FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 599, 30 August 1909, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. NARROW WIN FOR THE VISITORS. FAST GAME IN THE MUD Despite the cheerless weather on Saturdiy afternoon the attendances at the Athletic Park for tho Auckhnd-Wellington match constituted a record for the.season It was estimated that between 8000 and 9000 people, including a fair sprinkling ( of ladies, wc-ro present Amoug interested spectators were the Acting-Prime Mims+er (lion Jas Carroll), tho Hon Dr Fnidlay, Hon J A Millar, and Hon. G Fob Ids, besides Dγ Newnian, Mr G. F C Campbell, and others Who have been identified with the control of Rugbj football for manj jears In ucw of the already sodden state of the ground— which was, however, not quite so bad as on the occasion of the . memorable second "test" against the British team last jear— the match between' tho Manawatu and the Wellington referees, which was to have formed the curtam-ruser, was verj wisely postponed Tho game was fast, and, on the whole, very interesting It will be generally agreed that Auckland were lucky in securing a win The Wellington team was as follows — FULL-BACK J R^an. THREE-QUARTERS Eveuson, 'Mitchinson, Walsh. , FIVE-EIGHTHS • H Roberts, M/Leod. HALF-BACK: F Roberts FORWARDS Read>, Averj, Dennohy, A. C Wilson, "Ranji" Wilson, Bruce, Tannalull and WKellar The personnel of the' Auckland team which I took the field was as follows.— FULL-BACK ' Reiiwitk' '. /THREE 'QUARTERS Mulrjj, NYilson, FIVE-EIGHTHS Magee, O'Le.irj. HALF-BACK , Webb FORWARDS Heiyi'nrr, Wilkos, Selfcis, Maguiro, Francis,. Nicholson, Wadddl, and WilLairb

•,^cklk^:play^fi^:::,,i!retrday!:'/;fQdtball.j-■.Wel!ingWn!-relied'\t<)\;a';greatHextejit'gn;r.pto wh'ish^ojild r b"'ave bYeiv ■.rtitable.'for, a-'iiry-gro'uad—ai'icl'jVucXfaiid"tfclu/ tos , sf '•', Wiinjt6n"; : ch'oee 'l\\S ; : nortjieri -goal) the;;,adxr.ntag'e' .of :[?.■ ge'iiiie-breeze;'Just as.the viti: .a^ : -lTtite ftamj .''\Vhllsfc:f;lrer6:* : arid ' .there, ■ SoalG(l'" i tUif'. r :':' ; :,. '■ -jtf:- "■,: 'upon, .{lie 'Bit;liToff'";vv'as,' ; a-'.rUckV .from , 'w^icK.^.^'Ted' , ',ghlh'edfthe,; .ball;' i'aiiclEatter;aAfiiie'.ilasiK..passed i* EyeilSoii; "tflfo , ■:■ Aucklnrid; thleW. 'Mfi lot'Vf peir '.f.ull-Wok,; Itenwick, ..bunglmig:', woft;: : lthe: visiting ipack: made :\ip -the' , but were imnjediately' for&d.back.-tb':'their,.twenty-five., '•■ *'I)uririg' ;tH© ;"su^eedingffivte : :;mitiutcs,:Aucfc land ■territory ■' was tlic;scQno'bf-'.ppwatidris. Twico,'. in quick, succession,, the ..northerners were .'compdled tovfbVce -down,', after scrambles near'trjeir line.';/From a lnck'-out, iiiiiugufated ''..'passing'.! rusHj'••:. ;trhich : Y'Ws stopped: by- 'M'Gregor/ cuttiflg •'ins and, spoil-;, itigjMitchin.sdh's tenort.s.i': : '.', ■ . ;'■';/; '-■';■.;..'j; '.'

'■■ : -:j3b6rtryr:': afterwards - ; Wellington' -j ■:. were' awarded ■ a free-kick , , .but•James .Ryan , ,ffailed tolift the- oval' sufficiently.••' It : waa ndt-lpng before'-'.'Fred" Roberts .was;again conspipubu's. -but" M'Leod •failed .to take' the --pass. which.,he .sent, him. ..As- a-seqtiel to- the re-, sultant scramble, Auckland forqecl ior. r tne fourth'.' time. ■ ;', ! >~;<"; : '■' '"<: ■''.'■'''. ':-'...; ':!■ ■-Up-to this stage—the':first.fifteen.minutes ;had-'had ■the.'best ; of A jnatters,. 1 but ■ Auckland how.;begsn'.toi- play together, 'better.', Aiter some' desultorj*.- play near/half-. \wayi -•' Wilson-centred-':- for • Auckland, but EvenspnVi'fieltlirig' neatly;; .'beat\' McGregor badly;; and istarted .a; 'promising • rush;; which, liowever, -was brought to: an. end by -a,.forward 'pass from M'Leod to <"Ranji -AVilson. , ' Hearty was - 'then' - earned- ; by; M-'GregotpwhA' fieldedl.at top speed .in.the; face.of ; .Btrdrig opposition,, but if ailed tq get past' Evensori.i,; Following. :upi Francis;k;ckea •too, hard,, aridi Ryan registered, AVellington- s '•first yforce-dowhj •■ .."Within -the next : couple of minutes, the Auckland pack broke away from a line-out near' half-way, -and, ,_by footwork, carned;play rigbtup to the AVellington lino,' where .a ;.free-kick was . given-, in • favour of the .'.visitors.v' O'Leary. who. .placekicked so well ia, the inter-island match, made agood,'bilt unsuccessful,.,attempt at goal. 'Several'times at this-stage Ryan, by good line-kicking,, .saved, for. Wellington. :

