FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1119, 21 September 1911, Page 11

FOOTBALL.

RANFURLY SHIELD CONTEST.

POVERTY BAY v. AUCKLAND.

AUCKLANDERS AGAIN VICTORIOUS.

The second challenge match for the Ranfurly Shield, held by the Auckland representatives, took place on Saturday last at Alexandra Park, when the Poverty Bay team met Auckland, and were defeated by 29 points to 10, after a strenuous and exciting game, the scores by no means showing the merits of the two teams on the afternoon’s play. The weather was all that could be desired, and the attendance was something like 6000. The teams lined out as follows: —

Auckland. —Full-back, R. Magee; three-quarters, Macky, McGregor, Wolfgramm; five-eighths,O’Leary and Geddes; half-back, Thomas; forwards, Hall (wing), Tyler, Herring, Wilson. Cunningham, Bruce, Harper, Clarke. Poverty Bay.—Full back, Erikama; three quarters, Tocker, Clark, Ryland; five-eights, 'Kaipara, Pollock; halfback, Hart; forwards, Cook (wing), Winter, Douglas, McColl, Aorere, Lowe, Francis, Nicholas. The game was played in two spells of 45 minutes each.

Mr E. Spurdle, Taranaki, had charge of the whistle, and carried out his duties satisfactorily.

FIRST SPELL.

The visitors won the toss and defended the western goal, having the advantage of a strong breeze that blew down the field. A few minutes after 3 o’clock Cunningham kicked off for Auckland, and a fast follow up by Bruce saw him take the ball and transfer to Hall, who kicked down the field, but missed the line, Kaipara returning to Wolfgramm, who kicked out in the visitors’- 25.

Auckland set up a hot attack, and Macky, getting a mark, the ball was placed for O’Leary, who just missed the post, Poverty Bay forcing. The locals continued to attack from the kick out, and from a scrum near half-way Thomas sent to O’Leary to Geddes to McGregor, who in trying to centre kicked too hard, Poverty Bay again forcing.

O’Leary received the kick out, and set the forwards going, who carried play to the visitors’ 25. Here the game became exciting, as Auckland tried to pierce the defence, and Geddes failing to pick up in open missed a good chance, O’Leary slipped in, and passing to the forwards, saw Cunning ham get possession about 15 yards from the visitors’ line, but instead of going on he sent out to the left to Wolfgramm, who failed to take cleanly, and Hart getting a kick in sent the locals back to near centre. Wil son got away from the line, carrying the ball into the visitors’ quarters before being downed. Auckland secured from the scrum, but slow and faulty passing let Kaipara intercept and he sent them back to centre with a fine line kick.

For lying on the ball Auckland were penalised, both McGregor and Magee hesitated in receiving the ball, and the Poverty Bay forwards swept in with a fine rush and received another penalty. Clark took a place kick, and just missed with a fine attempt, Auckland forcing. The ball came back from the kickout for man in front. The locals secured from the scrum, and Thomas and O’Leary carried play to past the visitors’ side of half-way. The local forwards were doing giant work and giving the visiting backs a busy time, Just as a score looked certain Erekama (who was playing a grand defensive game) got in and saved the situation.

The visitors opened up, and some fine passing between the backs, in which Hart, Kaipara, and Pollock were prominent, had the locals’ tackling qualities fairly tested. Nicholas for the visitors, got away with a fine dribble, and got well into Auckland’s quarter, where they made determined efforts to cross the line, Magee being called upon to save. In loose play following, O’Leary kicked high across the field, when Erekama came up fast and took the ball just on his side of half way, and made a brilliant pot shot, which crossed between the posts. He received great applause from the onlookers. Poverty Bay 4, Auckland 0. This flash of success stimulated the visitors, and the spectators were

