THE RUGBY GAME

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6624, 14 September 1908, Page 2

THE RUGBY GAME

WELLINGTON BEATS TARANAKI. AN UNINTERESTING GAME. There was an attendance of four thousand at the match between the representatives of Wellington and Taranaki, which was placed on the Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon, under perfect conditions. Neither union was represented by its best fifteen. Prom the Wellington ranks Mitchinson was absent, Magee going back to centre in his place, and Green playing at live-eighths. HardLM navivs Hunter, Myuott, and r rewin wore all absent from the visiting team. Wellington had the best of the game, and completely turned the tables on their opponents, who had previously beaten them this season at New Plymouth by la to nil. The wind was a great factor in the game, as can b© Judged by the fact that neither side scored while playing against it. THE TEAMS. Taranaki (yellow and black). Fullback, Stohr; three-quarter,«, C. Sheehan, Dive, Backhand; five-eighths, D. Cameron, Beamish; half; Thurston; forwards, T. Sheahan (wing). Gain, Whittington, Pukere, Moffitt, Tamil, O’Sullivan, Ivivell. Wellington (black).—Full-back, Ryan; three-quarters, Mathc-fon, Magee, Evenson ; five-eighths. Green, McLeod; half, Roberts; forwards, Gardiner (wing), Ready. Hamilton, "RanJi” Wilson, A. C. Wilson, Rush, Alexander, A. Cameron. FIRST SPELL.

Wellington lost the toss, and kicked oil against a strong wind and with the sun in their eyes. McLeod was the first to break away, and being ably seconded by Green and Magee, took play on to the yellows* line, but Thurston secured, the ball, and, dodging round Green, shifted the scone of operations to the centre of the field. A kick by Roberts sent the ball to Stohr, who returned well down into Wellington's twenty-five. Play remained here for some time until McLeod, with a fine dodging run crossed over into the Taranaki half. But the ball got into tho hands of Stohr, who once more sent it back into home territory. A few minutes later Stohr again got tho ball, and with an excellent kick sent it into touch right on the corner. From the line-out Taranaki sent tho ball into touch-in-goal. From a mark Stohr had a shot at goal from half-way, but, although his attempt was an excellent one, the ball passed outside th© posts. Wellington .slowly worked play up to the other end. and from a scramble the ball crossed the line, but Moffitt forced down. The Wellington backs repeatedly attempted passing movements, but their efforts were always unavailing, tho tackling of tho yellows being very deadly. From a scramble in tho centre of th® field, 0. Sheahan secured tho ball from a rebound, and beating tho whole Wellington team, ran right down, and scored a beautiful try beside the posts. Cameron. made a very poor attempt to convert. Taranaki, 3; Wellington, 0. About two minutes afterwards the yellow forwards got away, and Tamil, taking a pass from O'Sullivan, right on the line, fell over. Stohr converted. Taranaki. 8; Wellington, 0. From the kick-off Tamil again got away, and the yellows looked dangerous when Evenson intercepted a pass, and ran into Taranaki's quarter. The game, however, did not remain hero long. Beamish, Cameron, and Dive, with a fine passing rush, taking the ball to tho other end. T. Sheahan got away, but was forced into touch in tho corner. Cameron passed to Dive In front of the goal, and the latter attempted to pot a goal, failing miserably. ICivell and T. 'Sheahan dribbled the ball into the blacks' quarters, where it was secured by Ryan, but Sheahan grabbed it out of his hands, and dashed forward, being collared right on tho line. Stohr took a shot at goal from a free, kick at half-way, but A, Cameron charged the ball down. A long Iriek by Rol>erts found touch in the yellows' quarter, and the black forwards, keeping up the pressure, forced play on to their opponents' line. From a scramble in front of tho goal Cameron kicked out finely, but Evenson marked, and sent the ball back again. A fine rush by Beamish, Cameron, and Div© again put Wellington's lino in danger, but Ryan saved well. Tho showing of the blacks at this stage was very poor, even when it is taken into account that tho wind prevented anything like good kicking by their backs. C. Sheahan made a fine run, beating all the Wellington backs except Ryan, who ran across and threw him into touch at Wellington's twentyfive flag. Half-time sounded with piny in Wellington's territory, .where it had been for about two-thirds of the spell. SECOND HALF. Playing with the wind in the second half, Wellington started much beter, and soon had tho ball in Taranaki’s quarter. Roberts had a shot at goal from a free-kick, but foiled. After about ten minutes' battling, in which Wellington had all the best of tho exchange. the ball came out from a close scramble, and Ready snatched it up and dashed over in the corner. Ryan failed to convert. # Taranaki, 8; Wellington, 3. A fine piece of passing, in which McLeod, Green, and Magee participated, looked promising, but McLeod was downed near the yellows' line. Play continued in Taranaki's quarter, but nothing of any moment happened until the ball came out clear to Evenson. who dropped a beautiful goal. § Taranaki, S; Wellington. 7. A fine piece of passing by Rush, McLeod, Green, and Magee, was spoilt by the last-named kicking on, Just as he was about to cross the lino. The blacks were awarded a free-kick under Taranaki's posts, and Ryan landed an easv goal. Wellington, 10; Taranaki, 8. Wellington kept up their attack, tho forwards especially putting in a great deal of hard work. The play was exceedingly uninteresting, consisting wholly of scrambles and short runs by the blacks, none of which resulted in any advantage to cither team. A Taranaki forward carried the ball over his own lino. From the scrum the ball earn© out to Roberts, who passed to McLeod, who dodged over. Evcnson failed badly with the kick. Wellington, 13; Taranaki, 8. The yellows were rather more successful after this, and took play into Wellington's half several times. The blacks' defence was, however, very solid, and could not bo pierced. A fine rush bv Green and Evenson saw th© latter thrown out at tho corner flag. This ended tho game. In tho second spell tho yellows had never penetrated into Wellington's twenty-five. The final score was—Wellington, 13; Taranaki, 8, Mr E. Wylie was referee.