For the, next' five .rninutes AVellington attacked steadily, but f their -work y-' lacked "sting."- ; Once, when the local backs had opened up' play Mitchinson- ■ spoiled by kicking hard over/the Northerners' line. Then the Auckland pack ■'.began'".to;•■ exert itself again, but M'Lcody by cleverly markirig,'- stopped what promised; to. v be a formidable -rush.' i Next ■ there was a fine'; dribbling rush o%' behalf of the home team••> by Ready, Avery aid 'but. Renwick "saved" at.the expense of a free-kick, which v"lfrtd'.M:Rjbberts -nearly-turned-'to account, 'and once'more "Auckland were forced '::■■ '-.•<;■ "'With' thifty 'minutes gone .: the , ..visitors now' played' with'"niuch more vim;, Harry Roberts', by-mMkingi put an'end to ono of their "onslaughts.' 'Then 'followed some -hard ;tight wprk'in ' the, Wellington twenty-five, ■ which ended.'in O'Leary stopping an- attempt to raiae tho siege by ifeoulaung liito touoa:

Some merriment was occasioned: at this, stage owing to "Rami" Wilson dragging Webb, who had tho ball, some distance through tho mud

As soon as Auckland renewed the attack, a free-kick was given against tho local team, owjng to Walsh unlawfully obstructing M'Geo To tho delight of the barrackers for tho visitors, O'Leary piloted the ball over tho bar Auckland •• . 3 points Wellington ml . From tho kick-out Auckland returned to tho attack, but Mitehmson stepped them bj taking a low rn-uk Imparting more vigour into their work, Wellington quickly secured a territorial advantage, but tho mistake of kicking too hard was repeated and, before Avcrj could get up to the ball, M'Gregor saved by kicking behind Soon after tho kick out M'Geo kicked well up the field to Rfin, who wa3 cheered for put-ting-in a run which sent play back to halfway With the assistance of their backs, Wellington now again assumed the offensive From a scrum in front of the visitois' goal, tie ball wont back to A\alsh, who, thoughtlessly, kicked too hard o\er the Northerners' line, as some of his fellow-backs had previously done, and only a force resulted One of the best pieces of play in the remainm<; few minutes >of the spell waa tho ck>\ er dribbling bv M'Gregor, the winij, from his own tweiity-five to half-wiv Althojgh some of the Auclhnders, notably Francis, seenetl to be feelin" the strain, they finished up tlio first half with a fine lush, which YUlsh narrowly saved by kicking into touch near the corner flag There wns every thrt Auckland mifht I scdro from the- line out, but Tannalull, who liad been prominent on more than one occasion, brfllte ami aveitcd all danger, I juoi as flic bell soimdcil

-;• :•: 'S?oondJSßO{!.;,'--: 7",..: \ ■;:::. • "Within the firstiininute^after, the. resumption\of hbstilitiesj' M'jHregory.wpis cpinpolled i to' foro? ;V oa ■' behalf- :of : -the. Northerners. , ; iFpr- the home 1 team, ; Walsbiwas now;playing five-eighth, his place on the three-quarter lino being taken by H.' .Roberts: ..Not more than tfiree or 'four minutes "had' elapsed b©-, fore a rush by .the Auckland: •pack', headed by M'Guire and HerringjreeTilted-inWelhng-. 'ton- touching •doym.,';Upo/i ,tfie visitors; again ! makin'f'. .cdnsiderablo'..;hea(lway | -;-M'Gregor spoiled their ■chances\-Dy.'.following .the": bad example p'f, some bt. the ■..•Wellington •-•■bacta when,on tho<attack iu the-first spell--kickmg too: hard.- , : ■. 'V'r'..) '■•.'.'>■.• .'-'■',"''-f. '■'/■,'■■ Vjv \ Auckland continued' to have,the.best >)f matters fbr'some , time,' their : forwards- showing superiority on the in the loose, arid iu' tackling. ■ '[ Once 'by,: .'.'Fr«d' '■' Roberts: marking cleverly;'and 'on':"an,qthef; occasion by '"Avery "and' , ' Co.-.' suddenly;-. fall;ing, ' were Auc'i-1 iiid' jprev'ented;: from^getting■ striking : distanc«^ : .vi;\:,yt;:V^; JV V;; : ' ;,;.'■;

Wheo.kfifi^n ; -minutes'"of ; the I '.second half fed '■ gone by'tie:hppeis ofJtli'e supporters"of ihe home team'.were-'agaiil. revived.; 'Following upon some-good; work ■by * the; local,'pack : the rearguard got linto 'action,! but although they -handled Qie" grealsy'-ball' exceedingly Well, not 'muohgroufidv was .gained by -tho movement. The responded mlh\ a rush- .Which Saw iWilson race; ahead or the : pack,-andprovent.Eyan: from returning, iii tfe course of the ■■resultant scramblo on this- Wellington, line" Magee,.:'who:had been doing -good .service'-'for';tlie -.visitors all alone, received''a severe':kiol: at the'.back ; qf the right'ear, and was; unable!to pontmue. playingv •■With ■: generosity -.the •local skipper'allowed 'Winter ;■ io 'fill ' thq <vacanpy,' despito'-the-ilate i stage.of the;game.

