FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue IX, 1 September 1900, Page 390

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. “The worst day we have had for football for years,” was the general remark one heard on Saturday, and certainly it was a wretched day. The rain carne down steadily, and almost incessantly, whilst underfoot the ground was soft and slushy to a degree. Still the attraction of the Wel-lington-Auckland match was sufficient tn draw an attendance of fully 4000 at Potter’s Paddock, which goes to shew how keenly enthusiastic Aucklanders are when a good game of football is in question. ' Those who braved the elements were well rewarded, as the game,' especially taking into consideration the surrounding circumstances, was a wonderfully good one, and caused one to wonder what the pace would have been like, had the weather been fine and the ground dry. Wellington had a bit of very hard luck to commence with, as De Vere, their crack threequarter, was unable to play, owing to an injury sustained in the Hawke’s Bay match, and to make matters worse, their old champion threequarter, Roberts, was disabled within ten minutes of the commencement of play, and was compelled to retire, his place being filled by Williamson. As a matter of course, the Wellington back division was considerably weakened by these mishaps, their organisation especially suffering to a great extent. It was on the combined play of their backs that Wellington to a great extent relied, so the two disablements told very severely against them. Still, I do not consider that the presence Of Roberts and De Vere would have altered the result of the game, as the local players had the upper hand the greater part of the time, and the backs, all through the second spell, until about fifteen minutes before time, when Wellington scored, appeared to be playing with a “bit in hand.”

It was g-em-rally considered that Auckland’s main point of superiority (if any) would be in the forward division. but this did not turn out to be the case, as in this respect the two teams were fairly evenly matched, Hie local vanguard being perhaps slightly the la-tter. In the back division, however, the Aucklanders showed to great advantage, and it would have taken an exceptionally brilliant set of backs to have coped with them on Saturday’s form. For one thing, they were very much faster, and at times completely outpaced their opponents. The scores, Auckland 11 points, made up of four tries, one converted, to 4 points, a potted goal, shows very fairly the difference between the two teams, but had the Aucklanders played all through the second spell in the same way as they did the last quarter of an hour, there is no telling what the score would have been.

Winning the toss Wellington elected to kick with the wind, which was fairly strong when play started, though it fell slightly later on. From Auckland’s kick off the ball was carried to the blacks' 25, but it did not remain there any time, and for the next few minutes play was confined to the local quarters. At this stage Roberts injured his ribs, and a considerable delay took place before play was resumed. The blacks continued to attack, but the defence was very sound, and eventually play was removed to near the centre. From a. line out Wellington got on a good rush, and the ball was carried over the Auckland line, Hay just managing to save in the niek of time. Calnan, who started the attack, was. to ail appearances, very badly off side, but evidently the referee di’d not notice it. On resuming the blue and whites carried tne ball to the other end of the ground, and almost immediately Gallaher obtained the ball from the line out, and whipping through, passed to McGregor, who Went straight for the line, and then passed to Harrison, who dashed over and scored. The kick at, goal, a very difficult one, was entrusted to A. Wilson, but the attempt failed. Encouraged by their success Auckland pleyed up in grand style, and during the remainder of the spell did by far the greater part of the attacking, but they failed to increase the score, though Doran on one occasion, and Harrison on another, just missed tries, forces resulting each time.

For some considerable time after the opening of the second spell the play was not of the most interesting character, nothing brilliant being done on either side. Wellington was forced a couple of times, and A. Wilson had a fruitless shot at goal from a mark. A little later on a niee passing run by the Auckland back endangered the Wellington line, but Woods averted the danger. A few minutes later the ball was kicked to McPike who, so far, had had few opportunities. He apparently made up his mind to make the most of this one, and dashed down the boundary line at a great pace, beating several of his opponents, and was-over the line like a. flash. Unfortunately in crossing the line he lost the ball, whieh rolled into touch in goal. Wellington now took a turn at attacking, and mainly through the instrumentality of Woods, the ball was carried right down to the Auckland line. Directly afterwards a poor kick of Hay’s went to Hales, right in front of Auckland’s goal, and that player potted a neat goal, all the Auckland team looking on and making no attempt to prevent the score. Housed by this reverse, which gave the blades a lead of one point, the Aucklanders seemed to wake- up. and during the 15 minutes that re* mained for play, fairly walked oyer their opponents, the ball seldom being out of the Wellington twenty-five. From a throw in Kiernan obtained possession, and passed to Riley, who in turn handed on toMcGregor, and the hitter, at the right moment, transterred to Harrison, who ran right round behind the posts, and registered his second try; Kiernan, though as a general rule very deadly at short shots, failed in his attempt at goat. From the kiek out the ball was immediately brought back to the Wellington line, and Doran kicked it off and following up fast fell on it, the ball subsequently escaping from him and going into touch in goal. It was apparently a fair try, but the referee eould not see Doran’s hands on the ball, so the score could not be allowed. Auckland again attacked strongly and the'bntl being kicked over the line by the Auckland forwards, Harrison

was after it and beating the Wellington backs, scored his third try near the corner flag. A. Wilson made a splendid attempt to convert, but just missed.

