WELLINGTON WINS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 209, 28 May 1908, Page 5

WELLINGTON WINS

BRITISH FOOTBALLERS' FIRST DEFEAT.

KEENLY-CONTESTED MATCH.

/ WITNESSED BY' 18,000 PEOPLE.

WELLINGTON 19, BRITAIN 13.

■' ■ Rugby, was- rampant yesterday.' Wellington city- was to meet, for tho first timo tho : ltugby football representatives of: the English and Welsh Unions, and ■ nothing else in - the world - mattered. Thero were those, it is understood, who pretended ,a complete in- " - difference to tho event right up till a few hours before the game; a few greybeards . said thero was mor? excitement ' in bowls . than Rugby football; and many said thoy. had come to tho conclusion that the place was Rugby mad! .• . ,But they were all present at yesterday's match, and together with frank enthusiasts racked- their . throats -.with shouts' when; the boys in i black scorod their first try. There ha? of late, been some wailing in > certain quarters about an alleged diminution of in- . terest in amateur Rugby; but the . 18,000 people who attended yesterday at tho Athletic .Park proved with sledge-hammer em- • phasis that' its,- hold on the New. Zealand " publio is as- great as. ever it was—greater . porhaps, for, after all, the match was only against ■/ the representatives ■ of Wellington city, and,-.with three tests to bo decided, can . only. ;be regarded as of secondary in- ■' Yet over 18,000 attended.: EXODUS FROM THE CITY. Tho match was timed to commence; at 3, p.m.,: yot mid-day was not long past when : a ■ steady .stream of people began to .flow • towards. Newtown Park.. Tho trams, running a full service, claimed tho' bulk of the early crowd. Up till 1 p.m. there was not, much difficulty ,in . getting- car-room; after -that it was a .case' of strap-hanging and.toe-troading, unless the. car wore boarded at Thorndon's extremity. As it drew near • . tho. hour for. starting, cabmen, charging ■ : fancy prices; did.a brisk business; seated ox- ' presses:relieved from ordinary business by the , >' half-holiday • came out waggonette-rigged; and, splashed all over with the colours of both teams,, kept up a good service between > town and the Park. At 3 p.m. the city was almost deserted. It would have been: difficult ' for a stranger on Lambton Quay to. distin--1 , guish the.day from.Sunday—oniy'that it was more so. Shutters were up and blinds wore down; an irritable-looking policeman yawned on a corner; a:man with a far-away look endeavoured to intorest a supposititious • public in the antics of two dogs, which were really one. ■■■■■ ■ , .) • AT THE PARK. Whilst Wellington ■ city voluntarily .took 1 upon itself the rob. of the deserted village, Newtown became 'a seething metropolis. At • that. ond' of tho town all ways led to the Athletic Park, where the match was to be decided. .At 1 p.m. thero were several thousands, in waiting«round*tho green, prepared to wait a* couple of hours for the privilege of having a good view of the game. An hour 1 later the . crowd had occupied all the chief points of but tho cry was. "Still they cornel At 2.30• p.m. it was seriously discussed as to whether'the' great 1904 New ; Zealand v. England-" gate " was going to be ' beaten, - for the * spectators -hid i climbed the; ■ ridge on' the western: side ; of tho .ground, . where' they ' formed' a;human fence; many ; ' fl dug niches in the.bare face;of the bank, and : : : . if their-foothold.was seo'ure enough stopped . thero. Some found tho of tenure ' rotted, and came down- with a run, to tho ,'intense deUght-of 'a',crowd only too. eager to welcome any diversion during the wait. . Tho solid blocksiofhumanity—cnorth, .; soiith,'} and west—thickened • perceptibly as j ; : the .time Tvoro on,-and .contemporaneously the stands became filled with ".reserves,", who ■; had no need to bustle.'. The amphitheatre' of . the Park became a great sight! So thought •. ' '. the;photographers;', who for. half-an-hour before the, match ' busied,.'themselves,, taking news of tho crowd, whose spirits reflected tho bright'bluo sky above. , , WAS IT AN OMEN? Five minutes before the teams entered the ground' two iion-plajnng overcoated and muffled English footballers advanced to the kick-off spot in the centre of the ground, andthere'set up ;their inascbttes—two toy poodles . bedecked 'in the visitors' colours. .Having ' . eat: them up, they turned to leave tho field, -when: a shout of laughter caused .'them; to , look back.. The toy dogs had fallen, over. Did it mean England's, overthrow? :. Many . ; regarded tho incident.as, an omen.A't a few minutes ; before the\hour.' the roar ,of many ; voices heralded the, appearance on the field . of . the . .Wellington ' team, . wearing black jerseys,, (with gold monogram) and . white pants, followed immediately by' the AngloWelshmen, a deal moro showy in their red, white,' and red. jerseys, blue shorts, and ■ i-ain-b'ow stockings.' On appearance /the visitors camo out:better than Wellington's representatives. , They are more stockily-built, their arms Kang : from squarer shoulders, and they are nattier in their physical make-up. Wellington's own were looser-limbed, and not nearly sp compact in build, all round, and thoy . lacked the spruce deportment of the Englishmen. Deportment, however, does not count for .much the ball is in play, as tho .visitors quickly learned—but that's another story. >. PLAN OF THE FIELD. BRITISH GOAL. Jackett '• J. L. Williams—Ponty Jones—M'Evedy—Gibbs' Davey •!' Laxon . • J. P. Williams—Dibble , Dyko (wing)—Down—E. Morgan-Kyrko ' • . Eitson—Oldham . , . Dowar—Alexander Hardham (wing) Rush—A. C. Wilson—A. Wilson Ready—Hamilton ;. Green , ■ Wallace .... ■ Roberts 1 Evenson—Mitchinson—Thompson Spencer WELLINGTON GOAL. DETAILS OF THE PLAY. FIRST SPELL. Tho Wellington, skipper, Roberts, won the toss, and chose to play with ,the northerly breeze behind him, and the' sun at his back. Mitchinson fielded E. Morgan's kick-off, and sent the ball , into touch at 1 tho half-way flag. The ensuing line-out saw Rush and Ready break- away, but a knock-on pulled them up. Two scrums followed about the half-way flag, Wellington moro than.holding their own in tho pushing. A free-kick to the visitors saw

