AUCKLAND v WELLINGTON

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9812, 23 August 1897, Page 3

AUCKLAND v WELLINGTON

(press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, August 21. To-day Wellington lo3t their first interprovincial match on their own ground for twenty years, since 1877, when Dunedin proved their master. They have always managed to hold their own at home. They have b_en beaten by New South Wales and by a Native team, but the most the provinces have ever been able to do so was to draw. Tho result to-day was not unexpected after Auckland's fine performance up North, and it was rather unfortunate that, from various causes, the local Selection Committee had to pick a number of untried men. Their judgment as regards the forwards was excellent, but it is evident that they either made a serious mistake in choosing the back players, or else wo have none who are really above ordinary Club form. An unusual storm of criticism has been levelled at the Wellington team, and possibly it may have disheartened some of tho backs, for certain it is that they did not even play up to their known ability. Lifeless and spiritless, slow and uncertain, and weak to the last degree, they formed the worst back brigade who have ever represented Wellington, and their fault entirely was it that the game was lost. How different was the play of the brilliant Northerners behind the scrummage. Hampered by a wet and heavy ground, clogged by broken and defeated forwards driven to top speed again and again to cut iv before a string of dashing skirmishers close upon the goal, they were always more than equal to the work. The local forwards were undeniably superior to their opponents, and when it came to loose play and following fast upon tho ball they carried all before them. Again and again they broke up all opposition, and sent everything whirling down the field to the goal line, but always in front of them sped some fastfooted dasher, quick enough to save the score. The Auckland backs passed without i fear, Wellington never tried. Again and again Auckland was stopped by the fine collaring of the forwards, but did play ever approach the Wellington goal it was with nervous anxiety the spectators watched Smith, Absolum and Co. till danger was removed. For some reason, in the early part of the game the Aucklanders did not use their lacks so much as they might have done, but in the second spell they fed them to their hearts' content. Nevertheless, despite all, up to five minutes from the end Auckland was to all intents and purposes a beaten team. Their forwards were overborne and run over, and their line was constantly in danger. The score was a _point against them, and the spectators were already raising a cry of victory, when disaster, complete and crushing, fell on Wellington. The time had come, and the man for Auckland was there. Smith, dashing, fleet of foot and untiring, who had been working like a hero, that Smith, who had come back from Australia foremost ot the New Zealand team, as a local critic, who only saw him play in the North v South Island match, predicted he would, actually scored two tries from the middle of the ground while the referee had as it were the whistle to his lips waiting to call no side. From imminent defeat he snatched a substantial victory for his side, for one of his tries was converted, and the score became 11 points to 4 points. Thus Auckland won by a substantial margin, but on a dry ground there can be little doubt it would have been larger. The day was fine, and there was a slight breeze, which died away before the finish, but unfortunately light showers in the morning had kept the ground, already saturated, wet, and not having sufficient time to thoroughly dry pools lay under the grass in places, and before the finish the turf had cut up and become very heavy. It might easily have been worse after the heavy rain of yesterday, but it was soft enough to seriously interfere with the visitors' play and hamper their backs. Great interest was taken in the game, and the attendance was the largest ever seen on the Athletic Park. Quite 5000 peeple were present, among who was his Excellency the Governor. The teams welcomed him with cheers, and then proceeded to business. Mr Garrard, of Christchurch, was a most efficieut referee. In the first spell the game was fairly even. Harrison, from a pass from Smith, who made a good ran down the touch-line, secured a try, which was not converted. Laws, for Wellington, made a capital mark, and Wallace placed a goal from it. In the second spell the Wellington forwards again and again streamed up to the Bines' lines, but were unable to break through their opponents' defence. While the ball was among the forward* matters were satisfactory for the local team, but as soon as it got among the Auckland backs Wellington was in trouble. Towards the erid of the spell the Auckland forwards were completely done, and their opponents were running over them as they liked. Scarcely five minutes remained, and the game was practically gone from the Northerners' grasp. Nine times out of ten they would have left the field defeated, for it is seldom one man can win a game of football as he can at cricket. But this match was yet to show how useful even at the winter game one determined player can be, and the ball once more fell into Smith's hands, but he was on the centre line with at least four men within touching distance, and hampered by side line within a few feet away. So certain, apparently was it that he could do nothing, that each left it to the other to seize him, and before they had realised what was occurring Smith had wriggled through the press and was off hot foot. Baumber alone stood in the way, but Smith eluding him without difficulty ran right under the post. Murray easily kiekel a goal, making the total 8 paints to 4 poiuts. Smith wa3 not done with y.t. He secured the ball again in exactly the same spot, but this time with no one in front of him except Baumber, whose utmost efforts only kept the redoubtable Nwtherosr away fre_

the goal posts and reduced the score to a simple try. Immediately after the whistle went and Auckland, for a second time, proved victorious over the Empire city by 11 point- (one goal from a try and two tries) to 4 points (one goal from a mark). 'Ihe great crowd, who had been prep?ring to cheer a victory all the more pleasing baeause unexpected, filed silently away. 1 {FKOM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPOSIIKNT.) 1 WELLINGTON, August 22. For the first time for twenty years a Wellington football team has been defeated on its owa ground, but then, as someone has very truly remarked, it is only within the ; last year or two that Wellington has had a \ ground on which it was possible to play g:.od football. There can be no doubt that 1 the belter team won the battle on Saturday, and had the ground been dry the Aucklanders, I feel sure, would have scored heavily. The Wellington team was strong in forwards and very weak in b;icks. The Auckland forwards, on the other hand, were ' not so good, but tbe backs were very formidable. Through the instrumentality of ' Smith Auckland scored after twenty-six \ minutes' play, and shortly afterwards Wel- \ lington got a goal from a mark. The play ' was fairly even in the first spell. In the second spell Wellington endeavoured to make it a forward game, and their forwards certainly played brilliantly, and occasionally, amid tumultuous applause, they swept the ground from end to end, but there was no one, either back or forward, good enough to break through the Auck- ; landers' defence. Till the last twelve ' minutes Auckland was one point behind, I aud it looked as if Wellington would score | a lucky win. At the last, however, Smith's 1 opportunity came. Getting the ball aud J extricating himself cleverly from a knot of \ Wellington players, who surrounded him, he ' made a most brilliant run from the half-way 1 flag and scored behind the goal posts. Thunders of cheering from all parts of the ground greeted this magnificent performance, which, when it was repeated a few minutes afterwards, was again enthusiastically cheered. The final result was a win for Auckland after a most exciting contest by 11 points to 4 points. L There is I learn some considerable di ffer--3 ence of opinion amongst the officials of the Wellington Union as to whther the Wellington team should go to Otago. The decision to play against Otago was only i carried on the casting vote of the Chair- ; man, but one member was absent who t would have voted against the proposal. i There is a bare possibility that the decision I may be rescinded, though I hardly think so. 3