ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14424, 29 July 1920, Page 9

ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS

! DEFEAT OF SOUTH AUCKLAND. RECORD CROWD AT STEELE PARK. FAST AND SPECTACULAR PLAY. The crowd that assembled at Steele Park yesterday afternoon to witness the League game between England and South Auckland was easily the record one for that athletic headquarters in the Waikato. The estimate is somewhere in the vicinity of 7000 people, ! i:i the absence of reliable figures, which I can only be assessed on the gate takings. The main enclosure of the park 1 was deeply lined, patrons being represented from the town, from all parts of the Waikato, from King Country diet: sets, and from other parts. From a climatic viewpoint the ideal wag reached, sunshine and the absence of wind being features in evidence. Ground ai.cl ball conditions were as well nigh perfect as could be hoped for, and tho nioiiner in which the committee looally responsible for the mangaement of the ; game under the League code had affairs j i'r. train earned the deserved appreciation of one and all. 'Although the Engl.shmen won the match by a goodly margin, the play was marked by spec- ] lacular features which kept the atten- ' tion of the big crowd simmering from beginning to end. It was a olean, everchanging, and thoroughly enjoyed ex- ' position of the code, even admitting the fact that the experience of the winners was acknowledged and vindicated I by results. The teams were:— England.—Full-back, Wood; threecjuarters, Stacey, Davis, Doyle, Stockwell; five- eighth, Jones; half, Lloyd; forwards, Bowers, Cartwright, Johnston, Reid, Gronow and Rees. South Auckland. —Full back, Tumata; three-quarters, Littlewood, Johnson, Paki; five eighth, Wilson; halves, Peckham, Doran; forwards, Callaghan, Young, M. Allan. A. Allen, j Logan, Payne. The Englishmen played in yellow and j white, and the South Auckland in red, j white and blue. Lloyd captained the Englishmen and | Wilson the home team. The First Half. j England played from the southern goal with the sun in their faces. They | early were penalised for scrum in- ' fringements, but a nice passing bout by the visitors made progress down tho eastern touch. Lloyd got away smartly from the scrum but Davis knocked on. Paki then made a break down the east and Payne picked up from a cross kick, to,run on several yards and score j a try from a rather smart and sudden i movement. Tumata goaled. South Auckland 5 England 0 The English backs then got on the move. Doyle lost a pass in a good position, but play swinging to the other touch Davis gathered and beating two opponents scored a good try Gronow's kick turned outside the upright—a flr\e effort. England j» South Auckland 5 England were soon down again in home territory, where Doyle again dropped a pass. Stockwe.ll shortly went out near the corner. Two free kicks relieved the pressure on the home side momentarily. The respective tun backs nut In ?ood kicks and then Stacey made a lot of progress with dummying FJie opposition. Two free kicks cased the pressure on the home side which then had a short turn at attack till ■ Stacey turned them back. The home tackling was not too effective in places. Doran pressed a home attack and from passing between Allan and Wilson a try nearly came, but England got out oi it. Tumata then made an opening towards the south west 25 and fed Littlewood who jinked over at hecorner Tumata's kick was good but it leu short. R South Auckland .. " t England • • •• _ 3 Immediately from a penalty Gronow goaled for England, making the scores South Auckland .. •• ° England . • ••_,,,., \ penalty and later Woods kick turned back home attacks, which, however were devoid of combined work. England pressed to the north-west, where Stockwe.ll was stopped. A forv ard rush followed, in which Johnston scored for England. Gronow's shot failed. England • • • • ° South Auckland . . .. » Douan, and then Tumata, were responsible for an attack in the south-eastern 25, but the " English forwards came through, only to find Tuamata the stumbling-block. England went passing to the home west 25 but Pelham and Wilson carried the •p~ay back for Wood to stay. Gronow, Held and Cartwright broke clean away fiom the half-way after Johnston fed the former, who scored and goaled. England • • • • 13 South Auckland .. .. 8 The English backs were getting into their stride now, while the home men were not supporting well. 'Doran got down on the home full-back, but there was no one with him, and the effort was lost. Soulh Auckland were forced shortly after. Payne made a breakaway that gained some ground for the home side, but Doran, out wide, was tackled. South Auckland pressed to the south-west corner, but Davis' and later Jones' efforts and indifferent tackling lest Die advantage. Stacey made ai. eastern bolt, but Johnston slopped the three-quarter. England took playdown the field for the next score. Dovle, Stacey. Rees and Davis were n i 'tin' latter touching down. Gronow goaled. England .. '• • 18 South Auckland . . 8 The home side pressed holly, but missed a bright opportunity when j Wood stumbled. A free brought EngI land relief. Stockwell put in a great j west touch dash as tho spell closed. I Littlewood was injured in the shoulder just at this stage, and had to retire from the. local team, Davis replacing him after the half-time interval. Visitors' Scoring Second Half. The home team went into action in I the south-west twenty-five. For obstruction England were penalised, but Tumata's long shot went short and wide. England then went the whole length of the field, Tumata'forcing with Doyle hot on him. Lloyd forced has way through his forwards, but Doran and Payne led back. Then Johnston fed Stacey at the east twenty-five. The killer after a long run, fed into Davis, . who ran in from the 25 and scored j under the posts. Gronow goaled. England .. • • 23 1 South Auckland . . 8 I The home forwards kicked too hard and enabled England to force. Peckham registered a nice home breakaway from his twenty and fed Paki, who supported him on the wing, but the three-quarter went into touch. A long penalty kick gave England the attack, but Peckham returned with a kick from the ruck. Davis was penalised fur hanging on. and then Paki made a break through, hut kicked too hard to the dead ball area. England's backs .■ii'd forwards were then seen in a pretty bit of inter-passing hut a forward pass held the attack up near the lire. Lloyd ducked round his pack from tin' scrum and Gronow added tho major 'points. England .. • • "8 South Auckland . . 8 England were throwing the ball about, but there was a good deal of

