NORTHERN UNION LEAGUE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 964, 27 August 1908, Page 10

NORTHERN UNION LEAGUE.

WELCOME FOOTBALL INNOVATIONS. AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. That the Auckland Rugby Union must feel the reverse of satisfied with the attendance and enthusiasm manifested at Saturday’s League game is only natural, but the management committee of that body must confess that the public—a very angry one—has just cause to transfer their favours to the professionals. Firstly, the exorbitant charges made for admission to th.e British-Auckland match were prohibitive to thousands of consistent Rugby supporters who have aided in building up the Union s wealth, and why the Auckland public should have been mu cted in such excessive prices is incomprehensible. ,'ho Union has yet to learn that the nimble shilling is the coin on which they must base their policy, and the sooner they take a few leaves out of the books of the leading Australasian Racing Club’s annals the more solid will be their claims to public patronage. The public will never forget or forgive the extortion levied on them at Alexandra Park, and nothing is

more natural that at first opportunity they should retaliate against the lamentable mistake under which they have suffered. Again the desire to witness a game contested under Northern Union rules and so become acquainted with a style of play c aimed to be far ahead of New Zealand football was a very strong attraction. The recent tour of the Pro. Black team in Great Britain has had the effect of revealing to the New Zealand football public the many advantages of the Northern Union game over Rugby as it is played here, with the result that clubs are being formed throughout the Dominion for the purpose of adopting the new conditions of play. Now that professionalism has gained a foothold in the Dominion its growth is bound to be rapid, and it is safe to say that next season an astonishing number of players will be found to be devotees of the Northern Union game. It is a wellknown fact that the majority of! matches played here nowadays are tame exhibitions from a spectators point of view, play for the most part consisting of a series of scrums, lineouts and scrambles, which in the eyes of the general onlooker is certainly a matter for disappointment. The necessity for a change in the mode or play, so as to make the game more attractive, has of late been becoming more and more pronounced, and the exhibition given under Northern Union rules on Saturday last seems to have met with general approval on all sides. It can truly be said that

wherever the most exciting and scientific exhibition of football is to be witnessed —be it professional or amateur —there will the public assemble, and unless some steps are at once taken to make the ordinary game of Rugby less rough and less open to criticism its doom will assuredly be sealed. The meeting of the Auckland and Wellington professional teams on Saturday at Victoria Park marked an era in the annals of Auckland football, the occasion being the initial match under Northern Union rules to be played within this province. Seven Aucklanders and a large percentage of Wellingtonians being numbered among the returned professionals, no time was lost in making arrangements for a match to be played under Northern Union rules between the. two provinces, and so great was the interest taken in the contest that, over 8000 persons assemb.ed at Victoria Park for the purpose of seeing the teams do batt.e. Both the Welling ton and Auckland teams included a number of prominent Rugby players desirous of learning the Northern ■ Union game, and although many of them possessed but a limited knowledge of the new conditions, the match was nevertheless highly exciting, play being of a very willing order. The contest was far more interesting to watch than the ordinary Rugby, being fast and open, and consequently eliminating the wearisome line-outs and forward scrambles that characterise the latter game. Other noticeable features were the offside, rule, the method of putting the ba 1 in the scrum, the peculiar formation of the pack, the placing of the ball on the ground when having a shot at goal instead of a player holding it, the packing of a scrum instead of a line-out, which is an unknown quantity in the Northern Union game, and numerous other commendable differences. The match was keenly contested throughout, there being little to pick between the relative teams, and the final score —Auckland 16, Wellington 14—may be taken as a fair indication of the play. The teams took the field as fo - lows: — Auckland. —Fullback, Riley; threequarters, Redwood, Rowe, Dillamore; five-eighths, W. Tyler, W. Wynyard; halfback, R. Wynyard; forwards, Mackrell, Trevarthen, Dunning, McDonald, Gladding, Hooper. Wellington. —Fullback, G. Spencer; threequarters, King, Instone, Twohil.; five-eighths, Barber, House; halfback, A. Kelly; forwards, McGill, Pearce, Byrne, Spencer, Gilchrist, Lile. Mr. J. Laing controlled the game. The Aucklanders succeeded in drawing first blood, Tyler kicking a goal from a mark: Auckland 2, Wellington 0. The visitors were the next to register a score, Byrne running in and securing a try. J. Spencer failed with the shot at goal: Wellington 3, Auckland 2. Immediately after Rowe notched a try for Auckland and W. Tyler adding the major points, the score stood: Auckland 7, Wellington 3. Dillamore marking, W. Tyler was entrusted with the kick and was successful with the attempt. Auckland 9, Wellington 3. Smart work on the part of McGill and Barber resulted in the latter securing Wellington’s second try. G. Spencer was successful with the shot at goal, and the spell ended with the score: Auckland 9 points. Wellington 8 points. Shortly after the commencement of the second spell, Wellington were penalised, and W. Tyler, taking the shot at goal, placed the leather over the crossbar: Auckland 11, Wellington 8. R. Wynyard carrying play into Wellington’s 25, the Auckland men were awarded a free kick and W. Tyler once again landed a good goal: Auckland 16, Wellington 8. The visitors then rallied, with the result that Twohill scored a try in the corner. G. Spencer failed to add the major points: Auckland 16, Wellington 11. Wellington continued to keep up a determined attack, and a fine dribbling rush enabled McGill to secure a try. G. Spencer was again unsuccessful with the kick at goal, and no further score being obtained by either side, the game ended: Auckland 16 points. Wellington 14 points.

