RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 202, 27 August 1931, Page 19

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

TRAMWAYMEN'S MATCH.

KOHN SHIELD CONTEST.

WELLINGTON RETAIN TROPHY.

In an unpolished but willingly contested game at Eden Park yesterday afternoon the Wellington , tramway, representatives played a 14-point draw with the Auckland representatives. The visitors thus retained the Kohn Shield, Avhic'h they won in 1929.

Auckland were the first to attack, and soon had Wellington forced. Good work by the local forwards and fumbling by iNoot allowed the blue and whites to start another offensive immediately, and the Wellington defence was severely tested. A penalty failed to let the blacks free, and it was not until Bennett cleared smartly that they were able to get outside their twenty-five. A quarter.of an hour after the start Wellington were penalised for hanging on to the ball, and Gregory kicked a good goal from outside the twenty-five line. Auckland 3, Wellington 0. After Unsworth had missed in a shot at the posts Wellington set up a series of attacks, which continued until Stenson fielded , cleverly and kicked to half way. A sensational breakaway let Wellington back, and when they secured from a scrum a few yards out Darling whipped round for a try. Noot's kick hit the bar and felt on the wrong side. Auckland 3, Wellington 3. With their backs endeavouring to make the game lively Wellington held the teirir torial advantage for a long spell, and after tight play near the Auckland line Debrency forced his way over for a try, which Noot was unable to convert. Half-time came soon, afterwards. Wellington 6, Auckland 3. ,;•... . .

Within two minutes of the start of the second-half Wellington went further into the lead, Darling working the blind, side near the line and going clean through the defence. The kick was poor. Wellington 9, Auckland 3. Auckland then set a merry pace, and once fast following up by Keenan almost brought a score. The Wellington forwards were playing with plenty of dash, and by fast breaking were able to hamper the Auckland backs. At the height of a hot Auckland attack Wellington infringed, and Gregory kicked an easy, goal/ Wellington 9, Auckland-6. : A'fine run by Gregory took him almost to the Wellington line, but a penalty sent Auckland back. The locals returned immediately, and after a prolonged attack Stenson clashed over at the corner. The,.angle:was too wide for Gregory. Wellington pressed, and Darling sold a nice dummy'before shooting through for a try under, vthe bar. Elliott converted. In the last few: minutes of the game passing by the Auckland backs allowed Keenan to score, for .Gregory to convert. The final score was:— Auckland Tramways ....'....., 14 *"' i Wellington Tramways ...' 14 , .After the match the teams were entertained by the Auckland .Transport Club at a smoke concert in the' Chamber of Commerce. The chairman, Mr. : F. E. i de Guerrier, presided, and the secretary, Mr. S. M. Farrelly, presented the shield. In responding to the toast of. the Auckland Transport Board, Mr. Jv, A. C. Allum said.that it was the board's sincere wish that the tramway staff should be sheltered as far as possible from the effects of the prevailing economic conditions. He mentioned that the Auckland tramway system had not met with serious difficulty with its employees for eleven years. A lengthy toast list was honoured, and vocal, and instrumental numbers were well received.