REPRESENTATIVE GAMES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 64, 13 September 1909, Page 3

REPRESENTATIVE GAMES.

WELLINGTON v. OTAGO. VICTORY FOR THE VISITORS. THIRTEEN POINTS TO THREE. [b* tblbgbaph — PBEaa assooiatioh.l DUNEDIN, 11th Sept. The experiment, of playing the most important representative match on the Carisbrook ground was rewarded by a large attendance, estimated at between eight and ten thousand. The ground was in splendid order. The sky was overcast, and there was almost a total absence of wind.The teams were composed as follows :—: — WELLINGTON. Cunningham, Walshe, Mitchinson, Evenson, Koberts, M'Leod, Green, Dennehy, Irvine, Wilson, (2), Bruce, M'Kellar, Tannahill, and Avery. OTAGO. Scott, O'Sullivan, Bennett, Davidson, M'Donald, Eckhold, Sutherland, Casey, Fitzpatrick, Mitchell, Paton, Patterson, M'Kenzie, Ivimey, and M'Donald. Referee. — A. Downes. THE PLAY. After ten minutes' even play, Roberts passed to M'Leod, and the ball went via Mitchinson to Evenson, who speu from half-way to Otago's twentyfive, having passed everyone but the full-back. Scott stopped him with a beautiful tackle. The Otago forwards took play to in front of the Wellington goal, where the ball *went through the whole line of backs to o' Sullivan. Evens.on tackled him near the corner, < and though o' Sullivan tried to ground' the ball, it went into touch in goal. The Otago forwards kept worrying, their opfionents, and Ivimey dribbled over the me, but a free kick for off-side play saved Wellington. , A passing rush by the Wellington backs ended in Mitchinson finding touch at Otago's twenty -five, but the Otago forwards put in a fine rush, Casey to Ivimey to Paton, the last-named being downed near the line. After each side had a turn at attack, Casey successfully worked the line-out dodge for the third time. The Otago forwards dribbled the ball to the line, and Ivimey scored a try near the corner. Paton made a fine kick, but failed to convert. The Wellington backs broke away, but M'Donald tackled * M'Leod just when a rush looked dangerous. A hard kick -went over the line and allowed Otago to force down (for the first time in the game) at their leisure. The Otago forwards took charge again, and from an angle penalty-kick Paton went very close to the goal. The spell ended without further score. Otago 3 Wellington "... 0 Early in the second spell Roberts missed the goal with a long penalty kick from half-way. After a spell of quiet play Roberts made a fine opening, and Evenson was splendidly tackled by E. M'Donald. The Wellington forwards were holding their own better now. Early in the spell Evenson was temporarily lamed by a severe tackling by A. 'M'Donald, but Otago suffered a heavier loss through Ivimey, who had been playing magnificently, having to retire with an injured leg. Clark took his placo. * Wellington began to take the upper hand, and their backs started passing in Otago's twenty-five. Bennett intercepted a pass, and another Otago back "speculated" towards the wing, where M'Leod was waiting, he and Walshe having changed places. M'Leod got over, being so heavily tackled at the corner that ho was laid out with a broken rib, and M'Kenzie replaced him. Koberts failed to convert M'Leod's try, and the scores were level — 3 all. A splendid line kick by Davidson set the Otago forwards swarming on Wellington's line, and hot work resulted in a force-down. Shortly afterwards Otago were also fprced. Later Walshe, getting j the ball from the half-back, passed !©_ J Ranji Wilson near the line, and the' i forward scored near the posts. Mitchinson converted. ! Walshe had his knee hurt in this rush, and was replaced by Alexander. ] On restarting a fine Otago forward rush ended only in a force down. Wei-, lington's response was sudden. Mit- j chinson took the ball off M'Kenzie's (Otago) 'toe in Otago's twenty-five, and the Wellington three-quarter cut in beautifully, swerving through half the Otago backs. Almost on the line hepassed to M'Kenzie, who ran round unopposed and touched down between the posts. Roberts converted. Wellington 13 Otago 3 There was no further score. COMMENTS ON THE GAME. OTAGO FORWARDS v. WELLING-. TON BACKS. [BY TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] 1 DUNEDIN, 11th' Sept. The game at once resolved itself into a battle Between the Otago forwards and the Wellington backs. ' The first spell was full of excitement from start to finish. The Otago forwards early showed their ability, and swept over the oppos-' ing pack. Evenson, however, ,went down to their rushes in groat style, and gained stretches of ground by his powerful kicks. The Wellington backs showed splendid combination, and their passing gave Otago's supporters considerable anxiety. One of the best pieces of play during the spell was a passing bout in which Roberts, 'M'Leod, ■Mitchinson, and Evenson took part. From their own twentyfive they carried play right up to Otago's full-back, where Evens.on was splendidly tackled by the Otago full-back. Freddy Roberts's fending runs carried him right through Otago's forwards time after time, but Eckhokl's tackling was very sure. Any attempt at passing by the Otago backs was straight across field, and gained little ground. AH Otago's forwards played splendidly, Steve Casey's work on the line-out looled Wellington, and was responsible for Otago's try. Time and again he let his forwards away from the line. The Wellington vanguard was quite excelled by Otago in every point of play. "Rangi" Wilson, however, did some clever dribbling. Avery was conspicuous in line-out play. Wellington commenced the second half with a determined attack. They commenced to use their backs. Passing, in which all the backs took part, was stopped by E. M'Donald collaring M'Leod near the line. Several times the Wellington backs started passing, but faulty passing and determined tackling prevented any score. All the Wellington forwards in the second spell played capitally, and excelled both in attack and defence. Roberts gave a splendid exposition. In the first half his tackling was splendid, and in the second half he opened up the game and made full use of his backs. Green got the ball away smartly. Mitchinson made several good runs, and he and Evenson gained ground by their powerful kicks. Cunningham did what work he had to do in a satisfactory manner. The Wellington forwards, although more than outclassed ii the first half, were quite equal to Otago in the second. Rangi Wilson and Avery were about the most conspicuous. <

