RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 18700, 31 July 1924, Page 10

RUGBY LEAGUE

ENGLAND DEFEATS AUCKLAND. The English League footballers defeated Auckland province by 28 points to 13. The ground was rather soft in places, but the ball remained dry, and the conditions were favorable for good open passing, such as the visitors specialise in. The attendance was 7,000. Wilson, of Waikato, was not available, M‘Donald taking his place in the scrum. It was apparent from tho start that the visitors would require to exert all their cleverness in attack to emerge victorious. The provincial forwards, playing with fine dash, got among the opposing backs, and for a considerable time broke up their combination. Passes were missed or went forward, and the visitors were penned in their twenty-five. The first score went to Auckland as tho result of snappy passing. The Englishmen eventually got their back machine moving, and made try-getting easy for a time. The second spell was very strenuous, and each side added 8 points, but in general play tho province had rather tho bettor of matters. They were attacking hard at tho finish. Tho visitors were without Parkin, who is a past master at making openings, but Mooney filled the position of scrum half right royally. A feature of the game w r as the scrum work of the provincial fonvards. They wore better at hooking than the visitors, and tho local backs got a good share of the ball. As a result there was hot work in front of tho visitors’ goal. Seven minutes after the start the Auckland backs got moving from, the loose. M'Clymont, WetheralT, and Brisbane handled in turn,*and the last-named scored at the corner. Dufty failed to convert. In a passing bout by tho Auckland backs Brisbane was almost over again, but a forward pass spoiled the movement. Gi’onow kicked a penalty. Play continued fast, both sides throwing the ball about in good style. It was noticeable that tho visitors were not so sure, in handling as on Saturday. The tackling of the provincial players, however, was very sound. After play in midfield, Gronow had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Defence was then turned into attack for tho Englishmen. In dramatic style Mooney broke away in his own twenty-five, and at tho full-back Rix took a pass and scored. Gronow converted. Immediately after another try went _to tho visitors, Bc-nham making an opening and passing to Howley, who scored. Gronow converted. Shortly afterwards Harwell scored, and, from a penalty, Dufty goalcd. Just before half-time. Gronow received a pass near tire line, and scored a try, which was converted.

England 20 Auckland 5 In the second spell, from tho loose, Johnston picked up and scored, Dufty converting. Tho province again scored, Wcthcrall sending to O’Brien, Lang, and’ Delgrosso, who scored an unconverted try. Several passing rushes of the visitors were stopped by good tackling. A long spell of strenuous play followed. Then the English backs got going, tho ball going to Bentharo, who passed to Rix, who scored an unconverted try. Several passing runs by tho visitors were spoiled by off-side play, but Dufty misfielded a long kick, and Jet the English forwards in, Price took a pass near tho line, and scored, Gronow converting. Strenuous play, with dashes on both sides, marked tho concluding stages of the game, which ended; England 28 Auckland 13 FIRST TEST. NEW ZEALAND TEAM. The following will represent New Zealand in the first test against England on Saturday:—Full-back, Dufty; threequarters—Stewart, Brisbane, and Gilroy; five-eighths, Fitzgerald and Wctherall; half, M’Clymont; fonvards—O’Brien, Lowry, Hening, Mount t, To Wliata, Avery. Reserves, —Forwards; M'Donald, Ross, Douglas. Backs: Delgrosso, J. Lang, and Poison. SHOW GROUNDS AT ADDINGTON. At a meeting of tho General Committee of tho Canterbury A. and P. Association on July 9 it was decided, on Mr W. Hayward’s motion, to inform tho Rugby Union that the association would require the Addington Show Grounds on August 15. In moving the motion, Mr Hayward said that he did so as a protest against the union’s action in refusing the use of the show grounds for the Rugby League match with the visiting English team fixed for August 16. At a special meeting of the committee to-day legal opinion was submitted on the lease between the association and the union, and as a result the resolution arrived at on July 9 was rescinded. Tho meeting was not open to tho Press.