THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23418, 7 August 1939, Page 14

THE LEAGUE CODE

REPRESENTATIVE PLAY HOME SIDE SUPERIOR SOUTH AUCKLAND BEATEN MARGIN OF NINE POINTS Superior team play by Auckland was the principal factor contributing to the side's win in the Rugby League representative challenge game against South Auckland, which was defeated at Car hnv Park on Saturday by 26 points to 17. The game was played at a fast pace, particularly in the second half, and there was always plenty of interest in the exchanges. The Auckland forwards were faster in the loose, and thou good handling greatly assisted the home backs.

Each time Auckland won tho ball, its backs were dangerous, and the division had more speed than the South Auckland backs. At one stage, the game was one-sided, but South Auckland made a splendid recovery halfway through the second half and revealed vastly-improved form, in fact, tho visiting forwards for nearly 20 minutes outplayed the Auckland vanguard and three good tries were scored. Piny in the first half was uninteresting, but the game was brightened up considerably onco the Auckland backs had settled down. The hooking honours were even for some time. The South Auckland backs attempted to handle too often, when a stab kick through the defence would havo been or moro uso. Tho South Auckland inside backs stood Hatfooted, and the centres ran across the field too much. It was not until late in the game that kicking tactics were resorted to, and the visiting forwards then Jived up to their reputation, paricularly Gunn and Stevens. The pair were in nearly every movement, handling well and tackling very soundly. Bidois and Tawha also played splendidly. Crosby, who substituted for J. Brooks, hooked well against Flanagan, who, however, narrowly won the honours. Among the visiting backs, N. faoha was the most impressive. He made several nice openings and beat Donaldson and Graham soundly twice in the second half. It. Shaw, the South Auckland halfback, compared very favourably with Brimble, the Auckland halfback. Powell, a centre, did not show up until late in the second half, when he put in some solid work on attack. On tho wing, Tukero showed plenty of initiative in passing bouts. Shaw, at fullback, was sound, but he has been seen in better form. Raj nor, five-eighths, is a promising young player. . Of the Auckland players, Hardgrave, on the wing, again showed himself to.be the best back in Auckland in this position. He beat the defence with clever swerves and used excellent judgment in passing to supporting forwards- Dcmpscy, who replaced Ncpia at fullback, handled well and kicked nicely to improve tho team s attack. Graham and Donaldson, the five-eighths, showed natchv form. Donaldson did not handle so well as usual, and Graham took a while to combine with Brimble. The Auckland forwards did better in passing bouts than their opponents, and hey showed superior knowledge of the finer points. Gunning was perhaps the best all-round player and he was ably supported by Cameron and Shadbolt. Petersen, the back row forward, used-his speed to advantage and covered up well on.defence. Herring also played a K The 11 weather was fine and the attendance large. Tho teams were as follows: — Auckland. —Fullback: C. Dempscy, threequarters. R. Hardgrave. W. c £ Nurse; five-eighths, A. Graham, B. Donaldson; halfback, W. Brimble; forwards. Tt. S. Shadbolt, H. Flanagan. D. Herring, W. Cameron, J. Gunning, C. Pc ersen. South Auckland—Fullback: T. Shaw; throcnuarters, M. Bidois. I/. Powell, E. Tukerc; fivc-eitrhths, L. .Ra.vnor, A. Taoha; halfhack, P. Shaw; forwards, R. Tawha, M. Crosby. P. Minnicks, A. Bidois, H. Stevens, Is. Gunn. RUN OF THE PLAY VISITORS LOSE CHANCES Auckland attacked from tho kick-off and a nico run by Donaldson carried play into South Auckland's territory. Weak tackling by the visiting backs almost let Herring over, but a forward pass to Shadbolt checked the movement. Brimble sent out sharp passes, which were difficult to take. Stevens carried play to Auckland's line, where Dcmpscy saved in time. , South Auckland's backs got several chances, but they lacked penetrative ability. T. Shaw opened up tho visitors' scoro with a penalty goal. South Auckland's forwards moro than held the local pack, and Tawha and Stevens swept down the field, but Hardgrave snapped the ball up and was pushed into touch. Raynor. at five-eighths, made a nice opening, but again the passing was wild. From a set scrum Graham and Donaldson combined well to gain ground and McKenzie improved the position beforo passing to Hardgrave, who scored a fine try. Donaldson failed to convert. Frequent penalties for scrum infringements made the play uninteresting, and Powell, for the visitors, and Donaldson, for Auckland, kicked penalty goals. Just before half-time, P. Shaw made a nice run round (he blind side and Taoha cleverly beat the opposition, and passed to Tukere. but the winger missed a lather difficult pass. Gunn retired for a while, but returned before halftime, which came with tho scores:—Auckland, 5; [South Auckland, 4. On resuming, South Auckland's forwards Infused plenty of dash into their play, and Stevens and Gunn were prominent In two good dashes. However, Petersen raced away and Cameron and Flanagan handled before Herring scored wide out. The visitors' fullback, Shaw, missed two easy penalty kicks. Tho local backs throw the ball about in fine style. When Brimblo passed -"4o Graham, Nurse raced away and sent the ball infield to Petersen, who scored Donaldson failed to convert. Good positional play by the local backs saw Brimble start a movement from a defensive position and Ilardgravo crossed to score a really brilliant try. Donaldson converted. The Auckland backs then dominated the gamo and Donaldson evaded tbe defenco to score and convert. R. Shaw sn.apped up In the loose and passed to Powell, and Tukere raced across for a good try. The visitors attacked persistently. Auckland, however, had more polish, an-l Dempsy from the fullback position raced to take a pass from Donaldson. and Hardgrave scored. Donaldson converted. The visitors' forwards charged down a kick and Gunn scored for Powell "to convert. .Tust on time, R. Shaw sent Raynor over for a try and Powell converted. Tho game ended: —Aucklnnd, 20; South Auckland, 17. Mr. O.i Chalmers was reforco.

