REP. RUGBY.

Franklin Times, Volume XX, Issue 80, 14 July 1930, Page 5

REP. RUGBY.

S. AUCKLAND BEATS AUCKLAND B. BY FOUR TRIES TO TWO. A GAME FULL OF THRILLS. SOUTIIERNERS SUPERIOR. Tito .first of Rio home and homo niulolios between South Auckland and Auckland B was played at Pukelcohe on Saturday before a crowd estimated j at .00 and it resulted in a win for Rio Southern team by 12 points (four tries] to (I points (two tries). From the kick off until the final whistle there was not a dull moment, both teams Riving 1 sparkling exhibi-I lions of Rugby. There wore many! spectacular movements on both sides I

nd I brills aplenty lor the. spectators

Following their usual custom, the Aucklanders opened play with several brilliant passing rushes by the backs, but these were met with resolute defence, smothering tactics being adopted. Most of these efforts were ended when Lawrie caught Connolly in possession and prevented him from letting

the ball out. For the first 10 minutes the Aucklanders looked like piling-

up a score but the table turned with dramatic suddenness and thereafter Soutli Auckland never looked like getting beaten and revealed that they can play the fast, and open game, as good, if not better, than the Aucklanders, if given the chance. • South Hookers Win the Ball. The first quarter was stubbornly contested the packs in tight play being evenly matched with Ihe Southerners getting more of the ball, but in the loose and line, outs the Southerners predominated. Tne battering the home pack gave the visitors in the first 20 minutes told its tale and Ihe defence wilted to such an extent that for the remainder of the game, with the exception of about five minutes in the last quarter, South were definitely su-

perior, both forward and hack. South was winning two out of three scrums with the result that Ihe home hacks were given every opportunity to shine

out and they did in snappy movements which not only pleased, •but thrilled, the spectators. Had it not been for

the splendid hacking up of Weir. Berridge, Potter and several forwards, tinscore would have been much higher. The Southern backs gave a masterly exhibition and were well served at the. base of the scrum by E. Aloyle, who not only justified his inclusion, bid gave the lies! exhibition of halt’ hack

play ever seen in this districl. His defence was superb. He would pick Ihe ball off Ihe loes of the visiting forwards and scl his backs in action. He was ever on the alert and his backing up was splendid. Ills passes shot out clean and true. He is undoubtedly the “find” of the season. The next best back on the field was T. Cossey, the southern five-eighth. In the first half Cossey played second five-eighth but in the second half bo was moved in one. lie and Wood changing places. With tills alteration the line worked with machinc-like action and was ever a source of worry to the Aucklanders, who were seeing little of the ball. Cossey. like Aloyle, was soundness personified. He was as solid as a rock on defence and elusive on attack. Tito way in which be took Aloylo’s passes on the move

from almost any angle was very disconcerting' to the visitors. lie was as elusive as a cork in a rolling sea. On one occasion lie cut a hole in the defence and lefl Ihe visitors bewildered. Wood was rock like on defence, and but for a tendency to bang on a trifle

too long, was very Utile behind Cosse>. Lawrie gave a good display but revealed a tendency to intercept. He was a source of worry to Connolly all day and never let the opposing centre lmve much room in which to work. Lawrie was hriliian,! on attack and brought off many line moves. Fallows’ pace earned him Hie first try and a clever side step, to heat two men to score the second. On attack he was brilliant, and it is doubtful H there is a wing in South Auckland who would have scored as lie did il gR'-ii the same opportunity. On defence, however. he was often left standing bv the ’speedy Gouper. If Fallows was as sound on defence as Stephens on Ihe opposite wing he would he a brilliant wing threequarter, hut on attack he overshadowed Stephens, becausperhaps he had greater opportunities. A Good All-Round Display. Stephens, however, gave a good all round display and was usually the e to bring down Jones, the Jus ■* elusive Auckland wing. The lattei, by his clever sidestepping lott him badly twice. Hira was sound at lull back and did nothing wrong. H< a bit unlucky in not fielding the ball when Auckland scored their first. i> ;

