Rugby Football in South Auckland.

Franklin Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 111, 21 September 1938, Page 5

Rugby Football in South Auckland.

A DESULTORY GAME

FRANKLIN GO DOWN WIN TO PUKEKOHE Rugby of a scrappy nature was witnessed by a small attendance at Bledisloe Park on Saturday when the Pukelcolie representatives defeated Franklin by five points to three. Owing to the South Auckland team being away in Auckland, Pukekohe were without a number of its prominent players. The teams were: — Pukekohe (green and gold) : J. Harvey. Lauer, Clark, Costello (capt.), Hunniford, Harvey, Wright, Moyle, W. Smith, Mclsaac, Smith, Reynolds, Lisle, McClune, Y. Wolfsbauer. Franklin (black and white) : Moore, Naki, Clark, Hira, Cathcart, Cooney, Wade, McKinney, K. Ewe, Whiskey (capt,), Kelsall, Dwen, T. Ewe, B. Lynn, Pipi. First Points to Pukekohe The ground was hard, and from the kick off to the final whistle the backs of both sides had ample opportunity to prove themselves. The Pukekohe backs, Lauer, Costello and Hunniford, started off well but repeated thrusts by the speedy Franklin vanguard kept them in their own territory. Franklin were unlucky not to win in many ways and had they seen more of the ball from the scrums the result would have been different. FI. Moore, the Franklin fullback, displayed a sound pair of hands and in the early stages saved some difficult situations. On one occasion he waited a little too long for the ball and as a result Clark raced over for a try which A. Flarvey converted, making the score: Pukekohe 5, Franklin 0. The Pukekohe forwards, Lisle, Wolfsbauer and Reynolds played well and their efforts assisted materially toward a well-merited victory. Play in the early stages was in the centre of the field and neither side showed to any advantage. It was only when Costello, at centre for Pukekohe, gathered in the ball and raced down-field that the game took shape. Costello played a sterling game while he was on the paddock but owng to a nasty bump on the back of the head, he had to be taken off. The score at half-time was still 3-nil in favour of Pukekohe.

Franklin’s Try.

Play brightened up in the second spell, Franklin making a bid for victory. Towards the end of the game the Franklin backs, chiefly Hira, Cathcart and Naki, indulged in penetrative tactics, each man troubling the defence. By tliis method they gained huge chunks of field and from flira’s head work Clark was able to open Franklin’s score with a try right in the corner. A difficult kick by Cathcart fell short, making the final score: Pukekohe 3, Franklin 3. Mr B. Branch was referee.