FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 44, 21 August 1905, Page 5

FOOTBALL

AUSTRALIA v. WELLINGTON. — i EASY WIN FOR THE PROVINCE. The visiting Australian, team played its first match at the Athletic Park on Saturday, when it met the representatives of the Wellington Province. A fresh southerjy breeze swept the field, which wa& very heavy in parts after last week's rain. The attendance was large, amounting to something like 8000, and the spectators were enthusiastic and generally impartial. Although the visitors were beaten by 23 to 7, and never once crossed the Wellington line, better things may be expected of them as the tour progresses. They are not likely to meet a stronger, if as strong, a forward team in New Zealand as the one they were pitted against on Saturday. Plying with the wind behind them in the first half, the Australians gave the Provincial team any ajnount of defensive work, and they were dangerously close v to the line on several occasions. The «arly part of the second term, however, was a procession of tries for Wellington, and the spell was well advanced before the visitors placed a check on the career of the Wellington men. The Australian forwards are a likely lot, perhaps more promising than any other Australian vanguard which has visited Wellington of late years. T,he backs play pretty well the same game as they have played previously in New Zealand, but they have adopted the centre kick, which was worked' with such good effect in Australia by the English team. The visitors showed some brilliant tackling at times, and on the whole handled the ball cleaner than, their opponents. The scrum-half bcooped the ball away from the scrum from almost impossible positions, and away it went from the five-eights to the centre, and so on without variation. The passing was pretty, but aofc very effective. When cornered the _oc"ks threw the ball anywhere, and trusts to Providence. A noticeable fault c.: .ome of the rearguard was waiting for the ball to' bounce instead of taking it on the full. The Wellington scrummers played a fine game, but there is room for improvement in the rearguard. The place kicking of Wickham, captain of the visitors, who placed two goals from half way, was a feature of the game. THE TEAMS. Australia (Colours, Maroon and Blue). — Full-back, A. P.- Penman (12.3) ; threequarters, S. Wickham (Captain, 12.5), P. Carmichael (11.6), B. Smith (13.4) ; fiveeighths, C. Russell <(12.3) ; half-backs, E. A. Anlezark (10.13), M. Doro (10.9) ; forwards, A. Burdon (12.3), E. A. Oxlade (11.7), J. darken (11.4), H. A. Judd (13.1), P. Burge (13.3), W. Hirschberg (13.4), B. I. Swannell (12.7), C. Murrin (12.7). Wellington (Colours, Black).—Fullback, G. Spencer (12.0) ; three-quarters, M. Winiata (12.10), J. O'Leary (11.4), E. Wrigley (13.6); five-eighths, M. Sharpe (11.6); half-back, A. Ramsden (10.10); forwards, E. H. Dodd (13.2), E. H. Wat-kin-s (13.4), T. Cross (14.5), H. R. Wright (13.8), J. Spencer (Captain, 13.8), A. A 7 Wylie (12.0). C. Gillespie (13.6), W. Warner (U. 2), W. Hardham (12.8). • - DETAILS OF THE PLAY. J. Spencer kicked off for Wellington against the wind, and an exchange of kicks s.iw play settle about midfield. The visitors pressed, and were assisted by a mull by O'Leary. The blacks drove them out, and then Dore got the ball out to bis backs, who gained ground by clean handling of the leather. Oxlade and Burg© headed a rush into Wellington quarters, where J. Spencer broke through with a good opening before him, but knocked on. The visitors kept up the attack, but J. O'Leary at length set Wellington in the ascendant. They worked into the visitors' twenty-five, and gradually forged along towards the line. From a scrum about five yards out the ball came ont, but Sharpo was smothered. The black forwards came on again, and Penman saved by a mark on his own line. Another onslaught followed, and resulted in a free kick against Wellington close to the line. Following this Wellington rushed the ball across the field close to the line, and a kick from Penman rebounding, Winiata secured, the leather, and, after beating two opponents, crossed the line. G. Spencer converted. Wellington 5 Australia 0 From the kick out Wellington returned to the charge, and settled in the visitors' twenty-five, but Anlezark relieved with a smart punt, a. performance which was repeated a little later by Carmichael. Anlezark was mainly responsible for transferring play to Wellington's twenty-five. Wickham made a fine attempt to place a goal from past half way, the ball going close to the posts. Oxlade and Murrin were prominent in a subsequent attack by the visitors, but G. Spencer saved. The Australian forwards were now playing a' good game, and were keeping Wellington well within the halfway flag. At length Judd secured a mark, and Wickham landed a lovely goal from two yards inside of halfway. Wellington 5 Australia ... ' 4 Fnst following and an effective tackle by Watkins set Wellington in the ascendant again. The forwards worked to within a few yards of the lino, where Penman and Murrin relieved by good kicking. Another , rush headed by Dodd, Warner and Cross carried Wellington close to their opponents' line, and a scrum ensued. WeDiugton got the ball, with the result that Wrigley dashed over the line. No goal resulted. Wellington 8 Australia 4 Smart following up by Anlezark, caught G. Spencer napping, and the Australians set about a vigorous attack in Wellington's twenty-fives. The visitors obtained another mark about half-way, and Wiekh.mi made a good effort to convert. Tho Ai>>traHan ciptain put iv two clever dodgy runs, one of which ended in his being brought down ■within a few inches of the line. The visitors maintained n vigorous attack, and a likely looking passing run was upset by a fine tackle by Sharpo. The visitors were having all the best of the play at this fitage, and eventually they added another three points, Wickham placing a penalty goal from half-way. The spell ended ... 8 Austialia ..*- 7 On resuming the visitors held their own for a spell, Burdon doing some, fine work. At length Wellington came on and the visitors forced down as tho result of a 'hard kick. Wellington returned to the charge, and from a scrum nbout twenty yards from the lino the ball came out to Wrigley, who made a brilliant ruu through the opposition and scored near the corner. No goal. Wellington 11 Australia 7 Immediately following this, from a scrum in front of the posts, a passing run— Ramsden, Sharp, O'Leury, Wrigley — saw the latter run in again tit the corner. The kick failed. Wellington 14 Australia 7 tho Provincial team a^ain pressed, and.

