RUGBY LEAGUE.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18445, 28 September 1931, Page 12

RUGBY LEAGUE.

AUCKLAND TEAM’S VISIT. HAMILTON DEFEAT RICHMOND. SPARKLING BACK PLAY. v ln a fast, open game which was full of bright passing bouts among the backs of both teams Hamilton defeated Richmond (Auckland) by a small margin at Hinemoa Park on Saturday. The sparkling play of the home backs and an all-round improve- i ment in the team were the factors in Hamilton’s good win. j The teams were— ! Hamilton—S. Muir, Griffiths, Astle, Hynes, Cotter, Welch, J. Muir, Stubbings, O’Halloran, Robertson, Hogan, Paget, Phillips. Richmond —Lee,, Mills, Davis, Estall, Young, Stehr, Verral, Dunn, Lawdess, Blood, R. Jones, W. Jones, A. Lcnnie. For the first few minutes of the game play was centred in Richmond’s twenty-five. Richmond brought play into Hamilton’s territory with a bright passing movement in which all the rearguard handled. Hamilton pressed, and, following some tight play near the corner llag, the visitors forced. After the drop-out Welch gained possession and helped Hamilton with a fine hurst of speed. Matters looked dangerous for the home team when Estall followed fast down the line, but the ball beat him to touch. Richmond were staging some pretty passing bouts, but Hamilton w'ere having slightly the better of the play territorially. A finder by Lee gained considerable ground for Richmond. The visiting backs set up some dazzling attacks. A bright effort in which Estall, Young and Davis handled culminated in the last-named going over for a fine try. Mills made sure of the kick. Richmond ■ 5 Hamilton 0 The Aucklanders continued to be aggressive, penning Hamilton on their line for the next few minutes. Movement Breaks Down. Stubbings took Hamilton out of danger with a smart dash up field. Welch was backing him up, but received a bad pass, and the movement broke down. Lee had a chance to increase Richmond’s tally from a free, but his kick went wide. Hamilton continued to be harassed by spark-

ling passing rushes on the part ot the visitors. At this stage Phillips retired injured, Tristram filling the vacancy. The 'home team drew level when Tristram intercepted and kicked over the full back. Welch came up fast and beat a Richmond player to the ball, scoring a merited try. Muir’s kick was successful. Hamilton . 5 Richmond 5 After a period of even play Welch was again in the picture when he made a spirited dash and scored wide out. Muir missed from a difficult angle. Half time came with the scores—• Hamilton 8 Richmond 5 After the interval J. Muir sent the ball to Cotter, hut the latter’s pass to ..Welch went astray. Richmond received a free in a handy position, but the kick at goal was a poor one. Hamilton took play into foreign territory with a bustling forward rush, but Richmond made effective use of the line from a free. Cotter came through with a speedy dash and handed on to J. Muir. The latter was well grassed, and the visiting backs gained possession, Lennie bringing the play close to Hamilton’s line.

Visitors Qo Over. Richmond continued to be aggressive, and a strong attack resulted in R. Jones going over at the corner. I The kick went wide. c Richmond 8 t Hamilton 8 c Play continued to be bright and c open. Lawless made a run down the 4 line, but was stopped by Welch, play s being returned to neutral territory, o Hamilton took the lead as the result of a bright piece of play on the part f of Griffiths. Welch short-kicked to f the speedy winger, who, with a fine a burst of speed, ran right through the opposition, scoring between the posts. Stubbings kicked a good goal. ( Hamilton 13 i Richmond 8 ] A good clearing kick by Lawless put Richmond in a scoring position. Two i visitors were making repeated thrusts, ■] but were met with effective tackling. A long kick by Hamilton saw the ball go close to Richmond’s line. Hogan was unlucky not to notch a try after ’ following up fast, but over-ran the 1 ball when there was no one in front. 1 Lee saved the situation for Richmond by forcing. 1 A Willing Pace. 1 Richmond were now making the, : pace willing, pushing Hamilton hack to their line. Welch reversed the position when lie intercepted, and fending of two tacklers set sail down the line. However, he lost possession, the ball going into touch. After a series of scrums Richmond made a determined effort to score. Alt the backs handled in a fast movement, which looked dangerous for Hamilton. The ball came out to Mills, on the wing, who was pushed into touch a few yards from the line. Griffiths saved the situation for Hamilton witn a fine clearing kick. The final whistle sounded with Richmond attacking and the scores reading— Hamilton 13 Richmond 8 Mr H. S. Morris was referee. MARATHON MEET MARIST. I ® WIN FOR THE LATTER. A closely contested match between a team from Auckland Marist and Marathon provided an interesting curtain-raiser to the big game. Marist played a more finished game, running out winners by 7 points to 3. From the kick-off the ball went into touch in Hamilton’s territory. Tristram II broke away, gaining territory for y Hamilton. Marist returned play and • : swarmed around the home goal. The ir visitors continued to be aggressive, i- Hamilton bad a chance when their ie forwards took play down to the i- visitors’ line. Tubb speculated out of danger once the scene of operations in changed to neutral territory. Effecn. live kicking saw Hamilton work down •<! to Marist s’ tine. Schultz relieved the U, tension with a good line-finder. Childs i>) dashed for the line, but lack of sup-

port spoiled the attempt. The first score came when, following play on Marists’ line, the Hamilton forwards ! forced their way over to score. The kick failed. i Maraljion 3 Marist 0 Marist equalised the tallies when Tattersall received in front of Marathon's goal, and cutting out several men touched down between the posts. The kick succeeded. Marist 5 Marathon 3 The Second Spoil. In play just after half time Absoluin sent the ball out to his backs, who staged the best passing bout of the day. Donald, on the wing, however, w'as pushed into touch. Marathon set up a brisk attack, but their backs’ attempts to get over were stemmed. Perry and Tristram paired in a pretty passing rush, but insulllcient support spoiled the attempt. Marathon were having all the best of things at this stage, and were getting possession from the scrums. Marist increased their tally when they received a free in a good position, Tristram kicking a good goal, and the game ended— Marist 7 Marathon 3 Mr L. Muir was referee. . REPRESENTATIVE PLAY. A DRAWN GAME. AUCKLAND, Saturday. With the scores alternating and the issue frequently in doubt, the match between Auckland and Northland League representatives, played .at Carlaw Park this afternoon, ended in a draw, each side scoring 19 points. It was an entetralning game, brilliant in patches, and the interest of a fair off-day crowd was held to the end. Auckland, who pinned their faith to a young and virile side, led the way in the first spell by 11 points to 5, and threatened at one stage in the second stanza to overwhelm the visitors. The latter, however, rallied in characteristic fashion, and with fine assertion brought the score to evens on two occasions. The Northern Union Cup, which the Northlanders won from South Auckland this season, was not involved. In a special match the junior representatives 18 heat Devonport 3. AT HUNTLY. Juniors—lluntly Pirates 8 heat Iluntly B 2. GAMES IN BRITAIN. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Sept. 26. Following are the results of matches played to-day under Northern Union rules:—Barrow', 16, St. Helen’s Recreation, 6; Batley, 15, Oldhapi, 0; Bradford, 7, York, 21; Gastleford, 9, Wigan, 25; Halifax, 30, Hull, 7; Hull Kingston Rovers, 28, Keighley, 3; Ilunslet, 2, Leeds, 8; Leigh, 16, Rochdale, 13; St. Helen’s, 49, Dewsbury, 0; Swinton, 19, Huddersfield, 11; Wakefield, 16, Featherstone, 2; Warrington, 26, Bramley, 8; Widness, 7, Walford, 14; Wigan Ilighfleld, 16, Broughton, ! 19.