AUCKLAND R.U. FIXTURES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 956, 2 July 1908, Page 10

AUCKLAND R.U. FIXTURES.

July 4: Auckland v. Thames July 11: Representative trial match. July 18: Auckland v. British team. July 25: Third test match, New Zealand v. British team. - „ August 1: Auckland v. South Cante.bU August 8: Auckland v. Marlborough (S AuSSt d 15: Auckland v. Wellington August 22: Auckland v. Taranaki. August 29: Auckland v. Southland. September 5: Auckland v. Otago

The first inter-union match to be played at Alexandra Park this season took place on Saturday between the Goldfields’ fifteen and the Auckland representatives. The ground was in a sodden state as a result of heavy rains having fallen throughout the week, while the afternoon of the match was attended with showery weather. Despite the unpleasant conditions, about 3000 Rugby enthusiasts journeyed out to the Park in anticipation of a close game, and in this their expectations were realised, the match being evenly fought out from beginning to end. With the ball wet and greasy it was impossible for the teams to give anything like a brilliant display, but nevertheless the game was far from being uninteresting, flashes of exciting play being of frequent occurrence. Though victory rested with the Goldfields’ players by a very small margin, viz., three points, their win was a deserving one, as taken right through they were responsible for a better display than the Auckland representatives. Though there was little or no difference in the strength of the forwards of either team, the Goldfields’ back division showed superiority to the local men, their fielding of the ball being of a more certain character. The Auckland backs, particularly in the first spell, failed lamentably to gather in the slippery leather, and with one or two exceptions gave a very disappointing exhibition. The Auckland forwards rendered a good account of themselves, but met with strong opposition from a weighty lot, all of whom appeared to be in splendid condition and eager for plenty of graft. A feature of the match was the fine dribbling rushes engineered by the Goldfields’ forwards, who played with excellent combination. On the whole the match was as good as could be expected under the disadvantageous circumstances, while both teams showed a desire to open up play to some extent. Had the game, however, been played on a fine day, there is little doubt that the result would have been totally different.

The teams lined out as follows: — Auckland: Fullback: D. Miller. Three-quarters: Carlaw, F. Wilson, Hogan. Five-eighths: Bater and Murray. Halfback: Kiernan (captain). Forwards: McDonald (wing), Herring, Peterson (front row), Walsh, McGuire, Kinder, Hall, Griffen. Goldfields: Fullback: Field. Three-quarters: Dill am ore (captain), Skillen, Johnson. Five-eighths: Dennard. Halfback: Brenan. Wingforwards: Silcock and Vincent. Forwards : Capill, Corbett, Young, Hamilton, Grace, Dare, and Millar.

The Aucklanders won the toss, but there was little advantage in weather conditions, the sun being obscured by clouds, while the faintest breeze was

blowing. Shortly after the commencement of the game a delay occurred owing to the leathei’ being burst, while a new ball was requisitioned. The first quarter of an hour proved all in favour of the blue and whites, who seemed to easily hold the advantage over their opponents, and judging by the opening stages of the play it looked as though the Goldfields’ men would suffer a fairly bad defeat. The first incident to raise the onlookers to a pitch of excitement was an excellent opportunity of scoring for the blue and whites made by Bater, who cut in, and beating several men reached the fullback, and gave Wilson a well-directed pass which he failed to take, thus losing an almost certain try. A period of play then followed in which the unsuccessful attempts of the different players to grasp the mud-coated oval proved a general source of merriment to the amused spectators. An attack by the Auckland men saw the Gold-

fields’ fullback in difficulties, with the result that he made a poor return, the ball bounding along the ground. Wilson and Hogan sprinted up to the leather with the chances of a certain score in view, but both failed to pick up the slowly-moving ball, which found its way into touch. Soon after the Goldfields’ men indulged in a pretty passing run which earned prolonged applause from the onlookers, the ball being handled by half-a-dozen players, the last of whom knocked-on and grounded the oval over the line, with the result that a scrum was ordered. While in close proximity to the blue and white’s line, the Goldfields’ men made several creditable attempts to score, but Auckland were finally successful in shifting play into the red’s territory. A spell of open play then followed until the Goldfields’ forward division commenced a rush which brought matters into Auckland’s 25, where Silcock, obtaining possession of the leather from a blue and white back, passed to Grace who dashed over the line and drew first blood for the reds. Dillamore was entrusted with the shot at goal, but made a fruitless attempt. After a period of give and take play, the blue and white forwards attacked hotly, and Walsh, snapping up the ball passed to his backs, who handled it in turn, Wilson getting over and registering Auckland’s first try. Murray took the kick at goal, but was unsuccessful. Just before the

bell sounded for half-time, Miller, the Auckland fullback, distinguished himself by breaking up a determined forward rush by the reds, and the spell ended with the scores equal—--3 points each.

In the second spell the Goldfields put Morpeth, an emergency back, on the three-quarter line in the place of Field, who through an injury sustained to his knee in the first spell was unable to play in the second half, while Skillen took up the position of fullback. The game had not been long in operation before the Goldfields’ backs secured the ball from a scrum in Auckland’s 25, and as the result of a fine passing bout, Morpeth obtained a clever try. Dillamore made a good, though unsuccessful attempt at goal. Not long after a heavy shower of rain fell, and the players were seen slipping and sliding about in the thick mud, bent on putting forth their best efforts in the interests of their respective sides, many of them being unrecognisable in their coating of mud. The taking of the ball cleanly was a difficult matter indeed, and neat catches were -hailed with great applause from the spectators. The Goldfields’ forwards commenced a powerful forward rush, which ultimately ended in a number of them breaking over the line in pursuit of the ball, together with several of the blue and whites. The result was that the leather was touched down by Capill, thus making the Goldfields’ third dry. Dillamore again took the shot at goal, but was unable to add the major points. The Auckland men then made repeated attempts to score, and Carlaw securing the leather, cut in towards the centre of the field and passed to Bater, who, with a tricky run outwitted the red backs and scored a highly creditable try. Murray had the shot at goal which was unsuccessful, the ball hitting the crossbar. The remainder of the game was played in semi-darkness without a further score being registered by either side, and the game ended with the Goldfields’ representatives victorious by 9 points to 6.

The Goldfields’ forwards all worked like Trojans, Capill, Grace and Young forming a trio that would do credit to any team.

Of the backs Brenan, at half, shone out both on the attack and defence, and was responsible for a pleasing exhibition. Lennard, at five-eighths, got through a lar#e amount of serviceable work in a capable manner. Johnston, on the wing three-quarter, gave a faultless exhibition, his taking of the ball being particularly creditable. Skillen, at centre, was a tower of strength to his side, and played solidly throughout.

Walsh and Maguire were the most prominent of the Auckland forwards, both playing useful games. Kinder was also responsible for some solid toil. McDonald, on the wing, was always in the thick of it, and put plenty of vim into his work.

Of the Auckland backs Kiernan, at half, showed out well on the attack, but his defence was poor. Bater played a heady game throughout, though at times he showed an inclination to hang on to the ball too long. Murray appeared to be out of his place at five-eighths, and failed to acquit himself with anything approaching his brilliant form of the previous Saturday, when he was the best back on the gound in the CityPonsonby match. The three-quarter line did not show up as well as might have been the case. Wilson, at centre, was hardly up to his usual form, and despite the fact of having played in that position for the University team in the district club competition, gave one the impression he would render a better account of himself on the wing three-quarter. Hogan, on the wing, got few chances to distinguish himself, while Carlaw rendered good service on several occasions. Miller, at full, was extremely safe, and his gathering in of the wet ball was remarkably clever.