RESERVE GRADE CHAMPION In the curtain-raiser at Carlaw Park, Richmond defeated Ponsonby by 12 points to 3, and won the senior reserve grado championship For Richmond tries wcro scored by Williams and Bowen. Webb crnverted two tries and kicked a penalty goal. For Ponsonby, Goosman scored a try.

LOWER GRADE RESULTS Senior Reserve Grade.—Manukau, 24, Newton, 2; North Shore, 11, Papakura, 8; Mount Albert, It), City, 15. Championship final: Richmond, 12, Ponsonby, 3. Senior B Grade. —Otahuhu, 5, Ellcrslie, 5. Third Grade. —Glenora. 22, Northcote, 5; Marist, 37, Ellcrslie, 5; Richmond, 18, Ponsonby, 0; Otahuhu, -10, Manukau, 0; Mount Alberi, 11, Papakura, 3; City B It), Point Chevafier, 10; R.V., 11, North Shore, 8. Fourth Grade. —City, 12. Otahuhu, 2; Ponsonby, 11, Green Lane, (J; Papakura, 1«1, North Shore, 5; Mount Albert won by default from Manukau. Fifth Grade.—Marist, 23, Point Chevnllor, fi; Newmarket, 11, Ellcrslie, 0. Sixth Grade. —Richmond, 27, Mount Albert. 4; North Shore, fi, Otahuhu. 2; Ellcrslie, 5, City, 5; North Shore, 0. Otahuhu, 2. Seventh Gradc.—Ponsonby, 8, City, 5; Nortlicotc, 0, Richmond, 5. SCHOOLBOY GAMES Senior Grade. —Ellcrslie, 8, Nortlicotc, 0; Mount Albert,. 0, Nowton, 0; Otahuhu, 3, Richmond, 3. Intermediate Grade.—-Ellcrslie, 12, Isorth Shore, 0; Newmarket, 7, Green Lane, 0; St. Patrick's, 21, Manukau. 5; Ponsonby, 44, Avondale, 0; Newton. 3. Mount Albert. 0. Junior Grade.—Point Chevalier, Id, Manukau. 0; Newmarket. 5, Northcote, 0. _ Seven-a-Side. —Papakura, 3, Mount Albert, 0; North Shore, 0, Northcote, 0.

MATCHES AT WHANGAREI [by telegraph—OWN con respondent] WHANGAHEI, Sunday I In a senior game played under the conjtrol of the Northland JLcaeue Hikuransi had * victory over Kensington by 20 poinu to O. For Hikurantti the try-getters

were R. Hamilton (2), C. H<jmilton_<2). T?aisbeck Rothwell ana Crackett. C. Ham ilton converted four tries. Juniors; Portland, 11, Kensington. 10. RESULTS IN THE SOUTH [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS association] Wellington. —Central, 16, Newtown, 15; Petono, IS, St. George, 13; Rand wick, 23, Miramar, 10. Chrlstchurch. —Addlngton, 21, Linwood, 9; Waimniri, 14, Hornby, 9; Sydenham, 10, Riccarton, 0.