treated to as fine a bit of passing as has been seen at the Park for some time. Hart opened up at every opportunity, when passing runs were indulged in by Tocker, Clark, Ryland, Erekama, and Kaipara, and on several occasions the visitors just missed certain scores by a faulty take at a critical time. The defence of the locals was good, but many times the tackling was too high, and the visitors took advantage of this weakness. A free to Auckland brought relief at a critical moment, and the forwards putting in one of their sensational rushes, carried the leather from halfway right across the visitors’ line — Clarke and Harper being in front of the pack—unfortunately Clarke booted too hard, and his namesake in the opposition got in a timely save by forcing. , _ The locals continued to attack from the kick-out, when Wolfgramm marked in a good position. O’Leary made a fine attempt with the place-kick (in fact the referee blew his whistle for a score just as the ball struck the bar and came back into play). The visitors cleared their line temporarily, when in the scramble that took place the ball was shot out smartly to Geddes to Macky, on the right wing,

the last-named put in a splendid sprint and crossed the line. O’Leary missed with a fine kick. Auckland 3, Poverty Bay 4. An exchange of kicks and line play gave the teams time to steady up a bit.

From the line Thomas failed to re ceive a pass back, McColl darting in took the leather down the field, when Kaipara secured, and with a smart, swervy run, beat the opposing backs, and sent out to Tocker, who failed to take and secure a certain score. Auckland cleared their line and took a hand in attack. Thomas sent to O’Leary, who drew the defence, and handed to McGregor, Tyler, Wolfgramm, back to McGregor, who passed in again to the forwards, but a hard kick went out near the corner flag, thus losing a score from a brilliant piece of work. The visitors cleared their lines, the bell sounding half-time with the ball in neutral territory. The scores being Poverty

Bay 4. Auckland 3.

SECOND SPELL.

As the teams lined out for this spell it was noticed that Hall (Auckland’s wing) had been replaced by Glenn,

owing to an injury to the knee of the first-named, and also that Hart (Poverty Bay’s half), who had met with an injury to a rib, had been replaced by Cole. Winter opened for the visitors, Bruce returning to Ryland, who failed to take, and Auckland at once attacked hotly. A free to Poverty Bay gave them relief. An exchange of kicks saw the leather out at the visitors’ quarter. The locals opened up with a passing run, another free being granted to the home team —a visitor tackling Wolfgramm off-side. The visitors got away from the open play that followed, McColl getting through the defence, crossed the line, but tailed to ground the ball before Macky tackled him —a force resulting. . The visitors continued to keep the advantage, and indulged in a lot of passing, McGregor at this juncture receiving rounds of applause for downing two men in quick succession. The Auckland vanguard now became aggressive, and pressed the visitors close to their line, a high kick by Macky giving them a chance to force. Cunningham marked the kick out (a short one), the ball being placed for O’Leary, who missed the post with a good kick, a force resulting.

The Auckland backs got going from the kick out, but faulty handling gave the visitors a chance to remove the danger to centre. McGregor, with a fine line kick, took play into the visitor’s quarter. From the line the Auckland forwards broke through, with Cunningham leading the way, the ball going out near the corner flag. From a scrum, formed 5 yards out from the visitors’ line, Thomas worked the open side, and the ball passed smartly through several hands, Macky being the last to receive, easily beat the full-back and scored between the posts. O’Leary added the points. Auckland 8, Poverty Bay 4, after ten minutes’ strenuous play. Thomas received the kick out, and got the line just outside his own 25. Tyler received in the open, and making ground, sent to Glenn, to Wilson, to Macky, to O’Leary, who had no difficulty in scoring. O’Leary added the points. Auckland 13, Poverty Bay 4; 15 minutes’ play. The visitors were having a bad time of it defending, for the locals set up a hot attack from the kick out, and quickly worked play into their opponents’ 25. From a scrum close to the line, over anxiousness on the part of the forwards gave the

