RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23057, 7 June 1938, Page 17

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MATCH AT EDEN PARK, AUCKLAND BEATS THAMES POOR STANDARD REVEALED The Auckland B fifteen decisively beat the Thames side by 22 points to nine in the representative Rugby fixture played at Eden Park yesterday afternoon. The visiting team failed to cross the line —all its points came from penalty goals—while Auckland succeeded in touching down on five occasions. Play in the first spell was scrappy and far removed from true representative standard, but a marked improvement was shown after the interval. The score of 6 —y at half-time in favour of Thames was not u good indication ot the run of the exchanges up to that htage; Auckland equalled the account immediately after the recommencement and from then on Thames never looked like winning. In spite of the fact that better combination and more accurate passing contributed to brighter play in the second spell both sides made mistakes. Selfishness ruined at least two opportunities of scoring, and there was very little clean tackling seen except in a few cases. Movements by the Thames backs broke down through indecision and they allowed themselves to be bustled neodlessly. Speedy Wing In Schubert the Auckland side had a fleetfooted wing, but he hardly saw the ball until the second spell. Then the wings were continually exploited with good results. Davis was not as sound in his handling as Schubert —ho dropped his passes on nearly every occasion except in the final stages, when he showed improvement. He was inclined to retain possession too long when ho could have transferred to advantage. Schubert was especially brilliant in runs down the sideline and i was responsible for gaining much ground, lie i replaced Spittal, who was indisposed. ! A pleasing display was given by Hare, ' fullback for Auckland. Although he did not kick as accurately as usual he came into the threequarter line on numerous occasions to I make an extra useful link. He backed up well I and handled with ease. I Passmorc gave Auckland a monopoly of the I bull from the scrum with clean heeling, but I there was an unaccountable number of in- ; fringements which resulted in Thames being 1 awarded penalty kicks. A good loose game I was played by Barry, Auckland, who followed up well. I'assinore was heady in dribbling rushes as was Massey. The latter was prominent in the open. Whillans. who earned praise for a brilliant game two weeks ago, did not reveal his form of that occasion until the latter stages. He scored a try right on tho call of time. Galloway played a sound defensive came, but his handling was not all it might have been. Anderson was prominent in the ruck and good in combined attack. Bond and Mcllugh were generally sound. Fine Forward The best man in the Thames pack was Storey, who captained his side. He was always alert for an opening and broke fast from the scrum. Russek received a leg injury toward the end of the first spell and was replaced by Dunn. Hammond did good work on the linethe Grammar backs did not impress in the first half of the game reasonably good combination was w-orked up in tne second spell. Hudson and Slyfield handled well at five-eighths, while their defensive play was also sound. Frankham was unable to take the field in the halfback position. His place was taken by Cato. who penetrated on his own initiative, at the same time appreciating his wing men. , A . Little was seen of the Thames threequarters. Billing, B. Davi* , ani *i Sehoneld, mainly because the inside backs tried to do too much on their own. Hamilton at times showed real brilliance at first, five-eighths with incisive movements, but the team might possibly have done better had the ball been allowed to travel out to the wings. Schofield at least showed speed, but Billing was given few opportunities. G. Solomon at second fiveeighths was responsible for a good all-round display and cut through the defence with dodging runs. Ake. at halfback, rivalled Cato in his work and was not afraid to go down in the face of onslaughts. Barry. Cato, McHugh. Schubert and Whillans scored tries for Auckland, Hare and Passmore each converting one, while the former also kicked a penalty goal. Ake kicked three penalty goals for Thames. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE GAME The match played as the curtain-raiser at Eden Park yesterday between the Auckland third grade representatives and the Thames junior team resulted in a win for the latter by 11 points to six, ANNUAL FIXTURE PAEROA BEATS HAURAKI PLAINS [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] PAEROA, Monday Fast and even play was a feature of the annual representative fixture between the Paeroa and Hauraki Plains teams at Paeroa to-day. The home side won by U points to S. Play had been in progress only a few minutes when Sparrow intercepted a Paeroa pass and raced for the line to score a. try. which he converted. Hauraki Plains held an advantage for a while, when the Paeroa backs swung into action. Tho ball went to Robinson, Pemberton, Wilson and Fraser. who grassed near the posts, Wilson failed to convert. Again Robinson sent his team away, Pemberton and Wilson handling. The latter beat the Hauraki Plains fullbacK, Tier, for a good try. The half-time score was o—s0 —5 in favour of Paeroa. Shortly after the recommencement Hauraki Plains bustled the defence, and the pack broke away, Clark scoring. Hauraki Plains gradually retreated Hnd, after a penalty kick by Wilson which hit an upright, R. Morrison followed up fast, U. Morrison supported him and scored in the corner. Both teams played hard to the finish, Other results wero as follows:—Senior B grade: Paeroa, t), Hauraki Plains, tJ. Junior A grade: Hauraki Plains, 12, Paeroa, 11. Junior B grade: Paeroa, 9, Hauraki Plains. 0. McGregor cur RETAINED BY TE AROHA [fjiom our own correspondent] TE AROHA. Monday Tc Aroha withstood a challenge for the McGregor Cup from Waihi in the first representative match of the season. The game, which was played at Herries Park to-day, resulted in a draw. O —all. Play was fast and even, both sets of forwards going well, but neither back line combined effectively. The Tc Aroha forwards, of whom Hagerty was very prominent, gave their backs a fair share of the ball, but poor passing by the halfback, Wilkinson, spoilt several opportunities, Both the five-eighths, Clot worthy and Johnson, were inclined to kick 100 much, instead of passing. Rangi played a good game on the wing, but did not have many opportunities. Ainsley, at wing threequarter, was outstanding among the Waihi backs, showing good speed and sound defence. All the points came from tries. Johnson and Clotworthy scored for To Aroha, and Ainsley and Wells for Waihi. Mr. H. Hieatt was referee. Te Aroha defeated Morrinsville in a third grade representative match by 9 points to 3. Pearce scored a trv for Te Aroha and Parker kicked two penalty goals. Breen scored a try for Morrinsville. RAILWAY APPRENTICES The annual Rugby match between teams representing the apprentices of the Hutt and Otahuliu railway workshops was played yesterday at Sturges Park, Otahuliu, under ideal conditions. The visitors won by 22 points to 7. MATCH AT HAMILTON [rit 'M OUR OWN correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday In a curtain-raiser to -the representative Rugby football match between Auckland and Waikato at Rugby Park to-day Taupiri juniors played Pularuru juniors, The former won by five points to three.\Tlie game was characterised bv hard forward play, with bright flashes, for which the backs were responsible. TOURNEY AT RANGIRIR! [rROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] RANGIRIRI. Monday A seven-a-sidc Rugby tournament was held at Rangiriri to-day. The finals resulted:— Seniors: Rangiriri B, G, Rangiriri A, 0. Juniors: Rangiriri B. 0, Waerenga A, 3. Schoolboys: Waerenga,! 14. Rangiriri, 3 WAIRARAPA OVERWHELMED fby TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] HASTINGS. Monday Dominating play from the start Hawke's Bay overwhelmed Wairarapa by 56 points to nil at McLean Park, Napier, to-day. WELLINGTON MATCH [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Monday The club Rugby match postponed from Saturday resulted as follows: —Poneke, t>, Athletic, K With the first round nearly completed, Poneke and Petone share the lead. Rivalry was keen between the Air Force teams from Hobsonville (Auckland) and Wigram (Canterbury), which prpvideij the early match at Athletic Park. The Wigram team won 7—6.