VICTORY FOR COMBINED TEAM.

Colonist, Volume XLVII, Issue 11432, 11 September 1905, Page 1 (Supplement)

VICTORY FOR COMBINED TEAM.

The touring Australian team played their second match in the Colony at Trafalgar Park on Aug. 23, and we*e i defeated by 12 points to 3. The field was in perfect order, but a strong south-west wind blew across the ground. There was a record attend- ; ance, close on 3000 being present, j The exhibition was fairly interest- • i ing, but the play at times lacked the brilliancy that was expected. The ! Australian pack had a decided advantage in obtaining tho ball from ; the scrums right through the gams, ) consequently the local backs could; not display their passing qualities, j The local forwards, however, out- j classed their opponents in loose work, and repeatedly came .right through the visiting vanguard. The; visiting backs, with the exception of ! the halves, and McLean and Wickham, three-quarters, cannot be described as by any means brilliant, ; their tackling being weak, while j with the advantage the Australians had in scrum work much more could be expected of them, but their pass- 1 ing was not well-timed, and at times j became even wild. The local back j division at times performed some splendid passing, and there was a, great improvement in line kicking. The Australians have adopted, no doubt by having an English coach, the same tactics as the Home team displayed on their visit last year, a particular feature being centreing the ball while on the attack, but with a safe rear division, such as Nelson possessed yesterday, very little seemed to be gained. With regard to the scrum work, the spectators were disappointed in the local team yesterday, and the Australian pack, with three men in front, secured the ball on almost every occasion, but the combined team's front rankers, Comes and Todd, were of uneven height, this to some extent disorganising the whole pack. Mr Chisholm refereed, and carried out his duties in a thoroughly impartial manner. The Garrison Band rendered selections during the afterqoon, which were greatly enjoyed. THE GAME. ' The Australians were greeted with cheers, and replied, with the addition of their war cry. Nelson lost the toss, and kicked off against the wind. Wickham took the ball, and kicked to Dansey.. v. ho found the ilne. McNally stanod a j-assing rush, in which Smith, McPike, and Dansey took part, and this placed the Australians on the defence, bat they were relieved by a mark, and kicking well down the field, Wiokham got possession of the ball and centred it, but McPike saved the local line. Coming through the scrum McDonald headed a great rush by the combined team's forwards, but they were penalised for off-side play. The Australians were penalised for off-side twice in succession, but O'Brien was unsuccessful with the kicks. Anlezark secured the ball from a scrum, and kicked up the field, and the local team were placed on the defence, but McLean in centreing the ball kicked too hard, and Nelson were forced. After the kick out Best picked the ball from a scrum, and Wickham kicked a penalty goal — Australia 3, Nelson 0. Nelson were soon on tbe defence again, mainly through the work of Anlezark and Woods, but the local forwards, headed by Boon,Learmont, and Glover, cleared their line. Wickham Kicked down the line, and McPike started a fine passing rush, in which Smith, Dansey, and Park participated, but the latter knocked on. For obstructing the ball going into the scrum, the visitors were twice penalised, and Smith, failing to find the line the Australians profited by it, Nicholson securing the ball, and after a good run kicked to the centre, but the wind carried the ball out of bounds. On. the kick out, one of the visitors failing to take the ball, Boon, who was playing with great dash, secured the ball, and ran from half-way, beating the Australian backs, and registered Nelson's first score. O'Brien failed with the kick —Nelson 3, Australia 3. The kick out was followed by some passirg between McPike and Smith, the latter's kick placing the visitors on the defence, and one of their backs failing to take the ball, Learmont came near scoring. The Australians were relieved by a free kick, only to see the Nelsonpor wards,^conspicuous being Dennehy and Glover, again on their line, when B. Smith saved his side by a good line kick, and the first spell ended with the play in midfield In the second half the wind dropped considerably. Wickham kicked off, O'Brien making a good return, and the Nelson forwards got on to the ball, but were penalised for offside. From the kick O'Brien took the ball, and made a good attempt at a pot,. the ball just missing the bar. The visiting vanguard at this stage performed some creditable loose play, prominent being Hirahberg, Oxlade, Burg and Swannell, and this was really the only occasion where their forwards showed to advantage in the loose. Smith kicked well up the field, and the Australians' full-back ran right into the local forwards instead of kicking, which resulted in play being carried on to the visitors' line. Hirschberg was here prominent in relieving, but McPike getting possession of the ball kicked well down touch. Best came through a scrum on Australia's line with the ball at his feet, and dribbled over the line, where Comes sprang on the ball, and gained another try for Nelson. O'Brien kicked a brilliant goal, right from the line— Nelson 8, Australia 3. The Australians were soon agaiu on the defence, the result of a very telling line kick by Dansey. From a throw 'out McPike centred the ball, but kicking Jtco bard the Australians were forced down. McCulloch securing almarit, O'Brien had a shot at goal from half-way, and made a very creditable attempt. The Australians' three-quarters attempted a great deal of passing at this time, but it • was only futile and generally ended in a throw forward, or the last man mulling. The visitors had Nelson on the defence for a while, but eventually the local forwards cleared their line, and carried play to Australian terriory, where Wood saved, and a little later made a long run. Park kicked the ball well down the field, and Nelson getting the ball from a scrum Smith centred it, and the visitors once more found relief in a force down. Nelson returned to the charge, and. good passing among the local backs was spoiled by Park. A little later, however, he started a dribble down the field, and, assisted by Best, carried play to the Australian line, where Smith smartly marked, and O'Brien . converted — ( Nelson 12, Australia 3. The subsequent play was mostly eonfined|to the i forwards, in the open portion of 1 which the local men had the best, '. and Dennehy headed a rush to mid- ] field, where the game ended. In the local back division, O'Brien, the fullback, played a splendid game, ( his *clean style iv taking the ball \ frequently being applauded, while i his kicking was all that could be de- i sired. McPike and Dansey were a \ success, and tb,eir tackling was safe, 'i

while their line kicking was good. ] Park, the third three-quarter, was decidedly off in his play, and has perhaps not played a worse game this season. Smith, at five-eighths, owing to the inability to get the ball from the scrum, had a poor opportunity of showing what he is capable of, but he made a considerable amount of work, and accomplished it successfully. McNally, the half, had little to do behind the scrum, and apparently developed into a wing. The wings, Boon and Learmont, were conspicuous throughout the game, and the former more than justified his selection. The forwards were not succesdful in the scrum, but in the loose outclassed the visitors, particularly prominent being Glover, McDonald, Best, and Donnehy. The Australian team is particularly weak in its backs. Carmichael, the full-back, although taking the ball well, seemed at a loss what to do with it. The best performers on the three-quarter lino were Wickham and McLean, but all indulged in a tremendous amount of blind passing. Anlezark played a good game at half, nnd was 'well backed up by Wood. The most prominent in the forwards were Hirscherg, Oxlade, and Swannell, but the latter's play was not up to the form he displayed while with the Englishmen last year. THE DINNER. The teams, as guests of the local Union, dined together last evening at the Masonic Hotel, several officials ;and the Mayor, Mr Baigent, being also present. - After an excellent repast a short toast list was gone through.