WELLINGTON V. AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 177, 29 July 1898, Page 3

WELLINGTON V. AUCKLAND.

THE WELLINGTON REPRESENT-

ATIVES.

here nW he eat interes* felt tweet, th \ fo, l-,tb(JOmi^ ™at<* betin A"ekland and Wellington lowint i tea™B°*8 °* Saturday, the fol3'"J* deacJ'PtKm of the visiting team S? t,^ With lnterMt The 7 notes 'Post- m the W^Ji%^ c\<™? V* .(MelroSß. full-baclO-Has rotinT Stenlly £°od work for Melrose in this portion. A very cool and methodtcal and heady young player got but could with advantage make more use ot his left,' Represented Wellington against Marlborough last year. ° Ross (Melrose, wing three-quarter) Un e of these consistent players, who take advantage of every opportunity or opening. Strong and dashing runner but should put more vigour into lus tackle. Hawke (Petone, centre three-quart-er)--^ very reliable player, clefcn and methodical in his'work, line kick, but should make more use of this touchline. Matson (Petone, wing three-quarter) —Mas all the qualifications of a topnotcher if properly looked after. Very last; can kick well with either footat times inclined to funk a formidable opposing. rush. Should be the scoring man of the team. McGuire (Melrose, five-eighth)—A strong, sturdy player who understands the game in all its bearings. Specially strong in-defence. and difficult to bring down when fairly under way. Woods (Petone, half)—A neat little player; gets the ball away from the serum very smartly; clever punter with either foot; tricky, but not too fond of stopping rushes. Warwick, Melrose, emergency)—A smart little back who can play either at five-eighth or centre. Equally good in attack or defence; clever kick. Spencer (Melrose, front ranker) — Grafts hard from start to finish and with plenty of vigour, good tackier and shows up in the loose. J. Spencer (Melrose, front ranker) — An erstwhile junior rep. A young and promising player, and first-class in every department of the . forward game. Strong, sturdy and fast, and in splendid condition; he should play a conspicuous part in the rep matches. Soffe (Melrose, pivot of the team) — A strong player who has lost none of his old dash. GOod on the line-out and in tlie loose, but not too fond of scrum work. McAnally (Poneke)—Playing in splendid form this season. Excels on the line-out; sure collarer, and grafts untiringly from start to finish. Hardham (Petone) —A strong, dashing young forward, working hard in the scrum and conspicuous in the open, sure tackier and good place kick. Has shown great form this season, and built up a reputation for try-gettibg. Man son (Wellington)—A sturdy 3'oung forward of the fast and heavy stamp. Good in the loose, follows up well, good tackier, and a regular glutton for work. J. Kelly (Poneke, wing forward)— The veteran of the team. Is playing as well as ever this season, and in some'instances with great brilliancy. Very fast; smothers the opposing backs quickly, and dribbles prettily. Has cured his old habit of over-run-ning the ball. . Morton (Wellington, emergency)— Front ranker. A powerful forward who pegs away from start to finish. Great tackier, but inclined to hang on the ball. O'Brien (Athletic, emergency)—A typical stamp of a Wellington forward, strong, willing and fast. Always on the ball and a dangerous scoring man. The heaviest player of the combination. Undoubtedly one of the best of his class in the city.