TWO-POINT MARGIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 769, 16 September 1929, Page 6

TWO-POINT MARGIN

AUCKLAND B NARROWLY DEFEATS SOUTH AUCKLAND Winning by a two-point margin, Auckland B narrowly escaped having victory snatched from its grasp by South Auckland’s desperate bid in the last ten minutes of the representative match at Pukekohe on Saturday. The last quarter, in which South Auckland forwards hammered at the visitors’ defence, and put on two tries in eight minutes, provided the big crowd with more excitement than the rest of the game. Within a minute of the kick-off Brownlee had hoisted South Auckland’s three points with a penalty kick that was “washed out” by the umpires, but allowed by the referee, as sole judge of fact. The reverse stung the visitors, and Peacock and Schnauer scored tries from loose rushes in quick succession, Wales converting one. A beautiful Auckland back rush ended in Linden racing over in the Corner, making the scores 11-3 when the last quarter opened. Then South Auckland opened out in a great effort to pull the game out of the fire and very nearly succeeded. Disorganised in the backs by the absence. of Falwasser and Bell in the threequarter line, and Rae at half, the visitors’ combination suffered. Deep disappointment was felt among the crowd that the spectacular Manukau winger was unable to make the trip because of an injured knee. The lack of back combination was" particularly evident in the early stages, in which passing was erratic and handling weak; in fact, only three or four really spectacular rushes were developed during the game, but those movements were delightful to watch. The crowd took a great liking to McLeod, substitute on the wing for Falwasser, for his fast, spirited dashes. True, but he nullified his individual efforts by losing contact with the other backs, and when tackled there ended a scoring chance. Weir and Wales, the five-eighths-, worked well together on attack, and bore the brunt of the defensive work. Bryers, at the back of the scrum, gave a good display, feeding his backs smartly and performing some quick and clever relieving from scrum and line-out. A fast, heavy pack. Auckland forwards were really responsible for the win. Three-quarters of the game, the visiting pack was superior in both tight and loose, but iri the last quarter was overshadowed by the irresistibly sweeping rushes of the home pack, galvanised with nev?; life. Bunting. Schnauer and Peacock were always in the van of the Auckland rushes, which were marked by keen following up. good dribbling and at times snappy passing bouts. The most regrettable feature of the game was the scrumming. Not once was the bail put in properly for a decisive scrum. It invariably struck the “lifting” legs of the South Auckland front rankers; j

nevertheless, rather by good fortune than good hooking Auckland secured the ball from the majority of these clashes. If South Auckland’s forwards had only infused the same vigour and dash into their work throughout the game as in the last 15 minutes a different result must have marked the conclusion. Fielding a big, solid pack the home side concentrated too much in keeping the play tight, than on opening up on attack. The forwards, however, outlasted the visitors in condition and hammered Auckland’s defence unmercifully in the closing stages, the Southerners’ driving rushes breaking through ruck and from lineouts, took a power of stopping. Stanford, wing forward, was a conspicuous toiler throughout. He followed up consistently and made some fine breakaways that might have been turned to account had he been adequately supported. Massey and Kerebs were the best of the others. The South Auckland backs* combination was poor, though admittedly they had few chances to show their paces. Handling in passing rushes was weak and passes were given wildly. Stephens, the winger, who scored two tries in succession in the last ten minutes, was speedy and dashing and would undoubtedly have shone more frequently with more opportunities of handling the ball. Lindberg, at half, had a heavy task behind a beaten pack for the greater part of the game, but he stood the brunt of the defensive work very well. Mr. H. Pleydell was the referee.