On defence he was bri liant. and no* never been seen to better adxanta while on several occasions he ian his hacks into position in pretcrenc.. to kicking. He was cool and ucrful throughout. He would be 11 ,- a ' man who would attempt to soil out the best forward. The paek woik . as a team, with Perfect. Slaniorjl ami , P'leydell shining in the loose ami Hilton, Atchison, Keary, Lee and •Cathcuit :in Hie tin-lit They were grafteis an, : s i iare in feeding »«**• heal 5 nroved nil able loader. - 1 The Auckland hacks were sliow> ‘ rather than effective 1 Gouper were outstanding ‘ G l _ - Salherley, Douglas, Hayward and 9 li-her were grafters in the pack hui wore overshadowed by their oppon-

u’tcr the match the Auckland captain Be,'ridge and the manager, M Potter, acknowledged that they nai met a superior side, and referred to Ilio outstanding play of Moyle and Cos- . nr *mri flip nack of forwards. j S ' Ben Keary, the South Auckland captain he enjoyed the game all th Say’ adding that he had never played in o' better South Auckland team. Undoubtedly It was ihe best team South Auckland has ever fielded and the selectors, Messrs W, R. Bilkey am I ') Short, are to he complimented on this. When the Southerners visit

Men Justify Selection.

I Auckland they will probably meet a I stronger side, and they should bear I this in mind from now on. On the j day’s play every man justified his se- [ lection. I The teams were:— I Auckland (blue and white) : PickerI ing, Jones, Connolly, Coupcr, Berridgc J (rapt.), Weir, Conway, Potter, HayI ward, Douglas, Satherley, Meikle, Gallagher, McVeigh and Dodd. South Auckland (black) : Hira, Stephens, Lawrie, Fallows, Wood, Gossey, Moyle, Pleydell, Keary (captain), Fulton, Atchison, Lee, Gathcart, Perfect, Stanford. Keary won Lhe toss and Berridge set the game going, a scrum being called back as the ball did not go 10 yards. G. Lawrie was®first into the limelight with a nice line kick. From the throw in the Auckland backs moved into ac--lion but the movement broke down when Connolly failed to take his pass and Weir hacking up, lined and put

Auckland on attack. From a scrum Conway led Coupcr and the speedy winger sailed down the side line, but Hira got him with a nice tackle. From another scrum Moyle secured and

found the line outside, his twentyfive. Auckland hacks went into action again from the throw in, but Lawrie smothered Connolly at the half way

line, Weir kicking through and put the visitors' on attack. Moyle and then Hira relieved. The black forwards set up a rush and the full back jumped in to save, but Gossey caught him in possession and play was on Auckland’s twenty-five. From a scrum Moyle sent to Wood,'to Gossey. who, was tackled and lost the ball and Potter returned play to half way. The

uckland backs swung into attack the

ball chaining out to Coupcr but he was bowled over. A free kick to the blacks gave Keary a chance to find touch at half way. The blacks were set in action by Keary but bad passing held them up. Auckland re-

turned and Gossey broke away and sent to Fallows who beat a man and was brought down. Pickering kicked and Wood secured and sent to Gossey. to Lawrie, to Stephens, who gave an in-pass, but Porridge intercepted and saved. He broke away, Keary smothering his reverse pass. The Southerners continued to attack and Pleydell broke through without support and Pickering got him a yard or so from the line. Auckland, led by Conway,

cleared but Moyle went away from a scrum but held on too long and a chance went astray. Auckland cleared to- half way but Perfect and Keary

led the blacks in a hot rush which Pickering held up and cleared. Perfect went away again in a loose rush hut Weir saved. Potter then broke away from a scrum and in a foot rush wenl

past the half way line where Wood and Gossey held him up. The change over came with no score. Fallows Scores at the Corner. From the kick off Satherley opened up play and sent to Potter to Coupcr, whose kick was too hard and T-lira forced. Stanford came through with Pleydell and Perfect in support but the ball went to touch on Auckland’s side of half way. The Auckland hacks were set in action but the blacks got their man. The Auckland winger. Goupcr, missed his pass and fallows whipping up the ball in a flash raced 95 vards to score a great try at the corner. Perfect missed the shot.

South Auckland . . • • •> Auckland B 0 The Auckland hacks started hy Conway threw the ball about and the chain handled, but Jones was upended in South's twenty-live. A free kick was given to Kira and he lined near halt way with ft good kick and gained much needed relief. The South backs had a run. but a pass was smothered and Couper streaked for the line, several handling in infield passing. Gathcart sec lin’d and drove them out but Hira missed a high hall by Connolly when hustled and Auckland went over, Satherley scoring. Berridge. failed. Auckland B f South Auckland • - • • :i

