Auckland’s Comfortable Win

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 975, 19 May 1930, Page 6

Auckland’s Comfortable Win

FIRST LEAGUE REP. GAME Two Brilliant Five-Eighths TIIE Nortlilanders started oiF with such a rush against Auckland in the League representative match on Saturday that it looked as if there was going to be no holding them. In a series of swift rushes, they rattled on eight points to nil before the ‘"homesters” seemed to realise what had happened. Even at half-time, they were a point in the lead. But gradually tlie sting went out of their attack, and greater all-round experience and flashes of luck at critical moments enabled Auckland- to secure a comfortable win.

It was Auckland’s better knoAvledge of positional play that largely helped the home side to get the lead, and to keep it in the second half. The visitors tackled splendidly right through the match, but one or tAvo of the backs showed a tendency to stray out of their places, and there were occasional gaps in the forward screen of defence that cost Northland dear. A noticeable weakness of the Northland pack was their fondness for picking the ball up before they had got it clear of the ruck in the open. The Auckland pack showed better foot control, and the visitors might well take a lesson from Clark in the way he keeps the ball at his toes until he sees a chance to pick it up and start passing. It was not till within a quarter of an hour of the finish that Northland was definitely beaten. Auckland had been helped by a couple of fluky tries, which were more the result of good luck than clever combination. The visitors’ great fight in tlie early stages seemed to have taken too much out of them, and they were unable to spring a counter-attack at the finish. The Auckland team’s form was not particularly impressive, and it looks as if there will be one or two changes before the game against South Auckland. The forwards were not getting

the ball away cleanly to their backs, a fact which, to some extent, was due to the blocking tactics of the Northland front-rankers. BACKS HANDICAPPED This slowness in getting the ball : back severely handicapped the backs.! VVetherill Avas so often menaced by Meyer, Cunningham and Berghan before he could get into his stride that Seagar had to take several passes which gave him no chance of opening up a quick attack. This had its effect right along the line of backs, and in any case the Northland rearguard was getting its full share of ball. In the second spell, hoAvever, there was no excuse for the Auckland wings. They got plenty of chances, but neither List nor R. Carter was very impressive. List seemed to be right off his game. He has been so long at centre that ho appeared to be at a loss to know what to do on the wing. Carter put more dash into his play, and although lacking in quickness and cleverness lie made several strong runs. Without being brilliant, his display Avas a creditable one. Wetlierill A\ r as far and away the best Auckland back. He accepted a lovely ‘dummy” from Eddie Meyer in -the first feAv minutes of the game, but he evened that score up in the second half. Honours were easy betAveen these two brilliant players at the finish. Shortland was handicapped in the first spell by lack of ball and slow lieeling-out, but he stuck to his job well. Neither Seagar nor Brady got much chance to show their undoubted brilliance on attack. Brady has developed the habit of paying more attention to the man coming at him than to getting the ball out accurately. He would be well adAfised to change his style of play in this respect. Campbell was solid, without doing

much to write home about. He must show more enterprise with the ball when his team is on the attack. The three City men, Clark. Pascoe and Watene. bore the brunt of the heavy forward work. Pascoe did better as a rucking forward than he did as a hooker. Clark fully maintained his recent form. Ruby and Francis have not got the compact weight to put into a scram and there was certainly a question whether Francis has retained last season’s spectacular form. Of the tw. breakaways, Ruby was the better. He got into the heavy stuff better than ho usually docs. Francis was fast and dashing, but liis handling was not too good. The ball was too often held up in the ruck to suit O’Brien’s roving style of play. Nevertheless, the burly Mart** forward did not show up very much in the game. While everybody knows that he lias got the ability, he has yet to prove to the' selectors that lie has not lost his old dash. The finest tackling forward on the ground was Berglian, the stocky littl* Northland breakaway. It is a pity he is not bigger. He has tons of dash,'and he is a worker all the way. Wells was very sound and solid, and Dunn fully maintained the splendid form lie showed last year. Pilcher also showed up well at times. Hertsell mad** one or two great runs in the loose, and is a promising forward. Northland, however, needs one or two heavier men in the forwards. Cunningham at half was better on defence than on attack, but he played a good, solid game. Meyer’s form needs no recommendation. He was the dominating figure on the side, and is one of the fastest men off the mark that has been seen in League football in recent years. He is brilliant on attack, tackles well, and picks up cleverly on defence. Parkes showed a fine turn of speed, and will do better yet when his passing improves. Hamilton was very solid. Whitelaw created a good impression on ! the wing, and C. Meyer did well at i fullback. Scoring register: Auckland, 21 points i (trios by Clark, Wetherill, Francis, Carter and Brady, two goals bv Seagar and one by Campbell): Northland. j3*s points (tries by Hamilton, Wells, Dunn and E. Meyer, and a goal each to E. Meyer and C. Meyer).

SENIOR B GRADE

OTAHUHU V. POINT CHEVALIER With honours even prior to Saturday’s match, neither Otaliuhu nor Point Chevalier could gain the decision in their encounter in the senior B grade division, played at Sturgoss Park on Saturday afternoon. Play opened with Otahuhu on the attack and an infringement by Point Chevalier gave Eustace an opportunity, which he accepted, to register for Otahuhu, within a couple of minutes of the opening of play. Undaunted by the reverse, Point Chevalier made several determined attacks on the home goal line, and for the major portion of the first spell hai Otahuhu on the defence. About half way through the spell Sturtees divel across for the visitors and Lane added the extra points. Play hovered around Otahuhu s twenty-five, with the home thirteen showing a dogged defence till the Point Chevalier forwards found an opening which allowed Kindly to score in the corner. The kick at goal failed, hitting the bar. Early in the seconi •spell the Point team continued on th< offensive, until Murphy. fcllowirthrough fast, scored for the hone team. Otahuhn now took a hand in the a tack and for the remainder of thgame was a changed team and under the direction of Eustace launched several determined attacks, which culminated in Jury diving across to equalise the scores. The kick at goal failed, with time called soon after. The final score was:—Otahuhu. fc; Point Chevalier, 8. Mr. L. Bull was referee.