LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Grey River Argus, 10 September 1925, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Beats Coast. HARD AND FAST GAME. HOME TEAM'S GREAT TACKLING. Auckland beat the West Coast yesterday afternoon on Victoria Park by twenty-two points to fifteen, and although there were only seven poi’iits in favour of the visitors, the teams , were more evenly matched than that. The game was one of the hardest and most exciting seen here for a. long time. The big crowd I there were over two thousand present) recognised shortly after the commencement that they were going to see a good game, and the weather being perfect (brilliant sunshine tempered with the mildest of breezes) they were not disappointed. The play was fast and open and there were several brilliant dashes. It was the first inter-provincial match of the season and it was a splendid augury. AUCKLAND WINS THE TOSS. Auckland won the toss and Mount kicked off, the ball finding the line. From the ensuing scrum Griffiths broke away with the ball, but was tackled and passed to Clegg,, who sent it on to McElwee on the wing, the leather finding touch cnee more. Auckland hooked the ball from the serum and Riley broke through, but Harrison collared low, and snapping up the ball, passed to Desmond, who dropped. Immediately' afterwards Kells endeavoured to get away from a serum, but failed. O'Brien was on the ball however, and making a great run when he was pushed over the line. Auckland secured from the scrum, Herewini kicking up to about ten yards of the Coast line from half way. The visitors followed up smartly, but the touchline was found, and O’Hallahan, getting it away smartly from the scrum, relieved matte:/, when Cole was penalised. Mount’s kick was fruitless. Auckland returned to the attack, Kirkland getting away, but ho was grassed by Desmond, who played a great game right through. The visitors continued to press but Mouat found the line from a penalty', and Auckland were compelled to defend their line for some few minutes, until Herewini sent a powerful “boot to midfield, which was instrumental in play being once more transferred to the home twentyfive, where the ball went out. Desmond snatched the leather from the scrum and made a great solo run, before he was grounded, Davidson clearing with a great kick which reached half way. A couple of likely Auckland chances were missed at this particular stage by' Cole dropping passes. McElwee secured the ball, but hung on too long and was tackled. Up to now play had been fairly’ even. Then Auckland broke away. Peckham picked up smartly at midfield and passed to Cole who tramsferred it to Riley, and when the latter was tackled he sent it on to Davidson, the last-named dropping it. Clegg saved a “tight corner’’ by kicking to the twenty-five line (a powerful kick'. Davidson took up and returned to midfield, McElwee in turn kicking back to Auckland territory, where Herewini scooped up the ball and made a great rush, but was brought down. McElwee secured and made another powerful kick, Mouat picking up and passing to Griffiths, who in turn sent it on to Desmond. The last, named passed smartly back to Mouat, who transferred to O’Brien. O’Brien ran round the posts, scoring the first try’ of the day-. Mouat"s kick was a fine cue.

COAST 5 AUCKLAND 0 The visitors commenced to make things lively, and immediately after raced down the field in one mass, but Clegg cleared beautifully. From the scrum the same player secured and made another beautiful kick, and the heme team swarmed down on to the visitors’ half, making matters none too rosy for Auckland for a minute or two. Quinn followed up the kick and with the ball at foot, when within about three yards of the Auckland line he kicked (intending to pick the ball up). A certain West Coast score was lost thereby, for Auckland was compelled to force. A penalty against the visitors gave Mount another chance at goal, the kick (though a great one) being unsuccessful. Auckland now commented to make things willing, and Peckham was 1- oking extremely dangerous, when he was collared beaut’ fully by O’Brien. A minute later a scrum infringement on the part of Auckland gave Mount the chance of adding Coast’s only other score in the initial half, he landing a splendid goal between the posts. COAST 7 Auckland 0 After some midfield play, Cole pushed through, but another penalty against Auckland for off-side play enabled Mount to find the line. The scene of action was once again in Auckland ground, the Coasters gradually working play towards the Auckland goal. Herewini saved by a kick which sent the leather out at the 25. Harrison swooped up from the scrum and passed to Peckham, the ball then from Cole to Riley, Davidson and List in that order, the last named being tackled by Oust. Not to be outdone, however, Peckham immediately afterwards instituted another passing rush, in which Cole, Riley and Davidson participated. The last named passed to Kirkland, who scored between the posts. Peckham failed with the kick. COAST 7 AUCKLAND 8

