SPORTING FLASHES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 103, 4 May 1942, Page 7

SPORTING FLASHES

PLANS FOR LEAGUE AMALGAMATION GO ASTRAY SATURDAY

There was evidence at Carlaw Park on Saturday that the League amalgamation plans for this season have not met with the approval of all League players. Mount Albert and North Shore members did not take part in the second series of preliminary matches with the clubs to which they were coupled (Newton and Marist) and Otahuhu and City each played one spell against Ponsonby.

Results were:— Manukau 25, v. Richmond R. Citv-Otahuhu 8, v. Ponsonby 7. Newton 30, v. Marist JU.

Easy for Manukan.—Fielding a team composed of last season players. Manukau had an easy win from Richmond hy 2.j points to 8. Manukau played a characteristic, open game, and the ball was thrown about freely. Murray and Chase showed speed and made many openings for their supporting players.

Return of Broilrick.—After being out of the game for one season. J. Brodrick played for Manukau ..gainst Richmond and was the outstanding forward in the loose play. Brodrick is tall, heavv, fast, and can juggle with the ball. He is one of a few forwards who can get backs going by throwing out a long pass from ruck play.

Fine Display l»y Sailings The outstanding Richmond back against Manukau was Sullings, at right wing-three-quarter, ana his determined running appealed strongly to the spectators. Had it not been for the inability of the Richmond inside backs to get the ball to him. the former New South Wales plaver would nave been of greater value to his side. RUGBY UNION „ Huffbv set son was opened on Saturday with a series of preliminary matches in which the standard generally was fairly high. In the principal attraction Training College produced a lit ji.ung side to take the honours somewhat easily from Army Service Corps. The latter started promisingly, but, once settled down, the College team had too much combination for the opposition, both back and forward. The Service side was led >>y the former Auckland captain. N". Pearman, who was in good form after having stood down last season. Th.> fifteen on the form displayed will be hard to dispose of later in the season. The Ranfurlys proved too good for Marist in a rather ragged curtain-raiser, and the former will no doubt be better when it develops more combination. Interest on the No. 2 ground centred in the appearance of several Rug'.jy League players for M.T.P. The side was troubled by the change of rules, although Riley (centre) showed attacking ability. Air Force No. 2, which beat Marist. has a good half-back in Warren, formerly of Poneke (Wellington). Garrison and Grafton-Ponsonbv fought out an interesting game 011 i'io No. 0 ground, in which heavy forwatds were fairly evenly matched. Technical Old Boys surprised by beating Manukau at Onehunga, while the C.R.O.'s beat Takapuna on its home ground. The results of the games were:—Training College 30, A.S.C. 11, The Ranfurlys 9, Marist 0, Eden 13, Suburbs 3, Garri.son 12, Grafton-T-onsonDy 6, Air Force 18, Motor Transport 9, Technical Oici Bo\s 11, Manukau 6, The C.R.O.'s 11, Takapuna 9. SOCCER The main Association football attraction at Blandford Park was the senior competition game between Comrades (last year's championship winners) and Metro College, who had annexed the Falcon Cup and became champions of champions. Metro won 2—o, and on the run of the play was certainly the better side. M. Speed, Hope-Ede and Hannam were most conspicuous in the front line, whilst Kerr, Constable and Gordon shone in the defence. For Comrades, Prohl (on the right wing), Fincham and Evans were prominent in the front line, whilst Matthews and Woods were the pick of the rear guard. J. Walters played a good game 011 the left wing, but might be more at home in an inside position.

Two Good Halves. — Some excellent football was witnessed in the preliminary game at headquarters when two naval sides met under the nomination of English and Scots. The game was full of fast, skilful and interesting football. The two outstanding players were Whitelaw, left half for the Scots, and Woolage, centre-half for the English. Whitelaw's tackling was always clean and effective, and his judgment in distributing the ball was excellent. Woolage. on the English side, reminded one of centre-half Bernard Joy, who visited this country in 1937. His control of the ball was a I'-eat to watch, whilst his exhibition of the code was one of the best seen at headquarters since the tour of the last English side. Stewart scored for the Scots, the first goal of the match, whilst Ruff. Woolage, Griggs and James netted for the Whites (English), the latter winning by four goals to one.

Other Championship Games.—The remaining three senior competition matches resulted: Army heat Ponsonby, a—2; Eastern Suburbs drew with North Shocr. 4-1; Mount Albert A beat Mount Albert B, B—l.

HOCKEY The opening series of games in the Auckland Hockey Association's senior championship resulted in the victory of Owai Rovers (2) over A.S.C. (1) and three draws: 'Varsity (4) v. Training College (4); Somerville (2) v. St. Luke's (2): Grammar Old Boys (0) v. Mount Eden (0).

Promotion Justified.—Owai Rovers and A.S C. staged a fine open game and generally displayed tactics that should give the senior division a welcome uplift. Both sets of players were very fit and fast but showed a tendency for overanxiousness. This fault can be easily rectified. The Rovers gained the only win of the day, but more care by the forwards when in the circle would have hoisted a bigger goal tally. Lawrence, centre-forward, was the chief offender. He maintained good position in the field, but roamed and interfered with the inner forwards in the circle. McLeod. as right wing in the second spell, showed to greater advantage. His goal was a fine effort. The half trio proved sound. If Gordon, the goal-keeper, proves consistent, then the Rovers have a valuable asset. J. Horspool led A.S.C. and displayed his well-known dash, but the best combination of the forwards was between Wadsworth, Chester and Boyd on the left of the line. Giles' Brilliant Score Training College was perhaps unlucky in not defeating University in the first match of the hockey season. Although the strong University side had all the better of the exchanges in the first spell, the two goals scored In quick succession by N. Giles, the College winger, proved to be the turning point in the game. Giles' first score was the result of a brilliant solo run for half the length of the field, when he caught the University defence out of position and advanced to the circle. There he drew the goalkeeper well out before passing him and hitting into an open net. This highlight of the match certainly had the effect oi putting new life into the teachers" effort, but they could not maintain their twogoal lead in the closing stages, and had to be satisfied with a draw.