The repeated attacks of the locals had by this t ime told on the blacks, who were showing evident signs of breaking up, and from the kick out the play was soon back in its old quarters, and a good bit of passing by the Auckland forwards allowed Riley to drop over the line and score between the posts. This time Kiernan did “the necessary.” bringing Auckland's score to 14 points. Hardly hnd the ball been kicked off when the bell went for no- ® ® ® NOTES. It is beyond doubt that the bet er team won, and that the accident to Roberts had any material effect on the result I very much doubt. It was suggested that the fact of the ball and ground being wet was all in favour of the visitors, as they are more used to playing under such conditions. Such d'd not appear* to. be the case, however. So far as could be judged the individual members of the Auckland team seemed to have considerable difficulty in handling the ball, but on the whole both teams shaped equally well in this respect, an(l the weather seemed to have much less effect on the play than one would naturally have thought. In the forward ranks the rival teams were pretty evenly matched, though 1 am inclined to award the palm to the Aucklanders, who were the better in the pack. At hooking the ball and in line play there was not much to choose between them, and the same applies to work in the open, but in this department the blacks, if anything, were the better, their following up being particularly good. The Auckland wings. Gallaher and Doran, quite or more than held their own, the only defect in this respect being that Doran was hardly strong enough to protect the half from the attentions of the opposing wing, otherwise this player was in greater form, as was also Gallaher .who was mainly responsible for Auckland’s first try. All the local forwards did splendid work, none being more conspicuous than A. Wilson. McGregor, and Cunningham, whilst in line work H. Wilson takes the. palm. The visiting vanguard quite upheld the reputation of the windy city of always being able to put a good team of forwards in the field. Calnan and O’Brien were the most, prominent, but the former appeared to be playing a . “bit cunning,” and was lucky on several occasions to escape being penalised. In back play the blue and whites were certainly superior, and in pretty well every department of the game they much more than held their own, and although the Wellington backs are not slow, they appeared so a’ongside our men.

At full-back Hales made a very fine showing, especially in kicking, and hjs handling of the ball was also good. His defensive work, however, was a trifle weak. The three-quarter line was naturally somewhat disorganised owing to the absence of Roberts and De Vere, but Woods at centre played a slashing game, and had he received better support would have been very dangerous on several occasions. Kelly at five-eighths, and Meredith at half, are a fine pair, and both did excellent work, their game having any amount of variety about it. D. Hay made his first appearance in a big match as full-back, and on the whole acquitted himself really well, his defence being of the soundest, but his kicking was hardly up to his usual standard. The three-quarters all did well, though to Harrison, who got the most opportunities, must be awarded the palm, his three fries being thoroughly well deserved. McGregor, in the centre. though not quite so prominent, as usual, put. in any amount of solid work, and had a hand in at least two of Harrison’s tries. It goes without saying that his defence was perfect. McPike, on the other wing, had not a great number of chances, but he did everything that came his way, and hnd very hard luck in not scoring a try. In the earlier part of the second spell both Harrison and McPike seemed to be taking things rather easily at times, and a bit inclined to leave the ball to the next man. The same remarks apply to Riley nt five-eighth", who otherwise played a good frame. Kiernan at half was at lime* g.eatl/

hampered by the attentions of the opposing wing, and he occasional y failed to take the ball cleanly from the scrum. His line kicking, however, was wonderfully good, and he made some splendid openings for his backs.

Taken all round, the local men acquitted themselves excellently, and it is not at alt likely that Mr Arneil will make any alterations in the team for next Saturday. Mr W. G. Garrard, of Christchurch, had charge of the whistle, and gave satisfaction to both players and spectators. It was very noticeable that he often overlooked unintentional breaches of the rules from which the offending side gained no advantage, and this at times made ft appear that he was rather slow in blowing the whistle, when in fact he was merely waiting to see how play would go. Though not, perhaps, according to the strict letter of the rules, it appears to me to be quite a proper thing to do, and it certainly tends to make the game faster.