WINTER SPORTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10639, 12 July 1920, Page 7

WINTER SPORTS

WELLINGTON RETAINS SOGGER SHIELD AUCKLAND DRAWS WITH N.Z. RUGBV " REPS.'' WET WEATHER INTERFERES WITH LOCAL MATCHES

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL; BROWN SHIELD MATCH AUCKLAND CHALLENGES WELLINGTON. GAME RESULTS IN A DRAW. At the Basin Eeserve on Saturday afternoon a strong representative team from Auckland inado a keen but unsuccessful bid to wrest from Wellington the Brown Shield, the most coveted possession of clubs playing under Association rules in New Zealand. The game resulted in a draw, but had the weather conditions been more favourable it would not have been a surprise to some to see the visitors carry off the shield to the sunny north. Playing conditions were anything but ideal, the steady rain of Friday and Satutrday having rendered the ground very f.oft. The teams were as follow : AUCKLAND. A. Wolstenholms (goal); L. M. Dacre (right), P, Colvin (left).. J. Clanachan; F J. Cooke and W. Cornn (half-backs); M. Hayes, 3. W. Kennedy CC. Dacre, H. B. Pealing, and A. Woollen (foiWards) - WELLINGTON. J. Porteous (goal); J. MeKenzie (light), E. Taylor (left). N. McArthur; W. Browniee and H. Batten (half-backs), J. Smith, M. McElligott, G. Campbell, H. Porter, and C. Ballard (forwards). FIRST BLOOD TO WELLINGTON. The game opened with some minutes -of give-and-take play before either side found its feet on the sodden turf. The first apparent advantage was gained by Auckland, who displayed remarkable foot skill. Dribbling up to goal the backs surrendered possession to the forwards, but the Wellington men robbed them of it, and rushed it oft back downffi it was put into the.toe of G. Campbell. From a right in front of goal -and nt shoit ™s»re he got it well on. his .boot and £SS«r«d it into the right corner of the net just clear of Wostenholm, the ™rthem goal-keeper. The .score w thSb£ened by Wellington within the ten minutes. Wellington, l;AwckSnd.T Wellington again causeddanSp to the northerners and J.^ almost an impossibility, and ■. o the players were brjfjg Mltoln la+hm-iwl with mud-wash*. • tt away. suc fSS iully after a series of exchanges in £%£Ld &£.&&£&&& iXgoal by another player, so no wore recited It v,as soon again Woolley s nriv le»e to attempt a pot; this time ue dieted well, the local Foaly, marked and returned the ball into Held. In the succeeding loose play brilliant tactical play was displayedjy members of either team. The forward division of the ■ northern cooperated well, using their footwork to good advantage, C. Dacre and Pealing displaying very neat and tricky footwork. For Wellington, McKenzie, Porter Smith, Campbell and Ballard woie making outstanding performances Auckland was now fairly establishing itself in Wellington's half, and repealed attempts were made to centre. Colvin took a corner kick, landing the ball in a handy position; McArthur was instrumental in diverting it from the dangerous proximity to tho mouth of the goal. Tho heavy conditions underfoot were by this timo showing their effect upon tho players; in close play it was impossible to play the ball with any degree of accuracy, on account of the looseness of the surfaco, the boot-sprigs being of little service in preventing a man from taking a long slide and capsizing into the mud. After a pause in the game, occasioned by a mishap to Corrin, Wellington made-a i ally, headed by Porter, who shot for goal, but this was stalled off by Woltenholme. Ballard centred nicely again, but the wind was against the ball, which lobbed behind tho net. At this stage Auckland endeavoured to enliven the proceedings- by making a sensational run down field, with the ball passing backwards and forwards; on the toes of the forwards. Dacro, who was prominent in footwork, exchanged to Kennedy, whose shot arrowly missed its mark. Back down field went the ball again under the control of Porter, Smith and McArthur. McElligott sent out to Campbell, but L. M. Dacre boat him for possession, and saved further Wellington progress. This resulted in Hayes securing a coiner for Aucldand; the ball was centred well, and the forwards got on to it. but tho post

was in the way. Auckland was Btill attacking when the whistle sounded. AUCKLAND RMALIATES. Auckland returned to the fray after the spell with renewed vigour, Pealing and Kennedy making the pace for the opening few minutes of play. Brownlee relieved tho resultant pressure, and enabled his own forwards to manage the ball. The Auckland attack was renewed, however, and was only thwarted by the Wellington backs massing in tho goal. Again pressing, Woolley, on the right wing, centred to Pealing, who lightly kicked the ball into the corner past the goal-keeper. Auckland 1, Wellington 1. Encouraged by tho stimulated barracking from the spectators, Auckland gained a temporary Jadvantage, but the Wellingtonians claimed an offensive. It was nipped in the bud, however, and Pealing was soon away again with the ball at foot. A corner followed, but Taylor headed the ball off in front of goal, and tho danger was averted. To and fro play saw the Wellington right-wing on the attack, but again the effort was stalled off. i After more give-and-take play, Campbell I (Wellington) broke away and sent out to .right field, where, with good, foot work, Porter, Smith,' and McArthur dealt with it to advantage. Porter kicked back for Campbell to head in to goal, but tho ball flew high. Porter sent the ball rolling in Wellington's direction once more, and exohanged to Campbell, who was robbed by Kennedy. A return to Porter resulted, in coma close foot work, but the attack wae unproductive of further gain. The Wellington offensive was maintained, and within the minute Porter again B°t awav with the ball at foot. Threatened By a {ladder, he let out to J. Smith, who had a shot; the ball struck the post at the right corner,, and bouncing back, gave Campbell a splendid opportunity to net but he miskicked. -Lne heaviness of the ground was again showing its effect upon the players, and the play became slower.. Wellington . kept the ball in their favour, and were constantly threatening in front of goal; the.fact that the ball did not find its objective was due more to unfortunate luck than uncertain ■ play, and- a succession of corners ensued. Auckland got away for a spell, headed by Pealing, but play again returned in the local teams favour. After a lapse of loose work, the field was again bunohed around Auckland's goal, but Auckland stalled off and carried the ball to a corresponding position in their favour, whore they occasioned their opponents some anxious minutes by clover footwork which appeared likely to produce a goal. Some lively work around tho visitors' goal was interrupted by the sounding of the knock-off whistle. Tho final score was:— Wellington; «... 1 goal. Auckland 1 goal. Mr E. Lithgow waa always prompt with the referee's whistle, and his decisions .were always wise and unquestioned.