FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16011, 1 September 1915, Page 11

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY. GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The second match of the season between the Wellington and Auckland representative teams was played at Wellington on Saturday in idea* weather conditions. It was not expected, by uiose wno were lully aware of me circumstances, that -Auckland would win, but on the other hand it was not expected mat Wellington wouiu win by such a iargi. margin. 'mo score ooes not represent tiie run ot play, but it should be explained thai the Wellington team wnen near Auckland's line was aiinost irresistible, but the Auckland team wiicn in scoring; positions lost many opportunities.. The local men over-ran Auckland for the first. 20 minutes ot the same and then the Northerners got into their 'stride and attacked tor the rest of the spell, except on two briet occasions, on each ot which the homo team scored. The play in the second sped was about represented by the score, which was in Auckland's tavour — 8 points to 5. The first 20 minufes saw the Wellington forwards and backs incessantly on the attack. The first try was given to. Wellington — correct decision — obstruction. Beady had only to drop on the ball when he was held up, and despite desperate efforts could not get his hands on the ball. A. spectacular try was scored by the burly W. Ryan, who drove his way straight through the opposition and scored. The next try was the cleverest of the match. Four Wellington forwards and backs attempted by straight dashes and short crisp passes to get through the visitors' defence. They were stopped an! then J. Ryan secured the ball and. with a pretty • swerving run. bent the opposing backs and scored under the posts. Following these reverses the Aucklanders roused themselves from their lethargy and attacked with such persistency that the local supporters had visions of tho 1915 Auckland team emulating the deeds of 'previous combinations which had turned apparent defeat into victory in the concluding stages of the gome. However, opportunities were not accepted and a magnificent placekick by Barker from half-way struck the post high up and came back into the field. Two brief attacks by Wellington before halftime were each successful, and when the teams changed ends Wellington led by 17 points to 0. Auckland had the best of the game, and scored in the second spell, but the side was not equal to the task of wiping out such a heavy deficit. Auckland's points consisted of a try by J. Harris, converted by Barker, and a penalty goal by the latter Player. His second 'successful kick was exceptionally good. . The Wellington team was handled better than the local side. For instance, remembering the monotonous regularity with which the Auckland hookers got the ball at Eden Park. Rangi Wilson made his plans to minimise the advantage this gave to the Auckland team. With Gilchrist too powerful for O. Stewart on the one tide and Wilson breaking quickly from the scrum on the other side, Lang had few chances to set his backs going. He ™tood the pressure, as ii 0 middle piece of the sandwich, very well for so young a player. The Wellington forwards also handled better than the Auckland men. who relied on solid sweeping rushes. Once properly going they took some stooping, but they were not well supported by their backs. The hookers, Casey and Grace, were not so successful as the Sellars-Grace combination. Avery. McHugii. and Harris played well, both in pacK work and in the loose, but A. Campbell and Hanlon. who were injured in the Taranaki .match, were unable to produce thoir best form- The best of the Wellington forwards were Wilson. Ready. W. Ryan. Gilchrist, and Trrcred. The Wellington backs were superior as a combination to Auckland. Moffitt was th© best of the fullbacks, but owing to the gap between the three-quarter line anil tho scrum, it was impossible to compare the nw?r«ts of the Auckland threecjuarter line with •that of Wellington. Good individual worK was cone by D. Stewart and Barker, and by Clark until be was iniured. Algar was not seen to such advantage as he was 15. Auckland, and the play of E. Ryan and Amy is waa not much above the work of Auckland's Wings. It was in the five-eighths line that Wellington showed such superiority. Prussia" and G Campbell compared unfavourably wiin Wellington's brilliant pair. Blackniorc and J. Ryan. The latter played tne best back game on the groiicd and was always dangerous- The Wellington fiveeighths were fed by Tilyard. who was well protected bv Gilchrist and Wilson, and they thus, had the advantage of their opponents .Most of the Wellington team's points were scored by the Ryan Brothers. E.. J., and W. all securing points for the side. . Although tne margin of points in Wellington s favour was large-, it was not the severest defeat inflicted in the series between the two provinces. It wag the biggest s"°k ™ st ?'ncd by the Auckland team, but 111 IS9S .Auckland defeated Wellington by 19 Mints to 0. and in 1908 Auckland defeated Wellington.' oy 24 points to 3.'

