BRITAIN V. COMBINED NELSON MARLOBROUGH.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12275, 22 June 1908, Page 2

BRITAIN V. COMBINED NELSON MARLOBROUGH.

RECORD^AI TENDANCE AT ' TRAFALGAR PARK. A FINE DISPLAY OF RUGBY. The long looked for match between the Anglo -Welsh teartk and the combined Nelion and Marlborougb. fepfesentativeß took place on Saturday under the moat favourable conditions, a fine day, a dry ground, and oo wind. There was a large attendance at the start of the curtainiraiser, the junior. Nelsda-Mariborough representative match', and by half past two o'clock there was a record attendance for the Park the spectators encircling the ground. It wag estimated that from 4000 to 6000 parsons were present but though the exact returns are not yet available the takings are set down at i) 210, which accounts for about 4000 spectators, which is under the general estimate. The arrangements niade by the local Rugby Union omoialson behalf of the New Zealand Rugby Union worked well, and there was no hitch of any kind noticeable, and commendable punctuality was observed. The Garrisotn Band was present and enlivened the intervals with music. It was decided to play two forty miautes spell. -The game was in charge ol Mr A.bs Charters, Wairarapa, who was quiok with his decisions, and if some of the spectators thought the local side were penalised with undue frequency both teams were perfectly satisfied vnth the referee. The match was played in excellent spirit, and if there was noth,ing sensational ab"»ut the play it was an interesting game, and a clean wholesome display of Rugby.

ANGL.O-WTSLSIT TEAM.

