Rugby League MARIST CLUBS’ TOURNAMENT

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28258, 22 April 1957, Page 6

Rugby League MARIST CLUBS’ TOURNAMENT

Auckland Beats Greymouth

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 21. Playing bright open football, Auckland beat Greymouth, holders of the Father Duffy Cup, 18-5, in the first round of the New Zealand Marist Rugby League tournament. Wellington beat Dunedin, 26-3. The Auckland and Greymouth teams were impressive on the greasy surface, but Wellington and Dunedin seemed unable to handle the conditions successfully. Setting a fast pace, Auckland pressed hard, and after several unsuccessful penalties, full-back R. Goodin gave them a 2-0 lead after 12 minutes. The Auckland backs pounced every time the Greymouth side received the ball from the scrum. The Greymouth centre-three-quarter R. Pascoe made several breaks-through but without much success. After 20 minutes, Auckland forced its way to the line and J. Somerville dived over to score. R. Goodin converted. Auckland dominated at this stage but its backs were inclined to stand and pass and a Greymouth winger, B. Kells, intercepted and just missed scoring. An Auckland winger, J. Ah Loo, made a break from the half-way mark to give his team a 10-0 lead at half time.

Soon after resuming, Goodin kicked a penalty for Auckland. Greymouth barged through with their light forwards. and the breakaway B. Gardiner dived over to score. M. Bourke converted. Greymouth pressed hard but Auckland attacked again and M. Patterson scored after a 10-yard dash, then J. Hopa scored from a passing rush to make the final score Auckland 18, Greymouth 5. In a scrappy match, Wellington easily beat a ‘less-experienced team. Dunedin, 26-3 r Wellington scored four tries in the first half, the fullback, K. Kelleher, giving an excellent display of kicking when he converted all the tries. M. O Hagan, P. Kaiawai, P. Mears, and T. King each scored one try. The draw for tomorrow is:—Christchurch v. Wellington, Greymouth v. Dunedin, Auckland v. winners of the Christchurch v. Wellington match.