LEAGUE EXHIBITION

Northern Advocate, 20 August 1928, Page 8

LEAGUE EXHIBITION

RICHMOND DEFEATS HIKURANGI. FAST, SPECTACULAR GAME, During the past four seasons Richmond Club third grade team has nevei sustained defeat, and at Hikurangi on Saturday afternoon the loeal Rugby League players were unable to PreaK that record, although they gave the visitors a very keen contest, and might easily with a little more luck have won. The attendance at Hotel Park was about 200, and the spectators were rewarded by witnessing fast, open and interesting play. Where Richmond excelled was in team work, and that was sufficient to enable the Auckland side to boat a combination which included three or four of the best footballers in the North. Although the winners were intermediate third grade players, conceding a lot of' weight to the Northerners, they gave an exhibition which undoubtedly did much towards popularising the code in the district. For fast, open play it was the most spectacular game seen this season, and, as the scores showed, it was by no means one-sided.

Wh.it Hikurangi lacked in knowledge of the finer points of the game was redeemed by the excellent individual efforts of the players of the calibre of Joe and Rod Hamilton, E. Taylor, Basil Meyer, Addy Cunningham and Paul Hart, all really seniorgrade players. There is no doubt about Rod Hamilton's last try being the brightest football seen in the North this season. It was a truly wonderful dash. Despite, however, the real brilliancy of some of the Northern team, the fact remained that better co-operation by the players in the Auckland team prevailed. Tested very energetically on many occasions, thoii defence was good, and in attack, especially during the first halt, their passing and handling had the novices to the game almost dumbfounded. To give Richmond players their due, it is fair to say that they deserved to maintain their groat record of victory, although, had it not been just for lack cf luck in touching down once, Hikurgn)p would have recorded a win. That

was when Bell, of Hikurangi, crossed and for no apparent reason grounded the leather behind the deaddoall line in a central position. Richmond, however, deserved to win. The teams were, as follow: —

Richmond: Full-back, Powell; threequarters, Wolfe, Minchin, Thomas; fiveeighths, Dunn, Davis; half, Agnew; forwards, G. Davis, Turner, Rickard, R. Dunn, Steer, Sutton.

Hikurangi: Full-back, Ball, threequarters, C. Smith, B. Hamilton, E. Taylor; five-eighths, J. Hamilton, C. Meyer; half, B, Meyer; forwards, A. Cunningham, J. Saunders, S. Buchanan, W. Bell, P. Hart, Mcllroy.

Nippy passing by Richmond and clever application of the scissors pass soon had Hikurangi on the defensive, a good’tackle by Buchanan preventing a score. The player mentioned, how-

ovor, played the ball in the wrong di-

rection. when, in accordance with the

particular feature of the game, he had tfhe opportunity after being tackled. From the resulting penalty Minchin goaled and scored two points.

Good play by Cunningham shortly afterwards- gave Joe Hamilton a chance to equalise with a penalty shot, but his kick, although good, missed. Then a smart bout of passing reversed the order and Sutton, showing a turn of speed, outpaced the defending backs and scored a meritorious try which was converted by Davis. That made the score 7 points to nil.

Hikurangi, assumed the offensive, and a rush in which J. Hamilton, B. Meyer and Cunningham participated, had possibilities. There was, however, lack of support, and the opening was missed. Richmond backs combined well, and a fasjt sprint by Minchin beat all' the opposition and he scored a good try, to which Davis added the

extra points. —Richmond 12, Hikurangi

j It was evident at this stage that j the loeal players were adopting the ■ penalising policy of kicking too far, j ond they ran themselves out to no ! purpose. At times the individual play | enabled them \to get within striking ! distance, and joe Hamilton attempted a potted goal w T hich was not much wide

of scoring. A little later the same player made a dashing run which beat Powell, but Minchin caught hirii, and just .before half-time a penalty shot by J. Hamilton failed to open the Northerners’ scoring account.

After the interval Hikurangi made a better showing, especially from the scrums, and in a few minutes Roddy Hamilton scored his first try. He broke through dribbling, then gathered in the leather in his stride, and outpacing the defenders crossed and touched down well out. J. Hamilton’s kick was a good effort, but unproductive. — Richmond 12, Hikurangi 3. Soon afterwards Minchin found his way through three parts of the field

and transferred to Thomas, who scored a pretty try behind the posts, his swerve being a memorable feature of j the game. Dunn again converted, mak-1 ing Richmond 17 —3. Amusement was caused shortly afterwards by Paul Hart, who obtained possession and swung the ball several times with pendulum-like exactness, his ruse at the same time perplexing the opposition. Enthusiasm arose a moment later when, from half-way, Rod Hamilton passed to Joe, got a return, gathered it in well and raced away to score behind the posts. Joe Hamilton converted, and the score became —Richmond 17, Hikurangi 8. Fast spectacular play ensued for a few minutes and ■ resulted in W. Bell racing over for Hikurangi, but his luck was out and he touched dowm behind the dead-ball line, although behind the posts. ■

The Northerners reasserted them-j selves, and Meyer nearly scored.' J. ! Hamilton made a groat opening, but

passed forward and spoilt; it. Ball, who kicked well throughout, had a misunderstanding with R. Hamilton about fielding, and for a few moments Hikurangi had to defend strenuously. The pressure was, however, repulsed and good play by Cunningham and J. Hamilton removed play to neutral territory. Then Rod Hamilton suddenly gained possession, and in great style, in a lightning flash, he beat , three or four defenders and slipped over to score j one of the finest tries seen in the,(North i j this season. It was between the posts, land J. Hamilton made no mistake I about th'c kick, the game ending a l j minute later in Richmond’s favour by 1 j 17 points to 13. - ! Hr Frank Little was referee and 1 j gave general satisfaction >by his inter* I ‘ pretation of the League code rules, i ___