Then followed one of thoXbcst efforts' of the' dax..' tO'ft' l !^ l iocvsfcd

rush" MiMirisoiT kicked up to half .way, where■ a moment : .later.;''Fred'.''Roberts orossv kicked to.the right-winger—Harry of tho , same ilk—who. put in a fine run, which ended in him-being 'thrown into touch by three opponents near the corner flag. 'Without'detracting 1 from the.-merit of .t'lie effort, it is fairly safe'to say that the opportunity would probably, have enabled a morp experienced, player to have got over fhe'line. ■ ' From a scrum;, which took • place immediately- aftorwa'rdsi'V'Fred" Roberts, sent out the ball to his backs,- but Mitchinson mulled hvfrorit'of the-Auckland goal. -Amidgreat excitement AYellhigton continued on the aggressive. .'Out'came .the' ball from another, scrum to ''Fred' ,, Roberts, who tried to work the blind side, .but he passed too* high to; Evcnson, and the ball : went into touch.From a free-kick on the Nortlieners' twentyfive', line Evensori later potted, but he failed to lift the oval> properly'.' There were a number of- infringements'; at .;this .stage—half' way through the spell.: Avery and M'Leod were prominent , in the. next ■ ■Wellington rush, whidi'ha'd 'as ..its'.'result'a ,fprce r do\yn. : _ v : '. ITheiV'followedrsomei minutes of lees interesting play. Suddenly. the Auckland pack (prominent among whom was M'Guire) made a. concerted,rush which- carried play from the' vistors , own';twentyrfiye to the home twenty-fivo.K, Open fast play which followed ended in. Rran forciiig down after a hard race ; with, Wilson 'for the ball. ; ■".'■ ',

Only a few minutes remained, and Wellington's chances wore never again bright. Shortly after the kick out Auckland was awarded a free-kick, which, however, did not prove successful. Walsh, to whom the hall went in front of the goal, failed badly. On rushed the Auckland pack, but success did not attend iheir efforts. From a Borum at ihojards out Webb obtained possession, but attempting a short punt he was blocked, and Evcnspn, found the lino Franns and Wilkes were then associated m some passing, but the latter was thrown into touch Just befoio the bell went Auckland were given a free-kick, but O'Leary was unsuccessful. And so the game ended— Auckland 3 points. Wellington ml Mr. Jas Duncan, who controlled tho contest, (ja;e complete satisfaction, but the samo caiinol bo said of one of the lino umpires v

RESULTS OF PREVIOUS MATCHES. , Of tho twenty matches wluch have, now, taken place between tho two'provinces, Auck■land has won eleven, Wellington eight, whilst one has been drawn, loUowing is a list of the results.— ( 1880 —At Auckland. Wellington' won, 5 to, ' ml. 1883—At Wellington. Draw, 5 points each1886—At Auckland.' Auckland won, 4to 2. lg§9—At Wellington. Wellington won, 3 to 1. 1804—At Auckland. Wellington won, 13 to 1896—At Wellington. Wellington won, 9 to 5. , 1896—At Auckland. Wellington won, 3to • nil. ■ i ' 1597—At Wellington. Auckland won, 11 to 4. 1898—At Auckland. Auckland won, 19 to nil. • 1899—A't Wellington. Auckland won, 14 to 3. 1900—At Auckland. Auckland won, 14 to 4. 190l_At Wellington. Auckland won, 9to 3. 1902—At Auckland. "Auckland won, 18 to 5 1903—At Wellington. Wellington won, 4 to 3 1904—At Auckland .Wellington won, 6t03 1905—At Wellington. Auckland won, 10 to 6. Auckland. Auckland won, 11 to 8. 1907—At Wellington. Wellington won, 11 to 3 1908—At Auckland. Auckland won, 24 to 5.

