FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1020, 23 September 1909, Page 11

FOOTBALL.

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY TEAM IN AUCKLAND. The 1909 football season is now practically over, and the only matches to be played during the next few Saturdays will consist of outside games between mercantile houses and various other teams- Since the Auck-land-Taranaki match the visit of the Sydney University team has been the chief topic of interest in Rugby circles, the Australian students playing two matches in Auckland. The first game was against the Auckland University on Wednesday, while on Saturday the visitors tried conclusions with the City team. If the match between the Sydney and Auckland Universities was to be taken as a criterion of the standard of university football the least said about Wednesday’s game the better. Both teams were responsible for a very poor exhibition, there being an absence of dash all through, while the play of the forwards was of a straggly order. The Auckland University forwards, as is generally known by followers of Rugby, are a comparatively weak division, and the students’ position in the Auckland district club competition is mainly due to superior back play. Though the Sydney men defeated the Auckland University fifteen by 11 points to 5, those who witnessed the game were greatly disappointed with the play of the visitors, who only on the rarest of occasions showed anything like representative form. The weakness of tne Sydneyites lay in the forwards, who piayed with little combination, and appeared to lack knowledge of the chief points of the game. A noticeable fault with the Sydneyites was their consistent hard kicking of the ball in the forward rushes, time and again spoiling excellent chances by sending the leather right into tne hands of the Auckland University backs. The Auckland University forwards played in a halfhearted manner, and consequently Sydney’s victory was little to be proud of. The Sydney rear division showed up well on occasions with their passing runs, and were slightly better all round than the local men. At the conclusion of the match, however, the opinion was unanimously expressed that the City team would experience little difficulty in running up a substantial score against the Sydneyites on the Saturday. In their match against City on Saturday, the Sydney students, who made several changes in their forward team of the previous Wednesday, practically gave a repetition of their form in the game with Auckland University. The City forwards, as was expected, proved far too superior for the visitors, while the local backs also outclassed the Sydneyites. The visitors, with the exception of the first ten minutes in the second spell, were on the defence nearly the whole of the game, and were given little opportunity of showing their attacking merits. The match calls for little comment, as the Aucklanders had matters all their own way, and a victory looked a certainty from a few minutes after the kick-off. The inclusion of B. O’Brien in the City backs was a decided success, the Marist Bros.’ Old Boys’ skipper considerably strengthening the rear division. The City backs played well together, while the red and black forwards put plenty of vigour into their work, and the Sydneyites were unable to cope with their determined attacks. The game was too one-sided to be of any great interest to onlookers, and had the Sydney Univer-

sity been matched against one of the weaker teams a much more exciting game would undoubtedly have resulted. SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (11) v. AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY (3). Auckland won the toss, and Metcalfe set the ball rolling for Sydney. The Aucklanders attacked from the start, and Wilkes, Wilson and Poananga caused the visitors some anxiety with a passing run which ended in the ball going into touch. The Sydney rear division then took a turn at attacking, and Lane securing the leather passed to Pockley, who sprinted for the line, scoring a creditable try m

the corner. Hughes made a futile attempt at goal: Sydney, 3; Auckland, 0- The Sydney backs were showing to good advantage, and a clever passing run, in which nearly all of them participated, ended in Pockley being brought down in close proximity to the line. Keeping up the attack the Sydneyites succeeded in notching their second try as the result of the ball bouncing off an Auckland back into the arms of Russell-Jones, who threw himself over the line. Fisher failed with the shot at goal: Sydney, 6; Auckland, 0. Soon after this Wilson Otterson and Robinson broke away with a passing run, and the lastnamed centring, a good opportunity was given Bamford, who had followed up fast, of scoring, but the erratic bounce of the ball baffled the Auck land forward, and Hughes found the line with the well-judged kick. Matters were fairly even during the remainder of the first spell, the only incidents of note being a dangerous run by Stack, who was pursued and collared by Robinson, and a good attempt at a penalty goal by Wilson. time was sounded with the score. Sydney, 6; Auckland, 0. after the commencement of the second spell Robinson was injured and had to retire from the field. Gray, the five-eighths, took his place on the wind threequarter, while W dkes was shifted from wing forward to Gray’s position, Endean coming on as winger. The Sydney backs were not long getting into motion, and a passing run by Hughes to Lane and back again to Hughes, who transferred to Pockley, and Stack receiving the pass notched a try behind the posts. Fisher landed an unmistakable goal: Sydney, 11; Auckland, 0. The Auckland backs now took a hand in several passing runs, but Wilkes spoilt a couple of good chances by hanging to the leather. Fisher receiving an injury retired from the game, his place being taken by Stafford- The Auckland forwards then made a desperate attempt to score, and their efforts were rewarded, Dineen, who headed most of the local students’ rushes, getting over from a scramble on the visitors’ line. Wilson made a successful shot at goal. .Sydney, 11; Auckland, 5. The Aucklanders rallied, and endeavoured to turn the tables on the Sydneyites, but though they made gallant attempts, their efforts were too late, and time was called with no further alteration in, the score: Sydney, 11; Auckland, 5. * * ♦ ♦ For Sydney University, the pick of the forwards were Metcalfe and W. Martin, while Pockley, Hughes and Fisher were most prominent among the backs. Dineen was easily the best of the University forwards, while Bamford also played a hard game. Robinson was responsible for some good work in the backs, and was ably assisted by Gray and WilsonCITY (27) v. SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (6). The visitors lost the toss, but City elected to play against the wind in the first spell, and Metcalfe kicked rtf for Sydney. The City forwards im mediately carried play into Sydney s 25, and Delaney marking in front of the posts, R. Magee landed a certa.n goal: City, 5; Lniversity, 0. Seeling was responsible for shifting play in~o the students’ territory, but a good passing run by Maxwell, Packley and Browning ended in the last-nam?d being brought to earth by Stewart when close to the line. City then forced matters, and O’Brien making a good opening for Delaney, the latter got over. R. Magee was again successful with the shot at goal: City, 8; University, 0. In the play that followed, City were nearly over again, and a passing run by Seeling, Magee and Stewart enabled the City wingthreequarter to go within an ace of scoring, he being tackled almost on Sydney’s line. Sydney being penalised as the result of a scrum, Magee had an unsuccessful shot at goal. The City backs were passing well, and after a couple of attempts to break through the visitors’ line of defence, Young, Magee, O’Brien, Delaney and Tobin broke away, the last-named getting over, but losing the hall. Stewart was close up, however, and touched down. J. Magee failed to convert City, 11; Sydney, 0. Waddell was the next try-getter for City, his score being obtained from a pass from Seeling. R. Magee landed a good goal, and the bell went for half-time: City, 16; Sydney, 0. Soon after the resumption of play the local men were penalised, and Fisher succeeded in piloting the ball over the bar: City, 16; Sydney, 3. Syd-

