DRAMATIC END

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 55, 3 September 1945, Page 7

DRAMATIC END

BIG RUGBY MATCH

WELLINGTON'S VICTORY

"Post" Special Reporter. AUCKLAND, September 3. "Wellington 9, Auckland 6" was what the Eden Park Scoreboard showed in the last minute of Saturday's big Rugby match, v/hen Auckland were awarded a penalty kick on Wellington's line, near ihe corner. What use would be made of the kick? 10,000 spectators asked themselves. Would an attempt be made, at long odds, to level the scores with a goal, or would everything be staked upon a possible, try? Tetzlaff, Auckland's captain, handed the ball to the full-back, Sorenson, and told .him to centre it across Wellington's citadel. A beautifully judged kick fell just behind the posts, and several defending forwards jumped for it, together with the übiquitous Christian, who had been a thorn in the side all the afternoon. The slippery ball bounced ofl upstretched fingers and fell to the ground, where Morrison pounced on it like a shot. The whistle sounded full time, and Wellington had scored their first victory against Auckland on Eden Park since 1937. It was a thrilling conclusion to one of the toughest battles ever wafed by these traditional Rugby rivals, a battle in which quarter was neither asked nor given, and in which the tackling by both teams impressed even old-timers, to whom the play and players of today cannot compare with those of the glorious past. Despite strong attacking qualities in both teams, only two tries were scored, one by each side, j ' the remaining points coming from penalty goals. WELLINGTON'S GOOD TACKLING. Wellington won because their tackling halted one Auckland drive after another, and because the forwards covered themselves with glory in a relentless duel against extremely powerful and determined opposition. The Auckland forwards have been accused of excessive scouting this season, but on Saturday they exerted great pressure in the tight as well as excelling in open passing movements, which they have developed to such a fine art. That was why Wellington's effort was such a grand one. Though Auckland's selector, F. W. Lucas, had dropped his pilot for the past few seasons, J. Gilmour,- and had to leave out one of the best f' .wards. W. Edwards, who is nursing a "cauliflower" ear, the home team was one which had the advantage of the combination which comes from match experience, both this season and, so far as most of the players were concerned, in previous seasons. The Wellington side, on the other hand, had had almost no opportunity to weld itself into a unit, and for that reason could scarcely be expected to emulate Auckland's efficiency in concerted movements. "Consequently Wellington's answer to the sweeping handling movements in which the Auckland backs and forwards figured so brilliantly, and in which it was next to impossible to catch a man with the ball, took the form of concentrated bursts, usually with the ball on the ground. The cleverness and thrust of the smoothlyworking Auckland backs was another problem to which Wellington had to find an answer, and the answer was the only possible one, man-for-man tackling, which refused to open a gap for a break-through. There were times, of course, when Wellington players had the ball, and in such cases their experience was the same as that of their opponents. PLAYED IN A DOWNPOUR. After a brilliant Friday and a cloudy Saturday morning, rain commenced to fall as the Wellington players were on the way to the ground, and when the match commenced it was raining in real earnest, not heavily but steadily, and continued for the remainder of the afternoon. The result was not only a slippery ball, but a most treacherous surface to the otherwise hard ground, and all the players had difficulty in keeping their feet at times, particularly as almost everything had to be done smartly and under pressure. In those conditions the performances of the players all round were splendid, and it was remarkable that scarcely a pass was dropped all day. The most awkward job, and the one which led to the most trouble, was that of attempting to gather in the rolling ball. OUTSTANDING. PLAYERS. When it comes to a matter of individuals it can be said that there was not a man in the Wellington team (in either team for that matter) who did not acquit himself well, some better than others, but every one on his mettle. Among the Wellington forwards O'Donnell was outstanding in the loose, while White achieved a similar distinction in tighter play, but Beard and Burke were generally close behind O'Donnell, while Calcinai, •Bowman, and Palmer were all honest workers. A fine effort by Elliott, brought him into prominence in all phases of play. In the Auckland pack, Johnson, the veteran Pearce (who was included in Gilmour's place), Smith, and McHugh were a quartet to be reckoned with. but the man of the hour among the Auckland forwards was Christian, whose role was that of the wing-for-ward of the past. Christian was here, there, and everywhere, covering up for his backs one minute, and the . next minute leading his team-mates to the attack. Christian caused Wellington more trouble and rendered greater service to Auckland than any other player on the field. GOOD WORK BY INSIDE BACKS. Behind the Wellington scrum the untried set of inside backs more thaniulfilled the most optimisitc expectations. Goldstone did a great job of ;overing up, in addition to other duties is half-back, and his passes, fast and well directed, dropped 'into Colarms as into a bag. Coljuhoun let the brilliant Barchard put nothing across him, but did manage to rip into Auckland's defences himself more than once. A similar success evas Jaffray, second five-eighths. It is aot flattering him to say he had the 2dge on even such a well-pei-formed player as Rae, and one brilliant cut through on his part failed to produce i try only because the luck was against it. Morrison's experience and ability at centre three-quarter was yorth a tremendous amount to Wellington, and his powerful kicking was . i particular asset. He had a worthy opponent in the colt McKay. On the left winß Abbott allowed Dunn no scope at all, and if Jamieson was not juite as successful against Grace (a arilliant young winger) on the other lank, the fact remains that Grace aever succeeded in getting through. Dn Jamieson's behalf also it should be pointed out that he is unaccustomed to ihe right wing. Wishnowsky showed ;he Auckland public that his reputa;ion was fully deserved, and acquitted limself well, though not as well as Borenson, his opposite number. In sis proper position, at full-back. Sorensqn gave one of the most brilliant displays on the field. RUN OF THE GAME. Auckland had the choice of ends, out with the rain falling almost straight down it meant little to them. Actually Wellington had the better of the first spell, with the home team on top in the second, the run of play oeing so even as to suggest that a I iraw would have been a fair result. ! Wellington scored first, Calcinai sicking a penalty goal within a few minutes of the start. Hard play followed, with periods when the conditions temporarily got the better of the olayers, but generally it was fast and interesting football. The first spell had actually ended when Auckland Levelled the scores, Gunning forcing nis way across for a try at the end of a bout of passing among the forwards. Five minutes after the resumption, Borenson put Auckland in front with a penalty goal, but not long afterwards a fine goal by Beard, who had just missed with a shot from long range, brought the teams on even terms again As the spell progressed it seemed as if Auckland must win, but Wellington were always ready to fight oack, and a determined drive by the forwards, at the end of which Elliott, Bowman, and Burke handled, sent 3urke across near the corner. There ?/as no conversion. That was the final score. THE TEAMS. Auckland.—R. Sorenson (Marist); J. Dunn (Manukau), P. McKay (Ponsonby) D. T. Grace (University); L. S. Rae (Marist), D. Barchard (Navy); P. Tetzlaff (Ponsonby); D. Christian (Otahuhu), W. Smith (Manukau), M. McHugh (Marist), R. Taylor (Popsonby), jr. Gunning (Ponsonby), T. H. Pearce