NEW ZEALAND v. AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2677, 5 July 1905, Page 57

NEW ZEALAND v. AUCKLAND.

AUCKLAND, July 1

The match between members of the New Zealand team who leave for Australia, on Monday v. Auckland's representative team was played at Alexandra Park this afternoo'i. The day was delightfully fine, and some 7000 spectators were treated to a fast and interesting game, with here and there a flash approaching brilliancy on the part

(of the No-v Zealand backs, who were reI sporreible for the 9 iicinte to 3 victory that i went down to the credit of (h& tu.iriets. The New Zealanders, who wore captained by Hunter, appeared to have the advantage in weight over the loo»l men, who were led by Mackenzie. Mr W. Pitts was iefcree, and the tea'iis were as follow: — New Zealand (Black) : —Full back. Wallace ; three quarters — Thomson, Smith, M'Grogor; five-ei *hths— Mynott, Hunter; half back, Roberts; forwards-Casey, Glasgow. Newton, Nicholson, Johnson, Glenn, O'Sullivan, Socling (acting largely as rover). Auckland ißlue-and-wh.te) : — Full back, Nicholeon; three-quarters— Murray, Mackenzie (in the centre the first half and on the wing the second spell), and Twiname ; fiveeighth, Gerrard ; half back, Kiernan ; wing forwards— Gallagher and W. Tyler; forwards — Maskrcll, Herring, Cunningham, Trevathern, Hayward, G. Tyler, and Francis. The toss favouring New Zealand they played from the western end in the first spell, leaving the Aucklanders to contend with a strong sun in their faces'. For 10 or 12 minutes play was confined to the forwards, and the local pack had the best of it, but the New Zealand backs then getting possession, a passing rush between Roberts, Hunter, Mynott, Smith, and Thomson put the home players on the defensive, Twiname stemming the attack. Keeping up the pressure. New Zealand again got the ball away from the scrum and rushed it over the line, forcing the hoaie team From the kickout Aucldand r.ttacked hotly, and a series of scrum? near the New Zealand line ended in New Zealand conceding a force. Auckland renewed the attack, only overeagerness losing them a certain score. From a sentm, the ball can.c out to Gerrard, who kicked too hard, and New Zealand forced again. Auckland kept hammering away, and Hen-ing getting the ball out to Twiname, the latter dashod for the corner peg, but was thrown across the flag. Gerrard then missed a puse from the Auckland half, and Thomson got possession, and was run out at the centre. Cunningham kicked the ball across the field, whore M'Gregor secured, and after beating his man paseed to Smith. The latter passed in again. The ball struck Mackenzie and bounced across fo Hunter, who followed it, and, beating the Auckland full back, drew first blood for New Zealand at the end. of about 25 minutes' play. Wallace did not add the extra points. New Zealand 3, Auckland 0. On resuming;, a forward rush headed by Mackrell' placed the backs on the defensive^ The Auoklandsrs then were very nearly scoring, tlie ball passing through the hands of several of the forwards near the line, but a penalty kick to New Zealand cleared the line. Even play between the two twenty-fives followed! for several minutes. Ihen New Zealand invaded again, the quickness of their backs gaining much ground, but half-time was reached without further soo-re. Auckland had the advantage of the exchange of kicks on opening the second spell, and their forwards, after a fine bit of play, crossed the opposing line, but were penalised, and New Zealand were relieved by a free kick. Shortly after Gerrard, Mackenzie, and Twiname attacked the New Zealand line, but Mackenzie missed a return pass, j and Wallace, nipping in as the local for- ' wards swept it over the line, forced smartly. Thci Auckland vanguard! kept up a vigorous attack, and there was considerable excite-n-ent owing to the frequency with which they beat their opponents. Francis had a I sLot a.t goal f rom near the half, but the ball went a little wide. The Auckland forwards renewed the attack from the kickcut, and a sooto was again narrowly lest them. Through Nicholson making a poor return New Zealand gained the Auckland twenty-five, but only to find the local men i returning to the attack. From a line-out Lin New Zealand territory Thomson intercepted sn Auckland pass and transferred to Smith, who outpaced the Auckland backs and sco-rad. Wallace failed to convert. New Zealand 6, Auckland &. Nicholson and Seeling by fast following prevented the Auckland backs returning from the kick-off, ' and the New Zealand backs, Hunter, Smith, and Thomson, came away with a passing run which ended in Thomson being thrown out at the corner flag by Mackenzie. Wallace had another kick at goal, but again failed. The 105 a! men, who were tiring, were now kept on the defensive for several minutes, and 10 minutes before the call of time, and ju&t after Thomson had retired owing to aii injury to his leg,* M'Gregor soo^d from a passive run. Wallace failed with the kick. New Zealand 9, Auckland 0 From the line-out following the kickoff W. Tyler got possession and badly beat Wallace, scoring for Auckland, amid great applause. Cunningham failed at goal. The 'bell then sounded no side, the scores being : New Zealand 9 Auokland 3 Occasional passing rushes by New Zealand backs indicated that the selectors have got together a strong and fast attacking division behind the pack. The Auckland team had' none the worst of the deal, the weakness of the local team being in. scoring men to back up the good work of the forwards. The Blue-and-white vanguard was imdoubtedly superior to the front division representing New Zealand, they having the best of the deal both in the tight and loose work. Their "scrumming was more systematio than that/ of the Blacks, and Cunningham, as lock, kept his meoi together in fine style, quite overshadowing Newton, who occupied a similar position for New Zealand. The local forwards got the ball more frequently than their opponents, and when not catering for their backs, screwed most effectively, breaking away in a compact body, and carrying out some fine rushes that often kept New Zealand busy defending; but the men were not behind them to push home the advantage gained by tho dashing play of the vanguard. In defensive work the home backs put up a very creditable showing, but there was not the material to put on the finishing touches; hence the defeat of the Auckland team. The New Zealand backs, on the other ha ad, though afforded fewer opportunities in attack, made more usp of the openings that came their way. and Roberts, behind the scrum scooped the ball away to them very smartly, leaving Mynott, Hunter, and the three-quarter lino to do the rebt. The Wellington half did not show any great versatility, seldom, mixing his game, his strong points apparently being his quickness in gettinar the ball out to the backs, rather than making openings by cutting in, clean and accurate handling of the ball, and solid defence. Wallace played brilliantly at full back •for New Zealand, getting them out of difficulties like a tradesman on several occasions, and making but one mistake, that being when W. "Tyler beat him and scored for Auckland. The three-quarter line showed a lot of dashing

attack and fair defence, the weakest member on the day being M'Gregor, who did not handle the ball any too cleanly. The fiveeighths, Hunter and Mynott, and the half back all played their parts well ; but the forwards did not show the dash or vim expected of a colonial combination, Glasgow being the best of them. Nicholson, at full back for Atickland, caused onlookers anxious moments on two or three occasions, and though it might be said his play was fair for a first appearance as rep., it would have only required Wallace in his place to have warded off at least one of New Zealand's scores. The three-quarters made few mistakes in defending, and Mackenzie was the strongest member on attack ; but Gerard as five-eighths did not assist them to any extent in the way of making openings. Kiernan played a, good game behind theAuckland pack, and the forwards to a man, worked like Trojans, Gallagher and W. Tyler doing signal service on the wings, while Francis, G. Tyler, Herring, and Maekn rell stood out in the pack. Cunningham, as already mentioned, played a fine game in tho lock.