THIRD LEAGUE TEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17259, 8 September 1919, Page 9

THIRD LEAGUE TEST.

AUSTRALIA V. NEW ZEALAND.

WIN FOR THE VISITORS.

SCORE 34 POINTS TO 23.

FAST AND OPEN GAME.

The* third test football match, under | League rales, between the Australian and j Now Zealand representatives, was played ! at the Domain on Saturday, in the pre- j sence of over 50.000 spectators. Fine weather prevailed, and the ground was in excellent condition. Both sides t o ok the . field confident of victory, the first two : test, games having resulted in a win for j each. The New Zealanders, fresh from a victory ove- their doughty opponents at i Christchuroh. had good grounds ior the claim that they lad mastered the secret of the Australians' previous success, while the visitors were confident that they could srapi-ove on the font shown by them in the South. The game revealed that both ndto had excellent grounds for their respective opiu.oiw. L: the first spell the New Zealanders, displaying great dash and , determination, evented the fleet Austra- ; 1 an hacks from getting into motion, and by good tackling upset their combination during must of the spell. At half-time the scores were : -Australia 13 po.nts. < New Zealand 12. and as the game had gone each side still had good grounds for ! anticipating victory, though to the un- ' "biassed critic it appeared as if the margin j of points at the finish would be very j narrow. This view was borne out as the | second spell progressed, then Watkins, an i Australian forward, was ordered off the I field for rough play, and the game swung j in favour of New Zealand."and with about I 20 minutes to g.-> the scores were :—New ! Zealand 23, Australia 18. Toward the finish a New Zealand forward was ordered , off the field, and with fewer men to play, i ihe speedy Australian backs got their ' chance to open up the game, and ran up j the points in great style, eventually winning by 34 points to 23. The result still leaves some doubt as to which is the better all-round team. The Australian hacks are certainly speedier, and perhaps more tricky than the New Zealanders, though apart from Horder, who is a great individual player, with exceptional pace and swerving ability, there is little to choose between > them. The forwards are very evenly matched, and though the visitors showed superior hooking ability on Saturday, it is certain that the New Zealand team can be strengthened in this department. The blacks vanguard showed fine form in the open. 'For Australia tries were scored by Hoirder (2), Cubitt (2). Burge. Robinson, Thompson, and Johnston, and Horder kicked five goals. "For New Zealand tries were obtained by McGregor (2), Avery (2), and Walters. Ifwcrsen kicked three goals and Bradley one.

In justice to the New Zealand forward who was ordered off the field, it should be stated that the referee was mistaken in identifying Walters as the offender, and ha* since expressed regret for the error.

The Game in Progress.

The first movement after the kick-off was a dodgy run by Horner, who beat several men, but was crowded and his pass smothered. Shortly afterwards a similar run and a hard kick by the same player compelled New Zealand to force. Give-and-take play in the centre ensued till from the loose the ball was sent to Ifwersen, who lacked cleverly, and McGregor, following up well, got the leather and sent it on to the Australian line. The black forwards. following np fast, smothered the return, and very, dashing over, scored the first try for New Zealand. Ifwerson converted. New Zealand, 6; Australia, 0. An Australian rush took play to the New Zealand line, but Dufty saved well. A penalty to the visitors gave Thoirogood « chance straight in front of the goad, but the kick went wide. A good rush by the New Zealand forwards took p'ay to halfvav. and Horde? made another dash, but was well tackled by lies. A free-kick to !Kew Zealand, near the Australian twentyfive, gave Ifwersen a chance, and he landed a good goal. New Zealand, 7; Australia, 0. Two penalties in succession to Australia carried play to New Zealand's twenty-five. The black' forwards broke through, and Ifwersen. picking up the ball at half way, raced to the fullback and transferred to Haddon. The latter was overhauled by Horder and passed in to Davidson, who failed to take the ball, and a certain try was lost. The visitors were penalised in the ensuing scrum, and Ifwersen placed a nice goal. New Zealand, 9; Australia. 0. Soon after the drop-out Horder had a shot at goal from a penalty, but missed. A good passing run by the visitors gave Burge a chance, and swerving through the opposition he scored a nice try. Fraser failed to convert. New Zealand, 9; Australia. 3.

Point Difference at End of Spell. An Australian rush to the Now Zealand line was relieved by a good kick by Ifwer(wn. Then Holder brok» away down the t.U'.h line and punting over the line he bent the opposition for pace and scored. His shot at goal proved fruitless. New Zer 'and. 9; Australia, 6. McGregor made a good dash after the dropout, but the ball was sent out by th.-' Australian backs. Cubitt and Border made a good dash, the latter being well tackled by lies. A good rush by the New ; Zealand forwards ept play to the Aus- : tralian twenty-five, and Dufty taking the ball at half way petted at goal, the ball , ling just outside the posts. Shortly afterwards the New Zealand forwards set a rush going and Haddon sending the ball <ut to Walters, the latter dashed over near the corner. Ifwersen's shot at goal failed. New Zealand, 12; Australia, 6. Soon after the drop-out Border kicked a pood coal from a penalty. New Zealand, 12: Australia. 8. A free kick was given to Australia far obstruction immediately after the dropout. Holder's attempt at goal failing. A passing run between Thorogood ard Robinson saw the latter tackled on the line The New Zealand forwards cleared with a good rush. The ball was kicked over the New Zealand line and Duffy {.led David.'" with a good dash kicked over the line and a force resulted. At this Fiacre Killoway was injured and replaced bv Thompson. Cubitt broke away and transferred to Burge, who broke through to 'he fullback and sent the ball cut again to Cubitt, the latter scoring behind the posts. Border converted. Australia. 13; New Zealand. 12. A jrood passing run by the Australians beat the opposition and seemed certain to icMilt in a store, but a faulty pas? by the Australians refilled in a serum. The bi'l uent into t..u-h just us half time was called, with the scores ; —