Fullback: E. J. Jackett (Cornwall). Threequarters : K. A. " Qilib (Glamorgan and Wales) ; P B. McEvedy (Kent) captain ; J. P. Jones [Monmouth and Wales) ; J. L. Williams Glamorgan and Wales. Halves: W. Morgan (Kent and .London); "Tuan" J. P. . Jones (Kent and Guy's Hospital). Forwards: K. Dibble (Somerset and England); F. Jackson (Cornwall) ; E. Morgan (Glamorgan); P. J. Down (Somerset) ; R. K. Green (Glamorgan); J. A. S. Ritson (Northumberland); H. Archer (Guy^s Hospital) and Somerset) ; J. F. Williams (London, Welsh, and Wales). COMBINED.TEAM. Fullback: J. C. O'Brien (Marlborough). Threequarfcers : H. Saundera (Nel son): A. Sandel (Nelson); O. Costello ( Marlborough). Half: H. Oben (Marlborough). Five-eighths: W. Smith capt. (Nelson), C Manning (Marlborough. ) Winger; W> A» Tertill (Marlborough. ) Forwards: Clouaton (Marlborough), F. Sowman (Marlborough, J. McDonald (Marl borough), H. . GraDville (Nelson), G. Richmond ( Nelson), C. Hegglun (Marlborougth), P. Hannigan (Nelson). THE PLAY. The kiok-off was at 2.45 sharp, Smith, the local captain, taking the kick. "Ponty" Jones returned to touch, and Green headed a rush of the British forwards, which followed the throwin. A penalty for off side against the visitors enabled McDonald to put the ball well down the field, and shortly after the British were given a free kick for off side play by the ; Nelson wing. Jackett used the opI ; ortunity to take play to the centre, where tbe local team were again penalised for off-side wing play. Smith got the ball from the kick, and beatiDg several opponents made a good run, which ended in touch. From tbe throw-in, the combined forwards took the ball well on, Ponty Jones relieving. The pace was made very merry, by the forwards, and Ternll showed to advantage at this time, play being taken to the Brie iah twenty-live. Tuan Jones and O'Brien had an advantage of kicks, and Smith smartly marked from a speculator by W. Morgan. Saunders tried for a goal, but failed. MoDonald and Terrill smarity following j up the return kick,the visitors were I forced down. Flay was again brought ia front of the British goal, and Terrill wa3 again prominent, and a score looked imminent, but the ball was called bank and a scrum i formed. The British forwards, led | by Archer and, lireen, carried the ball well down the field, where Saunders saved with a good kick, which took play to half-way. Glbbsi made a run to the Combined twenyfive, where scrums resulted, Me-! Evedy finally kicking into touon. From the tbrow-in, Saunders se- 1 cured the ball, and with a well timed kick- got well into the British twenty -five. McDonald was then prominent in a loose rush, and tbe play continuing very fast was kept for some tireie well in the British territory. A good passing rush, in which Sandel, Costello, Saunders and Terriil took part, awakened hopes of ■! 3 ■:. re resulting, but the defence was too sound. The local team secured *'the ball from the scrum which followed, and Oben made a useful little run. A free kick was given the visitors, but the play was brought back towards the British line, and Jackett relieved from behind the line. Britain was awarded another free kick. and Jackett found touch^at half-way, only to see the ball carried by the local forwards back into the visitors' ground. Smith initiated a passing rush, transferring to Oben, who passed to Saunders, the latter failing to take the ball, which was taken into touch. From the throw-in. Smith secured the ball starting another good passing rush" in which Manning and Sandel took a hand. The Combined team was making gfeat efforts to score, and there was no relaxation of the pace, but the defence was impregnable, the tackling of the defending backs being very certain, and they supported well. Jackett got off some good kicks, finding the line in great style. Manning made an aborfrjpa attempt to pot, and his side were penalised for off-side play, which enabled Jackett to relieve the pressure. Fr/wn a throw-in, W. Morgan waß responsible for taking Ihe ball to the local side of halfway, and the Combined team being again penalised, Gibbs was able to get the -couch in the local twentyfive. Ternli Kicking down the field, Smith followed smartly, and J. L. WiHiani3 relieved by finding touch, I play being, transferred however, to the British twenty-five. An interchange of kicks followed, ending in the British* touohing down. Saunders took tbe return, and found touch at the twenty-five flag. A pcn r alty against the local Bide saw the play centred, where it remained for a wbile, Granville, Smith, Manning and Costello showing up at different times, and finally Oben, 4 Smith, Sandel, Manning and Costello all took part in a rush, which saw the ball in to (job in the British twenty-five. The attack was persistent, but had no "dcvil s in it, and the tine combination of the British baoks was effective. Tuan Jones was responsible for relieving nis side, and Manning put in a nice little run that brought play to the British twenty-five. McEvedy, Ponty Jones and J. Ll Williams got a passing rush on, which brought play to halfway, and as a rasult of by Sandel rebounding the local territory vyas invaded, and it was

•.hen ttmt Tuan Jones lost a fine opportunity of scoring through falling,. Ternll was very prominent, dribbling right back to Britain's twenty-five, where he knocked oOj. and a free kick to Britain relieved the pressure. Saunders taking the ball from Sandel was responsible for returning play well into British quarters, Jackett and Uibbs fellev*. ing by good lnc&s, followed by a good passing rush, in which all four three-quarters handled the ball. Prom a sorum which followed, Tuan Jones got th,e ball, and carried the play to the local twenty-iive. Saunders relieved,, but tb,e Ejritish" forwards i were riow making Headway; and brought, play back to the local territory, Saunderg again relieving with a kick into touch. Britain got another free kick, and this was neutralised by the Combined forwards with a great rush, taking the ball at toe right down to the British twenty-five, where half-time was sounded . without any soore being registered.

SEOONU SPEIiL;

