LEAGUE REPS. MEET

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 238, 7 October 1944, Page 2

LEAGUE REPS. MEET

South Is Superior To Auckland Team: Keen Play In Representative Match: Shore V. Ponsonby In Rooster Final

Interest in League football centred at Huntly this afternoon, where, in a keenly contested match, South Auckland beat an Auckland representative team by the close margin of 12 points to 10, after leading 12—8 at half-time. In the second half Auckland made great efforts to bridge the gap, but the South Auckland players put up a good defence, and won by 12 points to 10, a victory which was very popular with the spectators. The Roope Rooster semi-finals were played at Carlaw Park this afternoon before a large attendance. North Shore, with superior team play, beat Newton by 13 points to nil, while Ponsonby showed better combination than Mount Albert to win by 17 points to 2 in a match marred by rough play in the closing stages. North Shore and Ponsonby will meet next Saturday in the final of the Roope Rooster.

SOUTH AUCKLAND BY TWO POINTS The teams were:— Auckland: R. Martin, J. Smith, R. McGregor, B. Taylor, C. Riley, W. Cossey,, C. Williams, D. McLeod, O. Hughes, F. Hilton, F. James, N. Johnson. A. Rogers. South Auckland: B. Davies, J. Beasley, J. Darrow, S. Griffiths, O. Brookes, M. Taylor, L. Allen, G. Moyes, G. Marelich, Williams, Broughter, Rogers, Hapets. In the opening minute of play, Riley, replacing Salaia, attempted a penalty from just inside half-way, but it went wide. Brookes, playing at second fiveeighth for South, had M. Taylor between himself and Allen at half, and the combination went well. South was first to score, Allen making a break and sending a long pass to Rogers, to Griffiths, who scored. The kick missed. South ..." 3 Auckland 0 Riley broke away for Auckland. Taylor continued, and In following play Riley passed to McGregor, who went over. Riley converted. Play was fast on a hard ground. From five yards outside the tenyard line Brooks kicked a perfectly Judged penalty to make the score 5-all. So far South was keeping Auckland in its own territory, the back lines getting even shares from the scrums. Auckland looked dangerous when McGregor ran fast from a back movement to pass to Taylor, who- was caught on the line by Griffiths. J. Darrow received an eye injury and was replaced by Stevens for South. The backs were handling well, with Beasley and Griffiths proving penetrating on the wings. Brookes then kicked a penalty to put South ahead 7—5. Brookes was.playing a fast game, and Marelich, Brougher and Hapets were prominent in the South forwards, Marelich going close to tries a couple pf times. The Auckland backs cut the -defence to ribbons when McGregor, Riley and Smith combined, the last-named scoring. Riley's kick fell short. Auckland S, South 7. The game was fast and open, and South was meeting Auckland in all departments, Allen making a spectacular breakaway in Auckland's half and crossing between the posts. Brookes eonverted, and at half-time the score was: South 12 Auckland 8

When the teams turned round, South worked to the Auckland end, where Allen gained ground with a run from the base of the scrum. Here Brooks missed a penalty from close range. South penned Auckland on the defence, keeping up the attack, and making .strenuous efforts to cross, Marelich, Hapita and Wlllams being prominent. From the ten-yard mark, and wide out, Brooks attempted a penalty, but the ball hit the post, South forwards then attacked in force. An infringement eased the position for Auckland. A long line kick by Riley carried play downfield where the whistle pulled James up. Brooks made a dashing run for South, beat the full-back and passed to Taylor, who dropped the ball. Further South assaults were without success. "Riley, who was playing at his peak, made a run through most of the South team, but was pulled up. Williams, one of the best of the South men, was responsible for a fast run that saw the. ball go to Brooks, then to Griffiths on the wing, who was forced outside. The South Auckland team play was bustling Auckland, and even Ralph Martin was making a few mistakes. Generally however, his play was up to his usual standard. South's full-back, B. Davies, was playing confidently, and kicking well. Allen was elusive at half-back, and confirmed the good impression he made in his Auckland appearance early in the season. The first score of the half came when Riley kicked a penalty from the ten-yard line, making the score South 12, Auckland 10. Moyes led a South attack, but Auckland swept down once more, with Cossev in the lead. On the line, Auckland looked certain to score, but Taylor dropped his pass from McGregor. In the closing minutes of play. South kept pressing on the Auckland line, and the final bell rang, with South Auckland on top. South Auckland 12 Auckland 10 The referee was Mr. F. Knapper. "He Newfon v. North Shore The teams were:— North Shore: Gamble, Hiscook, Walker Short, Cave, Clarke. McArthur, Hunt, Field, Taylor, Rutherford, Graham, Mercer. Newton: McKay, Muru. Mailii. Silva, Neal, Sorby, Scarlett. Sullivan, Zimmerman Gallagher. Brady. Te Haara, Elliott. f>peed and c-iever handling by the Shore backs were features of the early play. McArthur shot the ball out with celerity, the Shore inside backs handled well and made ground, and in one movement Hiscock, the Shore right wing, was given a good chance. As McKay, the Newton fullback. moved quickly into frontal defence position, Hiscock stab-kicked ahead. McKay leaped at the ball, gathered it on his fingertips and got. in a clearance, which made the spectators enthuse. in an individual way Newton played well, and Maihi ran with speed and determination when chances came to the right wing. The Shore backs continued to colour the picture. There was a promising move when McArthur fed Clarke, and the latter sent to Cave. With a sharp cut- •) n and elusive running, Cave went through to McKay He gSve a wide inside transfer, and Clarke dropped the ball when the way to the try line was wide open. First score came to Shore—a neat penaltv goal from short range by Clarke. Soon Shore went further into the lead From a set scrum McArthur launched an attack to the right. Clarke and Cave moved up into position to do their parts. Then Cave sold the Newton defence with a reverse pass. The ball was collected by Taylor, who raced over in a good position i° ,? c .? re - North Shore 5, Newton 0. The half-time scores were: North Shore k Newton . 0 When the teams turned round bright Sh,? re interplay entertained the spectatois, Clarke showing brilliance in the ™ G " e ;? hth The shore a"ack was smooth, and the combination was good. It was Shore s good fortune to get a generous share of the ball from set scrummages, where Rutherford, North Island van W3S outrakin S his vis-a-vis, SulliPlaying in a resolute manner the Newton forwards hammered a way through to the Shore end, but there was lack of finish at crucial moments, and the Shore defence held. Rutherford and Hiscock combined in a movement which took play to the Newton end. McArthur got the ball from a set scrum, went solo on the open side, and dived across near the posts to score and Clarke converted. North Shore 10, Newton 0. North Shore's next score was spectacular. Gamble ran upfield from the Shore end. and as a converging defence came to him passed to Clarke. The latter passed to Hiscock on his left. The Shore wing had too much pace for the Newton pursuit, and wound up a big run by scoring wide. North Shore 13, Newton 0. The final scores were:— North Shore 13 Newton o

