Well-Deserved Win

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 987, 2 June 1930, Page 8

Well-Deserved Win

SOUTH AUCKLAND’S VICTORY

Forwards Dominated League Game

SOLID, consistent forward play, supported by brilliant individualists in the backs, was the outstanding feature of South Auckland’s victory in the Northern Union Challenge Cup match at Carlaw Park on Saturday.

South Auckland showed clear-cut superiority. It was so strong in the forwards that even in the second spell when the Auckland forwards were fighting like tigers to regain their lost laurels, the South Auckland skipper, Jones, was out in the backs trying to bolster up weaknesses in the rearguard defence. South Auckland fielded three great front row forwards in Trautvetter, Stephenson and Quinn. They were up against three of Auckland’s best, O'Brien. Pascoe and B. Clark, but they never faltered, and the honours of the game rested with them. They controlled the ball cleverly in set scrums, and were a great force in the loose.

f and ragged, although very fast. Then I Auckland produced a brilliant rearj guard passing bout which featured [ Stehr, Seagar, Tate and Pell, and took play dangerously near the South line, , where it remained for some time. Half-time score: Auckland 11 South Auckland 2 Auckland again took the attack in the early part of the second half. From a scrum near the South line Hapai secured and sent out tb Pell, to Stallworthy, who went over in the far corner for an unconverted try. Final score: Auckland 14 South Auckland 2

BEST FORWARDS

Stephenson and Trautvetter were the two best rucking forwards on the ground, and Quinn did great work with his fast dashes in the loosf* Menzies proved that ho is far from being a spent force. Although he is hardly the great forward ho used to be, liis all-round experience was of great value to his side. Timms on Saturday was much better than he was last year, and it is at least three seasons since he first came into tho limelight as a North Island representative he played great football. Jones had a difficult role to fill. Although he played havoc in the first •pell, he made too many mistakes to tank among the outstanding players t»f the match. In tho second - spell, fto sacrificed his own chances as a breakaway forward to strengthen the backs. Jones was thinking more of liis duty as captain of the side than his prospects of getting into the North Island team —and he deserves all the credit that is coming to him for South Auckland’s victory. South Auckland produced no new stars uf any magnitude in the backs, but Tittleton and Abbott considerably enhanced their prospects of gaining places in the New Zealand team. Tittleton is solid and fast, possesses tons of dash, and puts his whole heart into the game. Abbott was like a will-o-the-wisp at times. He made three brilliant runs in the loose, and was a constant worry to his opponents. Paki did some very solid work at five-eighth, and Raynor booted powerfully at fullback. The latter, however, was unlucky to meet Dufty at tho top of his- form, and he. was several times bustled out of position. O’Brien and Pascoe were Auckland’s two best forwards. The burly Jim gave a great display, and left no room for doubt as to whether he has retained his old New Zealand form. Pascoe’s inability to command the ball from set scrums in recent matches, however, is a serious problem, no matter how brilliantly he lias# been playing in tight and loose. City Clark and Marist Clarke both played well. The latter was unable to exploit his usual fast, breakaway tactics. Both, however, worked hard as did Bare hard and Skelton, who scored the tries. Shorthand had a gruelling day of it. and stood up to it well. Considering the few opportunities they got, it is hard to be severe in any criticism of the Auckland backs. For most of the game, they could only stand off and look on in a hopeless sort of fashion at the terrific forward battle that was being waged by both sides. Dufty was easily the best Auckland back. He is rapidly regaining his old form. Brisbane, Seagar and Wetherill did well, with few' chances to shine. Although he roused the ire of the crowd at times, Referee Rogers handled the match very well, and South

GOOD BACKS

Auckland often had only itself to blame for infringements, especially in passing forward.

Scoring Register.—South Auckland (tries by Quinn. Paki and Tittleton, two goals by Tittleton). 13 points; 1 Auckland (tries by Skelton and Barchard. two goals by Dufty and one by • Seagar), 12 points. JUNIOR REP. GAME From the outset Auckland had the better of the play and forced South Auckland to a hard defensive. On three occasions in succession Seagar at five-eighths swerved through neatly, but failed to score. From a scrummage near the South *■ lino Hunt secured and scrambled over lor a try well out. Wilson converted with a magnificent kick, making the score s—o. This was followed by a fine effort by Stallworthy on the wing, who received and put in a great dash down the line, to boat three opposing backs, and score between the posts. Wilson’s kick missed. Auckland 8, South Auckland 0. South rallied and worked play to Auckland territory, where a “free” gained it two points, making the score b—2. A series of accidents happened at ’• this stage, Auckland suffered the most, and the game was held up for some minutes. Another unconverted B try for Auckland by Powell made the score 11—c. Up untiL now play had been loose