visitors relief in a force. O’Leary received the kick out, and got the line at his opponents’quarter. For afaulty throw in a scrum was ordered. For playing the ball off the ground Auckland were penalised. The kick by the visitors gained no ground, and Clarke and Bruce getting away from the line, worked the ball over the line, Bruce scoring in a good position. O’Leary failed to add. 20 minutes’ play. Auckland 16, Poverty Bay 4. The local men were, having things all their own way, a splendid passing run between Thomas, O’Leary, and Macky, who made a fine spurt and sent to Wolfgramm, who got over, but was called back for a knock on, thus a fine piece of work was spoilt. Not to be denied the locals still kept the pressure on, Thomas working the leather to O’Leary, who drew the defence, and then sent a long pass to McGregor, who raced over near the corner. Macky failed with the kick at a difficult angle. 24 minutes’ play. Auckland 19, Poverty Bay 4. Tne play had only been going another two minutes when the forwards, with Harper in the lead, carried play close to the Poverty Bay line, where Wilson received and grounded the ball close to the posts. Macky added the points. Auckland 24, Poverty Bay 4. Thomas received the kick-out, and got the line at half-way. A penalty against the locals saw the leather into their quarter. The visitors’ fullback got in a fine run, and set the ball going amongst the forwards, who beat the backs badly, Aorere dribbling across and scoring. Clarke failed to add. Auckland 24, Poverty Bay 7.

The kick out got the line half-way. A faulty throw in saw a scrum formed at centre. The visitors opened up with some smart bouts of passing, in which Kaipara and Tocker made a dangerous attack, the latter being dropped by Thomas close to the line. A short stoppage took place, owing to Thomas being winded, through this tackle. From the scrum that followed, the ball shot out at the side, when Douglas picked up and dived over. Erekama failed to add. Poverty Bay 10, Auckland 24. The visitors now became very reckless in throwing the ball about, but the tackling of the local forwards was exceptionally sound. Another concerted rush by the Auckland vanguard gave Wilson a chance, which he quickly took, and grounded the ball near the corner, just as he was thrown out of touch. Magee landed a fine goal at a difficult angle. Auckland 29, Poverty Bay 10. The few minutes of intervening play, in which the local forwards simply romped all over the visitors, kept the backs busy preventing further score, the game ending as already noted.

NOTES ON THE GAME.

Saturday’s attendance at Alexandra Park was the largest that has assembled at the popular Epsom sports ground this season, and spectators were provided with a fast and interesting game, which was very evenlycontested in the first half when the Poverty Bay men had the assistance of the wind. The Auckland team won handsomely at the finish, the blue and white vanguard playing with renewed vigour as the game wore on, the visitors being unable to stem their dashing onslaughts. The first spell sufficed to show that the Poverty Bay team was a good all-round combination, well versed in every point of the game, their display greatly impressing the onlookers, who fully expected to see Auckland in the lead when the bell rang for half-time, instead of which the advantage lay with the visitors to the extent of 4 points to 3. Auckland frequently failed to make use of their chances in the first spell, but they were careful not to underrate the quality of their opponents, the result being that plenty of dash was instilled into the game, both sides settling down to their tasks in determined fashion from the kick-off. It was early in the second spell before Auckland’s superiority commenced to tell, but the Poverty Bay players were not the least discouraged, and continued to put forth their best efforts right up to the call of time. The visitors were more certain in their line kicking than the Auckland rearguard, while at times their combination was a treat to witness, Pollock, Kaipara and Clarke knowing one another’s play to a nicety and bringing off some beautiful passing runs. The Poverty Bay backs demonstrated that they are a nippy set — particularly Kaipara, who proved himself to be a star performer—while they lacked nothing on the score of speediness. With a beaten pack in front of them in the second half, they

-were fully tested on the defence, and came through the ordeal without in any way besmirching the reputation that had preceded them. The Poverty Bay forwards proved a willing, hardgrafting lot, and for the greater part of the game held their own with the Aucklanders, several of whom, no doubt, were a trifle stale after the Southern tour. The Auckland backs accomplished their best work individually, but their kicking was often faulty. On rare occasions only did they manoeuvre passing runs to advantage, their combination being decidedly weak. The Auckland hookers repeatedly secured the ball, and though Crook, the Poverty Bay winger, used his spoiling tactics to good advantage, Thomas, the Auckland half-back, saw to it that his backs were given far more opportunities than the visitors, yet the Auckland rearguard were a long way below expectations.

