Saturday's Sport Flashes

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 212, 8 September 1941, Page 4

Saturday's Sport Flashes

RUGBY

A Hard Contest.—Hard, fast and at times blight football resulted in the meeting of Auckland and Hawke's Bay, in which the Auckland team won a welldeserved victory after playing a forward short for a fair portion of the second spell, by ]9 points to 0. Auckland scored three tries to the visitor;-' one, the remaining points being made up in noais. Neither back line functioned to any great advantage on attack, due to the quick covering and splendid tackling of both back and forward lines. Schubert featured in a typical effort when he side-stepped Brady and went over behind the posts. Atuklaful held the advantage in most of the scrums until it l<*t its forward. Grant, who was ordered oil' in the second spell. It was a very keenly-fought contcst throughout, but the visiting backs, except on defence, were not up to the standard set by former Hawke's Bav rearguards.

Credit To Forwards.—The Auckland forwards played a fine game, and when facing the wind in the first spell, more than held the opposition, which took time to settle down but took a leaf out of Auckland's book in the second half ami also showed up well. Auckland's vanguard was hard to stop in the loose, and some of its short passing bouts were also troublesome. At least three of these looked likely to end in tries until a poor pass held them up. Hull, Ryan and "Wilson were in fine form, but the whole set stood out, and on this display will be a hard proposition for Wellington to counter in the match at Eden Park next Saturday week.

Still In The Limelight.—Tori Reid. the Hawke's Bay captain, led his pack magnificently and showed himself to be in a class by himself. He excelled whether it was getting into the tight work or out in the loose. When in possession he ran strongly, and was bard to bring down, often taking two or thrco defenders to stop his progress. Hawke's Bay fielded a big, rugged pack, but a department in which they did not compare favouraldv with their predecessors of a few veana back was in clean passing bouts. Interest centred in J. Brownlie, and although he showed out in the loose and in fast following up. he has yet to tro some way before he measures up to the high standard on the Rueby field by his renowned half-brothers, Maurice and Cyril.

Form Of- Clothier.—The Hawke's Bay half-back. Ij. S. Clothier. came with a pood reputation and he played quite well. He got the ball away swiftly and accurately to his five-eighth and defended stoutly, repeatedly holding up Auckland attacks. On his form, however, it could hardly be said that he is superior to Moss, also of Hawke's Bay, who played such a fine game for the Army in the final of the Gal la her Shield.

Army Conquers Wellington Champion.— Although lieaton by Armv in the final round of club matches. Athletic won the Wellington senior championship. Results were:—-Army 6. beat Athletic o: Wellington 0, drew with St. Patrick's Collece Old Boys, 0; Marist 11, beat Hutt 6: Petone 6, beat Oriental 0: College Old Roys 12, beat Eastbourne 6; University 12. beat Poneke 3; Johnsonville 9, beat Air Force 0. LEAGUE

South Auckland Beaten—ln defeating South Auckland at Huntly by 26 points to 15 the Auckland League representatives repeated their successes of earlier in the season. The match on Saturday was played on a ground the heavy rain had affected, and it was not until the second half that Auckland showed good team play. South Auckland tried several new players, and as a team made a good showing. It was the wider experience of the city players, and ability to turn scoring opportunity to account, that gave Auckland the winning margin.

Good Full-backs.—Good full-back play was seen in the representative match between Auckland and South Auckland. T. Shaw, for South Auckland, was very safe at fielding the ball, and got good length with his clearing kicks, but S. W. Clarke, for Auckland, was the more impressive of the pair, and gave a finished display, which was much appreciated by the spectators. Clarke is 21 years of age. and weighs lOst 111b. He started with the Ellerslie juniors and last season came to the senior ranks to join City. He has proved himself this season to be the best full-back in the code

Five-eighth Impresses.—The outstanding South Auckland back was R. C. Deverall, in the five-eighth line, who, with elusive running, went through the Auckland defence to get two tries. He is a product of Huntly District High School football, and reached the South Auckland representative team two seasons ago when 19 years of age. Last season he came to Auckland and played three games for Manukau. Deverall is quick off the mark, and his speed in taking the gap makes him a dangerous attacking player.

South's New Hooker.—One of six new representative players for South Auckland was J. Curnow, a former Huntly District High School player, who did very well considering that his hooking opponent was the New Zealand representative player, A. Leatherbarrow. Curnow is only 20 years of age, and is rather on the light side for big football. He showed untiring dash in open play, and made an impressive debut.

Maori Player Honoured.—Presentation of the life membership medallion of the New Zealand Rugby League was made on Saturday at a social function at Huntly which followed the representative match between the Auckland and South Auckland teams, to Tonga Mahuta. He has been closely associated with South Auckland football for over 20 years, being at one time a leading South Auckland player. The presentation was made by Mr. R. Doble, representing the New Zealand Rugby League.

