FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6884, 27 August 1900, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

* AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 25. The interprovincial football match, Auckland v. Wellington, was played at Epsom today in wretched weather. Rain fell from early morning, and continued -with, little interval till the play was nearly ever. Despite the weather, a crowd cf nearly four thousand witnessed' the match. Auckland started strong favourites, and justified the preference by winning by fourteen points to four. The match in the earlier stages was evenly contested, and Auckland's win was noCensured till within the last quarter of an hour, when they played dashing football, and increased their total by eleven points. Wellington was unfortunate in losing tlie pivot of their back division before the game was well star-ted, Roberts, the centre threequarter,* being carried off. the field, having received two successive knocks which pressed a rib on to his intestines and disabled him for the day, although the injury is not likely to be serious. The loss of Roberts may have been the cause, but the Wellington backs compared unfavourably with those of Auckland. Hales, however, was a notable exception, playing probably the best game on the field. Kelly also played well. The Wellington front rank, however, were contrary to' expectations quite equal to the Auckland pack, and easily held their own till Auckland's dash at the finish, when the visitors seemed entirely out of the game. The Auckland team, played a gone, game all round, Doran probably showing up best. There was some good play in the first spell, in which the only score was a try for Auckland. The second spell opened dull, ahd continued so till the last quarter, when the really exciting play of the day tras witnessed. Wellington's only score was a dropped goal from the field by Hales, while Auckland, including the try in the --first spell, got behind four times and converted once. The teams took the field as under: — Wellington.— Back, Hales ; three-quar-ters, Woods, Roberts and Howe ; fiveeighths, Kelly (captain) and Meredith ; wing forwards, M'Grath and Gallagher ; forwards; Judd, Wylie, Calnan, M'Anally, O'Brien, M'Quirk and Spencer. Auckland. — Back, Hay ; three-quarters, M'Pike, M'Gregor and Harrison; fiveeighths, Riley and Kiernan ; wing forwards, Doran and Gallagher ; forwards, Brady, Irvine, Cunningham, H. Wilson, S. Wilson, Tyler and M'Gregor. Wellington started with a slight wind in their favour, but Auckland opened gamely, and pressed for a few minutes till a long kick transferred the play to mid-field, where Riley picked up and a grand piece of play followed, Riley passing to M'Gregor (back), who in turn transferred to M'Piko, and from the latter the ball went to -M'Gregor (forward), who was stopped by Hales within "the Wellington twenty-five. A forward rush by Welfing-S ton followed, Auckland being forced. Be- j fore the game was ten minutes old, Roberts, ! the .Wellington centre -.■three-quarter, met 'j with an injury and was carried off the field. An interval followed, and eventually Arthur Williamson had to be found as substitute. Play was resumed within the Auckland twenty-five, and the Wellington front rank played a great forward game for the next few minutes, a series of tight scrums taking place on the Auckland goal-line. Wilson I saved the situation for Auckland by a smart run with the ball at his foo_, in which he I was assisted by Doran, and some smart pass- •' ing between Kiernan, Rilev M'Gregor and Harrison carried .play again into the Weli lington ground. Once mere the Wellington forwards came away, and they were /well backed up by Meredith, Woods and Wi.l--"liamson, who made the first run of the day for the Wellington buck division. Auckland gradually worked to mid-field, where Calnan came away from a throw-in, with tha ball at his foot. Evading the Auckland three-quarter and backed by Kelly, he got past Hay, and a rush for the touch-down followed, Hay just succeeding in saving a score. From a line-out in Wellington's twenty-five, Gallagher got possession, and made an evening for M'Gregor, who fan to tho line, passing to Harrison, who scored near the touch-line. The kick fell short — Auckland three, Wellington nil. Soon after A. Wilson, from a throw-in, threatened Wellington's line, but Hales collared splendidly, and uneventful play followed till the whistle blew half-time, with, the score Auckland three, Wellington nil. During the

opening portion of the second spell play was entirely confined to the forwards. The teams watched each other closely, and it was difficult for .either to make headway. At the 'start Wellington had the hest of the play, Auckland having All they could do to keep' the visitors out of their twenty-five. Eventually the Auckland pack awakened, and transferred ths play. Kiernau marked at & likely place, but Wilson made a poor, kick.' From this onward play continued we ll inside Wellington.? 'territory,'*' and though there was no individual brilliancy, the Auckland pack played a close , a nd stubborn game, which defied the best efforts of the visitors, who were frequently forced. After a quarter .of an hour's stiff play in Wellington's territory, the ball -went .momentarily beyond the half-way flag, where Gallagher started down the field from the scrum, and the first brilliant rush of the spell .resulted, taken part in by Kiernan, Harrison and Wilson, the last-named bein~ collai-ed just on Wellington's line. Once opened up, the play became fast and furious. M'Pikovhad pa dashing try for a score, but was forced into totich-in-goal. Thus challenged, the Wellington men put more life into the game, Woods taking the initiative with what was probably the smartest run of the day. He was, however, collared by Hay, and the ball went into the open back-rank of the visiting team, "where Hales seized a chance, apd dropped a well-judged goal from the fieffl, putting Wellington pne point ahead of the home team— Wellington four, Auckland three. Play now got interesting., ancl' Doran responded to the Wellington score by carrying over the line but tlie ball went out at the side. No sooner, however, was the ball in -motion than Kiernan secured it, and handed it to Riley, who, after a smart run passed to M'Gregor, and from thence the ball went to Harrison, who carried it right. behind the posts. , Kiernan failed with an easy kick Auckland sis, Wellington four. Doran was' next in evidence with a dashing run, but was pushed into touch-in-goal. At this .stage Auckland had taken entire control of the game, and A. Wilson and Gallagher,, with a dribbling run, soon got an opening. .A. Wilson kicked, and again railed — Auckland cine, Wellington four. Only a few minutes were left, and Auckland mad© good nse of their time, Riley finishing a dashing run by landing the ball behind the posts. Kiernan took the kick, and converted. The whistle blew a minute later, thi match endingAuckland fourteen, Wellington four.