COMMENTS ON THE PLAYERS.

Hall, the Auckland wing forward, was evidently feeling the effects of the matches played while away South, his knee troubling him to such an extent that it was not deemed advisable for him to come on in the second spell, Glenn, of the Grafton Club, taking his place. Hall did not play up to his usual form, which, under the circumstances, could only be expected, and to bring Glenn on in his place proved a wise move on the part of the selector. Bruce played a splendid game among the Auckland forwards, heading rush after rush in great style. Tyler also shone up prominently, his work in the open being of a high standard, while his services as hooker were simply invaluable. A. C. Wilson was in capital form, playing a great game from start to finish. He notched two good tries, both of which were in good positions and were converted, while he was instrumental in Auckland securing another try, making a brilliant opening so enabling O’Leary to score. Thomas, at half-back, played a heady game, using excellent judgment both in attack and defence. He was particularly smart in getting the ball away from the scrum, while the successful manner in which he baffled the visitors on more than one occasion by feinting to pass and then sending the ball in the opposite direction was loudly applauded by the onlookers. His rush-stopping was pluckily executed, and it was while collaring Crook, the Poverty Bay wing forward, just on the line and so preventing a certain score, that Thomas received an injury to his ribs, which placed him out of action for a few minutes. Geddes, at five-eighths, played a useful game, but was troubled with lameness, and was, therefore, not in a position to reproduce his best form. O’Leary, the other five-eighths, gave a very sound display, his kicking especially being a material help to the Aucklanders. He also handled the ball cleverly, and made many useful openings for his fellow backs. Macky was the best of the three-quarters, and both his tries were obtained as a result of his smart attacking abilities. McGregor, at centre, would have been more at home on the wing, where lie would have had a chance to make more use of his pace. He made no mistakes, however, at centre, but did not distinguish himself anything like in the Otago and the Wellington matches. Wolfgramm was the weak link in the Auckland backs, the Grafton threequarter being right off his game. Wolfgramm several times was called upon to extricate his side from some dangerous situations, and though his defence was weak, he never made any serious mistakes. It was on the attack that he was tried and found wanting, and as he is regarded as one of the best try-getters in Auckland his form in Saturday’s match was all the more disappointing. R. Magee, at full-back, was safe enough, and no fault could be found with his display. Of the Poverty Bay forwards none played better than Francis, a brother to “Bella,” now in England with the Australasian professional team. Francis is much the same type of forward as his brother, and continually keeps on the ball, and on Saturday he led the visiting brigade in the majority of their exciting rushes, the occasion on which he got across and a scrum was ordered being one of the most exciting incidents of the afternoon. Crook, the wing forward, is a fine player in that position, and he accomplished no end of good work by smothering the Auckland backs, while he opened up play in a brilliant man-

ner. Lowe, McColl and Nicholas were also conspicuous among the Poverty Bay forwards. Hart, at half-back, played a moderate game, but did not get a great number of chances. Pollock, at fiveeighths, gave a convincing display, handling the leather well, and kicking with fine judgment. Kaipara proved a most elusive back, and the way in which he wriggled and swerved in evading the blue and white backs brought forth roars of applause from the spectators. Clark, at centre three-quarter, gave a display full of merit, and is an ideal type of back, being proficient in all departments of the game. Tocker, on the wing, proved a useful player, his kicking being well-directed, while he is a good attacking man. Ryland, the other wing, is possessed of. great pace, and is a dangerous man if given a chance near the line. He played a great attacking game, but his defensive tactics were not too reliable. Erekama, the full-back, gave a cool and very safe display, but was rather weak in his kicking, though one good point about his play was that he always made sure of finding the line. At dropkicking, however, he is a pastmaster, as was demonstrated when he sent the ball over from the half-way flag in the first spell.