WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2167, 5 September 1895, Page 32

WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND.

Auckland met Wellington at Newfcown Park on Saturday before a crowd numbering bebween 3000 and 4000. The weather, which had been threatening in the morning, developed into a sunny but breezy day, and the match was played under the best cenditions. In consequence of the way they stood up to Taranaki the previous week Wellington were favouritesi aad justified the confidence felt in them by win* uing, though really there was not a very greab difference between tho two fifteens. The wind blew across the ground, and was of no advantage to either side. Play began at 3 10, and the visitors at once made a slashing attack on the Wellington goal, which took the Blacld (Wellington) a good deal by surprise, and gay« them all they knew to keep the mea out.

Murray b&d .a shot at goal from a free kick, and landed the ball under the bar. After this onslaught was over Wellington took a hand, and made dash after dash at the Auckland goal. Kelly »t*rted with a determined ran, and there was great cheering at what seemed a try, bub was only a touch-io-goal. The crowd were now greatly excited by the rigorous play, and kept up a running fire of applause. Kelly »g* ; n looked dangeroot, and was ouly stopped by MascQeld on the line. Had he gone straight on and not tried to dodge he would probably have got over. Roberta made a fine kick, which Masefl .'ld failed to lake cleanly. Bnindley bowled Lim over, aB«I a rousing < h\7-ge ended in K»lly and HardOMtle touching down tr gather, the latter bsiDg awarded a try. No goal was kicked. Score : 3toO. Then C*mpbell got over, but the ball had been passed forward. Next M'Kev-zie's tall form was seen careering through the Colours, sod he fell over the line and r eourcd what certainly looked like a try, but the referee thought otherwise. Some free kicks relieved the pressure for a while, but the Blacks came Again, and this time there was no mistake, Bwind'ey popping safely across. No goal was kicked ; th« Bcore 6to 0. For 20 minutes the pl»y had been of the fiucst description, and mostly aear .Auckland's goal, but the Colours pulled thenvelves together, and for theratt of the spell had all the best of it. Abfolum kicked down the Quid, the forwards daahed on, and passing freely landed the ball at the corner flag. Wellington scarcely had time to breathe before the lame tactics landed the ball in Absolum's hands again at the end of a tuccesskn of ptsfes, and over he weat. From this Murray kicktrd a good goal, making the score 6 to 5. Auckland had one more show, a free kick bring given them in tha Wellington twenty-fivi», but Abfolum dropped the ball in placing it Tbcngb he quickly threw it back, the pass was Bmothtief), and the spell then ended. Up-.ii resuming both sides showed sigrs of the bard work they had gone through, aud took it rawer ; consequently the play was not ■o txciting as in the flrsb half, though s 1 111 very lively. Swindley, by a lucky chance, got the ball when he would really have been off-side h«d it mot touched an Auckland rran, and ran it down in front of the goal. TTbeu collared there was no one to pass to, ard tbe ground thna gained was lost": BfcumVer, how&vsr, returned with a high kick, followed up like a flash, and secured the bill hiwse'f. Sjme rapid pasting fo'lowed, and the bail fell into Kelly's hard* at the corner, with the result that he was dropped over the line by an Auckland«r, who appareutly did not know he vm fo close to the ch4k ma>k. A* no goal w»s kicked the Wellington ecoce became 9 to 5, a,ud this proved to be the last s:orc. Some xnose pi>seing neatly let the Blacks in again, and f r a time the ball whirled about near the Cv 4 .i.h' goal, but at last Gage cloared the w.vy, »n<2 backed by a good dribble by Mills, play w*» amoved to We-ling v ou's tweuty-fi/e. At tbi« \.o\nt M K<nzio had his breeka torn iff, lo the g o*4; amusement of the cruwd. Tho pliers bad to stand round him in a close circle wh' 1 - he downed another pair. Auckland worKe i hard for another try ; and if Gige and Wviijwd had beea the pUyers of two or three je-i»r:> ago they would p oVab'y have got in, far there were one or two very good openings. ▲ fee* kick withiu fair distance also failed. I* f~ct, the place kioking on both sid. 8 all lk< ,'rfk w*« poor. Th«n the B^cVs pub in a &uJ c'vta anddror&thaCMours over their lice, and G»go b»d to t»ke a kick from gome diitwcj oehiad h : 6 own goal. Kelly marked, and C»mi>b«H h*d a kksb within easy range, bub failed. Tho wbi ? tle then went, lfavirg Welli&gV.n victor*of oce of the most pleavn a ' gauies evbr seen on th* ground. Scores :—: — Wellmgtott ... 9 points Auckland ..

5 points

Wellington were more aggressive behiud the atruiu thau the vwi'ors, and thfeir forwards we*» Uofcte* ia tie loose work and quicker to pwk tke advantage, though in scrummaging th» vis Hots quite held their own. Mr Garrard («f Chrutehurcb), rb referee, made judicious dm of bktt whittle, and l»rijely contributed to tfc* opcniws* of the game by refraining from »ti-»tcb<Dg the rule* to that wire - drawn lwagth which baa come into fashion Urn jmm with local xefereea, and has aauaott a good de*l of unfavourable comia*»t »y reaaen of ikt prejudicial effect it is having upon the game. The vi-titors leave for N*ls-»n to-mo*row. The vUitors mere en+c rtaiatd at dinner in the evening. They speak in high terms ot Me Garrard as referee.