland team was welcomed on the ground by the Mayor of Huntly, Mr. G. Smith, and Miss K. Singer, Huntly p porta queen in the recent carnival, kicked off. The teams were:— Auckland.—Full-back, W. S. Clarke (Oity); three-quarters, J. Gould (City); A. Kay (Ponsonby), W. Smith (Marist); live-eighths, W. Tittleton (Richmond), R. Grotte (City); half-back, C. Williams (Richmond): forwards, V. Barchard (City), J. Tristram (Mount Albert), A. Leafcherburrow (Mount Albert), H. Mataira (City), W. Jackson (City), L. Davis (Richmond). South Auckland.—Full-back, T. Shaw; three-quarters, ]£. Tukere, L. Powell, Anderson; five-eighths, C. Devereli, J. ('onnol)v: half J back, L. Allen; forwards, D. McGilp. Curnow, P. Minhinnick, T. Dick, R. Hamilton, G. Stevens. South Auckland moulded iUi play fo--tlie heavy conditions and its forwards drove at the Auckland end as soon as the game started. Auckland set up a spearhead defence, with Grctte and Tittleton going down at everything and Kay covering well in the centre. It was some time before the city players began to get used to conditions strange to them, and then Mataira began to stand out for sterling play. Both sets of backs were Using the exploiting kick and trying to pick the gaps. Curnow and McGilp led a rush to the Auckland end, and there from a penalty Shaw, the South Auckland captain, kicked a beautiful penalty goal to give South the opening points. South Auckland 2 Auckland .. 0 Auckland attacked in a lively way and worked to the South Auckland end, where Clarke kicked a long-range penalty to level the scores. Auckland 2 South Auckland 2 It was still essentially a forward game, with the backs of both sides pinned down to defensive play. The South Auckland t'oi-wards were revelling in the heavy jjoing, and fanwise dribbling tactics were trying the Auckland team. The threequarter lines of both teams had scarcely seen the ball up to this stage, but Gould i- r ot an isolated chance and his speed and methods won applause from the spectators. Then Auckland tried a constructive back attack, Williams .sending to Grotte, to Tittleton, to Kay, to Smith. The Auckland wing ran strongly until he fell to a diving tackle by Tukere. There were now flashes of enterprise in the Auckland play, but a passing effort broke (lows and the South Auckland forwards swept through. Near the bine G. Stevens got the ball and 'dived through a bunch of tackier* to a good- try. Shaw improved the position with a splendid angle goal. South Auckland —.. 7 Auckland 2 The South Auckland forwards continued to dominate the play with lively and versatile effort. The home backs were defending solidly, and Shaw at full-back was playing a cool and resourceful game. Clarke worked Auckland into a scoring position* but Gould could not hold a fang pass. A hard Auckland attack got play to the South Auckland end and from a set scrum Williams raced over the South line to score. Clarke kicked a great angle goal. South Auckland 7 Auckland 7 Auckland launched another attack and Mataira went over wide to score. Clarke again converted, and the half-time score was: Auckland 12 South Auckland 7 Second Half Gould made a big run for Auckland when the second half opened and passed to send Tristram in to score. In patches both teams were playing good football. but generally it was a case of rush and counter-rush. Clarke was playimj a splendid game at full-back for Auckland. The Auckland backs now began passing and twice_ in quick succession Gould gave an exhibition of sprinting and scared a try. Clarke converted one right from the sideline. South Auckland came with a longdrawn raid, and Devereli, with elusive limning, went over the Auckland line with a great try. Next Minhinnick landed ;i penalty goal. Again South raided the Auckland end, and Devereli got across for his second try. Auckland replied to the raid and Smith took a long pass and scored at the flag. The final score was: Auckland 26 South Auckland 15 Mr. S. Fanrar was the referee. * MURRAY GETS FOUR TRIES FOR MANUKAU The teams were:— Manukau: Backs—B. Martin. Butler. Gregory. Chase. Heml. Murray. OUver. Forwards—Thew, Watene, Shllton. Te Tal. Thompson. W. Martin. Newton: Backs—Kendall. Emus. Nlwa. Tredrea, Burton, Sllva. Green. Forwards—Qulrke. Laurent, Cinders. Brady. Everltt. McNeil. Early to tie game the Manukau backs made a brilliant attack. Heml and Murray figuring in a spectacular passing bout. They were well supported by Butler, who went close to scoring after a minute of play. Newton did weU In the next offensive and SUva and Burton gained useful ground only to find R. Martin a safe custodian. Manukau opened the scoring with a remarkable goal by Heml. Steve Watene actually held the ball in position, an Incident never seen before at Carlaw Park. Over It went from two yards inside half-way. Manukau 2. Newton 0. Newton did good work in the loose and Ginders and McNeil headed a strong offensive, which had Manukau on the defensive. However, good p'.ay by Gregory and Chase removed the danger and play was carried back to Newton's territory. So far Newton had well deserved all that has been said about Its improvement. Manukau's backs now tot going. OUver made a fine opening, passed to Heml. to Murray. who raced orer:-. to worst a splendid try. Good combination wm a feature of this movement. Hem! converted with a great' goal. Manukau 7. Newton 0. Up and down field play followed at a great pace. Burton and Nlwa headed a