South attacked from the kick off and Fallows dribbled the ball to Auckland’s twenty-five where some torn.l forward play was seen. From a scrum Moyle fed Wood, who shoit kick d and followed and he caught the lull hack in possession. From a scium the South hookers got it Mot>ie worked the blind to Wood to iJlllflSg, who Side, stepped two men and racel over for a clever try. Pei feet lane 1. South Auckland - • ■ • Auckland B . - • ■ * • ° Exciting play tollowcil as forwards and backs bout but the defence was solid, l ion l line out the hall dribbled out to Cossey who handed It to Lawne to Stephens in to Lawne out. to btepnc.m who stab kicked, but Lawne s pass forward. The South pack worked hard in the subsequent. scrum * d mnihpd the Nucklanders ott tne oau. from 0 'scramble on the lino U lb" ball and .bred Kcary's kick was tusl shoit. I South Auckland • • • Auckland B • •

The Second Half. Half time came a i>w minutes lal. i "ilh Auclttead attach. ~,.s uming S, a «oLf w WoX who r- rsome ni ‘ p,; ’., p Kick relieving Auckland’s line, at* 0 niPa the situation ioj i hig £ellow secured the halt ru went . out . to I wrie a m Stephens, who wshed out near the corner after a dash mg I ° Uf The blacks’ backs went to .mT- a *b» 1 0 yarda lon Auckland’s side of '"di saj- ■ J , , -Iwav in an ivmsist.iblf i ’rush. He dribbled the ball • over-.the

South Nine Up. line and Keary dived on itf or a great try. Keary. failed with the kick. South ’Auckland . . . . 12 Auckland B 3

From.a line out Atchison sent to Moyle to Gossey to Wood to Lawrie, who hung on a trifle too long and was smothered from behind. It was a spectacular movement with the South

backs racing at top and relishing their work. Jones set Auckland on attack by a 3 inky run and then letting the ball out, many hands taking part before the ball was given to Couper, who was upended. The South forwards broke away from the line out, led by Perfect and carried play past half way with beautiful foot control, but. the Auckland full back held up the rush. Then Conway with a nice line kick found South’s twenty-five where the visitors’ pack made strenuous efforts

to secure , hut they had more than a match in the home pack. The third quarter ended. South Auckland .. . . 12 Auckland B 3 The Southern pack demonstrated its suporority when it pushed the Auckland seven 10 yards, to allow Moyle to send his backs away. With machine like precision the ball sped along

the chain to Fallows who was bottled

up. He swerved in but was caught from behind. Connolly eventually cleared and the subsequent play between the packs was fast and willing with, but not unduly rough. The South pack broke through and Perfect snapped up the oval and gave it to Stanford who was smothered in possession. Play settled in the visitors’ territory, until the blacks were penalised for lifting in the scrum and Berridge punted high for his forwards to follow up smartly. Hira fielded cleanly and sent the ball to Wood, who dropped the unexpected pass and Berridge snapped it up and sent the ball

to Jones, who beat several men before short punting, Moyle marking cleverly. Jones marked the kick and Keary did likewise but Auckland got the benefit of this exchange of marks.

The game settled in South’s twentyfive and from ruck play Conway secured to send his backs away and things looked dangerous for South

when Berridsro cut in but Lawrie got Connolly with the ball. South were penalised and Berridge had a shot at goal but failed. Coupcr fielded a clearing kick and ran across field to pass to Weir to Berridge to Connolly to Jones who was well grassed by

Gossey. An Auckland forward, however, was handy and he picked up the ball, gave a pass to Douglas who sped across. Berridge failed.

Auckland B ( > South Auckland .. .. 12 Auckland’s Great Final Effort. Auckland’s superior condition began to tell and backs and forwards made

great efforts to pull the game out of the fire, but the defence was sound. The South backs, however, were still

a force to be reckoned with. From a loose scrum Pleydell broke away and whipped the ball to Moyle who beat a couple of men before giving it to Fallows. The nuggety winger dashed for the line with the defence sweeping across. He ran up to the full back and punted over his head and was making off again when ho was deliberately obstructed and a fairly certain try was lost. Auckland forced.

The South backs were sent away again by Moyle, Lawne and Stephens handlin on’ the blind side, but Stephens’ kick was marked. South should have scored in the last run of the dav when

Movie, Cossey, Wood and Lawne handled. The latter juggled with the ball in the air, with both Fallows and

Cossey on the outer and with no one to heat. The referee ruled a knock on but it was not, and from the scrum Potter cleared to half way and the bell went with the final score. South Auckland .. • ■ 12 Auckland B b

Mr J. Leslie was referee