RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue IX, 26 August 1899, Page 24

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

There was a very fair attendance at Potter** on Saturday afternoon to witness the A and B match. Auckland having been decisively defeated by the Thames. a number of enthusiasts were naturally anxious to note how the alterations in the team would work out. anil also no doubt to speculate as to whether further alterations would nat be advisable. Of course as a rule the fewer changes made in a team the better, as every alteration more or less affects the combination,but when, as has been the case this season, about half the fihst selection were not up to rep. form, it was absolutely essential that radical changes should be made.

Although on Saturday the A team proved victorious by 16 points to 8, there was little or nothing to choose between the two teams, and in certain respects the B team showed decided superiority. Bi ley, Laing and Gillett (forward) were absent from the ranks of the A team, and their places were filled by Asher. Doran and MeCluskie respectively. In the first spell the A’s had the advantage of the wind, but did not make a great deal pf use of it, the kicking of their backs

being weak, that is with the exception of the full-back Gillett, who got in some nice punts. The A team was the first to score; from a serum clo-e to B’s goal line the ball was heeled out to Nicholson, who passed to Asher. The latter seemed to hesitate for an instant and lost the opportunity of passing, and being blocked ran right into the serum which was breaking and managed to wriggle through, scoring a lucky try. Murray took the shot at goal but his attempt was poor. Roused by this reverse the colours (B team) made a strong attack on the bines’ territory, and for some time had the better of the game. Finally after some good play amongst the forwards Phelan made a fine opening and pass .1 to Cucksey, who handed it to McGregor (Grafton), and the latter scored between the posts. Eaton made a miserable attempt to convert. For the remainder of the spell the play was fairly even, the A team having none the best of it. though occasionally their fast three-quarters got possession and made things merry. Brady and Cucksey who were in the front rank of the colours’ forwards were beating Irvine and McCluskie in hooking the ball, and thanks to their efforts and also to Nicholson the blues’ half-back, the latters’ backs did not get a great number of chances. The spell ended with honours easy, each side having scored a try. On resuming an alteration was made in the colours’ three-quarters, Gerrard bei >g replaced by Renwick. The positions were also altered, Harrison taking centre and Renwick playing on the wing. The change proved to be a decided improvement, as Harrison showed better form in the centre, and Renwick played superior to Gerrard. In this spell the blues’ front rankers showed decided improvement, and though hardly as successful as their opponents they got the ball oftener than in the first spell. Consequently (when Nicholson did not make a mess of things) the three-quarters got more chances, the result being the addition of three tries and a goal from the field to their score, making iheir total 16 points. Harrison, after a fine run, scored for the colours, and this time Eaton converted, the angle being a very easy one. NOTES. Gillett, the Ohinemuri full-back, macle his fir»t appearance in Auckland, but did not play nearly so well as was anticipated. A number of people who had seen him play claimed that he was the best full-back that the province has produced for many years. If he showed his true form on Saturday, all I can sav is that those persons are very poor judges. He certainly kicked well, but otherwise he was very ordinary indeed. I have seen McGregor play a much better game than he did on Saturday, but of course he was in strange company. McPike, though he did a lot of good work, did not play up to his high reputation. Absoliim, the third three-quarter, played a brilliant attacking game, but his defence is certainly weak. Asher at fiveeighths, was in an unusual place, but all the same played a very fair game, both taking and passing in good style, and his defence was also sound. Nicholson at half-back again gave a most disappointing display, and if that was the form he showed at the Thames, it wtts no wonder Auckland suffered a reverse. Both Wilson and Doran on the wings did good work, though it cannot be said that they showed any marked superiority over their opponents. The forwards all did good work, though the North Shore pair in the front row were not quite so successful as their opponents in hooking the ball. Donovan, the colours’ full-back, was not good, and he is altogether out of place in connection with a Rep. team. In the first spell Harrison played wing three-quarter, and did not show his true form, but at centre in the second spell he did much better. Pillenger on the other wing was sound, especially in defence. Gerrard was only fair at centre three-quarter, and Renv ick replaced hint in the second spell, playing on the wing. Though out of liis usual place he put in some real good work, and but for slipping on one occasion would very nearly have .scored. Phelan gave a really brilliant display at five-eighths, and time after time he made splendid openings. On many occasions he came up with a rush and took the ball from the line-out. On several occasions, however, he failed to go for his man, but instead went for the man to whom he thought the ball would be passed. Young at half was head and shoulders over Nicholson. Be got the ball away well whenever occasion offered, and made numerous clever openings

