FIFTY-EIGHTH MATCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 73, 23 September 1939, Page 22

FIFTY-EIGHTH MATCH

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON

The match between Wellington and Auckland at Eden Park last Saturday was the fifty-eighth game between the two provinces. In mentioning this in a review of the series last week in the Auckland "Rugby News," Mr. Arthur Tilly states that the first match was in 1875, when an Auckland team made the first tour of New Zealand. They played five matches and were defeated in every one. The only surviving member of the Auckland team of that period is Mr. F. Earl, K.C., president of the Auckland Cricket Association.

At first there were intervals of several years between the meetings of Auckland and Wellington, but from about 1899 the match has been an annual affair.

In his review Mr. Tilly makes special mention of four matches—the first in 1897, and the others in 1905, 1911, and in the Jubilee year 1933. In the 1897 match he relates that Wellington were leading 4-3 well on in the game when George Smith ran through the Wellington backs twice in a very short time. F. Murray converted one of the tries and the match, ended in a win for Auckland by 11 points to 4. Wellington's four points came from a goal from a mark (four points at that time) by Billy Wallace. Auckland, with what had been regarded as a mediocre team, lifted the Ranfurly Shield in 1905, and in 1911, after a lead of nine points to nil established by Wellington in the first spell, Auckland won by 16 points to 9. In the 1933 match at Auckland Wellington turned on a brilliant performance. It was in this match that Brian Killeen, as one of the Wellington backs, made such a big impression on' the Auckland critics.

Auckland has now won 29 matches, Wellington 27, and two have been drawn.