BRIGHT RUGBY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24306, 22 June 1942, Page 5

BRIGHT RUGBY

AUCKLAND TEAM WINS

defeat of tank brigade A crowd of over 12,000 people witnessed an interesting Rugby match at Eden P irk on Saturday afternoon when the Auckland representative team defeated the New Zealand Tank Brigade by 23 points to 11. The weather was fine and the ground firm. At the conclusion of the curtain-raiser between two secondary schools' teams, the Auckland district military band marched on to the ova) and gave demonstrations of the quick-step and the slow-step, with accompanying selections. This display was greatly appreciated by the spectators. The Tank Brigade fifteen, ted by R. M. McKenzie, Manawatu and New Zealand representative, was piped on to the field by the brigade's Highland band. As the teams lined up in midficld to exchange cheers, it was apparent that two sets of big forwards were going tf> be in opposition. And so it proved, as the packs had a great tussle, witli the honours in favour of the Tank Brigade. Its forwards gained possession in the majority of the sot scrums, but the slowness of the substitute halfback in getting the ball away prevented the backs from making much headway. The visiting forwards were seen at their best in the second spell when they were making determined and vigorous efforts to reduce the margin of points between the teams. Time after time the pack swept downfield with the ball at toe, and, when two tries were scored within a space of three minutes, the Brigade was definitely in charge of operations. The forwards were working well together, with the bigger men rucking solidly and Grant and Nelson following up fast to bustle the defending backs. The Brigade's backs, however, let the side down. The two Otago five-eighths, Manion and Robinson, both displayed trickiness, but they received the ball too slowly from the base of the scrum, with the result that the defenders were right up on the centre and wings almost as soon as the latter obtained possession. Johns gave a fine display at fullback for the visitors, his handling of the ball being good and his line-kicking saved his forwards a 'of. The Auckland forwards deserve praise fur a fine all-round exhibition against such power fill opposition. Every man gave his best and the result was some exhilarating forward play. U was the Auckland backs, however, who won the day. Tetzlaff and I'earman had perfect understanding and outside them Rae and Gregory combined as if they had been playing side by side for years instead of making Uieir first appearance together. Gregory made Auckland's first two tries, intercepting at halfway on the first occasion and sending the winger over, and four minutes later breaking through a tackling attempt to enable the same man to score again.

Rao also made two brilliant openings, both of which led to tries, and finally it was after a dashing run by Tetzlaff that Pearman, the Auckland captain, crossed the line. The Auckland backs certainly sue a pleasing display, from the half to the fullhack, Sorenson giving a faultless display. It would be hard to cot anything much better than their exhibition on Saturday, more particularly the work of Rac and Grecor.v. The winning team's five tries were all spectacular efforts, as were the two obtained by Tank Brigade in the second spell. The latter was unlucky on a couple oi occasions. Eight minutes after the start a knock-on over the goal-line prevented a try being scored, while just after the start of the second spell. ColmoreWilliams was brought down inches from the line. , . Tries for Auckland were scored by Eaire (2). Boggs. Gregory and Pearman. Sorenson converted one try and kicked two penalty goals. McPhail and Grant scored for TankBrigade Johns converting one and kicking a penalty ' goal Mr M W Thompson was referee

THE LEAGUE CODE MANUKAU TEAM IN LEAD There was a good attendance at Carlaw Park on Saturday when the Auckland RugbyLeague continued its senior grade championship in ideal conditions. In the principal game Mount Albert-Newton caused a surnrise by beating City-Otahuhu, one of the joint leaders in the championship. As the result of an easy win atrainst the new Marist-Xorth Shore team, Manukau is now the leading team. Six North Shore players came into the combined side. In the curtainraiser, Ponsonby narrowly defeated Richmond. The imnroved form shown by Mount AlbertNewton in earlier matches was manifest in its victory over City-Otahuhu. The latter bad everv chance, but too many wild passes from the ' forwards to the backs proved costly. Credit is due the Mount Albert-Xewton backs for 3 good display. Both teams received an equal share of the ball from scrums, but the winners were better able to turn defence into attack. The City-Otahuhu forwards dominated the play in the first spell, although the score was 5-all at half-time. Early in the second half the Xewton-Mount Albert hacks got the upper hand and two fine tries resulted. City-Otahuhu's loss can be attributed to mistakes by the backs and lack of initiative bv the forwards in the loose. McKay, at fullback. for Xewton-Mount Albert, played a splendid game in a position strange to him. Clements did a lot of good work behind the scrum and varied his play to check the big Citv forwards. Cranch was sound at centre, and both Xiwa and Moore played well on the wings. Among the forwards, Leatherbarrow. List and Josephs were prominent. Hutchinson was easily the best of the CityOtahuhu backs. McManus was sound, but not so prominent on attack. The Johnson brothers and Mataira did good work in the loose. Manukau gave a high-class display of the code and outclassed Marist-Xorth Shore. A feature of the game was the splendid form on the wing of Butler, who scored four tries. Chase gave a high-class display of goalkicking. Five' goals were from long range. A well-contested game was witnessed in the curtain-raiser, when Ponsonby narrowly defeated Richmond. Good form for Ponsonby was shown by Hughos and Williams, while Flogan, a new player, did well at centro threequarter. Results were:—Mount Albert-Newton. _lO (tries' by Moore 2, Clements and Zane, Niwa converting two), City-Otahuhu, 10 (tries by X Johnson and A. Donovan, the latter kicking a penalty goal and converting one try): Ponsonby, S (tries by Hughes and Beasle.v, Hughes converting one), Richmond, 3 (try by Kenny converted by L. Davies); Manukau, 37 (tries by Butler 4, Thompson 3. Murray, Lipscotnbe, Chase converting five). Marist-Xorth Shore, » (try by MrWilliams, converted by Meredith, who also kicked two penalty goals)

