LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19763, 10 October 1927, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND BEATS BULLER. r / A HIGH-SCORING MATCH. VISITORS WEAK IN DEFENCE. The Auckland League representative team outclassed Buller at Carlaw Park on Saturday and ran out winners by a margin of 27 points. Tries were added with such regularity that the local representatives compiled a cricket score' of 60 points. The Auckland team had too much pace and combined with clover combination, completely overran the Buller team. The visitors' forwards, however, made a splendid showing, and were superior to the local men. The Buller backs were vary weak on defence. A feature of the game was the fine play of Goodall. who was the best forward on the ground. Besides scoring two tries. Goodall kicked six splendid goals' out of seven attempts. Buller was unfortunate in having players injured. McElwee, who was playing well, had to retire, and Thomas, who was easily the best of the threeauarters, also received a nasty knock. The teams were:— Auckland.—Fullback, Dufty; threequarters, Wilson. List, Beattie; five-eighths, Gregory, "Wetherill; halfback, Webb; forwards, Rule. Payne. Dixon. Hutt, Spencer, Hall.. Wright: threequarters. Thomas, feurns, Jones: five-eighths. McCarthy, Cameron; halfback, Bernand; forwards. Jack, Davis, Harris, Goodall. Powell, McElwee. -Auckland Backs Active. Buller surprised Auckland with a auick attack, and its forwards swept over the local team. Burns made a good run before passing to McElwee. who dropped the ball and missed a try. The local backs opened up the game in great style and Wilson raced across, only to lose the ball. Auckland's backs, however, again raced away and List made a brilliant opening, and Wilson's pace carried him over between the posts for Uuit.v to goal. , , „. , . A minute later Beattie cleverly fielded a mis-kick, and outpaced the opposition to score near the corner Dufty failed to convert. The defence of the visitors w as V ?P' weak. Time and again ,Gregory beat the opposing threequarters. A pretty run by Thomas placed Buller in a good position, but Dufty saved well. Wilson made a fine run down the side-line and .when pressed by Wright, passed to Wetherill. who scored between the posts, for Dufty to goal. Led by Goodall. the Buller forwards fought their way back to Auckland s territory. Good Play by Cameron paved the way for Buller's opening try and Burns scored near the posts. Goodall converted. Then Gregory burst through the centre and. from a scramble Payne scored. Dufty failed at goal. McElwee. who was. playing a fine game in the forwards, retired injured, find Walsh replaced him. Speed from the scrum saw Webb give Beattie a chance, and the local wins gotgover near the corner flag. The kick was unsuccessful. Prom a scrum near halfway. Wetherill caught the Buller backs out of position, and Dixon easily scored. Gregoij converted Then came Buller's best effort. McCarthy beat Gregory, and each back handled m turn. The ball came back from the wing to Burns at centre, and Davis scored tar out Goodall kicked a beautiful goal. From a passing bout Gregory scored for Auckland. and half-time ended with the scores;— Auckland. 27; Buller. 10 Play in Second Spell. Throwing the ball about from all positions. Auckland attacked strongly and Lamont tackled Beattie near the corner flag. The Buller forwards drove the local pack back to midfield and Jack and Powell were associated in clever dribbling. Watsn was prominent in the loose and passed tugii to Goodall, who raced over to score. £te converted with a magnificent kick from the again launched an offensive, and Goodall passed to Jack, who scored. Goodall kicked another .great goal, r rom his own twenty-five. Wilson beat the defence and ran almost the length of the field, and Gregory scored. \Vithin two minutes Auckland scored two more tries. Webb, and then Payne, getting across. Neither try was converted. The local backs ran all over Buller. nnd List scored, for Spencer to convert. Clever play by Goodall gave Buller a chafOCe and Cameron scored a good try between the posts. Goodall missed the kick. Buller tired badly, and the Auckland backs showed excellent combination. From passing bouts, Beattie and List scored tries. Spencer converting one. Each time the Auckland backs got the ball a try was scored. Hutt was the next to score a try, which Wilson converted. The Buller forwards rushed play to Auckland s twenty-five, where Cameron "dummied past Dufty to score. Goodall kicked his fifth goal Goodall was again prominent and he dashed over from a forward rush to score and kick his sixth goal. Just before time was called Gregory and List scored unconverted tries for Auckland, and the game ended:—Auckland, 00: Buller. 33 JUNIOR RESULTS. Following are the results of junior matches on Saturday:— - , , Second Grade.— Devonport. 9. beat Remuera, 4. * Fifth Grade.—City. 3 beat Akarana. 0 Sixth Grade.— Devonport, 10,. beat Akarana, 7. Sixth B Grade: Manst, 5. beat Akarana, 0.