dangerous Newton offensive, tat finished support was lacking. Gregory, at centre for Manukau, was always dangerous, and now the ex-Rotorua player beat all but Kendall. However, Manukau gained the ascendancy by constructive play and Shllton scored a good try. The kick was missed by Heml. Manukau 10. Newton 0. The Manukau backs figured in a nice rush and Butler went racing over for a try. which Heml converted. A few minutes rater Watene broke away and Thompson scored between the posts for Heml to convert. Just before half-time Glnders scored for Newton. Tredrea's kick failed. Murray put Manukau further in front with a tricky run which brought a score near the posts. Heml converted. The half-time score was:— Manukau 25 Newton 3 When the second half commenced Emus, the Newton winger, was absent. Zimmerman, a forward, came on. and Everitt went into centre three-quarter. The Newton backs livened up the play and from a set scrum Green gained useful ground, but his pass to Sllva was forward and a try was lost. Murray was the most dangerous back on attack and he scored a great solo try near the corner. Heml lust missed the goal points. Manukau 28. Newton 3. A strong Newton raid was led by Ginders. but Manukau proved too good a combination. Tredrea had a chanre to score, but R. Martin got him with a hard, low tackle. The Newton backs suffered In comparison with their opponents. Murray continued to give a brilliant display and Newton had a busy time keeping Manukau out. One chance to score, but R. Martin got him with a away by Kveritt. who hung on when at least three players could have scored. Play swung quickly in Newton's favour and Laurent scored, for Tredrea to convert. Manukau 28. Newton 8. A penalty kick by Tredrea hit the uprights and again Newton impressed with more rugged tactics, and Burton mode a good opening, only to find Martin ready with a good tackle. Te Tai scored a runaway try and Hemi raised the flags with a goal. Then Shilton raced towards the goal line and gave Murray his fourth try. Heml converted. By way of a change. Hemi then scored. The game ended: — Manukau *J Newton 8 , Mr. P. O'Shannessey was referee. ★ CHAMPIONS EASILY BEAT PAPAKURA Papakura. which made its first appearance on No. 1 ground at Carlaw Park this afternoon created some surprise by holding North Shore In the early stages of a fast and open game. Although beaten by a big margin of points, Papakura played one of its best games tnis season. Brown. Shore forward, was lnlured and was replaced by L. Seagar, and Hancock. Papakura, full-back, suffered an Injury and was replaced by K. Smith. Strong attacks by Papakura kept North Shore on the defence for some time after the kickoff. The Papakura backs were handling well, but the passes were generally wild. This fault was counter-balanced by solid tackling. It was fully ten minutes after the start before Shore removed play to halfway. The Papakura backs eventually broke away. Hewson making a strong run, but his pass was intercepted and Papakura lost ground. A beautiful movement by the Papakura backs Immediately afterwards ended In a score. The movement was started by the halfback. Fleming, who passed to Halsey. to Burgess. who cut in nicely to send H. Hogan across near the posts. Well in converted. Shore held an advantage after this reverse, but not for long, as a well-directed line kick and fast following up by the Papakura forwards removed play t.j Shore's twenty-five. An onslaught by Shore resulted in hard and exciting play near Papakura's line, Petersen and Field being almost over. A penalty gave Papakura relief, but a breakaway by the Shore backs sent Papakura back. Clarke made the opening and passed to Wilkie. and on to Chatham, who scored. J. Smith failed with the kick. Another passing movement by the Shore backs ended in Greenwood scoring. Smith again failing to convert. A minute later Chatham picked up near halfway and ran SO yards to score a good try. which Smith converted. The half-time score was:— North Shore 11 Papakura 5 Papakura attacked when the teams changed over and held an advantage until Smith, who had replaced Hancock as full-back for Papakura, fumbled a long kick. Shore followed up the advantage and Petersen sent Hunt over for J. Smith to convert. Shore retained the advantage and after a session of hard p'ay near Papakura's line McArthur scored in a handy position for Smith to convert. A minute later McArthur broke clear. He passed to Wilkie and back to Smith, who had a clear road to score under the posts. Petersen missed an easy kick. Shore new had the full measure of its opponents and Petersen scored from an opening made by Clarke. Smith converted. Papakura battled harl to break through the defence but met strong opposition from the Shore forwards, who were Sihl~w«* Jj? rd - Bame Papakura gained conJ,mwwel e a,KX? nd .. ."».. tb : e rcsult of * strong nin by Smith, but back came Shore and McArthur, coming round the blind side of a scrum v. e s' ove^ ,or a . try - wW,:h Smith failed to SSm H T w?i.H ne ?t sc °l e . came for Sl ">™ when ri.„£ d l b . bled HHough£ ough to toucn down. Smith agaln_ failing with the kick. The final score North Shore ■>« Papakura "!!"!" 5 Mr. O. Chalmers was referee. SCHOOLBOYS* MATCH (Special.) HUNTLY, this day. « Ir \., th, L curta'n-raiser to the Auckland v South £%%*"? „ff pr S ße^ game at Huntly ta?day - M p d olnt hoo tc " eat AUCkland School-