Might Revive Aust. Rules

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30879, 12 October 1965, Page 23

Might Revive Aust. Rules

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND.

The interest shown in an exhibition game of Australian Rules football in Auckland on Sunday may lead to the formation of an Auckland club to play social matches against visiting Australian teams.

More than 7000 persons watched ? sparkling game between two sides drawn from the visiting New South Wales premier club, Western Suburbs.

One side, calling itself Southern Districts, defeated Western Suburbs by 16 goals,

16 behinds (112 points) to 14 goals, 8 behinds (92 points), although the lead fluctuated until the last quarter of the match.

Goals, worth six points, are scored by kicking the ball through the centre two of four goal-posts. Behinds, worth one point, are for kicks that go through the outer posts.

The game is normally played with 18 a side. The teams were restricted to 14 on Sunday because the specially marked ground was considerably smaller than the Australian Rules oval of 175 yards by 150 yards.

The Western Suburbs secretary, Mr W. Hart, kept the crowd informed of the features of the game by loudspeaker, and there was frequent applause for spectacular high marks and long driving drop-kicks for goal. The game was played in Auckland in the early 1900 s. and New Zealand took part in the first Australian Rules championships in Melbourne in 1908, beating New South Wales and Queensland. The Western Suburbs’ president, Mr H. R. Conlon, said after the game he believed the code could be re-established in New Zealand on a social basis at least