LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19122, 14 September 1925, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND DEFEATED.

MARGIN OF ONE POINT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHTJRCH, Saturday. The Auckland and Canterbury representatives mot at Monica Park this afternoon. Tbo ground was in bad condition after recent rain, but there was little wind. The ball soon became too greasy to handle, slowing the game down, although some brilliant flashes showed both teams to be possessed of backs that would have made a memorable game on hard ground. The attendance was in the vicinity of 2500 Teams were:— Auckland.—Fullback. S. Crewther-. threequarters, J. List, B. Davidson and M. Kirkland; five-eighths. L. Riley and H. 8. E. Cole; halfback, F. Peckbam; forwards. H. Dousrlas. H. Townsend, L. Mason. Te Vhata, H. McDonald and N. Bass (captain). Canterbury.—Fullback, E. Brosnahan: threeqnarters, J. Parkes, E. Fittgerald and E. O'Malley, five-eighths, C. Robins and G. Falgar; halfback, A. Mackie; forwards, E. Cox. A. Green. A. Collie. L. Peterson (captain), A. Polaschek and F. Henry. The visitors kicked off toward the northern goal, and the opening play went to the home twenty-five. The Canterbury forwards by over-eagerness lost the change of recovery and from a free-kick J. M*son placed a splendid goal from wide out et the twenty-fivo line. Auckland, 2; Canterbury, 0. Loose dribbling with the water flying saw E. Fitzgerald dribble through, but H. Ctle. infringing a penalty by F. Henry, went inside. The Canterbury forwards immediately returned play to the visitors' twenty-five, with G. Falgar slipping the ball Quickly to J. Parkes on the wing, but the latter failed to hold the transfer and 8. Crewther saved a solo effort by S. Polaschek. A penalty to the blues sent nlay beyond halfway., T. Peckhnm and H. Douglas were prominent for the visitors, but the fielding was very moderate, good passes beins dropped by both sides. Hi McDonald burstthrough and with N. Bass beat E. Brosnaban for possession. G. Falgar came back fast and brought off a fine save. Loose dribbling out in the centre, .C. Robins kicked through, and Auckland, oeing penalised deep down, F. Henry made a poor attempt to goal from a long range. A series of scrums ensued on the Canterbury line, a clever dash by H. Cole giving the visitors control, and Te Whata, securing, bumped his way over to score wide out. L. Mason's effort to goal fell short, A,.cessation occurred through M. Kirklaud receiving a knock. Play slowed • up with continual scrums, both sides lifting repeatedly; •J. List staged a useful dash down the far line and N. Bass went further but A, Mackio tackled. T. Peckham. in possession, and F. Henry and E. Cox, broke back to the visitors' line. J. Parkes, who had changed places with G. Falgar, failed to gather the ball and lost a great chance of scoring. The local forwards went right through again, but S, Crewther saved cleverly and the Auckland forwards went to halfway as the bell-rang for the interval, the scores being: Auckland, 5; Canterbury, 0. J. Parkes resumed proceedings and M. Kirkland sent the reds back. E. Cox, A. Collie and A. Green dribbled back, but L, Riley stopped them neatly. A. .Mackio whipped out smartly to J. Parkes. who burst through, but lost the ball. B. Davidson sent the play back with a good return. The visitors were penalised, but F. Henry failed to put the ball over. , \ Loose footwork by the home forwards had play on the Auckland line. A. Mackie tried to get across, and then F. Henry picked up from the side of the scrum and scored at the corner. He failed to convert his try from a difficult angle. Auckland, 5; Canterbury, 3. H, McDonald and H. Douglas were clear with a dribbling rush, but G. Falgar went across fast and saved a score. A good run by B. Davidson sent the home team back to their twenty-five, a penalty relieving the defence. N. Bass and Te Whata burst through, but Te Whata's pass to J. List was wild. A penalty again proved useful to Canterbury. G. Falgar gave E. Brosnahan a fine chance to. olear, and A. Mackie whipped fast to J. Parkes, who burst through to 8. Crewther. A faulty pass out to E. O'Malley lost a bum score. , A fine bout of passing by F. Peckham, H. Cole, B, Davidson and M. Kirkland saw Kirkland brought down with a great tackle, C. Robins sent the visitors back and A. Maokie burst-away, but S, Crewther stopped the rush. M. Kirkland made an opening for the blues, but S/< Polaschek went back with a rush- G. Falgar burst away and over-ran the ball. The. tackling of the visitors staved oft" some hard efforts by the local forwards. The visitors came away, beat E. Brosnahan, and were olear, G. Falgat stopped a score. A dribbling rush bv all the home forwards went right through the defence and 8. Polaschek hurled himself over the line for a great try to leud cheering. J7 Parkes failed; to goal frorn an easy position -as the bell' rang, the scores: •■»= J ■•':. - Canterbury :•.■:>, x. j a ,r..' r.v 6 Auckland 'V.- «,-..• •,, 6