RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8209, 26 August 1912, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FOURTEEN POINTS TO NIL AJCKLAND RETAINS RANFURLY SHIELD. WELLINGTON OUTCLASSED. Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 24. Auckland beat. Wellington in the Kanturiy shield matcn ,oy 14 points to no alter a hoen, hard game, piayto belore an attendance ot over io,ouO people. The teams were: Auckland—Full back, O’Leary; three-quarters, Wacky, Stewart, hiqGregor; live-eighths, Weston and ifwerson; half back, YVebb; forwards Hail (wing), Tresize, Seuars, \Vusou, Bruce, Cunningham, Barrett, Carroll. Wellington—null back, __ -Murray; three-quarters, Grace, E. Ryan; Young; live-eighths, Ramsden, Mcivenzio; half, F. Roberts; forwards, Skinnor (wing), Elliott, Ready, Gillespie, Wilson, Moffatt, R. Paton, -Macrarfane. -Mr E. -McKenzie refereed. W ellington won the toss and played with a light .breeze and against the sun. Cunningham set play m motion, and Auckland immediately rushed play into Wellington territory. Roberts set the Wellington backs going, and the ball went out in Auckland’s 25. Tnen Carroll led Auckland bacK, omy to bo returned by the Wellington forwards, and play for some time moved up and down held. Presently a fine passing bout brought Wellington into Auckland’s half, but O’Leary, who piayed a brilliant game, was too safe, and a kick to the lino sent Wellington back. Play was fast and keen, and strenuous work was performed by both vanguards. On either side there were frequent flashes of bright back play. A good rush was presently made by Canoll, who took the ball at his feet close to 'Wellington’s line, where Murray came round and saved. MacFarlane had several unsuccessful penalty shots at goal about this timd. o’Leary l also failed in this respect. Auckland wore now having all the bettor of matters, and the blue-and-white vanguard was too good for the visiting pack. Presently “Rang!” Wilson set sail for Auckland’s line, and a fine rush ended in the invasion being frustrated by Webb, who gathered up and found the line. Then Auckland attacked again. W’eston broke from midfield and took play to YVellington’s 25, whore Grace gathered up and kicked towards the lino; but Macky secured the ball before it reached touch, and ho raced down the line and scored. Ifwerson failed to convert. Auckland 3, Wellington nil. The remainder of the spell was keenly contested, but there was no further score.

Wellington attacked briskly on resumption, but Auckland rapidly assumed the upper hand, and Wellington was forced twice in succession. A hard rash by Auckland, followed by a lino kick by O’Leary, brought play to within a few yards of Wellington’s line, but a free-kiok gave relief to the visitors. “Ranch” Wilson and Ramsden led Wellington down field, and Auckland were forced. Wellington appeared to slow down now, and while the Auckland forwards continued to play steadily the Auckland backs brightened considerably, and a number of brilliant passing rushes were witnessed. Presently the Auckland backs went away strongly, and a fine rush ended in Macky scoring. Again Ifwerson failed to convert. On resumption of play Auckland swept back to land, and almost all the home backs took part in a fine run. which took play close to Wellington’s line. Wellington retaliated, but the change was but momentary, for Weston went away with the ball, and when near Wellington’s line he transferred to Macky, who registered Ids third try. O’Leary failed to convert. Auckland now had Wellington beaten, and the play became less interesting. Just on the call of time Macky once more crossed the line, and this time Ifwerson found the goal. Auckland 14, Wellington nil. Mr E. McKenzie was referee.

WELLINGTON DEFECTS. LACK OF COMBINATION. AUCKLAND’S BRIGHT YOUNG BACKS. Special to the “Times.” AUCKLAND, August 24. The Aucklanders thought they were up against it. and had dusted the shield carefully, preparatory to its transit to Wellington, and when a Wellington bookmaker came along with sometlung like £IOOO to otter at a shade of odds in his own team’s favor he could only get rid of £4OO of it. On the run ot the play, however, the Auckland fifteen was .better than its supporters thought, and they won all the way. The game was played under almost ideal conditions, the ground being in splendid playing order, and the breeze not having suthcient force to interfere with the work of the backs. It cannot be said that at any stage of the game the challengers looked like lifting the shield. Forward and back they met a better side, and though they undoubtedly played good football' their opponents were cleverer in attack and; defence, and dominated the game from l .whistle to bell. | The Auckland selectqf went for youth | this time, the back division including • three men who were juniors last year, _ and only one, the full back, was over! twenty-four years of age. The forwards • were a more matured lot, but they, were in the team for their ability and | not because of past reputations, and j every man of them was tuned right up to concert pitch. The Wellingtonians | played with almost equal dash, and in i the liue-out they showed up well, while at times they showed rare dash in the loose. Lack of combination, however, nullified all their efforts, and in every rush they gave the defending backs an opportunity to stop progress. The showing of the Wellington .backs was a long way below expectations. Freddy Roberts was not by any means the Roberts of old, while the fiveeighths—Ramsden and McKenzie—stood too far away from the scrum to be effective. In attack the handling of the whole division was slow and faulty, knd frequently thev made the mistake of passing along the ground while at a standstill. This gave opportunity to the speedy Aucklanders to muzzle them before they looked dangerous. In defence they were weak, tackling high and showing a disinclination to get down to the rushes. Their kicking was also capable of improvement. The Auckland backs, on the other hand,' lost few opportunities, and although their passing was not as good as