Dyke find tho line well into Wellington quarters. -Play opened out after' this, Dyko on tho ono sido and Rush on .tho other being prominont. At length Hardham put in a likely-looking dash, but spoiled it by kicking hard over tho lino, and allowing the visitors to force. The visitors woro doing their best to opon tho play out, but not 'with any great mcasuro of success, tho backs shaping very badly. J. F. Williams and Dyke woro associated in an assault on tho. Wellington lino, and a little later Laxon got round on Green and smothered him. Several scrums that followed showed that Wellington were capablo of holding their end. up. Tho visitors' forwards were doing well, and on every, opportunity tho ball was sent out to the,backs, ( even though Wellington were pressing in the twenty-five. Reckless passing threatened to bring trouble on more than ono occasion, but tho visitors generally won through moro by good luck than good management. Tho Wellington backs were set going near tho contre of the field, but . Wallace lvns tackled nicoly, and.the.rush checked. Play was strenuous, and somo occasional fiashos of good work were seen, but nothing of special interest happened until nine minutes after tho start, when Green, from a sorum on the visitors' sifle of tho half-way line, snapped up tho ball and dashed off for tho lino on :the blind side.' The little halfback went straight on to the full-back, a lid then gavo Roberts a well-timed' pass. The latter made a whole-souled dash for the line, and scored amidst loud'cheering. Wallace took tho.kick at goal; but failed to improve. Wolliington ... ~ ... /3 Britain ■... „1 ... 0On getting to work again, Hardham broke, away nicely,; but a pass forward checked tho Blacks, r The • check was only a temporary one, however, the next'minute seeing Roberts dive straight through the ruck, from a scrum in the', twenty-five. Ho .was tackled by Jackeitt, but passed to Hardham, who added the seoond try. WaJlace converted. . Wellington ... _ 8 Britain ~ — ... ... 0 Jackett received a severe knock: on the ear when ho tackled Roberts, and had to be taken off the field. He returned after a short absenco,' but had to leave again and-have his injury attended to. Ho did not enter the field again until the .second spell was well advanced, the visitors in the meantime playing V man ishort, Dyko transferring from wing-forward to full-back, and Gibbs going on the wing. On, resuming play, Gibbs and E. Morgan, tho latter playing a dashing game, broko away; but Hardham was instrumental in checking tho advance with two separate dashes. A spell of mixed open play was broken by a-.pretty. dash by M'Evedy,'-who'was nicely'tackled by Wallace. The Wellington forwards woro setting a merry pace, and play hovered round tho visitors' - quarters. . The British' backs "were still throwing the ,ball about recklessly, and gave chances which almost came off. Thompson had a pot at goal from a mark, and , Wallace had a place-kick at .goal, but neither bore fruit. The Wellington forwards were having the best-of'the line-' out work, and broke away repeatedly from short throws-in;_-but good l kicking on' tho part'of the visitors held them in check: Jackett gave his' side' some' uneasy moments through waiting for a high kick to bounce. Wallace' followed up smartly, but a knock-on spoiled a fine: chance. Wellington were having all tho best of the play, relieved by shortlived- dashes by. the visitors, and Mitchinson broke away, down the contre <of the field, but a pass forward spoiled the' opening. Laxon, Davey, and Gibbs combined' in' a neat passing run,'and the visitors' forwards, usually:led by, Morgan: and Williams, followed with a series . of' strong rUshes. i. Wellington retaliated, 1 and lively, vigorous work was the result, the blacks-having, on tho whole, the best of the deal. "Weak kicking by the Engbacks ''when bustled in the twenty-five gave Green a mark straight in front, but Wallace was. not equal. to, the task of converting. Play became loose and ragged, tho English backs putting in some very weak work.' The 'visitors showed. a sad 'want' of knowledge. of the. off-side-rule as it obtains in .New Zealand, and, for!fa"!time somo of them : stood ya<:ds off-side amongst Wellington men • who were ■" playing the ba11..: Play' was delayed for. a few minutes through'Gibbs being; winded;- ; Onl resumin.x, Wellington made a' promising attack as tho outcome of a centre kick by Green. Wallaeo took the ball,' and after a fine run ;• was tackled and passed to . Evenson, who was collared on the comer 'flag. A scrum, ensued, and the ball coming 'out to'Groen, the slippery little half dived round-the scrum- and;,over, the- line'.' Evenson • failed to convert. . , Wellington ... ... ... ... 