RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue IX, 31 August 1901, Page 399

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

OTAGO V. NEW SOUTH WALES. DUNEDIN, Saturday. The match between the New South Wales representatives and Otago was played in splendid weather to-day, resulting in a win for the home team by 5 points to nil. The ground was in excellent order, and each team had' the benefit of a fairly strong wind in turn. The attendance was very large, numbering probably 8000. Conlon stood out of the New South Wales team, his place being taken by Hughes. It was expected that the visitors would give a good exhibition of back play, considering the state of the ground, but the threequarters did not get the leather from the halves often enough. When they did get it, however, they showed how dangerous they were. The visiting forwards got possession in the scrum much oftener than the local forwards, but the New South Wales backs were slow in getting the leather away, and Duncan invariably nipped their efforts in the bud. The !Nw South Wales backs, however, used their kicking powers to good advantage. The local forwards, though

beaten in the packs, fairly smothered their opponents in the open, their loose rushes being very effective. The Otago halves were responsible for almost all the passing on their side, the ball not reaching the threequarters very often. Some excellent runs were put in by Duncan and Uttley. The game was interesting throughout, and exciting in the last few minutes, when the visitors made most determined efforts to score, but without avail, fortune being against them. But fbr the excellent defence of the visitors, their tackling being almost perfect, a large score would probably have been recorded against them.

Duncan won the toss, and took advantage of the wind. Judd setting the ball rolling for the visitors. Otago soon made their way near the New South Wales line, but not for long, the visitors, by pretty passing, quickly removing to neutral territory. Matthewson marked near midfield. Booth making a rather poor kick at goal. Offside play by Judd again let Otago near the visitors' line, but their defence was sound, and they soon took play past the half-way. From the Otago 25 Findley initiated a splendid passing rush, from which Lindsay was almost over. Booth saving by knocking into touch-in-goal. Otago then attacked, the visitors being forced down. A few minutes later Bennett had a shot at goal from a free kick outside the visitors’ 25, but the ball fell short. From a scrum outside New South Wales’ 25 Duncan got nieely on the blind side, but an almost certain score was lost by a bad pass to Booth. Another passing rush by the Otago backs ended in Booth being well collared by McMahon when looking very dangerous. Four minutes later Uttley made a splendid run to pear the visitors’ line. Maund, however, with an excellent kick, removed the danger. Lind- — say put in another brilliant run. and looked like scoring, but the home team broke away, and. taking the leather down to the visitors' line, almost scored, a force down being recorded. After a lot of fast, open play the Otago forwards carried the leather over New South Wales' line, but the ball was taken back for an infringement. Then Maund. by splendid tackling, just stopped Booth from scoring for Otago. The visitors were penalised near their own line a few minutes later, and Duncan centred with a good kick. Smith got possession, and ended a short run by grounding the ball near the posts. Bennett was entrusted with the kick, and added the major points. Between this and half-time Otago were pressing. and were nearly over. Maund saving by marking on his 'own line just on half-time.

On resuming the home team, keeping the game fairly tight, assumed the aggressive. A few minutes after starting O'Brien (Otago) retired with an injured ankle, Burt (who was hurt two weeks ago) replacing him. The home team attacked strongly for some time, but could not break through the visitors' defence, Findley and Burdet eventually removing play to the Otago 25. After a lot of open play in midfield, Otago, chiefly by the instrumentality of Given, placed New South Wales on the defensive. From the throw-in near the visitors’ 25 passing between Matthewson. Duncan and Munro, and then back to the first named, let Matthewson over at the corner, but the leather went into touch-in-goal. The home team kept up the attack, but Findley, by an excellent kick, shifted play from New South Wales’ 25 to Otago's 25, where Maund marked, a force-down resulting from the kick. The next -item of note was a splendid run by Duncan, the result of which was that Booth was thrown into touch a few yards from the visitors' line. The Otago forwards dribbled the ball over the line, but Maund managed to force. From the kick-out Otago forced. Then a passing rush among the New South Wales backs, in which Hughes was prominent, was stopped very close to Otago's line, but Given put in a good kick, which removed the danger. NewSouth Wales made determined efforts to score in the last few minutes. The home team was awarded a free kick just on time, from which Judd marked. Shortland attempted to place a goal, but the ball went wide, Otago forcing. The bell sounded shortly after, with the visitors still pressing, leaving Otago winners by 5 points to uiL