■■; '-ii, NOTES ON; THE GAME. V V;:fip^orks'^thlt;■ did'• not pay! ■: ■■ \:,;;: '.!•.':■ v.- ; Mao; ,, ) V ■■:;■■,■'■■■;- : " ! had they'not sacrificed ,sOber v jUdgmont;for a' bit, of ieliow, Passing • ori" a y'et; sUpperV, .ground •with'.a' soddoti/Vgre.asy .ball .are :\ a sort :6f ,Rugby.\firewpfks;.w|iicliiodk'very well'when they. come'l'.jCiS'li" but'; under.:, the; conditions 'of Saturday's \ hand, business :'• "was pur<sly a ; ;losing-' gamble../; Leaving' the : first of, ; ;tlio■. guestioh,;and turning , to tjne- : period :■ in ..the': seoOnd i '..half - , just : : after Magee, .the;.Auckland'Bkipper,.had retired, one. saw- AVollirjgtotf bombarding, tjie, Northernera',' line', for' fully .'fifteen; minutces iptk a series of passing rushes'which were, grand to : . witness;:; At-' lntcryals .in : this sustained .'attack' the.iali,;'wbu'ldVbe:-mulled by : one of the , :\Vellinigton' , .backs.'.;i This , was oiily.to be expected, ,'but ''iti gave \- .the Aucklanders 'the chance ;td 'clear '.the'-.line. This ; they",did, ,and'. through/ Ryaii,-. .tlio .Wellington ; fullback, being unable to rkeep back m his; proper position, play'.wpTild; usually 'surge to the hah'-iv.ay flag, from iwhich point .-.Wellington would begin the wb'oje: perforniaiice again. It lia , true" that. bn : one of ■ these when the:two';Rbbortfcesi Mitchinson,. Walsh, arid'Eychson were taking supli.a big hand in 'affairs," r H/ Robcrts' ;was; drigged down just in ■' time- by 'Renwick: f and ! <;>Vebb, and F. Roberts almost scored.: a' try, soliis. Still the ■bombardment 'at thb;'outset..of'the:.'attack 'should' liaye'\bfiejt'-in.''the- nature ,'of. high 'punts 'into s> the ; :'Auckland • twenty-five,'■:these. being.foll6wed:'eli niasse 'by. the Wellington forwarde'.' , : Such .'crasliing, clmrgies . -would 'Have done more than' anything else to. disorganise - and ■' dispifiti the.' Au'ckland ' backs. Wellington might 1 'haye " even , mixed the. game, and tri?d; the' handball .business .occa-, eiohajly; instead' of, all;,the -.tsnie. . A genius ivas riot required , on the other, sido to know what the Blacks 1 wereSgoing'to' do- when they got the, ball. Thei;ewas v onlj' the 'one 'style of game to : defeat,- and,; aided : , by tho elements' -the'.Auck'landers..did ] it,• and. did it well. .On very few : occaeions did ,tho Auck.lana backs - try' the -\ 'passing ' ; 'game' (only ; once, -.in.- the ;. ,second ; -| spell),'., and, .each time .ithey'. lost'-ground. ,' : .' i Had ■'_'. Auckland played ■ the same game that; Wellington.;did, tho Northernersi- , - would/ have ;been- beaten, arid beaten" easily.'. ' As; it /.was.. the efforts made by,: Wellington -iri'-'.the .fifteen minutes referred' to .only'burst"ithcm upj and in the 'last twolve the game ;tbey were lighting for theii: lives,', almost m order to kebp' the 'Northerners,; from their 'goal.-.; '■ '■■ ■■;;■/;•, '■'';;.'!;; : ;:'; v v V" ''■-.:■■''.';."'.'?

Wellington's Dofeotlyo Footwork.',? •: ' I 'v 'other .'wcakiiess, .manifest nearly- all through. thea game, was a disposition on' the part r of their forwards to merely Wp tho, ball >itb ■ their'-fcet, -when they should have kicked [like anny mulce. On

other occasions, on tlie other hand" when they-should have dribbled • well within. a possible controlling ' reach 'of' the leather, . they'kicked as if the dead-ball lino was the only objective. ■Avery, the Wellington wing-. : ... forward; who otherwise played a fine game, was a notable transgressor in. this J'e s P eo '» . and, on: one very speciar occasion,, ho lost, , an excGllent chance of a possible try.' .When play is between the two twenty-fives, and tho weather..conditions. , .are..such, as ,-those or Saturday, forwards cannot do better .than kick hard and often. It is a .difficult; matter for the' best backs to field .lightning,shots in these circumstances, arid'■'their ■ failure, servos further to v demoralise the defence. Similarly , ,"backs"on " a , '■■ kicking, attack '.(not ■ for.'tlio.tbuch-lihd) , ,should punt high, rather than far:'T , Frequently\the Wellington backs booted tlio leather over the/Auckland goalline as if. kicking, for ..distance only. .. !In v several, of.these instances; in the-first spell,, they would have served - .their side., much better :hadtlicy. kicked l for- touch.',,' ■;'',... How Won. . T '''It.migh't''be''eaid'. : tKat' , 'if--'the , 'Whp)e.of'Othe play were analysed,'and the penalty, ecore !off out, Auckland >ere not .the better, team.'. They started , very patchily, were , forced' down four in' twelve, the beginning'of the game,Vhad; none'the'.better ■ of. the' remainder of; the, spell,, and, except - ,for? a- few' mimites. before/Mageo 'retired; in , the; second half; and then" afterwards for the ten .minutes before-"no-side"- was called, they had considerably, the worst of. changes: They'.'.won, .however,' : on•'• a"• safe \ game,. in which\ (except for forward -play) they seldom showed: any initiative-ra game in which; they profited by the mistakes, of the] other'side. , ;'lt , is almost.. ,, certain' that, had ' they ,, .'been ■ able' :' to ; :...'up - ba.ck.-!-"playj";.'.'ahdj" had;' "done '■) 50,.. '". they , Would have |illeh, and fallen :hafd.-. Their ■ tlireo, pointa' lep'd' intho first half gave them■>' a security;, whichy'after the loss of: Magee, : they yrere. glad to avail themeelves of'.Hintil AVellington "cracked up" near tiie end of the game.y .'The-,fielding; and .kicking of ■ their backs, Rehwick,., O'Leary, .* M'GrcgoV, and . Murray in , partioularj werei safer and better ; than ! .Welluigtoii's,:- widlei 'lhe v tackling ■, of Benwickj.M'Gregor, and Wilson was about all'that*.could be'''.desired;'. *'E&& these' men ( nbt asserted- themselyos -as they did\against ' the', strenuous ; efforts:..of:Roberts ana.;Go.\ • ■ things.would. '.\have' gone..; very hard-' with

