North’s Clear Cut Rugby Win Over Auckland

Northern Advocate, 31 July 1939, Page 2

North’s Clear Cut Rugby Win Over Auckland

Spectacular Victory Due To Forward Dominance and Sure Tackling, Speedy Backs

DID A GREAT DEAL TO ENHANCE RUGBY PRESTIGE IN NORTHLAND. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINGE 1934 AUCKLAND WAS BEATEN IN THE ANNUAL MATCH. THE HOME SIDE BEING THOROUGHLY ENTITLED TO ITS 14—9 VICTORY, TERRITORIALLY THE GAME WAS THEIR S FOR THREE-QUARTERS OF THE TIME. THE FIERY PLAY OF THE HOME SIDE UPSETTING AUCKLAND’S COMBINATION. Probably the largest crowd, to witness a Rugby match at Kensington Park assembled on a wintry afternoon. In the first half both teams produced the champagne of football, on a ground which was inclined to heaviness. A sharp shower just before the interval, when North was one point in arrears, made good handling very difficult but there were periodic flashes of brilliance from both rearguards, while the lighter Northland forwards made many spirited bursts. The visiting inside backs wore given a harrowing time by the last -breaking home pack, who wore the main factor in the clear-cut victory. Auckland attempted to open up the game to a greater extent, and had frequent opportunities from the . scrums where they held the advantage. «• % .-A -■ > However, poor handling at critical junctures cost the City men several tries. The manner in which Masters and his men went down to stop loose rushes was admirable, throw ing the less resolute tactics of the opposing backs into strong relief.

Reverse passing was attempted 100

often by the visitors, the defence soon • dropping to the manoeuvre, stifling whenever attempted. On attack the ::,; Northlanders, although relying upon : ...orthodox half to wing movements, were ihore dangerous. When They Awoke.

.. 4 ; For the-first few minutes Auckland ■r -was definitely in the ascendant and *■' with the score nine—nil after half an

hour it looked as though a runaway A. 'victory was in prospect for the more ' polished metropolitans, r,- However, when Lambly opened the scoring with a good try and Codling ' ofollowecl it soon after with an inspired

burst which carried him over. North Auckland awoke and stayed awake . .. for . the remainder of the game. Codling’s try. which brought the lead, was a really great effort.

Tine teams were.— Auckland. . ' H. N. Halliwell.

J.- Dick, L. F. Nathan, L. Schubert D. Brady. N. Poarman. J. Pile, W. N. Carson.

R. Atldorson, C. Brown, D. N. W-hil-

lans, H. F. McLean. T. H. Pearce, H. Bond, J. Gilmore

North Auckland R. Masters.

G. Cunningham. R. White. E. Grant N. Lambly, N. Gibson, D. Codling, - B. Wordley, Williams, Flavell, W. Cooper. J. Call.anan, D. Noil. B. Ling. M. Morresey. Cars and pedestrians continued to arrive until after the start of the main attraction. The crowd was estimated 'at between 3000 and 4000.

Showery weather and bright sunshine alternated, but conditions were not unpleasant. The rain had made, the ground soft and the two preliminary, games did not improve playing conditions, the field being cut up in several places.

Both teams took the field unaltered. T, Whillans, who on Friday was substitued for Hull, became one of Auckland’s forwards, and slightly reduced the weight superiority of* the visiting pack. There was a great burst of applause When Ron Masters led the men of Cambridge Blue on to the field, followed by H. F. McLean at the head of the Aucklanders. North Auckland played against the sun ih the first spell. Auckland was penalised almost immediately at ten yards, and Masters gained ton yards from a scrum., Auckland hooked, and the ball went along the back line to Pearman, every man gaining ground, where the second fiveeighth was well upset by Lambly, Emerging from the loose, Flavell gained ground for the North, but Auckland again hooked, and Pearman, with a nicely-planted kick, found the gap. Which was filled by Codling going down well in the face of the advancing backs. Offside by Anderson allowed again to pass halfway. fed the backs from a lineout,.'the ball reaching Grant, but Dick robbed him, and his kick was followed fast by McLean.

