NORTHERN UNION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1169, 5 September 1912, Page 18

NORTHERN UNION.

NEW SOOTH WALES defeated.

AUCKLAND’S BRILLIANT VICTORY. FAST AND EXCITING GAME. “The forwards won it.” This was the unanimous verdict of 10,000 football enthusiasts who were present at Victoria Park on Saturday when the New South Wales League team met with an unexpected and decisive defeat at the hands of the Auckland thirteen. To say that defeat for the visitors was unexpected is to put it mildly and Auckland's greatest admirers could only hope that the Welshmen would not run up cricket scores, but that the contest wou.d be a close one with a small maigin in favour of the visitors. How the local forwards raced over the opposition and won the match by 10 points to 3, amidst terrific applause, is now well known, and the contest will live long in the memory of those present at the popular recreation ground on Saturday last.

With heavy rain faking on Friday matters looked far from bright for a successful day, but on Saturday morning the weather cleared, and the spirits of enthusiasts rose a few Poll^B- - one o’clock the skv was dull, but the rain held off, and a stream ot humanity could be seen wending its way to the trysting place, where a “curtain raiser” between Auckland Juniors and Waikato was being played. About a quarter-past 2 o’clock ram began to fall lightly, but this soon developed into a perfect downpour, and many people who intended witnessing the match altered their course and returned home. Still, the wretched weather conditions did not prevent 10,000 spectators attending, and it says much for the League game when 9000 of those present stood out in the open in the pouring rain till the bell sounded at call of time.

To get on to the game. As before remarked, the New South Wales men were favourites, supporters of Auckland receiving “evens” and 10 points in. However, speculation was very mild, and did not reach one-tenth of the amount wagered on the Auckland- \\ ellington Rugby match at Alexandra Park. The few who accepted the points in, and entrusted the local team with their coin were never in doubt when the second spell began, and victory was always assured. A few minutes past three o’clock Webb led the Auckland team on to the ground, closely followed by the “Missionaries” —this is the name claimed for the New South Wales team, whose mission is to show what the League game is like when properly played —- and loud cheering greeted both teams. * * ■* »

Without going into a lengthy detailed description of the play, it is sufficient to say that from the outset it was at once evident that those present would be treated to a strenuous contest. Play at once became fast, but there was a vast difference in the play of the two teams, for while the visiting backs drew forth rounds of applause by their neat passing runs it was the forwards of the Auckland combination who were in the thick of it. Time after time the New South Wales backs would start throwing the leather about, but they did not run straight enough, and they would eventually have their wing threequarti. rs on the line. It must not be imagined that this was the case all the time, but many chances were lost through this fault. In the first spell the visitors had the best of play, and led at half-time by three points to nil. the result of a try by Williams, who dived over at the corner from a scramble near Auckland’s line. During this half both Cummins (New South Wales) and Hardgraves (Auckland) had shots at goal, but not one of the attempts was worth mentioning. the heavy ball being all against goal-kicking.

Compared with the first half of the game, what a different story has to be told of the second spell, when the Auckland forwards excelled themselves and played all over the Welshmen. From the commencement it was evident that the local vanguard meant business, and they swooped down upon their opponents as only Auckland forwards are known to do. The opposing pack was demoralised, while the defence of the backs, al-

though good, was unable to withstand the onslaughts made upon it, and twenty minutes after the spell opened the “Missionaries” were a beaten f.am. At this stage the play strayed from the laid down rules of the game, and several incidents which are to be regretted took place. To an onlooker it was plain that our friends from across the Tasman, when they saw defeat could not be averted, resorted to tactics which are not calculated to cause them to grow in favour with the public. Any player who cannot take defeat like a sportsman should not be a footballer, and though it would be particularly bitter to the New South Wales men, win have been regarded as world beaters at the League game, there was certainly no occasion for the tactics resorted to. The first “incident ’ was noticed when Auckland obtained the lead, and a little later one of the visiters sent a straight left across the scrum at the head of an Aucklander. This was the first of a sequence of miniature fighis. and those keealfallowing the game saw the fist being used on several occasions. The crowd hooted loudly, but it was not until three minutes to the call of time that matters reached a head, the climax coming when Dean, after being

grounded by Curran, deliberately turned and struck the Aucklander in the face. The referee (Mr Campbell) at once ordered Dean off the field, while the crowd began to surge on to the playing ground, and appearances gave indications of a riot. However, fortunately, the incident stopped with Dean being ordered off, and the bell to cease play sounded almost immediately. During the spell Mitchell and Reke scored tries, Hardgrave converting one, while Dunningkicked a penalty goal, and the visitors failing to score, the game ended Auckland 10 points, New South Wales 3.

Before commenting upon the individual form of the players the heartiest congratulations are due to the Auckland team on their brilliant and decisive victory. There was no element of luck attached to it, and were the game replayed under similar weather conditions the result would be the same. The visitors can attribute their defeat to the play of the Auckland vanguard, whose rushes simply carried the day, and whose play was, to put it mildly, “Beautiful” with a capital “B.”

