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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 914, 12 September 1907, Page 13

The Auckland touring team won its second match at Christchurch on Saturday, defeating Canterbury by three points to nil. The result came as something of a surprise, a win being confidently expected by the Southern team. The struggle was confined to the forwards, and play throughout was very willing—rather too willing, apparently, since the referee saw fit to send Williams,»the Auckland forward, off the field. The only score was put down to Wilson’s credit, the speedy threequarter boosting the ball over the line,, and following up in time to notch a try.

Auckland won back.its lost laurels on.,Saturday by giving the Waikato fifteen a : very solid, drubbing at Hamilton..; The visitors were a strongcombination, including Gillett. Nicholson;/.Cunningham, and “ Opai’.’ Asher. Fdr.J.A'uqklahd, Asher scored ’twice, while 1 Harris, Cox, and Nicholson each crossed the line. Gillett potted a neat field goal, Eaton kicked a pen/and Cunningham converted. Tumer'gnd Morse were the only players to store -for Waikato, Prince converting Morse’s try, and the game resulted: .Auckland, 24; Waikato, 8. ; .. . * . * IVery considerable interest was centred in the match between St. Mary’s (Wanganui) and the Sacred Heart' (Auckland), p’ayed on the polo grounds at Remuera. The attendance, despite the bleak weather, was large, and included a good sprinkling of the fair sex. After the continued rain which had fallen throughout the week, the ground was little less than a swamp, and seme ludicrous scenes occurred, most of the players within ten minutes of playing, being spattered from head to foot with mud. * .* * * In the first- spell the Sacred Heart led off with some neat passing work, and within a few minutes had scored as the result of a pretty passing rush started by Little. When collared, the speedy wing-threequarter passed to Slade, who planted the ball over the line. Desultory play ensued, and for a breach of the rules, Sheahan was penalised in front of his own goal. Cameron took the kick, and successfully piloted the greasy ball over the cross-bar. The first spell ended: Sacred Heart, 3; St. Mary’s, 3. * * * *

The second spell was responsible for better football. St. Mary’s had the best of it in the pack, but the local team showed ' stronger combination, and got in with, some very fast work in the open. Both teams struggled hard to gain an advantage, and for some time a scoreless second half seemed probable. Towards the end of time, however; :■ Keyes • crossed the line, and brought victory to the Sa-, cred Heart banner, a hardly-contested game resulting in a win for the local team by 6 points to 3. * * * * The Auckland junior representatives met a Waiuku team at Alexandra Park on .Saturday, securing an easy victory ■by• 2 6 - points to nil. As the teams took ; the field it was seen that ,there -was little’ difference in weight, .and consequently a tough game was anticipated. The first quarter of an hour’s play sufficed to dispel all expectations of ( an even game, the Auckland juniors' showing superior tactics, both in< the pack and in the open. The Waiuku backs were at a disadvantage owing to the inability of the forwards to hook the ball. Even when the backs did obtain possession little good resulted, as the juniors were quickly down on them. On several occasions the Auckland backs’ handling of the ball was deserving of the highest praise, and more taan one of the passing runs ended in a score. During the first spell .23: points were registered by the Auckland team,, tries being obtained •by'Wynyard, Vesper,-Shaw and Hardwicke, two of which were converted by the lasLnamed • player, who ' also kicked a penalty goal. Donovan had a successful pbt>at goal from the field. The second' spell proved far more exciting, than th'e first, the Waiuku team (keeping the local men busy right: .up to the call of time. On one or i two occasions the visitors looked like scoring as the result of some brilliant individual play. The only score in the second half was a try secured

by J. Cross, who grounded the ball behind the posts.- Although the Aucklanders played with more, dash than their opponents, they were unable to add any further points to the score. The Waiuku forwards were a willing lot, though want of knowledge prevented them from, rendering a better account of themselves. The backs were decidedly weak with the exception of Bennett, who acted as the mainstay of the rear, division. Of the junior rep. forwards Vospei* and Linkhorn played hard games. Stewart showed up well at half, while Hardwicke, at centre, was responsible for a large amount of useful work. Wynyard (five-eighths) exhibited much trickiness, and was always in the thick of it.

* * * * A match between fifteens representing Law and Insurance was played on the Shore ground on Saturday, and attracted a large crowd of interested spectators, who were treated to a fast but somewhat uninteresting display, the play being for the most part confined to the forwards. The Insurance made the game very willing, but lacked combination,' and their backs never looked like scoring. Towards the end of the first spell Dean (Insurance) was penalised for offside play, and Robinson kicked an • easy goal. In the second spell Law tried to open up the game, but vigorous work by the Insurance forwards kept them busy defending. From a lineout in mid-field, Endean secured, and he and Mears dribbled to the line, where Massey fell on it and scored. The game ended in a win for the Law team by 6 to nil. * * * * Robinson, who played threequarter for the winning team, was the best back on the ground; his line-kicking was splendid. McLean and Pickmere were also prominent, while of the forwards, Patterson, Endean and Mears played great games. For the “ fire-eaters” Craig and Duthie were the best of the backs, and Harrison, George and Nevill made the work very willing amongst the forwards.