First Score,

The 'first score was the direct result of weak defence by the North landers. The ball came cleanly from o scrum, and Pearman gathered in a very lowpass. Lnmbly missed his man, and as Masters and Cunningham both went for the Centre, Schubert was given an almost unchallenged run in, Halliwell missed with the kick, and after a quarter of an hour, Auckland led three to nil.

Masters Applauded

The Auckland forwards were very lively, and Pearce led a naid. but Mas-

ters gained applause by coolly dodging several tacklers and getting in a long line kick. Wordley broke up an Auckland back movement, and play was in the Auckland twenty-five. Again tiro visitors secured from a scrum, and Brady’s kick, borne by a high wind, travelled half the length of the field, compelling Masters to find the line. For the first time. Ling raked the ball for the North, but the movement got no further than Bob White. McLean, who 4 had dropped back, secured for Halliwell to make a beautiful long kick. A Great Dash. White opened up a North attack, and Grant carried on until tackled, when he sent to White, who was forced out. Shubert went away in a great dash, to outpace the other backs, but Masters made no mistake. When Codling was penalised for handling in the scrum, Carson’s kick went inches outside.

In close play on the North Auckland line, Wordley , was conspicuous for a good save. Gilmore was penalised for handling in a ruck, but Masters gained very little ground with his kick. The ball went out to the homo backs, but when,Gibson failed to get his toe to it, Carson gathered in and streaked for the corner to score. Charging swiftly. Ling and Williams upset Carson’s kick, which went wide. Auckland Awarded Penalty.

Playing out of position, Northland backs were making up for this fault by going down courageously in the face of persistent rushes. However, when on the ground they could not leave the hall alone, and McLean put the city team further ahead with a penalty. After half an hour, Auckland led nine points to nil.

Behind the Posts.

After White hncl gained ground in a strong run, he was robbed by Pearson, but North Auckland was in a moment later, when Gibson cut through feinted, and sent to Lambly. Meanwhile Pearson had moved in and

Outstanding* Northlanders In North’s Great Rugby Win

Lambly went through the opening like a flash, to score behind the posts. Masters converted. Auckland f) North Auckland 5 Auckland pressed on resuming, and Pearman missed with a drop-kick. A heavy shower at this stage mode the ball greasy and the footing insecure. Full of pep, the Auckland forwards were dashing hither and thither, while the backs were passing accurately under bad conditions. Northland Stirred.

Before the Auckland backs realised that the ball had come out of their side of the scrum, Gibson flashed past File, beat a couple of men and sent a long pass to CaUanan, who ran 20 yards, and was not challenged until he crossed. Masters made a great effort, but missed. The score had a potent effect on the home team. Gathering in Auckland’s kick-off, Williams sot the forwards in motion, half a dozen of them handling for White to put in a short punt. The whole of Auckland’s back line handled without gaining ground, and Cunningham secured the ball from Schubert’s arms. Play was halted while Pearson received treatment. , Things might have been different when Grant tried a half-tackle halfintercept, to let Dick away with the ball. However, While backed up well, to lower the winger.' Flavcll got his too to the ball, and was going full steam for tine line, but kicked 100 hard, and Auckland succeeded in forcing.

When Codling sent a very long pass from a ruck, North Auckland might well have scored if it had. not been for a deliberately prolonged tackle by Pearman, who kept Gibson out of the movement long after the five-eighths had unloaded for White and Cunningham to carry on a very nice handling dash. <•

After the Auckland backs had given the ball air, the fast-following Anderson took play right down to the other end. where Wordley and Masters did not witl under terrific pressure. With a short punt, Lambly sent Callanan away, and the back-line figured in another fast dash, in which Cunningham sprinted strongly before getting in his kick. Auckland Ahead at Half-time.

