REPRESENTATIVE LEAGUE

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15028, 28 August 1922, Page 6

REPRESENTATIVE LEAGUE

HAWKE'S BAY V. SOUTH AUCKLAND

T,UE VISITORS DEFEATED.

FAST, EXCITING GAME.

The first representative League match of the season that Hamiltonians have been privileged to witness was played between Havvke's Bay and South Auckland on Steele Park on .Saturday afternoon. Favoured by perfect weather, the fixture drew a large attendance, the big crowd present being a happy augury for the progress of the League code in these parts. The concensus of opinion was that if the South Auckland League can arrange such interesting exhibitions of football as was witnessed on Saturday, they need have no fear for the future of Northern Union football in the Walkato. Saturday's game gave rise to a keen, spirited exhibition of the code. The-' issue was keenly contested throughout, and was in doubt right until the call of time. The scores 17 poifits to 15 in favour of South Auckland are a fair indication of the respective merits of the teams on the day's play. , Id'a curtain-raiser to the big game, Frankton Juniors met Athletic Juniors. After a very interesting game Frankton ran out winners by 12 points to nil. The Frankton backs were a little too good for the opposition, and this was responsible in the main for the Blue and Blacks' success. The scoring men were Taylor, Anderson, Gibbs and

Moon. The Big Game. The teams were: — Hawke'fc Bay (Black and White): — Dockery R. Hiha, J. Fulford, A. Atkins; M. McCarthy, P. Exeter; T. MitchelT; J.'Hellyer, P. Burrows, J. Morgan, S. Adams, R. Shanahan, and Downing. SBut'ri Auckland (Red, White and BluS/:—M. Sherlock; S. Rayner, J. Hemmingway, B. Paki; Wilson-Hall, L. Stewart; T. Peckham; W. Wilson, J. Bishop, S. O'Neill, A. Shecran, F. Raynor, and T. Gainsford. With a strong sun in their eyes, the ■visitors kicked off, but were immediately called back for an infringement, and a scrum was ordered at the halfSway line. The visitors set up a determined attack, and following some fairly exciting play just on the home line, Exeter picked up and passed to McCarthy, who dived over at the corner, ■ The kick failed. .Hawke's Bay 3 .; South Auckland 0

Following this a good struggle ensued between the two packs, but the deadly tackling of the visitors gave them a decided advantage, and although they were temporarily stopped, they at length pierced the defence, McCarthy again crossing the line to score a good try beneath the posts, which Downing converted. Hawke's Bay • 8 South Auckland 0 The local men then changed the •venue of play, an excellent rush initiated by Sherlock, and followed up by Peckham and Raynor, amongst others, carried play right on to the visitors' line, but, offside play'by "Tut" Wilson lost them an excellent opportunity, and a penalty was awarded the visitors. They took good advantage of the kick, and by means of an excellent attacking rush carried play right into the Red, White and Blue's territory, but good kicking by the home threequarter, Raynor, relieved the pressure. For a brief space the game assumed a ; mid-fleld nature, until from an infringe, the visitors were awarded a free kick, McCarthy putting the ball over. Hawke's Bay 1» South Auckland 0 spurred on by this reverse to fresher efforts, South Auckland swept down upon the opposition, and Wilson-Hall, securing, put in a good run, and passed to B. Paki, who centred. Bishop

gathered up, and by a good run. crossed the line to score South Auckland's first try. S. Raynor's. kick hit the post and rebounded. Hawke's Bay 10 South Auckland 3 From the touch-in the visitors momentarily pressed. Following a scrum in the locay twenty-five, Peckham got. the ball out smartly and initiated a beautiful passing bout in which all the South Auckland backs participated. The effort culminated in Sheeran crossing the line at the corner. Raynor's kick failed. Hawke's Bay 10 South Auckland 6 Encouraged by this success, South Auckland confined play to the visitors' half of the field, and Gainsford, picking the ball up in a nice position, kicked a goal from the field. Hawke's Bay 10 South Auckland 8 The scene ;of play veered up and down "field for a brief space, and the half-time! Hell went' shortly afterwards with'ho alteration-in the scores. The Second Half. Upon- the resumption South Auckland set up a determined attack,'and Wilson-Hall, pitiking the ball up, passed to Hemmingway, who fed B. Paki. The three-quarter raced over and scored. Peckham's kick failed. South Auckland 11 •Hawke's Bay 10 Shortly afterwards Soutli Auckland experienced an anxious few moments, but Peckham cleared. Not to be denied however, the Black and Whites returned to the attack, only to be driven back again. A good kick by Exeter gained the visitors a lot of ground in the eastern zone, and transferring to the opposite side the Black and Whites were .'.almost over, but a free kick drove them back. The venue of play

was then rapidly changed, and an excellent piece of work in which "Tut" Wilson, Wilson-Hall, Hemmingway and B. Paki were all prominent, ended In the' last-named crossing over. S. Ravnor was unsuccessful with the kick. South Auckland 14 Hawke's Bay 10 The local team were now dominating the situation, and on more than one occasion Ihey were unlucky not to score. Good kicking by the visitors again changed the venue of play, and an exciting piece of from man-to-man passing in front of the posts at length materialised, Shannon putting in a good effort and passing to Adams, who scored. McCarthy added the two extra points. Hawke's Bay 15 South Auckland 14

The game 'now became extremely exciting, and two brilliant runs along the line by B. Paki were witnessed, but the speedy three-quarter was on both occasions run out. The visitors were at this stage having an anxious time and from a rush on the part of South Auckland, Ncill secured and SPo .. f ..i •, n p.i| try. Hemmingway's kick failed to materialise. . ,uui Auckland 1"7 i: vvko's Bay 15 Shortly afterwards, Shannon, a Hawke's Bay forward, was ordered off for questioning the referee's decision. Despite efforts by Hawke's Bay to stem

the tide, South Auckland were confining play to the visitors' twenty-flve, and were still pressing when the final bell went with the scores unaltered — South Auckland 17 Hawke's Bay 15 Mr Herrlck was referee.

AUCKLAND REBULTS. City 12, v. Devonport 11. Ponsonby 16, v. Marists 13. Athletics 15, v. Fire Brigade 12