Facts From Figures

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1948, Page 6

Facts From Figures

A fast-moving, nippy backline can create a false impression in the mind of the casual observer.

Ninety per cent of Saturday’s big crowd would be prepared to swear that Auckland had more than a fair share of the ball from the serums in the first half; yet figures show that honours were even.. Look at it this way.

When Auckland hooked the ball it came back quickly, was fired out smartly, and as often as not. a movement was started which swept the length of the field.

This, plus individual brilliance, makes a pretty impressionable picture in the mind’s eye.

On the other hand, when Northland raked the ball back there were times when it came slowly to the half. Chances were the Auckland breakaways would overwhelm Richardson and carry on with the ball at toe. The mind’s eye is focused on another black and white picture; yet Northland won the scrummage. HANGED.—Dr Joseph Buehler, chief of the administration under the Nazis' wartime Polish Government, was hanged at Krakow for war crimes, including engineering the killing of over 2,000.000 Jews.

Lineouts tell a similar story and it would seem that Northland lacked the compactness and fierceness of the Auckland ruckers.

More polish and finish, therefore, brought Auckland three tries in each half, whereas Northland efforts came more from the individual. I

Although Northland scored 11 points to Auckland’s 14 after oranges, it was the bumping Cherrlngton’s dash and the accuracy of Campbell’s boot which were responsible for them.

Study the following figures and you will have a lot of fun playing the game again. Work this in, too: Auckland led 11—0 at half-time and won the game 25—11.

STATISTICS Set Scrums Northland Auckland First spell .. 6 G Second spel' 12 1G Totals 18 22 Line-outs Northland Auckland First spell .. 13 18 Second spell 12 12 Totals 25 30 Four set scrum's and 12 line-cuts were indecisive in the first spell and the no-decision figures in these departments during the second half were five and six respectively. Auckland secured possession from GO per cent of the rucks.

Referee Somerville awarded penalties equally between the two teams.

. -A. summary of the three representative games played at Whangarei during the last eight days is interesting. Against New Zealand Maoris, Wairarapa and Auckland, the Northland side scored 47 points comprised of six tries, four of them converted, and seven penalty goals.

'the opposition tally came to 81 made up of 18 tries (nine converted) and three penalties.

Campbell is the leading points-getter for Northland. His boot piloted the 1 bail over the bar six times from pen- ; alties and he converted four of the six | tries scored by Murray (21, Beazley. i Bowmar, Erceg and Cherrington. Isaacs kicked the other penalty goal. —ANSTRUTIIER.