FOOTBALL. REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 28, 1 August 1912, Page 4

FOOTBALL. REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

■—4 SOUTH ISLAND COUNTRY TEAM. DEFEATED BY WELLINGTON. A perfect sunny afternoon seemed yesterday to give the lie to the visible dampness of the Athletic Park. In Borne places the ground was particularly bad, and there were many muddy pools scattered over the turf. What breeze there was, blew from the north, and during the first spell Wellington played against it. The attendance was not above 500, but there was a recompense in the interest and enthusiasm shown by the spectators who did attend. The South Wanders won the toss, and attacked from the kick-ofi'. Their invasion, however, did not tako them tar, j ior Roberts secured, and helped along a j biief attack for Wellington. Tho vibi- ; tort,, with a good forward rush, and the ball well to the toe, compelled a force. Nolan, their skipper, took a difficult mark, and Church essayed a shot, which failed.' The ball was not forced, and the forwards, following up, gathered under the posts, Twomey getting over and scoring. Nelson took the kick, and was successful. Soutli Island 5, Wellington 0. Again, but this time from a tree kick, the whites got going, and again they scored with a forward rush beneath tho poßts. Richards got over with the ball, adding three more points, and Nelson was successful in converting his try. Both these scores occurred within five minutes of each other, and the Wellington men were apparently somewhat ilazed by the quickness of the (attack. Tsoon they woke up, however, and from the halfway line a good back sortie developed. With astonishing dash the blacks forged ahead, the ball going with quick passes from Roberts to M'Kenzie, to Ramsden, to Murray, to Young, who scored behind the posts. M'Fariane took the kick, and put it well over. South Island 10, -Wellington 5. From a series of melees M'lntdsh scored after an exciting race with Kinvig to the back of the posts. Tlib attempt at conversion was not a success. South Island 13, Wellington 5. Just before half-timo Kinvig marked well, saving certain trouble against his eoal-lme. Roberts took the kick and Grace, wing three-quarter, madi? a strong ran up and secured at about liali'-way. j Then he started a run which piovided the spectators with plenty of excitement j as he cleared man after man of the vifcitors' team. After passing the South lsland/twe.nty-five he was collared, but I not before lio had rid himself of tho ball. By this time the. lest of Wellington's backs had overtaken Grace, and the ball was snapped up by M'Kenzie, who made a good run to tho cornerflag, where lie was collared, the ball rolling out of touch. On resuming the visitors again became aggressive, and Murray was compelled to force for -Wellington. Then, -with a long kick and a looso rush, play entered the countrymen's half, where it stayed for some while, until- Roberts passed to M'Kenzie, who ran across, getting rid of the ball to Ramsdea. The latto dashed, across the whites' line with a brilliant run. Full of pace and safe from attack he got right round behind the posts and put down unmolested. The attempt at conversion was a failure. South Island 13, Wellington 8. Near th© Wellington goal-line T. Fisher picked up and dived over, grounding the ball for the country team's last score. G. Nolan add«d the extra points with a good converting kick. South Island 18, Wellington 8. Play came to the whites' corner, where it was most often during the gam©, and after a line-out M'JTarlane scored just over.^Tho kick was unsuccessful. South Island 18, Wellington 11. Wellington still aggressive, came a scrum five yards from the visitors' goalline, and once more M'Fariane crossed, bringing the score to South Island 18, Wellington 14. He essayed the kick himself, but took it too easily, and failed. Nest it was Young's turn. After a tricky run along the touch-line to within an inch or two of his objective, where he was tackled, he passed to Wilson, but play was forced to halfway. A Wellington back, from close under tl>e countrymen's goal, took a speculative kick from the ground, which, " strange to say, went over the croas-bar. The object of the kicker (Roberts, from all appearances) was to send the ball across to the right wing, and this was achieved, for, vvhile the defenders were still wondering whether a goal had been potted or not, Murray cut up and scored well round. This time M'Fariane was successful, and Wellington now had a lead of one point. Wellington 19, South Island 18. Young and Wilson, in strenuous combination, made another attempt at the corner, only to be repulsed. Then came a melee and a score by Roberts. The kick failed. Wellington 22, South Island 18. Again Young came to the fore, and to some purpose. His opening came' when he followed up a kick by Murray. He overtook the ball, kicked on again, and again caught up to score with a lengthy glissade right behind. M'Farlano kicked the goal, and the points stood — Wellington 27, South Island 18. At this tho score stood, when no-side sounded.