RUGBY LEAGUE AUSTRALIAN TEAM DEFEATS AUCKLAND 36-18

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 October 1949, Page 8

RUGBY LEAGUE AUSTRALIAN TEAM DEFEATS AUCKLAND 36-18

AUCKLAND, October 2 (P.A.).— The Australian Rugby League touring team beat Auckland by 36 points to 18 at Carlaw Park on Saturday. Auckland fed by 18 points to 14 at half-time. Australia scored eight tries and six goals, and Auckland two tries and six goals. W. S. Clarke, the Kiwi fullback, scored 12 points lor Auckland with his kicking, the most spectacular goal being from more than 45 yards out. • K. Froome was a clever leader oi the Australian team, M. P. McCoy was the most likely attacking inside back, and P. McMahon made several spectacular runs. The other wing, R. A. Roberts, scored three tries when the Auckland defence became totally inept. F. L. de Balin and E. R. Bull were outstanding players in the Australian pack, and J. F. Holland was a good forward. The champion hooker, K. B. Schubert, secured a two-to-one advantage in hooking, but was somewhat .helped by the referee s tolerant attitude towards the ineffective packing of both scrums. Auckland’s forward line was too light to give the Australians much trouble. The smallest man on the ground, J. Russell-Green, the Auckland half-back, was also the most expert tackler, but his 12 companies on the Auckland side were not noticeably influenced by his example. Robertson usually looked after McCoy. capably,, and Baxter did some good' things, but for the rest the absence of any kind of tackling technique made the task of the Australians very much simpler. Roberts (3), McCoy, Bull, Stanmore (2), and Froome scored tries for Australia. McCoy kicked three goals and Froome three. Spence and Anderson scored Auckland’s tries and Clarke kicked six goals.