THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20901, 17 June 1931, Page 14

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

PROVINCIAL PREMIERSHIP.

WELLINGTON'S FINE VICTORY. RECOVERY IN SECOND SPELL. l)of010 a largo attendance Wellington gained ft most popular victory -in the English Trophy challenge contest with Auckland at Blandford Park on Saturday, the pace and fitness of the visitors being the deciding factor in a game which was

full of thrills from start to finish. „ It was Wellington's eighth attempt to lift

the trophy since tho inception of the competition six seasons ago, the Southern challengers lacking on former occasions tho very quality which carried them

through to 'victory ,on Saturday. This characteristic was combination, which, added to the usual bustlo and determina-

tion of Wellington teams, proved too stiff u hurdle for Auckland to surmount. Tho salient featuro of the match was

the brilliant constructional play exploited by both teams, notwithstanding the wet conditions. In this connection Auckland, although fading out at the finish, must be given credit for its fine display in tho first half, when by superior team-work it had tho visitors in sore straits. Had Auckland been able to maintain tho pace in the second half there would have been littlo doubt as to tho issuo, but Wellington showed fiuo recuperative powers and a combination, which had been mostly latent up to this stage, to tako the honours of tho day. Tho fundamental weakness in tho Auckland team was in the half-liue, which was outclassed by tho respective division of the Wellington sido. Campbell was a fine pivot in tho Wellington half-line, shining equally on attack and defence. He displayed a wonderful aptitude for anticipating tho moves of the opposition, and that Auckland did not get more goals was largely owing to this feature of his play. Support from Halves.

Fino support was given by his -winghalves, J. McLood and Hanlon. Tho firstnamed was outstanding on defence, being successful in bottling up tho Auckland left flank managed by Kay and Ilislop. Til© Wellington halt was also a potential force on attack, brilliant control of tho ball often giving him the opportunity to open up tho play for his forwards.' If-ho was inclined to go a triflo far on occasions when in possession, it was an excusablo fault under the deplorablo ground conditions.

'Tlio Wellington last lino was also sturdy throughout, Guest and Jeffrey kicking with rare judgment and showing fine understanding in covering up under pressure. The latter was responsiblo for tho one disturbing foature in a contest which, for the most part, was cleanly although forcefully contested throughout. Some of his tackles wero of an extremely dangerous nature, Kay, Dunsmore and Innes all receiving nasty knocks from collisions with him. In this respect the referee was on tho tardy side in not cautioning Jeffrey until the latter stages of tho game. Tho Wellington goalkeeper, McVean, did not shine as he has done in previous matches, but managed to get through his work in an efficient manner with the-ex-ception of one occasion, when he allowed n shot from Dunsrnoro to pass through.his haudti.

The frontal division was a deadly one, whoso possibilities were not recognised until tho garno was well under way. In tlio early stages the dominating figure in tho line was Leslie, whoso play wae characterised to sonio extent by "kick and rush" methods, but with a prospect of victory in sight tho visiting forwards adopted cohesion in tho second half and excelled anything which has been seen from the Auckland quintet. Leslie, Condon and R. McLeod wero tho outstanding figures, with tho first-named pair showing a brilliant understanding. Craig and Smith were also well on the alert when an opening was presented. Goalkeeper's Courage.

Zuill played a fighting game in goal for Auckland, and with a wide range of shots to contend with he could not bo blamed for those that,eluded his hands. Ho showed great courage on many occasions in coming out to stiflo shots from the burly Wellington playors, a particularly brilliant savo being witnessed when he dived literally to tako the'ball off Leslie's toes when the latter seemed a certain scorer.

The finest back display given in either team catno from Gcrrard, the Auckland right back, who, with the handicap of a weak half-line, was forced to bear the brunt of Wellington's attack. lie showed wonderful endurance in coming up time after time, in the face of the visitors' onslaughts. Eeid was not too sure in his kicking, while his positional play also lacked soundness. This fact also added to Gorrard's duties. The Auckland half-line started off in fine stylo and seemed likely to refute all recent criticism, but when tho pace was on in tho second half the lino showed a very noticeable lack of stability and condition. Christie was obviously tiring in the second half, although he battled on gamely, while Jones and Morrison were not tho help to the forwards that they might have been. Granted tiiat tho Auckland wings, who were, by tho way, under tho handicap of injuries, did not respond exceedingly well to support, this docs not cxcuso tho poorly-directed passes which camo from tho intermediate division. If Auckland intends challenging Wellington at a later dato then somo drastic changes will havo to be made in this lino if the English trophy is to revert to tho formor holders.

A Dangerous Wing. Tho Auckland right-wing, which was in Innes' care, was proving exceedingly dangerous to Wellington until this player received his leg injury. Innes was at his best, and he received good support from Dunsmore, who adapted himself -well (o tho existing conditions. Spencer was dangerous in tho first half, bub fell away as tlio gamo wore on. Ka.y, who was also hurt, did not get much room to work in owing to tho attentions of J. McLeod. The left-wing could havo done with a good deal moro support, from Hislop, who did not givo anything liko his usual representative display. As was'freely cxprosscd at tho dinner given to tho respective elovens on Saturday evening, tho change in locality of tho Soccer premiership will do the code a great deal of good, and now interest in tho English Trophy should bo aroused throughout tho Dominion. Tho probability of Auckland attempting to regain the premiership at an early dato Was also mooted by several speakers.

(BEAT RUGBY FULLBACKS. WALLACE, NEPIA AND BUSH, New Zoaland has given to sport two or three Rugby fullbacks whose names will ever adorn history, says a Sydney writer. There was W. J. Wallace, superb allround as fullback, a consummate mastor as centre threequarter, and a very dangerous man on the wing. Then there was inimitable G. Nepia, an original in conception of play, as ®P®O- - as a bursting sky rocket. There have been others,, but none in-the class of these men. . . \ Now a third has risen in' B. G. Bush, New Zealand Universities' fullback. More like Wallace than any other great man in the position, his handling of the ball in the air and ground fielding recall Gwyn Nicliolls, the amazing Welsh centre-threequarter. Tall, active, fast and sound, with a quick mind, Bush looks like winning a place among the 1 great fullbacks of Rugby.,