TEAM WORK TRIUMPHANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 407, 16 July 1928, Page 6

TEAM WORK TRIUMPHANT

League Code Rises to Brilliant Heights on Eve of English Visit RICHMOND LEADS THE WA Y LEAGUE Rugby at its brightest and best was witnessed at Carlaw Park on Saturday. The most notable feature of the games was the return to the sound principles of play, which are likely to be a big factor against the visiting Englishmen, great tackling, splendid following up and all-round team work displacing the spurious brilliance of individualistic effort. The pace at which the games were played was a notable tribute to the condition of the players.

IN view of the fact that a win for Devonport would have given it the club championship for 1928, the match between tlie North Shore thirteen and Richmond was given pride of place on No. 1 area at Carlaw Park. It was a memorable tussle from start to finish, Richmond carrying off the honours with a bare two-point lead in a total of 30 points scored in the game. Ponsonby and Marist ran true to form by making it a draw, 11 all, in a lively clash on No. 2 area, while only three points separated Newton and Ellerslie in a do lit struggle at the Domain. At the close of Saturday’s games, 20 players were selected to go into training for the representative match against Canterbury next Saturday. The game should give a good line on the form of those who are in the running for the big games against the Englishment next month, the ned for pow erful forwards to hold the rugged English pack being freely recognised in expert quarters as the biggest problem facing the selectors.

RICHMOND TIGER ESCAPES FROM CAGE DEVONFORT GETS MAULED The entertaining: accvfteation has been made against the Richmond League team that before its match against Devonport on Saturday, the members of the team “paced round their dressing-room like caged tigers." It is not mentioned whether Alf Scott led the Devonport thirteen in a preliminary “hymn of hate" on the other side of the partition, but it looks as if League is getting too rugh altogether. In a Rugby match in the South Island years ago. a hefty forward had a piece bitten out of his ear, and the story is told of two “hard-case” front row men who chewed onions before going into action against a visiting team of highly superiah Englishmen. The 2-3-2 scrum easily beat the 3-2-3 that day! Still, these outbursts of “frightfulness” belong to the bad old days of Rugby football, and it is not a nice thing for present day League teams to be going round looking like “caged tigers." Why, even at the 3Zoo. the animals do try to look reasonably civilised, until feeding time at any rate. However, perhaps the idea was to convey the subtle impression that Richmond had missed its counter lunch, and hoped to make a meal of Devonport instead. AND SO THEY DID And if it comes to that, Richmond did make a meal of Devonport. A maneating tiger that hadn’t tasted blood for a week (let alone a caged one) wasn’t in it with the concentrated fury of the Richmond attack in the opening session. Bustled off its game by fast forward rushes, and harried incess-

antly by quick following up and deadly tackling, Devonport was badly mauled in the first spell, its defences cut to shreds, gnd 11 points to nothing scored against it. At half-time, Devonport must have been very sorry that the Richmond tiger was ever allowed to get out of its cage. There was a different story in the second half. Richmond scored 5 points and Devonport 14. Tlad Devonport been possessed of a reasonably accurate goal-kicker, it might have won the match. As it was, Richmond got a well-deserved win in a close game. Richmond owes its win to superb team work, and the finest exhibition of tackling and backing up that has been seen at Carlaw Park this season. Devonport lost because it had too many roving forwards, and not enough hard workers in the tight, apart from the reluctance of several backs to go low for their man. For all that, Devonport staged a wonderful recovery in the second half, and to have gone within an ace of victory as it did when so far behind at half-time was a remarkable tribute to the sheer grit and determination of the North Shore men. TRIUMPH OF TEAM WORK Everything in the Richmond team seems to have been made subservient to team work. That is the hardest and best test of a side. There were few opportunities for individual brilliance, but every man was given a job to do, and every one did it well. G. Stewart was the hardest-working forward on the ground, and it is a wonder that he has missed a place in the 20 players selected to train for representative honours. McCarthy, Jenkinson, and Jones were not far behind. Prentice gave a magnificent exhibition of tackling and all-round defensive work. Taylor, rather fragile, and lacking weight, played clever, heady football on the wing. Wheaton mad« many good openings and Davis rose to it like a hero behind the scrum. “Snowy” Dixon was the all-round champion of the Devonport forwards. Alf Scott is still the best breakaway and the soundest pack leader in Auckland —a skilful, polished footballer. Rule, St. George and Jack O’Brien were frequently in the picture. BEST TRY OF MATCH Two much solo play is an accusation that might be levelled at “Pip” Webb but he did some great work on Satur-

