New Zealand v. Wellington.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8206, 31 July 1905, Page 5

New Zealand v. Wellington.

New Zealand Team Defeated

The New Zealand representative team played its final match against a Wellington Provincial fifteen on Saturday, in wind, rain and mud. The ground was so thoroughly soaked that the game resolved itself into a hotly-contested mud scramble. The Wellington forwards got the best of tho internationals in the scrum at first. The latter, in fact, had a difficulty in holding their own throughout, and the provincials were right on top when " time " sounded. The backs got few chances, Smith and Wrigley being the most conspicuous of the rear-rank men. Rain fell almost without intermission during the first spell. There was a slight improvement in the second. A crowd of about three thousand witnessed the match. : - . THE TEAMS. New Zealand played in black and Wellington in white, the men being placed as follows:— New Zealand, r-Back, Gillett; three quarters, Abbott, Smith, Thompson; fiveeights, Stead, My nott; half-back, Roberts; forwards, Seeling,* Nicholson, Johnston, Cunningham, Glasgow, Tyler, Mackrell, Gallaher. Wellington.—Back, G. Spencer; threequarters, Furrie, O'Leary, Wrigley; fiveeighths, Sharpe ; half-back, Ramsden; forwards, Dodd, Watkins, Cross, Wright, Spencer, Smith, Spackman, Gray, Corby. THE PLAY. New Zealand won the toss, and wisely availed themselves of the companionable assistance of tho wind and rain. The provincials forced their way into the international twenty-live, and the game at once settled down to a trial of strength between the forwards. A free-kick to New Zaaland gave Gillett a chance, but his attempt to place a goal was a failure. The succeeding play was marked by Wellington being twice forced, and then a determined dash on the part of the whites into the southern end of the field. Playing about midfield, Stead made a bad fumble, and allowed Watkins to get away with the ball at his toe, but Gillet saved. Considering the fierce wind, Wellington were putting up a remarkably good fight, and giving their opponents heaps of defensive, work, xl great wave of cheering went up from the crowd when the white team plugged its way through the mud in a body, and a series of scrambles on the line was broken by the announcement that J. Spencer had scored. George Spencer made a great attempt to convert, but failed 3 0.

Close on half-an-hour had been ticked off. It was with difficulty ihat the players could be distinguished ; black and white colours had given place to a sombre, muddy grey, and many players stopped occasionally to extract the mud from their eyes. Smith was given a very good chance to score, but the opportunity was lost when he hung to the ball instead of passing to Thompson near goal-line. Wellington had a good grip of the situation a moment later, when halftime was called.

The New Zealand captain put one of his wingers in the pack when the team faced the wind, and Stead was shifted up to look after Corby. The black forwards made an early dash mto the Island Bay end of the Held, and a very solid attack resulted in Wellington being forced. Mynott and Roberts were associated in some good work which followed and the black forwards got dangerously near scoring, but Wrigley pulled his side out of trouble with a good kick. The mud and slush and the consequent discomfiture of the players were pitiable to contemplate by this time. At times in the closing play various members of both teams did good and useful work, but the efforts of each iifteen failed to make any difference in the score. For ten minutes before time was called the Wellington forwards had their opponents beaten, and kept up a merry attack until the bell went. Wellington ... ... ... 3 New Zealand ... ... ... 0 — X.Z. Time*.