FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 11, 12 January 1918, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. The Australian A.S.C., stationed at Parkhouse, whose team has only once before suffered defeat, were compelled to lower their colours to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, who journeyed to Patkhouse recently, says the English ing X.i£e." The game throughout -was fast and fierce, the New Zealand pack making the play, 'while the Service relied more on a nippy set of backs for their attack. The first half passed with no score either side, and five minutes from time it appeared that a drawn game was a certainty, till New Zealand, making a last desperate effort, and sweeping aside all opposition, eroated the line, and emerged winners of a hard fought, typical colonial game. Following tiie kick-off, a scrum took place all half-way, from which the New Zealand pack broke away, and carried play to the Service line, where Hoyle (AuatanV lia) picked up cleanly and hooted out at half. A fierce rally followed the throwin, the Service backs opening up play iii good style, but the deadly "collar" Id"*" , of the New Zealanders prerehtel them from getting far, and again the Mounted •pack carried play to the Service *'2iS," •where Phillipson (N.Z.) ran through, but was collared on the line, and Awj. tralia swarmed round to save a score. Play surged across-field, the forwards making the play on both sides till Little, Scorrer, and Hennessy (N.Z.) broke away to the Service line, where a lucky mark pulled them up within a yard' of the line. Broderick (N.Z.) fielded the kick, and Wilson (NfZ.) having ah tinsuccessful shot at goal the Service forced down. The second half started with Service pressing from the kick-off, but their passing attacks were futile, the dashing 'Mounted pack* breaking up the combination. The game grew fast said .furious, the New Zealand pack giving the Service hacks plenty of work to keep ' their line intact. Keeping the bill down, the "Mounted" forwards, with •determined rushes, carried all before them, and Weaver (N.Z.), picking up iii the loose, dashed on. but was collared. The Service pack mixed it freely with the opposing forwards, and carried play to Ritchie (N.Z. frill), who cleared but ih New Zealand "twenty-five," where a medley of line-outs and scrums' followed. Mounteds now appeared to advantage/ and by sheer solid forward work carried all before them, the Service hacks being j to stem the torrent; and Phillip* (N.Z.) kicking past the full-back, fot lowed on and scored amid great enthusiasm. The kick at goal wag not a suei cess, and New Zealand were left winners by three points to nil. For the winners, the three-o-uarters kicked with judgment in defence: and,- although lacking the attacking conrbination of tie Service backs, came through a trying ordeal with flying colours. Phillipg«in and Weaver (five-eighths), and Broderick (haM) combined well, and backed up' a strong attacking pack, besides "talcing a big hand in stemming their oppotnn-g onslaughts. The honours of the gain undoubtedly go to New Zealand's fof•ward division, whoße clever line-out and scrum work and loose dribbling rushes prevented the speedy Service hacks front opening up their play. Of a hariworking galloping pack Littlej Scorn*, and Hennessy weTe distinctly prominent. The New Zealand team was:—Ritchie, Sheridan, Wilson, Burridge, Phillipsott, * "Weaver. Broderick. Binnie; Hardy, Jahnstone, Harrison, Scott, Scorfer, He*' nessy, Little (captain).