RUGBY NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 346, 18 August 1930, Page 4

RUGBY NEWS

AUCKLAND’S VICTORY THEIR FORWARDS TOO GOOD WANGANUI’S WAS A MERITORIOUS SHOWING Auckland met and defeated Wanganui on the Rugby field on Saturday by 14 points to 8, the win wiping out the defeat Wanganui inflicted on the northerners back in September, 1924, which was aptly termed a °Pyrrhic Victory.” On this occasion there was nothing left to doubt and the whole secret of Auckland’s win lay with the forwards and two masterly hookers. Possession of the ball is a big thing to a team capable of knowing what to do with it, aryl Saturday’s match demonstrated that contention almost to the letter. The winners had a pack capable of gaining possession when they wanted it.

Though Wanganui had the better of the first spell, and their forwards played with refreshing zest, particularly in the loose, they could not cope with Auckland’s virile rushes in the second. Wanganui failed to cross their opponent’s line, in a scoring movement and had the somewhat unique experience of compiling a score of two field goals. From a territorial aspect the blues heid their own and the way the ball w«s follow d up in the first spell and the resolute tackling deserved praise. Several times the ball was carried oyer Auckland’s line and it was nothing short of a vigorous defence which prevented tries. In the second spell the visitors were definitely superior when they chose to use their forwards, H looked as though several of their back movements should have been stopped. Thev probably would have been had the tackling of the inside backs retained the standard set when the match opened. As play progressed there developed a hesitancy about tackling which allowed Jamieson, in particular, to penetrate the defences almost at will. Comer, though he played attractively behind the scrum was not the Corner of the Fourth Test. Jones appeared to be the best back, from an attacking point of view, that the visitors fielded and it is strange that more has not been heard of him in big football. To sum up—Auckland deserved victory and Wanganui deserved every credit for making a good go of it to the end. The teams were: Auckland Bush Connelly Berridge Jones Haslam Jamieson Corner Solomon Hadley (capt.) Palmer Gallagher Kahn Knight Finlayson Sutherland Wanganui Thompson Walden Potak a Vangionl Morgan Lowe Duncan Stewart Leahy G. Lockett Byres Fromont Harding Ward Cotterill Wanganui Attacking Wanganui won the toss and Berridge kicked off, L. Stewart steadying tne oncoming forwards with a kick io touch. From the first scrum down Auckland’s hooking was successful, Corner sending his line away. The move broke down when Berridge tried vo elude Potaka and failed. From the succeeding loose play Jones broke away and gave Wanganui a taste of his dangerous qualities as a scoring wing. Thompson got him low just in time. I The Wanganui van were dominant st this stage and by keeping on the bail they were able to smother Auckland’s attempts to clear themselves from a defending role. Once Berridge kicked back, the ball finding touch-in-goal. The blues were awarded a penalty within range but Morgan’s kick caused the ball to strike an upright and bounce infield for Auckland to clear. Still undaunted Wanganui kept up the pressure and another penalty came their way, but again Morgan failed to profit and Auckland forced. It seemed as though the blues were determined to maintain a stubborn attack until reward came. Duncan, Harding and Byres were associated in a move which ended when the last named was held up right on the line- In an attempt to find touch Jones miscalculated the distance and the ball came down for Thompson to field. With a clear goal ahead he was allowed easy time in which to drop and kick the ball high over the bar and register four points. It was a fitting reward to a ceaseless siege on Auckland’s line-—Wanganui -±; Auckland 0. For the first time in the spell Auckland looked dangerous. The forwards appeared nettled and they carried all before them until deep in blue territory. The defenders were penalised nud wrtnin three minutes of the first score Ber-

ridge had kicked a penalty goal to reduce his team’s margin of inferiority' from four to one.—Auckland 3; Wanganui 4. • : The visitors conceded another penalty shortly after. From ten yards inside half-way Morgan’s kick struck the cross; bar and again the ball bounced field-} wards instead of the way the kicker : wished it to go. Field goals seemed toj be impressing several members of tnej Wanganui team about that stage. Van-1 gioni had made an attempt only a few minutes before and then Lowe tried fo get the ball over the bar with his lo* foot, but it rolled along the ground instead. Several times the blues weie close to their objective, but the Auckland defence seemed to have no weak ! points and three times in succession the visitors cleared. Jones changed matters a little by breaking clear, but Thompson’s determined tackle saved the and the blues went back into an attacking position again. Before they, could be forced away from close proximity to Auckland’s line the bail came back to Morgan and he kickea •»., field goal, sending Wanganui’s points; up to eight. It was clear that Auckland we*e stung to action at this stage and their van swept the field’s length, Thomp-

son’s plucky play in face of their rush meriting applause. Hadley, Knight, Pae mer and Satherley were a determined force and when Solomon secured within a few yards of the line nobody seemed able to block him before ne scored. Berridge’s kick did not improve matters and at half-time the scores stood at:

Wanganui 8 Auckland ® The blues had had the best of tnc spell particularly the opening stages o it, but towards the close the Auckland pack had given an indication that more could be expected of it when play was resumed. Auckland’s Superior As was anticipated, Hadley led his pack right at the home defences as soon as the kick-off whistle blew- Thompson went down and stemmed the tiue momentarily. Solomon got away round the blind side of the scrum and sent Jones off. The winger got an infield pass away to Knight after drawing Thompson and the big forward had a clear goal ahead- He scored under tne bar and Corner brought the two points’ interest—Auckland 11; Wanganui 8. Wanganui moved into action following the resumption, but a forward hanging on too long enabled Auckland to clear from a resultant penalty. Back the Auckland forwards came with Knight at their head and their efforts paved the way for the most spectacular try of the match. Hadley and Palmer gave Corner a splendidly clean ball and »n the twinkling of an eye the Auckland backs were in action —Haslam, Jamieson, Berridge and Jones—the winger going over for a try. Berridge could nut goal—Auckland 14; Wanganui 6. The home team made strenuous efforts to make good the leeway, but they could not break down a very stunborn defence. The Auckland hookers were doing their duty well at this stage and a very marked change came over the scene. A weakness was developing in the Wanganui tackling and instei-ff of closing with the visitors’ rearguard actions the blues were letting them away. Jamieson was getting through' time after time- The brunt of the defence fell to Thompson and Potaka and it is to their credit that the mate* ended without further alteration in tne scores:— Auckland 14

Wanganui 8 Rev. Leonard (Rangitikei) was the referee and his strictness seemed to non-plus the visitors, particularly in the first spell. Considering that eight, of the Auckland side were included in the team which so successfully accounted for Britain before the Third Test. Wanganui’s effort must be termed as being very creditable. The real reason for tne blues’ defeat was the wide margin of superiority enjoyed by the Auckland forwards and the almost spectacui.tr ability of their two hookers—Hadley and Palmer. A JUNIOR MATCH TECHNICAL COLLEGE WIN .. In a junior game which at times became interesting and at stages produc ed good football, the Technical College first fifteen succeeded in defeating County by 11 points to nil. The outstanding features of the game were the combination of the school representatives and the solid tackling of the country teamThc teams wereTech: Rogers, Pargeter, Simpson, rf. Mete Kingi, Takarangi, J- Mete Kingi, Dawson. Follas, Luxford, Robinson, Gould. Lauvatu, Luxford, Tasker and Mainwary. County: Piercy, Chamberlain, Healy, Ryan, R. Osman, W. Osman, Duncan, Brown, Howie, Kenny, Glasgow, Robinson. Crane, Sleight, McCalman. Play opened with the school team Defending the Gonville end of the field. Mete Kingi had a shot from a penalty but the ball fell short and County cleared. The college backs raced away but Pargeter failed to pick up the ball when in a good scoring position. Again

college gained possession well in their own territory and the ball went out to R. Mete Kingi- The school winger raced away and swerved his way through the opposition in a wonderful manner to score. He had no difficulty in converting.—Technical College 5; County 0. There was no alteration in the score at half time. , College immediately rushed play to i the County twenty-five where the dei fenders, were awarded a penalty and cleared. Solid tackling was coping with the college attacking. From a scrum Tech- secured but were penalised and County found the line. A line out infringement resulted in a scrum on t*' 1 college twenty-five. County hooked to ' find the pivot- caught napping. Col lege were penalised and Healy attempted to collect points from a kick but the • ball went, astray and the defenders ’ cleared. College secured from a li’.ie-out 1 and the ball travelled to Pargeter who made a good run before being tackled in possession. The County defence was very effective at this stage and was re- , sponsible for preventing what, appear- ; cd to be several certain tries. Lauvatu, ] the college lock made a dangerous run. Luxford carried on the movement to *'core a good trv. R. Mote Kingi failed to convert—College 8, County 0.

College were immediately nn the attack again. Pargeter made a dasu down the line but was well tackled by Brown. The play swung across field and Robinson scored. The kick failed. —College 11; County 0, County took a hand in an attack. They were awarded a penalty when in a handy position but the kick failedThey were quick to follow up and an infringement cost Tech, another penalty- This again failed and the game ended shortl - after with the scores: COLLEGE Ii COUNTY 0 Mr G. Thrush was referee.

FOR NEXT SATURDAY FIXTUBES AND GROUNDS. The Wanganui Metropolitan Rugby Union wiL continue their Cup competitions next Saturday, when there will be three Senior Cup fixtures, two on Spriggens Park and the third on tht» Racecourse. The principal match will find Kaierau and Technical Old Boys ni opposition on Spriggens Park, play commencing at 3 p.m., while in the match commencing at 1.30 p.m., Pirates and Marists will try conclusions. Following is the draw for next Saturday, with the fixtures and grounds: Senior. Kaierau v. Technical Old Boys, on Spriggens Park at 3 p.m. Pirates v. Marist, o a Spriggens Park, at 1.30 p.m. Aotea v. Old Boys, on Racecourse No. 4, at 1.30 p.m. Ratana have the bye. Junior A. Old Boys v. Aramoho, on Racecourse No. 2, at 1.30 p.m. Aotea v. Tech. Old Boys, on Racecourse No. 4. at 3 p.m. Marist have the bye. Junior B. Pirates v. County, on Racecourse No. 1. at 1.30 p.m. Kaierau v. Technical College, on Tech, ground, at 1.30 p.m. Ratana v. Collegiate. (Ratana win by default). Thirds Marist v. Collegiate. (Marist win by default). Kaierau v. Technical Old Boys, on Racecourse No. 2, at 3 p.m. Pirates v. Old Boys, on Racecourse No. 1, at 3 p.m Fourths. Technical Old Boys v. Collegiate 111. (Tech. Old Boys win by default). Tech. B v. Tech. A. (Mid-week fixture; Pirates v. Marist, on Racecourse No, 3. at 1.30 p.m. Collegiate IV. v. Kaierau. (Kaierau win by default). Fifths. Tech. B v. Pirates, on Racecourse No. 5, at 1.30 p.m. Tech A v. Kaierau, on Tech, ground, at 3 p.m Colleg ate VI. v. Collegiate V. (No game).