FOOTBALL. WELLINGTON v. WANGANUI. WELLINGTON VICTORIOUS.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 93, 10 September 1896, Page 2

FOOTBALL. WELLINGTON v. WANGANUI. WELLINGTON VICTORIOUS.

The match between Wellington and Wanganui was played on the Athletic Park yesterday afternoon in thp presence of 600 people, and was won by Wellington by 20 points to 9. The weather, save for a strong, cold southerly wind, which militated against first-class passing, was fine, and the ground in good condition. The game itself was of a somewhat unattractive description, punctuated with a few flashes of good individual play, but on the whole the game calls for no special comment. The Wanganuiites had a lead of 9 points on the first spell, but had been playiug with a godU breeze behind them. The Wellington team, however, had the best of the play, .and only bad luck prevented it from crossing its opponent's line. In the second spell the heavy weight of the local forwards told, and except on one or two occasions Wanganui was placed entirely on the defenses, and at the call of time was 11 points behind. FIBST SPELL. Rhodes kicked off for Wellington. M'Lean (captain) won the toss and elected to play with the wind. Roache early distinguished himself by a good run and passed to Roberts, who was grassed well in the visitors' 25. The local forwards were too much for the visitors' front division, whioh, however, showed up in the loose. Several free kicks to Wanganui, aidad by the wind and the over-eagerness of the Wellington backs, kept the localjeam from scoring. A brilliant pieco of" concerted passing by the Wellington backs, in which Crawfurd, Roache, Roberts, and Bennett took part, saw Bennett over the visitors' line, but before he couid touch down the ball rolled from his grasp, and a Wanganuiite secured possession. In a scrum formed nearly in the local team's 25 territory, a Wellington forward lifted his leg, for which a free kick was given against his side, and W. M'Lean landed a goal— Wanganui, 3 ; Wellington, 0. Very shortly afterwards Kiernan got across near the corner flag, but W. M'Lean was unsuccessful with the kick — Wanganui, 6 points ; Wellington, 0. Tho visitors again further increased their score by M'Donnell dropping a goal from nearly half-way as the result of a free kiok. The score WuS — Wanganui 9 points, Wellington 0, when the two teams crossed over. SECOND SPELL. In the second spell Wanganui started aggressively, but the superior weight of the local forwards carried the scrums and overpowered the light half-backs of the visiting team. Laws had ar unsuccessful attempt at goal from a mark. Bennett initiated the scoring for Wellington by a try, almost behind the posts, after a brilliant run. Wanganui 9 points, Wellington 3 was the score, as Laws could not register the goal. A nice little pass from Crawfurd to Roberta enabled the latter to touch down near the corner flag, but Hales did not convert. Wanganui, 9 points ; Wellington, 6 points. The Wanganui men were now entirely placed on the defensive, and the Wellington backs were on the alert, but ill-timed and reckless passing spoilt several shows. The Wellington forwards simply walked over their opponents in the scrum, and Calnan, Young, Rhodes, M'Anally, and Soffe were often prominent. As the result of a pass by Crawfurd another try was easily scored by Laws, who converted it. Wanganui, 9 points; Wellington, 11. The passing rush of the local backs ended in Roberts potting a goal. Wanganui, 9 points; Wellington, 15. Before time was called H. Kelly got possession of the leather and passed it to Bennett, who in turn sent it on to Roberts, who transferred it to J. Kelly. Kelly, after a short run, gave the ball to Rhodes, who raced across the line, and scored another try to Wellington's credit. Laws converted. There was no further scoring, and Wellington left the field victors by 20 points to 9. COMMENTS. For Wellington, Laws and Bennett played splendidly in the back division. Laws took the ball in fine style, kicked well, and made use of every opportunity .while Bennett played with great dash. Crawfurd played a much better game than against Wairarapa, and did not adopt the selfish tactics of that match. His passing was clean and welltimed. The two Kellys— particularly J. Kelly— were in evidence on the wing. . Of the forwards, Calnan, Rhodes, M'Anally, Toung, and Soffe were prominent. The best of the visitors' backs was W. M'Lean at three-quarter. Warwick and Kiernan played pluckily, but were over-weighted by the local forwards. M'Donnell, who has a big reputation— and he certainly exhibited good form in the New Zealand-Queensland match— was yesterday a complete failure. He made no attempts to collar, fumbled the ball constantly, and could not take a pass cleanly. He was directly responsible for at least two of the tries scored against his side. R. M'Lean played a dashing game on the wing, but lost his head when one or two potfd opportunities occurred. Of the forwards, Carroll, Blair, Morton, and Symes were most noticeable. Messrs. Gibbons (Wanganui) and Davy (Wellington) were the line umpires and Mr. Firth carried the whistle.