FOOTBALL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160723, 9 August 1920, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

ALL BLACKS WIN. N.S.W. AGAIN DEFEATED. SYDNEY, August 8. 13k final New Zealand v. New South Wales match excited little interest, only a handful of spectators being present. O’Brien again guarded the Blacks’ goal, while Metropolitan players were included in the New South Wales fifteen, Mingay, a new half, playing a brilliant game during the second term. Steele dislocated his arm and was taken to the hospital. New South Wales scored first, Humphries picking up in the loose and transferring to Mingay, who scored and converted. Roberta and Storey, combining splendidly, carried play to the New South Wales' line, the former crossing though tackled. Soon after Tilyard passed to Storey, who scored easily. Roberta failed with the kick. A fine effort oy Wilson in punting fora the field and regaining resulted in another try. After the hail waa handled oy Badeley, Carroll and Steele, + he last mentioned crossed and converted. New Zealand led by 11 points to 5 at the interval. In the second term New Zealand were penalised for off-side play, and eventually Mingay crossed, Morgan adding the- i-xtras. From now on New Zealand assumed the mastery, the final scores being: New Zealand 24 New South Wales 13 CANTERBURY DEFEATS OTAGO. 9 POINTS TO 0. DUNEDIN, August 7. The iuter-provincial foot ball match between Cauteroury and Otago was playei at I'arisbrook to-day during drizzling rain on a wet ground, which soon made the ball greasy and exceedingly- d:‘iTult to handle. There was an attendance of over 2000 spectators. In the first sped Otago did the bulk of the attacking, anu Canterbury waa forced on numerous occasions, while at the same time the home team narrowly missed several tries Towards the end of the s|)eil Canterbury invaded Otago territory, when a kick by Watson (fullback) was charged down by Ford, who scored

lu the second spell the game was more even and gave indication that the i lay would have beer., very bright and •ntcresriug had u been a dry day. <'ant.jrmiry made got d u.-c of long Licks along the giound and Otago failed through living t*. score by means of passing rushes when in attacking position.' Tries were scored in this spell by Wilson, who followed wn fast, and by McLean, who got over from a good pic-e of passing. On the day’s play there vui- not 0 points difference between *he teams, hut under the existing conditions it might have been anybody's game. SOUTH ISLAND ill!) V. HAWKE'S BAY (fit. NAPIER, August 7. The match South Island country team v Hawke’s Bay was played to-day in the presence of about 4000. Heavy rain overnight made tiro gronnd heavy and sloppy, but he game was a good exhibition of fast and open football, especially in’the second spell, when the ball v;as played rapidiv up and down Hie held. A most exciting result was in doubt right up to the closing stages. The visitors won by 12 points to (5. Tries for the winners were scored by Kelson (2) and Fitzgerald, and Nelson also kicked a penalty goal. Tries for the losers were scored by Kivell and Thomas. The place-kicking of both sides was poor. Mr A. Williams was referee. WELLINGTON (331 Y. AUCKLAND (20). AUCKLAND. August 7. The Eanfurlv pine Id match, Wellington v. Auckland, was played to-day in the presence of about 15,0 X) spectators. Wellington, who were the holders of the trophy, retained the Shield, defeating the home team by 23 points to 20 after an interesting game. At halftime the score was 8 points to 3 in Auckland’s favour, but in the second Ijicll Wellington forged ahead. BUSH ,3) Y. W AIK All AT A (0). MASTF.RTON, August 7. In a representative football match played yesterday, Bush team defeated Wairarapa by 3 points to nil. WANGANUI TEAMS FOE SATURDAY, A. TEAM AT TAUELAPE. McAuliffc. J. loekett, Cowio (captain). Tan Parauihi. Svenson, Sullivan. Grogan. Campion, AlcCallum, H. Collier, A- Lockett, Murphy, Take, Joblin, Batley. Emergencies.—Backs; F. Collier, Dockery. Forwards; Alabaster, D. Hay. Scott, Roes, Ddlon, Danielson, Boswell and Strachan arc not available. 3. TEAM AT WANGANUI. Quirke. Tenrperton, Swan, Pairman. Sanderson (captain). Palmer. Hiroti. B. Connop. P. Hogan, E. Lockett-, X. Lynch, E. Stewart, Whiting, Eoes, Cox. Emergencies.—Backs; Head, G. Sutherland. Forwards: A. Sutherland, Sewsome, Beard.