Australia ™ X.-w Zealand 12 Some Good Passing Buns. T'p,n resuming the play was confined I -rr,.l!v to the forwards ior the tirs' ten | minutes, the backs on both sides indulging ' in ion? kiclv'n.,'. A passing movement by Si «■ Zealand "as obstructed by an Australian u.i'k. and liwersen had a shot at t'n.d fmin th- penalty, the ball going ;,,.-.,,],. A sweeping forward rush by the >'! w Zi-'iland fcrv.airls overwhelmed the opposition. Fraser just saving on the line. 'I' , Ati«traliiMi bmks broke away, and ( ,','bitt sending the hall over to Holder the latter r.,..■•! for the line, hut stopping 1,, -ven-e round Huftv. lies overhauled Jvm .lid saved a ti v. Immediately afterwivils Robinson. 1.. a L""-d dodgy run and f,',',,( p-i«Fiii" »■■ ml in a food position, ][..!-, er .-nv.itm.'. Australia, 18; New /..I; i,.!. 12. SV.rilv aft"r t'<e kick-out the New Zea1. ~,1 ,-.!.-• l nined defence into attack, and a coed run from the r own twentyfive «aw l'"v<r,,eii and McGregor racing f, i- the line with the hall between Il,rin MtUnpir to. k the final pass well and r.rored near th.- coiner. Ttwersen failed u, i..overt. Australia. 18: New /vl'll Hid. 15. , . Immediatel\ afterwards a good passing run by the New Zealand backs carried the

ball over tie line, McGregor scoring. Bradley failed to convert. New Zealand, 18; Australia, 18. Another good run by McGregor took the ball to Australia's twenty-five, and a scramble on the line saw two New Zealand forwards just miss taking the ball over for a try. A mark bv Ifwensen in front of the gaol gave Bradley a chance, and he kkked a good goal. New Zealand, 20; Australia, la Tight forward play ensued, and a penalty to New Zealand in front of the j«-ate saw Ifwersen make a fruitless attempt at goal. A fine passing movement by the Australians was stopped by a forward pass, and Dufty by a good kick, which was well followed up, removed play to the Australian twenty-five, where Bradley received a bad knock in tackling Robinfiou. J

Play continued in the Australian twenty-five, the New Zealand forwards keeping the ball close. From a scrum near the line Avery picked un and forced his way over. Ifwersen failed at goal. New Zealand, 23; Australia, 18.

Keen Tackling on Both Sides. New Zealand continued to press, and a good passing run by the backs took the ball to the Australian line, where Thorogood saved at the corner. An Australian rush and centre kick looked like a score, but offside play arrested the movement in front of the New Zealand goal. Hot play ensued near the line, where Robinson broke through and scored behind she posts. Horder converted. New Zealand. 23; Australia, 23. Both aides attempted to open up the game, but the tackling on both sides was good. Had don by a good feinting run broke through and passed to McGregor, the latter being sent out near the corner. Another passing run by New Zealand wa.s stopped by a faulty pass, and the Australians broke away, a good kick send in? the ball past Dofty. The latter fielded slowly and kicked a " grabber," which was fielded by Horder. and the Australian flyer made no mistake, racing over for a try near the posts. The try was not converted, and the scores stood : Australia, 26 : New Zealand, 23. Immediately afterwards Thompson, for the visitors, broke away and sending the ball out to Johnston, the latter ran to the line and transferred to Cubitt, who scored behind the posts. Horder converted. Australia, 31; New Zealand. 23. Another score cam* to Australia just before time was called, Thompson forcing his wav over from a scrum on the line. The try was not converted, and the bell rang to cease play with the scores: Australia 34 New Zealand 23 Mr. W. Murray made an efficient referee.

FOURTH TEST MATCH.

NEW ZEALAND PLAYERS CHOSEN. The following have been chosen to represent New Zealand in the fourth test match, under League rules, against Australia, on Saturday next:— Backs: C. Dnfty, O. lies, K. Ifwersen, D. McGregor, W. Cloke, J. Sanders, B. Laing, G. Bradley, I. Stewart. Forwards : S. Walters, W. Williams, H. Avery, W. Somers, T. Haddon, Bass, E. Herring, Cargill. The selected players are requested to report to th<» selectors at 12.30 p.m. to-day, at Victoria Park, in regard to arrangements to go into training for the week. As it is intended to hold a practice game on Wednesday afternoon at three o'clock, at Victoria Park, players other than those selected are requested to notify Mr. R. J. Stirling.

CIVIC WELCOME TO VISITORS.

GATHERING AT THE TOWN HALL.

The Australian League team was welcomed by the Deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. J.' Entrican, in the Town Ball on. Saturday morning, Mr. D *W. McLean, president of the Auckland Rugby League Council. Mr. J. Carlaw, chairman of the Auckland Rugby League, and many other representatives of both bodies were present. The Deputy-Mayor summed up the attributes of a footballer, and pointed out how characteristics developed upon the playing field had saved the Empire in the recent war. Messrs. McLean and Carlaw also welcomed the visitors. The managers of the Australian team, Messrs. C. H. J. Upton and W. W. Webb, thanked the Deputy-Mayor and other speakers for the welcome extended to the team.