CLEVER ATTACKING HALVES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 257, 27 July 1936, Page 11

CLEVER ATTACKING HALVES

English League Team AUCKLAND DEFEATED BY 22 TO 16 Team Baby’s Three Tries i'.y Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 26. The English Rugby League team opened its New Zealand tour auspiciously on Saturday afternoon, defeating Auckland 22-16. The match wa s played on a heavy ground following overnight rain. The attendance was 12,000. The English team arrived by the Monterey in the morning, and fielded practically a Test side. In the early stages of the match the visitors gave away penalties by the forwards failing to regard the five-yards rule. In spite of the backs having every chance through the forwards gaining possession in the scrums they made mistakes in handling. Auckland scored seven points early in the game chiefly through England failing to settle down. Auckland’s _ points were registered in the first six minutes of the game, a penalty goal and a converted try.

Once into their stride the visitors showed ability in keeping with that of previous English teams which have visited the Dominion. The home side was greatly handicapped through its inability to gain the ball from the scrums. In spite of the advantage the visiting side had in this department, specially in the first spell, it made several errors in passing. Owing to this fault Auckland was able to cover more quickly on defence than otherwise would have been the case.

There was no doubt regarding the superiority of England in team play. The forwards gave the backs remarkable opportunities, but when the rearguard committed errors the vanguard was exceptionally clever in covering up. England’s great strength, after the forwards gaining the ball, lay in Watkins and Jenkins, two of the cleverest attacking halves who have yet toured with the English side. Their unorthodox movements clearly had the home team puzzled, especially when the reverse pass was used to. great effect. Either player found gaps in the defence with cleverly-placed grubber kicks. Brilliant Edwards. An outstanding feature of the match was the brilliance of Edwards, twenty-year-old winger, and the youngest member of the team, who scored three

tries. Edwards has a dazzling burst of speed with a very deceptive side step. Risman, the English centre, shone as a very effective link in the chain. Hudson, the other wing, was a fast, determined runner. Enough was seen of Brough to judge that he is a full-back the equal in class of the renowned Sullivan. Among the English .forwards, Hodgson and Beverley were outstanding. They are both weighty and fast, and handled as well as any back. Armitt, the. hooker, who was so successful in Australia, gained the ball with almost monotonous regularity. In spite of being outweighted the Auckland forwards made a brave showing? A feature of their play was sound tackling. ■ They stood the heavy ordeal splendidly. A weakness in the. Auckland backs was a tendency for Kay, second five-eighth, to go for interceptions. Deep holes were made by the clever English inside backs in Auckland’s combination. The outstanding player in the Auckland rearguard was Tittleton, who tackled well and showed ability on attack. Of the forwards Gault, Breed, and Tetley were the best. Auckland scored first, Watene kicking a penalty goal and Breed scoring a try converted by Watene. Risman and Edwards (2) added tries for England in splendid movements. Watene kicked another penalty goal to make, the score 9 all. Just prior to half-time, Hudson scored for England, Risman kicking a fine goal, making the score 14-9 in favour of England. Sensational Movement. Auckland attacked persistently at the start of the second half when Watene added another penalty goal. Edwards scored his third try almost immediately, and then a sensational movement by the Auckland backs completely beat the defence, Brown scoring for Watene to convert with a fine kick. England immediately retaliated, Jenkins showing brilliance to score a try which was converted by Risman, making the final score: England 22, Auckland 16.

WELLINGTON TEAM Match Against England on Wednesday SATURDAY’S MATCHES The Wellington representative team to play England at the Basin Reserve on Wednesday is announced as follows by the Wellington Rugby League’s selection committee. Messrs. G. Bradley, L. Benseman nnd E. Buckland: — Full-back: W. Spencer (St. George). . Three-quarters: E. Gladding (St. George), L. Mersou (Central), C. McNeil (St. George). Five-eightbs: First. S. T. Atkins (Petone); second, 11. T. Lilburne (Hutt), captain. Half-back; J. Coman (Petone). Forwards, front row: J. G. Cootes (St. George), E. Pilcher (Petone), R. Moisley (St. George). Second row: C. Berry (Central), H. Todd (Hutt). Breakaway: G. Swanberg (St. George), Emergencies, backs: R. Merwood (Petone), A. O’Connor (St. George). Forwards: L. Simons (St. George), M. Burns (Hutt).

The manager of the team will be Mr. G. Bradley. The English team, which arrived at Auckland on Saturday from Australia and opened its tour there, will reach Wellington to-morrow morning by the Limited express, and will be welcomed by Mr. 1. M. Simpson, chairman of the board of control, and other members of the Wellington Rugby League. The team wifi stav at the Royal Oak Hotel. Mr E. D. Stallworthy will be travelling south with the team as the representfitive of the council of the New Zea■and Rugby League. . The council has appointed Mr. 1 . Rogers (Auckland), as referee for Wednesday’s match.

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