ney made a determined effort to pierce the City defence, and the local men obtained relief by forcing on more than one occasion. The Sydney forwards showed some pretty dribbling play, but the Cityites managed to keep their line clear. Kelly attempted a pot at goal, but was unsuccess c u!. A passing rush by Broughton, Metcalfe, Hughes and Fisher enabled the last-named to score. Hughes was unsuccessful with the kick at goal. City continued to press the Sydneyites, and O’Brien succeeded in getting o.’er after a clever run. R. Magee failed with the shot at goal: City, 19; Sydney, 6- A passing run between Seeling, Stewart, O’Brien and Delaney saw the last-named get over for Auckland again. R. Magee kicked a good goal: City, 24; Sydney. 6. A passing rush by Estall, Delaney, Herring, Se-1 ing and Stewart ended in the lastnamed scoring. R. Magee failed wi*h the kick at goal: City, 27; Sydney, 6. Shortly after Browning took a mark for Sydney in front of the posts, but Fisher wa? unsuccessful with the kick, and the bell rang with the score: City, 27; Sydney, 6.

For the winners, Herring, Seeling, Williams and Waddell were a hardgrafting quartette, and were too powerful for the Sydneyites. The pick of the City backs were Skillen, Magee, and O’Brien, all of whom distinguished themselves by playing useful games. Bowker, Maxwell and Metcalfe played solidly among the visitors’ forwards, while Pockley, Kelly, and Hughes showed up well in the rear division. Mr. H. Freeman undertook the duties of referee. JUNIOR MATCHCity IV. defeated Waiuku by 33 points to 3 after a very uneven game. COUNTRY MATCHES. At Waihi a match was played between the representatives of the Waihi and Karangahake Rugby

Unions, and was won by the former by 16 points to 6. At Te Awamutu the Waipa representatives defeated Hamilton by 18 points to 3.

Thomas, who piayed halfback for South Auckland in the match against Taranaki on Wednesday of last week, was last season a member of the City fourth grade team. Though only a lad, Thomas is considered the best back in the South Auckland team, and this season has shown exceptionally good form. Judging by the advancement he has already made on the football field, he should make a big name for himself in the future.

The Auckland Tramway representatives defeated the Wellington Tramways team at Athletic Park, Wellington, last week, by 29 points to 3. Included in the Auckland team were such crack players as Webb, Yates, J. Hall, O’Leary, and Gillett (skipper), so that the victory did not come as a surprise. The scores were made by O’Leary (2), Gillett, Hurling, Wilkes and Hall. O’Leary was very success-

ful in goal-kicking. Gillett was a tower of strength to the winners, and gave great heart to his side by his brilliant playing. Great interest is being taken in the Athletic Carnival to be held at Victoria Park by the Auckland Rugby Union on Saturday, October 2. 'The seven-a-side tournament has attracted seven entries, all of the district clubs and the University having entered teams. Though Ponsonby’s chances of success finds most favour with football enthus'asts, there are many who are strongly of the opinion that the University team will defeat this year's Rugby champions. The place and drop-kicking events give promise of some interesting sport, R. Magee and O’Leary being in the great- ( st favour for the former competition. After a lengthy season’s play most ~f the footballers should be in fair training for the running events, and some exciting finishes are certain to be witnessed.