REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19098, 17 August 1925, Page 14

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

CANTERBURY OVERWHELMED

LOCAL TEAM'S EASY WIN.

MARGIN OF THIRTY POINTS,

The Auckland Rugby representatives ovei whelmed a weakened Canterbury team at Eden Park on Satuiday afternoon, the final scores being 35 points to 3 in their favour. Owing to casualties in the matches against Hawke's Bay and Wellington the visitors were without the services of several of their best players, the result being that although their forwards held their own in tho tight play they were beaten iit the loo:-e and their backs were outclassed. A stirring contest had been anticipated but the odils against the visitors were too great and Auckland dominated the game almost through. The local backs gavo a bright display, although they made mistakes which would have been costly but for tho lack of combination in the Canterbury back division. Conditions were practically ideal, and tho interest taken in the match was indicated by the fact that tho attendance was about 14,000. Canterbury had the sun behind them in the first half. An interception by Lucas just after tho kick-off set tho Auckland backs going to Canterbury's tweucy-hvo, and a cross-kick caught the visitors out of position. Nixon was bustled and Oisen sent the ball to Cooke, who scored an unconverted try right at the comer (lag. A hard loose rush by tha Canterbury forwards took play to Auckland's lino, wheie, however, Wright and Olsen cleared. Knight and Keane went through to Canterbury's twenty-live where the visitors infringed and Lucas kicked a penalty goal. Fmther Auckland Scores. Frori tight play in midfield Wright secured the ball and made a fine opening. Cooke and Lucas gained a lot of ground before tho latter sent tho ball on to MatEon, who beat the fullback and scored. Lucas converted, making Auckland's total 11. Ford gained applause as ho cut past Cooke and gave Canterbury a chance, but ho was not supported. Another movement by the Can ten bury backs, with Foul and A. C. Robilliard prominent, failed to reach its objective. Hooper had to retire and was replaced by Turpin. Dorcen caused excitement as ho cut in and beat several Auckland backs, but Goodacre stopped him and then Knight and Keano headed a forward rush to the other end of the field. Wright sent his backs away and Cooke dashed through near tho goal. Lucas converted. Shortly before the interval Lucas missod a pass in a handling bout and Olliver broke through. A score for Canterbury seemed imminent, but Goodacre saved brilliantly, and half-timo came with the scores: Auckland IS Canterbury ... .. .. 0 Auckland increased their lead shortly after resumption of play, a forward rush ending in Palmer notching an unconverted try. Faulty handling by the Auckland backs let Canterbury av.ay, but ttobilliard went into touch when in a good position. For a time tho visitors held their own. Then Wright paved the way for another Auckland score. Drawing the defence ho sent the ball to Matson, who raced over the line. Lucas added tho goal points. Visitors' First Score. Auckland wero attacking when Doreen intercepted a pass and scored a fine try from his own twenty-fivo. Nixon converted, making tho scores: Auckland, Z't; Canterbury, &■ A persistent Auckland attack culminated in Matson again crossing the line. Lucas was successful with the kick. Although the visitors had a fair share of the gome for some time, Auckland were not to fco denied and Cooke raised the total to 32 by scoring agam and converting tha try. Canterbury's second try was tha result of good work by Scrimshaw, who got the ball from a scrum in midfield, beat McGregor, and on reaching Goodacre, passed to Carltcin, who got over. Nixon's kick was unsuccessful. Matson scored his fourth try after a passing bout started by McWilliams Tho kick failed and ihe gamo anrled;

Auckland w*i Canterbury .. •• '•< 8 The visitors returned to the south by express last evening. KING COUNTRY V. AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND TEAM FOR WEDNESDAY The King Country representatives play Auckland at Eden Park on Wednesday auernoon. A number of alterations have been made in the local fifteen with a view to possible changes later in tho season. '1 ho team is as follows: —i? uitback, Gooduore; threequarters, Lucas, Cooke, 01 senj five-eighths, Carter, Hook; haitbacK. McMar.us; rover, Keane; forwards, Finiayson, Gould, Macdonald, Webber, Knight, Righton, Baity; reserves, Lrocierick, O'Hrien, J. Keary, Sorrenson.

WIN FOE NEW PLYMOUTH.

GRAMMAR TEAM DEFEATED. SCORE, SEVEN POINTS TO NIL. The New Plymouth High School Rugby team proved too good for tho Auckland Grammar School fifteen, and won by 7 points to 0 after a hard contest. Frora tho spectacular point of view the game did uot come up to expectations, there being a surprising amount of close forward play. The packs were well matched, although the visitors appeared to havo tho advantage in weight, but the New Plymouth backs were far more impressive on attack than the Grammar back 3 whose display was below recent form and who failed to make the most of chances created by a hard-working pack. However, the defence on both sides was good, the tackling generally being very sound. Close forward play characterised tho greater part of the first quarter. Working to Grammar's twenty-five the visiting backs opened out and Medley smartly beat several opponents, to be stopped a few yards short of tho line. A rush by tho Grammar forwards had New Plymouth in trouble, but although the ball went over the lino Keepa was beaten for the touch down. With the sun behind them in the second quarter the Grammar forwards swept down the field, but an infringement pulled them up and New Plymouth returned in a good combined rush. The visitors hooked the ball from a scrum in Grammar's twenty-five and Riley neatly potted a goal. New Plymouth were getting a good shato of the ball and their backs were often dangerous. Tho Grammar backs started to throw the ball about more but lost chances through faulty passing and handling. Half-time came without fur her scoie. i'jicie was a lot of forward play after the inteival. Tho visiting backs got g'Ktig and Brown boat Bourko and put in a gi'eat dash before Henton brought hint down. The Grammar backs livened up but Malhesou hold on just too long atter making a good opening and Keepa wa.j stopped short of the line. it the final quarter Wetere had to retire, being replaced by Thomas. Bell put Grammar on the attack and the backs went away in good stylo, but Pourko wa.<» tackled a couple of yards short of the line, New Plymouth forcing, Tho visiting forwards worked down to Grammar'? twenty-fivo and Read breaking through from a scrum dribbled over the "line to score tho only try. Crawford failed to convert; and the game ended: New Plj mouth, 7 j Grammar, 0.