THE RANFURLY SHIELD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 65

THE RANFURLY SHIELD.

AUCKLAND BEAT WELLINGTON.

AUCKLAND, August 15. The Ranfurly Shield match, played hera this afternoon between Wellington andl. Auckland, attracted an attendance of abou^ 12,p00 people. The gathering was disthu • guished by the presence of his Excellency , the Governor (Lord Plunket) and staff, th§ Prime' Minister (Sir Joseph Wa.rd), thd Hons. . George Fowlde, J. A. Millar, andL Dr Findlay, the Mayor of Auokland (Mr A* M. Myers), and a number of members of' both Houses. The day was an ideal one;' for fast football, and patrons of Rugby whoT went expecting- a fine exhibition were noi£t v disappointed. Auckland's win over We£»~ - lington' by -24 points to 3 may infer a runaway victory, btit such an inference wouldP not be correct, if we except the last quartetf.of an 'hour's play. Up till then the game?* might have been won by either team, bui£-" then the sensational' happened, and Auokland put on 19 points in 15 minutes. Rugbyf! . need have no fear from the Northern Unions" game while such brilliant contests as thatf' witnessed to-day can be produced. The game, although exceedingly fast, was played' in the best of spirit, and was ably controlled! J " by Mr J. Williams, of Dunedin, whose interpretation of the rules assisted in ths - enjoyment of the game.

Auckland won the toss, and played with?' tho sun against a light wind in 'the firsfe; spell. " Auokland attacked from the outset*/ 1 and for the first quarter of an hour keptf Wellington confined to their twenty-five. Roberts, by good work, relieved, and pl&Yj, was removed to half-way, where the Weß'— lington backs gave the Auckland publio a/ taste of their* quality. The Auckland forwards, he-aded by Seeling, brought play-up* the field, and then the Auckland rearguard; who were to a man playing above themselves, set up a hot attack, Wilson conduct* ing a rush by being thrown out at/. the corner. Auckland kept up the pressure; for a while, and then Wellington, took a j hand, and for a time 'the Auckland supporters felt anxious. About this time soma, clever work was done by Green and Roberts' 1 on the blind side of a sorum, but the localF tackling was solid. Play was taken to the*' other end of the field, where, after a spelt of attacking, Gillett picked up in the loose^ and passed to Morse. From him the bait went to .Magee, and then to Bater, who scored between the posts. R. Magee ha«? no difficulty in converting 1 . Auckland 5 points. •Wellington. •«. .• Nil. On the resumption of play Wellington! put on the pace. Fine back play saw a'^ certain chance lost by failure to take al pass, but from the resulting sorum Greene secured the ball, and handed it ,to Rushj, who passed to Wilson, and he to Alexander,' who scored at the corner. Ryan's -kick -w&i a fine effort, but went wide. « The spell ended here, the scores being : . . Auckland 5 points. Wellington 3 points. The second epell -was opened by an -A-xicK" land attack, which Wellington immediate]*} repulsed. Fast and exciting play followed^ and Auckland indulged in passing -rushes mi" which sometimes a dozen players took part; but every . man was accounted for by thai deadly taokling of the Wellington backs. - Then Wellington took a hand in attack, and) for 10 minutes it was anybody's game. Auckland's defence was sound, and they* worked to the centre, where some exciting • play took place, and the spectators were>' treated to some football of a character nob' seen in Auckland for a long time, the movements of both sides being exceedingly rapid*..' With only a quarter of an hour- to go. the' excitement became intense, and there was great local jubilation when Morse picked up and passed to R. Magee, who transferred) to Murray, the latter scoring a try, which R. Mage© converted. Auckland 10 points. Wellington . 3 pointe. It was then that the rout set in. Firs* R. Mapee kicked a fine goal from a mark, by Gillett, then Bater intercepted a passi; from Roberts to Mitchinson, und ran 40' yards and scored a try, which R. Magea converted. Then Murray scored a unconverted try as the result of a brilliantt" passing run, in whiwh eight Auckland'; players took part, and finally Nicholsonf scored a try, which was not improved on,as the result of clever line play, making up the total : Auckland 24- points. Wellington 3 points. The most prominentn t Auckland players wero Herring, Francis, Seeling, and Gillett (forwards), and Morse, Bater. end Magee of a set of backs every one of whom played ai brilliant game. The Wellington players prominent were Wilson, Rush, Alexander, Trezise, and Hard ham (forwards), Roberts, • Mitchinson, and Green (backs).

August 17. The takings at the gates and stands on Saturday last totalled £894-. This is easily a record for •an interprovinciaF match, the previous best being £750, taken/, at the game between the same- two provinoes in 1904. The Wellington team leff( for New Plymouth to-day; en route fon home. A very large number assembled! at the Auckland Railway Station to bidt' farewell to the members of the team, who, while accepting their defeat in a veryi sportsmanlike manner, we-re naturally die-, appointed at the largeness of the score registered against them.

Mr J. Williams of Dunedin, who r«- " fereed in the match, also left to-day for • home.