Warner secured a clever mark in front of the posts, but G. Spencer did not improve the score. The visitors now rallied, and worked past the hajf-way flay for the first time. They were not allowed to stay there long, however, but succeeded in holding "Wellington in check for some time, and eventually got up as far as the twenty-five line. Open plaj 1 followed for a time, and ended in O'Leary getting the tyill about forty yards out and potting a lovely goal. Wellington 18 Australia 7 A mull by Anlezark brought trouble on the line, but the visitors staved off the attack. Hardham and Warner came through with the ball A toe, but .luclt was against them, the leather rebounding off one of the uprights when a try seemed a certainty. Hard scrummaging ensued on the visitors' line, and at last Wei-, lington got the ball out and J. O'Learj; cleverly eluded his opponents, and scored! under the posts. G. Spencer converted. Wellington 23 Australia 7 This was the final score of the game. Wellington put in a long attack, and then play evened up, and the visitors held their end up well, keeping the blacks in check for a considerable time before timo sounded. THE PLAYERS. The pick of the visitors' backs was Anlezark, a plover little half-back of mor© than average ability. Dore, the scrum half, was also up to* the murk. Wickham was the pick of the three-quarters, and he was seconded by Carmichael, who play, i ed full-back in the second term. Pen- '■ man was disappointing. Of the forwards, Murrin, Judd, Burge and Burdon were consistently to the fore. Wrigley, the young Wairarapa threequarter, was the best back on the ground. His defence was perfect, and he proved himself a most dangerous man on attack on a good ground. . O'Leary, the other Wairarapa man, also performed creditably, although he did not handle the ball cleanly at the outset. Of the forwards, J. Spencer, Wright, Watkins, Dodd t Hardham, and Warner all did fine work. Mr. Peter Mackie was referee. In a conversation after the game, Mr, P. Mackie, tlio officiating referee, slated that while the Australians were beaten, no doubt the state of the ground militated against their style of play. Mr. Mackie is also of th© opinion that tha Australians were not seen at their best, ■and Saturday's play is no criterion of what can be confidently expected in their future games. The TefeTee speaks iv high terms of the sportsmanlike spirit that th© Australians evinced during the match. [BY TELEBKArH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NELSON, This Day. The Australian footballers arrived by the Rotoiti. They were received at the) wharf by the officials of the Rugby' Union, and an official reception by tlio Mayor took place at noon. The match will bo played on Wednesday afternoon. WELLINGTON v. HAWKE'S BAY. Tho Wellington selectors (Messrs K. M'lntyre, J. Laughton, and E. Wylie} have chosen the following team to represent Wellington against Hawkes Bay at the Athletic Park on Wednesday, and incidentally defend the Ranfutly Shield: — Pull-back, G. Spencer (Melrose); threequarters, J. P. Blacklock (Old Boys), J. Barber (Petone), J. Ryan (Petone) ; five, eights, M. Sharpe (Petone); half, A. Ramsden (Petone) ; forwards, E. Watkins(Old Boys), E. H. Dodd (Old Boys), T. Cross (Petone), H. R. Wright (Petone), J. Spencer (Melrose), A. A. Wylie (Oriental), ' Gillespie '(Oriental) ; wing fqrwards, W. Hardham (Pttone), W. Warner (Petone). Any of the above players unable to tako part in the game are requested to notify the selectors. The following team has been selected to play for the junior representatives against the Wednesday representatives at the Athletic Park on Wednesday at 2 o'clock: — Thomas, Kerr, R-eid, Atkinson> Kelly, Cleary, Wright M'Gill, Manning, King, Tobin, Ready Tannahill, Baker, Tyrell. Emergencies, Thompson, Armstrong, Smythe, and Donovan. Gymnasium practice will be held in the Athletic Club's gymnasium to-morrow (Tue.s-' day) night, at 8 o'clock, and any of tho above who cannot play in the match are requested to notify the selectors before I to-morrow night.