THE PLAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 161, 9 July 1888, Page 2

THE PLAY.

FIRST SPEI^L. t Warbrick -won the toss, and elected to flefend the western goal, playing with the wind. O'Connor kicked off, and Elliot^ spoiling G. Wynyard, the ball weut inside bhe Maori 25. Braund, ..picking up, made a fine run and parsed to McCaualand. Gage then got the ball, and after some good play, the oval was passed to McC.ausland who kicked to Madigan. The latter failed to pick up, so ho kicked hard to Dave Gage, who sent it down to Brown, who returned out of bounds. Stephenson made a good nm, gaining some yards, and then, by fast following up, the Maoris took the ball past the halfway flag. Albie Braund then, by smart play, obtained possession of the ball, kicked out of bounds. After the throw-in, several scrums, ensued, Albie Braund finally getting the ball from a heel oub and kickrag ovit of bounds. From the throw-m Sfcephen3on gob the ball and ran straight across the ground. Ihimira, next got the ball and etectrified the spectators by charging Stephenson off his feet, sending McCausland flying, and knocking off one of the forwards before he was brought down. This run took the ball to Auckland's 25. Here Braund came through, and kicked hard to Joe Warbrick, who made a grand rush down the touch line. Brown tackled him as he crossed the lino and threw him into touch-in-goal, amidst some excitement. McCausland kicked off, and Madigan here distinguished himself by a serviceable run. The Auckland forwards, prominent amongst whom were Wells, McKenzie,. and Marshall, did serviceable work with a splendid dribble to the halfway flag. The Maoris here exerted themselves in several rushes, and Leckie was useful in stopping one rush in particular that threatened a score. J. Warbrick, at this stage, had to retire, owing to what appeared to bo a sprained ankle. Shortly afterwards A. Braund kicked well up the Maori's twenty-five, gaining a lot of eround. A rush by the Auckland forwards took the ball to the Maori 25, and Smiler was here brought down by Elliott as he looked dangerous. Smiler evidently did not like the collar, as he nursed his leg for a couple of minute 3 after ib. Lecky put in some splendid play, and the game was fast and furious. Stephenson kicked hard, then picked up, and passed to Braund, who in turn passed to Madigan, and the Grafton three-quarter was almost in, being grassed by Gage within a few yards of the line. Stephenson then gained possession of the leather, and secured an unmistakable

TRY FOR AUCKLAND,

Amidst; tremendous cheering. Tiie place kick was taken by .McCansland at a very difficult; angle, and although ho made a splendid effort, no goal resulted. Shortly after this Joe Warbrick resumed his place on the field. He played without boots, and it was apparent that one leg was badly injured, as he limped painfully. W. Warbrick kicked off, and T. Brown returned to the half-way flag, the ball foing out of bounds. A. Braund ere made a. nice pass to McCausland, who put the ball one of bounds. McKenzie made a serviceable run, and passed to Elliott, who in turn passed to Madigan, who made a futile effort to get over the goal line, being splendly grassed by W. Warbrick. Braund passed to McCaualand, and Ellison, in following up, spoiled his kick. By a Scrum, the Maoris worked the ball into the Auckland twenty-five, and Masefiekl. kicked out ab half-way. A series of packed gorums now took place at the centre flag, when Fred Warbrick, by a hard punt from the half-way flag, iorced Auckland down. McCausland kicked off, and McKenzie and O'Connoj spoiled W. Wynyard's return. Marshall and McKenscio dribbled the ball to the Maoris'2s ting. "Smiler" secured the ball, and by a strong tending run knocking down three of the Auckland backs, carried the ball to near the Auckland twenty-five. *• Sicilcr' again made several strong spurts, Braund and Eliioto collaring him in time

splendidly. McKenzie came \ away with a good dribble past the half-way flag, and Taare relieved his side by a good punt within bounds. The Auckland forwards dribbled to the native line, whore Gage returned, and following up his kicked spoil McCausland. From the scrum, McKenzie came through, and being well backed up by Elliot and Lecky, dribbled the ball over the line, and scored. AUCKLAND'S SECOND TRY. Masefield made a good kick at goal from a difficult angle, but failed to increase the score. Auckland 2 Maoris 0 \V. Warbrick kicked out,and McCausland returned. W. Wynyard sent the ball back to Madigan, who dropped it into touch. Crowe attempted to kick from the throw in, but G. Wynyard secured the ball, and ran down the field to Brown, who tackled him low, but Wynyard's weight carried him past the full back, and Mnserield and Madigan collared him, and a hot scrum ensued on the Auckland line, but the bluerand-white forwards, however, by a combined rush, took the ball to the halfway flag. Wells was conspicuous next, coming' through the scrum, and then Williams, for the Maoris, got up a dribble — Braund .picking up, punted, and the forwards following up got on a line rush, taking the ball to the Maori line. Gage saved by picking up, and then continued scrummaging ensued in the Maori twenty - rive. Fred Warbrick came away with a fine rush, taking the ball half-way. Masefield picked it up, made an excellent run, then passed to Stevenson. Stevenson when collared, was laid out and had to retire for a few minutes. The Maoris got a splendid rush and carried the ball to Auckland goal line, where continued scrummaging was kept up for two or three minutes, and then Auckland forced down. Brown kicked off, and Marshall following up, spoilt the Maori back, then dribbled to the twenty- j five. The ball was heeled out, and McCausland had a pot at goal,. but the ball fell short. Gage kicked down the field, and Brown returned. There was some fine open work on both sides, and Taare got away with a good run but Elliott dropped him, collaring finely. Braund passed out to Elliott who made a fine dashing Tun and was almost in, but was dropped close to the goal line. A scrummage ensued, and then time was called. Auckland ... ... ... ... 2 Maoris Nil, SECOND SPELL. During the interval Joe Warbrick had his leg examined by a doctor, when it was found that one of the small bones of his ankle were broken. This had been done when Brown throw him into touch in goal— his ankle striking the corner flag. Joo decided not to play during the second spell, so the Maoris were playing a man short— and that their skipper and best man. The ends were changed, giving the Maoris the disadvantage of having the sun in their eyes and a strong wind against them. ' Ellison kicked off, but the ball was called back, the Maoris being off-side, and hacked off in the centre of the field. Auckland rushed the ball into the Maoris' 25, and Stephenson, following vtp, looked like scoring, but the ball went out at the.corner flag. From the throw-in Braund got the ball, but was grassed right in front of his goal. From a scrummage which ensued Brown tried to pot at goal, but Ellison brought him down. The ball was then passed to Madigan, who made a splendid run" down the line, and was thrown into touch -in - goal by W. Warbrick. Gage kicked off — the ball being smartly returned by Masefield, who was thrown down, and the ball remained for some time in neutral territory. The ball was passed out to Elliott, who ran down the line, fending splendidly. Ho dodged five or six opponents, but was tackled and shouldered out of bounds by A Warbrick, a few yards off the line. Elliott threw in ; the Auckland forwards rushed the ball across the field and over the line, when Crowe fell on the ball and scored the

