INTERPROVINCIAL RUGBY

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12538, 30 August 1926, Page 10

INTERPROVINCIAL RUGBY

AUCKLAND BEAT WELLINGTON IN CLOSE-FOUGHT GAME SVENSON SCORES 12 POINTS LUCAS THE STAR IN DELIGHTFUL PASSING MOVEMENTS Auckland defeated Wellington by 16 points to 12 in a closefought game at Athletic Park. The result was in doubt almost to the last, but Auckland won on their merits.

Although it would bo indiscreet to dwell on recent tussles with Hawke's Bar, it was generally conceded that fresh from their successive defeats by the Ranfurly Shield holders by overwhelming margins, tho Wellington and Auckland representative fifteens would lx> well matched when they clashed on Athletic Park. The Queen City team, comprising many players previously not associated with big football, emerged from their encounter with the Bayites with much more credit i ll a n the local team, but, with conditions favouring Wellington, it was expected that when the old rivals met in another match of that series which for over half a century has provided many historic contests there would be no great margin of difference between them in the ultimate issue. And so it proved, for Auckland left the field on Saturday nursing a bare advantage of four points, the final scores being 16 to 12 in their favour. A feature of the match was the display of ■'Snowy'’ Sventon, the speedy Wellington three-quarter, who earned tho distinction of scoring the whole ol the home team’s points—three tries and a penalty goal. FLASHES OF GENIUS The battle, like its many predecessors, was a grim one all through. There were occasional flashes of genius; and Lhe greasy state of tho ball and ground, and the spoiling tactics of either side, were no deterrents to both teams indulging in those glorious passing movements that appeal to the imagination of Rugby fans. The Wellington complement were orthodox in all their manoeuvres, but tho northerners delighted the spectators with their crisp passing bouts, positional play, reverse passing, and fast raking forward tactics. It was impressed on the crowd that lined the terraces and filled the stand that Auckland play a Rugby gamo of their own—their forwards are educated to handle the ball like backs, and their readiness to combine in short, snappy passing bouts frequently had the home team nonplussed, and found the defence lacking. Every person of the 8000 people present must have been thrilled by the encounter, in which Auckland demonstrated their superiority. There is no gainsaying the fact that they won on their merits, and it was the speed and versatility of their van that was the deciding factor. HOME SIDE GAIN ADVANTAGE The great'crowd had worked itself up to a high pitch of enthusiasm over the preliminary matches between the Manawatu third grade representatives and a Wellington fourth grade team, and a third grade final, and when the senior representatives took the field they were given a rousing reception. It was greatly to the advantage of the home side that the luck of the toss enabled them to defend the southern end and havo the advantage of a stiff northerly in the first spell.

However, they did not make the most of their good fortune, and their prospects of snatching victory did not look too bright when tlie end of the first spell found them only one point ahead. Shortly fitter the changeover the visitors asserted themselves and forged to the front, and were never again headed, although their majority was reduced to only one point at one stage of the contest. The teams engaged were : WELLINGTON (Black). Taylor Mackay Grenfell Svenson Corner Mackenzie Bramwell Barrv Thomas Murphy Edgar Tyree Moffitt (captain) O’Regan Warden AUCKLAND (Black and White). Butler Hook Lucas (captaiul N. Ifwerson Freeman Cammiek McManus Baity Finlayson McWilliams Cathcart Knight T. Casey Hadley Palmer VISITORS DRAW FIRST BLOOD Lucas kicked off and after preJiminarv exchanges operations settled down at midfield. Braimvell’s attempt to open up the play from a line-out was’ crippled through Mackenzie holding on a fraction of a second too long, and Hook came away with the ball at toe. The visiting forwards took command, and set their chain in motion. Lucas kicked through and Taylor fumbled in endeavouring to effect a clearance. Lucas was up with his kick, and the hall shot across the line for him to be beaten by Thomas in a frantic dive for possession. This was a foretaste of the spirited opposition that Wellington had for their adversaries who from the drop out worked their way back into enemy territory. From a set scrum between the twenty-fives, the ball was heeled cleanly for McManus, who ducked around the struggling packs to dummy ms way to within 10 yards of the last line. His forwards were in close attendance to receive the pass when he was jammed, and, after the hall had passed through the hands of McWilliams, Finlayson went into score wide out. Butler’s kick was deflected in its course by the wind, although it possessed the necessary trajectory. Auckland 3; Wellington 0. RAPID SCORING The magpies were gaining possession in the scrums, hut bv breaking up quickly, the black forwards were enabled to muzzle McManus and apply the pressure. The ball trickled out from a loose scrummage in Auckland’s twenty-five, for Bramwell to