The Ofago forwards played up to reputation, but received no assistance from the backs. Casey, Ivimey, Paton, and M'Kenzie were the most promising of a fine vanguard. Their footwork aud lineout play were of a high order. The backs played very poorly. DUNEDIN PRESS CRITICISM. ROBERTS'S LEADERSHIP. [BY 'TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] DUNEDIN, This Day. The Daily Times says tho Otago backs lacked all idea* of what constitutes a team, and with no pretence at defence, their display was wretched, and was nothing ljut a series of disappointments. It was certainly very disheartening to the forwards, who not only received no support from them, but time and again had to beat bacl. and cover up their mistakes. Bennett was nothing short of an absolute failure. Roberts's influence as a leader was overpowering, while Mitchinson's big effort stamped him as a brilliant player. AUCKLAND v. TARANAKI. .WIN FOR THE NORTHERNERS. [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] •AUCKIiAND, 11th September The match betwen Auckland and Taranaki representatives was played this afternoon in ideal conditions, under a bright sun, with scarcely a breath of wind. There •was a large attendance. In the opening stages -Taranaki got well into Auckland's twenty-five, ibut mainly by the instrumentality of iGillett and the Auckland pack, rplay was taken back to the visitors' lino, where for a few seconds play was exciting and willing, and the barrackers were noisy. The visitors got going nicely from a- scrum, and Beamish was well tackled by Magee in the home twenty-five. The Auckland forwards now attacked fiercely, and scrum after serum was formed near the visitors' line. A. little looser play gave them breathing space, and they cleared their line, but only for a very brief in•terval. After a narrow escape, the visitors" forced. Then followed an interval of more exciting play in which Auckland had again the better. Taranaki was once forced, but the respite was short, and the home team came with a fresh attack after every rebuff in the visitors' twentyfive. Magee made a clever opening, and gave a, difficnlt pass to Sellars, who scored the Jirst try of the game after twenty-eighi minutes' play. The kick failed. The visiting 'forwards were now certainly tiring, and were being beaten in line-out and scrum work. The ball flew clear into the open, field, and Murray, charging up, dribbled over the line, and scored. The kick, which was at a difficult angle, was resultless. The sun was obscured when play was resumed. T. Sheahan, who had been kicked during the first spell, was replaced by Swainson. After an exchange of kicks, tho visitors earned the ball over the Auckland line, ibut the horn© forwards soon got going again, and some good passing by M'Gregpr and Murray gained *, lot ot ground. Taranaki, who were now going much better, returned to the attack, and i% pass from Beamish sent C Sheiiaan away. The last-named made a very strong twenty-yards' clash for the line, but he was forced into touch by Renwick, who was so badly bumped himself that he had to retire. Miller replaced him. On resuming, Sheahan streaked for the lino again, but he was forced into touch-iii-goal. For about five minutes play remained in Auckland territory. Taranaki made two strong passing attacks on either side of tho field. Auckland rallied, and afc tho end of a piece of brilliant loose forward play Haywood scored a third try. Cunningham failed to convert. Abnost immediately Taranaki were forced again. The visitors rallied, but only for a few seconds and Auckland came again. Gillett set the backs going, passing to j O'Leary to Wilson, and in field to O'Leury again, who scored. Gillett missed the kick. The horns team, especially the , forwards, were now playing a very fast and winning game. A passing rush among the forwards, in which Gillett and Hayward were prominent, ended in the last pass flying wide from the wing to | M'Gregur, who snapped up smartly and j ran over. The kick at goal failed. ) , The visitors woke up. aftei -this, and j Mynatt started a parsing ' rush from half way, the ball ultimately going to Cameron, who justified his reputation by making the most brilliant run in the match, beating fully half-a-dozen men, and scoring near the post. Dive kicked a goal. ' Another good passing rush amongst, the Taranaki backs looked dangerous, but Beamish fumbled his pass, and when Cameron got his chance he ■ was overpowered. This was Tarai.aki's last chance. The Auckland forwards came away with the ball at the toe and. took play right on to the Taranaki line. There Murray had a pot at goal, which went ami&s, but the opposing bull-back failed to take the ball, and M'Gregor, who followed up very fast, kicked the ball over and scored. No goal resulted. Auckland „ 18 Taranaki ... ... ... 5 The game ended without further score. AUSTRALIAN GAME. AUCKLAND DEFEATS CANTERBURY. [By TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, 11th September. Playing under Australian rules, the Auckland representatives defeated Canterbury this afternoon by 50 points to 46. The game was fast and 'interesting.

LEAGUE FOOTBALL. <p : WALLABIES DEFEAT KANGAROOS. By Telegraph.— Pre s s Association.— Copyright SYDNEY, 12th September. The " Wallabies " beat the " Kangatoos" by 15 points to 6. The winnersshowed brilliant form, and completely outplayed- the " Kangaroos." The game was strenuous.