THE RUGBY GAME.

THAMES DEFEATS AUCKLAND.

The Auckland representatives journeyed to the Thames on Saturday for the purpose of playing the return match with the Thames fifteen. A number of players originally chosen being unable to make the trip, the Auckland team was considerably reduced in strength. During the latter half of the game rain fell, rendering the ball in a very greasy condition, and making the handling of its extremely difficult. Despite the fact that the Auckland forwards were a powerful lot the Thames men outclassed them, and the visitors were placed on the defence throughout the greater part of the game. The Auckland men failed to show their form of the previous Saturday, when they met the Wellington representatives, and their defeat was a most unexpected one, the Thames fifteen winning by 11 points to nil. A feature of

the match was the splendid display given by the Thames backs, who were responsible for a highly creditable exhibition. The Thames won the toss and took advantage of the weather conditions, the Auckland men being compelled to play with a bright sun in their eyes. Less than five minutes after the game had commenced, Thames registered a score as a result of the visitors being penalised in their own 25, Kingham taking the shot and landing a magnificent goal. Though both teams were at times very close to scoring, half-time was called with the Thames leading by 3 points to nil. On the resumption of play, Thames made matters very lively for their opponents, and from a scramble near Auckland’s line, McCollum broke over and scored. Newdick was successful in adding the major points. From now onwards the Thames continued to attack hotly and the Auckland defence being found wanting, matters on several occasions looked dangerous for the visitors. Finally, from a line-out, H. Hayward obtained possession, and outwitting several of the Auckland backs, notched a clever try. The last few minutes saw Auckland in difficulties, but no further score resulted, the game ending: Thames 11 points. Auckland 0 points. AUCKLAND JUNIORS DEFEAT TARANAKI JUNIORS. These teams met on Saturday at Alexandra Park, but owing to strong counter-attractions, the attendance was but small. The first half was very even, the chief feature being a brilliant try by Stohr, who, getting the ball in his own 25, put in a splen-

did run. Taking the kick himself he added the extra points. On resuming Auckland made great efforts to equalise the score, Cross getting a try which Sargeant fai.ed to convert. Then Taranaki had a penalty given against them, and Dick put the ball over the bar. Auckland again attacked, Fricker taking the ball across, but Dick’s kick failed. Next came a good run and dribble by Wynyard, the result being another try, which Dick converted, the game ending in a win for Auckland by 14 points to 5. Mr. N. McKean was referee. In the evening the visiting team was entertained to dinner by the A.R.U. at the Imperial Hotel. They left for New Plymouth on Sunday by the Rarawa.