reckless work in it. From the horn" twenty-five Cartwright dribbled, and Rcos "later picked up to dive over for an easy try. Gronow kicked the goal. England . • • ■ 33 South Auckland .. S Staoey beat several men very cleverly and England almost had a score on resuming, but the pass-out went in front. Young was instrumental in driving them off with a kick to the half. Shortly Tumata had a penalty shot a few yards on England's side of tilt half, and the home full-back landed a great goal. South Auckland .. 10 England . • • • 33 Davis shortly added another try for England near the south-western corner. Gronow missed the shot. England .. .. . • 36 South Auckland .. 10 Tumata had another long and good, though unavailing, goal shot for South Auokland. England then passed first to the west and then to the east, which efforts Stockwcll crowned with a try. Wood had the shot this time. It was from near the touch, and the kicker made a good but unavailing attempt. England . . . • 39 South Auckland . . 10 The ball continued to move freely among the Englishmen, attacks being opened up from all directions. • Rees was collared just short of the home line on one occasion: the bail went forward. From the scrum Lloyd fed his backs east; Davis recovered'a pass well and Doyle topped it. Gronow added the extra. England' . . • • 44 South Auckland . . 10 Gronow threw out from a southwest corner pressure and Doyle was over in a twinkling. Gronow did his job again. England .. .. 49 South Auckland . . 10 Callaghan and Doran put in an eastern touch duo movement that gave the home team attack in England's 25. England freed shortly. Paki kicked and followed well from his 25 to get Wood with the ball at the opposing 25. A tackle injured Davis" leg, but, lie resumed after a few minutes, going fullbock and Wood coming up close to the scrum. Cartwright had left, the field some minutes prior to this happening. Payne had a chance for the home side down the western touch, but he kicked out under pressure. Rees got England out of this situation with a strong western touch run. Tumata held the oUadcl safely for South Auckland after Siockwell had registered a big sprint down the eastern line and cross-kicked i.a The game ended with England on the attack. Mr L. Nield was referee.