New Zealand v. Wellington Province.

NZ Truth, Issue 108, 13 July 1907, Page 3

New Zealand v. Wellington Province.

Cold was no name for it on Saturday when fifteen of the "All Blade" combination to meet New South Wales, Queensland and Australia during the next few weeks were pitted against a Provincial -combination. The nor'wester seemed to have brought Lapland m its train so acute was it m its intensity, and this fact, and. the somewhat spiritless display by ! the cpnten'ding teams, made many of the 7000 spectators who passed through the gates, retrace their steps homeward long 'before Bob v Barry whistled for no-side. The going was again on the soft side, and the strong breeze whioh blew down the field spoilt what, under more favorable conditions, might have been an interesting andi scientific display,. It was the Provincial team's bad luck ta lose the toss, which meant it plugging away ,m the teeth of the wind for the first spell, and any player who has had to undergo this ordeal knows perfectly well that when the signal is gone for lemon-time too much of the spunk has "''been taken out of contestants for them to he able to feel like giants refreshed on the resumption of hostilities. i Owing to O'Leary's disinclination ito' come to Wellington a change was 'made m the Wellington rearguard's positions, Abbott being stationed at outside five-eighths, and Wrigley at wing m the three-quarter line, and fcvenson taking' up the role of centre, it was a false move on the part of the selectors to "play Abbott m a position where strong defensive q-ual-. ifications were needed. Wrigley should 'have been there, especially tfhsn the blacks had the wind behind them and were playing on to the fyoyincial goal-line., right through ;th,e spell:.

Oharley Seeling and Wallace were absentees from the colonial team,, the reason m each case being a cold. Francis took "Bronco's" place, and Coleaoan was installed as wiog-tliree-quarter vice the Wellington crack. New Zealand started to attack, from the jump, and sixteen minutes after starting. Roberts had the defence of the opposing cordon completely beaten down, the outcome Mt which was Mynott crossed the colors chalk-mark. George Spencer added the major points. Seven minutes later Mynott received the leather from Hunter* and steering a zig-zag course made a good opening for Coleman, who dashed over at the corner. Mynott should have been blocked "by both 'Abbott and Evenson before he had got far on his journey, and had Barber moved quickly m the first instance he might > have checkmated the ginger-chaired' lade. This time Spencer's kick was resiiltless. Barely five minutes after the recording of the second try Roberts "diddled" Thomson badly, and making a fine opening for Fryer sent the, ball on to the Ohristchurch representative, who took the pass whilst go-i ing at top and ran round the oppose ing backs m great style. In order to. toake the extra points sure Fryer essayed to touch; down behind the ppsrfcs, but before he could accomplish that feat' Wrigley had him m h^fs embrace. The ball slipped froii> his grasp and one of the defenders (Abbott) secured it. The crowd hugely enjoyed the "discomfiture o£ B?ryer and his' team. I am told that Fryer has had tha same experience m. his own town. If true, it "is about up to him to mend his ways,, as such a policy might land his side into serious trouble if not disaster on the other side. However, Fryer quickjy atoned for. his error. Roberts put another pass-, ing bput into execution by deftly and •opportunely transferring to Fryer, who subsequently, gave/ it to MitcMn-, son, and; Yaeing round to the other side of the. Pon&ke/ representative, got the leather into his possession, again and went over' at the corner. The Wellington 'backs made the feeblest of efforts to bar the Canterbury flier's progress. Twohill had the chance, and a good one, too, of upending Fryer, but he wasn't taking the task on. Spencer landed a iseautiful jroal- Before half-time was railed GUlett worked his way over the chalk-mark, but lost the leather while m the act or. touching down.. The reading was 13 to nil when the teams crossed over. The black forwards got moving briskly v/hen' operations were again underway, and the colors were kept b>usy repelling their agressive charges. Near the quarter flag Johnston seized the leather m the loose, and with a long sweeping pass enabled Mynott to gather it m and start off for the line, bbserving Wrigley (w>h o had exchanged positions with Abbott) about to block him, Sam passed to -Hunter who, when intercepted, slung the leather out to Fryer, who Was over, the line m a twinkling. Spencer's attempt to increase the points failed. f| After tHfe kick oivt, the colors put a fresh head of steam on and A\~ ;bott was to the fore with a couple .of clmting runs. In the first attempt : he beat^ Fryer and Mitchihson, but ;Spencer thwarted" him at the corifter. 'From I^he succeeding scrum the TPan-ganui man again go/c the ball and made a great dash to get m at the :corner, bait Johnson pushed him into itouch-in-apal-Wrigley made a great burst down the line, but was thrown out of touch by Hunter, who went for the burly countryman "hip high" and got bruiaed about the shoulder and otherwise shaken m the performance of that duty. W/hen Hunter, recovered, he replaced Fryer m the threes-quarter .line, the latter dropping into Mitchinson's place and the Wellingtonian moving up into Hunter's old position. McNae bullocked his way over , the biack?s line, but a preceding m robbed the Provincials of 1 'three, and possibly five, points. A minute or two later Guseott took a mark nicely and 32venson, from just inside the half-way flag, piloted the ball safely over the cross bar. No sooner had, the ball been put again ,m motion .than Evenson landed it betwecti the black's goal posts. ■Dan Gilohrist tore down the field at a great bat • and Coleman effected a save only m the nick of time. Spencer was properly bustled that trip. The next score to New Zealand's' credit was a try registered by Coleman, who had an easy opening made for him by Roberts. Francis failed to impfOEe matters. The colors took a Vattacking, and after 'much desultory n% n ' tin fi on th« black'.s goal line Rush wxW 6d over at the corner. Gilchrist" 3 . . snot at goal was a good but un'suco^ ssful one- When the whistle tooted for"*£°-f ide the sc ores were New Zealand +% Wellington C.