RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22223, 25 September 1935, Page 20

RUGBY FOOTBALL

AUCKLAND'S FINE WIN SUCCESS OF EXPERIMENTS GOOD RECORD ESTABLISHED The manner in which tho Auckland representative Rugby team bent Wellington on Saturday, with tho decisive score of 28 points to 14, was a matter for much satisfaction to those who have followed the necessary experiments made during the season by the sole selector, Mr. J. H. M. Muir. Considering the severe handicap caused by tho departure of seven players with the All Blacks for England, and subsequent injuries to players, including the capable fiveeighths, B. A. Killeen, Mr. Muir deserves praise for the way in which he moulded a side capable of meeting tho most formidable teams in New Zealand. Tho wins over Wellington, Hawke's Bay and Southland rellected great credit on a number of young players. Auckland has had its losses this season, but an examination of the Northerners' record, always considering the important fact that tho team was subject to considerable changes, does not give any cause for pessimism concerning next season's prospects. The most severe defeat suffered by Auckland was only by six points, and then at the hands of the capable Otago side, which now possesses the llanfurly Shield. The New Zealand Maoris were able to beat Auckland by only four points, and the inevitable impression is left that tho side which beat Wellington would have tested this dangerous combination much more seriously, just as it would most probably have put up a successful defence to Canterbury's challenge for the Ranfurlv Shield. The selector's task this year has net been an enviable one, but the experiments he has been forced to adopt have at least had tho very desirable effect of bringing to the fore a number of fine, young footballers. The thinking member of the ltugby public will be left with the reflestion that, had there been no All Blacks' tour, and had H. F. McLean, T. H. C. Caughev, W. E. Hadley, M. M. N. Corner, H. M. Brown, D. Solomon and C. S. Pepper played the season in Auckland, there would have been as many young players whose merits would not yet be properly recognised. JAMIESON'S RETURN DICK'S DECEPTIVE SIDESTEP Penetration by the Auckland backs told heavily against Wellington in the final representative match of the season in Auckland. It was left to this game to see A. Jamieson, the Ponsonby first five-eighths, return impressively to the A representative side. Iu previous encounters other players had been tried in the position, but the results were not very convincing. Jamieson was called upon to play in the last and, to some, most important engagement of the season. He introduced ample thrust into the attack, and played his best game for several seasons. The Auckland halfback, W. Frankham, also played an excellent game, while the second five-eighths, R. Haslam, exploited a dangerous fend. Although he mishandled several times in the first spell, the young Grafton wing-threequarter, J. Dick, played an extremely valuable game which should ensure more recognition next season. Dick used a deceptive sidestep to great advantage, and he made several fine runs which ended in tries for his side. Another Auckland player who performed soundly was the" fullback, A. Beyer, who, apart from kicking 13 points, stopped a number of threatening rushes by the Wellington forwards. DISCOVERY OF YEAR ANDERSON'S FINE FORM 4 The form of the brilliant young Grafton forward, R. K. Anderson, throughout this season's representative programme, must result in regret that ho could not have been singled out for the All Black trials, but Anderson has only to maintain his present form to take a prominent part in New Zealand Rugby. Anderson has exceptional speed for a weighty forward, and his handling and anticipation in all matches have been excellent. He revealed these qualities fully against Wellington, and scored two fine tries in consequence. There is no doubt that he has been the outstanding discovery in representative Rugby in Auckland this year. Praise is also due to *H. Bond, the Ponsonby hooker, who has ensured Auckland a substantial amount of possession in the scrums, and A. Brown, of Grammar Old Boys, who has shown much promise in the loose.