11 ■ Britain ; 0 1 Just before- half-time the visitors livened up, and Davoy, Jones, and J; F.-Williams were associated in . a good dribbling l rush, which was stopped by;Evenson. Davey followed with' a' promising-: run, but held on too long, and allpwed Roberts to spoil his pass. I'ho- Britioheri were going well at this stage, and just beforo j;he bell sounded were awarded a freo.kick in front, of the posts. Gibbs was entrusted with the kick, 1 but failed to' convert.' Half-time was called with the score— , ■ , . ' Wellington ... „ -„i ■ ■■•...' 11 Britain u. i «*"■- 0 "" SECOND SPELL. The preliminary brush at the {'opening of the second spell , had hardly started .before things, began' to get exciting.-' The Britishers were again, doing their utmost' to open up the game, whenHhe AVellington backs turned, the-tables. Green got the ball inside the half-way line, and passed to' Wallace, who in turn handed it on to Thompson. The fleetfooted .wing three-quarter; tucked the ball under his arm, took:' a half-circle; round the opposition, and, outpacing ' th<3Britishers, crossed the line at the corner and ran round to; a fairly, good position. It .was, a beautiful piece of work;, and fully deserved the reward. Roberts convertedvwith'ia'good kick.;. Wellington ... ... ... ... 16 Britain ... ... ... ... 0 The outlook for the visitors-was not bright at this stage, but the tide 'set in in the other direction immediately. A, high punt by Dyke was mulled by Wallace,, and J. F. Williams; following up smartly, beat Spencer and stopped Jfivenson's return, the ball rebounding .off the Britisher, who chased it over the line and scored. Gibbs did not convert. Wellington ... ... ... ... 16 Britain ... ... ... 3 ■ The Britishers infused considerably more dash into their work now, and Thompson was called on to check a strong rush. A good rush by' the Wellington. forwards saw Dyke court trouble by waiting for tho bounco, but tho forwards rallied round, and after a few strenuous, minutes' plav in front of tho posts a.freo kick relieved tho Britishers. Wallace was winded during the onslaught, but play was resumed after a short delay.. An English rush, led by J. F. Williams, beat Roberts, but Spencer, came to tho rescue. A littlo later Britain added another try. Davey secured tho ball from, a scrum on Wellington's side of half-way, and after a short run passed to J. L. Williams. Tho' latter weaved his way past several Wellington backs cleverly, and ended up a fino dash by scoring by the posts. Dyke converted. Wellington... 16 Britain ... 8 Urged on by tho roaring thousands, play became.hard and willing, Ponty Jones going down for a few minutes in the. melee,-bub , soon recovering. Tho Britishers charged with'a will, and gave Wellington plonty.of defensive work, Laxon losing ono cliance by hanging on too long, enabling Wallace to step in and relievo with a smart kick. Another stoppage was mado at this stage, Green being winded. Roberts then had a long shot at goal from a freo kick,, but the ball, falling short, Morgan took it and punted high down field, tho following forwards beating tho Wellington backs. Green, however, ran roknd and saved with a timely mark. Smart following up and a good tackle'by Wallace saw Dyko smothered, and the same player gave Wellington another oTianoe a little later by mulling a high kick, but he recovered himself, and got his kick in. Tho Wellington scrummers were playing exceptionally well and kept crowding on the visitors' line; but periodical penalty kicks given against them brought relief to tho . Britishers. Thompson got away on ono occasion, and it looked as though he was going

