THAMES V. AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 206, 31 August 1934, Page 13

THAMES V. AUCKLAND.

'AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON.

OLD-TIME RUGBY CONTEST.

GOLD FIELD S XV. AT EDEN PARK.

I ANNUAL GAME TO-MORROW.

The annual representative Rugby match fcetwecn Thames and Auckland will bo played at Eden Park to-morrow afternoon, commencing at three o'clock.

The curtain-raisci' will be the final of the intermediate A section of the Auckland Rugby Union's competition between Grammar Old Boys and Suburbs.

Although the Thames Rugby Football Union was not officially formed until 1889, football between the Goldfields representatives and Auckland was commenced as far back as 1870, the initial encounter at Tararu ending in a pointless draw. The return match took place at Sliortland in 1871, under practically the same old-time rules, except that the Melbourne rule of bouncing the ball every five yards was eliminated. This was another scoreless draw, and it is on record that the casualties were heavy. In 1872 another game was played at Shortland, only ten men a-side, and as, according to the rules, a game could only be won by a goal, the result was another draw —although Duder got a try for Auckland. The first official representative match *tvas played at Potter's Paddock in 1890. Teams for Saturday's representative engagement are:— THAMES. Full-back: W. Savage. Three-quarters: R. Dovell, M. Pearson, 11. Baker. Five-eighths: R. Shaw, T. Hoyle. j Half-back: T. Dufty. Forwards: J. Maxwell, P. Barlich, A. , Strange, E. Robson, J. Robson, T. : Abraham, P. Abraham, R. Alexander. , Reserves: A. McLachlan, E. McLachlan. f AUCKLAND. | Full-back: Matlieson. | Three-quarters: Brown, Turbott, Carter. | Five-eighths: Jessup, Lewis. ! Half-back: Aro. Forwards: Williams, Thomas, A. Keane, Morgan, Mills, Armitage, Constable, Potter. Reserves: Benjamin, Mcßeth, Brimble, Lendrum. When Thames Was N.Z. Champion.

In 1897 Auckland beat the New Zealand representatives after their return from New South Wales and Queensland by 11 points to 10. As Thames had beaten Auckland, 9—6 at Thames, the Goldfields representatives claimed the Dominion championship. Dick McGregor played on one wing and Frank Surrnan, captain of the 1894 New South Wales team in New Zealand, was on the other (the latter later represented Auckland and had played for New Zealand in the Test against Queensland at Wellington in 1896. The Auckland full-back was A. E. D'Arcy, custodian of the 1893 All Blacks in Australia. The blue and whites fielded four three-quarters— Hughie Absolum, "Oily" Riley, Doug. Hay and Peter Gerrard. _ "Alby" Braund, scrum-half, was captain, and Sir James Gunson was in the pack. Naturally Auckland was right after the Thames boys when they came up to Potter's Paddock ; on July 16, 1898. But the Goldfields side again proved victorious (19^—13). Geo. Gillett was- full-back for the winners and brother Jack appeared in the opposition vanguard. _ Auckland fielded four three-quarters again. Other famous players were:— Thames: Dick McGregor (1901-3-4 All Black), Jack Swindley (1894 All Black) and Bill Cunningham (1901-5-7-8 All Black). Auckland: "Opae" Asher (1903 All Black), "Tiffy" Laing (North Island, 1902), Charlie Speight (1893 All Black), Ales. Wilson (1897 All Black), "Doctor" Murray (1893 and 1897 All Black). Tlid "Hat-Trick." By this time Auckland was de'sperate, but nothing could stop Thames from completing the hat-trick in 1899 on their own pitch, score 12—3. On this occasion Oily Riley and Laing played against Auckland and shared victory with Geo. Gillett, Dick McGregor, Cunningham and Swindley. Noteworthy blue and whites were: Carlton Hay (five-eighth), Dave Gallaher (captain 1905 All Blacks) and "Scotty" Irvine (father of W.R., of the 1924 All Blacks). Playing the then orthodox New Zealand formation of three threes and two wing-forwards did not avail the Aucklanders anything, and they fell by four tries to one.

In 1905, after Auckland had recovered the Ranfurly Shield from Wellington, Thames twice beat Auckland—6—s at Auckland and 7—6 at Thames. Other names to conjure with in the latter part of last century were Jock McGregor, Mai Buckland, "Darkie" Brownlie and Dave Stewart, while latter day Rugby "saints" on the Goldfields were "Circus" Hayward, Morgan Hayward, L. Autridge, H. Alexander, "Micky" Lomas, I. Smith and J. Strange.

THE 53RD GAME TO-MORROW. The meeting between Auckland and Wellington at Athletic Park to-morrow will be the 53rd match between the two anions. Auckland has won 26, Wellington 24 and the remaining two were drawn. These last-named engagements were both 3—3—both at Auckland in 1910 and 1914, respectively—the former a Ranfurly Shield challenge.

Auckland was the first holder of the Ranfurly Shield by virtue of its fine performances in the 1902 season, and in the very first match for ponsession of the now famous trophy, Wellington won 6—3, on August 6, 1904. A yea.r later the Aucklanders regained the shield, with a 10 —6 victory at Athletic Park. During the next eight years there were many strenuous contests for its possession, until Taranaki lifted it (14—11), on September 4, 1313. During that period Auckland staved off the following Wellingtonian challenges:— 1906, won 11—5; 1908, won 24—3; 1910, drawn 3—3; 1912, won 12—0; 1913, won 6—6.

The games at, Athletic Park meantime had resulted:—l9o7, lost 3—11; 1909, won 3—o: 1911, won 16—9 {Wellington led 9—o at the interval); 1913, won 11—9 (after special Ranfurly Shield challenge).

As previously stated, the match in the war year was drawn, and up to the stage of the Armistice the Wellingtonians had the better of the argument, winning five of seven engagements in the battle years. Subsequent to peace being restored the patches have ended:— 1919 (at Wellington)— Lost .. 3—24 1920 (at Auckland) —Lost .. 20—23 1920 (at Wellington)— Lost 3—20 1921 (at Auckland) —Won .. 13—11 1921 (at Wellington)— Lost .. 19—27 1922 (at Wellington)— Lost .. 11—19 1922 (at Auckland) —Won .. 54—0 1923 (at Auckland) —Won .. 21—15 1924 (at Wellington)— Won .. 9—B 1925 (at Auckland)— Won .. 23—11 1926 (at Wellington)— Won .. 16—12 1927 (at Auckland) —Won .. 21—3 1928 (at Wellington)— Lost .. 13—17 1929 (at Auckland)— Lost .. 16—22 1930 (at Wellington)— Lost .. 15—16 1981 (at Auckland) —Won .. 27—19 1932 (at Wellington)— Won . . 24—14 1933 (at Auckland) —Lost .. 9—37 C MARK NICHOI/LS' ELECT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The following Weljington representative Rugby team has been chosen by Mr. Mark Nicholls to play the Auckland touring team at Athletic Park on Saturday:— . Full-back. —Pollock. Three-quarters.—Kobins, Lilburne, Fuller. Five-eighths.—Page, Griffiths. Half-back.—Kllby, Forwards. —Hull, Lambourne, Leahy, Peck, Beld, Barry, Wells, Dellabarea. Reserves. —Backs: Sadler, Upchurch, Wees. Forwards: Butler, Coulston. ■C. Scarborough, the Grammar Old Boys forward, was unable to travel with tho Auckland team and was replaced by H. Bond, Pcnsonbj;