THE AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON

Otago Witness, Issue 1812, 13 August 1886, Page 23

THE AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON

INTERPROVINCIAL MATCH.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Auckland, August 11,

The long-standing dispute as to the football supremacy of Wellington and Auckland was settled at Newmarket to-day. Wellington won the match played in 1880, and the match of 1883 was drawn. This year Wellington sent up their strongest team, their forwards being about half a stone heavier than the Auckland team, which was about the strongest which has ever donned colours for the province. The teams were driven out to the ground headed by the Artillery Baud. Fully 10,000 persons were present. On coming on the ground at 3 o'clock both teams were received with hearty cheers. The disposition of the teams was as follows : —

Auckland (blue and white bars). — Full back — Braund ; three-quarterbacks— J AWarbrick (captain), T Ryan, It Whiteside ; half backs-J J Poland, W Warbrick ; forwards — A F Moginie, T O'Connor, J Spencer. J Lindsay. M Murphy, JLeckie, WViale; wingmen— W Meldrum, J Arneil. Wellington (black and gold). — Full b»ck-J H Stock ; three-quarter backs — G P°arce, J Fairbrother, J A Thomson; halfbacks — II Roberts, JE Smith; forwards— D Gr A Cooper (captain), G Williams, H M'lntyre, B Connell, J T Shaw, V Ellison, L Storey ; wlngmen— J King nnd J B South. Umpires : 15 Davey for Wellington, A H Cotter for Auckland. Eeferee : W Robinson.

Warbrick won the toss and defended the north-eastern goal. Warbrick kicked off, sending the leather 1 high in the air and giving the forwards time to get under it. After some play," in which Auckland displayed overeagerness, the Wellington forwards by some splendid play carried the ball to within five yards of the Auckland goal posts. Poland relieved his side, but again the Wellington men carried it dangerously close, Roberts and Cooper being conspicuous. Poland's defensive play was the feature of the game, and bit by bit Auckland gained ground. Whiteside followed up the ball kicked out from a loose hcrum, and Stock (the Wellington full-back) mulling it badly, the Ponsonby player touched down. The try was disputed by the Wellington umpire, but the referee allowed it, although it is understood the Wellington captain will appeal. Ryan took the kick, but the angle was too difficult aud the leather fell two or three inches short of the bar. Thomson kicked off for the visitors, and after some scrummaging Roberts (who was working like a Trojan,) got the ball, and making a good run, passed to Connell, who kicked into touch. He again brought the leather into Auckland territory, and the Wellington forwards carrying it through our men forced it across the touch-line, where King and Braund fell on it. This would have been a try for Wellington had it not been for the fact that as the ball was kicked out of the scrummage it touched the Auckland umpire. This apparently put Auckland on their mettle, for after the kick-out they played a much harder game. The forwards, headed by Arneil and Lindsay, worked the leather into the midfield, and were rushing it dangerously near the Wellington goal, when Pearce by plucky play got the ball, and passing it to Fairbrother it was once more sent out of bounds. Whiteside then made one of his runs, and carried the ball close to the Wellington quarters before he was collared. Warbrick shortly after this made a clever dodgy run, when he was pushed into touch by Smith. After the throw in some grand passing took place amongst the Auckland backs, in which Whiteside, Ryan, and Warbrick were conspicuous. Shortly after this Whiteside made a somewhat weak pot at goal, and after the kick off Warbrick made a desperate rush, and looked like getting in when he was brought down by Thomson. Stock mulled the ball, and a rush of the Aucklandcrs following, Meldrum managed to get across, and secured a second try for Auckland. Tremendous cheering followed this score. Ryan again essayed the kick at goal, but the ball stood badly, and, though not difficult, went several yards wide of the goal. Thomson took the kick off, and Ryan taking the ball adopted his u^ual tactics by sending it into the field. Auckland forwards rushed up. The best piece of passing in the match then took place, Fairbrother tucking the ball under his arm, charged straight towards the advancing Auckland forwards, and then feinting a kick passed to Pearce, who, being collared, passed to Roberts. Roberts was brought down, but as he fell transferred the responsibility to Thomson, and that player running made a good deal of ground. As he was collared he again passed to Roberts, who was completely mobbed by fealf-a-dozen Auckland forwards. Then ensued a loose scrum in midfield. The ball was thrown to Whiteside, who missed it. After more scrummaging the leather got to the hands of O'Connor, who, after a capital run, during which he evaded, several

pairs of outstretched Wellington arms, passed to Whiteside, who, however, did not get away. Meldrum, the Aucklaud wingman, who was playing a splendid game right through, dribbled the ball towards the Wellington end, when, kicking it a little too hard, it got into Fairbrother's hands, and he sent it again into the centra of the field. Whiteside got the ball and made a really magnificent ran, fending and passing seven or eight Wellington men. When collared, and as he fell, he passed to .Ryan^who was also collared. Wellington again succeeded by dribbling in carrying the ball to half-distance, and afterwards by good play worked it into the Auckland 25, Thomson, Pearoe, and Cooper being conspicuous. After some loose scrummaging in the Auckland 25 half-time was called ; the score being — Auckland, 4 ; Wellington, nil.