From the very start of this spell it; was apparent tnat. the visitors had the upper hand. The Com-, bined team bad made a grdat effort in* the first spell, and the pace was hot, and it was something to keep such a strong side a3 the British on the defensive for the., greater part of the tinie. Those effdrts apparently told, and in the latter half of the game the Combined team bad to show its mettle in defence. The local forwards in the first spell were able to at least divide honors* if not a little better, but in the second spell it was seldom that they obtained the ball in the scrum. The ball would come out like> shot well back to the halves, who were thus enabled to feed the^three-quar-ters with telling results. * Dibble kioked off, and after a minute's play a free kiok awarded to the British saw Gibbs try for a goal without success. No obarge being given, .he had a second kick, ivbich was a nne attempt from a difficult angle, the ball swerving as it neared the goal posts. Hannigan started a dribble, which ended in British ground, but the opposing backs carried the play back. McEvedy, fed by W. Morgan) getting into the Combined twenty-five. I Tuan Jones was prominent in assist- 1 ing the attack, whioh was relieved by Manning. Another free kick against the locals negatived by good work by Hegglun and Saunders. The British forwards then took a hand, ana brought play back to the danger zone, where give and take play with scrums followed. Smith, Sandel and Costello were responsible for taking play to the other side of half-way. Jacket fc found touch at Nelson twenty-five flag/ Richmond taking the ball well, from the throw-io, attempted to pass. Dibble intercepted, and transfer* ring to the three-quartersj a passingrush, in which all four three-quar- r ters took part ended in J; L. Williams 3<3oring first blood, after fifteen minutes' play; Btitish .3 Nelson-Marlborough 0 Forward play followed about halfway, Tuan Jones being responsible with a smart kick for the ■ invasion of the local twenty-five Shortly after the ball was carried back over the line, and a sorum followed. t Tuan Jones got possession, and made a fine .opehingffor J. F. Williams, who scored near the corner. Jackson failed at the kick. British 6 Nelson-Marlborough 0 The interchange of kicks resulted m Jackett finding touch in the homo twenty-tive. From a scrum Terrill headed a good rush, Gibbs relieved, and Saunders with a tine line kick shifted play to British twenty -five. The visiting forwards were not to be denied, and with the ball oh toe came down the field, - the attack be« ing reversed by the local forwards, who gained ground. From a specu lator form scrum, Smith marked in side half- way, and Saunders made a fine kick at goal, the .ball falling just under the cross-bar. The opposing vanguard soon had the ball up to the local twenty-live, when a penalty allowed Manniag to relieve. From half-way, Smith made a good run to the visitors' twenty-five, the ball going into touch. The British forwards again swept ciown'the field, and their backs then took a hand, a hard struggle right in front of the home giml resulting. Ponty Jone3 secured a mark, and Jackson kicked a pretty goal. British 9 Nelson-Marlborough 0 Long kicks were followed by Man^ ning ending in a run at half-way. A wild pass by Tuan Jones let the lccal men through, and McDonald getting round a scrum sent the ball olose to British line. Jackett found touch at twenty-five, and ftoni the throw-in Begglun beaded a rush towards the British goal. The visiting forwards, however, responded, and play was again in dose proximity to the home goal, Oben relieving the pressure by passing to Sandel, who found touch. Britain was penalised, and Tuan Jones failing to take Smith's kick the local forwards carried play on to the British line, a force down following. Smith took Jackect's kick, and after a good run, beating three opposing backs, was grassed near the line. Give and take "play followed, Gibbs relieving, with a long kick. O'Brien responded with a good line kink. Tuan Jones made an opening for Gibbs at. half-way, who went into touch at the twentyfive. Tuan Jones, McEvedy, ar,d Fonty Jones were prominent in an attack, which ended in a scrum close to tne local goal. The British forwards were getting the ball out from scrum almost invariably now, heeling out clean and sharp to Jbe halves. Some fast footwork followed the ball going to touch in goal. Saunders, Jackett and O'Brien exchanged kicks, and play was centred. Smith and Costello were prominent just now. the latter making a good run. McDonald relieved the pressure which followed, and McEvedy made a good run, being collared by Manning near the twenty-five. From a throw-in "Ponty" Jones secured the ball, and beating his opponents scored. I The angle was not difficult, but Jackson failed at'the kick. I British 12 Nelson-Marlborough 0 Smith and Manning were prominent in the play which followed,and Hannigan headed a forward rush, whuh took play ioto the British twenty-five. Uostello 'taking a pass made a great effort, and was pushed, into touch close to the British line, and the game ended. i