An Attraotlve Came. Considering the Vonditione, the game was attractive. Wellington was mainly responsible for this feature by opening up , back play. Notwithstanding the blemishes of the Wellington backs in fielding, there woro times when thej retrieved themselves brilliantly, and the condition of both teams enabled tho men'to keep well on tho ball all tho time. Tho fielding and kicking of tho Auckland bucks, and the, line play of the forwards 6crvcd as an excellent foil to the passing tactics of the Wellington backs and the dashes of their forwards, Tho game was of a strenuous nature —somewhat reminiscent of tho tirao twelve jears > ago, when Wellington was beaten on 1 its own ground for ike first time for about twenty years, and by an Auckland combination of which ' the redoubtable G. Smith, was the star. On that occasion, however, it was Wellington which led until tho fow minutes, when Smith came up to five-eighths and moored two tries. It seomad on Saiur- ' day, when F, Roberts made his Herculean burst in tho second half, that ho was going to emulate the deed or tho famous Auoklander, but tho distance was too for few him. ,

A'. Long-Lost:Art. - v./- ,\y v 'V\; V''-'-' ; '"v".'': ~; rf the ;, .game 'wore .Q'tcaTj'i placed goal and ■'Wβ, general' fieldinp fcand kicking; the ill-judged attack of •.Wellington at 'tfao>; banning *of~4be game, w&en th6y forced AucKlaiKLdown' four times in; twelve .'minutes: the , ,:jnagniflcentratteinptimade..by ■the Wellington .backs .to play ■ a.;, pawing game: the rqnsof r H, and: .E; Roberts in the second half; the fielding"; arid tackling of the Auckland;,backs:. and the 'line-play ;of their forwards;/'in; which department Maguire s.teod.oii^iby'^iniself,!,,';^; , _ .•"■vi'C; ■;,•',■*'. ' ■ It I, was remarkable that during',' ganie" neither side attempted.itd a scnrm> : ',■ The' onl> Saturday'; 'wore .such, thatj this, brancli:-ofriforward ;iaotips ', /shouHhave.')]<«jii;Ter.y'usraul,f jinlees./it-'.is ■- is no;.'longer.-required./Foot-ball', has not: improved' so ,mucji:, in .recent .'years tlattho art,of screwing- is' not wanted, land'fhe only,conclusion which can be ar■.riyed at is that it is;not'practised.i, It.-is possible tliat V.Cunningham jv the •.■Auckland ; star,':',- "pivot, , , , 'V-.ncv undoretiidy,■■. ■ .but ohoi; would--haye imagined - that jfho .tradi-; tional history of Ellison; Poland,; and Paul-ing-Tall. '.Wellington . centre-forward .champions in-their not have been forgotten by , our ■present-day \ players. ; ; The wible trouble apparently is; that the eonua is nowadays merely utilised ae a heelirig-out mactWfor back play, which only top often nulliflea'its'olf by the repetition; of lonelityle ofplay., ■"''-■■, :.'' : .'- '.•/'■'■:v. , -"v,":-i' ,; '.">-' : .'■■■•") V :It appeared, that althougli there was some veiy;\nne/i6i:waid--pla^' i bh-.;botli , thing more' strenuquls- is. required'in'order-to .k«p''np'-W'tUe.New.:>Zoalaad''standaW;.-Thie-. statement refors^bnly',to following up;and dribbling:'tactics.' On. Saturday■ the, liflerout play of the,-Auckland; yanguardi was of \'a high: order,; and no doubt- :the ■< men; aro •equally ae , good at. handling a dry ball:' The followmgup,'•• requires to ; -be' , , more concerted and thorough; One.good f. ilowerup'may stop a' back, but make capture} almost a certaihty.;;- in, 1 iol•lowing up. a/forward , should alwayf •his'back- jf , he can'get within , reasonable distance' of that.individual',.before-the.ball has been kicked.. Some of the Wellington ■forwards were, woefully' weak , in .this respect on Saturday. Then in: the 'dribblmg. dashes the ' 'charges. ; should be , ' keener .■;. aid.;■ fiercer , ; •thail they were on Saturday. , It very often happens, asV.on.'Saturday):, that/tno'T«eree, docs hot "believe in', penalising a back', every time that that:gentleman, falls down-on'the ballj'and does:not" immediately get up agj"}; It is a dangerous)pastime to kick.at &■ -ball beiieath a' back, and the: only obvious, way out of the- difficulty :is for the forwards-^ to gather up both back; and ball aad take:'; tho lot along togethor;' It is true that.somo referees object .to ' this System- ,of Rugby '■warfare,- - but: very'.. of ten tne . exigencies •'ol; the situation warrant'.its operation.'■ v^ , ;; ■'