to repeat liis earlier performance, but Gibbs overtook him. The Wellington forwards carried tho ball on with a compact sweeping rush, which carried all beforo it, but once again .a freo kick on tho goal lino gavo tho British men relief. Green, Roberts, and Wallace combined in a likely-looking passing run, but the latter missed his pass and lost an opportunity. Still another .solid forward rush by tho-Blacks ended in a freo kick on the line. Tho local' men camo on with another fino dash, a speculator by Dyke bringing off a lucky save. A hard tussle close to tho British lino ended in tho visitors clearing, Roberts being "laid out" in the struggle. Tho English forwards then put m a great rush, headed by Kvrko, who was assisted by J. P. Williams, Down, and Dibble. .Tho quartetto_ beat Spencer, and with tho ball in the 25 Davey secured and passed to M'Evedy, who put in a strong run and scored. Dyko converted with a grand kick. Wellington ... 16 Britain ■_ . 13

Enthusiasm ran high after this score, for with about eight minutes to go it was possible for. tho Britishers to'do a, good deal of damage. ' This was not to bo, however. Tho efforts of tho Britishers to open'tho play wero frustrated in tho first instanco by a brilliant mark by Roberts, and later a'solid wall of forwards was sent crashing through the 'British < defenco. The outcome was a scrum near tho lino, and .Robertsi securing possession, ran round the blind, side of tho scrum aiid gavo Mitchinson a'pass which onablod him to.race'over tho-lino'unopposed. Wallaco failed with the kick, and tho game ended—. .... ~ . . '.. ... .. ... WELLINGTON ... ... ... 19 BRITAIN :.. ... ... ... 13 Mr. Angus Campbell, of ; Auckland, was referee. \ i'. " BY THE CLOCK." SYNOPSIS OF THE CAME. p.m. - 2.ss—Teams took the field. 2.59 —Britishers kicked off against sun and light breeze. . ; 3.1 —Visitors, forced down. '' , 3.5 —British backs'threw tho ball about ■ in. Wellington territory. ',3.7 —Play removed to visitors', twenty-; ' five. ' ■■ ':■ ' 3.8 —Green, the Wellington half,, inter- - cepted and'passed to Roberts, who : scored near, the corner. Wallace's . ..kick was unsuccessful. . Welling-; ■ . ton,. 3; Britishers, nil. ■ :3.10 —Visitors' twenty-five again invaded. Roberts secured, and f transferred • to ..Hardham, who. got across.

