LEAGUE REP. MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18174, 21 August 1922, Page 5

LEAGUE REP. MATCH.

AUCKLAND V. HAWKE'S BAY. WIN FOR THE LOCAL TEAM. SCORES: 23 POINTS TO 5. The first interprovincial match ot the season under League rules, for the Northern Union Challenge Cup, was played at Carl aw Park on Saturday between Auckland and Hawke's Bay representatives, and resulted in a victory for Auckland by 23 pointß to 5. The scores give no indication of the run of the game, which was hotly oonteStW from start to finish. The work of the Hawke's Bay forwards combined with sure and vigorous tackling by the backs almost dominated the situation— i bUt not quite. There were times when it seemed as though the weight and j dash of the visitors' vanguard must smash j its way through to score, but the neces- j sary finish was not applied, and fire efforts just failed' to reach the objective. It was different with the Auckland team. Most of the attempts of the local backs to open up the play and set the'back machine working were frustrated by the dash and initiative of the visitors' inside backs in anticipating the run of the play and intercepting passes. Fine tackling also contributed to the disorganisation of the local attack. Auckland's Baffling Tactics. As the game proceeded the tactics of the visitor is were nullified to a great extent by the Auckland halfback, Nicholson, who frequently broke away by . himself and cut through the Hawke's Bay line when his opponents were expecting a pass. Sometimes Nicholson broke right away from his supports, And was tackled with the i ball, but on the occasions that the supports lined up with him the movement ended with a score. Avery was particu-1 larly prominent in breaking through to support the halfback, and handled tho ball to perfection. This change of tactics, varied by some snappy orthodox passing by the whole of the back division, gave the necessary scoring opportunities to Auckland and culminated in victory by a substantial margin. •. / Between the scoring movements of the Auckland backs the local men wero kept, greatly on the defensive, but speed and accurate passing told the inevitable talft, pitted against dashing forwardjplay with the ball kept on the ground. The visitors forward work was impressive. Had it been supported by back play of equal calibre tho combination assuredly would have meant victory for the side. The game wa3 witnessed by a large crowd, tho gate receipts amounting to £246 7b. Hawke's Bay Open the Scoring. The first advantage went to the visitors, a line kick sending the ball out in the Auckland 25; A penalty against Auckland gave McCarthy a shot at goal, but the ball went wide. G. Davidson failed to field the ball and the 1 Hawke's Bay forwards, dashing up, swept it over the line, Gillies scoring. Exeter failed with the shot at goal. Hawke's Bay 3, Auckland 0. Following the kick out the Auckland forwards carried play to the Hawke's Bay twenty-five. From a scrum the ball went out to the Auckland backs. Dufty sent a pass to G. Davidson, but the latter faued to gather it cleanly, and lost a certain try. A period of quiet play followed, the visiting forwards more than holding their own in jvcrum work. Then the Auckland forwards, with Avery in the van, broke i away, but tho ball was kicked over the Hawke's Bay line, a force resulting. The! Auckland backs then began to throw the •ball about, but faulty handling spoilt a promising movements Dufty had a long but unsuccessful shot at goal, and play settled in the visitors twenty-five. Hawkes Bay were penalised, but W. Da,videon failed with the kick at goal. Visitors' Vigourous Forwards. Playing with great vigour, the visiting forwards, with a series of rushes, reached the Auckland twenty-five, where Exeter just jailed a shot at goal from a penalty. Maintaining the pace the visitors kept Auckland busy defending, the local backs attempted to open up the game, but the tackling' of the visitors proved sound. Eventually Storinont obtained a mark in a handy position and W. Davidson landed a goal. Hawke's Bay 3, Auckland 2. Immediately . after the kick out Laing picking up ifi. the loose, broke away. Eluding several opponents he transferred to Avery and the latter dashed over to score at the corner. W. Davidson failed with tho kick. Auckland 5, Hawke's Bay 3. Immediately after the kick out Hawke's Bay attacked. A forward rush, opened up and the ball being kicked over the line McCutcheon dashed down in pursuit. A try seemed certain, but the ball iWent into touch in goal The Auckland forwards then took a hand. They took play to the visitors' twenty-five and Nioholson almost dashed over. Hawke's Bay were penalised and W. Davidson kicked a good goal just as the bell rang for half-time. Auokland r. u. . • 7 Hawke's Bay «, *. 3 Forward play characterised the opening of the seoond spell till Dufty, Mormont and Lowry broke away with a passing run to the Hawke's Bay twenty-five. Tho visitors retaliated with a forward rush that reached the Auckland twenty-five. W. Davidson stopped the rush, but Auckland were penalised and McCarthy landed a nice goal. > Auckland 7, Hawke's Bay 6. Long kicking by Dufty placed Auokland on the attack, but a loose rush by the visitors took play to the centre. There was a momentary check as W. Davidson tackled the man with the ball, but the rhsh swept on till Dufty nipped in and saved just in time to avert a score. * - Auckland Backs Get Going. Midfield play followed for a time, and then from the loose Singe picked up and sent the ball out to the backs. It travelled in a chain from Nicholson to Wethisrall and on to Dufty. The lastmentioned beat a man and transferred to Dolgrosso, who crossed at the corner just as he was tabkled by the fullback. W, Davidson converted with a fine kick. Auckland 12, Hawke's Bay 5. Hard gruelling play followed, both sets of forwards playing with great da«S. Nicholson, making an opening, dashed i down the line, supported by Avery. The latter took a pass and just failed to 1 reach the line before knocking over the corner flag. Shortly afterwards the Auckland backs got moving and a pretty piece of passing started by Nicholson saw Wetherall cross and score in a handy i position. Laing failed to convert. Auckland 15, Hawke's Bay 5. , Continuing: to open up the game, the Auckland backs again broke away. Wetherall made ground and Dufty running into line took a pass and sent on tO" G. Davidson, who scored at the corner. W. Davidson placed a fine goal. Auckland 20, Hawke's Bay 5. Visitors' Determined Struggle. Playing up after the kick off the Hawke's Bay forwards swept up-field and M&pu, taking tho ball from a pass, raced for the Auckland goal. Dufty overhauled him just in time and in a hot melee near the line Adams got over, but lost the ball. From a scrum the ball was rtished over the line and W. Davidson forced. The game slowed up a little, though It was still hardly fought. After a period of midfield p'ay Hawkes, the! Auckland forward, following up a kick; by Dufty, smothered the return. He snapped up the ball and raced over the line at the oorner. W. Davidson failed with the kick. Auckl»ad 23, Htvwke's Bay 6The remainder of the game was fought out in midfield, the last attempt at scoring being a long shot at goal by Exeter, the b&ll going over the Auckland line. W. Davidson-'forced and the ball rang to ceece play with the score*! Auokland *» » w •« 23 Hawke's Bay. «■ av, 6 i ■ . 'Vv'T;- •> l-'. ,;V-T.