SENIOR B GRADE OTAHUHU’S BIG WIN Anticipating a keenly contested game, the large attendance of spectators who saw the Otahuhu-Richmond senior B grade match at Sturge s Park. Otahuhu, on Saturday, was disappointed when Otahuhu predominated tho major portion of the play and eventually won by the substantial margin of 29 to nil. Richmond held a slight advantage in the scrums during the early part of the game, but the bustling methods adopted by the winners did not permit the visiting backs any latitude. Otahuhu kept the game open, and on that hinged the secret of their success.

The game had not been in progress long before Farrell nipped the ball up from a. scramble on the goal line and registered Otahuhu’s first try. Give-and-take play continued, with Otahuhu holding the advantage. From a scrum on Richmond’s 25 Farrell got possession, and cleverly drawing the defence, passed to Eustace, who corkscrewed through a number of the opposing team, and passed to Conway, who only had to score. Eustace converted.

Continuing their bustling tactics, the Otahuhu forwards soon had Richmond in difficulties, and Jury getting possession from a scramble on the 25 lirie, hurdled an opponent and raced on to score in a handy position. Eustace’s kick at goal failed. Just before half-time Philp sent the ball out to Eustace, who registered. Early in the second spell, Otahuhu again predominated play, and Riley, who had been playing a faultless game beat four of the opposing backs to score in the corner. Harris added the extra points with the kick of the day. Richmond took a turn on the offensive, but without success, an attempted kick from the field hitting the post and bouncing back into play. After a spell of give-and-take play, Otahuhu launched another successful attack which resulted in Harris following the ball through and scoring. Eustace converted. Toward the end of the game Hart short-kicked from a free, and regaining possession, found his way over to score under the posts. He was successful in adding the extra points. Time was called with the score reading: Otahuhu 29, Richmond 0. Mr. E. McCall controlled the game. PT. CHEVALIER'S FIRST DEFEAT Point Chevalier received its first defeat of the season on the Northcote Reserve, the home team running out winners to the tune of seven to three. Delays caused by slight accidents to players resulted in the latter part of the game being played in semi-dark-ness. Point Chevalier won the toss, Kind, lv, the Northcote skipper, setting the game going. Offside play by ’Cote in in the first few minutes gave Lane a shot at goal, the kick just missing the uprights. The ball was being secured from the scrum by the Point men, but faulty handling and slow-moving tactics were nullified by the ’Cote forwards. An attack by ’Cote resulted in Wilkins securing. He dropped a beautiful goal. Northcote 2 points to nil. Both sides were hard at it for the remainder of the first spell. On resuming. Point Chevalier setup a strong attack, and a good passing run enabled Surtee to transfer to Duncan, who scored in af good position. Lane mised the kick at goal. Point Chevalier 3, Northcote 2. Northcote now livened up play considerably, Robinson kicking well downfield. By fast following-up, Wilkins secured and scored, May converting. Northcote 7, Point Chevalier 3. Play was now fast but no further score resulted.

Tho outstanding player was Robinson, the ’Cote fullback, his tackling and line-kicking being of the highest order.

INTER-ISLAND LEAGUE

SOUTHERN TEAM PICKED Press Association CHRISTCHURCH. Sunday. The following League football team will represent the South Island .against tho North Island at Auckland on June 14: —Palamountain, Bond. McKenaiie, Pearce (Otago), Dodds, Griffiths (West Coast), Amos, Townshend, Ecklioff (Otago). O’Brien (West Coast), Dobbs. Emergencies: Doogan (West Coast), Hicks (Otago). Where not otherwise stated the players are Canterbury men. HARDY YACHTSMEN BOYS RACE AT TAKAPUNA Undeterred by the cold weather, three young boating crews took part in a race for Z class boats on Saturday under the auspices of the Takapuna Boating Club for trophies presented by Nil*. W. Johnston, of Bayswater. Owing to most of the boats being hauled up for the winter, only Trevic, Me Too and Oi took part. The course was a short one, the boats starting and finishing off the end of Bayswater Wharf. The race started at 3 p.m. The finishing times were:—Me Too (scr), 3.40: Trevic (scr), 3.41; Oi (scr), 3.42.10. Result:—Me Too, 1; Trevic, 2; Oi, 3.