by beating his tnan, whilst his defensive work was almost perfect. Clarke and Pitt did useful work on the wings, the former being the better of the two. his play was quite equal to that of either of the A wings. The forwards played surprisingly well, and fairly held their own agaiust their opponents, whilst their front rankers showed superiority. © © © THE “REP” TEAM. (in Stitt, i day night Mr J. Arneil s<kcted the following 19 players for the team to go South, all of whom sire requested to communicate at once with the secretary of the Auckland Rugby Union (.Mr G. Dixon) as to their ability to obtain the neces-. sary leave of absence for the tour: — Full-back, G. Gillett (Karangahake): three-quarters, IL Absolum (Suburbs), McPike (Suburbs). W. Harrison (Wairoa), 11. McGregor (Thames); live-eighths, H. Phelan (Wairoa), O. Riley (Thames); half, Young (City): wings. J. Laing (Thames), A. Wilson (Newton); forwards, Irvine (North Shore). Scott (North Shore), F. Murray (Parnell), Cunningham (Thames), C. MeGregor (Thames), D. Gallagher (Ponsonby), Wilson (City), Tyler (City), and J. Gillett (Suburbs). Not a great deal of fault can be found with the team as selected, and it is a great improvement on anything that eonld have been anticipated. There are still a few alterations, however, which would, I think, strengthen the team. I was going to say H. Smith at full-back, but apparently Mr Arneil made up his mind from the first that this player was not good enough, or at all events that he was not to be selected. Leaving him out of the question, and he is. I think, undoubtedly at present the best full-back not only in Auckland, but in New Zealand, I suppose Gillett is the best full we have. Mr Arneil is really “going blind” in selecting him on his last two Saturdays’ play. At the Thames he kicked splendidly, but had little else to do. Last Saturday lie did not kick quite so well, and did nothing else. The remaining backs are the best available, and are hard to find fault with. I think everyone will be especially pleased to see that Young lias replaced Nicholson at half. This alteration should have been made weeks ago. The wings are all right. Of the forwards,! don’t think the team is quite as strong as it might be in the front row. C. Brady has been consistently good in this position. and certainly has not met his superior this season, and though he has not played for some weeks he more than held his own on Saturday. He might with advantage have replaced J. Gillett, the latter going in the second row. On Saturday’s play, and in fact on his season’s plav. McGregor (Grafton) is more deserving of a place than several of those (selected. Otherwise the forwards seem to be correct. © © © NELSON V. WELLINGTON. The first match between Wellington and Nelson since 1893 took place on Saturday last, resulting in a victory for Wellington by 14 points to 5. The teams were composed as follows: —Wellington: Full-back. Hales: threequarters, Bonar, Roberts, Devere; five-eighths, Kelly; half, Meredith; wings, Prichard and Manson; forwards. Me Anally. King, Calnan, Soffe, O'Brien. Hardham, and Gallagher. Nelson: Full-back, Wood; three-quarters. Chapman, Riley, Levien; five-eighths, Thompson; half. Millar; wings. Glover and Krahagen; forwards, McKinley. Bright, Best, Clear, Adams. Batchelor, and Tibble. Kelly won the toss, and decided to play against a high breeze. Nelson at once attacked, and Wellington had some difficulty in protecting the line from the storming party, but as the result of several dashes Nelson failed to score. From loose play Prichard got possession of the ball, and passed in turn to Kelly, Roberts and Bonar, which resulted in a brilliant run in touch for goal, where the speedy wing three-quarter was stopped by Thompson. The battle being shifted to mid-field, Devere got a well-judged pass from Meredith, and started to sprint, and raced over the line, but Hales failed to improve. The Nelson forwards, however, made another rush, putting Wellington again on the defensive. A series of serums resulted in Bachelor, of Nelson, getting an opening and landing the ball over Wellington’s line, but Millar failed at goal. Later on Calnan registered another try to Wellington, and once more Hales failed. In the second spell a

fine display of hand to hand passing was given by Meredith, Kelly, and Bonar, and the speedy wing threequarter raced up to within a few yards of Nelson’s line, with Prichard in close attendance, and Bonar transferring to the wing man, who ran in behind the goal-posts without any obstacle. This time Hales succeeded in scoring the extra points. Nelson then showed fresh energy, shifting the struggle into Wellington's quarters. Nelson was awarded a free kick, but 11. Clear failed at the shot. The local backs got away with a passing rush, ending in Devere scoring another try, but no increase in the score resulted. Nelson made a game fight, but lacked combination. The visitors, accompanied by several of the Wellington team and officials of the Rugby Union, were driven to Ross' Gardens yesterday afternoon, where they had afternoon tea. The Nelson reps play South Canterbury on Thursday, and Canterbury on the following Saturday. As the rep. matches with Hawke's Bay. Taranaki and Auckland take place at an early date the Selection Committee has wisely deemed it necessary to have an early practice, and with this object teams representinsr A and B will try conolnstoTis next Saturday. © © © OTAGO DEFEATS SOUTHLAND DUNEDIN, Saturday. The first of the home and home matches between Southland and Otago was played before a large attendance on the Caledonian Ground to-day. and resulted in an easy win for Otago by 12 points to five. © © © WANGANUI DRAWS WITH WAIRARAPA. The match Wanganui v. Wairarapa resulted in a drawn game, each side scoring three points. © © © WELLINGTON V. AUCKLAND. The Wellington Association wires north that it wil be unable to send a team to Auckland this season. The match was to have taken place on September 2nd at Potter’s Paddock. © © © The Auckland Rugby Union have received a wire from the Poverty Bay Union to the effect that the latter will not be able to send a team to Auckland next Saturday. There is a probability, however, of a match being arranged for Saturday between the Auckland reps, and a team from. Ohinemuri. © © © The Wednesday Rugby Union are sending a team to the Thames this week to play the Thursday half-holi-day employees. The team is as follows: —Full-back, Court; three-quar-ters, Anderson, Connelly, Conroy; five-eighths, Forgie; half, Speakman; forwards, Craig. Reid, McMillan, Cowan, Davis, Reeves, Gallagher. Rutherford, and Holden. Emergencies, Messrs Atkins, Mills, Young, Webber, and Humby.