LEAGUE TESTIMONIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25303, 10 September 1945, Page 3

LEAGUE TESTIMONIAL

REPLAY IN ROOPE ROOSTER RETIREMENT OF GROUNDSMAN Clad in his club colours, red and black, probably for the last time, A. ("Opai ) Asner naraded with the City senior team and kicked off for the Roope Rooster replay against Otahuhu before a fair attendance at Cailaw Park on Saturday afternoon. The Auckland League had so arranged the programme that the three City club teams competing: in respective trades' would appear at headquarters. Mr Asher has relinquished his position of groundsman at the. park. His association with the code dates from J 90S. Results of the three matches were:— Seniors: City, Hi. Otahuhu. 10. Third gradeCity. 13, Olenora. 0. Fourth grade. Point Chevalier, U>, C'itv 1. . City commenced with a five-man scrum, James standing off and concentrating: on fast loose raiding. Erratic handling causing moves to break down at critical stages and irritating stoppages robbed the game of interest. The forward work was rugged, without construction with a general penchant for kicking. Otahuhu lost Patlillo and R Martin in the first spell, being forced to play Seymour at fullback and D. Harris, a forward as wing. N. Johnston ended up as five-eighths. City was definitely the better team on the day The, try scored by Sumich. after Suva from a scrum, slipped neatly through and handed to the five-eighths, was a class effort. Later in the game James initiated a move in which J Cunningham collaborated to send ,Simpson over at the corner. Sumich. much nearer form, was (he outstanding City back. Clarke kept his team on attack with clever kicking ami R. Cunningham varied his play strategically. Silva and Simpson had few chances, although J. Cunningham made a crisp centre James, Rodman and, at, times, W. Jackson, worked profitably in the pack. D Hardy played splendid football throughout for Otahuhu. hooking well and going hard in the loose. J. Kogarty and N. Sanderson were most consistent in support. J. Speedy mixed good and ordinary football. Martin was responsible for somo smart dashes until he retired injured. Seymour was an unenterprising fullback. The scores were:—City, 13 (tries by Simpson 2 and Sumich, Silva converting one and kicking a peualty goal), Otahuhu, 10 (tries by Fogarty and Sanderson, Seymour converting one and kicking a penalty goal). AUCKLAND BEATS WELLINGTON (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sunday In a Rugby League match at the Basin Reserve yesterday. Auckland beat Wellington by ■l7 points to 17. Auckland combined effectively between forwards and back*, and showed a greater understanding of the game's fundamentals Nemigren (Auckland) gave a brilliant display, registering over half hi* team's points. He scored five tries and kicked seven goals, a total of 'ill points. The Auckland forwards were too sylid for the lighter Wellington pack, WEST COAST SUCCESSFUL (P.A.) CHRISTCBURCH, Sunday The West Coast Rugby League representatives defeated Canterbury in a match here yesterday by 21 points to 7, after leading at half-time. 11—2. West Coast maintained a fast pace throughout, and had the better of the game. The Mountford brothers combined splendidly, and they troubled the opposition. C. Mountford scored three tries, W. Mountford two and K. Mountford one. BOXING AT GREYMOUTH (P.A.) OUEYMOUTH, Sunday In a hqxing contest at Greymouth on Saturday night George Muir (Greymouth), 13.6, defeated William Pasco (Auckland), 13.4, before a large crowd. Muir landed a telling right on his opponent's temple during the first round and had a definite superiority until the last three rounds, when the viaitor made & good recovery.