Jackett had to bo assisted off tho field owing to a sever kick on tho ear, which stunned liiin. Wallaco converted with a fine kick. Wellington, 8; Britishers,, nil. 3.l2—Britishers mado an incursion into Wellington's twenty-fivo, but play was removed within a minuto to visitors' side/of half-way line. 3.15 —Jackett resumed amidst applause. 3.18 —Wellington pressed visitors' back. Wallaco mado unsuccessful shot at goal from a free-kick. 3.20 to 3.23—Play fluctuated in the vicinity of half-way. 3.24 —Spencer failed with a shot from a free-kick close to tho British twonty-five., Jackett came off tho field again. • ! 3.2o—Local team invaded visitors' twentyfive, whoro M'Evedy received slight injury to his arm. 3.31 —Green obtained mark outside British twenty-fivo, and in good position, but Wallaco' failed at goal. 3.3s—Gibbs winded.

3.36—Play within British twenty-five, whero Evcnson was within auaco ■ of scoring. 3.37—Green secured from a scrum near the lino, and dived across. Evcn- ■ son missed tlio goal. Wellington, 11; Britishers, nil. 3.39—Play shifted to Wellington twentyfive. 3.4o—Visitors obtained a free-kick outsido Wellington twenty-five. Gibbs made a splendid but unsuccessful attempt. Wellington forced down. 3.4s—Half-time. Line-outs: 32. .' Free kicks; To Britishers, 7. To Wellington, 7. h Marks: To Wellington, 2. To Bri- ■ tishers, 2. Scrums: 21. Wellington secured 10 times, Britishers 4. p.m. 3.55 —Second spell.—Wellington kicked off. Light breeze in favour of the visitors; sun sotting.

3.56 to 4—Play hovered: in the vicinity . of half way. ■ ■. 4,1 —Thomson scored after a magnificent run.' 'Roberts kicked a goal. ' Wellington, 16; Britishers, l nil. ,4.3 —Wellington forced down as a result of drop-out. ' r 4.4 —From a rebound in Wellington's twenty-fivo, J. Fi Williarns, by fast following up, got across. Gibbs made a good but • ! unsuccessful attempt. Wellington, .. 16;' Britishers, 3. , ~ ,4.9 —Play... removed . from .half', way to ' r , Britishers' twenty-five line, where Wallace temporarily incapacitated: 4.ll—From a line-out Davay secured and transferred to' J. L. Williams, the V - ..Cardiff "flyer," .who beat .'.several ' ' ".backs arid 'scored close |to tho posts. Dyke enhanced tho score. Wellington, 16; Britishers, .8. 4.l3—Jackott returned, to assist,his side.'' , 4.l4—"Polity." Jones was momentarily in- ' / capacitated. 4.15 to '4.lß—Play up and' down tho field. Green laid out'temporarily. 4.19 —Roberts had unsuccessful shot' from n mark, • 7 4.2o—Play in ; visitors'. twenty-five, where ■ Green opportunely, secured a mark. 4.22- i -Sceno;of play at , half-way ■ , . invaded Britishers' .. twenty-five,; whero exciting play '. took "place. ' . . 4.29—Visitors , relieved tho pressure, but Wellington" forwards, by a good rush, returned to the attack. ' 4.33 —Scrums in tho corner of visitors' territory. Roberts winded as , a result of accidental kick. .

4.35 —Play in front of visitors' goal, but forwards, headed by ■ Williams, relieved in grand stylo. 4.36—Down sustained slight injury to his leg. ■ , 1 4.^7 —Britishers suddenly invaded Wellington's twonty-fivo, and M'Evedy got across near the corner. Dyke landed a magnificent goal. Wellington, 10; Britishers, 13. 4.39 to 4.41—-Exciting play. Wellington ■ pressed into visitors' twenty-five, where Roberts transferred to Mitchinson, )vho got across near the. ■ corner. Wallace failed with the kick. Wellington, 19; Britishers, 13; , 4.4s—Game came to a conclusion without furthor score. Line-outs: 34. Free kicks: To Britishers, 7. To Wellington 4. Marks: To Wellington, B'. To Britishers, 0. Scrums: 16. Britishers secured 5 times: .Wellington L