RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 26 September 1927, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

TRIAL AT AUCKLAND GAME DRAWN. PLAYED IN A BOG. Auckland, September 25. The All Blacks trial match, Auckland and North Auckland v. Wakatoi. Thames V alley. Bay of Plenty and King Country was played at Eden Park to-day in the presence of about 5500 spectators. The weather was fine, but heavy rain in the morning had made the ground very slippery, with portions in a boggy condition. The selectors, Messrs E. McKenzie (Wairarapa), A. Guy (Taranaki), and N ( . McKenzie (Hawke’s Bay), were watching the game. Auckland were the first to attack, and a penalty close to the line gave Butler the chance to have a shot at goal, but the angle was difficult, and he niissed. Goldsbury made a nice side-line run, which put play in local territory. Kemp and Clemett got away smartly, and beating the opposition, reached the line, where in a scramble Bailey touched down. Tuck failed to convert. The Combined were more than holding their own. Thomas at full showed up well, and a nice interception by Fitzgerald had Auck land tightly defending. Their forwards cleared the line and the first of four spells ended Play was desultory till the Auckland backs got going with a pretty passing bout, but it was well stopped by Clemett, who made no mistake m bringing? Hook down. The Auckland forwards bullocked their way through the slush, and McManus made a good opening for Palmer to score, making the score three all. The local backs now commenced to throw the ball about. They beat the opposition badly, and a score was twice averted through Hook being pushed out at the corner flag. In a series of attacks. Badley broke through almost to the line, and McManus also figured in a brilliant dash, but the defence held, and a. force down brought relief. Auckland kept up the pressure till the Combined forwards, led bv McPherson. McLaren and Brown, shifted olav once more to the Auckland half. The Auckland backs promptly retaliated with a smart dash which completely bewildered the opposition, and ended with Finlayson scoring. Berridge converted making the score 8 points to 3. When they changed over again the Combined succeeded in evening up the scores once more. Fitzgerald touching down and Thomas converting. There was no further change when the final whistle went.

POSSIBLES v. PROBABLES NORTH & SOUTH ISLAND PLAYERS. TEAMS FOR PALMERSTON MATCH. Auckland, Sept. 25. After watching the All Blacks’ trial match on Saturday, the selectors chose the foilow’ing players for the North Island Possibles and Probables match at Palmerston-North on Tuesday. The teams are:— POSSIBLES. Full-back: Brown (Taranaki). Three-quarters: Grenside (Hawke's Bay), South (Wellington), Rushbrook (Wellington). Five-eighths: M. Nicholls (Wellington), L. Johnson (Wellington). Half-bak: Kilby (Wellington). Forwards: Rover: —Porter (Wellington). Hookers: S.wain (Hawke’s Bay), Coulston (Poverty Bay). Lock: Conrad (Hawke’s Bay). Sides: M. Brownlie and C. Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay). Back row: Leahy (Wanganui), Galpin (Manawhenua). PROBABLES. Full-back: Thomas (Waikato). Three-quarters: Hook (Auckland), Sheen (Auckland), Brophy (Manawhenua). Five-eighths: Berridge (Auckland), D. Jehnson (Taranaki). Half-back: McManus (Auckland). Forwards: Rover: Keene (Auckland). Hookers: Hadley and Palmer (Auckland. Lock: Harvey (Wairarapa). Sides: Finlayson (North Auckland), Ward (Taranaki). Back row: McWilliams (Auckland). Donaldson (North Auckland). Emergencies for both teams — Backs, Bramwell (Poverty Bay), Stringfellow (Wairarapa); forwards, Courtney (Waikato), Anderson (Manawhenua). THE SOUTHERN TEAMS. Dunedin, Sept. 25. The selectors (Messrs. A. J. Geddis, A. Adams and T. Milliken) announced the following as the teams for the South Island Probables and Possibles match at Christchurch next Wednesday:— PROBABLES. Full-back: Lilburne-Three-quarters: Robilliard. Carleton, Steel. Five-eighths. McGregor (first) Strang (second). Half-back: Dailey. Forwards: F. Clark, C Mills, Cameron. Godfrey. Greitus, Finlayson, Johnston (wing forward). POSSIBLES. Full-back: Heazlewood.

