FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5669, 17 August 1905, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

TIIR RAXFCTJA* SHIELD. WELLINGTON r. WAIRARAPA. A JAR AWX G.VAXE, In terms of its challenge calling on lY.llingrcn to defend its title as holder of tlie Kanfurly Shield, the AVairarapa Rugby team arrived in Wellington yes- | rerdny, and in the afternoon mot the I homo team on the Athletic Park, whore I hoi ween eight and nine hundred people ! had assembled to witness the contest. | 'J'he ground, owing to the heavy rain which fell overnight, wa* in a very bad ■ state. Anything like decent back play I was practically out of the question, j Iho forwards did a heap of work in the ! mud and slush; and it says a gloat deal i for Iho visiting team that it succeeded | in making a draw of the fixture, each j side scoring three points. Wellington, ; accordingly, retains possession of the | shield. The teams were:— j Wellington (.black). —Full-back, Cl. I Spencer; three-quarters, Jilacklcek, Anj derson, Ryan * iive-eighih, Sharpe; | half, Jlninsden ; forwards, Dodd, Wylie, j Cross, Wright, J. Spencer, Gillespie, ! C’ollorton, Hardham, Warner. AVairarapa (green).—Full-back, Williams; three-quarters, Roger*, J. O’Leary, Wrigley; five-eighth, P. O’Leary; half. Logan; forwards, Raison, Armstrong, AVickons, AVcrkman, Beard, -McKenzie, Johnston, Spademan, Duggan. AVairarapa hud choice of ends, and elected to play towards the northern goal, with a slight wind In their favour. The greens made an early attack on AVollington's line, but could not get through. The only noticeable feature of the dull play which followed was the lino all-round play of Wrigley, particularly his kicking. AVairarapa was attacking merrily, when Logan got tho ball nicely away to O’Leary, but Rogers, on tho wing, failed to take O’Leary’s pass, and a good opening was lost. The blacks followed with a loose, dribbling attack down tho held, but Wrigley shifted play to the other end with a good kick. A lot of scrambling in tho homo team’s twenty-five followed. and eventually Wellington was compelled to fojce. Tho greens, recognising that they were getting the bettor of tho game, continued the attack, and five minutes’ hard battling on tho lino ended in a score being credited to Spucktuan. Board failed with tho kick. Wairarapa ... ... ... 3 Wellington ... ... 0 Thro© minutes after play was resumed. AVellington again forced to avoid trouble, and yet a second time soon afterwards. Dodd, Hardham, and Spencer pub a different complexion on things by rushing down the field with the ball In front of them, but they could not get past the green twentyfive. Play of a most uninteresting character followed, and half-time was called without alteration in tho score. With tho breeze at their backs, tho home forwards made a lightning dash for their opponents’ goal-lino immediately on recommencing play. They swept tho greens before them, and before the crowd had time to realise wluit was happening, Hardham threw himself on the ball as it was kicked behind. George Spencer failed to kick a goal by inches only, Wairarapa ... ... ... 3 AVellington ... ... ... 3 AVellington subsequently attempted passing amongst its hacks, but tho results were not encouraging, lllacklock failed to take the ball from Anderson on one occasion, when there was a good chance to score. A strong forward attack by the blacks was followed by a strong rush by tho greens, and when Spackman got the ball, it looked as if nothing could stop him scoring, bub G, Spencer was too much for him. Wellington managed - to extricate itself from this “hole,” and right up to the call of time had the visitors defending the lines. The blacks made frantic efforts to score, but failed to gee through, and ( one of tho muddiest and most uninteresting contests this season ended AVellington ... ... ... 3 AVairarapa ... 3 A few lines about the teams. It is time the story about AVrigley’s “off” days was exploded. Wrigley played the best game on the ground. lie only made one mistake throughout the game, and that was a pardonable one. His cleverness in taking the ball is a t-reat to witness, and his kicking is excellent. It’s a pity he did not go with the .New Zealand team to tour Great Britain, Ramsdoii and G. Spencer both played very well for tho home team, as did the O’Leary Bros, and Rogers for tho visitors. There was little to choose between the teams. Tho forwards all played a sterling game. OTAGO V. SOUTHLAND. PIIESS ASSOCIATION. INTER CAR G ILL, August 16. A football match, Otago v. Southland, was played to-day in perfect weather. The match was won by the local team, by 5 points (a try by Fraser, converted by Reid) to 3 (a try by Sheehan). All tho scoring was done in the first spell. Reid made a fine shot at goal from halfway, the ball striking the post and coming back. The referee cautioned a player for striking an opponent.