ASSOCIATION GAME A further scries ot the. Auckland Football Association's championship matches was played on Saturday under good conditions. The main attraction at Blandford Park, between C.R.O. and Eastern Suburbs, produced tight football which, after the spectacular play of the early game between Metro-College and Comrades, made the later match appear drab However, in the second spell, with the scores level, brighter football was in evidence. Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys A and B teams met at Fowlds Park and provided a good contest. Naval Base failed to put in an appearance at Devonport, where the Shore team was left without a game. Follow in ir were the scores and scorers: Kastern Suburbs, 3 (Welch. Cowie, Esnie), ('HO 2 (Wright, Ludgate); Metro-College, 1 ' (Wiseman 2, Hope-Ede 2). Comrades 1 (Mawhinney); Mount Albert Grammar Old Bovs \ '> <C. Ekman 5, Simc). Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys B. 1. In a friendly game at Victoria Park a Navy team beat a Mercantile Marine team, (> —-0.

HOCKEY SEASON Faster grounds resulted in hicr h scoring in most of the senior championship hockey matches played at Tfobson Park on Saturday- | 'dip exception was Somerville's one-coal win ! agninst Owai Rovers, attributable to the vie- ! torious forwards' superior penetration. Uni- ' versity's halves and forwards overshadowed tlioxr of St. Luke'." and deserved their s—O victory Training College won bv the same score against Army Service Corps, and showed cori vincmg superiority in combination and stick-work. Once a (rain Wesley snatched victory in the last 10 riiinnt.es. winning 1— 3 after a hard tussle with firarnmar Old Hoys In the match between Air Force and Mount Eden, the attack dominated the play, but the Air Force offensive was the more deadly anil secured the victory by the extraordinarily high score of !i goals to 0. Detailed results were.—Somerville, 1 IW. Spicer) Owai Rovers, 0; University, 5 (W. Siiiiler W. 11. Cooper 2. S. Alexander) St Luke's 0; Training College, 5 (P. Elliott •' X oiles 2, R Moorhead), Army Service (ores. <>. Wesley 1 (J Fielder 2. 0. Slane.v. W Miller), Grammar Old Hoys, 3 (N. Wilson 2, A. Oit to?); Air Force, 0 (N. Wyatt !D Mount Eden, 'i Ml Heresford 5. K. Nairn) Ladies' Association. — Senior Grade: Tec.hnicil 5 Weslev, 1; Training College, 5, University 1; Mount Eden, North Shore, 1. Intermediate Grade: Wesley, 2 Training College \ l- Air Force, 1, Training College B, 0 Technical, 4, W.A.A.F., 2; University, V Y W C.A., 1. Junior (rrade: Mount A 1 lirrt, 4, Wesley, 1: Mount Eden, G. Technical. ] Training College, 1, Y.W.C.A., 0.

CRICKET IN ENGLAND (Reed. 7 p.m.) LONDON, June 20 Bv scoring*2l3 for three wickets, the Royal Air' Force cricket team defeated the Army, which made 212. The game-took place at Lords and each side played six test cricketers. including the New Zealander Secondlieutenant \V. E. Merritt. for the Royal Air Force Sergeant C. Washbrook scored 102. and Pilot-Officer U. E. S Wyatt 70 not out