OTAGO BEATEN BY AUCKLAND. PEERS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, September 12. The Otago-Ancklnnd match was played at Alexandra Park to-day, in boauti'fnl weather. The contest was the last to bo played this season for the coveted Eanfurly Shield, but public interest was flagging, and there was only an attendance of about throe thousand spectators. The game was contested in the best spirit, and was not a runaway victory by any means for the home team. The teams were as follows: Auckland—Pull-back, Miller: threequarters, Wilson, Murray, Eonwick; fiveeighths. Eater, and Magee; half. Morse; forwards, Gillett (wing). Herring, McGuire (2), Francis. Cuiingham, Nicholson. Seeling, and Hayward. Otago—Full-baek. Clarke, three-quar-ters, Chambers. O’Sullivan, Stalker; fiveeighths. Eckhold and Don; half, Sutherland; forwards, A. McDonald (wing).

Casey, Fitzpatrick, Johnson, Patou, Patb'rson, McKenzie, and Iviraey.

Otago in the fir.st spell played against a Might westerly bn.-cze and a strong sun. The vh-itors at one- forced, the puce, and rushed the ball over tho line. Murray saved in a tight position. Raton attempted a penalty goal without result Murray relieving the pressure, and later Francis attempted a penalty from hall-way McDonald broke-away in the play that followed giving the blues vantage to Auckland’s twenty-five. Ihon Gilioit kicked high from half-way, the home forwards setting out in pursuit. Clarke, th© visitors’ full-back, made a .wretched attempt to save, and was equally much at fault in his endeavour to force down. fell on the bail, thus drawing first blood for Auckland. Magee’s attempt at goal was a failure. Auckland. 3 points; Otago, ml. Ihc first real incident of note to follow the kick-off was a fine attempt at goal from a penalty bv Paton. One minute later Gillott got the leather nicely away to Seeling, the latter making an easy opening fox* Morse. who scored between the posts. Magee kicked an easy goal-Auck-lancl, 8 points; Otago, nil. The play that followed was of a character calculated to try the stamina of any team, and tho representative® of both provinces were showing sign© or tiring. Eventually McGuiro got a hot pass away to Gillott, who handed over his responsibility to Murray, tho latter scoring in a fine position. Mageo failed to secure the additional points —Auckland. 11; Otago, nil. The game see-sawed up and down the field. Several bright runs were provided by the home team, which jmzzled the yieitors. Time was called with Auckland attacking strongly. Little of interest marked the opening stages of tho second spell, Auckland maintaining an advan- - tag-? for the first few minutes. Eventually Ivimey and Fitzpatrick broke through tho ruck and Eckhold ably seconded their efforts. A forward scramble followed, as a result of which McDonald scored Otago’s first try after five minutes’ play Paton kicked a nice goal—Auckland, 11; Otago,‘s. Auckland rushed play up-fiold on resuming, but a policy of muddle on tho part of tho bade© again placed Otago within striking distance. An injudicious kick, however, resulted, in. a force-down. The Otago defence was very erratic at this stage, and Gillott and his men were # setting the visitors a merry pace, their line being frequently in clanger. Indeed, they were fortunate in averting a score on more than ono occasion. With a quarter of an hour to go honours were about even, and it was then that tho southerners attempted to play their trump cards. All their efforts were effectually chocked. Towards the conclusion of the spell the players of both sides appeared to be quite content to play a game of safety as far as lay in their power. The final scores were, Auckland, II; Otago, 5. Mr F. Howe, of Wellington, was referee.

