FOOTBALL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 15000, 17 September 1900, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

WANGANUI, v. AUCKLAND7 VUCKLAND WINS BY TWENTY TO ' . NIL. . . ■ 'By^Telegraph.) ■ • »^ . (Special to Chronicle. AUCKLAND, September 16. .. The weather and conditions generally wei*' unfavourable for the match. During the early part of the morning the prospects.' of a- fine tlay looked fairly promising, but it mid-day the rain canle on in earnest and continued till nearly the end of .the first; .pell. The attendance under the circumstances was good. Under such conditions a exposition of football was out of the question, and the forwards had to bear the brunt of the game. Auckland won by 20 to nil, but had all the luck, none coming )ur way at all. Our fellows started off iplendidly, and had Auckland defending, !)iit the fine rushes of the local men shifted play to the centre. \ The Auckland backs' nice passing saw Wanganui defending, but tha hitler's defence was too good, and they managed to stave-off the attack. Near the end of the first half Absolum landed a beautiful goal from n free kick. This was the only score in this spell. We were-unfor-tunate enough to lose. Blair's services, he, having to retire owing to an injured rib, Franklin taking his frlace. Auckland soon, •rot to work in the second spell, and Absolum scored from a passing rush near the '. -onier, no goal resulting. Within a minute Anckland hod another three points from a ' penalty kick, making the total nine to nil. VVmiganni asserted themselves after the; kick off, and Stedman and Robinson put in jroo'tl work. The Auckland-forwards, however, with h fine rush, charged ylbwn the Sold, and Kiernan. securing the ball, passed out to Absolum, who got. over again at the joiner. The place-kicking wns again at fault. Wanganui rushed the kick out .to Auckland's 25's; and from a, free kick Robinson dropped a goal, but it was' not allowed through the kicker not kicking over the mark. Give-and-take piny followed. Eventually Auckland indulged in a pretty- piece of passing, in which McGregor, Absolum, Tyler and Harrison took part, the latter scoring behind the posts. Once again the kick uas a failure. The Wanganui forwards followed tho' kick out to Auckland's 25's. Shannon marked within range, but Bell could not land a goal. Our fellows continued on the aggressive, but could not penetniito through tho defence, which was very sound. Auckland eventually cleared the lines, and play was centred, -where McGregor secured the leather and made what was said to be the finest run on the ground this season,. and scored between the posts. Kiernnn kicked a goal. Absolum was nearly over again shortly after the kick off, being brought down only in the nick of time. The Wanganui forwards here broke away and carried play to the centre, and from a loose scrum Franklin dribbled past all tho opposing baclc^. but was not fleet enough, and was overtaken before he was able to reach the line. As a. wind-up Rob nsbn ported at goal and the ball struck -the post. No side was called just after. There is no doubt about the best team winning. Their forwards were too clever, and as fit as fiddles, and their backs played with goocl combination and used better judgment in kicking than our men. McGregor is a fine player, both in attack and defence. Absolum waa a hard man to catch when he got going.. Our forwards played- well, and in tho first spell 'held their own 'in the scrums, but in the second spell the local men -beat them. The play of our backs was not too good: Takarangi was very safe, tackling a,nd kicking v in fine style. McDonell was unwell, and played much below form. Tregear had not much to do except tackling. .Robinson and Stedman put in good work, but thelattor was watched too well to be dangerous. Shannon stopped the rushes in good style, and performed some other good work, but his passing was not up to the mark. Mv Emmet vefereed, but our fellows are none too satisfied ; they are very disgusted at not being awarded the goal kicked by Robinson. They wero entertained.at dinner in the evening, and on Sunday drags were placed at the disposal of the team to go for a drive in the country, bnt owing to the miserable weather they could not go. Blair is about the same, but it will be a week or two before he fully recovers. McDonnell has been in bed all day with a slight touch of influenza, and it is hardly probablo bo will be ''able to play ori Wednesday. The team leave by the Takapuna to-morrow afternoon, and leave New Plymouth by Tuesday night's train.