THE RUGBY GAME

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2553, 30 August 1915, Page 7

THE RUGBY GAME

4 WELLINGTON BEATS AUCKLAND VISITORS OUTCLASSED GAME BRIGHT, OPEN, AND FAST. The Auckland Rugby representatives were beaten back and forward and generally outclassed by Wellington at Athletic' Park on Saturday afternoon. The day was sunny and mild, and about 7000 people witnessed the match. The game was open and fast, and brighter than representative games usually are. The Wellington forwards went to work with a will at the very commencement, and gave their backs ample opportunity. The backs were just the men to make good use of chances, and Auckland was m trouble very early. Features of the game were the remarkably fino play of James Ryan, outside five-eighth, and the brilliance of Algar, the centre-tliree-quarter. Algar is one of the cleverest men who ever played the game at repelling an attack by intercepting a pass or'somehow engineering the ball away from the attackers. Local Backs on the Gallop. Tlie'teams took the field as follows:— Wellington.—Full-back, J.- Robinson; three-quarters, E. Ryan, B. Algar, G. Kinvig; five-eighths, James Ryan, Blakemoor; half, J. Tilyard; wing-for-ward,, A, Gilchrist; pack, ,W. Ready, W. Francis, A. Wilson, ,W. Ryan, M'Phee, Tailored, Denneliy. Auckland.—Full-back, Moffitt; threequarters, Barkor, Stewart, Clarke; five-' eighths, Prussing, Campbell; ' half, Laing; forwards, Casey, Grace, M'Hugh, Campbell, 'Avery, Hanlon, Hanch, Stewart. Wellington's first try was awarded to Ready, who was about to touch down when.ho was illegally obstructed by an Aucklandor. Wellington, 3; Auckland, 0. E. Ryan went. within an ace of scoring oil two occasions through enterprising play, and then W. Ryan, who had been playing conspicuously, among the forwards, shot out of & melee near the Auckland line, carved a path through the ruck, and' scored. J. Ryan's attempt, to convert, like his former effort, just failed. Wellington, 6; Auckland, 0. Wellington attacked repeatedly, and at the Auckland twentyfivo mark Tilyard snapped up the leather, and, after a useful dash, • sent it on to W. Ryan, who threw a bad pass to J. Ryan. J. Ryan, however, gathered it up beautifully, arid' cutting, and wriggling through the Auckland mass, scored a brilliant try under the posts. He converted the try, and the ■score stood: Wellington, H; Auckland, 0. Auckland got their first chance now through the Wellington full-back getting into difficulties. Fine line-kicking by Tilyard and J. Ryan drove the visitors back on several occasions, but they returned persistently, and Wellington hftd considerable difficulty in keeping them out. A great run by Algar put Wellington again in a good position, and the forwards carrying Auckland before them, W. Ryan scored. J. Ryan's kick at goal swerved outside the post. Wellington, 14; Auckland, 0. Passing between Tilyard. J. Ryan, and Kinvig resulted in the last-named scoring, and the spell ended in- Wellington's favour by 17 to 0. ' 1 Big Lead Maintained. H. Swaffield went on for Auckland in the second spell instead of Clarke, who had been hurt just at the conclusion of tho fjrst spell. .Wellington's play at the opening of this spell, was marked by an absence of care, and a splendid rush by the Auckland forwards drove Wellington from one end of the field to the other. Strenuous play on the Wellington line followed, and Harrison got over from a scramble. Laing converted. Wellington, 17; Auckland, 5. The Auckland forwards maintained the attack, and got the ball out to their backs, but Algar robbed tliem of the leather, and set up a counter-attack, which Kinvig and J. Ryan carried almost to the Auckland line. In the midst of a warm engagement, ] J. Ryan potted at goal, and the ball flew under tlio bar. Once more Auckland attacked, and again Algar took'the ball from their backs. He streaked through the opposition,- and on -reaching the fullback passed to J. Ryan, who ran in under the posts. Tilyard goaled—Wellington, 22; Auckland, y. Kinvig made a. fine run, which just fell short resulting in an addition to Wellington's score, and E. Ryan ran in near. the corner, but tho line-umpire claimed that ho had touched the corner flag. A littie later, Wellington were penalised in their own twenty-five, and Barker landed a beautiful goal for Auckland. The final score, therefore, was: Wellington 22 Auckland 8 Mr. W. J. Meredith was referee. A few minutes before the conclusion' of the ganio, Francis, the Wellington forwardj was removed from the field with a badly, injured knee. SIXTH-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. Before the big match, Poneke and Petone played off for the sixth-class championship. Poneke won by 9 points to 0. Towier, Rhodes, and Canute scored tries for Poneke. SCHOOLS' COMPETITION. The Wellington Schools' junior competition lias closed, South' Wellington having been declared winners. This team won all its matches,' and subsequently, with tho Normal, team, both wero promoted to . tho senior, B competition, in which they aro now taking part-, and- are acquitting themselves creditably. One of the best, Giimen plfl.yed ill for lime was sewi

at Kelburn Park last Friday, when South Wellington and Terrace, who were bracketed for first place last year, met and played a drawn ganio (there • being no score). Arrangements arc woll in hand for. the tournament wliieli is io take place hero in tlio coining holidays. The teams will arrive from Wanganui and Manawatu on Friday, and there ' will be matches on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday. Tho boys will bo billeted out by tlie various schools, and during their stay will be entertained with excursions. railway workshops match. The annual match between tho Auckland and the Petone Railway Workshops resulted in a win for Petone by 16 to 0. For Petone, Montgomery and Baker scored tries, wliich M'lnerney converted, and M'lnvorney kicked two penalty goals. CANTERBURY BEATS OTAGO. (By TeleEraDli—Press Association-' ' Christchurch, August 28. Fine weather prevailed for the representative match between Canterbury and Otago, played this afternoon. Tho half-time hell sounded with the scores Canterbury 15, Otago nil. and by the time the match was ended Canterbury had totted up 32 to Otago's Q. THE LEAGUE GAME. By. Telejrapli.—Prcs3 Association. Auckland, August 28. The Auckland Loaguo representatives defeated Thames yesterday by 27 points to 16.