LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 9 August 1926, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND v. OTAGO

A MUD SCRAMBLE. (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Aug. ?. The Auckland and Otago League teams met at Carlaw Park, the ground was heavy and sloppy. In tit© early part of the' game Auckland had mostly the possession of the ha.ll. ■ Hansen and Connolly made the first visit to Auckland’s twenty-five, but the pressure was soon lifted, Peckham running almost through the opposition, and it was only the greasy ball that prevented a score. From Otago’s twenty-five Mansi’! had a shot. The line umpire’s did not raise their • flags, but the referee ruled a goal.—Auckland 2, Otago 0. Eckhoff had two. unsuccessful shots and a goal penalty, and Prentice miskiclcing ft clearing kick, the B’acks had a rare chance, which they failed, to t ake advantage of. A breach in the locals’ 1 twenty-live resulted in ai hue goal. — Auckland 2, Otftgo 2. Townsend got across for Auckland, but was called back for a Knock-on. The blues kept up the pressure, i mil Payne sent the ball to List, who scored near the corner. Mansil! m’ssed. — Auckland 5, Otago 2. Fitzgerald, who was tackling beautifully, started his team attacking, and with Cameron and Oliver they looked dangerous. The handicap the visitors were up against was their inability to get the ball after Jacobs had dribbled through. A break in the scrum by Auckland saw Eckhoff land a beautiful gca.l. The play of Otago was delighting the the crowd, which was hardly prepared for such a fine effort. Otago were very unlucky in not being awarded a score. Verrath made a run and sent a pass to Hansen, who had a clear run in: had he not been deliberately obstructed behe even sighted the pass. T. O’Connor and Rogers downed AVetherall and then smothered Mansill’s return, and though the brightest movements were down to Auckland’s credit, there were .some equally good instances down to Otago. Thei forwards in the loose were doing every bit as well. Hansen and Oliver, by smart passing, shifted p'ay to A Inland's end, where Wetherill got in a clearing kick. Wall followed up the ball, fore lie even sighted the pass. O’Connor Douglas left the field, his place being taken by Scott. The half-time score was Auckland 5, Otago 4.

Heavy rain fell in the second half, and the game resolved itself into a scramble in the mud. Otago forwards combined well, but the greasy ba’l was uncontrollable, and the scores which came to Auckand were not the result of any concerted movement's by t-liie players, but were merely the result of the erratic nature of the play. Peckham and Payne, scored tries for Auckland, none of which was converted, the final score being Auckland 14, Otago’ 4.