When Morresey got yards off-side, Auckland claimed a scrum, from which it hooked, and Pearman raised the flag right on the goal-lino. Half-time came with Auckland on the attack, with the : score; Auckland 9 North Auckland 8 On Top hr Second Spell. North Auckland started the second spell with the obvious intention of playing on top of Auckland. The backs swung into a series of spirited attacks, with R. White, the centre, shining with some outstanding riming through gaps left in Auckland’s defence. Before long the crowd was thrilled by the brilliant sideline burst of E. Grant, who ran 40 yards before in-passing to Callanan. who was hauled down by Halliwoll. Morresey continued the attack, however. and sent on to Codling, the diminutive half diving across between the legs of Auckland ladders. Masters' kick hit the crossbar. North Auckland 11 Auckland !)

North Auckland riding on the crest of a wave, tossed the ball about freely and before long Auckland were in trouble again, only the brilliant defence of Halliwell, who van his sick' out of danger, preventing another try by Galiamin. Did Not Tire.

Auckland now attacked strongly and the defence was severely tested. Cod-

ling and Gibson saved from a strong Auckland alack. With a view to tiring the home side Auckland was throwing the ball about at every opportunity. but the robust Northlanders were showing no signs of becoming jaded.

Cooper and Flavcll went through the Auckland pack with the ball ,at toe and Codling put in a kick which he followed; very fast. Again it was Halliwell who saved the situation, Lambly was caught in possession and Carson relieved, Anderson turning on a brilliant dribbling rush.

Schubert, probably the fastest player on the field, dashed across field before feeding his backs, Pearson dropping the pass. Thing's became a litle heated in the scrum and after Gilmore and Cooper had used their hands for another purpose they responded to the referee s invitation to shake hands.

North Auckland was now launching repeated assaults on the opposing goalline and Halliwell. whose play otherwise was a tower of strength, did not help his side by failing to find the line.

Cunningham made a great penetrative thrust which carried him through several indifferent tackles only to be brought down just short of the line. The other winger. Grant, made the next inspired run. With his eye on the line ho darted straight as an arrow until he ran into Halliwell, • the last man to beat. Gibson Threads Way Over.

lii a. rnelee near Auckland’s line Codling sent, to Gibson who paused and then went through in an irresistible swoop to score as ho was tackled. Masters failed.

North Auckland Auckland

With only a few minutes to go Bond went off injured to be replaced in the Auckland pack by Priest.

North Auckland kept up the pressure and White went for a field goal, but fell into several embraces instead. With another solo dribbling effort Anderson took play beyond half-way, McLean carying on without a friend in sight. Whillans came off and was replaced by Knight. Cunningham cost North Auckland a scrum for shepherding, but with two line-finders took play back to foreign territory. •

Pearce led Auckland back, and a series of inconclusive scrummages were put clown in North Auckland’s 25. From a lino-out the Auckland backs indulged in chain passing. Brady broke through, but held on to the ball too long. Cooper failed to control in a dribbling sortie, giving Auckland possession, and, after the inside men had made little impression. Dick dashed away in a run which looked dangerous until White and Cunningham caught him together.

Home Forwards Dominate Flay

Wordley and Callanan wool through .the Auckland defence like a knife through cheese. The ball came out to Gibson, who made as if to pass and then clapped on a great burst of pace and went within a yard of his objective. McLean dribbled back to half-way but Flavcll and Callanan surged upheld. again in another typical North Auckland dash. The crowd roared in appreciation of what they thought was a Callanan try. but the referee ruled a touch-down for Auckland. Carson headed an Auckland retaliatory movement which assumed serious dimensions until Masters went clown on the ball. Neil, who was lasting as well as anyone on the ground, emerged as the spearhead of the next homo for-

ward attack, under which the Auckland defence again wilted. Ling broke through and gained ground before sending a pass which Morresey missed, the ball going out. Wordley was again in the limelight with a great dash from the back of a scrum. Callanan joined in and the ball went out to Grant who put in another of his lightning sprints to be downed 10 yards out by Brady. Hot forward work followed, with North Auckland breaking exceptionally fast on the Auckland inside backs, but the score remained unchanged. NORTH AUCKLAND .... 14 AUCKLAND 9 Mr L. G. Miller refereed.