LEAGUE FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11294, 21 August 1922, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

WOOLSTON V. PETONE THE VISITORS DEFEATED. by 23 POINTS TO 13. Representative teams of Woolston (Christchurch) and Petone met xmder Rugby League rules at the Basin. Reserve on Saturday afternoon, the visitors suffering defeat by 28 points to 13 after a fast, but not very spectacular game. Petohe had the best of the play almost throughout, and deserved their win. Both teams lacked the necessary combination. Petone won the toss and elected to play with the wind. From the very com* mencement they placed the southerners on the defensive, and by half time hod fifteen points to their credit, while Woolston had failed to open their account. The scorers in the order of their performance were Balks (converted by Riddle), Riddle (penalty kick), Riddle (also converted), Riddle (unconverted). Woolston opened briskly in the second half, forcing play into Petone's twentyfive, where both sides indulged in long kicking. A dribbling rush by Petone enabled Childs to secure, and he went over at the corner; Riddle missed with the kick. 18—0. Play became very willing, and after another interchange of high kicks, C. Ferris (Woolston) secured and made a good run, with C. Stapley in close attendance. Stapley took the pass nicely near the line, and ran over, to score the visitors* first try. Ferris's kick failed. 18—3. From a passing rush Riddle got possession and added another try for Petone, also converting. 23—3. A successful penalty kick ajrainet the local team enabled Ferris to add further goal points, and shortly afterwards V. Beaumont increased the points to eight, [n the concluding stages of the game T. Thompson scored for Woolston, C. Ferris converting, and Childs made a try for Petone, Riddle adding the goal points. The game ended— Petone 28 Woolston 13 The most player on the field was Smitheram, a fifth grade lad. CHALLENGE GUP AUCKLAND DEFEAT HAWKE'S BAY. AN INTERESTING MATCH. PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, August 19. The League match for the Northern Union Challenge Cup between Hawke's Bay and Auckland was played to-day in fine "weather before a very largo attendance. Hawke's Bay kicked off against the eun and a light breeze, and within two minutes McCarthy had a fruitful free kick, \ a-ntd G. Davidson fumbling the ball in the corner Gillies scored an unconverted try. Immediately after the ball went from Laing to Dufty and to G. Davidson, who crossed the Hawke's Bay line but was called back for a knock on. PLAY VERY EVEN. Then followed a period in which play was first on one side of half-way, then on the other, until an Auckland rush resulted in Hawke's Bay forcing. A breach near half-way enabled Dufty to have a kick at goal without result. Give and take play followed, and when tho ball came out of the scrum on tho Hawke's Bay twenty-five line Nicholson speculated, a force resulting. Shortly after W. Davidson an unsuccessful penalty kick. Play livened up,- each side making successive rushes, and Exeter failing with' a penalty. Auckland then attacked strongly, but the defence* was too solid. Finally, Stormont marked, and W. Davidson kicked a goal for Auckland. Hawke's Bay 3 Auckland 2 SOME LIVELY PLAY. Immediately after, Laing broke away from half-way, transferring to Avery at the toventy-fivo line, and the latte rscoring right in the corner. W. Davidson missed with the kick. The next incident was vvhe Bass passed to G. Davidson, who was tackled near the line. This put Hawke's Bav on their mettle, and a forward rush, headed by Gillies, resulted in forcing. A further attack by Hawke's Bay ended in Lowry, Avery, Laing and Delgrosso passing: almost for the length of the field, the last-named crossing the line, but a forward pass led to a recall. Lively play ensued, an Auckland attack ending in W. Davidson kicking a goal from a mark by Stormont just on half-time. Auckland 7* Hawke's Bay 3 THE. SECOND SPELL. On resuming, Auckland set up an attack, but Hawke's Bay drove them back, and from a breach in the home twentyfive McCarthy kicked a goal. Auckland 7 Hawke's Bay 5 Play continued in midfield, Hawke's Bay having slightly the better of the game. Then Auckland attacked, a breach on the line giving relief. Auckland maintained the pressure until Weatherall, Laing, Dufty and Delgrosso had a passing run, tho last-named scoring, and W. Davidson converting; Auckland 12 Hawke's Bay b After a rally by Hawke's Bayj in which the leather went over the dead ball line, Nicholson and Avery put in a good ru*\ A* ezy knocking down