AUCKLAND TEAM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23143, 15 September 1938, Page 20

AUCKLAND TEAM

FIRST WIN OF TOUR DEFEAT OF WAIRARAPA HIGH SCORING CONTEST [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] MASTERTON, Wednesday The Auckland Rugby team defeated Wairarapa by ,'3B points to 2;l in the third match of its southern tour at Memorial Park, Masterton, to-day. A high wind, at times reaching gale force, was a considerable handicap to the players and spoiled the match from the spectators' point of view. Auckland gave the impression that it was not going Hat out, and it was only weak Wairarapa tackling and poor positional play that gave the visitors victory.

The visiting backs were definitely a faster and more polished combination and, on the general run of the play, it was surprising that they did not si-ore more points. The wind probably hampered Auckland's chances ol' winning more easily.

Wairarapa made full use of the wind, and when Auckland changed over after the interval it was a very tired team. Wairarapa applied the pressure, and with 15 minutes to go a win for the home side looked likely. Tho visitors, however, rallied splendidly and, securing a plentiful supply of the ball from the set scrums, obtained a handsome advantage. Bustling Forward Tactics Auckland did not appear to bo trying veryhard at times in the second spell, but a closer analysis of the game indicated that tho bustling tactics of the Wairarapa forwards upset the smooth working of the visitors' rearguard. In spite of the fact that they were outweighted. the Wairarapa forwards made an oven break of it in the tight and held the advantage in the loose. Auckland,. had no effectivo counter for the swift short dribbling rushes that characterised the work of the home pack. Wairarapa came off second best in the scrums, Bond giving his backs a liberal supply of the ball. The Auckland backs were .faster, more brilliant and had much more combination than the Wairarapa rearguard. Even so, they did not perform nearly as woll as might have been expected, and their handling was inclined to be erratic. Pile ran too far from the scrum beforo sending on, with the result that the fast-breaking Wairarapa forwards had time .to fan out among the visiting backs. Territorially, the honours were about even, and, if anything, in the homo team's favour. Pearman Again Plays Well Pearman, the Auckland five-eighths, was the star player on the field. In the first spell lie had a hand in everything that mattered, but was well bottled up in. the early stages of the second. Later, however, he again "flashed into tho picture and played a big part in Auckland's win. Brady was prominent 'at times, but he was more or less content to be a mere link in the chain. Martin, .at centre, was impressive. He handled well and revealed a fine turn of speed. Both tho wingers, Donaldson and Flott, made the most of their opportunities, although they did not always seem to mako full use of (heir speed. Pile sold a beautiful dummy that beat the whole of the Wairarapa team, to send Brown across for a simple try. The Auckland forwards were not overimpressive, and for a period in the second spell they straggled all over the field. Bond, McLean and Hull were easily the most outstanding. The Henson brothers were the best of the Wairarapa backs, with Percy and the pick of the forwards. Tries for Auckland were scored by Donaldson (•-'), Brown (•-!), Pearman, Martin, Drake. Brady; Flett and Lange. McLean converted one and Clarke three. For Wairarapa, Percy CO F. Henson (2) and Brown scored tries. Percy kicked a penalty goal and O'Cailaghan converted one try.