LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15022, 21 August 1922, Page 2

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

SATURDAY'S GAMES. UNITED v. HUNTLY. On Hinemoa Park on Saturday United, the League champions of 1922, met Huntly, the Lower Waikato champions. A goodly number turned out with the prospect of seeing an interesting game, and although the muddy state of the field was not conducive to good footbaH, their hopes were not altogether dashed to the 'ground. Conditions were far from agreeable to the players and before long most of them were covered with mud. Play, nevertheless was interesting, but the Huntly team proved themselves much the superior combination, the visitors finally running out viotors by 25 points to 6. This game decided the South Auckland club championship of the season and Huntly will now proceed tfe Auckland to play City for the New Zealand Challenge Shield. In the curtain-raiser to the HuntlyUnited match Frankton juniors defeated City juniors by 8 points to nil. THE SENIOR GAME. Huntly (red) kicked off with a slight wind in their faces and at once went to the attack, B. Paki securing and running to the United (red and black) twenty-five. He passed to W. Paki who crossed the line. The kick failed. Huntly 3 • United .; 0 United then proceeded to change the venue of play but the Huntly defensive proved too solid, the visitors quickly transferring play to the local twenty-five again, where B. Paki, secured and scored in the corner. The kick was unsuccessful. Huntly 6 United . 0 Huntly again attacked and had United defending for some lime. By a series of scrums play was transferred to the visitors’ twenty-five but the .ball was almost immediately sent back /to the other end by . a passing bout amongst Huntly forwards. The game veered up and down field, but owing to the sloppy state of the. ground no brilliant flashes of play were witnessed. From a good forward rush the * ball was sent out to the attacking .backs and Paki crossed over. The kick was successful. Huntly 11 United . 0 Determined work on the part of United in which every member, of the team gave of his best at length brought ;.the local combination within striking distance*'of the-red lnie, and T. ■Coombes, taking a pass nicely put in a good run and dashed over the line. Hemmingway’s kick failed: Huntly 11^ United 3 Encouraged by this success United showed some improvement on their earlier showing and play was confined to mid-field for a few minutes. A. Shewan, however, picked up, and running half the distance of the field he scored a nice try. Mahuta goaled. Huntly 16 United 3 The half time bell sounded without any further,addition to the scores. Upon the resumption, the United forwards put in good solid work and carried the ball dangerously close to the visitors’ twenty-five, where Payne picked up and added another try to United’s quota. Payne’s kick fell short. ; Huntly 16 Uqited V 6 The visitors then changed the venue of play with their characteristic rapidity and the ball being sent over to the southern side of the field Peckham picked up to score. The kick failed. Huntly ~. 4 '. 19 United 6 Huntly were now demonstrating their superiority more so than at any other stage and were giving United a torrid time until a force brought relief. Following the touch down United managed to keep play at about mid-field for a brief term but a smart run by Peckham spelled danger once more for the sorely-pressed local team. They cleared, however, and sent the attackers back to the halfway line until a clever run along the northern line by B. Paki carried play again on to the United line, where the visitors were very unlucky in not scoring again. Play veered back to nearly half-way remaining there for but a short space, however, Packham picking up and by a great run taking the ball right on to the local twentyfive where a scrum was ordered underneath th£ goal-posts. United were fortunate enough to have a free-kick awarded them and this they turned to good account. The venue of play was changed and United had the visitors defending for a short time. The reds, however, swept down to the attack once more and from naif-way Ravner initiated a nice passing movement, handing out to W. Paki, to Mahuta and to B. Paki, who scored in the corner, The kick fell short. % Huntly 22 United 6 Huntly now set up a very strong attack and confined the local team within its own territory for some, time until a free drove the • attackers back. They were sent right back to their own twenty-five but quickly returned once more, and the Hamilton full-back, Jacques, was compelled to take advantage of the force, while only a few seconds later Coombes also had to touch down. Good play by United, in which Jacques was prominent, once more changed the venue of play. The visitors were not to be denied however and swept down on the local line, Rayner scoring in the corner. The kick failed. The game then ended with the scores. Huntly 25 United 6 Mr S. Saunders was referee. AUCKLAND B V. CAMBRIDGE. ./Auckland B representatives met Cambridge on Saturday in Victoria Square. The ground was very heavy after, rain, but the game was played in sunshine. The first half was a very even game, the. Cambridge forwards’ spoiling work Being successful. The Auckland backs handled the ball well in the second half, and Auckland gradually secured an advantage, their backs being superior. For Auckland tries were scored by McGregor, Hanlin, E. McGregor, Wilson (2), end Stevens. Taylor and McGregor converted tries. For Cambridge Campbell and Hill scored, and McMillan jEbnverted a try. At half-time the score was: Auckland 3, Cambridge 3, and the final Auckland 22, Cambridge NORTHERN CHALLENGE CUP. AUCKLAND DEFEAT HAWKE’S BAY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. AUCKLAND, Saturday. The first representative Rugby League match this season for the Northern Union Challenge Cup was played on Carlaw Park between Auckland (holders) and Hawke’s Bay. The weather was perfect, the ground in excellent order, and there was a large attendance, £246 7s being taken at the gates. Auckland- won by. 23 points to 5, but they did not have mat-

ters their own way by any means, the visitors by fine individual effort and splendid tackling frequently causing them anxious moments. Hawke’s Bay were the first to score, but Auckland, by means of two penalty goals and a try, led by 7 .to 3 at the interval. In the second half Auckland showed to much better advantage in combined play, and eventually wound up winners by the margin staled. The game was far more even than the scores indicate, and Hawke’s Bay showed a vast improvement, on their performance against Auckland last season. SOUTH AUOKLAND V. HAWKE’S BAY On Saturday next at Steele Park the South Auckland Rugby League will play their second fixture of the season, their opponents being the Hawke's Bay reps. This game should prove interesting and instructive to the .spectators, as both teams are in splendid form and handle the hall botli quickly and accurately. It only needs a fine day for the crowd to be attracted, in large numbers. The South Auckland team will be the same as that which defeated the New South Wales university team so handsomely at Ngaruawahia last month.