WELLINGTON TOURINC TEAM. , -From unoflicial souieos information has been receded tnat tho* team to 'represent WeUington on its iortncotnuig southern .tour was pi actually selected on Saturday evening. It is understood, that tue (selection Committee (wJiasu resignation was not accepted) once nioio diMtficed upon tho question ot tho meilts'of uioro than ono plajer. 'Iho touring team will, it i« reported, uo constituted as follows.—Backs. Cunningham, -alitcliinsou, Benson, Walsh, Fred. Roberts, Sl'LiCod, Green, fll'kenzie, forwards: iJeiinehy, Irvino, A. C Yvilson, "Ranji" \\ikon Perry, Dent, jtf'Kclla;,, ilruco, Avory, and anotiier , _ ... . Jatncs Ryan, Ready and Tannahell are not available.. : , .... ~ ALLEGED PROFESSIONALISM. v

In Tue Dominion of Satin day last, thert appealed, uiidci the heading of "Alleged l'lotcssionabbm," a paragrapU stating tiutf pei&istent lumouib were in ciiculation to i tlio ellect that as tho result ot tho recent i tour of ail Auckland club team ill New South \Nales, tlie combination mado a clear prolit oL £81)0, about JC4U pel man. We ha\e been asked by Air. C. P. Stichbury, manager of the Auckland reproseutatno team which played Wellington on Saturday, and also v a nifeinber of the Management Committee ot i tbe Auckland Kugby Union, and a inernboof tho I'onsonby Club (the cjub in question), ,to' state that theio li. absolutely fio truth in the rumour. He says that when tli» tour to Now South Wales was first proposed the matter \\as refened to tho Auckland i Hugby tnion, and by that centre forwarder * to tho New Zealand body iu Wellington, lor qonsideration and approval. Tho i\e" Zealand Huaby Union agreed to tho proposal, , with tho proviso that a complete auditc* statement ot accounts in connection Mil tlio tour be submitted by the JMetropohtar Rugby Union (Now South Walbs) after tilt tour had concluded. "As a matter of fact, ,, said Mr. Stichbuiy, "tho members of the Ponsonby Club ha\e not rcccncd a single penny."' The tour was organised under tli* auspices oi the' Metropolitan ltv.gby Uniou, which pajd ' all oi.peni;e«—stoamor faroj.

hotol bills, etc —and received all tho takings. Tho secretary of tho Ponsonby Club, a week ago, wrote to the "\letiopohtan Union, asking to ha\o forwarded the audited statement of accounts referred to, and this will be- duly Bent on to tho Zealand Rugby Union t. SCHOOL FOOTBALL. X WELLINGTON DEFEATS MANAWATU A match between a team representing tho ■6ohbols from the Manawatu and a school fifteen chosen from Wellington was played at Miramai- on Saturday morning . Wellington won tlio t033, and had the advantage of tho wind. Play for soma time hovered at the centre, but eventually Wellington started a dribbling, rush from which Golhor (W«H in 6 - ton) secured tho ball and dashcJ oter Gray was unsuccessful with tho kick at goal 3—o Wellington attpckod again, and. after some good passing, Mabin scored, and Gray was successful with the kick B—o Ihis tv« 3 the score at half-timo On resuming, Manawatu, with the wind behind them, Boon, had Wellington defending, but ttio local team gradually worked back down 'tho field Still pressing, Wellington made thing , ) lively, until ono of the opposing bicks made a long kick up-ficldj anu thus transferred play to the opposite end Coming down tho lino again, Wellington onco moro asserted their superiority, O'Bnen passing to Andc-r----eon who scored at the corner IT—O A few minutes before time, Weeks (Mananatu) ecored from a looso rush on Wellington's lino, the final result being Wellington 11 points, Manawatu 3 points , Mr 3 Lynskey wps referee. The following plared well for Wellington Gelhor, Gray, and Anderson (backs), and Sullivan, O'Bnon, Martin, and Routloy (forwards) Tho most conspicuous among the visitors were Burbtlsh, Lunn, and Haywood.

