AUSTRALIAN GAME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN GAME.

(By High-Mark.) Newtown and Wellington met on' the Basin Reserve last Saturday, when Newtown claimed the victory by 63 points to 40. Captain Bond and Waters, of Newtown, stood down for this game. Otherwise''each club was well .represented. Those who braved the rain and the cold were rewarded by some fast play by Newtown in the earlier stages of the game; and a brilliant struggle to recover lost ground in the last half by the Wellington men. Umpire Pearce gave general satisfaction to the players of both sides. He was firm, without interfering with the play unnecessarily. ; , . Grant pleased the critics greatly with his cool, clever handball, and his useful ruck work. ■ Burns, Furiiiss, and Patrick were a sound, solid trio; their exchanges were fast and pretty, and Patrick's kicking was ■ admirable. 1 Sparks, the speedy, sprinted across the oval in great style. He put in his runs at the right moment, and never failed to get his kick. •• Kimpton, at full-back, kept guard like Horatio of old. Ho relieved the situation time after time. Noville followed the oval ■ round the ground untiringly, and passed it out to his comrades in splendid fashion. M'Grath, for Wellington, charged through the opposing backs repeatedly. His play was clean, clever, and strenuous. . ■. Hurley, in the ruck, crowned himself ; with glory. ' His work was of the "never'-say-die" pattern, and elicited the hearty applause of the spectators. Martin, also m the ruck, was a "righthand man." He used brain as well as muscle. Nathan streaked along the wing like the last tram to Island Bay. Heaman and Vare proved sound, solid •workers, and Riley, .on the back line, showed that timo cannot wither his judgment nor lessen his pace. Ho relieved the pressure in great style. _ ■ _ Tho kicking was good, the high marking fair, and the hand-ball fir-st-class. To-day Wellington and City will contest supremacy, when a ding-dong game may be expected.