N.S.W. V. WELLINGTON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 186, 19 August 1901, Page 3

N.S.W. V. WELLINGTON.

A NARROW WIN FOR WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON BEAT NKW SOUTH WALKS UV A POINT. (Wellington 17 points, New South Wales 10.) (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. The New South Wales represeutatives played the first game of their New Zealand tour this afternoon at the Athletic Park. The day was fine and the ground was in good order. There was a large attendance (about 50U0 being" present), and they were rewarded by just the sort of match the public likes to see, no succession of dismal-packed scrummages, but a breezy, dashing, quick scoring* game at top speed from start to finish. The size of the score does not speak well for the defence on either side; both were much stronger in attack than when on the defensive. There was a stiff wind blowing down the ground, and Wellington should have put on a larger score in the first spell, but they did not get going till it was half over, aud nearly lost the game through their missing their opportunity. When the visitors got the wind they at once showed they could play a bold game, and their backs, kicking high, the men followed up fast, and-- nearly always scored. The Wellington players .soon realised that they were going to be badly beaten if they did not smother the backs, and made it an open forward game as much as possible, with the best results, an they got two well-deserved tries, and ultimately scraped through by the narrow margin of one point. Manson was their shining light; he was always in front, backing up at top speed, and scored no less than three tries. The visitors are rather light, but an active lot of young men, keen at following up and quick to take advantage of an opening. Their passing is rapid and accurate, and they seemed in excellent condition. Judging by to-day's match, their forwards are rather weak, for they could not stand up to the sweeping rushes of their opponents, nor is the defence of their backs of the strongest Given them an opening, however, and they are very likely to score. The game was played in two spells of 40 minutes. Wellington wore black and the visitors light blue. Kelly, the local captain, won the toss from Costello, and the latter kicked off at a quarter past three against the wind. The blues were at once driven over their line, and Wallace had a shot at goal from a free kick, but the distance was too great. For some 20 minutes the local backs seemed unable to take the ball, and all attempts at passing were a failure. Several free kicks were awarded against Wellington, which gave the blues breathing time, and then Kelly got over after a long- punt by Mclntyre, but was called back, as the ball had gone out of touch. For New South Wales Wickham has a try for goal from a free kick, and made a good effort, but the wind was too strong. A score looked imminent at any moment, and as soon as the backs had got properly -warmed up it came. Wood made the opening, and, passing to Mclntyre and Manson, the latter got. over. No croal was kicked: Wellington, 3 to 0. The blues rather unexpectedly at once equalised matters by a dashing piece of passing, in which the ball travelled from hand to hand, and every man backing up, a wild scramble at the finish resulted in Hughes getting over. No goal was kicked: Three all. The next score was to Wellington, and resulted from a perfect piece of play by Wood and Manson. The latter ran up to the line, and at the right moment passed to Manson, giving him a clear run, free from obstruction, tp the back of the goal. This was an easy chance, but Wood's kick ran along the ground. Wellington 0, New South Wales 3. Five minutes afterwards Mclntyre fairly galloped through the Sydney backs and crossed the line. From a difficult position Wallace kicked a splendid goal lington 11, New South Wales 3. The blues responded by forcing the game to the other end, but the local vanguard came rushing down again, charged Maund, the fullback, and ran over him. The try was, however averted, but the Sydney fullback got a nasty knock on the hip. The first spell then ended. In the interval McMahon was shifted to fullback, and Conlon was allowed to fill the gap. On/resuming, the visitors, with the aid of the wind, at once proceeded to make things very lively for their opponents. They caught the Wellington men unawares, and? following the kick-off in a body, fairly hustled the blacks out of the way, and scored a try as they liked by the agency of Shortland. No goal resulted; in fact, the place-kicking on both sides was poor, or the scores would have been much larger: \\ellineton 11, New South Wales 6. About this point Wriffley, the Wellington

fullback, touched the ball for the first time in the game. The blues kept up their attack, and, securing a mark, Wickham kicked a beautiful goal: Wellington 11, New South Wales 10. The rapidity of the scoring fairly took the breath of the spectators away, and matters looked very dismal for the local representatives, but (hey rose to the. occasiou, and, recognising that their only chance was to keep the ball from the Sydney backs, they set to work at a ding-dong forward game that brought its reward, following up fast, they smothered the skirmishing division, and Kelly grounder! the bull over the line. Ho dropped it immediately, and the ball was grabbed by a blue. The referee, who doubtless did not have a clear view of what actually happened, disallowed the try, but it was fairly earned. Kelly, however, came again, and by 4 rapid pass made an opening for Mansoii, who scored his third try: Wellington 14, New South Wales 10. In answer, Judd came through tlio serum with the ball in his arm, and 11 series of quick passes gave Wickham n try: Wellington 14, -Now South Wales I.'}. The blacks, in return, dashed up the ground, aud made a terrific assault on the blue line. Wood was thrown out at the corner flag, and scrimmage after scrimmage saw I hem still assailing the blue's defence. Finally, Melntyre got a pass, and went over the line like a catapult: Wellington 17, New South Wales 13. Then came Sydney's turn. Shortland got in a slashing run, which put Wellington on the-defence, and a series of scrimmages similar to those at the other end resulted in Conlon scrambling over. Wickham missed his chance ot winning the game for his side by failing with the kick at goal, and the score became: Wellington 17, New South Wales 10. With only three or four minutes to go, there was t'evei- excitement, as it was still anybody's game. A thrill ran through the crowd as Wallace, after taking a high punt, very finely allowed himself to be tackled in front of the goal, and the next moment the blue forwards were raging round the posts. They could not, however, get through, but still another chance was left, for a catch was secured close handy. Again the kick failed, and time was called, after a rattling game, with Wellington victorious by the scanty margin of one point

Opinion is divided about the merits of the four three-quarters game, as played by New South Wales. The arrangement gave them a strong attack, which, when helped by wind, sorely tried the opposing side, but the for' words were correspondingly weakened and could not stay against the smashing charges of the local men; and it is well known that the latter urea weaker forward team than Wellington has had for years. The combination afforded by the Southern trip stood Wellington in good stead, and but for the practice thus obtained the forwards could not have done the work they did. When the Sydney, men have the experience of a few matches together they will be much more formidable, and will probably give the scratch New Zealand team all they want. The passing of the visitors was particularly good, and the backs run level spread across the field, instead of following behind the man with the ball. Several of their tries were obtained ill this way.