RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 26 June 1913, Page 17

RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL.

Following the series of matches played at Alexandra Park by the< various visiting country teams towards the end of last week, a representative fifteen was selected to meet the Auckland A team on Saturday, while a match was also arranged between another combined country fifteen and the Auckland B team. The matches were played in ideal weather, over 5000 people being present to witness the Auckland men play the first representative fixture of the season. As a curtain-raiser the Hokianga team, winners of the B competition in the country tournament, met the Auckland junior representatives, with whom they played a pointless draw.

The match between the Auckland A team and the country representatives Was generally regarded as little more than 'a practice game for the former, who experienced little difficulty in winning by the substantial margin of 30 points to 3. The visitors never once looked to have had a chance against their more experienced opponents, and therefore the match tailed to arouse any degree of enthusiasm. The country men were certainly placed at a disadvantage as regards combination, for it was plainly evident that they were not familiar with one another’s play. Although Auckland gained an easy victory, the wearers of the blue and white did not play above the ordinary, but this may be accounted for by the fact that cwing to the weakness of the opposition they were inclined to take risks and at times were guilty of carelessness. The Auckland backs figured in numerous passing runs, which, considering the many openings that were placed in their way, called for no great manoeuvring on their part.

Several of the Auckland backs hampered the attacking movements of the rearguard through their inclination to do too much on their own, this being a very noticeable defect in their play. They appeared to be imbued with the idea that it was an e.asy matter to outwit several of the opposing team before parting with the leather, little caring that their selfishness more often than not threw the chain of backs out of operation. Another weakness associated with the passing runs was the frequency with which the Auckland backs overran the ball, their eagerness to score causing them to miss the passes.

. The form of the country team was distinctly disappointing, and while they could not be expected to shine on the attack, there -was no excuse for their defensive work being so poor. The tackling of the visiting backs was exceedingly weak, and very feeble attempts were made at times to check the passing runs of the Aucklanders. The country forwards, however, shaped better, their collaring being much more effective than that of the rearguard, but they were not nearly so quick to seize openings as the blue and white vanguard. The best feature of the country forwards’ display was their fast following up, but towards the end of the game they did not display the same keenness in this direction, the overwhelming odds having damped their ardour.

Saturday’s match against the country representatives did not afford onlookers a reliable guide of the real strength of the Auckland team, who were not tested to any material extent. The game was of too uneven a character, and the Aucklanders were seldom tried on the defence. The blue and white forwards revelled in their task, which was made easy through their superior knowledge of the game. Their combination was promising in view of the fact that it was their first game together- this season. The Aucklanders did not appear to over-exert themselves, but were found playing their hardest in. the last quarter when they rattled up’ the points in good style. Except for a few brilliant flashes of play in which the rearguard figured there was nothing remarkable about the game, and it would have been a much more interesting match had say half a-dozen or more of Auckland’s best players, whose selection in the representative team for South is assured, stood down and so allowed their places to be filled by other senior pTayers. Not only would this have afforded an opportunity to judge of the merits of the players being experimented with, but w’ould have rendered the game far more even and interesting from a spectator’s standpoint. It is nigh to an impossibility for a combined country team to expect to achieve any degree of success against the Ranfurly Shield holders, and in fairness to the country players they should be matched against a less formidable Auckland team.

The country representatives’ foot-, ball tournament now being over in Auckland, the question naturally arises whether any of the players who participated in the various matches at Alexandra Park are likely to gain provincial honours. The cream of the visiting country players were seen in action against Auckland on Saturday, and though badly beaten, several of them performed worthily; notably the Crawford Bros, in the forward line and Webb and McGee-., han in the backs. Webb, who filled the position of half-back for Auckland last year, is now stationed at Dargaville, and he acted as captain of the country representatives in Saturday's match. Though greatly handicapped behind a beaten pack, he.displayed his customary nippiness, frequently getting clear of the Auckland forwards and finding the line in a clever manner. Of the country men Webb is the most likely to find a place in the Auckland team, as though he has a worthy rival in Olsen for the half-back position, he is undoubtedly one of the smartest performers behind the scrum that has ever been seen in Auckland.