OTAGO v. WELLINGTON. THE WELLINGTON TEAM. Tho last representative match of tho season so far as AVellingfcon ia concerned, will bo played on tho Athletic Park next Saturday between Wellington and Otago. So far Wellington have won every match played this season on their own ground, but it looks probable that the Otago team will give them an. extremely anxious time. The following team has been picked to represent tho Wellington Union: Full-back, J. Ryan; three-quarters, Magee, Mitchinson, Evenson; iivceighths. Green, McLeod; half, Roberts; forwards, Handham (wing), Hamilton, Ready, "Ranji” Wilson, A. C. Wilson, Rush, Shadbolt, Alexander. Emergcnsies, Flanagan, Osborne, Cameron. The team is considerably stronger than that which played against Taranaki on Saturday afternoon last. It will be noticed that Mitchinson and Hardham, who were not fit to play on Saturday, are both included. Tho team is to meet for practice at tho gymnasium on Tuesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. SHIPPING OFFICES MATCH. A match was played at Miramar between teams representing the Union Hearn Ship Company and the other shipping companies combined. In the first spell Donovan scored two tries for tho combined team, and in the second half Mason secured another, which was converted by Boyes. The combined team by II to nil. Mr V. R. Meredith was referee. NEW ZEALAND UNION. The management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union met on Saturday evening. Mr G. H. Dixon presided. There were also present Messrs Galbraith, Laughton, Isaacs and Wallburton. It was decided to hold a special meeting on the Bth prox. to consider the advisablcness of altering tho laws of the game. At a previous meeting October let was agreed upon as the date of the meeting. A. communication was received from tho Hawke's Bay Union, asking whether the expenses of the delegate from each affiliated union would be borne by the New Zealand Union. Notice to move in this direction at the special meeting was received from tho Otago Union. It was agreed that under the special circumstances, th© expenses of the delegate from each union bo defrayed by the New Zealand Union. It was decided that the Denniston Club's appeal against the Buller Union's decision in connection with the Denniaton Rivals'" match should bo upheld. Buller Union will bo advised to this effect.

Particulars were sent by the Poverty Bay Union concerning tho suspension of a line umpire named Peterson. The letter was received. C. H. G. Hewitt appealed against his disqualification for three years by the Manawatu Union. Ho stated that he had written. to the union to the effect that ho would not be able to take part : n tho match against Wanganui. He had represented his province for sax years, and had often gone on tour at great inconvenience to himself. It was decided that the appeal bo upheld and the appeal feo be returned to Hewitt. In reference to Horowhenua's request to be allowed to purchase a ground that had been selected as suitable for football, it was decided to ask for additional information and the price of the ground. The Union's solicitor notified the Union that he hnd accepted on behalf of the Union service of a writ issued bv the Imperial Advertising Agency for alleged breach of agreement in regard to the programme rights of the British tour. MARLBOROUGH v. BULLER. PRESS ASSOCIATION. BLENHEIM, September 13. The Marlborough v. Buller Seddon Challenge Shield match was played in good weather, and won by Marlborough by 6 points to 3. The local team's score consisted of one try and one penalty goal. Bailor's score was a try obtained by Hogg. The game was a good one. A WIN FOR RANGITIKEI, MARTON, September 13. A representative match Wanganui v.

Rangitikei was played at Marton on Saturday, and resulted in a win for Rangitikei by two •converted, tries to one converted try. The game was fairly even, and at times very fast. The Rangitikei forwards played really well, and obtained the ball the more often, but the backs failed to make good use of their chances. SHALL THE GAME CHANGE? PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, September 13. In view of the present state of affaire, importance is attached to tho speeches of the Auckland and Otago Rugbv officials at tho smoke concert in tho Federal Hall last night. “We don’t want Rugby football a spectacular game,” said Mr Devore, the president of the Auckland Union. "We want a game the many will ill ay—not one to suit the few. We don’t want to amend Rugby to the Northern Union rules. \\© want to stick to Rugbv with somo few amendments. The amendments recommended by Otago would 1 Uimk laUimaCdy do good to the game.’" of fLni one of the managers teHvo S ta f? "ho is an ex-represen-tatne lootballer, endorsed Mr Devore's and «« that i„ its suggesfor' 1 tlie mul t itu(i e f ncleav<>lndns to Cater 1 y'^n pHudI S I ° f n ° •‘ ?peakers "'ere loudsent. ' dhy tho mon >* Payers proEiflos n to n Vn le Seated Kelburne Mr (vii];s 3 s PO r n n 3 at JohnsonviJie. OOU til V 3ntro11 ?? «>e same. AfterjXisonviUe pro . vl<,Cd by tlle ladios ° f