BRITAIN V. AUCKLAND.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 170, 20 July 1908, Page 2

BRITAIN V. AUCKLAND.

VISITORS FAIL TO SCORE. ' |>lIESB ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, July 18. The Anglo-Welsh footballers met an Auckland team at Alexandra Park to-day, glorious weather conditions prevailing. Some 20,000 spectators attended, stand accommodation being provided for 14,000. The ground was dry, and the game was fast and fairly interesting. Britain were without the services of several of their. cracks" through injuries. The teams were as follows :— England : Full-back, Dyke; forquarters, Chapman, Vassall, J P Jones and McEvedy; halves, Laxon and Gr.. L. "Williams; forwards, Hardi°g (capt.), Dibble, Morgan, Down, Hmd, Smith, J. F. Williams and Thomas. Auckland : Full-back, Renwick; threequarters, Wilson, v Magee and Murray; five-eighths, Morse and Baker; half, Kiernon; forwards, Gillett (capt.), McGuire, Herring, Cunningham, Francis, Nicholson, Seeling ad Hayward. ■. } The pace set was furious at the out- > set, but the Britishers were not allowed to get their backs in motion, Gillett doing a lot of "spoiling " Five minutes after the kick-off Baker unexpectedly broke away in midfield and raced for the line with three British backs in pursuit. Dyke caught him a few yards from the line, and in the ensuing scramble the ball roll- ? ed over the line and Haywardi : pounced on it, drawing first blood for; the home team. Kiernan's attempt; at goal -proved fruitless. On resumittg, the Britishers became aggressive, and forced play into Auckland's territory; the backs, however, owing to the excellent defence, never got out pf hand, Seeling, Francis and Gillett being most prominent in nullifying their attempts. At times the British- • ers got within striking-distance, but Auckland's line was never seriously

endangered. The spell closed without further score, the visitors having the better of the play. . k The second spell opened without much incident, play being fairly even for the first twenty minutes, when the Britishers showed signs of going to pieces. Half-way through the spell Baker cut off a pass from Harding and endangered the British line. Imtnediately afterwards Gillett, from a line^Du^|rhipped the leather smartly away to" Herring, whp raced across without much opposition. Francis' kick went wide. Auckland 6, Britain ml. The subsequent play was very lively, the Auckland backs entering into the game with great spirit. Morse and Baker got well away .shortly afterwards, but a bad pass* to Wilson a few yards from the line robbed Auckland of an almost certain score, and the Britishers made $ie most of the mistake. No respite was given, however, and at length Murray snapped up in the loose at the twentyfive and scored a fine try. Dyke tackled him, but he wrenched himself free and struggled over. The kick was at a fairly easy angle, and Magee placed a nice goal. There was still fifteen minutes.. to go, but the visitors, subsequent play lacked heart, and they were never dangerous. Auckland k>st several fine chances through over-anxiety. The game closed.without,further incident, save that Britain was forced, shortly before the call of time. The final score \was Auckland 11 points, Britain nil. The feature of the game was the fane defence and deadly tackling of Cc £ Ome team > which never allowed the British rearguard to obtain much headway. Mr Charters, of Wairarapa, acted as referee, giving every satisfaction. J