Whangarei Team Beat Northcote-Birkenhead 9-3

Northern Advocate, 4 September 1939, Page 2

Whangarei Team Beat NorthcoteBirkenhead 9-3

|N A. GAME OF ONLY OCCASIONAL BRILLIANCE, A COMBINED WHANGAREI LEAGUE TEAM BEAT NORTHCOTE-BIRKENIIEAD SENIORS, AUCKLAND, BY NINE POINTS TO THREE AT JUBILEE PARK ON SATURDAY,

The Whangarei team was composed largely of City players, with several reinforcements.

■ The match was the first for some lime in which a Northland team has lowered a city side’s colours.

Obviously feeling the effects of sov-* eral weeks’ absence from the playing field, the Whangarei men were not at top form. With several green players on their side, the visitors wet'e even less so, and the game was largely of a forward nature, although some spectacular moves came to light. New Players Shine. Feature of the game, which was played in excellent spirit was the appearance for the first time on the Whangarei League field of two new local players, Clark, centre, and H. Price, wing, who both gave excellent displays. Clark scored two tries. Cook, the visitors’ youthful halfback, was well in the limelight. . Although outpacking the home team and securing from most of the scrums, the visitors nevertheless lacked cohesion, while movements on both sides were spoilt by fumbling. Northcote set the ball rolling with sun and wind at their backs, and tight forward tactics were the order on both sides.

Whangarei had most of the ball, but with the visitors smothering quickly, could not get going and were held in their own ground.

W. Stockley came through from the full-back’s position in a promising effort, spoilt by mishandling, and Hansen essayed a free kick which grazed the post. When Banton fired out a wild pass, Gibson snapped tup, but found no one with him.

Clark Comes To Light,

Aft6r 15 minutes’ play Clark showed up in . a .. dribbling rush from which Hansen cleared with a judicious line kick, but Whahgafei were turning defence into attack and the backs staged a sortie which found them close to the line. Clark tried to make the last few yards, but Stockley’s defence was sound. '’Wb.angarei’s attack was still loose, but E. Child, first five-eighth, was covering up well and closing many gaps. Brilliant Move. y/ith forward play in midfield McMillan, Kamo forward, burst through and unloaded for E. Child and Lacey to turn on a beautiful reverse passing movement which carried them to the line, Lacey crossing over with . a pretty short punt, giving Whangarei first blood after 35 minutes’ play. Whangarei hung to the attack, and on, the call of half-time Clark, who had been knocking at the door throughout slipped across in the corner.

Tiro resumption found both sides putting more sting into the proceedings and Banton was to the fore in a Whang,afei forward rush, ' Torrid play ensued in midfield, and the visitors took a turn on attack, but a free kick returned them to half-way, and the home forwards stormed the Northeote citadel.

Clark came through to finish the movement with his second try. and the score was 9—-0. Visitors’ Oiily Try. Clark was instrumental in Northcote’s forcing a few minutes later, but C, Burrows quickly turned the tables. Gathering in on the half-way line he displayed .a snappy side-step to carve through the defence and made a clear run to the comer flag. The kick failed.

Nofthcote tried hard to improve their position, but Lenne, playing a heady game behind the scrum, sent his backs .away again and again. Consolidated defence, however, kept them out, and the final whistle came with the score unaltered. Mr j. Hill was referee.