SOUTH AUCKLAND WIN

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15056, 2 October 1922, Page 6

SOUTH AUCKLAND WIN

FAST AND OPEN LEAGUE PLAY. AUCKLAND THIRTEEN DEFEATED. 28—16 AT THE CLOSE. Before an attendance estimated in tlie vicinity of 2500 people, there was presented at Steele Park, on Saturday afternoon a bright and sparkling exposition of Rugby League football by thirteens . representing South Auckland and Auckland. There was a fairly stiff breeze to the favour of the team defending tile northern goal, but the ball and ground conditions were as perfect as could be wished. Neither side was at its full strength. The teams battled strenuously for supremacy in a gam e of quick, ever-changing movements. The honours of the day were with the victors, but the opposition made a bold bid to turn the tide of affairs. South Auckland held a ten points’ lead at the interval, and at one stage advanced to as great a margin as 17 but they had always to be on the alert, and hostilities actually closed with the board reading 28—16 in their favour. The game, while always fast, was particularly exhilarating at varying stages in the second spell, and the spectators were frequently worked up -to a high pitch of enthusiasm. The teams were:— Auckland (blue and white). —Harrison; G. Davidson, L. Brown, B. Davidson; Wetherall, F. Wilson; Poison; Scott, Johnson, Mackie, Nelson, Mitchell, Hawkes. South Auckland (red, white, and blue). —Sherlock; R. Guthrie, Hemmingway, J. Peckham; Stewart, Jackson; W. Hall; S. Wilson (captain), Neill, Bishop, A. McMillan, L. Hutt, W. Paki. South Auckland played from the southern end, and attacked. From a mark by Stewart, Hemingway’s shot passed to the left. Auckland returned play along over the half-way west, and some fast exchanges followed between the twenty-five’s, and from an Auckland passing rush Brown was pushed out near the eastern twenty-five. With Auckland on the attack under the goals they were ruled against for obstruction, and this saved a pressing situation for the home team. South Auckland passed over the half-way west, and free kicks for scrum illegality gave them further assistance. Solid play along the western touch followed, but weak defence by a home wing gave the visitors license. A free to. the visitors saw them within striking distance, but Brown ran too far across field in a passing effort, and gave G. Davidson no chance. Auckland attacked strenuously for a term, but could not effect entry, and Neill was the main factor in clearing the play back to the visitors’ eastern-twenty-five with a- neat rush. A Turn In the Tide. It was now the home side’s turn for attack. They threw the bafll about. freely, but fell short of the mark. From a free Hemmingway had a shot at goal. Auckland cleared out promptly in the return from under the goals, the backs handling smartly’ along the western touch, but G. Davidson was nailed above the half-way. A series of fast movements back and forward followed between the twentyfives, and then G. Davidson had a penalty shot, but it passed wide. Back at his twenty-five east, B. Davidson cut off a pass, which Hemmingway intended for Guthrie, and, darting smartly down the eastern touch scored at the corner. Poison goaled. Auckland 5 South Auckland . 0 Harrison, the visiting full back, was collared by Jackson, and the ball carried to the north-west corner, where a force resulted. A free kick w'as, however, ordered,'but Auckland got a man in' front. The attackers heeled, but Peckham lost the ball on the short side. Over east the pressure carried, where a free was ruled against the defenders. Hemmitfgway’s shot was again good, but went to the left. Wetherall, from midfield, made a smart breakaway, and opened out the play at the twenty-five, but the supports handled the ball badly, and South Auckland cleared. Then South Auckland drew level. Stewart intercepted above the half, and passed to Guthrie, who short kicked. Guthrie and Harrison collided east, and the ball going infield, Hemmingway picked up, and ran round. The scorer goaled. South Auckland 5 Auckland 5 In a few minutes South Auckland scored a fine try. Fielding between the twenty-five and the half-way Hall ran on, and jinked cleverly. . When blocked he passed to Paki, W’ho dashed over between the posts. Hall goaled. South Auckland 10 Auckland 5 The scoring turn was not yet done with. With the Auckland hacks opening up play above the half, Wetherall threw out wide to B. Davidson, but it went over the threequarter’s head, end Guthrie, dashing up at the eastern half, booted upfield where Harrison was bustled, and Bishop, coming up fast, picked up, and dived across for a try. Hemmingway kicked a fine goal, makingSouth Auckland 15 Auckland 5 A sensational first half closed with Auckland striving hard to effect entry, bui to no avail. \ The Second Spell. An alteration was made in Ihe home team for the second half, Peckham going into the forwards, and McMillan taking his place on the wing. The breeze was now with the home team. Auckland attacked, and earned a penalty for the home forwards coming round the scrum, but Poison’s shot’ was weak. Auckland shortly after got a nice try. Poison opened out from the scrum, and the whole of Ihe hacks handling east, G. Davidson went over at the corner. Brown's run was a prominent feature to the success, of the effort. Poison’s shot missed. Auckland 8 South Auckland 15 Back at his own quarters Brown was the chief factor in stemming the tide, but Hall and McMillan worked a movement to the east in return. South Auckland backs engaged in passing, but it was 100 much across field, and Guthrie was crowded. Peckham hurriedly transferred an attack by Poison to a penetrating dash, but solid tackling faced if. Auckland’s citadel was in danger, and when the pressure was relieved Hemmingway promptly turned a short kick by Wetherall into attack Auckland now took a hand in affairs along Ihe western touch until a long kick by Hull,, and a fust follow through by Neill look play lo the south-western corner. nut at Ihe rnid-lwenty-flve, Wilson gathered from Ihe loose, and, eluding Ihe full-back, lasted long enough In get Ihe ball down between Ihe posts with a. couple, of men hanging lo him. Hall .goaled. Poul Ii Auckland 20 Auckland 8

