THE WELLINGTON TEAM'S TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 36

THE WELLINGTON TEAM'S TOUR.

A DEFEAT BY TARANAKI

Tbe match Wellington v. Taranaki was played Rt Hawera on the 261 h ult. A mild gale was blowiDg across the field, but no rain fell. There was ft large attendance. Tbe wind prevented brilliant play, and the game was confitied lo a duel between tbe torw&rdß. In the firat spell Taranaki had the advantage from the kick-off, play beiDg in Wellington territory for 30 minutes. Both teams made the pl»y very willing, forward lushes generally being the order. Half through the spell a squabble occurred. Woods, the Wc-NingU'ii half bsck, struck at Bftj ly, and w»3 oi d-r< il iff tbe fi- Id, Ross, being allowed to play instead After Ibis incident, Allen picked up the ball out of a loote rush and passed to A. Bayly, who scored a try, which was not converted. The Wellington men by eeveral sweeping rushes carried the ball into Taranaki territory, and had the best of the game till half time. The second spell opened in Wellington's favour, but several clacccß of fcoriug were throwa away by wild passing. Taranaki, takics every advantage, were ftble to

clear their lines, although trery inch of ground was conteßted. Towards the end of the spell the Taranaki backs, who had a mortgage on what passing there was, compelled Wellington to defend. From a rush Humphries picked up smaitly arcl transferred the ball to Allen, who passed to Bayly. The latter ecnt it on to Jacob, vtlo scored. The try was nob converted, aijd time was called soon after. All the Taranaki backs played well, especially Humphries atd Alien. SoCfe, M 'Anally, O'Brien, Kelly, Warwick, and Hawke weie the best of the Wellir gton ra a n.

ROUTED AT AUCKLAND.

Rough and unikvUiog though the weather proved at Auckland Ust Saturday, a crowd cf about 5000 peoplo gathered afc Potter's paddock to witness the fixture between Auckland atd Wellington. As the local team had all along been looked upou as semevshst of a fine weather team owing to trie fact that the back* with a (hy ball aie strong in the attack and show gw,d 'Mvtinatiui, the c nlcokera foregathered at i r ?. r. vi;,r,~ iog grcund wilh elongated faces, recogi.<sii-;; it,-.:. the strong defence cf the Wellington balk* and the dflsh of the forwards were likely to bring about tie overthrow of the lecal men in what was looked. upon as typical Wellington weather. But a gceal and glorious surprise was in store, for altLou^li Wellington quite held their own ia the ficstmok-ty of the gaiie, whpn Iho d was ia their eyes, it was ccea shor-l_ a r 'cr the com met esrnienfc of boetilit'es iv the e« cottd half that they lad met their Waterloo in Auckland, The lochl merj, -who held the picks iv great etjle, ran over .tho visitors ~ia fact, had tfie game beeu extended the 19 points recorded by Auckland would bave been kic^easfd considerably, asm the last 15 minutes Wd'irgtou »ppea'td to have lort all heart, aud ■were beinp iuu over in all departments of the game. Tbe tianis were as under :—: —

Wellington.— Full back, Howe ; threecjdarters ~!Kosp, llawke, Matscn ; half backs, M'Guive and Wai wick", foiwavils — M'Lachlan Kelly, Haidham, SuftV, O'Brien, M'Anally, Manson, W. Spencer, J. Spencer. Arcicr.AND.— Full back, H Smifh; three quutirs— Abher, Laws, Absolnm ; half backs— 11 M'Giegor and D. Uuy; Im^aids- L-iing, S. M'^rpgor, Famps>ou, F>. M'Keoaie, Claikin, Otws-y, J. M Gr^gor, GUktt, Brady.

There was li'tle or nothing between the teams io point of weight, Auckland won the to?s and opened with the suu behind their back j , Hacdhrm setting the leather in motion for the visitors. Up snd down the field went the ball, hct.ours hanging easy for Boms time, the Wellington vanguard stowing more dash in the open than their oprouent9. Tho advantage in this ret peer, however, was neutralised by the fine packing cf tho local fcraards, and the clean manner in which they wtro getting ihß ball out io thfic back?, whose attack w*B decidedly stronger than that of the Wellington rear division. About half- way tbiongh the fpcil Auckland worked down U> Wollj\.pton qna:i«rs, snil tbu b*U b<:!rg hsus out within half a yaid-5 of <he visiles" l ; ue, (loffc k'eked dnvn from a thro* iv, aud Lair.g's return being taken by Robs, the lnttt'i nisde a ):oor kick, the ball g >irq behind bis own lino. Tbe Auckland forwards swarmed do mi on h'.m in full cry, but he fortuua'tly forced iv the iiitk of time. From this out to the close cf tbi Bptll thire wiß nothing in it el fan* thru lial the Wcl'icgton forwards v.f-r» shw,rg more diulr iv thxj open. Jusb on the verge of time Wt liiugtcn were penalised for au infringement iv their own twmty-five, and Laws taking the kick lauded a neat goal, half-time closing immediately after.

The game still wo;e an open aspect a 8 they trooped on (he fHd for the concluding: h*lf, WflliDgtcn this t m- having the advantage of the run, added to wh'ch a driving rain swept terots the face tf the Aucklanders. Btfore a minute bad el*p"ed Auckland had thrust tho visitors b-ck, and a momert later R. M'Gregor gathered up the ball from loose play, and whipping through hie nun, scoicd right between the posts. Howe, the Wellington fu'il back, lost his ftet, leaving M'Gregor a clear opening. Laws failed to convert an easy goal. Within a few moments Auckland were fgaiu swarming round the Wellington line, where, aftfr a couple of tight returns, the lour.l men rushed the ball across aud S. M'Urrg r fell on ib. Laws again faikd to convert". Up at.d down lbs fluid waged the bat tb>, and once more Auckland forced the visitors dov-ii, and fighting with great determination H. HGrogor snapped tvie ball up ss it catue out of tho Fcrum, aDd oh the verge of the line passed to the speedy Absolum, v»bo dived in ab the corner, and taking the kick himself be landed a magnificent; gosl frotn a difficult at.g'c. WelJiugton rallied, Lufc the spurt was only of brief duration, as another Auckland forward charge told its tale, the ball being carried at tbc feet of the home team to within a few y&ids of the liae, where it went out. From the throw-in M'Keizie secured the ball, and clashing through sent it aloog to Saoipson, who whipped rouud Hawke and scored. Laws was .-.gain entrusted with the kick and landed a prtlty goal. Timo was shortly afterwards called, the score being : Auckland ... 19 points Wellington ... Nil

The Wellirgton forwards quite bore out their reputation as regards their dtfsbing play, bub •were not to be compared with thfe Auckland pack in scrum work. Neither was tho combination equal to that of the home tesßJ, the men seeming lo hang b*ck for a chance. Hardbam, Mawou, Spencer, and Soffe were the best of the visiting forwards, atid Huwke and Howe the best of the backs. For Auckland, R. Bl'Gwgor (Thames) placed a fine game, but all the back* played well. The forwa:da to a man played the game, and in the second spell outclassed their opponents.