lit should have been, their_ kicking was first-class, and time after time the Well.ngton pack was driven back with l uvri.breaking toucl>-lineT|s. In the scrum Wellington were beaten for the ball nine times out of ten, but they broke away quickly and nipped many Auckland attacks m the bud. Wilson, Gillespie, and Paton were probably the best of a fairly even lot, the first-nam-ed shelving great pace in following up. Ryan and Young were the pick of the rearguard, and Ryan gives promise of developing into a useful back. Of the Aucklanders Macky, who scored the four tries, was the hero of the game, and proved himself to bo as good a scoring back as Auckland has produced for many years. MARLBOROUGH WINb

WELLINGTON B TEAM DEFEATED. The Wellington 13 team was beaten by the representatives of Mailborough at the Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon, me visitors being victorious by 10 paints to '3. Only about 150 spectators witnessed the game, which was unexciting. Marlborough were superior all round. The local backs did not do enough passing, and H. Murphy, the halt, was somewhat slow in sending on the bail to his supporters. The teams wore: —Wellington—Fullback, Dingle; three-quarters, Boyd, G. Mcixenzie, Lambert; five-eighths, Morns, Irvine; half, H. Murphy; wing forward, Ounninghame; forwards, J. Murphy, YV. Bullivan, D. Sullivan, Bell, Levick, Perry, Parrant. Marl-borough—Full-back, Wcisaac; threequarters, Dunkley, O’Brien, Daly; fiveeiguths, Godfrey, McGuire; halt, Marsaall; wing forward, Jackson; forwards, Avery, Webster, Forbes, Parker, Boylo (2), Sheridan. The game did "hot open in fast stylo by any means. Wellington carried play into the reds’ territory, but it remained there only momentarily. After a scrum the home backs unsuccessfully tried to get into action. Matters were becoming adverse for the blacks when Lambert saved with a good kick towards the line. The Marloorough backs carried the ball over half way and Daly, obtaining the leather, ran through the defending team and scored, Morris collaring him just as he was touching down. Jackson failed to convert, the ball falling a little outside the posts. Following on the kick-out the reds again forced their way to the Wellington line, and Sheridan crossed over after a melee near the goal. Jackson again did not convert. Marlborough, 6; Wellington, 0. Marshall’s taking of a mark at half way enabled Marlborough ■to gain a good deal of ground, but the fault of a back in kicking the ball over the line after a scrum had taken place gave Lambert a chance to force down. Wellington had an opportunity to put a. few points on to tneir score of nil from a kick for an infringement. McKenzie, however, just failed to find the mark. Of the succeeding play the Marlborough men had the advantage, the forwards doing good work. At length Wellington found themselves right oh their opponents’ line. The blacks got the pall from the scrum, but stupid handling of the sphere militated wnolly against good result._ Marlborough contrived to keep Wellington out, and at half time the score still was Marlborough 6; Wellington, 0. The first interesting incident of the second half was a try scored by Lambert. Morris initiated the movement by passing to McKenzie, who sent the ball on to Lambert. McKenzie took she kick, but did not convert. Whenever Wellington backs got the ball they displayed a tendency to hang on to it and run through their opponents. Several chances were lost by this course. The reds kept play in the Wellington twenty-five, and Parker .totted a goal. Marlborough, 10; Wellington, 3. , The ensuing play was dull, and the game closed without further score. Mr F. C. Atkinson was referee.