THE LEAGUE GAME. ENGLISHMEN DEFEAT NEW ZEALAND. 19 POINTS TO 3. CHRISTCHURCH, August 7. The second League test match, England v. New Zealand, was played at Lancaster Park to-day. Rain fell all night and during- the greater part- of the game, and had a bad effect on the attendance, which was in the vicinity of 6000. New Zealand were outclassed in all departments of the game. The greasy, heavy ball and ground did hot seem to inconvenience the Englishmen, who handled, tackled and passed well, while New Zealand were all at sea, their tackling being decidedly weak. Wagstaffe and Stone were the outstanding English backs, and Guiney was alway* prominent for New Zealand. The forwards were fairly well matched, but the visitors showed more cohesion. England won by 19 points to 3. Stone (2i, Hilton, Parkin and Bacon scored for England, Gronow converting one and kicking a goal from a mark. Guiney scored for New Zealand. THE RUGBY CAME. MANAWATU Y. WANGANUI. A DRAWN GAME. Teams representing Manawatu and Wanganui met on ihe Rec. on Saturday, an evenly contested game resulting in a draw, each side scoring eight points. The weather was threatening before the start and rain set in at the end of the first spell, making the ball very greasy and militating against gcod back play. Prom various causes, Ross, Dillon, and Boswell dropped out of the Wanganui team, weakening the forward division considerably. The teams took the field as nude?; MANAWATU (White): Pull-back, fcwainson; three-quarters, Fergusson, Blazcy, Stewart; five-eights, Ryan (captain), Ingham; half-back, Main; wing-forward, Sheean; forwards, Baigent, Brown, Galpin, Dustin, Mullins, Body, Lawrence. WANGANUI (Blue and Black): Full-back, McAuliffe; three-quarters, Cowie, R. Scott (captain), Dockery; live-eights, Svensou, Sullivan; halfback, Grogan; wing-forward, F. Collier; forwards, McAiium, H. Collier, Tuke, C. Murphy, A. Lockett, A. Joblin, W. Bat-ley. Referee: Mr C. Fraser. THE PLAY. Wanganui attacked from the start, but a pass out by Grogan was dropped, and Ryan booted across to his wing, whom Cowie promptly greased. The Whites broke away again, but once more Cowie stopped them. A blue rush looked promising until a forward got in a hard kick (the usual fault) and allowed Manawatu to force. The whites then took a hand in attacking, but Dockery saved well, and Wanganui invader! Manawatu half, where Cowie essayed a daMi but was grassed. The bine backs got under way, but a had pass to Dockery went astray. The white forwards assisted by Ryan and Ingham took play to Wanganui territory, where Ferguson secured, and, beating two or three men cleverly, shot over near the posts. Ryan converted Manawatu 5, Wanganui 0. Resuming, some clever play by Sullivan was lollowod by a brilliant swerving run by Sveuson. who beat half a dozen men, and then sent on to Scott to Dockery, whose pass McAuliffe failed to take, but Tuke secured and sent to Batley. who put in a line run, and handed to A. Lockett, the latter scoring. F. Collier tailed to convert. Wanganui 3, Manawatu 5. Immediately ou resumption the whites rushed up the field and over, but Cowie saved well. The locals ilcareti their line, .Sullivan showing up with Murphy and A. Lockett. Dustin broke away, but Svenson and Dockery put in some good play and relieved the danger. A glaring bit of off-side play by a white player was missed by the referee, but nothing came of it Batley and A. Lockett transferred play 1o Manawatu half, where Grogan secured and sent out to Sullivan, who gave a couple of opponents the dummy, and got clean away, lie could have crossed himself but gave a pass to Dockery, who gathered ;hc ball in and shot over near the posts. Cowie piloted the ball over. Wanganui 8, Manawatu 5.

