NEW SOUTH WALES WIN

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15053, 28 September 1922, Page 7

NEW SOUTH WALES WIN

REPRESENTATIVE LEAGUE. (VICTORY BY 17 POINTS TO 12. SOUTH AUCKLAND’S FINE SHOWING It rained for the greater period of the big football match decided at Steele Park, Hamilton, yesterday, between the team of New South Wales League footballers now touring the Dominion and the South Auckland representatives in the code. The steady rain of the preceding afternoon, of the evening hours and of the morning, added to the derogatory effect when it'came to foothold and ball-handling results for the best. The attendance of the public was in the vicinity of 1500, which was certainly good when the off-day ancl ' the climatic conditions prevailing are taken into account. The visitors had the best team available in the field against the. v leading League side in .the Dominion, v and met with very prominent opposition from the home thirteen, it being late in the game before they got in front in the scoring. The game proved a decidedly interesting one to watch, the ball-handling being good as a whole for the conditions in evidence. The teams were: — New South Wales. —N. Proctor; H. Ilorder, R. Vest, J. Robinson, J. Toohey; H. Gaples (capt.) ; J. Craig; B. Gray, R. Latta, F. Burge, J. Dunworth, A. O’Connor, C. Tye. South Auckland. —M. Sherlock; I. Littlewood; J. Hemingway, W. Hall; L. Brown, F. Jackson; T. Peckham; S. Neill, W. Wilson (capt.), J. Bishop, A. Sheeran, R. Huft, W. Paki. Early Success by Home Team. New South Wales kicked off from the north, but South Auckland swept the ball rapidly down the western wing and for a lime temporarily overwhelmed the visitors, Robinson forcing in the nick of time. South Auckland kept up the pressure, and from a scrum W. Wilson picked up and scored. Peckham converted. South Auckland " 5 • v New South Wales .... 0 The visitors worked play to the eastern half, but South Auckland broke away in fast following efforts among the opposing backs and disconcerted them. At his 25 mid-way Vest got offside and Hemingway goaled. South Auckland 7 New South Wales .... 0 Sure tackling stopped several hot rushes, Sherlock collaring Toohey very certain on, the eastern wing at a dangerous moment. Brown cross-kicked to Hall, and the latter used the eastern touch, buteProetor returned. South Auckland worked back to mid-field east, from where O’Connor broke through and sent on to Gaples, to Burge, the big forward going through from the 25 to score between the posts. The scorer missed the goal. New South Wales .... 3 South Auckland 7 South Auckland’s tackling had shown some ineffectiveness up to this stage, but against this the visitors were not finding their feet too well on the slippery turf. New South Wales were now doing the attacking, and from one rosy-looking chance Vest threw out too Indifferently to Horder to give his three-quarter a chance. The ball was sent across from west to east, but Toohey, also on the wing, got a bad pass from his inside man. Brown was the chief factor in getting the ball clear to above the western 25. midfield Gaples gave the dummy very cleverly to three men. When the de-' fenders had stayed the advance offside play gave the visitors a chance, but Craig’s effort went to the right of the posts. The rain was coming down at a steady rate now, and an elusive leather was naturally becoming more difficult to manipulate. South Auckland was meeting with scrum success, and a kick through by Jackson was stopped by Proctor, who sent back to the supporting Robinson. A fast follow through by Neill almost brought success, but Craig eventually cleared from near his line. O'Connor and Latta broke through above the western half, but Sherlock eluded them, and with Brown and Littlewood to support him carried to the north-eastern 2.5. New South Wales carried the ball back along east, but their territory was again the scene of operations, mainly as the result of good play in which Hemingway, Sherlock and Littlewcod llgured. The latter kicked across towards the north-western corner, where Horder had to come on the scene hurriedly. Neat Piece of Playj Then the visitors got a good try. Opening up from the eastern 25, Gaples, Robinson, Vest and Toohey handled. The wing three-quarter ran strongly from the half-way, and when nearing Sherlock cross-kicked for Burge to follow fast and score. Craig’s shot veered to the right. New South Wales .... 6 South Auckland 7 Half-time was called shortly. In this half the number of penalties given against the visitors was a noteworthy feature. It was evident that the slippery turf arid greasy ball were hampering them from showing their best. The home thirteen up to this stage had shaped satisfactorily, the backs being reliable for the conditions under which they were called to operate, while the forwards stood up to a heavier set and gave quite as good as they got. Seoond Half Opens. The home forwards were quickly down on O'Connor from the kick-off, and Hemingway had a fruitless goalshot in the first few minutes. Proctor got his men creditably out of a couple of dangerous situations. Craig set his backs away nicely, Gaples ancl Robinson handling in turn, but Vest failed to get his pass and Hall, intercepting, play was carried from lire eastern 25 to the goal-front, where several forwards came on the scene to carry the leather on. Sheeran was there ilrst in Iho race to touch down. Peckham goaled. South Auckland 12 New South Wales .... (i The visiting backs were seen in a passing movement from the home 25, but the pass between Vest and Horder was dropped, I lie latter over-running the leather in a lob transfer; otherwise a score was assured. Play was at neutral territory for a term. The New Soulh Wales rearguard were straining every effort to open up the game. Vest's handling was faulty, and Horder was shifted into centre. The home hacks were handling satisfactorily, while life ball was often going their way from the serums, and by following up and tackling were nipping movements in the bud. Penalties were continuing to be vigorously applied against the visitors for infringements. Shortly the visitors secured a nice try. • Craig opened up when his forwards heeled at the eastern 25. The ball reached Horder, and he eluded his would-be tacklers, racing over the line. Behind the ehaik mark he slipped and lost possession, but Gray dashed up and touched the ball down. ,Craig goaled, and the score stood: —• New South Wales .... 11 South Auckland 12

Off to the Front. The attack was kept up, the visitors realising that time was fleeting. From a scrum near the line Craig made a dive, but was nailed surely. Play promptly turned to (he short side east, where G.aples, Gray and Vest handled the wing'-llireequarter scoring in the corner. Craig made a good but unsuccessful effort to convert. » New South Wales .... 14 South Auckland 12 South Auckland went to the attack and a free was placed for Peckham, but the home half did not realise on the opportunity to go to the lead. Then an incident occurred at mid-field as the result of which Burge (New South Wales) was ordered off the field by the referee. The visitors continued to be ruled against for infringements, and “heat” was not missing. Craig suffered this fate near Ins 25, but Hemingway’s shot dropped low. Horder pul in a tine dash down east, where an opponent was ruled against for obstruction. The ball was thrown about by the New South Wales backs, but Us greasy nature caused failure finally. The visiting full-back continued to Held and kick well, and a long shot forced the home team. Then Latta wriggled over for New South Wales after gathering from ,a ,low. kick by a defender near the posts.. Craig’s shot failed. New South Wales .... 17 South Auckland 12 Play was carried back to the visitors’ eastern 25, and again Proctor’s good clearing work was in evidence. At the opposite territory again Hemingway cleared with a nice kick. Play was at neutral territory West,’ when lime was called with the scores: New South Wales .... 1 17 South Auckland 12 Mr S. Saunders was "referee. THE AUCKLAND MATCH. League footballers will have another big game presented to them on Saturday at Steele Park, when Auckland and South Auckland will try conclusions* This meeting should be one of the most closely contested of the-.season. It will be realised |hat a few weeks since the local side visited Auckland .and annexed the Northern Onion Challenge Cup by the margin of 1 point. The principal attraction of the afternoon will be preceded by the meeting of the Hamilton juniors and an Auckland junior team.