CANTERBURY DEFEATED BY WEST COAST. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, August 24. The Rugby Union interprovinoial j football match, between Canterbury j and West Coast was played at Lancaster Park to-day. The weather was line and the ground in good order. Canterbury attached in the opening stages, chiefly through passing rushes, but a fine rush by Mclntosh, at the head of the W est Coast forwards, r removed .play to past half way, Payne . mutually pulling them up with a nne kick. Good play by Carnegie resulted in Canterbury invading the visitors’ j territory again, and Taylor carried on , the movement to the visitors’ > line, ; where a forward pass stoppdd the rush. From the scrum Burns made a bad mull, and Hall and Mclntosh broke right away, Doell saving by finding the line. From here the visitors made a determined attack, and were within an ace of scoring under the posts, i when a forward pass' saved Canter- : bury. Superior line-kicking removed the danger for Canter bury, and the visitors were pressed by passing rushes, which, however, met with tackling decidedly above the ordinary. Disjointed movements by the Canterbury backs gained no ground, Payne finding evident difficulty in following Burns, and ‘ the visitors stalled off ail, attacks by ■ the Canterbury rear division. A good I kick by Church found the line at the • Canterbury twenty-five, and from a I i scrum Hall took a mark. Nelson took a difficult shot, and the ball just went outside, Canterbury" Ring ' made a nice run down his wing, and ' Doell saved a dangerous attack jvith : a fine mark . Ring returned again, and | Coast attacked strongly until a bad : mistake let Howison away, and the i Canterbury centre passed to Patterson, j who outpaced the opposition, and scor- ! ed a good try. Taking the kick himself, :he placed a splendid goal. Canterbury 5; West Coast 0. West Coast attacked strongly, and made things lively for a time, and from a scrum. on the line they were awarded a free kick. Nelson took the kick, and placed a fine goal. Canterbury, 5; West Coast, 3. Anderson made a magnificent run right down to Doell, and it was only hard luck that robbed the visitors of a try. Then Church took a mark in front, and Nelson’s kick just went outside, Canter- ■ bury forcing. In the second spell Canterbury was , -arly in trouble. The game was fast, and points were scored quickly. The ' game ended: West Coast 17; Cantert bury, 14. I INTER-COLLEGIATE MATCH 1 VICTORIA COLLEGE GO UNDER TO CANTERBURY. Teams from Canterbury College and s Victoria College played their annual

match on the Athletic Park on Saturday. The ground was dry and hard and the game fast. The combination of the visitors was superior to that of the local team, but their passing was erratic, and their tackling was poor. Although the game was willing it could not be called interesting. Victoria College were the first to get into their stride, and attacked strongly for the ot few minutes. The wearers of the red jerseys were extricated from a tigut corner by Smith and they came away ~ ith a rush. The green forwards worked their way back once more, and Banirdl kicked a penalty goal for the local college. The reds then reasserted themselves, and Smitn scored t\.o tries in succession, neither being conorted. At half time the scores were: Canterbury (3, Victoria 3. On resuming the local team once more attacked, but their efforts came to naught, and after an attempt at , iiv Bandell the reds got busy and penned Victoria on their line. Back play was ineffective, and it was not till the .ting pack got in action that hummers crossed the line. Shortly aitcrwards from a free kick Mansell put the ball over the bar and victory went to Canterbury by 12 points to 3.

JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES WELLINGTON AGAIN DEFEATED. Wellington juniors woro again defeated by ilorowhonua on Saturday, and this time on their own ground, apparently tno form displayed by me iccal juniors against Vvairarapa was one exception rather than the rule, as in neither match against Horowhenua aas the back machinery of the blacks showed up anything like it did on mat occasion. The weak defence of l Vvairarapa may have made Wellington appear brilliant by contrast. On balurday the visitors played a great game;! they fielded the ball well, put plenty jf boot behind their kicks, and their passing on most occasions was splendid. With Wellington there always seemed something lacking. When there ..•as the chance oi a score a faulty failure to take the leather or somei other mistake would spoil all their 1 efforts. Both teams played determin-' y, and there was little to choose between them, but on the day the best team won. The teams took the field as follows HorOffhenua —Full-back, Randall; three-quarters, Ransfield, Hiwi, Stowell; five-eighths, Waka, Temuera; half, Pouwha; wing forward, George; forwards, Bands, D. Gardner, Kennedy, Arena," T. Gardner, Jacobs and Pottman. Wellington Full-back, McGirr; three-quarters, Enting, Hutchinson, J. Ryan; five-eighths, Enffe. Israel; half,; m v ea; wing forward, Fawcett;. for- 1 wards, Sharaiow, Parker, Naukivilie, Lindsay, French, Spearmin and Burke. The first spell was characterised by •it play, principally consisting of loose rushes, wxtn neither team having the upper hand. A solid attack by the blacks brought them within an ace of scoring, but the visitors, by strenuous efforts, cleared their line. Backward and forward the opposing teams surged, and at half time honours were even, no score having been registered. Wellington commenced the second half well by immediately attacking, ,ut there was no appreciable result, awcett attempted to drop-kick a goal, it the direction was bad. Off-side jlay by a visiting forward gave Ryan a chance to score three points, and the ball went wide. The only score of the, game' went to the credit of w aka, who kicked a goal off a penalty fST illegal tackling, hinting and Kyau in turn endeavoured, to equalise matters, but both attempts were unsuccessful. Inability to gather up the ball when. a few feet from the line lost Ryan a grand chance of scoring. The final whistle found the visitors three points to the good. Mr A. Neiison was referob.

