ALL BLAKE TRIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22126, 4 June 1935, Page 11

ALL BLAKE TRIAL

HATCH AT EDEN PAKE COMBINED TEAMS PLAY SUCCESS OF AUCKLANDERS DISAPPOINTING FORM SHOWN Only a moderate standard of Rugby iras revealed in the Auckland provincial All Black trial match played at Eden Park yesterday. It was the only game of the trial series set down for decision in Auckland, and a crowd of about 15.000 saw a combined AucklandNorth Auckland team, which included 11 Auckland representatives, defeat the Waikato-Thames Valley-King Country fifteen by 18 points to 16. The game could hardly be classed as a reliable gauge of current form. Several members of the Southern team showed up favourably as individuals, but the Northern players seemed to Buffer from half-heartedness. They did not play as a team, and but for Bush's potted goal would not have won.

Very few of the Auckland candidates for All Black honours improved their chances on yesterday's showing. Bush and Corner were the notable exceptions. The first-named played a typically sound game, and his touch kicking, although hardly as strong as usual, iras always accurate. He stopped rushes in resolute fashion, and on occasions ran powerfully himself, to break his way through a crowd of i opponents. His potted goal in the second spell was a particularly fine effort. Corner was at his best and played an admirable all-round game. His passes from the scrum wore perfect, and time and again he saved his forwards , with judicious kicks to' the line. Lack of Penetration The disappointments were provided ,j by Hedge and Solomon. There was no penetration about their work on attack, chiefly because Hedge appeared to have the one thought of getting rid of the ball as quickly as possible. Solomon, too, lacked initiative, and the result was that the Southern players irere almost invariably on top of the Northern threequarter line. Caughey, who started off as an individualist, later tried to' open up play for his ! brings, but they were crowded and their ; handling was "faulty. Brown's display j wis worthy of a further trial. j Another disappointment in the play j of the Northern team was the work of j the forwards. There was more than a i suspicion thai not all the available •weight in the pack was going into the tight, and Cooper, the North Auckland forward, seemed to upset the balance of the front row. McLean played brilliantly in the loose and line-outs, while Ross and Pepper were consistently prominent. Ross was one of the best forwards on the ground. F. Solomon revealed something of his old form, but his was almost exclusively a roving game. Frankly, the Northern pack lacked sting. The Southern forwards, capably led by Leeson, Wynyard and Catley, played more compactly than their opponents, and by their combined work saw to it that Hadlev did not have a monopoly of the ball from the scrums. Russell played an enterprising game and showed distinct promise at half, and Barton and Carlson, at five-eighths were better than the opposing pair. Carlson, on, : the. day, was the best inside back cij' the ground.-Allen showed flashes of real brilliance on the left wing, while McLeod, at fullback, was not far behind Bush's standard. The Southern backs showed far more penetration than the Northerners. The First Thrill Russell, perhaps the youngest player on the ground, provided the first thrill a few minutes after the start of tho game. He broke away from a scrum :n brilliant fashion, but lost the ball. Then the Northern backs made a couple of combined runs, and from a high punt by Caughey C. White bustled McLeod. D. Solomon followed up fast to take the ball and send it on to Caughey for a try. Bush missed the kick. Some good individual dashes by Barton. with Hedge failing on defence, provided chances for the Southern team, hut wild passing and sound defensive work by Corner and Bush saved the Northern line. The next try came after McLean had led a grand loose rush by the Auckland forwards. Ross charged down a drop-out and C. White threw out a pass to Hedge who sent Caughey over for his second try. Bush again missed at goal. Sound play by the Waikato forwards was countered by a brilliant side-line run by Brown and McLean, and half-time came with the scores • f/ Northern team 6 Southern, team 0 The Second Spell Immediately after resumption Hadley scored for the Northern side after a scramble on the line, and Bush converted with a good kick. South set up a strong counter-attack and a wellplaced centring kick by Russell was fumbled by the Auckland backs. Leeson was on the ball in a flash and scored at the corner. Carlson kicked a fine goal. Caughey gave some much needed thrust to an Auckland back movement, but lost the ball when he was practically clear of the defence. Hed<re kicked on and, although it appeared there had been an infringement, was awarded a try. Bush's,, kick failedThe Southerners were still having the better of the individual exchanges, and a good run and high kick bv Dovell had the Northern defence in trouble. Then play swung to the other wing and Allen put in a magnificent burst of speed down the touch line before punting ahead. .Carlson was under the ball almost too quickly, to be there legally and ground it for a try. He missed his own kick at , goal Opening by Carlson

The Southern team maintained the pressure and Car'.son cut through brilliantly to send on to Barton. Wvnvard had broken smartly from the scrum and took a pass well, t-o scoro by the posts. Carlson ponied. Another {rood sideline run by Brou n and McLean placed the North on attack, and Bush, too, made a determined run which nearly brought a try. Then the last-named fielded a clearinc kick bv ??ussell and potted a fine goal. The match was now drawing to a close, but in a Southern back movement Aitken broke clear from a weak tackle by Caughey and sent Allen away. The winger outpaced the opposition and scored in a handy position. However, the kick, which might have made the Rame a draw, was missed by Carlson and time came with the scores: Northern team 1^ Southern team 1(J Mr. A. E„ Austin was referee.