TEST FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17265, 15 September 1919, Page 9

TEST FOOTBALL.

AUSTRALIA V. NEW ZEALAND. VISITORS WIN VERY EASILY. SOME BRILLIANT BACK PLAY. The fourth test match tinder League rules between Australia, and New Zealand took place at the Domain on Saturday before about 15,000 spectators. Beautiful weather prevailed, and the ground was in excellent condition, the* .-eoent rain having had tie effect of making the turf springy, while the surface had dried nicely, and was not slippery. The game requires little description, the —Australia 32 New Zealand 2—indicating that the scoring ability was practically confined to one side. In the first spell the visitors crossed th New Zealand line on three occasions, one of the tries being converted, while New Zealand should have had at least six or eight points to their credit had their goal-kicking been even moderately good. The q-ame started slowly, neither side being able to get the ball out to the open. Both sides were penalised several times for offences in the scrum. Ifwersen had a 6hot at goal, which went outsidethe nosta. Shortly afterwards the same player took a. good mark, and made another unsuccessful shot at goal. The first score went to Australia, the ball being sent out to Horder, who punted over the line, and Burge, following fast, scored. Horder's kick failed : Australia, 3; New Zealand 0. After the drop out a penalty kick took play to New Zealand's twentyfive, and the visitors attempted to open up the game, but the local tackling proved sound. Eventually the ball was sent out to Cubitt, who dodged through and scored. Horder converted: Australia, 8; New Zealand, 0. The Australians kept up the pressure. The ball was sent out to Johnston, who transferred to Horder, and the latter raced over near the corner. Half-time was called with the score:

Australia 11 New Zealand 0 Upon resuming, Robinson replaced Oubitt in the Australian team, the latter having received a nasty kick in the face just before half-time. The forwards dominated the situation at the beginning of the spell, both sides breaking away in rushes. Avery was the first to make an opening by himself, and made a good run down the centre to the fullback. Play hung in the Australian twenty-five for a time, till the backs broke away and carried play past the centre. A penalty against the blacks took play to their twentv-five, where a passing bout between the visiting backs resulted in Vest crossin" the line near the corner. Horder failed to convert: Australia, 14; New Zealand, 0. A rush by the blacks took play to the visitors' line, but a passing run by the backs brought relief. A clever piece cf play between Praser and Horder gave the latter an opening, and he dodged through the opposition and scored. Burge kicked a good goal, making the score : Australia, 19; New Zealand, 0. Give-and-take play ensued for a time, both sets of backs making rood dashes. A good passing run between Laing, Ifwersen, and lies saw Irwersen just blocked, and in the ensuing scramble the visitors wore penalised. Ifwersen kicked a good goal : Australia, 19; New Zealand. 2. The visitors livened up, and setup a series of attacks, the backs gaining cround with good passing movements. Robinson broke away, and cut through in the centre, but just failed to reach the line. From the scrum the leather was sent out to Vest on the wing, and he crossed near the corner. Burge failed to convert Australia, 22 ; New Zealand, 2. The blacks worked play to their opponents' twenty-five, but the Australian forwards were getting the ball consistently in the scrum,. and kept setting.their backs in motion. A lone kick to the New Zealand fullback, well followed up bv Burge, saw the latter take the ball beautifully in the air. and run in for an easy try. The same player converted, making the scores: Australia. 27; New Zealand. 2. Immediately afterwards the Australian backs were seWn motion, and the ball going out to Horder the speedy three-quarter raced round Dufty and scored behind the post*. Burrre converted, the game ending: Australia ... 32 New Zealand 2 Mr. J. A. Ferguson was referee. AUSTBA.LIA V. AUCKLAND.

PLAYERS FOR LOCAL TEAM.

The following have been selected to represent Auckland against the Australians on Saturday :— Delgroseo. W. Davidson, G. Davidson, K. Ifwersen, G. lies, 'D. McGregor, A. McClymont, J. Stewart, W. Gent, H. Avery. M. Bass, J. Clark, G. Walters, S. Lowry, W. Williams, R. Mitchell. All these players are requested to take up residence at Freeman's Hotel this evening.

THE RANFURLY SHIELD-

WELLINGTON V. CANTERBURY.

HOLDERS GREATLY SUPERIOR.