IN OTHER CENTRES. THE UNIVERSITY MATCH SYDNEY (11) V OT4GO (8; I >. (By-Telegraph—Press Association) Dunsdln, August 28. A match between teams representing SjdTiey University and Otago University was phyed this afternoon on the Caledonian Ground, which was in a soft condition byuney kicked oft, and after the homo team had been aggressive for some little time a Sydney back, fumbling a kick by Uttley, alJowed Ongley to get in smartly aiid score Potter placed a fine goal —Otago 5 points, Sydney, nil Play followed near the centro, but still m Sidney ground, until Borne kicked 'doun the line, the ball going out near , the coiner flag Here Otago was ' awarded a free kick, and Potter placed another capital goal from a difficult angle — Otago, 8 points, Sydney, nil Play had now been in progress for some fifteen nunutos, and Sydney, for tho first time, invaded Otago territory. but a long kick, aided by a rising nina, sent the ball woll int<)' the -visitors' ground, and Sydney'were forced Ongley maiked just outside tho quarter-line, but this time Potter failed tvith tho kick Sydney replied with a rush into Otago quarteis, but Borne put nu a < serviceable kick, which took play to the ' visitors' ground again, and, Otago pressing, 1 Syduej were again forced At this' Ross (Sjdncy) retired owing to an injury to -his leg, and his place on the held was tedtcn by Stack Sydney thtu carried play to Otigo ground, and* tforked the" ball up to twenty yards of the line, but the home team, by open play, took the leather back to Sydney territory, and, for a quaitor of an hour, unmtere3tmg play followed at the centre Earn was'now falling heavily; iTho Sydney forwards weie beginning ,t( lay with better combination, and several - 'aes they carried the ball into Otago ground x Twice they held good attacking positions, but both times they nullified the advantago by off-side play A forward rush, from a line out near the centre, eventually carried tho ball to the Otago line,-and, Sydney following, up irell, Alawell scored near the corner Hughes s kick at goil failed Otago, 8 points, Sydney, 3 points Otago again bhirged down the field, and, after some, lively play, Sydney wero forced In the second spell Reid took MallaTd s place <n the'Otago team, the latter having leoeived jn injury to his face The visitors lost Jio time in invaduig Otago terntory, and within three of the start tho home team was forced Hard kicking was the order of the day for some time, and p'av, which was mostly in Otago's quarters, vias somewhat erratic At length, in some loose play near the corner, PocVley got possession and scored Hughes placed a splendid goal —Otago, 8 points, Sydney, 8 points Kelly again sent the ball into Otago ground, but Sydney bpoiled a good l chance to score bj •wild paising, and Borne relieved the pr°s sure on the Otago line by a timely kick tc tho centre A free-kick to Otago saw the visitors busily defending, until ono of then forwards put in a kick which the -vind car ned to the Otago quarter-flag Otago, how ever, soon had another look-in, but, attempting, passing tactics, they lost ground, anc play gravitated towards the Otigo end. Th( Sydney forwards wore now playing capitally and continued to press the home team m Bide their quarter-line, till Uttley got thi ball, "and ran with it to safer quarters, wheri he kicked, but the strong wind carried th ball back almost to tho bame spot. In th face of tho h«ivy dmzlmg rain, the Otagforwards slowly worked tho ball' to th centre, where slow play followed, tho loca team fitting valiantlv against the vraitor and tho wind With fifteen minutes to gc Sydney started a passing run, tho ball gom at last to Pockley, but he was grassed befor he got past the quarter-flag Sydney, no Totaling tl.eir efforts, again carried tho bi to the Otago line, and, in some loose work Dovle "ot over neir the corner Tho kic at "goal failed —Svdnoy, 11 points, Otapo, points The kick-mit give no relief t Otago, and 'a free-kick to the visitors sa; Hughes make a splendid shot nt goal, th ball ROing juet a few fret outside tho posi A irmute later the' whistle sounded wit play in.Otago'3 twenty-five.

■'. ''■■ "]'.' : i '.'■'■■ Christohuroh, August 28.. •A.football match ; was.;p'layed r at Lancaster Park this afternoon between teams; ,repre-Bentinc--town and country. •■-.- The - weather- ■■'; conditwns were very nnfavourablo; and with a greasy ball and a slippery , ground, good iootball'-Wttf out-»f th o question. The game, "■however, ;was ! very evenly contested,, the ... country "forwards showing up , > very well.' The '•town!backs,-, on' the~. other, hand, had a better ■ than ! - their - opponents, ■ and this •■ enabled them' to-win by 12 points.to 6.- ' '.-•: BULLER. (8); V;.;JJELSpN : (3).: • .' ? ■ ..•■'.'■ ■-'..";■•.■ -': 7 Vi ■-■''! : y '\yestportj ; August , 28. ; , : • ; . The ; , Buller ■>.:■. ■Nelson J football,. . rnatph-, ".. played' at'-the Cape' ; Fouhvind ground to-day, 'resulted in a win ionßuller by 8 points'tq'3. In the first;spell neat passing -between'R. i Hansby aiid Kelly let the latter aivay, and he, scored near the. goal-posts,': M'Diarmid fiodverting. Shortly' after coinmencins tho second spellj Kelly gained possession, of tho leather, and transferred to 11.'Hansby, who, .'■ -finished a ■ dashing, '.run .by scoring a. try, Which; was unconverted. Nelson now put \ m6ro; ; life into their , play, arid, obtaining a , .'>■ fre'e-k'ick in: Buller's. 25, ■ SauJiders.'noatly '}' goaled. Tho. game was a hard one, but. not brilliant; the'."ground.,being .slippery:': -'A -' ! feature of the play was' the Gno line-kicking '■of ..S»nndors, : the -captain of. :the .visiting : ' tone.. -.''■ ■ ■■'.'"• . ' ■ '.' ■ ■

