ASSOCIATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 58, 6 September 1909, Page 3

ASSOCIATION.

WELLINGTON BEATS AUCKLAND. THIRD BROWN. SHIELD MATCH. For the third time this season, Wellington has vindicated its title to the Brown Shield, a willing Auckland eleven having been defeated by representatives of the local association at the Athletic Park by one goal to nil. Splendid weather prevailed, but previous rain made the ground heavy, and this militated against accurate footwork. Nevertheless a fast, interesting game took place, but there was little of brilliant play in it. The three thousand spectators seemed, however, well pleased with the- exhibition. DETAILS OF THE PLAY. FIRST SPELL. Wellington won the toss, and elected to play with the sun at their backs and against a. light southerly breeze. Two or three premature attempts by the Wellington forwards were well checked by Borthwick and Seath, and for a short time play hovered on the half-line. Wellington continued to attack, and Smallbone sent in a fine centre from the right, which Borthwick returned. Timperley was close by, but unfortunately the ball passed a foot or two wide. Fast, oj>en play of a very even character continued for some time. Successive shots at goal were made by Timperley and Gibson, but Bennett, Auckland's goalkeeper, was too alert and resourceful. At this stage' most of the play was in Auckland's ground, for the home team were pressing hard. Marshall followed up with a high shot. After he and his confreres had succeeded in shifting play, and Gardiner (inside right) followed with another. A penalty kick being awarded Auckland, Shergolt drove the ball some yards and Forshaw booted vigorously at goal, but his shot went wide. As often as the visitors' front line broke away, PyeSmith and Hall shot back with clean powerful aim. From right and left Auckland's base was being attacked, but still there was no score. J. Taylor sent in a very hot shot, but the leather just cleared the top right corner. Retaliatory charges and counter charges, in which the back lines in both teams and the respective goalkeepers (Oldnall and Bennett] worked conspicuously well,

lasted till half-time. No scoring had been eflected on either side. SECOND SPELL. On resumption, the first interesting piece of work was come good dribbling by Smallbone, and Timpe.rley made a drive at goal from short range. Bennett booted out. Auckland retaliated with an attack on Wellington's ground, and the same sort of fast, even play which characterised the first spell continued. As a result of a very promising rally by the Wellington forwards, Blackwood made another unsuccessful drive at goal, and followed with £. second, more accurately aimed, which, nowever, wanted pace, and was caught and shot away by Bennett. Then the lAucklanders attacked determinedly, but the home team was very sound in defence. Oldnall distinguished himself with a splendid save in the nick of time after a claver effort by Mikkleson, and a hot shot by the bustling Sale. Fast but ineffectual play marked a long stretch of the 6pell, the ball being booted up and down tho field with any amount of energy and speed, but both teams failed in front of goal. Marshall (Auckland's centre-half) mor« than once checked Gibson and Taylor by his surprisingly neat and effective footwork, with which the crowd was vastly delighted. At last, however, Auckland's coveted line was passed. For a time the Wellington forwards had hovered on the Aucklanders' base without effect. A throw-in occurred from the left, and the leather was shot away to the opposite side of the field, out of the danger zone. Smallbone, however, retaliated with a well-placed centre from the right, and W. Gibson successfully booted in. Wellington 1 Auckland 0 A wild chorus of delight greeted the score, and some exciting play marked the closing stages of the game. Auckland came with a spirited dash, but Oldnall, always sure, earned the gratitude of the Wellingtonians once again. Marshall, Borthwick and Co. made strenuous attempts to equalise, but it was a forlorn hope. They wanted two goals to tak© back the shield — and the game closed — Wellington l Auckland 0 Mr. H. G. Mayer was referee. . NOTES ON THE GAME. Where the_ visitors failed was in a lack of effective concerted action among the forwards. They hung on to the ball too long, required more pace and accuracy, and before they oould achieve anything, had been successfully tackled. Marshall was an exception; his dribbling was excellent, and heWiad pace. His performance made him the best of the visiting team. In fact, the halfback line worked well from opening to close. Bennett, in Auckland's goal, was prompt and resourceful. On the only occasion he was beaten — by Gibson — he had no cnance whatever. Shergolt, left full-back, and Forshaw, centre-forward, played very serviceable games. The former cleared well and strongly. Among the homo playerh, Oldnall (ingoal) playccs perhaps the most valuable game. Time and again he saved the local team from scrapes. J. Pye-Smith was solid in defensive work, his kicking being very powerful and well-placed. Kerschberg, Taylor, and Gibson worked well together, and Timperley played his usual fast, clever game, but might have done better when near the posts. From opening to close the game was little more than a series of chances thrown away when near goal-mouth. Inaccurate shooting marred the work of both teams. Blackwood, Wellington's outside-left, spoilt many an easy opening by defeqtivo footworK when near the posts. TEAMS ENTERTAINED. On Saturday evening the Auckland and Wellington teams were entertained at dinner at the V.M.C.A. by Mr. H. N. Holmes, chairman of the Wellington Football Association. Complimentary references to the work of both teams and the excellent spirit in which the game had been played were made by Messrs. Holmes and Roberts. Messrs. E. V Sale (captain) and Takle (manager), responded on behalf of the Auckland team. The toasWist included : — "The Wellington Team," proposed by Mr. Takle and responded to by Mr. J. Taylor (captain) ; "The New Zealand Football Association," proposed by Mr. Thornton (Christchurch) and re- I sponded to by Mr. B. L. Salmon; "The { New Zealand Referees' Association" ] proposed by Mr. Granville Hunt and responded to by Mr. W. Wood (secre- | tary). On behalf of the visiting team, Mr. Takle thanked the referee, Mr. H. S. Mayer, for the fair manner in which he had. controlled ,the game. Later on tho respective teams were entertained at the Commercial Hotel by tho Wellington Football Association. _Mr. J. J. Roberts presided, and a varied programme of song and speech made a very enjoyable evening. Amid great applause the chairman handed to A. Marshall (Auckland's centre-half) and F. Oldnall (Wellington's goalkeeper) trophies presented by Mr. G. Pinnock, of the Commercial Hotel, for award to the best player on each side. Mr. Pinnock also gave a box of cigars to each team. Yesterday the visitors were taken on an excursion to Trentham. They left for home by the Main Trunk express to-day. HOME COUNTRY v. COLONIAL. A DRAWN GAME. As a curtain-raiser to the Brown Shield match the representatives of Great Britain and New Zealand engaged in contest. The Homo team won the toss, and played with the sun behind them. The colonials pressed from the etart, and eventually, just before half-time, broke clean away and A. Lowe scored with a fast ground shot. The Home players had the best of the remainder of the spell, and in the second half played a strong attacking game, and just missed scoring on several occasions. At last Ferguson put in a splendid shot, which gave the goalkeeper (McLean) no chance. The game thus ended in a draw — one all. For the Britishers, Bradbury (centre half), Norman (outside right), and Saunders (outside left) were conspicuous in good work, and for the colonials Wilson, GraveSj and the brothers Lowe did the best service. NORTHERN UNION GAME. KANGAROOS DEFEAT WALLABIES. ' By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. SYDNEY, 4th September. In tho professional match between the Kangaroos and Wallabies the .former won by 29 points to 6. There were 20,000 spectators present. The game was fast and closely contested throughout. The Walla,bies appeared to be occasionally at fault in the fine points of the League game.