Ponsonby v. Mt. Albert Ponsonby: Littlejohn, Nurse, Jordon Nordgren, Manly, Kay, Black, Hardwick', Mullett, Hull, Lohenet, Bailey, Hadley. Mount Albert: H. Zane, Moore, J. Zane, Sumich, Verrall, Clement, Thomassen, Pinfold, Borich, Pinfold, Shadbolt Conya. Ponsonby opened up with a brilliant offensive, in "which Jordon and Nurse cut deeply into the Mount Albert territory. Back came the Mount Albert forwards, and Pinfold and Shadbolt were prominent in a good passing bout, Littlejohn going down to a splendid tackle just when a try looked certain. However, the Ponsonby backs opened up the game, and they burst through. The forwards, Hull, Bailey and Mullett, lined across the ground, and Hardwick finished off a great movement to score. Kay converted with a fine sideline kick. Ponsonby 5, Mount Albert 0. Kay was again in the attack, and burst clean through the .defence, thrilled the crowd with a backhand pass, and Jordon streaked over for a classy try. Kay missed. Ponsonby 8, Mount Albert 0. Verrall started a Mount Albert passing bout and J. Zane raced 40 yards before sending the ball on to Moore, who had the crowd on their toes as he raced for the tryline Again Littlejohn tackled hard and low. A few minutes later H. Zane reduced the margin from a penalty. Ponsonby 8, Mount Albert 2. Hard wick was again seen leading the Ponsonby pack, and passed to Hadley. Then the ball went to Hull, and Black gained useful ground. The game was fast and open, with the Ponsonby backs impressing with speed and good handling. Nordgren got some play oil his wing and badly beat the defence, his speed gaining 40 yards for Ponsonby, There was no let-up by the forwards, and Mr. Donovan (the referee) had to exercise firm control. Kay missed two kicks at goal from penalties. The Ponsonby forwards, with Mullett in the van, swept over the opposition, and the boxing champion kicked over the line for Nordgren to dive on the ball for a splendid try. Kay failed to convert. Half-time scores:— Ponsonby " II Mount Albert 2 When Ponsonby came out. Bailey, who retired a minute before half-time, was replaced by Fielder. Kay opened up the proceedings, and with Nurse showing speed and enterprise. Ponsonbv played in a buoyant way. Mount Albert came back hard, and Shadbolt and Conza raced hard for a try. Black saved just in time. Ponsonby had a steady wind, but they failed to make use of this advantage. Mount Albert took a new lease of life, and for some time had Ponsonby bustled. The game lacked the sparkle of the first half, and it was surprising Ponsonby did not make more use of the speedy backs. Howover. the Mount Albert defence was good. From under the Ponsonby goalposts, Jordon opened up a gap, and ran past halfway. His pass to Nurse was dropped, and a, try missed. Fielder could have got in on the inside. Nurse later made amends with a beautiful opening before passing to Jordon, who outpaced the opposition . to score. Kay made a miskick, and the scores road: Ponsonby 14, Mt. Albert 2. Tempers became frayed, and after a mix-up B. Shadbolt went off. Mount Albert battled on gamely, and Clement was held up almost over the Ponsonby tryline. There was a lot of reckless kicking by the Ponsonby forwards. Once the bail came out to the Ponsonby backs, speed told its tale, and Jordon passed to Kay. and Black made ground for Fielder, arid Nordgren scored. Kay missed. S?o the game ended, perhaps one of the toughest seen at Carlaw Park for a numpber of years. Final scores:— Ponsonby 17 Mount Albert 2 Mr. J. Donovan was referee. . '