THE LEAGUE GAME. x NOTES AND COMMENTS. The first League representative match of the season was held at Victoria Park on Saturday aftemoou. when Auckland defeated Thames by 27- points to 16. The weather was fine, but the strong easterly wind that prevailed gave a decided advazi- •? se to the team which was playing with u. Ihe match, though ' the scoring was hum, did not result in a brilliant exposition of the game. The first spell was most uninteresting, the play being decidedly patchy. The Auckland team was slow at finding its teet, and did not combine at all well in the initial stages, ■this was somewhat strange, seeing the preponderance of Ponsonby men in the rearguard. Thames appeared to be in & similar predica-nent, but there was more excuse (or it, teeing that the men were playing on a strange ground and were opposed to what was apparently a very strong side in the local representatives. Assisted by the wind in the second half, however, tile visitors put » great deal more heart into their play, and the contest assumed something like representative form.

The Auckland team did not give an impressive display, and in at least one instance it v was badly , constructed. McClymont should never have been put at fullback- He is a good five-eighths, or, probably. threeQuarters, and the whole of his play on Saturday emphasised strongly that he is not a coal-keeper. He\ wants to bo closer to the pack, and the opening he made when Jones scored showed that he would be more useful at five-eighths— However, he wag well out |of his place on this occasion. Before the game ended Wynynrd changed positions with him. and he was seen to more advantage. Clark, the Newton threequarter, was quite worthy of a place in the team, and, if he had been substituted foi Cross the team would have been improved. D. McGregor, S. Jones and G. Asher. the three-quarter lino, played well. The first-named scored a good try and was prominent throughout the game. Asher made his first appearance in representative matches and created a very favourable impression. Wynyard at fiveeighths was also prominent. Of the forwards Bennett, Rodgers and Walter's were the most conspicuous. The first-named put in a great afternoon's work and undoubtedly was the best of the pack. Though ihe Thames team was beaten it was not by any means disgraced, for in the second spell it made a particularly good showing. The team includes some good backs, chief among whom is Maddison. first five-eighths. He iB a very nippy player, and when the ball came his way he made the best use of it. He put in some good defensive work, and on attack he compared favourably with anyone on the field. He would be quite worthy of a place in any Auckland team. Rickett was the most prominent of the three-quarter line, and he made some fine sprints down the line during the game. Winder, the centre threequarter. was also prominent. Dufty was not particularly good at fullback and his goal-kicking was poor. M. Hayward at half played particularly well and was to the fore throughout the game. In the forwards Lomas and .H. Hayward were probably the most conspicuous of a hard-working pack. | The Auckland team will travel to Thames on Saturday, and a really good game should result. _ Thames will be much improved after Saturday's game, and given a fine day a close contest should result. The annua! general meeting of the Northern Union was held at Manchester on June 8 under the presidency of Mr. J. H. Smith. Widnes. After the repojt and balance-sheet had been adopted the question of the discontinuance of football was considered. Mr Smith proposed that except for schoolboys and .intermediates under 18 ' years of age competitive football under Northern Union rules be disbanded for the duration of the war. It was decided that no interference should lie made with the recruit- I ing, and all those players who wore eligible j were advised to join the colours. During the forthcoming season it was resolved to i play only friendly matches, and the following resolution v.-as passed: — "That no club j or union or official in connection with the l Northern Union shall be allowed to make payments to professional footballers or make payments for broken time.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The semi-finals of the Falcon Cup did not attract a great deal of attention, there being a very small attendance at Bayswater to witness the Brotherhood A and B match. Those who did go across, however, witnessed a very good same. The juniors gave an excellent display and although they lost by three goals to one the defeat should not be disheartening to the eleven players who all through the game proved themselves hard triers. One can quite understand the team's position at the top of the second division table and if it can keep up its present form it should secure lor itself the ctiaiupionahio of the junior division. The weather condiiions were against scientific play, and the ground was not at its best; it was very hard and bumpy. The other semi-final at North Shore resulted in a win for the Everton team, which always had the measure of its junior opponents—a composite Tabernacle team. Everton, with the help of a strong wind, obtained a three-goal lead, but liter a change of ends Tabernacle tried hard to narrow the breach"

Tne game ended in a win lor Ever ton by ,<3 r!i l goals to two. e The final should produce a. hard game next Saturday.. Eyerton invariably finishes the season with plenty of dash and the Brotherhood team will have to be 011 its mettle to annex the Falcon Cup.. The Brotherhood senior team is not playing as well together as at- the beginning of the season* but- perhaps the opposition it will meet in the final will produce better combination. It is hoped the association will see fit to play the final on a. town ground. The Bayswater turf is not in proper condition for a cup tie. Whilst the present conditions permit of ■'the ÜBe of the ground for ordinary matches, a better venue would be Victoria Park or the Domain for the forthcoming cup tie-