The first to receive attention is Mr. A. Campbell, who was in the unenviable position of referee. As one

of the best known and capable referees in the Dominion, Mr. Campbell’s performance on Saturday was hard to understand. There can be no question of doubt that a couple of the visitors should have been ordered off for rough play, but as this was not done we can onlj- assume that Mr. Campbell did not see what happened.

As the Auckland team carried off the honours, it is only fair that they be given first consideration. Hardgraves, at full-back, was safe as a rule, out his tendency 'to try and beat several opponents should be at once obliterated or it will prove costly one of these fine afternoons.

Weston, Curran, and Roope in the three-quarter line played well on the defence, but they were not good in attack, and, taken all round, Curran was perhaps the best. In comparison with the three-quarter line of the visitors they did not shine, and it was on rare occasions that they essayed a piece of passing.

Of the five-eighths, Reke was more brilliant in attack than Blakey, but the last-named showed out best in

defence, his tackling being sure and hard. Reke was very neat in some of his dashes, and his try was the outcome of a quick piece of work.

The half-back, Webb, was the star of the Auckland backs, and it is doubtful if he has ever equalled his performance of Saturday. He was always on the ball and shone in both attack and defence, his tackling of the opposition being clean and sure. He started several runs after making openings, but his fellow backs failed to put on the finishing touches.

And now we have the forwards heroes they were on Saturday—and too much cannot he said of their efforts. One and all played the game of their lives, but the bright spot of the pack was Rukutai. He was on the ball throughout, and followed up in good style, with the result that he frustrated numerous movements initiated by the Welshmen. M. and H. Hayward, Dunning, Mitchell and Seagar were all brilliant, and a finer pack it would be difficult to place in the field.

And of the New South Wales men: McGregor, full-back, was responsible for a fine display in the first half, when he took the ball cleanly and kicked in fine style. However, in the

second half, when playing with a beaten team his play gradually deteriorated and his form was not so good as in the first half.

Broomham, Deal, Hallett and Frawley comprised the three-quarter line, and of the quartette Dean gave the best display, his clever cutting-in being a feature of the game. Broomham, owing to his companions running wide, did not get many chances, and was kept on the boundary line. Frawley was solid in attack, while his passes were always given at the right moment. Hallett, who came with a great reputation, did not come up to expectations, but this may have been due to the wet ball and heavy state of the ground. The short sharp runs which the quartette brought off left the impression that, given a dry day. a fast open game, which the public

so dearly long to see, may be ex pected.

Norman, five-eighths, played a wonderful game, and on the day’s play was the best back on the ground. He handled the greasy ball in fine style, and to his trickiness there is no limit, and several times he badly beat the Auckland backs. In con-

trast to his companions he always ran straight and did rot hem his men on the line. On a fine day brilliant play may be expected from Norman.

Halloway, half-back, was good, but owing to playing behind a beaten pack, his chances were limited. He gets the ball out to his backs quickly and shaped well on the defence.

Of the forwards, Sullivan was prominent, and Mitchell also was in the ascendant. Cummins, McCue, Burge and Courteney made up the pack, which could not pace it with the locals over the concluding stalf of the game.

NEXT SATURDAY’S MATCH.

On Saturday afternoon next the New South Wales team will try conclusions with the New Zealand representatives at the cricket ground, and in the event of fine weather prevailing it seems safe to predict a large attendance. After the showing of the New South Wales backs against Auckland, it is apparently the popular opinion that on a fine day they would be invincible in the Dominion. They certainly gave glimpses of brilliant passing last week, but whether they will be able to do this against the pick of the Dominion is

another matter. Given a fine day judges are predicting an easy win for New South Wales, but it rs unsafe to count your chickens before they are hatched, and there appears to 3 be good reason to expect the cables to flash another defeat for the visitors across the Tasman on Saturday evening. However, we can only hope that the best team may win and that the game will be fought out in the best of spirit, and not characterised by the questionable tactics which prevailed in the second half of the match with Auckland. s * * The following players have been chosen by vhe selectors to go into training at Milford Beach, and a final selection will be made on Saturday morning:—Backs: Hardgreaves Curran Reke, and Webb (Auckland), Kelly Cook, Bradley (Wellington), Duval (Napier). Forwards; Rukutai, Dunning, H. Hayward, M. Hayward, Mitchell (Auckland), C. King (Wellington), and Kyle (Taranaki). G. Seagar and S. Weston (Auckland) have also been requested to hold themselves in readiness. * * * *

,\ s a “curtain-raiser” to the test match on Saturday an Auckland team will play the Goldfields representatives Following is the Auckland Full-back, Asher; three-quart-prS) Weston, Keneally, Roope; fiveeighths, Blakey, Tobin; half-back, Jackson; forwards, Griffin, Stanaway, Dervan, Fricker, Lambert, Seagar. Emergencies: Backs: Healey, Biggs, Haddon. Forwards: Pullen, Clark, Charters.