PATCHY RUGBY.

Wairarapa Age, 13 August 1936, Page 5

PATCHY RUGBY.

WAIRARAPA REPRESENTATIVES DEFEATED. AUCKLAND SHOW SUPEBIOB INITIATIVE. HOME FOBWARDS IN GOOD FORM. In a game that was bright only in patches and which to a marked extent was spoilt by too much whistle, the touring Auckland Rugby representatives defeated Wairarapa 21/10 at Memorial Park yesterday. The visitor. displayed speed and initiative for which the slower-moving and slower thinking homesters had ro effective counter. Wairarapa, however, battled gamely and but for the innumerable penalties awarded against them would most likely have narrowed Auckland’s winning margin. Viewed from a purely Wairarapa angle, the match was n chapter of missed opportunities. Territorially, the homesters held an advantage in both spells but, try as they could, they time and again failed to capitalise likely scoring opportunities. With the visitors it was just the reverse and their fast moving and safe handling backs and forwards were ever on the alert. Frank Soloman, the ex-All Black forward, played a straightout wing forward game, thus giving the visitiors an overlap in the backs both on attack and defence. He was the guiding genius behind most of Auckland’s scoring movements. When it came to actual scrummaging, the lighter but more virile Wairarapa pack had the edge on the Auckland forwards, but the visitors were adept at short passing and they co-ordinated beautifully with their backs. 3

The Wairarapa inside backs lacked penetration, but this was due jnore to the activities of Soloman and the quick-breaking of the Auckland forwards than to a lateral attack. Individually the Wairarapa backs went well, but once again they revealed an almost total lack of combination. Their tackling was sound, but they allowed the visitors to outwit them in a manner which reflected on their defence and initiative. Clarke behind the pack did not show up to any great advantage. Howard, at first fiveeighth, played a bright game and made several clever runs. His handling was, however, at times erratic. Devine, marked by All Black D. Soloman, was the best of the Wairarapa backs. He used the short punt and the line to marked advantage. Hume, a newcomer at centre, played a fair game. He ran straight, but in doing so he neglected to feed his flanks. The wings, Eastwood and Peterson, were not given many chances, but even so they appeared to be below form. Lang, in the last line of defence, did what was askof him in a fairly workmanlike"manner. The Wairarapa forwards, while lacking the polish and finish so characteristic of the Auckland forwards, played splendid games. G. Laing was probably the most outstanding forward on the field and he was well supported by Howard, Wilson and Varcoe. The Wairarapa forwards were beaten for possession in the scrums, but in view of the way in which the ball was put into the scrums this was more or less expected. Plenty of sympathy was lavished on the toiling Wairarapa forwards, who time and again worked play upfield, only to be penalised when storming the Auckland line. Carson, Drake and Pepper were the pick of the visiting forwards, who, though big and fast, shone more as loose forwards than as solid serummagers. Fletcher, the Auckland winger, gave a great display, while Frankham, behind the pack, showed resourcefullness in cleverly varying his play. Admitting that they did not field their best side, Auckland, on the general run of play, did not impress greatly. Securing plenty of the ball from the set scrums, Auckland were very much

In the picture in the opening stages, but there were plenty of holes iu the play. Devine stopped the rot and, supported by Hume and Ward, was almost across. The first of a whole chop of penalties to be awarded against Wairarapa paved the way for an Auckland attack. From a serum, Frankham whipped the ball to Curtayne who potted a neat left-foot field goal. Fast play ensued, but Wairarapa found it difficult to pierce the Auckland defence, while many bright movements broke down for want of finish. Beyer gave Auckland a 7-0 lead when he landed a fine penalty. After a fine Wairarapa back movement had missed its objective by inches, Auckland surged to attack and Frankham nipped round the blind side to score. ‘Beyer missed. Then Frankham went through a gap and sent Curtayne and Soloman racing goalwards. Soloman was grassed near the line, but he managed to get the ball away to Fletcher, who scored. Beyer missed the kick. Devine and Peterson were associated in a clever movement which almost brought a try and then Huny snapped up a dropped pass and worked his way through the opposition for a good try, which Lang converted and the visitors led 13-5 at the interval.

Wairarapa had Auckland defending desperately on resumption, but misfortune continued to dog the homesters and eventually a penalty enabled Auckland to raise the seige and F. Soloman, Butler and Byerley were associated in a rush that saw the lastnamed score for Beyer to convert. Following good play by M. Howard, the Wairarapa forwards stormed the Auckland line and Wilson secured and forced his way across. Lang converted. Wairarapa more or less held the upper hand, but the issue was finally decided when Beyer landed a fine penalty goal. Fortunes fluctuated in the closing stages, but the game ended without further score. Mr. H. J. McKenzie was the referee.