League Football.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 210, 29 August 1921, Page 2

League Football.

HAWKE’S BAY DEFEAT AUCKLAND. BY 18 TO 15. A SLASHING EXHIBITION. Saturday was an ideal day for League football, and those who attended the match between the above teams were rewarded with a brilliant exhibition of passing, running and deadly tackling. It was a mass of excitement from start to finish, as first one side would be nearly over and then the other. The pace was a cracker, especially in the first spell, when the football all round was of the highest standard, and it was easily seen that the spectators recognised it. Tho game certainly deserved a better attendance; still the 1000 people who witnessed it will not forget it in a hurry. The game proved conclusively that pace and science has completely conquered brute strength. It was easily seen that Auckland was the heavier team. They were unlucky in not winning as they just missed several tries through faulty handling. However Hawke’s Bay played a great game, in fact “one out of the box.” Their passing was splendid. The teams were as follows: — Hawke’s Bay (black and white). • Full-back, Fulford; three-quarters, Attwood, Tucker, Gibson; five-eighths, Exeter (captain), McCarthy; halfback, Kennelcy; forwards, Adams, Fitzgerald, McCutcheon, Gillies, Douglas, Burrows. Auckland (blue and white) .-—Fullback, Elliott; three-quarters, Gallagher, Dufty, Mormon; five-eighths, Delaney, Harley; half-back Ghent; forwards, Turner, Wynn, Clark, Webb, Ballantyne, Paki (captain).

THE PLAY. 1 , Auckland won the toss, and played with the sun at, their backs. From a scrum, Auckland secured and started, a nice passing rusn, but a knock-on spoilt a splendid piece of play. From the scrum, Hawke’s Bay secured, but a wild pass by Kennelcy into the arms of Gallagher let the latter dash over at thtf corner. Dufty failed to goal. Auckland 3, H.B. 0. From the kick out, H.B. rushed play to Auckland’s line and from a scrum Kennelcy secured, passed to McCarthy, to Exeter, to Tucker, to Gibson, who scored a brillian try near the corner flag. It was a lovely piece of passing, and brought forth loud applause. Exeter was unsuccessful with the shot. H.B. 3, Auckland 3. H.B. returned to the attack, and after some fast play were awarded a free kick. Fitzgerald just missed the posts. From the kick out, H.B. set up another passing rush, but a pass forward spoilt the good work. H.B. once again threw the ball about, and it passed through tho hands of all the backs, and Tucker just failed to ground the ball in play, knocking down the corner flag. H.B. were now playing a great game, and their passing was surprising. They continued tn attack, and from a free kick, Exeter mnd?d a splendid goal. H.B. 5, Auckland 3. Both teams were passing at a great rate, but the tackling on both sidcs'was too deadly, whilst the pace was fast. Auckland kept up a hot attack, and just missed a couple of trios by inches. Auckland here gave a great exhibition of passing, at least seven of them handling the ball, and a certain try was lost through a pass forward. They continued to attack until McCarthy relieved with a nice kick. Burrows following up fast upset Dufty before he could get going, and shortly afterwards H.B. were awarded a free, kick. McCarthy made nd mistake. H.B. 7, Auckland 3. H.B. continued to attack, but play was suspended through an Aucklander being temporarily knocked out. Auckland here carried the game from one end of the field to the other with a TTrilliant passing rush, and just missed scoring. Luck seemed to be clean against them. From a mark, Dufty kicked an easy goal. H.B. 7, Auckland 5. Auckland rushed to the attack once again. a»nd were looking very dangerous when McCarthy intercepted a pass. He transferred to Tucker, to Exeter, to Attwood, the last-named just failing to score after a nice piece of work. From a scrum, Kennelcy secured, and passed to McCarthy, to. Exeter, to Tucker, back to McCarthy, then to Gibson, who with a great burst cf speed scored a spectacular fry admist loud applause. It was football as it should be played. Exeter kicked a fine goal. H.B. 12, Auckland 5. Auckland now set up a hot attack, and were throwing the ball about in great stylo. Eventually Gallagher secured, and dashed over. Dufty just missed the posts. H.B. 13, Auckland 8. Half-time was then sounded.

SECOND SPELL. Auckland kicked off, and immediately set to work to wipe off the deficit, and started to throw the ball about in rare style. From a passing bout, Delaney scored near the posts, and Dufty kicked an easy goal. Auckland 13, H.B. 12. Shortly afterwards Auckland was awarded a free kick near half way. from which Dufty landed a splendid goal. Auckland 15, H.B. 12. This seemed to put the H.B. team on. their toes, for they started to play at a terrific pace, and headed by Douglas and Burrows fairly ran the Aucklanders off their feet. They kept up a hot attack, and after a nice piece of passing, McCarthy scored in a good position, but Exeter missed, an easy shot. H.B. 15, i~nd 15. The pace st 11 continued to be a cracker, and the tackling very deadly, first one side and then the other passing and running in great style. Auckland had H.B. in trouble, when a free kick relieved for a time; but Auckland still continued to attack, and only wild passing lost them what looked like being a certain score. Here an Aucklander and a Bay-ite collided, the Aucklander being knocked out for some time. From a free kick, Dufty was unsuccessful Shortly afterwards the same player made a good attempt to drop kick a goal. It was getting near time, and i oth sides were hard at it for supremacy. Auckland’s bad luck still clung to them, and though they were pressing H.B. hard they could not score. Here H.B. made a sensational rush the whole length of the field, and Douglas, who had been playing a sterling game right through scored a splendid try. Exeter failed to convert. H.B. 18, Auckland 15. Auckland were now tiring, and but for the brilliant work of Elliott, their full-back, would have met serious trouble. The bell rang without further score. For the winners all played a great game. Fulford, at full, being very safe and cool. Tucker played a solid game as did McCarthy and Exeter. Of the forwards, Douglas and Burrows were out on their own, and played brilliant football. For Auckland: Elliott, Dufty and Gallagher were the best, whilst Paki was the best of the forwards. It was an exhilarating display right through, with honours even, and those who had not witnessed League before were agreeably surprised at the very fast and open game.