AUCKLAND (11) v. WELLINGTON (9).

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14759, 1 September 1913, Page 5

AUCKLAND (11) v. WELLINGTON (9).

(press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, August 30. Superb weather and the biggest crowd of tho season, numbering between 8000 and 10,000, witnessed tho Auckland-Wellington match, played at Athietic Park this afternoon. Thero was a brilliant sun, a breath of wind, and excellent turf. Wellington won th© toss and played with the sun at their backs. J. Ryan, took the ball and found the line at half-way, aad Lambert, full-back, stopped a "Wellington charge. O'Leary was cheered for a clever relieving dash up to half-way, and in a scrum in Auckland twentyfive Nunn snatched a snappy mark. Fumbling by the Auckland backs imperrillod their goal, but O'Brien dashed off at top, and the ball went out at half-way. Tho fighting on th« lineout was fierce enough. After Weston had driven Wellington back on their line Kinvig returned, and play hung about half-—ay. H. Paton (Wellington) had a shot from mid-field, but the luck was charged down, and O'Leary found the line well up with a beautiful kick, but a penalty sent the Northerners back. Heavy work raged from Wel-

lington's twenty-five back across halfway, Halt and O'Brien (Auckland), and Mitchinson (Wellington) doing heady work. Then McGregor made a brilliant dash up the side-line, with only Evenson, full-back, to beat. He dribbled past his man, but obstruction tactics by the Wellington man stopped the dash" O'Loary's shot went wido. Another Auckland rush was turned by J. Ryan who bagged a great mark. Later Mitchinson put his side on the attack with some heady piny, and O'Brien once again came to his side's relief. It proved to be only temporary. i Fl. Paton marked on the line-out. 'and ! from well out landed a beautiful goal after about twenty minutes' play. Wellington ... ... 3 Auckland ... ... nil Tho local men nearly got over in the next few minutes. Fumbling by O'Brien saw a me.cc under the Auckland posts, but offside play saved the visitors. Then ! ensued a dazzling piece of piny. O'Leary I intercepted a passing bout, and ran up. !At half-way his pass was intercepted by Mitchinson, the ball eventually coming to Ryan, who found the line oyer his head. The second of two dashing passing rushes by the Wellington backs „\v Ryan fail to take a bad pass when in lino for ho. ■?. Then Kinvig unmarked a long way out just failed to top tlio bar with a lovely pot. Immediately after. 11. Paton marked on the drop-out, and unavailingly followed Kinvig's example. Wellington then got over, after Auckland had bee.') on the defensive for ten minutes. Nunn. MeKenzie, Tiiyard, and Ryan 6ont Kinvig up, and the last-named scored. It was really Ryan's try. l'atou did not convert. Wellington ... ... 6 Auckland ... ... 0 Off again, Paton had another shot which went just outside. Both forward and back Wellington were now superior. I'aton tried another drop shot without avail. Half time went with the scores unaltered. In the local team Millar replaced Gillespie, and Grace, Evenson, owing to injuries. Unhampered by the .sun. Auckland attacked vigorously, but tho Wellington backs sot up a brilliant passing rush until Grace was jammed out in the Yuckland twenty-five. Wellington wore penalised in defending, and O'Leary made a line attempt, which fell short. Another shot was poor, and another penalty at the twenty-live gave O'Leary still another opportunity, but it was a poor Kick. From a scrum in Wellington's twenty-five, Ross mado an opening for O'Brien, who ran through, and grounded in great style. The try was not converted. Wellington ... ... 6 Auckland ... ... 3 Offside play by Downing eased the pressure on the Wellington line, pla. oivmg ng to tlu opposing twenty-live, where O'Leary marked cleverly. Then Auckland's chance arrived. O'Leary ticlued- at half-way and let up Weston, fho latter galloped througn the Held and gave .McGregor a difficult pass which was handled beautifully. The northern wing three-quarter mado no mistake and scored a g.cat try. O'Leary goal d. Auckland ... ... 8 Wellington ... ... 6 The visiting backs were running over their opponents and Wellington had to tight very hard. Grace, looking for . the line, screwed the ball back into O'Leary's arms at midfield. The 6hot fell ehoft. A deadly-looking dribbling rush by Wellington, was pulled up in Auckland's twenty-five by Weston with a sound mark. Immediately after the local mon were forced. Ross, in Wellington's twenty-five, marked, but Lambert's shot was charged dewn. Play worked to the Auckland end. In Auckland's twenty-five,* the visitors were penalised for net letting the ball into tlio scrum. Paton goaled easily. Wellington ... ... 9 Auckland ... ... 8 ] It was a fast, willing battle, with Auckland looking as dangerous as ever. The Wellington backs were troubled by the " sun, but the local forwards wero working like horses. Nunn, Wellington's small half, was doing great work and the forwards pushing tho better. Auckland were penred up for quite a spell. Freekicks were numerous. From a rush in Auckland twenty-five, McGregor drib»bled splendidly and hard. The ball beat Ryan at full-back, and O'Brien, following up fast, scored. O'Leary's shot failed. Auckland ... ... 11 Wellington ... ... 9 Tho local men were forced twice _ quick succession. There was no further scoro.