Three-quarters: McClymont, Lindsay, Snodgrass. Five-eighths. Mitchell (first), H. Jamieson (second) Half-back: Holden. Forwards: Burrows, Hore Alley, Hazlett, R. Stewart, Marslin, E- Snow, Scrimshaw (wing forward). Emergencies (both teams).—Reid, E. B. Stewart (backs), Young and McTnnes (forwards). Hindenach is not SOUTH ISLAND TRIAL. BIG SCORES REGISTERED. Dunedin, Sept. 24. The All Black trial between North Otago, Otago and Southland combined was played at Carisbrook today in fine weather, the ground being in good order. Hie attendance was about 10,000. The southerners showed to advantage until Strang took a mark and goaled from 40 yards out. Steel next scored for Canterbury, but Strang failed to convert. Lindsay converted. Strang headed a Canterbury rush that enabled Burrows to touch down and Lilburne converted. Lilburne was caught in front of the posts, and Bird picked up and dived over. Lindsay converted. Half-time was called with the score: Canterbury Combined 11, Otago Combined ■l3, Otago opened the second spell with a try by Marslin two minutes after the start, Lindsay converting. Passing by the Canterbury backs enabled Strang to score, behind the posts for Lilburne to convert. Steel next scored at the corner. A penalty goal by Lindsay made the scores: Canterbury 19, Otago 18. A beautiful potted goal by Hazlewood put Otago in the lead, but then a try by Scrimshaw, converted by Strang, gave Canterbury two points lead. Robilliard (wing) added another three ponits with a try. Alley next touched down. A great dash by McClymont brought a try to Otago. The final score was: Canterbury Combined 30, Otago Combined 25. WELLINGTON - COMPLETELY OUTCLASSED. Wellington, Sept. 25. Wairarapa outplayed Wellington in all departments on Saturday on Athletic Park to win in a hollow fashion by 36 points to 19. Smashing forward play by the Wairarapa pack allowed their backs, of whom Cooke was the star performer, to function with great dash. Wellington played in the first spell with the wind and at half-time led by 13 points to 11. In the second spell Wairarapa just romped over them as they pleased. Cooke played a great game, both in attack and defence, and was always found where most wanted. Porter, Rushbrook and Elvy scored for Wellington. Nicholls converted two and kicked two penalty goals. For Wairarapa, Stringfellow (3), R. Booth, Cooke, Le Quesne and Reid scored tries, Roache potted a goal and Cundy converted four tries and kicked a penalty goal. Irvine, Harvey and Quentin Donald were always in the thick of it and Porter, the Wellington wing-forward, was more than usually subdued. He was not prone to hold on to the ball too long. Yesterday the Wellington pack were pushed all over the shop and outclassed in tile loose and tight. Wellington were a beaten team right from a few minutes after the start. HONOURS EVEN. Oamarii, Sept. 24. The final game of foe season between South Canterbury and North Otago at Waimate resulted in an easy win for the latter by 22 to six, leaving the rivals a win each and a draw on the three games played. The North Otago forwards played a fine bustling game, dominating play in the last spell. A feature of the game was a magnificent goal by Boroman, the North Otago full-back, who dropkicked from mark from his side of half-way. THE WARATAHS WIN. CLEVERNESS AND SPEED. London, Sept. 24. New South Wales beat Neath and Aberavon by 24 to 5. It was an interesting and polished game throughout. The Waratahs’ cleverness and speed were in the early stages checked by close marking and great tackling. The first goal came after twenty minutes’ play, Lawton kicking a penalty and adding another penaltygoal five minutes later. Once the Welsh dribbling rushes were exhausted, the visitors demonstrated their superior brilliance and effectiveness. Lawton’s magnificent place-kicking was the outstanding feature. The scores were: Waratahs, three converted tries, two penalties and an unconverted try; Neath and Abefavon, one converted try —(A. and N.Z.) ENGLISH TOUR IN 1930. London, Sept. 23. The Rugby Union has received an invitation to tour New Zealand in 1930 and has forwarded the invitation to the International Board, which meets in March, with a recommendation to make the necessary arrangements. If possible, it is suggested that three or four games be played in New South Wales.—(A. and N.Z.) JUNIOR GAME WITH GISBORNE. A junior match was plaved in Napier on Saturday between High School Old Boys and a Celtic team from Gisborne. Soon after nlay started. Greig crossed from a uassing bout by O'Brien and Daniell. Old Boys continued to attack stronglv. and after a short time Dyer nicked up in mid-field, passed to Rolls, to Daniell, and the latter scored in the corner. The score was now 6—O. The visitors brightened up. and P. Green, with the aid of the wind, netted a fine goal. Old Boys retaliated at once, Greig getting across and Johnson’s kick failing. Half-time then sounded, with Old Boys 9. Celtic 4. On the change over Old Boys had the wind with them, but no score came for some time. After up and down play. Stewart, for H. 5.0.8.. crossed, the kick failing, and then Venables gave Greig an opening, Johnson converting. Greig scored again immediately after. Celtic tried hard to pick up. and P. Green scored an unconverted try. Celtic continued to play well, but rhe home side was not to be denied, ns Dvor when in a good position, found a weakness in the defence and scored n try near the posts. Johnson could not add the extra points, and time went immediately after, with the score Old Boys 23, Celtic 7. Mr A. Moriee was in charge of the game.