REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20929, 20 July 1931, Page 11

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

VICTORY FOR AUCKLAND. SOUTHLAND TEAM DEFEATED HOME SIDE'S NARROW MARGIN. GOOD DISPLAY BY FORWARDS.

The first representative Rugby match of the season in Auckland was played at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon between Auckand and the touring Southland team, the home side winning by six points to five. Auckland's score consisted of an unconverted try and a penalty goal, whereas Southland obtained a converted try. The ground was heavy, and a light shower in the second spell made the ball greasy. There was a large crowd present, but it did not see much spectacular football, as the poor displays given by the respective sets of backs tended to make the play rather ragged. The outstanding feature of the game was the fine exhibition of loose forward play by the Southland pack. The visiting forwards were having so much the better of matters in the last twenty minutes that it looked as though they would win the game at any stage. Auckland's defence held out, however, but the side was fortunate in escaping defeat. The teams were as follows:

Southland.—Full-back, Porter; threequarters, Geddes, McKay, Townsend; five-eighths, Grant, Niven; half, Johnson ; wing-forward, Agnew; forwards, Metcalfe, Murphy, Purdue, Southern, Mattingly, Donnelly, George. Auckland.—Full-back, Davies; threequarters, Stuart, . Caughey, Milliken; five-eighths, Smith, Jamieson; half, Corner j -wing-forward, Soloman; forwards, Palmer, Hadley, Batty, Knight, Anderson, Satherley, Finlayson.

Southland Wins Toss. Southland won the toss and played with the wind. The visitors attacked for the first five minutes but in and out passing between Caughey, Stuart and Corner sent play into Southland's half. The Auckland forwards broke away in a passing bout, but a forward pass pulled up the movement. McKay did not make much use of a penalty kick, but Metcalfe dribbled from his twenty-five to half-way. Agnew was in support and he picked up and kicked the ball on. Milliken ran back to save nicely. From a penalty just outside the twenty-five McKay failed at goal. Davies checked a forward rush by taking a mark in front of his own goal. The Auckland backs broke away, Caughey handling twice. Smith's pass was forward, however, and Southland cleared. Another Auckland passing rush broke down, and McKay dribbled to Auckland's twenty-five,, where Davies effected a fine save. A short punt by Johnson and fast following up caught Davies in possession. He was penalised for holding the ball, but McKay missed the shot from a fairly easy angle. McKay then made a good opening and sent the forwards away, Southern scoring. Porter converted.

Southland . ~ ,« .. 5 Auckland .. . . . . . . . , 0 Good Forward Work. Corner set the backs going and the forwards joined in, Palmer being pulled down two feet from the line. Loose work by the forwards and then a penalty enabled Porter to send play to near halfway. Geddes made a dash and passed infield, the ball being" kicked into touch near Auckland's line. The Southland forwards did good work, Purdue being prominent in a rush. Two penalties, however, lost the visitors a lot of ground. The Auckland backs made great efforts to get across, Caughey putting in a fine dash after handling twice. A scrum penalty against Southland gave Davies a shot from a couple of yards beyond the twenty-five, but the wind caught the ball and it fell short of the bar. Smith met with weak tackling and ran Caughey and Milliken into position. Caughey, however, failed to hold a high pass and a certain try was lost. A penalty gave Southland relief. Light rain set in at this stage, making the ball heavier. Good footwork by the Southland forwards took play into Auckland's twenty-five, Smith checking the rush. Porter next stopped the Auckland forwards, being tripped by Knight, although the breach was undetected. Southland was attacking strongly when halftime sounded," the score being:— Southland . . .. .... . . 5 Auckland . . . 0 j Change of Positions. Milliken and Stuart changed wingthreequarter positions at the opening of the second spell. Following- the kick-off Smith made a fine opening and then passed to Caughey, who fan 25yds. before being pulled down by Porter a few feet from the line. The Southland forwards displayed clever footwork. Johnson ran in from a line-out, and taking the ball cleanly, dashed to within a yard of Auckland's line. A penalty brought relief to Auckland. Grant was prominent for good defence. A struggling passing rush in which Jamieson handled twice ended in Stuart scoring two feet from the corner. Davies narrowly missed the posts.

Southland « , s *«- . . -. •< 5 Auckland •• . . . *„• 3

With play at midfield Caughey found touch near Southland's line. Niven checked a strong rush by taking a 'mark. Caughey failed to tackle McKay in a passing rush, but it was stopped by the forwards. Southland was awarded a penalty well outside the twenty-five, but right in front. Porter took the kick, but the ball just missed the post.* A further rearrangement was made in 'the Auckland back line. Smith went to first five-eighths and Stuart to second, while Jamieson went out to the right wing. A penalty right on the line enabled Porter to clear for Southland. The Auckland backs then lost a good chance by passing too slowly. Southland was penalised for obstruction, Davies taking the kick and sending the ball between the posts. Auckland 6 Southland 5 Visiting Player Injured. The Southland forwards attacked strongly, but Milliken cleared to Porte:-, who, however, sent play back with a great left foot kick. McKay and Caughey came into violent collision, the firstnamed breaking his collarbone. Crosbie took his place. Clever passing between Grant and Niven looked like resulting in a try, but sound tackling checked the rush. Porter earned applause for splendid line-kicking." From a scrum five yards from Auckland's line, the defenders hooked the ball and Corner cleared. Solomon dashed away from a line-out at his own twenty-five and ran to Southland's twenty-five. A penalty gave Davies a chance, but he missed from near half-way. Loose,rushes by the Southland forwards carried play into Auckland's twenty-five, where Johnson secured from a scrum and made a strong run, , being forced into touch five yards from the line. Play was still in Auckland's half when time was called, the final score being: Auckland . . . . . • • • • ® Southland . . si •« • • ® Mr.. F, E, Sutherland was referee..