Reducing the Gap. Sherlock £Ot in a fine save right at his own lino shortly, and then Wetherall was noted for a short spirited dash before he took the touch east. Brown was putting in some neat feinting work at times, and gaining ground. However, the visitors were driven back without effecting entry. Next Jackson, the first five-eighth, got a great try. Running from the east diagnolly across to the south-western corner, and dummying several cleverly, he scored after a splendid solo effort. Hemmingway goaled. South Auckland ........ 25 Auckland 8 An injury to Harrison,' the visiting full-back, caused a delay of some minutes. Auckland w r cnt to the attack along west, and opened play towards the goal front, but it was blocked. However, succeess came shortly to the visitors. Poison picked up smartly from loose play near the goal front, and sent out promptly to the supporting Nelson, who had no difficulty in scoring. Wetherall goaled. Auckland 13 South Auckland 25 Auckland were straining every effort to make up the leeway. From the midfield B. Davidson, Hawkes, and Wilson operated in a smart movement, but the latter was nailed before he could get the ball clear to W. Davidson. Brown’s Fine Try. Across west the playing motion went. At the twenty-five there Brown gathered, and dashing diagonally to the north-eastern corner 'outpaced all pursuers and touched down for a splendid try. Scott’s shot failed, and the scores stood: — Auckland 16 South Auckland .. 25 The alarmingly fast pace of the game kept up, with the spectators worked up to keen pitch. Stewart made a great dash into the visitors’ twenty-five, but the effort finally closed with a scrum. From this Hall fed out smartly to the short side, where Wilson came in, and sending on again Guthrie scored at the south-west corner. The goal effort missed as time was called, with the totals: — South Auckland 28 Auckland 16 Mr A. Harlock, of Huntly, was referee. ' , JUNIOR CONTESTS. Two curtain-raiser games to the principal contest were provided. In one South Auckland beat Newton Rangers by 6—o, and In the other Manukau accounted for the Hamilton juniors by 22 points to 3. THE ROOPE ROOSTER. WON BY PONSONBY TEAM. ATHLETICS DEFEATED BY A POINT , AUCKLAND, Saturday. The final of the Roope Rooster competition between Ponsonby and Athletics was played at Citrlaw Park this afternoon, the former winning by 11 points to 10 after a fast, close and interesting game. The weather was ideal, and there was a large attendance of spectators, the sum of £259 13s being taken at the gates. The match was one of the best that has been played this season. KANGAROOS V. HAWKE’S BAY. NAPIER, Saturday. The League game Australia v. Hawke’s Bay resulted: —New South Wales 37, Hawke’s Bay 11.