AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 48, 20 August 1917, Page 3

AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON

FORMEtEt WINS BY 12 POINTS TO 0.

(BI TEIBORAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, 18th August. The first of two home-and-home matches between Wellington and Auckland (for players under twenty years of age) was played at the Domain this afternoon in the presence of a large crowd of enthusiasts. The result was a win for Auckland by 12 pints to nil. The score is hardly an index of the play. Wellington kid the better of the early stages of the game, and were pressing hard at the finish, being distinctly unlucky in not scoring. Auckland made better use of their opportunities, securing three tries and one penalty goal. The game was played without wing-forwards. Each team played a. roving half, and the referee placed the ball in the scrum on all occasions. The 1 off-side rule was strictly enforced. The first score came early in the game after a few exchanges from tho kick-off. Wellington were penalised for an infringement, and M'Clean kicked a good goal. Wellington pressed for some time after Wiis, and they were getting the ball out of the scrum, and the backs were handling it with confidence. A free kick taken by Cowio failed to secure pointsJ A further Wellington passing rush ended in Aitken being pushed out, and another free kick to the visitors failed. Vigorous play followed, the accurate line-kicking of Porter being a feature, while for Auckland Hing was the mainstay of the defence. Wellington were very near scoring, a, line-out being followed by a looso forward rush. Hislop reached tho line and nearly got over, being held up with the ball and prevented from grounding it. A. passitig rush by the visitors looked dangerous, but dwindled away. Then Wellington were given a free kick, but Morton's shot at goal was resultless. Wellington continued the attack, and compelled Auckland to force down. Tho homa team recovered and held, its own, Finally, from «, line-out, the ball

| cams to Wilson, who cut in and beat his man and sent on to O'Connor. The latter, outpacing the field, scored. The shot at goal was a failure. The Auckland team was now attacking hard. A Wellington rush was stemmed, and from a scrum the ball came to Wilson, who passed to Inglis, who raced along the line and scored. The kick went wid«. The first spell ended : Auckland 9, Wellington nil. The second half opened with even exchanges, the Wellington forwards keeping the bail at their feet, showing dash, and were frequently proving troublesome. Rain, which had been threatening, now commenced to fall, light and drizzling, making tflie ball greasy and the ground treacherous. Porter was making good efforts for Wellington, but the pace of the opposition kept him in check. The state of the ball made the Wellington fielding, hitherto excellent, less certain. The visiting pack broke through in a good rush, and took the ball over the line, but a force down was all that resulted. A good cross kick came to the Wellington backs, but Porter was collared witfh the ball. A scrum under the goal seemed dangerous for Auckland, but Wilson, who was playing a brilliant defensive game at centre three-quarter, saved with a long kick, and sent play well up field. A strong rush by the home team succeeded, Nairn falling on the ball and scoring. The kick failed. Wilson hurt his shoulder at this stage and had to leave the field, Auckland playing one short. Wellington were now making great efforts to score, but luck was against them. The forwards, playing with great vigour, broke tthrough repeatedly, Desmond and Black being conspicuous, but they were just kept* out by the defence. On the call of time the chances looked good for a Wellington score, and an infringement gavie Porter a chance at goal, but the ball went just outside the post, and time was called with the score : Auckland 12, Wellington nil.