PLAY DESCRIBED

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20845, 1 July 1939, Page 8

PLAY DESCRIBED

WAIKATO ; S GREAT PACK VISITING SIDE UNLUCKY MANY MOVEMENTS BREAK DOWN (Special Reporter) AUCKLAND, Saturday Waikato Fullback: J. Ensor (Morrinsville). Threequarters: W. J. Phillips (Raglan), A. J. Aitken (Morrinvsille), C. Perkins (Hamilton). Five-eighths: E. Taylor (Taupiri), J. Cole Matamata). Halfback: P. Tetzlaff (Hamilton). Back row: C. Stancich (Hamilton). Middle row: J. Flannagan Hamilton), T. Macky (Waipa), A. Thomson (Waipa), M. Warrender (Matamata). Front row: J. M. Taylor (Taupiri), E. 11. Catlev (Taupiri), 0. Caldwell (Waipa). Auckland Fullback: H. N. Halliwell (Ponsonbv). Threequarters: L. Schubert. L. Pearson. J. Dick Grafton . Five-eighths: N. Pearman (Grafton). D. Brady .Suburbs). Halfback: J. idle (Training College). Forwards: W. N. Carson Ponsonbv). R. Anderson (Grafton), C. Brown (Grammar , R. R. Hull -’’Grafton), H. F. McLean (Grafton), J. Gilmore (Grammar). H. Bond Ponsonby), T. Pearce Grafton). Auckland kicked off and in the forward lussle llial ensued in mid-field the Waikato pack showed lo advantage. Aitken and Taylor handled in an early passing bout and Phillips made a fast dash which took play to midway between the half-way mark and Auckland’s twentyfive. Waikato up to this stage was having aii the better of the exchanges and in a concerted movement Perkins streaked for the Auckland line, to be brought down within ten yards of his objective by Pile. From a scrum Pile brought further relief with a well-placed clearing kick but Waikato was immediately back on the offensive and Phillips capped a sparkling movement to go over in the corner. However, an infringement nullified the movement and a scrum was ordered five yards out. The visiting pack was nearly over but was unable to 'finish its efforts. Waikato broke away but faulty passing among the forwards ruined the movement. Play see-sawed in midfield for a spell, the heavy ground and a greasy ball confining play chiefly to a forward struggle. A penalty kick to Waikato was taken by Aitken from a handy position but he was unable to cope with the heavy ball. Pearce checked a Waikato rush and Auckland took a turn at attack, Pearman breaking through with Brady in support, and a forward pass saw a promising movement ibreak down. Waikato On Attack ■Midway through the first half Waikato was still maintaining its storming tactics, and up to this stage the visitors were definitely overshadowing Auckland in the heavy conditions, the home side being obliged to force down on several occasions. Auckland was endeavouring to open up the game on occasions but the slippery nature of the ball was making safe handling very problematical. A “speculator'’ by Hull took play to Waikato's twenty-five and from a lineout. Auckland attacked, Pearce initiating a passing movement in which the fall finally went to Carson, who went across near the corner. The kick from a difficult angle was successful. Auckland 5 Waikato 0 The visiting van surged to the attack and Phillips dashed for the line, to he brought down heavily by Pearson. Taylor later placed his forwards in a fine attacking position and Waikato pressed to the attack, Aitken running through strongly to fend off two men However, the pass was faulty and the movement fell down. Anderson and McLean were prominent in an Auckland forward rush which shortly afterwards transferred defence into attack and Waikato was hard put to keep the home pack in check. The closing stages of the first half saw Waikato hammering away at the Auckland defence and it appeared that the visitors would even the score when a concerted movement saw the home defence waver. The Auckland fullback. Halliwell. chocked the rush momentarily and finally McLean cut in to clear the danger, leaving the halftime score unchanged. The Second Spell The second spell opened with Waikato forcing play in the home twentyfive. Flannaghan and Galley heading an abortive movement. However, the Waikato pack was not lo be denied and Flannaghan went over shortly afterwards for Aitken to add the extra points. Waikato r>, Auckland 5. Brady and Pearman in turn went down on tlie ball to stem a further

determined bid on the part of the Waikato van. Taylor was later brought down by Hare, and Schubert broke away to bring relief to the home defence. Auckland surged to the lead again when Pearman broke through to transfer to McLean who. with two others in support, ran practically the full length of the field to score. The attempt at goal failed. Auckland 8, Waikato 5. The Waikato forwards were again soon in the picture but Perkins knocked on and the movement broke down. From a scrum a yard in from the home line the ball went into touch. Aitken essayed an unsuccessful drop-kick at goal. Auckland was obliged to force down to stem a further Waikato forward challenge. Up to this stage Waikato, territorily, had had by far the better of the exchanges and only inability to cap many promising movements allowed Auckland to keep ahead. Hemming Auckland on their line they battered the home defence. Auckland Break Away The venue of play changed when Schubert and Pearman broke through to the Waikato twenty-five, but the visiting pack was again in full ’cry when Waikato rushed the Auckland linein characteristic style, to he stopped at I lie last home line of defence, Hare, who come on early in the second spell when Halliwell was forced to retire through injury. Peaman, Brady and Schubert figured in a spectacular breakaway by Auckland. but the greasy ball proved too great a handicap to efficient handling. A free kick to Waikato failed to raise the flags and later Hare likewise was unsuccessful when a penalty kick was awarded Auckland for an infringement Infringements and minor injuries were holding up play, Macky having to retire at this stage and Danniell rep lacing him in the Waikato pack. With less than ten minutes to go Hare placed Auckland on the offensive with a long ranging kick and the home team was nearly over when Anderson dived for the line. The fast-breaking Waikato forwards were soon at. it again and play was rapidly transferred to the Auckland twenty-five. A penalty kick to Auckland allowed Hare to place his team in an attacking position and Schubert put the ball out near the Waikato twenty-tflve. Auckland Over Again Auckland placed itself in an impregnable position when with only a minute or so to go Taylor went over to cap an attractive forward movement in which McLean and Carson also figured. The end came with no further alteration to the score— Auckland 11 Waikato 5