AT WELLINGTON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 130, 4 June 1930, Page 15

AT WELLINGTON.

TWELVE TO EIGHT.

A FAST, BUSTLING GAME.

AARVOLD LOSES CHANCES,

(By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.")

WELLINGTON, Tuesday,

Over 30,000 people to-day saw Britain suffer its first defeat of the 4 tour, Wellington winning at Athletic Park by twelve points (a potten goal, a converted try ana a penalty goal) ro eight points (a convertod try and a penalty goal). McLean, Barry and Porter were prominent in a rush by the Wellington forwards that was not stopped until Britain's twenty-five had been reached, Bassett bringing off a good touch-finder. Aarvold made full use of an opening given when Ransom missed a pass after Kilby had set the Wellington back line going, and the British centre was not pulled up until he was close to Wellington's line. Here Wellington was penalised, but Black missed the kick at goal. When play was resumed, however, Spong cut in to make a splendid opening, and transferred to Bowcott, who' ran Morley into position, and passed at just the right moment.

Britain 5 Wellington 0 Near, his own twenty-five Morley put in a useful run and cross-kicked, and Beamish secured and pushed his way to Wellington's twenty-five. Ivor Jones got off-side and Heazlewood just missed at goal. A mis-directed kick gave Hazlewood a chance to improve Wellington's position, and he found touch on Britain's twenty-five. Barry and McLean, witn the ball at toe, forced play right to the British ime. Two good openings weri spoiled through over-eagerness, and Spong started a rush which ended at half way. From the line-out Porter secured and found touch at Britain's twenty-five. Two hard sittacks were launched by the Wellington inside backß, but the passing lacked finish. Beamish took advantage of a fumbled pass, and, supported by Hodgson and Kendrew, set forth in a dribbling rush, which Kilby stopped with a splendid line kick. There was a period of hard exciting rush, and counter-rush by the forwards, ending in a penalty to Britain. ' Spong did not find the line, however, and Porter, who got the ball quickly, manoeuvred for position, took his time, and landed a splendid field goal amid wild enthusiasm. •

Britain 5 Wellington 4 Heazlewood's Great Goal. Murray sent up a high kick that Heazlewood fumbled, and two men were on him. In a flash he recovered well and got in a powerful kick, which was fielded by Bassett when running at top speed, and the British full-back nearly got away down the line, Jessup coming to light just in time. Ivor Jones got offside, and Heazlewood took a kick at goal from two yards outside his half way and succeeded. It was a wonderful kick.

Wellington 7 Britain 5

Play had now, been in progress half an hour. A vigorous attack by the British forwards was stopped by Nicholls, whose tackling, like that of all the backs, was absolutely deadly. McLean, with the ball at toe, got to Britain's twenty-five, where he picked up and cross-kicked. Jessup secured, and pushed his way to near the line, passing to McPherson, who went over near the corner. It was .a splendid try, a fine piece of opportunism on the part of McLean and Jessup. Heazlewood converted.

Wellington ......>-.*».; 12 Britain ,-.] ' 5 A passing liout was -started by Murray in Britain's twenty-five, but Porter made effective use of an opening when a pass was fumbled, and supported by Nicholls, broke through to half-way, where Nicholls kicked on. Novis handy, hoirever, and forced. Britain from a good position was repulsed, and from near half-way Heazlewood missed with a penalty. From a line out Johnson dropped a pass after the ball had come cleanly out of a tight scrum formation, and Bowcott seized the opportunity to put in a useful run. A penalty was awarded Britain, and Prentice's kick at goal went wide. From a. line out Murray

sent out to Spong, to Bowcott to

Aarvold, but the latter spoilt a good ~ chance when he cut in instead of passing to Morley. The" spell ended when Aarvold tried to pot a goal, but his attempt was smothered. At half-time. both teams remained on the field, in accordance with the decision of the New Zealand - Rugby Union or. Monday night.

Britain's-Effort Made. ■; In the second spell the "game was faster, if anything. Morley narrowly missed with a pot at goal. Parker, Kendrew and Hodgson were prominent in a dribbling rush, Heazlewood forcing just in time. Bowcott, Aarvold. and Novis handled from a scrum in Welling- '■ ton's twenty-five, but what seemed a ' certain score was missed when Aarvold cut in when he had a man in support, and only one defender to pass, and was smothered by Heazlewood. Nicholls found touch at the British twenty-five. 'From the line out Kilby sent out to Johnson, Nicholls and Ransom, who , missed his pass, but later put in a run to within ten yards of Britain's line. Bowcott, however, saved with a splendid kick to half way. The tackling on both sides was sure and determined, and there was little opportunity for any back attack other than by quick, accurate .passing. Spong slipped through an opening and put in a fine solo run, and Gent Morley away do%n • the sideline. The latter's in-pass was smothered and ' Porter robbed Spong of the ball and kicked to near half way. A penalty to Britain again saw play on Wellington's twenty-five, and Morley secured, passing to Aarvold. The latter 'cross-kicked, but Heazlewood got in first, and a promising attack failed. Prentice distinguished himself by drop kicking- to find touch in . the corner, and in the ensuing scrumanaging Wellington was. penalised. Prentice took the kick, and goaled. Wellington • • ...-"„ Britain 8 The Final Stages. Wellington forwards came to light with a bustling attack, but Bowcott ■ .started an attack that saw the ball go ' right along the back line-to Morley, the . latter being brought down in the nick 'of time. Bassett ran up to set the line.

going, but Niehalls and Ransom intercepted, and in a flash Britain was defending. Prentice saved to half way with a fine dribbling rush, which Hodgson improved to Wellington's twentyfive.

The game was being played at the same rattling pace set from the kick-off. With eight minutes to play excitement grew increasingly intense, as- the Wellington men forged downfield and fully extended the British defence. With two minutes to play the crowd on the grandstand side of the ground left their seats and occupied the touch line. The police had some trouble in keeping the field intact when Novis was pulled down ten yards from the line, having taken a lob pass from Ivor Jones, and Heazlewood found touch.

As the final whistle went there was no restraining the excited and esthusiastic spectators, after one of the 'most exciting games ever played on Athletic Park. The referee was Mr. W. B. Fuller, of Canterbury. PROVINCIAL TEAMS. CANTERBURY PLAYERS. ' CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. The Canterbury team to play the British Rugby team on Saturday is:— Full-back, H. Lilburne; three-quarters, C. Oliver, S. R. Carleton, G. Hart; fiveeighths, F. D. Innes, D. M. Hay; half, W. C. Dalley; wing- forward, G. Scrimshaw; forwards, J. T. Burrows, A. I. Cottrell, G. T. Alley, R, T. Stewart, J'. E. Manchester, R. K. King and P. Serra. * Ememjencies.—Backs, N. P. McGregor, T. Mullan, >J. Harris; forwards, G. J. Howell,. C. H. Perkins, N. M. Porterfield.

OTAGO PLAYERS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Tuesday. The following Rugby players have been chosen to represent Otago against the British team:— Backs.—Stevenson, Wilson, Lindsay, McClymont, Fookes, Giles, Francis. Forwards.—Bore, Souter, Dunne (captain), Sonntag, Finlayson, Collett, Murtagh, Scott (wing).