AUCKLAND.

NZ Truth, Issue 477, 8 August 1914, Page 10

AUCKLAND.

ENGLAND v. NEW ZEALANO.

Visitors' Narrow Victory,

That the Northern Union code of. football has galnod a llrm hold on football fans there cannot be the slightest doubt. On Saturday, Aucklundors had the choice of going to Eden Park, where the final of tho Rugby Union Cup, between University and City was played, or going to the Domain cricket ground, where England and New ' Zealand met under League rules. At noon It was very ea«y to see where the bigger crowd would be. From that hour till well ' Into the aftorrioon all roads leading,, to the Domain were taken up by a surging mass of humanity. Long before three o'clock every suitable point of vantage was occupied, many spectators being perched up on the branches of the trees. When tho teams lined out the crowd numbered over 16,000, and the receipts showed that over 16,000 had paid for admission. This, so far sis Auckland Is concerned, settles all doubts about the visit of tho English team being a financial success. There were only two alterations In the British team which played Auckland. Hall going from centre to halfback, his place being tnken by Wagstaff, while Clampltt replaced Chllcott In tbe forwards. The only eleventh hour change m the New Zealand team was that Hurdgreavca replaced McCl.vmont at full-back. There was a fair amount of money betted on the game, the odds In most cases being evens, with from 10 to 15 points ngrflnst Now Zealand. In view of the brilliant play against Auckland it was on all hands conuldrn»d that England would win, but It was not ttio good things ttome people'

■were inclined to think and at the finish the three points advantage held by England might have been wiped off as the blacks were playing for full value when the whistle went, and the visitors were battling hard to keep their line clear. The tactics adopted by the Englishmen against Auckland did not go unheeded and there was little difference m the placings of the men on Saturday. ' The visitors had an average pull of I2lbs pter man over the blacks. It would take up too much space to give a detailed account of the play, as. the game was sparkling with incident throughout and there was not a moment when either side did not have a scoring chance.. The Englishmen, as everybody knows, carried off the honors,v but it was no run-away victory by any means, and the final game 16 to 13 might easily have been the other way about. England won the match m the early stages by setting to work at the kick-off, and before the blacks realised the fact out reps, were debit 8 points, two tries scored by Moorhouse, the left wing-three Quarter, one being "converted by Woods. Then, and not till then, did the New Zealanders wake up, but when they did there was a treat ia store for the spectators. Play became fast and the tackling deadly, and whereas the visitors had been having matters pretty well all their own way, they were now playing for all they were worth. The New Zealand backs had few opportunities owing . to the failure of the forwards to get the ball from the scrums, but nevertheless they began to play as only New- Zealanders can and they never let up for . a moment. From almost every scrum the ball would go out to the Englishmen, but the New Zealanders did not now stand aloof, but dashed at the player 'with the ball and man after man was grounded like clockwork. The forwards, too, broke up from the scrums and went to help m either attacking or defending and it was soon evident that the blacks were out for keeps. Woods, the visiting fullback, was given plenty to do, and as the New Zealanders swooped down on him he . became bustled and was m a tight corner on more than one occasion. Ifwersen soon seized an opening, and dashing past all except the full-back, ' kicked across to the wing. Then ensued a race which arouscd'the spectators. Wilson, the. New Zealand wing and.Davies his opponent, streaked for their lives after the ball, but Wilson just had a little too much pace and reaching the ball first opened New Zealand's score. Ifwersen had a fairly easy shot, but the. bail went wide. He had several attempts during the day, but seemed to "be pigeon-toed, as the ball always went wide. A coupio of minutes later the Englishmen 'got to work and a beautiful piece of passing saw Davies run across and the, visitors still had a lead of eight points— ll to 3. The spell came, and so far as the play had gone, tho Englishmen had been most m the limelight. , In the second half there was a totally different tale to tell, and the blacks settled down to play the solid game. The Englishmen did not appear to relish this at all, and were responsible for a little unnecessary roughness. New Zealand accepted the challenge and the spectators were soon m a state of excitement. When it comes to rough and tumble, New Zealanders can always hold their own, and Saturday's team was no exception, as tin Englishmen soon found out. The brilliant passing runs which the visitors had been bringing off were rarely noticed m the second spell, because tho blacks were putting pWnty of dash and vim m arid playing like warriors. The Englishmen wore often flurried, and had luck favored the New Zea landers no doubt a score, would have resulted. As it was, the second spell had not been long under way when tho black forwards, who had been playing a great game, broke away and Banks scored. Ifwersen kicked an easy goal and the scores stood — 11 to 8. The Englishmen scored a few minutes later and Woods goaling, the visitors were again well m front — 10 to 8. Play still kept willing arid the scono of operations changed rapidly from one end of the field to tho oiher. Once tho Englishmen looked certain to score, but luck was with the blacks and a force resulted. In the later stages of the game tho pluy was strenuous with the blacks showing up best, and just before time was called, Wilson dashed across. Ifwersen jyoaled and a great game ended— England 16, New Zealand 13. Tho game served to show that science is not everything m football. Tho play of tho Englishmen was full of science, but when New Zealand cast science to one aide nnd played the hustling game there was little opportunity to bring oft anything brilliant. The success of tho Englishmen lay In tholr abiilty to get the ball from the scrums and for more than hiree parts of tho game tho New Zealand backs had no opportunity to show their worth m attack. Tho piny of the visitors was of the consistent BOlld order all through nnd they fully deserved the victory which aime their way. The New Zculanders one and nil wore genuine workers, and m defence the backs were jußt "It." Wilson, the Wfllingtonian threcqunrter. wn« the bright particular spot, and all through, his dashes down tho line were the admiration of the crowd. When he started to leave the field at tho end of tho day he was carried shoulder 'hish and loudly cheered, flfuclfrmives, at fullback, was very solid and made no mls-

takes. The forwards were a willing lot, the pick being Banks, Walters and Savory, the latter playing the game of his life. .