WAIKATO LOSE, 19-6

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29295, 29 August 1960, Page 16

WAIKATO LOSE, 19-6

Auckland Back To Form (A ew Zealana Press Association} AUCKLAND, August 28. The Auckland Rugby team had a good rehearsal for its Ranfurly Shield challenge against Northland at Whangarei on Wednesday when it beat Waikato by 19 points (two goals .two tries, and a penalty goal) to 6 (a penalty goal and a try) at Eden Park on Saturday. Auckland’s form was much better than when it lost to Northland in the shield match the previous Saturday. Auckland had two different wings, D. W. McKay and J. H. Sibun, and their speed on the flanks gave the Auckland attack much more thrust than previously. However, Waikato was not nearly as strong as it has been and made many mistakes, making Auckland’s task easier than is usual in these keenly contested games. McKay was in fine form, running very fast, and this game won him a place in the North Island team. Two other Aucklanders, D. M. Connor and R. H. Graham, who were selected for North Island after the game, thoroughly deserved that honour. Connor played splendidly at half-back and Graham was the best forward of the game. The only indifferent features of Auckland’s win were the erratic handling of M. Herewini, at first five-eighths, and the loose midfield defence.

Still Auckland played well and a 13-point win over Waikato is no mean effort. Waikato’s best players were the Clarke brothers, D. S. at full-back and B. E. at No. 8. Both played very well throughout the game while their team-mates were inclined to work in spasms. M. J. McDonald on one wing and M. H. Raureti, at centre, made some good runs, but the play of the backs suffered through the indifferent combination of I. H. Cathro (half-back) and R. W. Kemp (first five-eighths). Sibun (2), McKay and N. Bowerman scored Auckland's tries, and M. C. Cormack converted two and kicked a penalty goal. Cathro scored Waikato's try and L Portma kicked