REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21285, 12 September 1932, Page 11

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

AUCKLAND TEAM WINS VICTORY OVER TARANAKI TWELVE POINTS TO SIX CAME PLAYED ON HARD GROUND Tho final representative match of the season in -Auckland was played at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon when Auckland defeated Taranaki by 12 points to 6. The game was rather n patchy one, this beine due to a certain extent to the hard * nature of the ground, dust rising from it fairly freely in different parts. Tho ■match was witnessed by a crowd - of over 10,000. The players of both teams wore crepe arm bands in memory of the late -Auckland and -All Black representative, B. I'. Palmer, who died as the result of football injuries the previous week. The flng on the grandstand was flown at half-mast. -Auckland had the better of tho play territorially and deserved to win. Its margin of points would have been smaller however, had Walter, the Taranaki captain,, been awarded the try lie scored in the second spell. The referee's vision was apparently obscured at the moment. The Taranaki forwards were a solid lot and they packed better than the Aucklanders. The visitors, however, lacked pace'and this proved a handicap when they were called upon to chase the fleetfooted Auckland backs. The Taranaki hacks obviously lacked experience. , Collins' Display Collins, of course, was an exception. Great interest centred in the performance of this All Black fullback, and ho did not disappoint the crowd. He handled the ball and kicked well, while his' tackling was beyond" reproach. It was altogether an impressive exhibition. Rutherford displayed a good deal of clash, while Edwards showed himself to be the making of a sound halfback. Walter led tho forwards very ably, while Clarke and Lusk were two others'who repeatedly caught the eye. Bush played a splendid game at fullback, a pleasing feature of his exhibition being the manner in which he raced up frequently to set the backs going in a passing rush. There was any amount of dash ill the play of the threequarter line, iMilliken especially gaining ground every tim<£ he got the ball. Carter scored two tries after the openings had been made by 'Jamieson and Caughey respectively. Caughey played well, showing determination o,n attack and also tackling solidly. The Star Back

Jamieson was the star back on the field, Iho manner in which he made openings Wing/brilliant. At times he was too quick off the mark for his colleagues with the result that the chances went begging. Jamieson is right back to his best form and in such h c is the finest attacking back in Auckland.

Berridge was inclined to run across the field too" much and this hampered the threequarter line. Corner was in his best form behind the scrum, getting the ball away smartly and stopping rushes in great style. The forwards were all prominent in the loose at various stages, but the scrum did not look as solid as could have been desired.

The teams were as follows: — Auckland. —-Backs: Bush, Carter, faughev, Milliken, Berridge, Jamieson, Corner. Forwards: Finlavsori, Hadley, Newdk;k, Batty, Kahu, Stone, Drake, Solomon.

Taranaki.—Backs: Collins, W. Young, Rutherford, McGallum, Kinsel'la, Gudgeon, Edwards. Forwards: Fowler, Gargan, J. "Young, Walter, Clarke, Murphy, Wells, "Lusk., , Early Penalty Goal Taranaki kicked off with the sun and ■within a minute Collins kicked a penalty goai from' beyond the twenty-five a«, a wide angle. The ball hit the crossbar and bounced over diagonally. Taranaki, 3; Auckland, 0. . Taranaki had the better of tho play for the next ten minutes and then a long kick by Bush sent play to his opponents' twenty-five. A scrum penalty against. Taranaki gave ,Bush a shot from 15yds. beyond the twenty-five line, but he was a jittle wide of the mark. The Auckland backs attempted to open up the game, but the passirg was erratic. Collins earned applause for cleverly stopping an Auckland forward rush. Jamieson cut .straight through the opposing backs and passed to Finiayson, who had a clear run in. Bush failed at goal. Taranaki, 3; Auckland, 3. A few moments later Jamieson made another brilliant opening before passing to Carter, who got across, although collared from behind. Bush's kick was disavowed. Auckland, 6; Taranaki, 3. A loose rush by the visitors looked promising, but Edwards kicked a little too hard, enabling the home team to force. Jamieson still found gaps in the defence and he sent Corner away. K. Garter overran his pass and the opportunity was lost. Collins gained 40yds. of ground with a penalty kick. A loose forward rush took the ball over Taranaki's line, where Hadlev was just beaten in a dive for the ball. Beriidge made a good opening and threw out a long pass to Milliken, who passed in to Caughey, but the last-named was brought down by Rutherford. Headed by Walter the Taranaki forwards swept downfield, but Bush sent them back with a kick and fast following up. Half-time arrived with the score Auckland, b; Taranaki, 3. Weak Tackling Auckland added to its score soon after the resumption. Newdick picked up the ball at Taranaki's twenty-five, and, meeting with weak tackling, he pushed off two or three opponents and grounded tho ball near tho corner. Bush missed the shot at goal. Auckland, 9; Taranaki, 3. The Auckland backs gained a lot of ground with a passing rush, but oftside by the forwards checked the movement. Taranaki swept down in a loose rush and then Rutherford made a run through the opposing backs before passing to Walter. The last-named was brought down a foot short of the line, but, was able to ground the boll over at the second attempt. A syds. scrum was ordered, however. Rutherford was injured in tackling Milliken and had to retire, resuming a few minutes later after receiving attention. The visitors had some good opportunities, but the backs were unable to finish off the movements. Bush earned applause for a brilliant save and then an Auckland passing rush saw Caughey and Milliken take play into Taranaki's twenty-five, where Caughey missed in an attempt to drop a goal. Lusk was responsible for a good run, which transferred play ° Auckland's twenty-five. Here Newdick go in a weak clearing kick, which sent the ball straight into the arms of Kinsclla, wjio had a clear run in. Collins failed at goal. Auckland, 9; Taranaki, 6. Taranaki was attacking when a passing rush broke down. Caughey picked up the ball and raced to Collins before passing to Carter, who outpaced his opponents and scored well out. Bush missed the kick. Auckland, 12; Taranaki, 6. Bush ran up and set the backs gomg' Berridgc making ground with a, dashing run. The Auckland backs got possession again and Jamieson made an opening. Borijidge got over with two opponents holding him and a syds. scrum was ordered, was called with the score: Auckland, 12; Taranaki, 6. Mr. A. E. Austin was referee. The Taranaki team returned home by l&otor transport yesterday" inorma^