LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18460, 15 October 1931, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

EASTERN SUBURBS WIN.

BRIGHT GAME IN HAMILTON. VISITORS MARGIN OF NINE POINTS The Eastern Suburbs (Sydney) League Football Club representatives, who are on .tour of the province, played their third game of their programme at Steele Park, Hamilton, vesterdav afternoon before an attendance of "2000. The Visitors ran out winners by 23 —14. The teams were:— Eastern Suburbs. Full-back: W. Hong. Three-quarters: F. Tottey, D. Brown, R. Pallais, 11. Delaney. Five-eighth: E. Norman. Half-back: N. Pope. Forwards: R. Stehr, R. Brown, S. Pearce, M. Nixon, 11. Gillam, W. Dyer. South Auckland.

Full-back. C. Hill. Three-quarters: B. Paki, W. Tittleton, J. Whorskey. Five-eighths: J. Colter, H. Welch. Half-back: K. Peckham. Forwards: A. Jackaways, T. Timms, M. ScoLt, 11. Mason, J. Menzies, D. Trauvetter. F. Tottey, formerly of Hamilton, captained the visitors for this game, vice N. Pope, the regular captain. J. Menzies led the home team to the field. South Auckland attacked from -the kick-off. The visitors secured an early penalty but South Auckland were back again and from a penalty J. Whorskey put over a good goal within the first few minutes. South Auckland .... 2 Eastern Suburbs .... 0

The visitors backs went Into action quickly and reached the 25, but sound tackling met them. D. Brown ■made a strong run through midfield, but good tackling by Whorskey stemmed ‘the advance before it reached the 25. Keeping up the pressure Hong, who had come up from his full-back position, made progress for the visitors. A long kick sent the attack back, but Hong again appeared in the picture and checked the advance. The visitors were penalised a little •later and Whorskey again put a fine goal over. South Auckland • 4 Eastern Suburbs .... 0

With the visitors on the advance on the resumption a fine line-kick by Hill retrieved a lot of ground. D. Browm made a break away but was checked. Passing by Eastern Suburbs was halted at Tottey, the home team displaying sound tackling. A long kick by Menzies drove the plav right into foreign territory, but Pope returned it, Ilill making a strong return down the side-line. Play moved quickly across the 25. Visitors Open Scoring. Eastern Suburbs broke ■clear, but Peckham stopped progress below his 25. A penally was given the visitors between the 25 and the half, Pallais putting over a fine goal. Eastern Suburbs .... 2 South Auckland 4 Peckham 'Opened up the play to Welch and Cotter, hut the attack broke down before it was developed. Hong and Norman essayed to make progress, hut the homo team smothered Hie attempt. Near their line, tne visitors swung into action, .the ball reaching Tottey on the wing, but again the fast following and sure tackling of South Auckland were effective. The visitors were defending in .their corner when South Auckland heeled from the scrum, but Whorskey missed his pass. Visiting passing efforts continued to find the home forwards a solid opposition. Return kicks between Hong and Peckham saw the latter keep the home ■side on attack. Pope and Norman then swung to the attack and the play travelled quickly to home territory. The ball went to the dead ball area.

A Smart Breakaway. A thrill was added to proceedings when Tottey sprinted smartly across the home 25, but was forced Into touch. Hill failed to get up 'to a high ball, which dropped short, but lie recovered well and saved what looked a dangerous •situation for South Auckland. Norman, D. Brown, Pallais and Delaney handled in a bright attack, but it lacked penetration and was forced to 'the toucliline at the home 25. A 'Centring kick by Tottev Joked like placing Ilill in difficulties, but R. Brown got in front and the 'penalty relieved the tension. Pearce, gathering at 'the 25, cut straight through and looked like bringing result, but was checked about five yards short. A smart movement in which Hong, Pallais and Tottey figured broached through on the right flank for Tottey to touch down at lhe corner. D. Brown missed a hard shot. Eastern Suburbs .... 5 South Auckland .... 4

A Splendid Try. Then tame a splendid try. D. Brown gathered at his 25 and running strong and straight went through to score close to the posts. Pope goaled. Eastern Suburbs .... 10 South Auckland .... 4 South Auckland quickly reached ■midfield from the ensuing play. Cotter secured, but the home five-eighth was quickly grassed. Peckliam ran smartly round his scrum and sent on to Cotter, 'to Tittleton, but the effort was checked. The ball came back to Hill from the subsequent play, the home full-back essaying a shot at goal, but it failed. Eastern Suburbs worked to the home 25, but the play quickly ■changed, South Auckland seriously ■challenged the visiting citadel, hut Hong came lo the rescue. From a following scrum, Welch nipped round the open side and sent on to Cotter, who lost possession. Eastern Suburbs were penalised for illegal tactics, Whorskey put bis third g'oal over from a handy position. Halftime came with the scores:— Eastern Suburbs .... JO South Auckland .... G

In the play just after the interval, Peckliam and Paki figured in a home movement that went beyond the visitors’ 25, where Hong came across and got the touch. Further passing by Iho 'home, backs was foiled of its maximum effect through the inside men standing flat footed. Suburbs were again penalised for “shepherding," Hie kick going into touch. A scrum was set down a few yards out from Suburbs’ line, Paki setting the backs in motion with n long pass. The ball went over the visitors line, and several dashed after it, Hong getting there first to force. Totley dribbled back to half-way, and sent out to Delaney, who was pulled down by Peckliam before he could get going.

