NORTHERN UNION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1158, 20 June 1912, Page 15

NORTHERN UNION.

Positions of Clubs in the Senior Championship at the end. of the fourth round.

The “curtain-raiser” at Eden Park -on Saturday was an interesting display, being fast and clean although both teams were lacking somewhat in combination. On the Auckland side there was some clever individual play but the backs were not equal to their and failed to handle the ball with the same precision as the Thames backs showed at times.

Dufty was the first to create a score by placing a goal from a mark to the credit of Thames. Shortly after Houton secured the ball from the loose .and gained a try, which Dufty con-

certed with a good kick.. Before the ball tvas in play, again for more, than ■three minutes Houton. got away and, passing, to Dunkey, enabled the latter .to cross the Auckland line for the .second time. Dufty .was. again entrusted with the .kick, and converted thus making the score: Thames 12, Auckland nil. The second spell opened with some strenuous forward play, and the Auckland backs showed a good deal more combination than characterised their play in the first half, but still they found the Thames men were a strong barrier against them scoring. As the result of a : strong forward rush the ball was carried from midfield to Thames territory and then whipped out to Roope, who carried it across the line at :his toe and Weston fell on it, and scored Auckland’s first try. The kick failed. This score seemed To put heart into the Aucklanders,

while some of the Thames men were feeling the want of form, so that the game became a more even tussle; in fact towards the end the Auckland team were showing to best advantage. McPherson, by a clever bit of play, scored a second try for Auckland but Weston, who took the kick, failed to add to the score. Play proceeded for several minutes but no further scores were registered, so that the match ended in favour of the visitors by 12 points to 6.

“Barney” Winder and his brother, G‘. Winder, were two of the best backs Thames sent up, and with the aid of Dufty would make a formidable trio in any representative team.

For Auckand, Weston, Roope, Haddon and Hickey played good games, but their value was lost to a considerable extent by the lack of combination. The individual merit of the team was good and with a couple of games they would doubtless give a good account of themselves.

It was a great disappointment that Webb, who was picked to represent New Zealand in the team that left for Australia this week, could not make the trip, because undoubtedly he played the finest game on the field

on Saturday, and his prowess behind the scrum would have been a very material help to the New Zealanders in their engagements in the Commonwealth.

The New Zealand representatives selected to go to Australia proved their superiority over the Auckland representatives—after the loss of those who were picked for the touring team —on Saturday at Eden Park; but the actual score is hardly a fair index to the actual play, because in reality the difference between the two teams was comparatively trifling. The Aucklanders put up a great fight, and at the end of the first spell it was generally conceded that they had the best of the game, besides being under the disadvantage of facing the sun. In the second spell certainly the New Zealand team showed to greater advantage. The pack worked

well together and the backs handled the ball with much greater confidence. Webb was certainly the main pivot of the back division and without his aid the touring team might quite easily have suffered defeat.

The first score went to the credit of Francis, who placed a good goal from a free kick awarded for obstruction. Shortly after Auckland secured a free kick and Stannaway equalised matters with a good kick that was loudly applauded. Blakey was responsible for making a good opening by a fast run and transferred to Tricker, who ran across the line amidst great excitement. The kisk was a difficult one and although Stannaway made an excellent attempt, the ball tell a bit short.

The next score was the result of a brilliant piece of play on the part of th© New Zealand backs. Riley got posession about mid-field and, having made an opening, passed to Carlaw, who in turn transferred to Kelly. The latter after a short run passed out to Gilmour on the wing, who dashed down the line and, outpacing the Aucklanders, ran round and touched the ball down behind the goal posts. Gilmour took the kick and added .he mints.

Play how became very fast and the crowd was roused to a high pitch of excitement. They were certainly being treated to a spectacular display and cheered every piece of smart play. The sympathies of the crowd were mostly with the Aucklanders but they were very fair, Healy was responsible for a clever interception that enabled him to flash past the New Zealand backs and score a splendid try which Segar converted. This again put Auckland in the lead and play became intensely interesting until the tension was relieved with the half-time bell sounding.

On resuming, the sun had gone dotyn behind the hill so that the New Zealanders were not faced with the disadvantage the Aucklanders had to play under for the greater part of the first half. As the game proceeded the New Zealanders worked better to-

gether, and the combination between the backs became splendid, while the pack worked in complete unison, and their strength and dash made them superior to the Auckland vanguard. Rukatain started a forward rush by smartly shooting the ball out to Francis, who again sent it on its way from hand to hand until it finally reached Gilmour, who carried it over the line. It was a splendid piece of passing and was heartily cheered. The kick failed, so that the score was 10 all. Kelly next got possession and ran through the Auckland forwards when he transferred to Bradley, who carried on with a good run before transferring to Gilmour and the latter again scored. This time Bradley took the kick and secured a fine goal.

The New Zealanders were now making things pretty merry and their superiority was becoming more apparent as the back division gained confidence in handling the ball. The next score was contributed to by Francis making an opening and then pasing to Rukatai, who in turn transferred to Riley. The latter had a clear run in and scored. Francis took the kick, which was at a difficult angle, but failed to add the additional points. Bradley was responsible for

a clever interception which enabled him to score a good try, but again the kick failed.

For a time the Aucklanders seemed to rally and heart was given them by Healey scoring from a run down the line, but on account of the wide angle the kick failed. King added another try fos the New Zealandefs as the outcome of a forward rush, and Bradley kicked a good goal. Next Segar scored for Auckland, but the kick —at a difficult angle—failed. This was the end of Auckland’s scoring and from this out the New Zealanders had all the best of the game. Two more tries were added to New Zealand’s score by Bradley and Gilmour, while Dunning converted one try. The game thus ended: New Zealand 38, Auckland 16.

Woodward, who was unable to accompany the New Zealanders to Australia, was replaced by Barber, of Wellington, who will play behind the scrum.

The most brilliant player amongst the New Zealanders on Saturday was Webb and his inability to make the trip to the Commonwealth will be much regretted. He is certainly one of the smartest backs ever seen in Auckland.

One of the best all round players on the field in the big match on Saturday was “Don” Kenealiy, who was playing in the three-quarter line for Auckland. It was very gratifying to

see that after the match the Eden player was selected to accompany the touring team, because on his play he certainly was entitled to represent New Zealand, He is somewhat undersized and very light, but these deficiencies are more than counterbalanced by the vim and dash he displays and his sound defensive tactics. In addition he is a good kick.

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