AUCKLAND V. THAMES. The annual contest between the representatives of the Auckland and Thames Rugby Unions was played at the racecourse, Thames, on Saturday afternoon, and resulted in a narrow win for Auckland by six points (two tries) to four points (a goal from the field). The match was largely ed, some 3000 people being present, including over 400 visitors from town, and some five hundred from the Upper Thames. The ground was in fairly good condition and the day fine. The game was an exciting one, and the result rather a surprise to Aucklanders. The visitors had rather the worst of the game, and only won by the narrow margin of two points. The form of the Auckland team was very disappointing. A regrettable feature of the game was the attitude of a section of the crowd towards Mr Ohlson. who had charge of the game, and who controlled it with much ability and strict impartiality. The two teams turned out as follows: — Auckland (blue and white): Fullback, Sutherland; three-quarters. H. Absolum, McKenzie and G. Smith; five-eighths D. Hay and P. Gerrard; half, H. Kiernan; wing forward, Doran; forwards, Tyler, Brady, A. Wilson, H. Wilson, Rod. McGregor, Bakewell and Bonella. Thames (blue and black): Fullback, A. Newdick; three-quarters, M. Buckland, C. McLean, and G. Kingham; five-eighth, R. McGregor; half, A. Houghton; wing forwards, S. McGregor and A. Cameron; forwards. G. Smith, G. Huddlestone, R. McDuff, J. Swindler, T. Mullins, S. Smith and H. Bennett. H. Absolum captained the visitors and R. McGregor the local team. Messrs McGregor and A. Braund were the line umpires. THE PLAY? Auckland won the toss and elected to defend the southern goal, with the sun partly in their eyes. The wind had dropped to almost nothing, what little there was coming from the south-east. Play went almost immediately into Auckland's quarters, where the visitors carried the first scrum. The Thames forwards were making the game very willing, and the visitors had not yet "‘found themselves.” Play remained about the 25 flag for some time, when McLean, taking the ball a few yards on the Thames side of the 25 line, in the middle of the ground, took a pot at goal, and to the huge delight of the Thames supporters -the ball sailed beautifully over the bar. Thames, 4; Auckland, 0. This woke Auckland up a bit, and play’ was taken over the half-way line by the blue and whites, but not for long, and the ball was soon down on the visitors’ 25 line again. A rolling kick by Smith gave some relief, and a little later off side play by S. McGregor gave Auckland a free kick, and play- was transferred to Thames quarters for the first time. Auckland tried a passing run. but low passing spoilt the effort, and good play by S. McGregor prevented Kiernan from getting the ball away. Kiernan made a good run and transferred to McKenzie, who was put out near the corner, and a little later a run by Absolum ended in the same way. Off side play on the part of Thames gave Auckland a free kick a few yards from half way but A. Wilson failed with the kick and Thames forced. Play continued to hang about the 25 line, scrums being numerous, but Auckland's inability to secure the ball gave their backs no chance. Eventually Buckland kicked out at half way, and a rush by the Thames forwards carried the ball to Auckland’s 25, where Sutherland relieved. Near half way Houghton passed to Dick McGregor, who made a slashing run, beating Sutherland, but being put of bounds

by Smith a few yard, from the line. Eventually Gerrard relieved with a good kick. A few minutes later D. Hay picked up the ball a fqv< yards on the Thames side of the half way line and making a splendid opening transferred to MeKenzie who made some ground and passed to Smith, and the latter going at “top" up the boundary line dashed over and drew first blood for Auckland about a dozen yards from the corner. Absor !nm made an excellent though unsuccessful attempt at goal. The spell ended almost immediately leaving the scores Thames, 4; Auckland. 3. SECOND SPELL. In the second spelt the Auckland skipper sent Gerrard up from fiveeighths to keep Doran company on the wing. It was thought that Auckland's condition would tell, but such was not the case, for though they increased their score by 3 points Thames had. the best of the play. Play remained in neutral territory for some time after the kick-off, until McLean kicked out in Auckland's territory. Three scrums were fought out on Auckland's goal-line, and excitement ran high, but eventually Auckland were awarded a free-kick, and (he pressure was relieved. From the throw-in Dick McGregor had a shot at goal, forcing Auckland, and directly afterwards McLean also made an unsuccessful attempt at goal, with the same result.* A nice bit of play by Doran. Kiernan and Absolum took the ball over the halfway line. A little later A. Wilson picked up near the Thames territory and passed to McKenzie, who in turn passed to Smith, and the latter, beating McLean and Newdick by a beautiful bit of dodging, scored behind the posts. Absolum was again unsuccessful with the kick. Auckland, 6; Thames, 4. This score roused the local men, and Auckland's quarters were immediately invaded. Newdick had a shot at goal, forcing Auckland. Thames continued to press until Sutherland relieved. After some minutes play in neutral territory Houghton got the ball out to Buckland, who streaked up the line, but Sutherland got him and threw him out of bounds. A Thames forward rush, following on a bad pass by Kiernan, nearly resulted in a score, and the excitement became intense. Thames were now doing their utmost to score, and as often as Auckland cleared their lines Thames would come on to the attack again. Gerrard gave some temporary relief with a good run, and play Was in neutral territory for some time, but Hay did not seem able to get away with Kiernan's passes. About ten minutes from time S. McGregor and the other Thames forwards swept the ball down on Auckland’s line, and Buckland dashing up and falling on the ball, Thames supporters threw up their hats and proclaimed a try. The referee, however, brought the ball back for a knock on by S. McGregor, and Auckland once more breathed freely. Soon afte'r, Thames were awarded a free-kick in a likely position, but Huddlestone was not equal to the task. Thames, recognising that their chances of victory were slipping from them, kept up the attack, and just on time were awarded a free-kick. McLean took the kick, amidst great excitement. The ball flew straight in the required direction. but at the critical moment a slight puff of wind came and turned the scale in Auckland's favour, the ball going just outside the post. Time was then called, leaving Auckland victors by 6 points to 4.