LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19056, 29 June 1925, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE MINOR TRIAL GAMES. A WIN FOR SOUTH AUCKLAND. PLAY MARRED BY THE RAIN. Two trial games between League players from the Auckland Province were held.at Carlaw Park on Saturday in addition to the North v. South Island match. In the first the South Auckland representatives met an Auckland team. The second game was between two local teams. Conditions were against a good display of football, but in tho A and B game some really interesting movements were witnessed. South Auckland beat Auckland by 13 points to 11, while the B thirteen defeated the A team by 5 points to 0. SOUTH AUCKLAND'S SUCCESS. The game between South Auckland and Auckland was played on No. 2 ground. Prom the kick-off a return was well fielded by Wardlow, who showed a good burst of speed as he outpaced tho opposition and scored Auckland's first try. McDonald missed the kick at goal. A good run by Poison was effectually stopped by Johnsvone, who picked up the ball and found the line well into Auckland's twenty-five. The Waikato forwards showed plenty of dash as they rushed the ball to Auckland's line. A scrum followed and Lornie was unlucky not to score He slipped after he had beaten 'llanlon, Buoy and Mason were prominent as the local forwards swept down tho field, but a lucky speculator by G. Raynor sent the ball out near half-way. Soon afterwards S. Raynor make a good opening and passed to Johnstone who, running strongly, scored in the corner. S. Raynor kicked a very fine goal. South Auckland 5, Auckland 3. , , Poison opened up the game nicely and the ball went from Greip to Greening, to Wardlow; The last mentioned gained some ground with a strong run down tho line. Fast following up by Hutt caught Cleaver in possession, but Ilanlon saved Auckland with a nice -kick. Keeping up. tho attack Greig: and Cleaver wero associated in a nico passing bout. Paki gained a lot of ground a determined run. but his pass to S. Raynor was dropped, and Wardlow cleared. Waikato' lost a great chance through Johnstone taking a pass offside, after Jackson had made a splendid opening. Pala made several solo efforts to get over, but Hanlon proved a hard man to pass. From a cross-kick by Davie3, Paki followed up fast and scored near tho corner. S. Raynor failed to improve tho score. Half-time sounded with the scores:— South Auckland * 8 Auckland . 3 With heavy rain falling passing was impossible. and a good individual effort by Cleaver carried play to tho, Waikato line, but after several scrums Geison and Wilson dribbled the ball to midfield, Wilson intercepted a loose pass from Greig and lost tho ball when nearing the Auckland line, but Paki was handy and scored. S. Raynor kicked a good goal. South Auckland 13. | Auckland 3. Tho greasy ball was almost impossible to handle but, picking it up in tho loose, Wardlow beat the opposition badly and ran to tho Waikato fullback, where McDonald gathered in tho ball and scored. Poison kicked tho goal, reducing tho visitors' lead to five points. A few minutes, later the ball wont from Poison to Greening, to Cleaver. Tho lastmentioned cut in smartly and scored a good try. McDonald failed to improvo tho score, and the game ended: South Auckland 13. Auckland 11, THE A AND B TEAMS' MATCH. The Auckland B team set the came going and Hawkes and Avery wero associated in a clover dribbling effort. A good dash by List was well checked by Gregory. Tho A team then made every effort to open up the game. Webb set the backs going. Colo cut through and passed to Brisbane, who found the line with a well-directed kick. A nico opening by Crewtkor saw Gardiner dash down the line, but Gregory was safe. Hawkes, following up fast, caught Henewini with the: ball. McDonald nicked it up and passed to Littlewood. who was tackled near the corner flag. Although tho conditions wero bad tho A team was indulging in many pretty passing movements, their backs showing good combination. _ A, dash by Colo was carried on by Hargreaves who beat Hcnewini badly. List, however, just saved a score. Peckham, Crewther. Shand and Gardiner were associated in a bout which took them to their opponents' territory. Webb cleared and Hawkes and McDonald were first to the ball, bustling Hcnewini who attempted to run. List, tho B wing, raced down the side-line and centred. Clarke and Stormont beat all except Gregory, who was. as usual, very safe. Brisbane gathered up a loose pass and kicked hard over tho line, a force resulting. Half-time Bounded without a score. Hiirgreaves opened up the game in the second spell with a, clever dribbling movement but List came fast and saved. Payne and Clarke took play back to tho A'b line where offside play by tho formor spoiled a likely chance. Rain was falling in torrents, and on the slippery ground any prospective New Zealand representatives found good football impossible, . Gregory gained applause as ho stopped a dangerous rush headed by O'Brien and Stormont. Tho relieving kick was followed up by Hawkes and McDonald who carriftd tho ball to the B team's lino. Another-good run by Hargreaves saw Hawkes just miss a try. the bail going over tho doad-ball lino. The kick-out was followed by Clarke who caught Littlewood in possession. A scrum followed and O'Brien kicked hard over the A team's line. Payne, following on fast, scored. Shand kicked the goaJ.—B team, fi: A team. 0. There was no further score. Tho B team thus winning by 5 to 0. CHRISTCHURCH MATCHES. []3Y TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. , League results:—Marist. A. 13, v. Hornby, 0; Aldington, 21, v. Woolston, 0; Wairaairi. 59. v. Linwood. 0; Marist B. 15, v. Sydenham, 14. DUNEDIN COMPETITION. [BY TELEGK.VPH. —PKESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, Sunday. League matches:—Athletic. 14. v. Pacific A, 3: City A, 46, v. Christian Bros. B, 0: City B. 21. v. Pacific B. 0: Christian Bros. A, 11, v. Kaitangata, 8.