REP. RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 223, 20 September 1935, Page 13

REP. RUGBY.

WELLINGTON V. AUCKLAND

HEREDITARY ENEMY HERE. TO-MORROWS GAME AT EDEN PARK. The Rugby representative match at Eden Park to-morrow will be the 54th meeting between "Wellington and Auckland pioninces. Of the 53 previously played the blue and whites won 26, Wellington 25, and two were drawn. Auckland lias a fair lead on points—64l to 556.

Results of the 53 contests: — Won by Wellington. 1875—At Wellington ....... 16— 1 ISSO—At Auckland ........ 4— U ISS.'S—At Wellington ....... 4— o* ISB9 —At Wellington 3— 1 ISO4—At Auckland ........ 13 — « 1805—At Wellington J — •-> 1896 —At Auckland •! — '> 1903—At Wellington 4 — ° 1904—At Auckland (Ranfurly Shield) C— 3 1907—At Wellington ....... 11 — » 1915—At Auckland ........ J «» 1915—At Wellington ....... — — » 1917—At Wellington 21 —11 3918—At Auckland ........ IS—l4 1918 —at Wellington ........ —14 1919—At Wellington ....... "4 — o 1920—At Auckland ........ 23 —-0 1920—At Wellington ....... 20— 3 1921—At Wellington 27—19 ■ 1922—At Wellington ....... 39 —11 1928—At Wellington ....... 17 —lo 3 929 —At Auckland ........ 2- —1" 3930 —At Wellington 16—lji 39;5:s —At Auckland ... 37 — 9 1934—At Wellington 16 —lo * Disputed, Auckland claims a draw. Won by Auckland. 3SS0 —At Auckland 4— 2 1897—At Wellington ....... 11— 4 3898—At Auckland ......... 39 — 0 3 899—At Wellington 14— 3 3900—At Auckland ........ 14 — 4 1901—At Wellington 9 — 3 3902—At Auckland IS— 5 1905—At Wellington (Ran - in fly Shield) 10— 6 3 90C—At Auckland ........ 11—- 0 3 908—At Auckland 24— 3 1909 —At Wellington 3 — O 3 911—At Wellington 10— 9 3 912—At Auckland - 12— 0 1913—At Auckland (special Shield challenge) .... 0 — ■> 1913 —At Wellington 11— 9 1917—At Auckland 32— 0 3 917—At Auckland 20—12 3921 —At Auckland 33 —11 1922—At Auckland 54 — 0* 3923—At Auckland 21—15 3 921 —At Wellington 9 — S 3 925—At Auckland ........ 23—31 3920—At Wellington ....... 10 —12 3927—At Auckland 21 — 3 3 931—At Auckland 27—19 1932 —At Wellington 24—14 ♦Not recognised in Wellington's records of representative matches. It is claimed the game was only an "exhibition" as something o£ a counter-attraction to an international League fixture. Wellington had already beaten Auckland in the annual engagement at Athletic Park, and a weak team was sent north. Hark Nicholls played lor Auckland.

Drawn. 1010 —At Auckland (ltanfurly Shield) 3— 3 1011—At Auckland, also .... o — 3 The rivalry was always keen (sometimes, a mild term) up to the end of Auckland's Ranfurly regime in 1913, but there has not been the tension in Auckland-Wellington contests since the war. Nevertheless, the annual fixture is without any possible, probable doubt the outstanding event in New Zealand Rugby every year. When Nicholls, Porter and Heazlewood (the lastnamed kicked 13 points!) beat us here in 1929 by 22 points to 16, and "Mark" played his last game in 1931 (Auckland beating Wellington 27—19), there were 2000 Weliingtonians or ex-residents of the Empire City at Eden Park.

Wallace and Meredith. In the famous game of 1897 Billy Wallace made his debut against Auckland, playing centre, when Geo. Smith and Co. beat the "blacks" on their own ground for the first time in 20 years. Wallace was again centre in 1899, when Vinnie Meredith fielded behind Wellington's scrum, Auckland getting revenue at Athletic Park by a double-figure margin. Among famous blue and whites that day were Geo. Gillett (brother Jack played, too), Dick McGregor, Wiri Harrison, Dave Gallaher, Alex Wilson, Bill Cunningham, l'red Murray and Geo. Tyler.

Auckland was again double figures up in 1900, Harrison scoring three tries here. Wallace was then playing for Otago, and appeared at Auckland in the dark blue jersey the very next week, "Cocky" Roberts being Wellington's centre. That renowned Ponekeite broke a collarbone when fielding for North Island against New South Wales at Auckland in 1894, and "Tab" Wynyard (played cricket and Rugger for both Wellington and Auckland), when he led the southerners three days later, reckoned that was the end of everything, but Auckland went down by 13 points! Meredith was again behind tlie scrum in 1900, but veteran Davy Gage

replaced him at Wellington in 1901, when Auckland won 9—3. The blue and whites were New Zealand champions in 1902, the defeat of Wellington IS—5 being one of the factors in the award of the Ranfurly Shield to Auckland. Meredith played for the last time against his original home town, and Jos. Manson (whose three tries against New South Wales in 1901 for Wellington is regarded as the classic wingforward game of all time in New Zealand) broke his leg, "Opae" Asher bringing him down. Manson, now in the Queen City, retires - before Christmas after 40 years' service in the Customs Department. First Two Challenges Successful.

