RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 249, 20 October 1919, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

WON BY THE DIGGERS. SATURDAY'S RUGBY CfAME. AUCKLAND TAKES SECOND PLACE. 1C POINTS TO l>. AN EXCITIXO Gv-.UK. The oration offered 10 1110 >."<•«• Zealand Expeditionary Force Football team—the winners of the F.mplre Clip as the crack I Rugby llftccn iv tie whole of the (British Army—convinced nil hands that they were In popular favour among the moderate.sized croud thnt assembled to watch tliem play Auckland and beat them lo the tune of Ifi poluts to a bare half-ilozi-n. flu many occasions during the game the play nns exciting to see, nud In those instances where the famous Digger cum- I blliatlon were, running an attack speetly | follow-up tactics, the general accuracy of their hamulus;, and Uie all-round excellence of their tackling, work had the home team liothererl considerably. In fad, it may be said thai those whirlwind attacks won them the game, although it was not until the last half of the socyud spell -that Auckland came to Uie fore with any aggressions worth mentkinlug at all. Then these solii'.er footbiillers shovvul that their defence is as hard to put up with as their attack. The Army U-nni scored tlrst. and kept on adding points till they had accumulated IR. Then Auclc.and made' a penalty goal, and later on. nfrer a vast amount or hard fighting for it, got 11 try under the bur, which they falU-d to convert. The point-setters j for I he winners were: Stohr two tries and two (tonls. Kisslck and Ford a try nplere. Stornioni goaled a penalty, and Wilson scored a try for Auckland. THE lUN OK THE (I.V.ME. With a breeze and the sun behind them the Army hoys hail the n<l vantage of the open lUX exchane.es, but when the Auckland forwards got together they carried the hall hack t.i the centre. Tile game waned fast between the forwards, with Stonuont ilolni? line work for Auckland and Belils prominent on the other side. The Diggers- worked to (lie Auckland line, hut when they opened ! out to the hacks Storuiout cut off. and sent the hall to his bucks, who removed the dancer. The IHrrciV goal-line was In I danger, when a nice drlhlling bout by three of the Auckland forward* carried tele ball over, but O'Rrient\vns there, and forced. Then the military boys set up a strong attnek, 1 heir forwards rallying In great style, while each time the local men liroke away O'Brien used the sideline to send them back. Auckland cleared eventually, only to lie sent liii'-k by a great breakaway by Sin.o. who hurt n try at his mercy when lie slipped, oiid the chance was gone. The first score came when a centring kick by Roberts was fumbled by Hums, and bustled Uie ball away from him. dribbling over, and scoring between the posts a try that was not Improved. .lust immediately afterwards Kisslck broke clear away from a line-out, and scored again. Auckland. now s-ix points down, rallied, and Nicholson and Wilson <howcd up in successive breakaways 1 while illirien. in return, showed some great ; handling defensive work. The Diggers woke up, and put In oM style breakaway forward work thnt tested the Auckland defence 'to the uttermost.- A great high kick by Stonuont enabled the local men to attack, but once (lL'iiln the Digger forwards showed their pace-- In clearing. Und a dribbling rush ended in Singe and Lucas indfk-ed in a passing !i O llt, and sending on 10 Stohr. win. outlined! itnriix. and scored at the corner. St.ihr converted the try. and at half-Time the Service boys had eleven points ~1, 1., nil. When the second I spell opened ihe Arin.r forwards went away with great .In-li. fain. Lucas and Helils. and then Henry helne urominenr In dacliv work ti>:il took the ball to the Auckland ■ line, where in ink play Ford got a try I whl-.'i Stnlir converted. t«—f> In open play Auckland showed up. and Stonuont had a ixit at goal which fe'l short, and the Digger* cleared Auckland rallied, and a nice run by Ttadeley took him to the line, where his pass went astray, lint immediately afterwards Stnrmont opened Aiu-k hind's account with a goal from n free. A'-yfenl breakaway by KellK and Slum was flopped only on the Ai'cklnnd line, but the local men retaliated and cleared. Then I Auckland took a turn on attack, and thf I Diggers were called nn to exhibit their ! defensive powers. Time and again the local men came on, and were repelled, till a .'heady cross-kick by Wilson rtia'-k) sent tin ball lo the front of the vosts. where Wilson • (forward) picked up and scored. Stornioni ' missis, an easy shot nt goal. K^—G. Fine cMss-passine by Henry ami Kisslrk even tually put the Diggers back In the Auc'slani! rjuaner. and 'Henry made a great das , ! , for a try hut knocked the corner flae Airnln Auckland set nn a prolonged attack birt the nU'irers. tliou-h palpably tired, hell , them off till the whistle blew, with th< s.-ores 1C to f> in their favour. WIIAKATANE A*. ROTORUA. (By Telegraph,—Own Correspondent.) WIIAKATANE, Saturday •i In relurii fur the Rotorua -Whakatam . I match played al Hotorua, the Kotorua rep I ! team played the. Whakatane repn. at Whaka ; lane this afternoon in Hue weather am 1 before a large cro\«l. The first half wa mostly close playing, and from a serum ninge'ln»fnint <>r the goal-posts Held scorei '. I for Whakatane. making Whnkniane :t. Th • I kick at. goal failed. In the second half tie • game opened out. fast back play being th' I order. However, there was no furthc : 1 THAMES. 1 i : (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) ; THAMES, Saturday ) The weather was fine and the uttendene fair at to-day's football matches. 1 City 8, beat Maritime 5.