LEAGUE RUGBY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 138, 17 July 1914, Page 2

LEAGUE RUGBY.

THE ENGLISH TEAM. WELLINGTON GETS A SURPRISE. Commenting on the mateh played by the Englishmen against the Wellington representatives last Saturday, the "Dominion" had this to say:-r—"Once more the Wellington League were unfortunate, for the elements were all against them. Soon after play started the rain camo down in torrents, and continued almost throughout the game. Under such conditions it was hard to judge the capabilities of the visitors, but in one respect they shone out in a remarkable manner—clever passing, and fast back play. Their passing rushes were a treat to watch, and it was really remarkable the manner in which the backs handled the greasy ball, in marked contrast to the local men, who found the greatest difficulty in keeping their feet. The final score was in Engfavour by 14 points to 7. The local men put up a strong defence, but their weakness lay in their tackling. It was hard to judge on such a day, yet taken throughout the showing ...of the .visitors failed to impress one as being anything beyond what some of the New Zealand teams can do, and the New Zealand representatives should be able to score a win against them. . , :" The most spectacular event of Saturday's match was, the 'score registered, and the event gave an indication 8f -wjhat the English backs were capable of Idoing. Smith, the clever half igotl possession about midfield, and transferred quickly to Prosser. He evaded a couple of men, and whipped the ball out to Davis. The latter sent it over to Houghton, right on the wing. It looked as if this man would be forced over the corner,; but at.the critical moment Thomas, the, full-back, came up ion the inside,, and took a beautiful pass from Houghton. He evaded Wei-: lington?s full-back,-; and put the ball down between the posts. This passing exhibition was only the forerunner tyf ,many'imore v i ; One of the-best.-games Was played for the -visitors by S; B. Houghton 1 , 'Who has. resided-for some time in Auckland. He was fast on the wing, and passed with automatic pre;'cfsioh.' (' He ;;r«gistered England '&; third try,;mainly through following,! up.; well., The ball came suddenly out, to the wing, and - (h* ■ swooped on it, :■ and (got- a clear run itt: : While thei back play : of the visitors was ; very good ? ; and pretty to Watch, 1 t'he : 'forward division -did not -siiie out overthe local men. They were, iriiuch heavier than the Wellington team,, but the latter had a better idea of the value of dribbling play on such a wet day. Jack Spencer, who has been appearing on 1 the football field for years past, was one of the mainstays in the Wellington' forward drvisidn, and for the visitors 'Chilcott and. -Guerin stood out as'the best." '; : ' ; ' " ;li '"; : " l

: The '' Post" says concerning the match i^—*'There' was keen deKght .afriong good Leaguers that the Englishmen had not beeri-able to scoffe a huge handful of points, for nobody seriously thought they Wottjd be%eaten. The fact that the Wellington representatives had nit;ver had an opportunity of playing in a match as a single combination made j their"* chances all the slimmer, 'arid their work all the more creditable. Not that they shone as theirs was merely tlis wholesome virtue of putting up a splendid fight against a team with ai great' reputation, and holding the advantage of 'many stones in weight, and of great confidence in themselves.. They had the.visitors thoroughly extended, and they played a, fine, clean game. The match ajroused a f tremendous amount of interest in the city, and had the weather been finer, there would, no doubt, have been a very much larger crowd. The weather had its usual effect upon the play. There was little op-1 portunity to display the finer tacties,' the personally developed tricks which ccunt for a great dear in deciding the trend of a game played under the best conditions. In such circumstances much of the superiority of a really highlyskilled cohibination disappears through sheer lack of opportunity. What would have happened in better circumstances would possibly have been an unpleasant surprise to the Wellington players, who trough a team of fine players, some of them brilliant performers, would have found their lack of finished combination a terrible handicap. Nevertheless, the j match was throughout a pleasure to the spectators. There was not a dull moIment in it. It is practically certain that a great number of the onlookers had never seen a League game before. It is equally certain .that most of them liked it. They must have been able, too, to appreciate the saying that to play League a man has to be at the tor) of form; One of the hopes of the Wellington League was that public interest I in the game might be increased by this match; and the quality of it was such that it probably had that effect, and will have won many new adherents." The total gate receipts at the Wellington v. England match was £258 17/-, and after deducting all outgoings the Wellington League reaped £SB 14/6 to add to its bank balance. The Wellington Football Association is a sportsmanlike body that doesn't, apparently, mind putting off its fixtures in order that some big fixture in a rival sport might get every chance to get all the spectators (and the cash) possible. Soccer in Wellington has a very firm hold and embraces more in■dividual players than any other winter sport, but last Saturday the association postponed its fixtures in order that the League match might have a clean-cut contest for patrons with the Rugby Cup The newspapers state the attendance at the League game at between 5000 and 7000 (the day was wickedly Wet), but figures from the Rugby games are not given. The Rugby average is about 3000, so the wise ones may form their own conclusions. The Wellington League apparently doesn't want waverers. It has decided that all Leaguers who apply to the Eugby Union for reinstatement be called before the League to' explain their action.