WELLINGTON JUST MISSES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8485, 21 July 1913, Page 10

WELLINGTON JUST MISSES

AUCKLAND RETAINS TROPHY BY GOOD LUCK

Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 19. The Banfurly Shield match Auckland v. Wellington, was played here to-day in atrocious weather. Heavy rain fell overnight and continued all the morning and most of the afternoon. A strong south-easterly wind added to the unpleasantness. Nevertheless, there was an attendance of about 7000. Auckland just managed to retain the Shield by a single point—6 to s—and were lucky to win. Auckland’s strength lay in the forwards, who played well in the mud, but their backs were much below the quality of Wellington’s, who handled the greasy ball really well. Fortune favoured Auckland throughout, but never smiled on the blacks. The general opinion is that Wellington would have won on a dry day. START OF THE GAME. Wellington won the toss and played with a fairly strong wind. Bober secured from the kick and running to the twent-five line, passed to Mitchinson, 'who kicked well, down, O’Leary eventually finding the line at the twenty-five. Wellington set up a hot attack, but Geddes relieved and the ball went out at half-way. A long kick by Kinvig was mulled by McGregor, and the Wellington forwards followed up rt.be advantage, Auckland being compelled to force. Even play followed the kick-out, and then Sellars initiated a forward rush which removed the scene of action to Wellington’s twenty-five, hut good kicking by the blacks relieved the pressure. Play remained about the Auckland twenty-five for some minutes, O’Leary ultimately bringing relief in good style. But Wellington, playing with plenty of dash, were soon back again, and Auckland had a busy few minutes. Then Geddes broke through, but was unsupported and was grassed by Evenson, the ball going out at half-way. Olsen gained a bit of ground with a nippy run, but speculations by the Wellington backs nullified the advantage. FIRST BLOOD TO WELLINGTON. Auckland began to infuse much more dash into their play, and Geddes was especially prominent. The game, which np till now had been very dull, began to get much more exciting. Auckland were forced from a long kick by Kinvig, and then judicious kicking by Olsen gained a lot of ground; but Ryan removed play into the local men’s territory with a good run. Uninteresting forward play at halfway followed, and then Wellington worked their way back to the twenty-five, where from a scrum Roberts shot out to McKenzie. The latter cut in nicely and passed tKinvig, who beat his man and transferred to Mitchinson, and the lastnamed put the finishing touch to a pretty piece of work by dashing over in a handy position. Evenson added the extra points. Wellington 5 Auckland 0 Wellington returned to the attack after the kick-off and Ryan threaded his way through the Auckland backs in great style, hut a forward pass to Sullivan saved the situation for Auckland. Wellington were not to be denied, and returning to the attack were nearly over several times. Heavy rain set in just before half-time, and the spell ended with Auckland still busy defending. AUCKLAND TURNS THE TABLES. With the strong wind behind them it was generally expected that Auckland would have the better of matters in the second half, and before the game had been in progress more than a minute Wellington were forced. Wellington, however, set up a hot attack and looked like scoring until a series of penalties enabled the blues to invade the blacks’ territory, where O’Leary had a fruitless shot from a mark. Wilson secured the ball from a line-out and kicked down field, and Evenson being caught in possession Auckland seemed certain to score. Mitchinson, however, saved brilliantly, and the sweeping rush by the black forwards had Auckland in trouble again. Mitchinson came through cleverly and kicked well down, but was injured by a hard bump’ after he had kicked. Play continued well inside Auckland’s half, hut a permit'" eventually enabled Murray to find the 1 line well down. Directly afterwards Wellington were penalised outside their 1 own twenty-five; and O’Leary kicked a good goal amidst loud cheering. Auckland 3 ' Wellington AN EXCITING FINISH. Wellington were forced twice in quick succession. Roberts marked near his own line, and Kinvig’s kick was welll taken bv Mackay, who kicked high.. The forwards followed up fast, and’ Nisbet dashed over near the pcists. O’Leary failed with an easy kick. Auckland 6 Wellington 5 With tho positions thus reversed Wellington set up a warm attack, but were checked by a mark by Mackay. A fine kick by Evenson went out near thei corner, but a good run by Geddes sent play back to halfway, and when “nosi do” sounded a little rater Auckland were- attacking warmly. Mr G. Nicholson, of Auckland, was referee.