LEAGUE FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10985, 22 August 1921, Page 7

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

VISITORS’ NARROW WIN. EXCITING CONTEST AT BASIN reserve. VAST, SNAPPY, GAME*. Followers of the Deague game and others -who attended the Basin. Reserve on Saturday were not disappointed, ana ■witnessed a clean, fast, and < exciting game throughout. Considering the fart that Ijeague is played extensively in Auckland, the margin of difference in the final scores <23 to 21) is a fair Indication that the home team were not found "wanting.” The ,3*™®, accelerated in the second half, aTl< * became very lively, both teams doubling the scores of the first spell. Davidson, one of the visitors’ wing three-quarters, soon came into prominence by ! his quick tactics and fine dashes up the field. Tetley, who played opposite to Davidson in the home team, executed praiseworthy tackles, repeatedly saving what appeared to be a dangeroua situation. . The Wellington backs distinguished themselves by excellent kicking. Ear the visitors, Wretherall proved, very

elusive on more than, one occasion, but somewhat spoiled his chances by running back. THE TEAMS. The following players took the field:— Auckland—Full-back, W. Flynn; threequarters, B. Davidson, J, McGregor, and Littlewood; five-eighths, G. Yardley, W. Wretherall; half, T. Peckham; forwards, G. Cargill, A. Townsend, McNeil, James, W. Stormont, H. Hawkes; emergencies, Thomas (back), McNeil (forward). Wellington—Full-back, T. Balks; tinea quarters, F. Tetley, F. Nunn, J - 6. H&nahan; five-eighths, "Doc.** Nicholls, H. Nunn; half, J. Kruse; forwards, 1,. Zimmerman, H. Harvey. O. Haddiak, H. Shanahan, Le Warne, J. Hedges; emergencies. J. Baxter (hack), Williams (forward). Mr C. Snow was referee. THE .PLAY. The visitors won the toes and opened with fast, clean play. Faulty passing by the home team at the commencement of the game acted as a temporary deterrent to their progress. From a scrum at the half-way line both mixed up in the “rough stuff” until Davidson waa penalised for "off-side." "Doc.” Nicholls took the kick, which barely missed the posts. Following this, Shanahan excelled in a •mart intercept, but was unable to hold the ball. Davidson (Auckland) got away nicely, and his fine dash up the field was terminated by a fine tackle from Tetley, who saved. A good forward rush followed, in which Had dick and l.e Warne distinguished themselves, the visitors having to force. * FIRST BLOOD TO AUCKLAND. The manner in which Auckland secured their first score wss very sudden. Wellington were getting the ball from the scrum very neatly when Hawkes dashed in, intercepted neatly and clinging to the leather-made for the line. His 6peed was superior, and he sailed under the posts and scored. The last twenty yards or so he was practically unopposed. Flynn converted; Auckland, 5; Wellington, 0. ■ Le Warne and Zimmerman earned play into the Auckland twenty-five, and the visitors were -penalised. From the kick out that followed, _ Hedges went dangerously near to scoring, a "knock on” spoiling the chance. Some pretty footwork was witnessed, when Hedges dribbled the leather under the post, but Flynn cleared and Balks marked, the kick being successful; Auckland, 5; Wellington. 2. AUCKLAND "COME AGAIN.” Following Wellington’s first; score, Davidson waa penalised for "off side" play. From the kick, Peckham marked, the ehot at goal missing. Balks got his side into trouble by not forcing. A force bv Tetley eased the way. Peckham sgcured the ball and succeeded in giving a nice "dummy." but eventually lost the ball. An effort on the visitors’ part, and the play was now carried into the home twenty-five, and only bv an exertion of Nicholls, Wellington were saved bv his timely kick. Davidson again got away, but was once more tackled neatly by Tetley. McNeil, who had been hovering close by, secured the leather. and scored under the post. Flynn’s goal wae successful. Auckland, 10; Wellington, 2. Le Warne came into the "limelight” by making a smart "pick up” and an excellent run, which was spoiled by Nunn dropping the ball. ANOTHER TRY FOR WELLINGTON. Flynn.’ the Auckland full-back, was playing a sound game, his side-stepping being a feature most praiseworthy. At

this stage Tetley was injured, ins place Doing taken by Barton. “Doc” NiohoUs and H. Nunn inaugurated a good movement, which locked promising, but the run was "nipped in the bud" by the clean, pleasing and spectacular tackling of Flynn. A kick by Peckham was well marked by Baxter. Nicholls took Gw kick but failed. le Warne and Stormont draw loud ap> slause for -their * sterling games. Wellington made a farther score prior to half time, when, from a free kick for Wellington, Nicholls succeeded with the shot, and left the soore: — Auckland ............. 10 Wellington 4

GAME BBCOMES LIVELY - In the opening of the second half iff was observed that Wellington were bringing pressure to bear on the visitors. A v pretty piece of play by A. Nunn ended rather abruptly by his being too eager. Cargill waa smartly pulled -up by Baxter, but not before he had satisfied the spectators that he could be "nippy.” The game was becoming livelier, -the players showing commendable dash. When play was in mid-field, Shanahan intercepted beautifully. He passed to Zimmerman, hut the tackling of the visitors wae too good. Balks took a free kick that followed and succeeded in piloting the hall over the bar. Auckland 10, Wellington A WELLINGTON AGGRESSIVE.

From the kick the ball went out at the corner, and from the ensuing scrum Balks cleared, and a good rush bv Shanahan, Nicholls, and Le Warne followed. Auckland forced. Wellington were awarded a free kick and Nicholls converted. Then, by fast following up, Littlewood scored a good try under the poet, Stormont converting. Shortly after, a good run by Peckham ended in the same player scoring. Flynn converted. "Give-and-take” plav followed until Shanahan picked up In the loese and Hedges scored a good try, Nicholls converting, the score then being: Auckland 20. Wellington 13. Stimulated by the turn the game waa taking, Wellington set to with renewed vigour and plav became fast and furious. "Doc.” Nicholls came to the fore again with an exciting dash, and a good passing rush ended in Shanahan scoring. Nicholls missed with the kick. Auckland 20, Wellington 16. BOTH SOORES ADDED TO. Shanahan showed up well at this stage and the visitors gained a slight advantage. Flynn started a good run from the hack, which terminated when Auckland were penalised. Stormont made a pretty run, broke through and scored, his kick at goal missing. Auckland 23, Wellington 16. Following the kick-off, the home team were penalised and Cargill gained a good piece of ground by a splendid kick. Followed a fine passing rush by the Wellington bocks. Smart work by Harvey took the play well into the Auckland twenty-five. From a scram that followed Kruse sent to Nicholls. then to Nunn and finally to Shanahan, who scored Nicholls converted. AN EXCITING FINISH. Excitement ran high and if was thought that Wellington would yet win, but shortly after J. Kruze executed a good kick to the line and thus prolonged the game, bnt saved a dangerous situation; the whistle intervened, leaving the scores ae:—Auckland 23 Wellington 21