day. Richmond’s game was to keep the ball away from the stars of Devonport’s side, and it was not till late in the game that Lon Scott got his chance. When he did, he played superb football, running with rare dash and determination. The try he scored in the top corner, when Leng made a desperate effort to stop him with a flying tackle, was a “hundred percenter.” Beattie and Seager frequently showed out to advantage on attack. On the principle that the referee generally gets “more kicks than ha’pence,” Mr. Mincham’s name is mentioned for a sound, capable exhibition with the whistle under most difficult circumstances. Tempers were frequently on edge in several hectic bursts in midfield, but always the man in charge had the situation in hand, and he kept play moving along in a style which was no small factor in making it the game of the year. Scoring Register.—Richmond. 16 points (tries by Jenkinson, Stewart. Colebrook and Taylor, two converted by Taylor: Devonport, 14 points (tries by Rule, Beattie, Seager and L. Scott, one converted by A. Scott).

B GRADERS PLAY BRIGHT AND BREEZY FOOTBALL MANGERE AND ATHLETIC DRAW A sound reminder of what New Zealand football owes to its many versatile Maori players was provided by the Mangere League team at Carlaw Park on Saturday. Certainly, there did not appear to be a Nepia or a Mill in the side (players of their scintillating brilliance come only once or twice in a period of years), but these cheery native players from the Manukau furnished an object lesson in the art of handling the ball with an ease and accuracy under adverse conditions which was a striking feature of their game against the unbeaten Athletic XIII. A typically cosmopolitan and sporting League crowd was disposed to chuckle hilariously when the portly Roberts limbered up for a rousing gallop in centre-field play, but the grins changed to appreciative applause when the cherubic Maori player cut loose in an astonishing burst of speed, combined with straight running and a soundly delivered transfer at the correct fraction of a second, which enabled J. Wilson. the star of the side, to outspeed the opposition, and score as nice a try as one could wish to see. THE GAME SUMMED UP These two also did some fine kicking, getting both length and direction into many weighty boosts down the touchline. This, and a useful all-round advantage in weight, allied with the ability to keep the ball constantly travelling from hand to hand, were the chief factors in bustling the lighter Athletic contingent off its game, and enabling Mangere to secure a wellearned draw against the Avery Bros.* keen young side. Athletic has had a great run in the senior B grade this season, and it was a fine performance on Mangere’s part to hold it to a 3—3 draw. No doubt, conditions were against the Blue and Gold brigade, and Voisey and Longville were missed, but Athletic put up a splendid fight against its formidable opponents all the same. Brown at fullback, brother of “Lou” of that ilk, was as busy as a bee, handling well and disclosing an almost uncanny ability to side-step charging and waiting opponents alike. A good footballer, this chap. Martin, the diminutive halfback, foraged diligently and well for his waiting line of backs, of whom Lucas showed a great deal of cousin Fred’s speed and elusiveness with the ball. It was a capital game to watch, and it put the spectators in good heart for the big clash of the day.

| NEWTON SCRAPES HOME RAGGED GAME WITH ELLERSLIE By 5 points to 2, Newton Hangers just managed to get there against the Ellerslie League Rugby thirteen at the Domain on Saturday. It was a dour struggle from start to finish, and rarely rose to heights of brilliance —in fact, Newton supporters especially were not a little disappointed with the display of their team. The suburban side, with some big. fast men and fine footballers in its ranks, took the lead in the first spell, as the result of a fine goal by Hemingway from a free kick. A converted try in the second stanza was the only further score and it gave Newton the match. It was evident early in the game that too much attention was being paid to the man, and too little to the ball. Cammick, the diminutive Newton half, was the subject of undue attention by certain Ellerslie forwards. On one occasion he was tackled long after he had parted with the ball, and it was only the strong arms of his comrades in hauling him off that prevented a scrap there and then. THINK THEY’RE HEENEYS! Members of both teams were seen delivering sly “Heeney touches,” whenever the opportunity presented itself, and although it is not desirable that League should be reduced altogether to a parlour game, it was evident on Saturday that this settling of personal animosities during the progress of the game turned the match ipto nothing more than a rabble at times. NEWTON FORWARDS SHINE Murray, who has replaced Herewini as the Red and Whites’ last line of defence, was very uncertain in the first spell and all but presented Ellerslie with a try. He played a sound game in the later stages, however. T ans noticed a marked improvement >in the form of Dufty. His boot was booting if anything a deal too well The great raking line kicks which are now connected traditionally with the