FIFTH-CLASS REPRESENTATIVES. The following fifth-class representatives will leave on Friday next to play Wanganui on Saturday: Davis, Burns, Senior, Algar, Denneny, Mabin (captain), Niciiolls, O’Brien, Miller, Waiters, Tancred, Forsythe, Hedges, An drews, Watson (Athletic), Atkinson. Any of the team unable to make the trip are requested to notify the union secretary. Tilyaid and Talmer are emergencies. The team will meet for practice at the Athletic Club’s gymnasium on Wednesday at 7.30 p.m. CADET MATCHES. Two matches were played at Kelbnrne Park on Saturday. No. 17 Company Wellington Senior Cadets (Boys Institute) defeated Mount Victoria Cadets by 33 points to nil. Tries were obtained by Elton (3), Penett. Genders (2) and E. Bourke, four of which were converted by Elton. Lang kicked a goal from the field. Newtown W.S.C. defeated Kilbimie by 25 points to nil. Playing at Newtown Park St James’s Senior Cadets defeated St. Vincent by 46 points to nil. The game was a fast one. WIN FOR MANAWATU. Press Association. PALMERSTON, August 24. The representative football match today, Manawatu, v. Wairarapa, was won by Manawatu by 15 points to 3. The day was beautiful and the ground in great order. The game in consequence was fast and open. The Manawatu forwards, who played with fine combination and judgment, practically ran all over the visitors, both fore and aft. When the visitors’ backs did get going the local backs were easily able to nullify their efforts. The home men have a particularly fast set of forwards and backs this year. Manawatu scored nine points in the' first spell, and six in the second. Wairarapa scored in the second spell an unconverted try. Manawatu’s scores consisted of three unconverted tries and two goals from • the field. Wairarapa seemed run to a standstill. Manawatu were aggressive almost all through the game. NELSON BADLY BEATEN. WANGANUI, August 25. The Rugby representative match. Nelson v. Wanganui, was played on the Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon in beautiful weather. There was a good attendance. The ground was in fine condition. The resmt was an easy victory for Wanganui by 35 points to 6. The locals ran over the visitors. The first spell, which ended 24 to nil, was in Wanganui’s favour, but the second spell was more even, and the game ended as above. Wanganui’s score consisted of eight tries (two unconverted), a potted goal, and a kick from a mark; and Nelson’s score

(ris a penalty try for obstruction and , a goal from a free-kick. PEARSON CUP COMPETITION. Special to the “Times.” MASTER-TON, August 24. In the competition lor the Pearson football oup this afternoon. Red Star juniors (holders), who were at the bottom of the junior championship this It-iasou, defeated Carterton, winners ol ■tuo junior championship, by 20 points to 6. The win was due to the splendid ■play of the Star backs, who outclassed tneir opponents. SCHOOLS MATCH. WANGANUI, August 24. The schools Rugby __ representative ,match, Manawatu v. Wanganui, play fed tins morning, ended in a , win lor (Manawatu by (i (two tries) to 3 (a goal from a mark). HIGH SCHOOLS TOURNEY. Press Association. NAPIER, August 25. The second match of the annual triangular tournament between the high schools of Napier, Palmerston North, and New Plymouth was played yesterday, and resulted: Now Plymouth 13, "Napier 3. Bruce, Crono, and Hurst scored tries for the winners, two of which wore converted by Colson and Goss. For Napier, Geddis obtained a goal from a penalty kick. The final match betweno New Plymouth and Palmerston North will be played to-mor-row. PETONE RAILWAY TEAM WINS. AUCKLAND, August 25. Potone and Newmarket railway work,shops’ representatives met on Saturday, Petone winning after a good game by 6 points to nil. Whitley kicked two penally goals. OTAGO REPRESENTATIVES. DUNEDIN, August i 25. The following football team will represent Otago on the northern tour: Backs—Clark, Alexander, Cockroft, Cuthill, Watson, Chambers, O’Sullivan, MoDougall, Eokhold, Dryden; forwards i—Casey, Williams, Russell, Irvine. Symonds, Smith, McKellar, Woodrow, Douglas, Graham, Sheehan, McDonald.