[BT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

I CHEISTCHURCH, Saturday, j The Ranfurly Shield match, Wellington I I v. Canterbury, was played at the Show 1 ] Grounds this afternoon in the presence of ! ! about 6COO spectators. The day was fine, ! j with a light breeze, but the ground was I slightly creasy after the rain which fell I during the week. A good game ended in I favour of Wellington by 23 points to 9. • The visitors' backs were immensely superior, and had Canterbury in trouble all through the game. Wellington kicked off against the sun j and breeze, add a good Canterbury movement was foiled by Algar, who snapped up the ball and found the line. Wellington attacked violently. Brosnahan relieving. His kick was marked by Chrisp, and Creen had a fruitless shot at goal. Canterbury swept down the field and a force saved Wellington. Loose forward play of an exeitinc nature followed in'the visitors' twenty-five. From a scrum the Canterbury backs got going, Chrisp grassing Mullins on the line. From a mark br Burson inside the twenty-five Davis landed a goal for Canterbury. | Canterbury 3 j Wellington ... ... ... 0 i The offensive by Canterbury was changed to a defensive, and from 'a mark by Roberts Green equalised the scores. Canterbury * 3 Wellington ... ' 3 Mixed back and forward plav saw Canterbury with the advantage, the visitors repulsed the attacks and a knock-on robbed them of a good opportunity. Sparks and Petersen headed the Canterbury forwards in a great assault on Wellington's goal, Alcar just robbing Cummings of a try The prettiest piece of play 0 the trame followed. From a scrum at half-way Roberts sent a very high pass to Corner He jumped and got the ball and set sail t ■. rri 1 " 8, bein grassed within inches ot it. the next few minutes were anxious ones for Canterbury, Wellington penning them up and threatening danger time and again. A penalty ultimately gave relief, hut Wellington were not to be denied brom a scramble Shearer scored and Green converted. Wellington ... 8 Canterbury ... 3 Within two minutes Wellington were over again as the result of passing be-

tween Roberts. Corner, THyard and Barker, the last-named searing "and Greea converting. Wellington ... ... ... 13 Canterbury ... 3 A passing rush by Canterbury broke •down, and Wellington swarmed down. A penalty sent them back, but Roberts picked up from the loose and sent on to Algar. Hs was well tackled, but his capturer let him go, and he touched down under the posts. Tilyard converted. Wellington ig Canterbury ~', 3 Corner looked like scoring a moment later, but lost the ball. «nd McLeod initiated a Canterbury i-jovement which ended m Wellington's twentv-flve, and t V 1S i_ had a shot from a Penalty which fell short. Half time sounded with the scores :— Wellington jg Canterbury ... ... 3 The second spell opened with Wellington aggressive, but by penalties and linekicking Canterbury got down under Wellington s goal. Ultimately the visitor* were forced as a result of 'a long kick bv Mulhns. Play was of a straggling forward order and m favour of the home team. Davis had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a penalty and then Wellington took ' n!ol an 'n J v'° be puUed "P *»' 'ff-sid" play. Canterbury came again and Wellington were penalised for off-side play Davis landed a goal. ' ' ' Wellington .13 1 Canterbury ... c ' a ns°? sidesmade free use of the line. ■ and from a line-out. at half-way Shearer ■ got the ball and ran clean through the , Canterbury backs. Green converted. Wellington 23 Canterbury ... ..'. " c On resumption Wellington were forced «1 the result of a long kick by Gumming* The visitors rallied, and Shearer neairlv S iT°i S^ McLeod, Canterbury, got the ball and beat all the visitors but Uhnsm. who downed him in good style Brosnahan had a pot from the field, which went wide, .md Wellington forced Obstruction on the part of the visitors in their B OT ?J **«}*-*•* «** them three . Sty. DaVIS ***** a «-> *™ * Wellington .23 Canterbury ... n

AUCKLAND V. TARANAKI.

WIN BY 23 POINTS TO 16.

SUPERIORITY OF THE BACKS.

[BT TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

NEW PLYMOUTH. Saturday. The representative return football match. Auckland v. Taranaki. was played here to-day, under ideal conditions. The game proved very interesting, and resulted in a win for the Northerners by 23 points to 16.

In the first spell the scoring was equal, Taranaki obtaining a penalty goal and converting a try, and Auckland scoring two tries, one of which was converted. Taranaki had, if anything, the better' of play in this spell, particularly among the forwards, but in the eariy. stages of the second half the Auckland backb got effectually to work, breaking down the home team's defence and scoring four tries in rapid succession, none being converted. Taranaki then rallied and confined their opponents to their twentyfive for a time, during which the local team scored two tries, one being converted. This made the scores : Auckland, 20; Taranaki, 16. In the latter part of the game the Aucklanders threw the ball about and passed magnificently, scoring another try and making their score 23. The Auck'-anders outclassed Taranaki in the back division, but held no advantage over them in the forwards. For Auckland tries were scored by Wilson (2), Badeley (2). Thomas, Burns, and McCullough; Laxon converting one. For Taranaki. Atkins, Spratt, and Rogers scored tries, George converting two and also kicking a penalty goal.