RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 49, 14 August 1915, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE thirty-first meeting of the Auckland and Taranaki representatives took place at Edlen Park last Saturday. A well contested game resulted in a win for the home team by 15 points to 3. The match with Taranaki is always regarded as one of the most popular representative games, therefore it was little wonder, when spl'enddd weather conditions prevailed, that about three thousand spectators were present to witness the teat between the two chosen fifteens. The play was in keeping with the occasion, and served to allay all feelings regarding the future of Rugby. The game was strenuously contested throughout, and a high standard of play prevailed. A splendlid spirit prevailed, and no exception could be taken to any incident throughout tbe contest. The best team won, but the margin, of points (twelve) does not represent the difference. The Taranaki forwards, a fine, big, well set up. lot, had the better of the locals for at least three parts of the game, but they did not receive the necessary support from their backs. Upon this point the success of Auckland lay ; it was the more combinedi work as a team that contributed to success. Play was of an open character throughout, a most noticeable incident being the absence of close line out work and monotonous line kicking. The backs handled the ball freely, and some of the passing runs will live long in the memory of those who were fortunate in watching the game. The respective forwards held each other well in the scrums, but in the matter of hooking the ball the Aucklanders were superior. Towards the finish the ball came out very cleanly. Moffit had several tight situations to get out of and did' his task in the usual satisfactory manner. His fielding of the ball and line kicks were a special feature. Barker, as wing threequarter, was the best of the trio. He tackled m a deadly manner and always gamed a lot of ground with his kicks. He made several fine runs, one effort calling for special mention. He gave a most unselfish display. While D. Stewart exhibited a lot of cleverness as centre-threequarter he was inclined! to try and do too much. Instead of straight running he would bore out and finish with a poor pass to Clark who was forced close to the side-line. Clark made a very satisfactory initial appearance. He tackled his man in a very certain manner while his try, which he also converted, was a fine effort. Prussing, who replaced King at five-eighths, was of the sound rather than brilliant order but Barclay was decidedly below his club form. While much difference of opinion existed over the inclusion of Lang before Earlly as centre half, it must be admitted the City lad's work was very satisfactory. One outstanding feature, he is cool headed and rapidly grasps a situatinn. No more striking illustration is required than that which led to his try. His pass especially from the scrum, are not ■ too clean and inclined to be rather low. The forwards al worked with a will and G. Sellars, Casey, Avery and McHugh claim first mention. Campbell was hard to understand for some of his attempts to pick up the ball in forward rushes.

Nesbitt replaced O. Ste\vart( still on the injured list) as wing forward. He showed a lot of cleverness in the open work, but met a better man in the Taranaki wing forward, Whittington. The amber and blacks' vanguard were a fine big set, but a trifle short of condition for such a game. Ward was: perhaps the most conspicuous of a very even lot. Scrum half, Skipper, brought off a lot of brilliant work, but also a lot of a mediocre type. He seemed rather over-anxious at times. Patterson and Stewart were the five-eighths, but did not compare with the opposing pair. Considierable sun-prise . was expressed when Roberts was found playing as wing three-quarter. He was not up to his best form. No doubt the heavy travelling was responsible. Tate was best of the trio, is a speedy customer and not afraid of work.' Lynski, while not so brilliant, was sound.

Tinney completed the team as fullback. He was very safe, and did a lot of effective kicking.

Probably no representative match is more eagerly looked forward to than the meeting of Auckland and Wellington 1 . Next Saturday local Rugbyiites will have the peasure of witnessing the chosen of the Empire City trying conclusions with our representatives. Twenty-six games have been played between the two provinces. Eight wins stand to Wellington's credit, fifteen wins to Auckland, the remaining three games being drawn. Up to the memorable game of 1897, Auckland could boast of one win, but from that year until 1902 Auckland's star was in the ascendant. Wellington's biggest win was recorded at Auckland in 1894, when the visitors finished with a score of 13 points to nil. Quite a number of double figure victories stand . to Auckland's credit, but the biggest score registered' was in 1908, when at Epsom the blue and whites ran up 24 points to 3. Only fine weather is required next Saturday to ensure a record crowd at the big match. The following team has been choseni by Mr D. Galaher, sole selector, to represent Auckland against Wellington at Auckland on Saturday next: — Full-abck: Moffitt. Three-quarters: Clarke, D. Stewart, Barker. Five-eighths: King, Prussmg. Half-back: Lang. Wing-forward: O. Stewart. Forwards: G. Sellars, Casey, Grace, McHugh, A. Campbell, Bruce, Avery. Emergencies: Backs, Barclay, Scantlebury, Swaffield; forwards, R. Sellars, Johnson, Nesbitt. The team will meet for training at the City training hall on Thursday evening.

The following team has been chosen to represent Wellington:— Full-back, R. Robinson (Athletic); three-quarters, Madden (Athletic), Algar (Poneke), E. Ryan (Petone); five-eighths, J. Tilyard (Poneke), Blackmore (Athletic); half, Nicholls (Petone); forwards, Francis (Wellington), Ready (Petone), Wilson (Athletic), Paton (Athletic), D. Dennehy, H. Tancred (Petone), Dent (Petone); wing-forward, Gilchrist. Extra forwards, McPhee (Selwyn), Boltoni (Petone). Two well known old-timers, in "Scotty" Bonellaand "Tiffy" Laing, are to be found at Eden Park every week, taking a very keen interest in the progress of the youn gaspirants to Rugby fame. W. Carlaw (for many years a prominent member of the Ponsonby senior fifteen), Who gained rep. honours in 1904, but afterwards went over to the Rugby League management, is now manager of the Northern Steamship Company at Whangarei. "Touchline," of the Wellington "Free Lance," makes mention of the bad way financially the Wellington Rugby Union is in. The regular staff of gatekeepers has been dispensed with, and members of the committee are doing the duties. In Wellington the game is experiencing drawbacks similar to Auckland, owing to the players risin/g to the call of the Empire. This is how one of the senior players recently expressed himself: "I won't sign any more team's slips, I've handed my name in for enlistment, and expect to be called up for Trentham shortly.