GRAFTON V. CITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 143, 19 June 1899, Page 3

GRAFTON V. CITY.

(Grafton 3 points; City 3.)

City kicked off against the sun, and following- up smartly started a passing rush, which the good collaring of the black and whites stopped inside the 25. Then Grafton responded with similar aggressive tactics and kept play for a time in their opponents' ground. G. Smith broke through with the bail and was looking1 dangerous when D. Hay grassed him at half way. Hay and * Campbell carried the ball back to City's line, but in their eagerness the leather was kicked too hard across the line, and Donovan forced. The City forwards, playing up well from the kick-out, worked down towards the other goal, but hesitation on the part of Magee and Smith—each waiting for the other to take the ball—gave Grafton an opening, and in a trice they -were back in City's 25 again, whence from, loose play H. Smith whipped across the line with the ball and scored a try. His attempt at goal was unsuccessful. 3—o.

Grafton lost what looked like a certain chance of scoring soon after the kick-out. C. Hay got the ball near centre and passed to his brother, who beat his man by dribbling across to Smith, the latter picking up neatly and passing to Campbell on the right wing. The latter was unopposed just then, and had he not dropped the ball would in all probability have got across the line. But he missed the pass, and the chance was gone. Soon afterwards Renwick had a pot at goal, but missed, and City forced.

The black and whites continued to press, and though G. Smith cleared his lines with a good run to hali way, the relief was only temporary. A fine piece of passing work, in which nearly all the Grafton backs took part, placed the red and blacks again on the defensive. But not for long. The forwards presently gained an opening, and with a slashing rush carried everything- before them. Travelling with the ball the whole length of the field, they picked up near Graiton's line, and Wilson with a last effort dashed for the line and scored amidst great applause. Donovan's kick at goal just missed. 3—3. Before the spell ended Donovan had another shot at goal from, a penalty kick, but again without success, and when half-time was called the score stood at three points f ,each. When the ball was started again Grafton were the first to attack, but Young and Magee relieved in good style, and the City forwards, playing with considerable dash, worked the ball down to their opponents' line. City's backs made great efforts to score, Young sending the ball out to them time after time, but the collaring of the black and whites was too good, and at length Freeman relieved the pressure with a timely kick into touch. City came on again, and Donovan had another attempt at goal from a penalty kick, but the angle was too difficult. The forwards followed up the kick and rushed the ball across the line, but Grafton saved a score by forcing. A smart dash by Asher placed them on the defensive again a few minutes later, and presently they were once more compelled to touch down. Over-eagerness probably accounted for Grafton's narrowly missing another try. Stephenson mulled a catch, and this gave the Grafton forwards an opening, which they took full advantage of, charging1 down to the goal line. McGregor, who was leading, kicked the ball across, but kicked too far, and G. Smith, outpacing the Grafton forward, was able to save a score by sending the ball over the dead-ball line. After some even play C. Hay got away with the ball, but instead of passing when confronted by the City full-back he kicked over the latter's head on the chance of getting possession again. The full-back was first on the ball, however, and stopped progress. Thence till the call of time the game was evenly contested, but no further score was registered, the match thus ending in a draw. NOTES.

The game was fast and open from the start, and the final result well indicates the relative strength of the opposing teams. If Grafton had the best of the game in the first spell, it was City who had the upper hand in the second. Both teams played to their backs a good deal, the forwards heeling out in the scrums, and the backs trying their passing tactics with varying' success. On both sides there was a tendency among the backs to run towards the touch-line - before passing, thus crowding the wmgs instead Of running straight, But what really kept the score down was the good collaring of both teams and this was one of the features of the ™ Grafton made some alteration in their team, C. Wylde-Browne, a junior, taking Smith's place at full-back whale tine latter was moved up mbo the three-quarter line. Wylde-Browne played a very safe, cool game. He took the ball well, and Ms punts invariably found the touch-line. The four three-quarters put in some good combined play, though the tendency to crowd the wings was generally no/fcieeable. Ren/wick was the best of the bunch. " The two Hays put in a lot of good work behind the pack, and the forwards played a hard, willing game, Brady on the wdng1 and. Matiheson being about the pick.

On the City side Donovan showed really fine form at full-back, and G. Smith played a useful g'arae at cen.trethreequarter; his passing aaid takingthe ball were very neat, and 'he paid 1 great attention to his wings, Asher had very few chances to shine, beingtoo well marked, but he played a sound gume. H, Stephen-soil, the other threequuirter, was only fair. Miigee was a capita] five-eighths, showing1 great, dash and good defensive abilities, aud Young played a clever game behind the pack, whipping the ball out very cleanly. Creogh showed gowd form on the wing, while of the pack forwards Wilson played the best game, going haird from start to fiirish.

Mr Ohlsen had charge of the whistle, and controlled the game with his accustomed ability.