the corner flag. Auckland continued the pressure, and Nicholson getting the ball from the loose passed to Laing to Weatherall, who scored. Laing failed with the kick. Auckland *l3 ■ Hawke's Bay ; 5 PILING UP POINTS. Soon after Laing, Weatherall, Dufty and G. Davidson handled the leather, Davidson scoring. W. Davidson converted. Then McCarthy broke away, transferring to Mapu, who made an exciting run, Dufty just collaring him well inside the twenty-five. A series of serums on or near the lines followed, ‘ Auckland forcing. Fast pLay up and down the field ended in Hawke's Bay territory, an Auckland forward charging the full-back's kick and gathered the ball, scoring in tho corner. W. Davidson failed again with his shot. Auckland 23 Hawke's Bay. 5 Play went up and clown the field, Auckland pressing their opponents back. Then Nicholson sent out to Laing, Weatherall and Delgrosso, who, however, lost the ball when crossing the line, and Weatherall just failing to get it before , crossing the dead ball line. The game ended — Auckland 23 Hawke’e Bay 5 VISITORS' GOOD SHOWING. The first spell was hard and even, neither side having a decided advantage. It was characterised by very severe tackling, particularly on the part of Hawke's Bay. In the second spell Auckland had the best of the game, as their backs combined better than in the first half. Tho visitors' forwards played up well throughout the spell, and quite held their own. The disparity in the scores was no true indication of tho relative merits of the teams, the Auckland scores being the result of good combined efforts by tlio backs throughout tho game. The combination of the Auckland backs in the second spell was tho deciding factor. Prominent players were .—For the winners, W. Davidson (full-back), Nicholson (half), Dafbv (centre three-quarter), particularly for fine kicking. Avery was the best of a good pack. For Hawke's Bay, Exeter and McCarthy, at fiveeighths, were the best of the backs, and Giilios and Burrows the pick of the forwards. ,

LEAGUE SHIELD ess PRESS -ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, August 19. In the final of the League Shield competition Addington beat Sydenham by 23 points to 12. LOCAL MATCHES Junior. North 17 South 14 Central 9 Rovers a City 21 Newtown ... 11 Thirds. City 18 Rovers 14 CITY DEFEAT ROVERS GOOD MATCH AT EMERSON STREET. Playing at Emerson street, on Saturday, City thirds defeated Rovers by IS points to 14. Rovers kicked off, and after some brief exchanges between the two teams, Scott 4City) secured the ball and made a fine run. but was grassed five yards from ike line, and Sealy snapped up and fell over. Clemens took the kick. Vat the angle was too great. City 3 Rovers' -1 ' * 0 Rovers pressed hard, and after some smart passing, McCaskill secured and forced ihis way over. Harding failed to convert. City 3 Rovers. 3 Following- up hard after the kick, the City forwards mana#?l to smother their opponents, and kept play in Rovers' twenty-five. After much give and take 7>lav. Johns received the ball- from the ruck and evading several backs, fell over near the lsft corner flag. His attempt to goal failed City 6 Rovers 3 Play was once again in Rovers' twenty* lfivo, and it was -here that a pretty passing rush was witnessed. Pay (City) iecelved the ball and passed to Rash, who passed to Sjoberg, and thence to Clemens, who scored, but the referee ruled a forward and the try was disallowed. Following another scrummage Sjoberg secured, dashed over and scored. Clemens failed with the kick. City 9, Rovers 3. At this stage the whistle went for half-time. From the resumption, in the second half. Rovers carried play into City's twenty-five, and for a breach of the rules Rovers were awarded a free-kick in a handy position. McCaskill took the kick and goaled. City 9 Rovers 5 Following upon a scrummage near half-way, Pay (City) secured the ball and passed to Sjoberg, who made a fine run and eventually scored near the right corner flag. Clemens's kick failed. City . B 12 Rovers 5 After this play was of a very oven character, and there followed a good many scrums until Harding (Rovers) secured from tho ruck and scored. Charles failed to convert; Gity 12_Rovers 8. City attacked stijongly, and tljero followed two tries in succession, the first by Scott and the second by Clemens. Clemens took both kicks, hut failed; City JB, Rovors Following upon a long kick by McCaskill (Rovers), which the full-back misfielded, Ford dashed over and scored. He also scored about three minutes later. Both kicks at goal failed, and the game ended: City 18 Rovers 14 Mr W. Aamodt was tho referee.