THE LEAGUE GAME

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 288, 1 September 1919, Page 7

THE LEAGUE GAME

. ' AUSTRALIA V. NEW ZEALAND • VISITORS. OUTCLASSED. tj 'reiesraeii--l-r,('Kfi Asaricifttioa - Christchurch, Auguk-30. 'The second Itugby League test match, . Australia vereus New Zeaiaaid, wag play" ed ftt Sydonliiim Park iu the. presence of about six thousand spectators. • The weather was dull, withV fair- breeise blowing across tha ground. Australia set the game in motion. The kick waa fielded by' Ifwerson, : who ran to the, line . and'passed tho ball to Williams, who got. over the line neaf the corner:- Dufty tailed to'convert the try. Subsequent . play favoured Australia, whofa attacks, Jiowever, broke down through faultypassing. From' a- breach Homer had a shot,'which was successful. - New 'Zealand 3 Australia 2 The New Zealanders pressed and, the •Australian getting offside, gav.o Dufty a : chance,, with which he made no mistake. New Zealand 5 - Australia 3 Tho play wasjiiost-interesting, but favouretl neither side. Hordor initiated a nice rush, but Ifwereou out in, being grassed near the line. The visitors' passing was ajjleasure to but the ' tackling of tlio New '.Zeal aiders wai 'very sound, and Australia's efi'orts were fruit-' 'less.' Harder hid an iinsuccessful shot at goal, and, following on a nice run by Sweeney, Bradley took his 'centre kick and broke right away. He'passed the ball to Ifwerson, but Hordw had more pace and saved the situation. Dufty -, lniesed-'an easy goal from, a penalty kicK and Australia wero forced (town us the rffiult.'qf a,'long, kick'by puftj\ " Jphn'eon' (Aiistriiliaj ,w.ijh't'oft;'a3" tli'o'"result of . a kick', over tliC eye, and Tnoroiighgood took his place. At'this stage the play favoured. New Zealand. Tnei visitors Vere constantly penalised for infringing tho rul&i, and Dufty and Ifwerson each essayed goals from penalties, but had' no luck. An Australian passing rush broke down and loose play • . followed, from which Waltors scqretl, Tint Duffy failed to add the major points. . . \ ■. New Zealand 8 Australia 2, Sweeney, the 'visitor's full-back, was collared m possession of the ball and from a scrnmblo' Walters again scored, Ifwerson converting. Half-time sounded with play-in midfield. New.Zealand -13 . Australia 2 . *. " The second spell opened with -New Zealand attacking, nnd a mark by Sweeney gave relief. Tho return was marked by lies, and Itwerscn mado a good but abortivo effort to convert it. Bradley took a mark a couple of min-. rites later, and this time liwerson'made no mistake. ''. New Zealand 15 Australia 2 Ile3 and Horder were noticeable for good runs for their respective sides. The home team continued to press, and, following up a penalty kick by llwerson, which Horder failed, to field, Walter-; dashed over. Ifweison failed to'convert the-try. . J New Zealand 18 Australia 2 'Australia .set out to wipe off,the deficit, but their efforts were fruitless through faulty passing and the niagniheent tactling of the New Zealandcrs. Morns opened up a" New Zealand attaok and though Waltors got over the try-was'not allowed, ho having been offside. - Following an exchange of kicks between the two full-backs tho New ' Zenlanders swept down in a line and'lies got over. Ifwerson failed to convert tho try. Now Zealand 21 Australia ~. •• 2 lies was almost over a moment-later but lost' the ball. A Now Zealand pass went astray and ,the ball ,wim- snapped ■up (by Burge, who ran to the twenty-live line and passed the ball to'Horder, wiio encountered no opposition. He failed to convert tho try. ■ New. Zealand ' 21 Australia, 5 Now Zealand returned to tho attack and Walters received an injury which compelled his retirement. Australia initiated a passing rush in .theiir own twenty-five, but- committed a Greach, nnd Ifwerson laiuled'a goal. Not Zealand $ Australia' 5 Very hard' play' fbllowed, and tinneces- : eary roughness was fhown, Ifwerson failed with a penalty kick and Australia "crossed the half-way mark for the first, •time for a considorablo period. Walters returned to assist tho Now Zealandcrs, who penned Australia up. 'Aoy came away in beautiful stylo but ■ woro sent buck and penalised for coming round too I fast from the scrum.)- Ifwerson took j tlio kick, which went wide, and was secured by Walters, who passed to Avct-jf. The latter scored, but Ifwersoii failed to convert the try. i . New- Zealand ' 2fi Australia ; 5 Tho .visitors, throwing the ball .about, made their way to the ut.her end, but' the attack was staved off. Burgo scoured the ball and made a beautiful passing rush which promised rasulls, but Dufty grassed Paten and play went back to midfield. Prom-a scrum the ball went to Horder, who ran clean through tho oppo--6ition and scored. Ho also converted the try, and the game ended: ' New Zealand I 2G . • Australia 10 Mr. R. Brunsden was reforee. LOCAL MATCHES. The third round of matches was completed on Saturday in fiub weather. Athletio met Suburbs, and it was/anticipated that the leading team—who wero without the services of Bradley, Slbrris, and Pollock, who were playing for.New Zealand,' and Wilson, who wiw indisposed—would bo defeated, but they roso to the occasion and proved superior to Suburbs." Tho' Athletic backs throw the ball about in good style, the majority., of theii trios coming from passing rushes. The Suburbs'. forwards hooked the ball wall

but wero unable to do anything-' with it. Tho tackling of tlio Athletic players was also superior all round.

ATHLETIC, 3G; SUBURBS, 3. 'j Play throughout'was fast ami open, tho ball travelling up and' down tho fiold in good 6tylo. For the winner,s Jlearea, Evans (2), Murpliy, Horner, Brett, Moss and Do-we. scored tries, Plieffer converting four, Murphy nnd Meares one each. Daly scored for tho losers. llr. House was referee.