The resumption saw Coast at the attack. Mount took the ball from Griffiths and passed to Quinn who, after a smart run, transferred to Desmond, the last named being pushed out at the 25 flag. The scrum saw neither side gain the advantage, but off-side play mi the part of O’llallahan enabled Bass to notch 25 yards, where the leather found touch. Cole dropped the pass from the scrum, but Riley picked up smartly and passed to Davidson, who took a pot, the ball going under the bar.

At this stage McFlwee had to retire, owing to an injury to his head, being replaced by 11. Brown. Both sides were now exerting themselves to the utmost, and it seemed as though the spell would end without further score, but such was not to be. Auckland were clearly proving their superiority in getting the ball from the serum, and this was perceptibly telling against Coast’s chances. It was this fact that, in great measure accounted for Auckland's second score. Peckham secured from a scrum and broke away, the leather sailing on to Cole, Riley and Davidson, Peckham running round smartly and taking th®_ return pass, and sending it op to List, who was ton. &

tackled cm the line. His pace, however, carried him over. Mason was unsuccessful with the kick. (OAST ; AUCKLAND f, With one point the difference it is easy to imagine the nature of the game. Time and again did the home team endeavour to add further to their laurels, and time and again did Auckland frustrate them. Finn was responsible on several occasions for saving the Coast line, for Auckland were pressinn' heavily and continuously'. Auckland's third try resulted from n passing rush by Cole, Riley, Davidson and Kirkland, the last-named pushing Brown over the line. AUCKLAND 9 COAST 7 The second spell saw Auckland launch the attack but a penalty against them (there were many during the day) gave Mount the chance to send play to the other side of the half-way line. Desmond took Herewini’s return kick and passed to Oust, who sent it to Brown, taking the return pass. Unfortunately he -was pushed out at the corner flag. After the serum, Auckland swooped down the field, but a likely effort was frustrated by Mason, who was penalised for being off-side. Harrison had now changed to McElwee's wing, Desmond was playing five-eighths, Brown replacing the latter.

Auckland were again charging down when Mouat cleverly intercepted a pass and made a magnificent mi, but for some reason or other kicked when O’Hallahan was in attevianee immediately behind him. A penalty against McDonald gave Mouat another opportunity, the leather just missing from half-way. Coast then commenced the aggressive, Kells getting away from a serum, and had reached the line before he was tackled, but here a penalty against the home team “cleared the air’’ for Auckland, Bass finding the line at mid-field. The game was now as exciting and willing as one could wish it to be. From the ruck Peckham picked up and passed to Cole, the latter being collared by’ O’Hallahan, who let him go. Finn then endeavoured to stay Cole’s rush, but was unable to, and the Aucklander got over, converting the try’ himself. AUCKLAND 14 COAST 7 After a lot of hard play, from a kick by Harrison., Mouat secured and ran almost to the line, when he passed to Clegg, who was held up on the line. He threw the ball out smartly to Quinn the last-named scoring between the posts. Mouat made no mistake with the kick. AUCKLAND 14 COAST 12

Shortly afterwards, from a scrum, Peckham secured and passed to Cole, but the Coast defence was solid and he was stopped between the posts. Throwing the ball over his head, Davidson got possession, sending out smartly to List, who scored. Mas n's kick failed. AUCKLAND 17 COAST 12 Though inferior combination win telling against the home team, they’ were putting up a great fight, the visitors not having things all their own way. From a scrum near the home twentyfive Peckham obtained, ran for about ten yards and passed to Townsend, who ran a similar distance, dashing away all opposition and scoring. Cole converted. AUCKLAND 22 COAST jo This was Auckland’s final score for the day, but Coast was yet to add another. After some hard plav in which Coast had decidedly’ the better of matters, Quinn broke away with the ball at tee. There was none to stop him from scoring (he was about ten yards from the line) when McDonald came up from behind and tackled him. The referee (Mr C. Dewar) awarded a penalty’ try and, Mount’s kick failing, the game ended shortly afterwards with the scores AUCKLAND eo COAST Just before call of time Mouat had the misfortune to twist his left knee and had to retire. The Municipal Band was in attendance and added to the enjoyment of the afternoon.