Over In tho Corner. From a scrum in South Auckland territory the ball came out to Pope, who passed to Pallais, who ran some distance before transferring to Delaney, who sent Tottey away to score brilliantly near the corner flag. The kick failed. Eastern Suburbs .... 13 ■South Auckland .... 6

The Sydney pack worked a smart combined rush which had South Auckland hard pressed for a time, but offside play gave the defenders an opportunity .to clear, and play moved back to half-way. Welch and Whorskey broke away on a promising run to the Suburbs’ 25, where a keen tussle for possession culminated in Hong clearing to half-way. From a scrum Pope set the visitors in motion, the ball going through to Tottey, who dashed down the line to be pushed out a few yards from his objective. The South Auckland backs were dangerous with a passing rush which broke down in Suburbs’ 25 when Hong intercepted. Norman snapped up from the ruck, and, outstripping Ilill, sent on to Pallais, who scored unopposed, and converted his try. Eastern Suburbs .... IS South Auckland ... . 0 Following lhe kick-off, Welch cut in and beat several men to send Paki over for a well deserved try. Whorskey added the trimmings. South Auckland .... 11 Eastern Suburbs .... 18

A sparkling exchange, in which Hong was prominent, saw Suburbs in the 'opposition 25. A scrum was set down two yards from the goal line, and in' the ensuing melee the defenders had lo force to save. D. Brown had a shot at goal from just inside half-way, the ball grazing the outside of the upright. From a scrum in Suburbs’ half, Norman made an opening for lhe' speedy pack, Pearce going on to score an easy .try, Pallais made no mistake with the kick. Eastern Suburbs .... 23 South Auckland .... If The Closing Points. South Auckland rallied, and following a long kick by Hill, almost reached the Suburbs’ line. Delaney intercepted and ran back to half-way, where he was well tackled by Hill Whorskey set off along the line, and with several men on his heels, touched down near the corner flag. The kick failed narrowly. South Auckland .... 14 Eastern Suburbs .... 23

Welch broke through to the 25, when Suburbs .were almost over, but lie was recalled, and a scrum set down. The hall came out to Hill, who punted lo Hong. The game iclosed shortly afterwards with the scores:— Eastern Suburbs .... 23 South Auckland .... 14 Mr A. Ilarlock, of Huntly, was referee. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Eastern Suburbs have won each of their three games, viz., Northland, 23—ii; Devonport, 41—27; and South Auckland, 23—14. Yesterday’s fixture was of the bright an i attractive order, although the sound tackling, good scrum work and general aggressiveness of the home pack kept the visiting hacks from developing movements, as consistently as many looked for. They produced sufficient, however, to show that they are an alert side with the ability to run up big scores. South Auckland lacked the combined effectiveness of the visitors, as was to be expected, hut their display was one with which .they have every reason to he gratified. The home forwards were fine grafters and kept the opposition .continually , oil Hie alert. The backs, for the main part, were sure, but the inside men lacked the speed and penetration of the opposition. Scott, .Menzies and Jackways were, perhaps, the best of the South Auckland forwards, but the whole set worked well. Peckham, at half, was a hard toiler, while Welch, at first five-eighth, shaped favourably. Cotter, outside of him, missed some passes, but Ills game was useful also. Tittleton, the centre, ■tackled solidly. Of the wings, Whorskey got more of the play than Paid, but the latter’s defence was better. He dummied effectively to score his try. Whorskey scored a ■try while his goal kicking was very reliable, contributing a further eight points to the home team’s total. Hill's game at full-back was very sound, his defence being particularly good and saving at least three certain tries.

The bright star of the visiting backs was Norman, the five-eighth. lie was a very hard man to stop, having a tantalising side-step, while his speed off 'the mark and straight running, aften turned defence into attack and paved the way to scoring success. Hong’s full-back display was another feature. IL was rarely that any blemish was seen in his work. There was marked speed ■among the three-quarters, with D. Brown and Pallais to run Tottey and Delaney, the wing men, into favourable positions. Tottey was very dashing, hut Delaney’s game in the second spell was also brignt. Pope, the half-back, was seen at his best after the interval, when ills forwards were getting more of the bail. There was speed and size in tho visiting vanguard, who backed up consistently. Pearce, Stehr and Nixon were consistent workers.

THE TEAMS ENTERTAINED. After the match the two teams were entertained at dinner at lhe Commercial Hotel by the Soutli Auckland Rugby League. in the evening the players were lhe guests of the Marist Dance Club at their weekly dance. The Eastern Suburbs team returned to Auckland Uhls morning. On Saturday they will meet a combined Marist-i)cvonport thirteen.