Half-time had now/ arrived, and with it the rain, which did not improve 'Wanganui's prospects as it prevented anything like accurate handling by the backs, in which division the locals were superior. Their forwards could not got the ball from the scrum, however, owing to a want of cohesion, and thus the backs got few opportunities. There was some scrambling play for a considerable time, Ryan, Swainson, Ingham and Ferguson being prominent at times for the visitors, while in the loose Joblin, Murphy, Batley and A. Lockett did fine work for Wanganui, the letters fine tackling being a fea ture. Once Lockett was nearly over, and then Dockery had a chance, but failed to take the ball. At length following a nice dash by Ferguson, Eyan badly beat Svenson, who made a feeble attempt to tackle him, and ran on to tho local 2-5, where he passed to a white forward, w r ho handed him tho ball back, and Eyan scored. The kick went astray. Manawatu 8, Wanganui g. At it again, first one side and then the ether attacked. On one occasion Sullivan sent to Scott to Svenson, who had Cowie on his right with a clear run in, but Svenson cht in to mako the position stall better and was smothered, a great chance being Most thereby. Twice Joblin followed 'up fast, with Murphy in close attendance, and smothered the opposition but could not score. Wanganui were attacking when time was sounded, with the scores: Manawatu 8 Wanganui 8 NOTES ON THE PLAT. The form shown by the locals was disappointing, chiefly owing to the inability of the forwards to get the ball from "the scrum. The vanguard badly needs coaching. Time after time in the tight work after over-running tho ball, three or four of tho local forwards would wait off-side expecting the others to bring the leather up to them instead of doubling back to support their comrades. In the first spell, the scram work was very scraggy; there was no cohesion whatever, while in the loose one or two appeared to have lost their bearings at times, and were putting no ginger into their play. There was considerable improvement in the second half m this respect. Murphy, Bailey, A. Lockett and Joblin (in the second half especially) were the pick of the forwards, who would make a good pack with combination, and with the induson of and. Dillon.

Of the backs the pick were Sullivan and McAuliffe. Tho former played! a fine game ns first five-eight, and McAuliffe was very safe at full. Dockery was disappointing on the wing, being obviously over anxious to make good, with the result that he did not do himself justice, frequently dropping passes. Cowie and Rvenson ■were patchy, both have been seen to more advantage. Grogan, behind the scrum, got no pro tection, and had few chances to do anything. For the visitors, Ryan, Ferguson and Ingham were the pick of the backs, while Dustin and Brown stood out in a hard working lot of forwards. RUGBY AND LEAGUE. At the conclusion of the first spell in the League match, England v. North Island, played on McLean Park, Napier, on Thursday, a large number of people left the ground, some being dissatisfied with the exhibition, and others because they did not understand the League game. Referring to the first of the matches played between the N.Z. Rugby Union team and N.S.W., a Sydney apper said: “The game was fast and open, and, although very ‘willing/ was played in the best spirt. There was no unseemly behaviour in contrast with the games against the Englishmen on the League grounds, when blows were almost constantly being exchanged.” Another Sydney writer declared that hard and bitterly contested as the “All Black"-N.S.W. game was, and many as were the temporary casualties towards the grid, there was never a semblance of foul play or anger. It was sport, pure and simple; a fine, manly exposition, and an object lesson in the way to take knocks and give them without getting excited about it.

It is reported that efforts are being made to arrange another match between Old Boys and Kaierau, seniors and juniors, the losing side on points to pay for a dinner.

On Saturday afternoon last smokers were nearly responsible for the burning down of the grandstand. Some one at the Guyton Street end carelessly dropped a lighted match underneath. This fell on a piece of sacking, and by the time the game was ended, there was a fine old smoke from the smouldering sack. Several men, by the aid of walking sticks, fished it out, and saved the Rugby Union a stand for to-day’s game. It is a great tribute to Mr Atkinson’s fairness and promptness as a referee that he has been selected for the big job at Auckland to-day, when Auckland and Wellington meet. The refereeing in the junior match between Kaierau and Old Boys last week was very unsatisfactory. No notice was taken of cases of obstruction, for instance, and several occurred. On one occasion the Kaierau boys had worked the ball over their opponents’ line, and a rod three-quarter was in the act of falling ou it, when a blue player threw himself on his opponent, giving another of his own side a chance to touch down. The referee did not seem to be able to teep up with the players. Penalties were also wrongfully given to both sides. Tho wingers would kick the ball down the field, and by following up smartly along the line would place their men on side. The referee, unfortunately, failed to keep his eyes on the wingers, but penalised the players in the centre of the field, who touched the ball, even though they were ou side. This is a matter some of our junior referees might give closer attention to. Old Boys junior team were weakened by the loss of Deem iu the back division. This player has been most consistent all through the season, and played in the two junior matches. Yet for some unaccountable reason ho was asked' to stand down for a new- comer. Charlie and many of the Old Boys team think that this was not “playing the game.” The match between Palmerston High School and the local Technical teams on Saturday next should prove interesting, though Palmerston, which is one of the crack teams of Manawatu, should rattle up a big score. The combination is said to be one of the best High School has had for some years, some 1 of the players having represented School for several years. Nevertheless, Technical team will do well, and some, of the boys are optimistic, and believe that they are going to give Palmerston the' shock of their lives.