notes on the game. (By “Spectator.”) The Auckland team are not nearly so good a combination ;is that which touted here in 1921. There are no V eat.hern I Is, Hawkes or Stormonts among them. Davidson r.nd Cole are the most dangerous backs, although the latter dropped a lot of passes, but when he gathered the ball in, h P was always hard to stop by reason of his dash and straight running. Peckham, at half, is still as tricky as on last ' 'sit, and fooled the inside. backs on several occasions. Riley, List .and Kirkland are not above our own average players. Herewini, at full back, did try to got his three-quarter lino moving at times, and in this respect he showed the possibilities of handling as against our method of kicking on almost every occasion. He is no Nepia, however, on this showing. Bass was the outstanding forward for the Auckland’ team, and set his hacks going on numerous occasions. Douglas and Mason showed out prominently in the open. Townsend got morn than his fair share of the ball from the scrum, and along with McDonald and Payne, made up a rack that were very lieftv, and none too gentle in their methods. Tn fact, it appeared that there was more than a suspicion of rough nlay when C. McFlwee was hurt. Taken as a moans of letting their backs away with the hall, they were superior to our pack, both ns handlers and in hooking, but with the ball at the toe our forwards were the more dangerous. Mount was undoubtedly the best forward on the ground, h’s handling of the ball and his making of openings for the backs being of the highest class. Quinn wp_g. our next best forward. His condition was great, ho going ns fn»t at, the finish ns at the start, while his backing up was a feature of the game. ’The other forwards all did fairly yell, but they must tackle low. Cole, Pockham and Townsend at different stages of the second half ran through the whole team, though tackled, were not brought down. Consequently they wriggled sway, and ten points wore lost by this weak tackling. Keils pl.nved a fair game at half. Clegg was patchy, doing some good things early, but ho was slow, and proved a poor tackler late in the game. Desmond was the best back on the Coast side, and would compare favourably with any back on the ground Gust played a good game, his tackling being the means of saving many ft promising movement, by getting the speedy Davidson when in possussron. Harrison did very well on the wing, but was not a success at five-c'gbtty.&i Brown,

in MeElwee's place, was made to look very- poor when Kirkland fended him off and scored in simple fashion. I’inn was at fault in this movement, and was not a success on the day. He missed a good few balls, and is too small to stop a man near the line. The better team won on two day, but they will have to improve a lot to stand a chance with Canterbury. Mr C. Dewar controlled the game very ably, and with his usual impartiality, although some of his rulings did not please the visitors. The interpretation of the rules is a burning question in most places, both in New Zealand and Aus-, tralia. BLACKBALL CLUB. At a mooting on Tuesday night, the Blackball C’nb decided to accept the suggestion of the Centre that the club's protest be forwarded to the N.Z. Council for a ruling, and that the club resume its fixtures in the competition at the coming week-end. WEEKEND FIXTURES. The following are the fixtures, grounds and referees for the various games this week-end:— Seniors- —Blackball v. Runnnga nt Omoto. 3.15 p.m., Sunday (Referee Mr C. Dewar). Juniors: —Nelson Creek v. Blackball nt Blackball, Sunday, 3 p.m. (Referee Mr A. Mason). Marist v. Brunner at Brur-'er. Sunday, 3 p.m., Benefit match. (Mr Rolleston). Third Grade,—Grey v. Marist at Omoto. Sunday, 1.45 n.m. (Referee Mr F. M.-Girr). Nelson Creek y. Blackball at NV-ahere, 3 p.m. (Referee Mr Hogan). Fourth Grade.—Runnngn v. Mnrist nt Dunellie, 3 p.m., Eunday (Referee I Mr R. Armstrong). Schools game.—Runrnga v. D’acl-hnll at Dunollie, 3 p.m., Sunday (Referee to be arranged). The Inangahua seniors have a bye.