Even For Fifteen Minutes.—For the first quarter of an hour Papakura held North Shore, and Papakura got the first score of the day, a try by Hogan. after a splendid back movement. Shore, however, gradually wore down its opponents and tries came in quick succession. Halfway through the second half the Shore players repeatedly cut the defence to rib'ootts, forwards and 'backs going through to score. J. Smith, from the Army camp, was in hie old position as full-back for Shore. He figured prominently in several back movements, and was successful with four conversions. In the first spell injuries were Buffered by Brown. North Shore forward, and Hancock, full-back for Papakura. They were replaced by L. Seagar and Smitih respectively. A feature of the game was the improved and solid tackling by the majority of the Papakura team.

SOCCER

Better Combination.—The combination shown by the Army eleven was largely responsible for the defeat of the Auckland representative side. Army avenged its previous defeat by running out the winner by 4 goals to 1. The Auckland forwards were starved for the ball by the backs, but on the few occasions when they obtained possession they showed •what they could do. Outstanding among the Army vanguard was Pattison, ex-Canter-bury representative, who was dangerous on the left wing, lie combined well with Hatchard. ex-Wellington and New Zealand representative, and the well-known Au<klaiuler, l-'rancis. Ucatrie. too, could not be overlooki v d for his work.

Promising Youngster.—Upchurch, goalie for \VelHngton in the fifth grade match against Auckland, proved a youngster. When challenged he dice tod many 'brilliant saves in the face of strong opposition, lie showed knowledge of tlie trame by anticipating many movements by tihe Auckland vanguard. The crowd was quick to show -appreciation of the excellent performance given by the lad.

I Shore's Win Deserved.—The match (between Metro-College and Xort'h till ore provided a last and interesting game, and S-hore came out worthy winners ■with a 4 gtxtls to - tally. A high wind made conditions somewhat difficult for ball control, but both teams overcame the handicap io a great extent. Both sides were fielding junior players to fill gaps, and in the main they proved worthy eul> stitutes. Craxton had a hard day in the Shore goal. but. rose to the occasion, clearing in great style under pressure. The Shore backs were very solid on defence, Haycock, Booth and Dacro being prominent i'or consistently good play, while Kendall (lett ihaii) gave an outstanding display. To Valentine, Richards and Asate must go the honours in the forward line, the lafter's dash for a goal halt tlie length of the field being a great effort. Kit-hards was again in scoring mood, getting the other three goals. Flicker gave a capable display in the Metro goal. Of the Metro backs Broun, R. Putr and Boddy were the mainstay, getting in some very effective play, both in attack and defence. The forward line worked well together, Speed, Hope-Ede and Holmes showing up for good all-round play, and Hope-Kde's two goals for his edde were well deserved.

Ono Goal Margin.—ln a very high wind, which affected the run of the play considerably. Ponson-by sot the verdict over Mount Albert by the odd goal in five. Opposing full-backs Speed I Mount Albert) and Divkie (Ponsonby) did good work. Dickie is a promoted junior, and gave a sound exhibition. Ponsonby's halves were overshadowed on the day by the Mount Albert trio, oi whom Hutchinson, on the left, was the best. The posit'ion in the forwards was just the reverse. Brackcnridge. Chapman and Dowler were Ponson'by's spearhead, and the line worked more smoothly than the opposition, led by Clark ami Patterson. The latter made some good runs down the left wing, but his crosses too often vent astray. Ponsonbv's goal scorers were Braekenridge. Dowler and Chapman, -while Ward and Irvine netted for Mount Albert.

N.Z. Champion Beaten.—Canterbury, who beat Wellington for tho English Trophy at Basin Reserve on -Tuly "26 by 6 goals to 3, visited the capital again last Saturday and lost by the solid margin of 0-2. The trophy was not at stake, as Canterbury has to defend it at Christchurch against Otaaro on September 20. the week after which Wellington will meet the winner. HOCKEY

Smiler Saves the Day!-.\fter United scored the only goal of the first spell and gone into a 3—l lead in t'he second, it looked as if the hard-hitting tactics which were upsettine the T'niversitv defence would bring tinal success. \V. Smiler. however, saved the situation for University by his clever forceful play, in which he used a strong wristy Hick to advantage. He made an opportunity for H. Cooper to scote and aL-o got no fewer than three goals himself. The University defence was hampered through the absence of D. Revell at* full-back. Forced to play one short, the side found difficulty in coping with the spirited attacks of the United forward line in the early stages of the game.

Thornton Picks It Up.—An amusing interlude was provided ii: this match when N. Thornton, the United wing half, found himself in a rather tight spot near his own circle. Hemmed in by T'niversitv forwards and tillable to tret his stick swinging to clear, he picked up the ball and howled it underhand along t'he ground. He cleared all light, but the umpire caught him.

A Procession Of Goals.—The GrammarSomerville match had i>i ospects of being an evenly contested game, according to the first half, in which Grammar ecored the one and only goal. The second spell developed into a procession of scoring, as Grammar added six more scores to Sonicrville's three. H. Lawry, the ex-Massey College centre forward, accounted for three of the tally. G. Twitrden two. and K. Lawry and M. Lai-sen one each. Somerville's scorers were D. Stewart, J. Nicholson and E. Archibald.