LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15318, 20 August 1923, Page 2

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

HOME TEAM’S SUCCESS, BIG GROWT! AT STEELE PARK. WELLIN'GTQN [DEiKEATEn. Before a record attendance at Steele Park on Saturday the South Auckland Rugby Lenguo representatives successfully defended the Northern Challenge Shield against the Wellington touring team. The match throughout was full of excitement, and interest was maintained at a high pitch until the call of time, when the defenders left the field victorious hy 27 points to 11. Although the scores do not perhaps indicate fairly the respective merits of the teams, South Auckland on the general run of play deserved their win, but the Wellington men gave them many anxious moments, and it was not until well on in the second spell that it became apparent that the home team was sure of victory. The curtain-raiser played between the Hamilton and Richmond (Auckland) juniors proved a worthy introduction to the big game, the boys playing with great vim and determination, and providing, a good exposition of the code. The visitors, however, played the better football, and the final scores, Richmond 10, Hamilton 3, gives a fair indication of the general run of play. The Big Game.

South Auckland won the toss, and elected to kick off with the sun behind them. The Shield holders started off well, as from a melee in the visitors' twenty-five immediately after the kick off, Payne picked up and dived over to draw first blood for South Auckland within a minute of the commencement of play. Mahuta's ' kick fell short. South Auckland .- 3 Wellington 0

From the drop out Wellington attacked and took play to South Auckland's territory, where, however, an infringement checked their advance. ■South Auckland cleared 'temporarily, but Smith, for Wellington, stopped the local men's advance with a mark, and the black and golds again took play to the home end. The leather went out of touch near the ..South Auckland line, and from the resultant scrum the local men cleared. Play hovered for a time at mid-field until a good run .by Whalen took play into Wellington's territory, Balkes, however, relieving by kicking up field. The South Auckland full back, Mahuta, in attempting to save, slipped, and the black and golds swept through. Play was keen and exciting on the home line for a few minutes, a good forward rush led by Tut Wilson bringing but temporary relief. South Auckland were at this stage being sorely pressed, and an infringement gave the visitors a free. Balkes, however, failed with the kick, and play once more went to mid-field; whore Wellington were awarded another free kick. Almost immediately afterwards South Auckland again infringed, and the visitors wore now placed in a good position for attacking. In the midst of exciting play on the South Auckland line, Nunn picked up and transferred to Brace, who dived over at the corner. Balkes failed with the kick. Wellington 3 South Auckland 3

The challengers were early in the attack following the drop-out, but Mahuta, obtaining possession, kicked for the line in creditable manner,,(he ball rolling out perilously close to the visitors' citadel. From the resultant scrum Peckham transferred to Jackson, and the five-eighths, putting in an excellent run carried play almost on lo the Wellington line. The ball was then passed out to Jacques, to Johnson, the latter getting over in the corner'. Mahuta failed to add the extras. South Auckland 6 Wellington 3

The South Auckland men were now settling down lo their work in bctlc'r fashion, and resolute forward play took Ihe leather up field, where Wellington were given a warm time defending. The home forwards proved themselves, heller in the loose, and a resolute rush initiated by Tut Wilson, resulted in Neill, who followed up fast, scoring behind the posts. Mahuta's kick, a good one, hit Hie post and rebounded. Sou Hi Auckland 9 Wellington 3

The challengers, apparently deter-! mined that no lagging should fake j place on Ihe journey, carried play at a . fast pace inlo the home territory, j Pcekham, however, put in a nice j trick rim which transferred the scene ' of operations to mid-lleld. Play was j hard and exciting at this stage, and eventually the challengers were once | again in South Auckland territory. ! Prosser obtained possession, and having a clear run in front, seemed certain lo score. Wilson, however, caught him just in time, and relieving him of the ball cased the tension for the moment. Another infringement penalised the Sou til Auckland men, and taking advantage of Ihe opportunity offered, Hedges put the ball over with a good kick. Wellington a Soutli Auckland 0 South Auckland were now having the upper hand, and the next few minutes of play saw them almost continually in the visitors' territory. From a scrum Nunn obtained possession and drove the local men back to half way with a lino kick, another kick shortly afterwards by Balkcs completely changing the venue of play, and the challengers once more assumed flic offensive. An infringement by South Auckland gave Wellington a free, Hedges' attempt, however, failing. South Auckland then swept up field in a well concerted movement, but they were unable to pierce Wellington's defence. Later, when play was in South Auckland's half of the field, Don Johnson made a great run, beating several men in excellent style, but losing his opportunity by slipping Johnson again broke away shortly afterwards, and after runnning for 25 yards transferred to Steward, who in turn passed out to Raynor, the latter scoring between the posts. The attempt at converting again failed, and the half-lime bell went with Die scores — South Auckland 12 Wellington 5 The Second Half. Shortly after the resumption Steward obtained possession", and after putting in a good run transferred lo Jackson, who ran a considerable distance without opposition to score a good try, Jacques failed to materialise. South Auckland 15 Wellington 5 At this stage ihe game's proceedings were ol' a particularly exciting nature, Whalcn being fed al about half-way l pul in a good run along Ihe- line, but I was collared near the Wellington citadel, Jacques picked up the. leather, hut he in turn was grassed. The home team, however, maintained a determined pressure, but eventually good line-kicking by Wellington took play to hall-way. South Auckland, howtever, wero' not to be repulsed, and.

quickly returned to the attack, a scrum being ordered on the visitors' line. Peckham obtained possession smartly and fed to Jackson, who in turn transferred to Stewart, to Jacques, who touched down. Mahuta, with the sun in his eyes, failed to take advantage of the kick. South Auckland .. 18 Wellington 5

Good forward play by Wellington put South Auckland on the defence, Mahuta eventually having to force. The local men, however, cleared nicely, and play was returned to half-way, where a good run by Jackson- took the leather into the visitors' twenty-five. From a scrum almost on the line the bail came out to Peckham, and the half transferred to Jackson, who put in a good run and passed to Jacques, the three-quarter racing over to score another try. The attempt at converting failed. Wellington . 5 South Auckland 21

Immediately following the drop out, the Wellington forward, Hedges, kicked into the South Auckland territory. Gawn allowed the ball to slip through his fingers, and Hedges, following up fast, raced through several men to soorc a well-descrvec: try. Wellington 8 South Auckland 21

For the next few minutes play was devoid of any particular feature, until the Wellington half, Hawthorne, opened up matters for his side, and play was transferred to the South Auckland end. Hedges obtained possession and transferred to Brace, the threequarter racing along the line to score in the oorner. Balkes failed to add the extras. Wellington J 1 South Auckland 21 South Auckland were at this stage getting their share of penalty kicks, but for some reason or another elected to punt rather than have a shot at coal. Play was at mid-field when a good dribbling rush led by Payne took play to the northern end, Payne capping a good movement by scoring in close proxmity to the posts. Raynor s kick failed. South Auckland Wellington ••••••■•••* " v Towards the finish the South Auckland forwards again broke through, Tut Wilson notching a try, which, however, he was unable to convert. The game then ended with the scores, South Auckland .27 Wellington • ll Mr S. Saunders was referee.

THE JUNIOR GAME.

RICHMOND (10) V.JIAMILTON (3). A curtain raiser was played between Richmond (Auckland) juniors and Hamilton juniors. The visiting boys developed the better combination, but Hamilton representatives met them with great determination and the game all through provided an exciting contest. The final scores were: Richmond 10, Hamilton 3.

AUCKLAND RESULTS

AUCKLAND, Saturday. City 11, v. Athletics 8. Marisls 20, v. Devonport 16. Ponsonby 39, v. Richmond 5.