Nearly all of Auckland’s tries were obtained from passing runs. The try-getters were Macky, Bruce, McGregor (2), Stewart (3), and Olsen, two of the tries being converted by O’Leary and one by Macky. For the combined (country team, McG.eehan kicked a penalty goal. Mr. G. Nicholson, the well-known' All Black, controlled the game. „ .

Of the Auckland forwards, Wylie played up to his best form, being particularly useful in the line-out. A forward who shaped very creditably for his first rep. game was Sellars, of the College Rifles team, who stood out prominently in a number of dribbling rushes. Wilson was associated With a great dear of hard graft, while Bruce was also responsible for a serviceable display.

Olsen, had a busy, though easy, task behind the scrum, and he fed hL, backs in good style. The try which he obtained was the cleverest piece of work in the match, his corkscrew run completely baffling the country backs.

Geddes was not altogether a success at five-eighths, his greatest fault being that he did not look to see where the man he was passing the ball to was, but threw it on mechanically, with the result that the combined effort of the backs in many instances broke down after the leather had left his hands. Against a team of the calibre of Taranaki or Wellington this would have been attended with disastrous results as the passing run would doubtless have been intercepted.

Weston, at five-eighths, is a great attacking man, and generally runs straight, his cutting-in tactics often being productive of excellent results. With. Auckland securing the ball from nearly every scrum, Weston was in his eiement and he kept his fellow backs constantly on the move when the ball came his way. He is a strong runner, hard to tackle, and livens up matters considerably in the backs.

The Auckland threequarter line worked well together, Stewart giving his wings plenty of work, which they got through with credit. Stewart is an ideal centre, never getting out of position, and his passing and handling of the ball in Saturday’s game was neatly and cleverly executed. McGregor was in great scoring vein, and his brilliant sprints down the line were the most exciting incidents in an otherwise uneventful game. McGregor is always handy to accept a pass from his fellows backs, and once under way he is the most dangerous back in Auckland.

Macky was watched very closely by the opposing team, and early in the game it was apparent that his chances of scoring were fraught with great difficulty, but though subjected to several hard tackles he was undaunted and managed to evade the country men and notch a clever try, the first of the match.

O'Leary, at full back was safe, but not as brilliant as usual. He was not called upon to do much, however, and appeared to take matters a trifle easy.

It would be unfair to criticise the country players individually, ; for the team was plainly much below the calibre of the Auckland fifteen. As already mentioned, the Crawford Bros, who hail from the Thames, played well in the forwards, while Webb stood out the most prominently in the backs. McGeehan also gave a good account of himself in the backs, his accurate line-kicking being invaluable to his side. » *

The match between the Auckland B team and the Combined Country B team did. ..not create a great deal of interest?,' being watched by a meagre attendance. The game was practically a repetition of the A gradematch that was being played alongside, the Aucklanders winning by the substantial margin of 28 points to 3. The home team forwards outplayed the country men, and the Auckland backs were repeatedly invading the visitors’ citadel. For Auckland, tries were obtained by Cornaga, Hardwicke (2), Pountney (2), Sheehan (2), and Avery, only two of the tries being converted by Gray and Barclay respectively. For the country team Hulme scored a try.

Among the country players who visited Auckland last week, were two veteran representatives of the Northern province in W. Harrison and "Blazer” Wilson. The former, who was a member of the Northern Wairoa team, which won the tournament,, was selected to play for the Combined Country teain, against Auckland on

Saturday, but was unable to take part in the game. Harrison’s sterling displays at full-back and centre threequarter for Auckland are wellremembered and many were looking forward to seeing him in action again in Saturday’s match. ‘Blazer” Wilson played for the Otamatea team, and as it is over twelve years ago since he was one of Auckland’s leading forwards, it was not surprising that he failed to display much of that dash and brilliancy which earned for him a place in New Zealand’s premier provincial team.