Although Wellington was victorious by a point at Athletic Park in 1903, the shield was not involved. It would have been hard luck to have lost it by a marked goal (Geo. Spencer) to a try (Hughie Absolmn), but Wellington shifted the trophy on the first challenge ever decided, winning 6—3 at Auckland in 1904. There were many other close finishes up to the war, after Auckland had regained the championship in 1905 while the All Blacks were abroad. The score was 10—G, the Auckland side getting two tries and a marKed goal by "Bolla" Francis (value altered from four to three next year) to two penalty goals by Geo. Spencer. Auckland won the shield challenge in 1906 by six points, but Wellington was eight points up in the 1907 game at Wellington. After a runaway in Auckland's favour 24—3 next year came the classic wet weather engagement in 1909, when Joe O'Leary's penalty goal at Athletic Park was the only score of any description. The 1910 shield challenge was a draw. Auckland won 16—9 in 1911, after Wellington i led 9—o and scored from the kick-off.

Two of the strongest sides ever to represent any province faced each other in the Ranfurly Shield match in 1912, but \ ictor (.J. V.) Macky scored four tries on the late Hami Grace's wing to give Auckland a dozen points' victory. Wellington lodged a special challenge in 1913 (although the 1930 chairman Mr. Norman Millard has overlooked this in his argument with Canterbury), Auckland getting home by a point. Six weeks later, in the annual fixture, Auckland won 11—9 at Athletic Park, after scoring three tries to one. Meantime Taranaki had lifted the Kanfuriy Shield, and in the three marches between Auckland and Wellington for its possession on Athletic Park in 1919, 1920 and 1921 Wellington was far too good; scores: 24 —3. 20—3 and 27 19. vVtllington, who had the challenging rule altered to permit of shield flutters on the challenger's ground, appears to have taken a sporting chance while the 1920 All Blacks were in Australia, as a special match was arranged at Auckland, which the holders iust won, after a tall-scoring game. \V. Laxon, now a golfer, kicked seven points for Auckland, and C. N. Kingston, the 1921 New Zealand full-back against the Springboks, potted a goal. The curtain-raiser to the AucklandWellington representative game at Ed&i Park to-morrow will be the final match in the Auckland Rugby Union's Jubilee Gold Cup competition, between Technical Old Bove and Universitv.

The University team will be chosen from: Miles. Grant, Lewis, Kirkland, Hesketli, Mulvibill, Iglis, Daniel, Thomas, Jensen, Gibson. Arnntage, Dalton„ Sherwood, Drake, Carnachan, Mors<H}, Bergbam, Hamilton, Brenstxum, .

ACCEPTED LEAGUE OFFER.

32. HOLDER FOR LONDON. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, tils day. Eddie Holder, Buller Rugby representative three-quarter, has accepted an offer from one of the new London League clubs to play in England. He leaves New Zealand by the Slataroa on October 11. Holder toured Australia with the All Blacks in 1932 and 1034 and played in the last All Black trials.

TUKAPA V. MANUKAU.

The Tukapa team (New Plymouth) to plav Manukau Rovers at the Showgrounds on 'Saturday will be selected from the following :—E. Tapps, N. Gardiner, J. Sullivan, W. Hanover, I. Wallace, C. Boswell (captain), T. Brown, W. Thompson, B. Carter, T. Sullivan, F. Knott, V. Sorenson, W. Sanger, C. Odowda. F. George, E. Merridith, G. Kenny, M. Pope. TUs Hovers ream is : —Berridgc, Poulton, Carrington, Flett, McCormack, Stuart, Brimble, Hatfield, Grant, Pearce, Bonham, Moir, Wiklund, Kercopa, Trott, Skipper, Brown, McLean.

THAMES V. AUCKLAND B.

Team to represent Auckland B against Thames at Thames to-inorrow: — Backs.—Porteous, Jessup, Berridge, Logan, Smith, Ramsay, Paton, King. Forwards.—Ferguson, l)on, FitzpatriCK, Knight. Bailey, Roddick, i'itzgibbon, Kelk. Benjamin. The team will leave from the Rugby Union's Office, Shortland Street, at IO.oU a.m. to-morrow.

CHARITY MATCH.

A match for the benefit of the unemployed will be held to-morrow at 3 o'clock between teams representing Onehunga Methodists and Presbyterians at the Presbyterian Boys' Home, Mount Smart Road.

VANCOUVER CUP.

On Saturday the Thames Valley Primary Schools* representatives play in lc Aroha, to defend the Vancouver Cup title lor the second time this season. The challengers are Lower Waikato, the players being drawn from lluntlv. Taupiri, and districts The Thames Valley team is : Gerrand (Paeroa), Hurunui (Paeroa), Wi"ht (Te Aroha), Bobinson (Taeroa), Laurence (Ilauraki Plains), Robertson (Waihi), Pakinga (I J aeroa), McKenzie (Paeroa), Gibbons (Te Aroha), Sanderson (Paeroa), Smith (Wailii), Courtney (Plains), Spence (Je Aroha), Hunt (Plains), May (Te Aroha). Reserves: Duncan (Paeroa), Mikkelsen (To Aroha), Sutton (Te Aroha), Woofe (Thames).

BERT PALMER MEMORIAL.

UNVEILING ON SUNDAY. The Bert Palmer Memorial is to be unveiled on Sunday at 2.30 p.m. at the m.ihnhu Public Cemetery by the uw. .i. Stanton. Officials of the Auckland J u j=b> Union and members of the Auckland and Wellington representative teams will be Palmer was injured in a match Otahuhu „ Tinivprsitv played at the Showgrounds on Sepf ember 3, *1932 «nd . dted in the Auckland Hospital the following day. He was remarkably popular among players with whom he came in contact, and the memorial was erecceff T>y spontaneous subscriptions from the clubs.