THIRD TRY FOR AUCKLAND. McCausland ' took the kick aba difficult angle and no addition to the score resulted. Wynyard kicked off, and Madigan returned. Webster marked, and placed the ball for Ellison, bu"t Lecky charged and sent the ball o.it of bounds. W. Warbrick made a run. and was brought down by Elliott. The Maoris made a fine rush, headed by Williams.: It was stopped by McCausland, and Madigan getting the ball made a good run up the Held, gaining much ground. Elliott made two or three fine runs, then the ball was passed by Braund to Masefield who made the run of the day, commencing from the half-way flag, right through the Maori backs. Easily dodging Gage, he ran right behind the goal, scoring AUCKLAND'S FOURTH TRY. McCausland took the kick, and potted an easy goal. Score : Auckland... , ... ... ••■ 6, Maoris ... .. 0 This was by far the finest run of the day. Ellison kicked off, but the ball v?as called back for off-side play, and was backed off", the ball going out of bounds. From, the throw-in, Ciowo passed tv Masefield, but lie was .collared, and passed neatly to Elliott, who made a grand dash, passing every one but Gage, who grassed him within ten yards of the native goal.line - the ball going out of bounds. From the throw in, W. Warbrick secured the ball, and Crowe then passed out to Stephenson, but W. Warbrick spoiled him, and a scrum ensued opposite the twentyfive line. •A. Braund heeled out from the scrum, and ran round, was collared by F. Warbrick, but he passed to Wells, who ran" and' passed to Stephenson, who ran right round the full-back, Gage, and scored FIFTH TRY FOR AUCKLAND Though at a difficult anyle, McCausland kicked a beautiful goal. Score : Auckland 9 Maoris • 0 Ellison kicked off, and A. Braund returned, being laid out by Ellison. The natives then gob up a grand rush, headed by Webster and W. Wynyard, the latter kicking hard down the field to Brown, who returned the ball to neutral territory. The Auckland reps, then gob up a grand rush, which was eventually stopped by Gage, and then Taiaroa came through, and G. *Wynyard got a mark at about half-way flag. The Maoris worked up to Auckland's 25, and Braund made a dashing run, and pub in some smart play, thereby frustrating the efforts of the native team, ( who were working hard to avert defeat. Taare made a eood run up the field, and on being collared, passed to W. Wynyard, who kicked to T. Brown, the latter returning well to the half-way fla^. Fred. Warbrick here, getting the ball, distinguished himself by a good run, and shortly afterwards, Smiler returned the ball to the Auckland 25 where he was grassed by the Auckland forwards. A rush of the native forwards with Webster at their head, took the ball across the line, and Madigan saved his side by kicking into touch in goal. Madigan kicked off, and Lecky spoiled Taare's return, and took the ball out of bounds. Shortly after this Taiaroa came away with a good run to the half-way flag, and Williams and W. Warbrick did some fine passing, keeping the ball well in Auckland territory. At this stage the Maoris were playing bettor than at any other period in the match. McCausland rescued Auckland by picking up on the goal-line and kicking to the twenty-five flag, whence the baTl was taken by " Smjler," who nearly ob. fcained a try—being grassed by McCausland-

Brown cleared his line with a splendid punt, Elliott following up fast spoiled Gage. After more undecided play W. Wynyard made a good dodgy run, following up with a kick. Brown marked off the punt, and Crowe did some pretty play—coming through the scrum, and endeavouring to" feed his backe. "Smiler" was again prominent on the Native side, and Madigan made a dribble, winding up with a magnificent run to ' the half-way tiag, where he lost the ball. Shortly after this Elliot kicked hard and followed up well, nearly getting a try for Auckland—Gage saving his side by kicking the ball behind his^ gaol among the spectators, thus making it dead. Within another minute, Elliott again had the ball tucked under his arm and was speeling towards the Maori territory. He passed the forwards safely, fended and dodged the backs one by one, charged Gage off his feet, and when across the line was just pushed into touch-in-goal by Taare. The Maoris were forced-down twice in rapid succession, Stephenson kicking hard down the line once and McCausland making an ineffectual pot at goal, and for some -time after this the game was very open — the play being all in neutral territory. The Auckland men, during the last quarter of an hour played very listlessly, and considering that Joe Warwick was unable to play during the second spell, the Maoris made a very fair show. The match resulted:— Auckland 9 Maoris 0