snap it up, dodge through tie surprised opposition pack, who were caught off their balance, and send a long pass to Svenson. The speedy winger clapped on sufficient pace to carry him through at the corner in spito of Hook’s game tackle. O’Regan’s shot failed to reach its objective. Auckland 3; Wellington 3. The scoring had been at the rate of a point a minute, and the crowd demonstrated their enthusiasm as the home forwards stormed the visitors’ line, following a centring kick by Bramwell that found Lucas wanting. The oval shot through to Mackenzie, who tried an unsuccessful snap at the uprights. Lucas retrieved, and, side-stepping in the approved fashion, worked his way out of the danzer zone into enemy territory. His in-pass was upset by O’Regan, and Svenson came up to find touch with a speculator. CROWD ELECTRIFIED McManus was setting his pacy backs in motion at every available opportunity, and the Aucklanders electrified the crowd for a period with bright passing interludes, which were frustrated only by over-eagerness. Bramwell sent his supports away from the loose, but the passing lacked penetration, with the result that Svenson on the wing was smothered by two or three opponents. Mackenzie cut through to fend off Butler, but his pass to Corner had been anticipated, with inevitable results. Illegal tactics in the scrum presented Auckland witli a free kick when they had worked their way into an attacking position again, but McWilliams could not improve his side’s score sheet, his kick sailing outside. Wellington retaliated strenuously, and Svenson almost corkscrewed his way across at the corner. A BRILLIANT MOVEMENT From a line-out in neutral area, Murphy secured and sent Mackenzie away. Cutting across the paddock diagonally he drew the opposition nicely to hand on to Grenfell. to Svenson, who added tho finishing touch to a brilliant movement. O’Regnn’s kick was turned by the wind. Wellington 6, Auckland _3. After temporary relaxation O’Regan attempted a Nicholls penalty shot from a yard outside of half-way. The hall fell short. Another dazzling run by Luca- returned operations to the halfway flag, where Thomas secured from the loose to transfer to Mackenzie, who put in another great incisive run of twenty yards. With the opposition badly beaten, be tossed a forward pass to Svenson. and a sure try went begging. At this stage Hook retired, and was replaced on tlie wing by Loft. A clearing kick by the visitors was charged down by Moffitt, and Wellington knocked at the door. WELLINGTON FORGE AHEAD The attack was repulsed as a consequenoe of erratic passing amongst the backs, but shortly afterwards up and under tactics found the gap in the magpies’ defence. Bramwell gained possession from a loose ruck, and worked the blind with Svenson, who dummied his way past Loft to score in a handy position. O’Regan once again failed to add the major points. i Wellington 9. Auckland 3. Effective work by Taylor earnt the J plaudits of the spectators, and saw Wellington once more besieging, but a series of individual efforts b.v Lucas and Cammiek gained relief for the visitors. From loose exchanges-in the blacks’ territory Knight snapped up the ball, and after indulging in crisscross passing with McManus beat first Mackay and then Taylor, and got round behind the posts. Ifwerson made no mistako with the kick, and the half-time score read: Wellington 9. Auckland S. POSITIONS REVERSED Moffitt did not re-appear on re-

sumption of hostilities, (being replaced by Burns. The home side attacked momentarily, but a long pass to Mackay went astray, and the visitors turned the defensive into the offensive. Palmer, McWilliams, and Knight were associated in a dominating loose forward rush that looked ominous, hut off-side play upset calculations. Svenson showed up for an individual run, but Ifwerson, Lucas and Cammick indulged in passing that had Mackay bustled,, but was frustrated by erratic passing at the crucial moment. The Aucklanders were having the better of hostilities, and were eventually rewarded for , their persistency, when McManus sent the ball from the base of a scrum in Wellington’s twenty-five, to Cammick to Freeman, who cut Lucas out in a long pass to Loft, who, when blocked by Svenson, threw: the ball over his head. Lucas, coming rip at top speed, gathered the ball in and sent a perfect in-pass to Cammick, who dashed across under the posts to finish as pretty a piece of work as has been seen on the local ground for many a day. The kick presented no difficulty to Butler. Auckland 13, Wellington 0. SVENSON REWARDS CONFIDENCE A period of give and take play ensued, in which Bramwell made the mistake of feeding Svenson on the “blind” too frequently, when he had not the slightest possibility of doing much with the ball. The black forwards livened up appreciably Tyree, Tliomas, and Burns and O’Regan being prominent—and worked their way within range for O’Regan to have another unsuccessful penalty shot at goal. Shortly afterwards Butler replied with a long kick'that shivered the uprights. In heated forward play in the visitors’ territory, a transgression of the rules gave Wellington _ another chance to improve their position. The crowd expressed their approval when Svenson walked u pto take the shot, and their confidence was rewarded when their idol added three more points. Auckland 13, Wellington 12. AN EXCITING FINISH ? With the issue still in doubt excitement became intense, especially when the home forwards raked the opposition in a great effort to make amends. However, Lucas came to light in characteristic fashion and transferred to Cammick. who beat Mackay badly. His in-pass, however, was not accepted, and Taylor effected a clearance in the nick of time. This was a let off for the blacks, if there ever was one, and the visitors were encouraged to greater vigour. When they had again worked to an attacking position the ball was dropped down to McManus from a line-out, and the little half cqt through the struggling packs to miss the line by inches. A strenuous melee eventuated from which Palmer dived across to touch down in a handy position. Butler’s shot proved fruitless, and the game terminated shortly afterwards with the scores unaltered, and reading: Auckland 16, Wellington 12. Mr R. Faton controlled the game.