During the interval, an inspection of the men showed how Wellington had had the advantage of more careful training. The Southerners were as hard as nails, and' not at all distressed. Those who have a knowledge of their play believed thoroughly that they would be able to change the^defeat into a victory, and offers of five to one on Auckland were promptly snapped up. " Play loose this time" was the order passed lound to tbe Wellington men, the idea being that a fast game would favour the lads from the empire city. Cooper kicked off, and Ryan returned it. Whiteside throwing out to Lindsay, that stalwart forward made a strong run towards the Wellington 25. Ellison and Connell, however, broke through, and a fine rush by Poknd gave King a chance, and he made a clean pass to Cooper. Warbrick then secured a mark, and kicked straight down the field. After some tight serums Thomson, who had been playing the best game among Wellington backs, by a well-directed kick sent the ball well up into the Auckland twenty-five ; some desperate scrums ensuing, Thomson made a shot at goal, and Braund forced down. From the kickoff Thomson secured a mark, but made no ground, and Ellison, Smith, and Shaw, by a fine rush swept the Auckland forwards away, and the ball went out of bounds close to the Auckland goal-line. From the throw-in Smith obtained an easy try for Wellington, through the combined rush of their forwards. 4 The ball had then been touched down between the posts, and its conversion into a goal seemed a moral. Cooper selected Pearce to take the shot at goal, and took a long time getting into position. This tired the patience of the Auckland forwards greatly, who rushed from the goal-line, thinking bhe ball was down. Cooper, who was placing the ball, rose to his* feet and objected to the action of the Auckland forwards, and claimed a free kick, producing a book of rules in support of the claim. This was, however, disallowed, and the Wellington captain again stretched himself on the ground to place the oval. Pearce, however, who, no doubt, got nervous through the delay and dispute, mulled the kick, sending the ball three feet wide. After the kick off Wellington gradually worked it down to the blue and white 25, where Veale, Spencer, O'Connor, and Leckie came away with a rush, taking the ball into Wellington territory. Ellison, Cooper, and Shaw responded, changiag the scene of operations to the opposite end. By some loose play Auckland worked, the ball again into the Wellington 25, and Ryan, in er deavouring to stop a rush, kicked across the field into Thomson's arms. He, bearing down all opposition, made straight for the gaol line, but Braund threw him into touch about a foot off the line. Mogianie made a grand dribble, clearing his line. Cooper, passing to Roberts, gave that half-back a clear show, and he was only stopped by Brauud under the coal line. Some fierce scrummages ensued, Pearce getting across the line once, but not before the referee's whistle had gone for off-side play. Whiteside now came to the rescue with a splendid dribble. The black and gold forwards were nowplaying much better than the Auckland forwards. J. Warbrick secured a mark through off-side play 'on Wellington's part, but nothing resulted. King and Pearee, by some good passing, gained a lot of ground ; and then Poland secured a mark, but Auckland made no ground by it. Play was now very fast, the forwards effectively using their feet. Poland had a clear run, and passing to Arneil the latter transferred the oval to Whiteside, who made the most successful run of the day, overturning all the backs ; but Stock, showing more judgment than he had hitherto displayed, took the Pensonby man low, and grassed him a few yards from the line. A scrummage being formed, the ball was kicked out to Warbrick, who made a quick shot at goal, but the ball went wide. There now remained only six minutes to time, and tho Auckland forwards worked up something like their old form. J. Warbrick looked dangerous with some of his dodgy runs, and Whiteside made another grand run, being splendidly backed up by Ryan, but the ball was ordered back. Stock then cleared his line by a smart, dodgy run. The remainder of the match was fought by scrums in neutral territory, time being called without further score, Auckland thus winning the match by four points to two.

The feature of the play was unquestionably Whiteside'sgrandrunning,fendlng,and collaring, and the grand forward game played by Wellington. The Auckland forwards were nowhere in the packed scrum and fast rushes. Lindsay did not play up to his usual club form, ow>ng no doubt to a bad cold, while O'Connor did much better than was expected. Of the Wellington backs Thompson and Fairbrother were tbe best. Roloerts failed to fulfil expectations. King and Smith, though frequently off-side, played well im their places, being both fast. Ellison, Cooper, M'lntyre, and Shaw showed up well in their stations, the former (a half-caste) bekig the best. When the match was over, hearty cheers were given by each side, and then a rush was made for Whiteside by the Aucklanders, and he was carried off shoulder high during £the three-milo drive from Newmarket to Auckland. The team received a great ovation.

The following players have been selected to playin a trial match on the Carisbrook ground on Saturday afternoon; play to begin at three o'clock punctually:—Blues: Full-back- It. Inglis; three-quarter-backs—Bee, Millar, Ross ; half-back*— Thomson, Fraser ; forward? — Jas. Allan (captain). Drabble, J. Gibson, Henderson, W. M'Farlane, Martin. Mill, Strong, Treseder, Twiname. Co'ours: Full-back — Davy; tjiree-quarler-backa — Wedderaponn, Lovegrove, Valange; halt-backs— M'lntyre. Noel; forwards— Doiigln 8, Gibson, Hunter, A. W. Morris, B Morrison, J Scott, Sonntag,Steele(captain), Waters, Wright. By permission of the Dnnedin Olub, a practice will be held every afternoon on fch? Oaledo nian ground, from 4.30 to 5.30 ; and all players who can make it convenient to attend ate requested to do 60.

The Invereargill Pirates will probably stud four players to represent them In the trinl match on the 21 st ; while the Invercargill club will probably send two. Galbrajth, Ekensfceen, Cookroffc, and Mentiplivy will represent the Pirates, and A. lies and Galbraith or Booth the Invercargill club.

The hon. secretary of the Lawrence Football Club requests us to state that the try, stated in our report of the Town and Country match to have been obtained by Strack, was really secured by Hart of the Lawrence Club. The hon, seoreteny of the Oamaru Football

Club writes to take exception to the telegram of our Timaru correspondent that the Timaru team which played against Oamaru on Saturday was a scratch team, as he believes 12 out of the picked 15 played. The Oamaru team played with their first emergency, and were then one man short. He explains that a telegram would have been forwarded if the team did not intend to keep their appoint juent at Timaru. New South Wales beat Queensland in the return match by 28 points. This was owing to loose play and passing.