PONSONBY AND MARIST PLAY DRAWN GAME AN EXCITING TUSSLE Although the drawn game, 11*all, on No. 2 area, Carlaw Park, be* tween Marist and Ponsonby was by no means a display of spectacular football, it was keen, hardfought and, with the score seesawing to £|nd fro, was intensely interesting. In spite of tlie prevailing keenness and rushing and bustling tactics of both thirteens, it could even be said that the play was ragged, for bright movements in the open and neat passing bouts which have done so much to popularise the League code, were few and far between. The fault, no doubt, lay for the most part with the rear divisions of both sides, who seemed to content themselves with the more loose style of play. Both sets of forwards, on the other hand, worked hard and showed up exceptionally well. AMONG THE FORWARDS The hefty Jim O'Brien is a great general for the Aiarist forwards and the fact that such a prominent player as he is once more among them has undoubtedly given the pack confidence which it put to the best of advantage on Saturday. Hooker Campbell was unable to turn out, but ■Jock" Graham took his place and did quite welL In the second row alongside with Noble was a newcomer to the Tykes' seniors in Petherick, who played a very solid game. Noble, as usual, was the greatest bustler on the held, and although appearing to be quite a dangerous person with that wild swing of his boot, has not to date inflicted any serious injury, and is certainly a heap of strength to his side. His sharp following up is his long suit, and on Saturday he even baffled the invincible Delgrosso in this way, and taking the ball up in his stride, went through to score. Moisley was again seen in action, but not with the pep and im of a few weeks ago. However, he has been on the injured iist and allowances nave to bo made. Graham’s other front row support came from Johnson, who, although not a shiner, put in some hard work. Although there was by no means a great deal of difference between the two sets of forwards, Marist were perhaps a shade superior to the Ponies. Hutt was last man down in the Ponsonoy pack and with his heap of avoidupois, which he makes the 'uiiest use of, and with his experience in forward play, is undauntedly the Jim O’Brien of the biue-and-black side. Fagan, Stevens and Ford proved themseives quite a bright front row trio. The last-named, although informed during the game in rather a poignant manner that he was not the skipper of the sidot is a very handy man to have associated with the pack and is certainly no gentle grafter. IMPROVED FIVE-EIGHTHS In spite of the fact that the Tykes backs were working with anything but perfection, both the five-eighths. Hassun and Brady, have shown vast improvement since they were seen on main area. They are not the piercing type of rearguard men, but they played a safe game and punted well, giving the more experienced opposing fiveeighth line, consisting of Thompson and Delgrosso, quite a deal of trouble. Brisbane, at centre, was again in tb* limelight and it was noticed that selectors Asher and Avery, who were keeping an eye on both games at the park, witnessed his brilliant try. Although just a shade weak at times in his handling, he looks one of the certainties for selection in the rep. team to play the Englishmen. Gregory* at fullback, was as safe as a church, and was always in the thick of the defensive work. Gardiner, at centre for Ponsonby, although finding solid opposition in Brisbane, played a much more regular game than usual. The two wings did not receive a great number of chances, although they both proved rather dangerous when near the line. TEST IN AUSTRALIA

ENGLAND WINS RUBBER (United. P.A.—By Teleyraph — CopyriQ**) SYDNEY, Sunday* In the second Rugby League match yesterday England defeated Australia by 8 points to 0. The gam® was played in wet, cold weather on a muddy ground. There was an attendance of 44.000 spectators. The team? were:— England.—O’Sullivan. Ellaby, OUi rtr f Brough, Askin, Rees. Parkin. Horton* Sloman, Fiides, Burgess, Thompson* Bentham. Australia.—Hardy Byrne. Gorman* Craig, Maher. Weissell, Busch. Steinohrt, Treweeke. Armbruster, York®* Justice, Dempsey. #v _ The weather conditions favoured t* visitors, and from the commer.ceme® they showed greater command, hand* ling the greasy ball and giving a* exhibition of control better other seen in recent years. The lishmen’s footwork was also wonde ful, and the Australians appeared to outclassed. England’s score was made up 1 . tries, scored by Ellaby and Parkin, on* being converted by Sullivan. The game was played in steady ra ” Australia, throughout being on the fensive and never being able to** 8 the attack into the English The play on the day left no that the visitors were the better t'-V** j and they will return with the v ' | merited “ashes,” having won two of the three tests.