: ' •'■' MATCHES ; tN AUCKLAiSD., ''■-■••' . .some' good place-kicking. : ' l '- ,i'---i ;■ ii : .u'■■■■■ Auokiand, Augusi 23; ■ Two inter-unicn matches w« re . -played -here • to-day in very bad weather,-' rain Ming incessautly thionchout the k»™«-. Tie hear; rain :: 6f Tiiursday and-Fridiy hid made the • Erounds sodden, so that -the playing »i«.fu quickly converted into a quagmire. Tfo match between the Auckland B team »nd tho .Northern Wairoa Union ropresentatim re'''eulted in a win fol' tho latter by 6 points ' to 3.= For Wairoa Mitchell Ecoreda trv and ; Smith kicked a penalty goal. Revell *oor«l ■ for' Auckland. . . ~ : The Auckland junior representative* d*- ; '■ fealcd the K&iparft roprcwntatives by 37 "points to nil. A feature of the |amo.was •r-tho place-kicking of Jaylpr/who four K oals from six--attempts from diifereat

angles—a great feat when tho sodden nature of the bait is corsic'orcd The Auckland scoie comprised nino tries, fivo of vvJncli wore converted A JUNIOR REPRrSENTATIVE MVTCII Hawora, August 23 The junior lepresontitivc matrh laranaki v Wanganui ended in fivour of Taiwiki bj o points to 3 For tho winners TNjlor seared a tij, which Tchborno concerted, while Watts scored for Wanganui. HIGH SCHOOLS' TOURNAMENT Nfilor, August 29 Tho second match in tho l«gh schools tournament was phjed at HMt>n ß ß on Biturdiy, when IMmcrston Jvorth defeated Now Plymouth by 11 points to o INTER-COLLFGE TOTJEN YMENT Warganul, August 29 Th« intor-collego footbill tournament was contmued on Wdaj, «hon Wellington boat Ohnst'B Collego by 2o point sto 6 "OUTCLASSED "

,- PaWatua, August 28. Tho match between the Wairarapa and BiuhY« representative ; - football _ teams was played here this afternoon; Tho weather was favourable, and'there; was a good at : tendance. The ground, however, was on tiio heavy side. The Bush team -was outclassed ■in.all 'departments of the, game, Wairarapa winning by 24 points to nil. ." , ■ . MANAWAT.U 13;; HOROWHENUA 8. (By Telccrapb.-Spedal dotriiapondcnt.) ':iV -'■'■-■■ • ,■■■-. palißorGton, August 29. , Ho'rowhenna;wero defeated"hero by Manawatu on Saturday by 13 points to S. lho ground was dry, \but ;a strong. south-east wind spoiled much of the play.. Mnnawatu lad the better of-the game, their, forwards being, superior, to the visiting vanguard. In in--tho- backs, Manawatu. were better all round, though Cordelia, Martin, Winiata,and CooJe played well, for Horowhenua. With the'wind behind them Horowhemia scored all their points in tl» first spell, George and N." Winiata. securing tries,.. W. • Wimata converting ■' one.'.- On- changing round Manawatu • repeatedly . attacked, -.',II. ..Carroll. M'Mirin, . and Brough ,'■ scoring tries, and oonver.ting two of -them; 'Mr. A. Grcathead was'referee. * ..

AUSTRALIA DEFEATS THE MAORIS, (By Telegraph-Pre a Amoclntinn-Onpjrlehil (Rec August 23, 715 p in ) Sydney, August 28. Australia defeated tho Maori team by 20 points to 13 Prior to tho match nine Maoris were arrested undf>r an order of tho Court, obtained by Mr Jack in connection with his claim, but matters were arranged so as to enable them to play. The attendance at the match was about 10,000 Play in tho first hilf was even A rew minutes aftei the stait Australia was penalised, and Powhiuvvhiu succeeded m putting tho ball over tho bar Asher and Kop-ina each secured tries, but Powhiuwniu s shots at goal were both failures I , or Australia, Carpenter kicked a penilty goal, and Nicholson got a try, which Butler converted In the second spell plaj was exciting, the Australians making the game hat, and keep ing tho visitors on the defensive For Australia i Cam, Butler, and Broomhani successively crossed the lino and Butler converted tho I first two tries Tho Maoris did not get a loot-m till just before "no-side," when, going strongly, Haira secured a try Taonui adding the extra points At the close of the game, the'cup trophy for tho winners of a majintv of tho test matches was presented to tho Maoris. , (Rec. August 30, 0 55 a m ) Sydney, August 29. Tho Rugby League handed a cheque to the Shenlf, covering the amount in dispute, pending tho Court's decision The Maoris, thoretoro, wore released ASSOCIATION. , , SENIOR FIRST DIVISION: Saturday afternoon vas the reverse of pleasant for outdoor sport of any kind At Miramar, where all the Association senior games wore plajed, tho conditions could not well have been worse Continuous rain soaked the plajcrs and made the grounds very difficult to operite on Tho result of tho senior first division matches to date leaves Switts in the load with 22 points, YMCA second with 20 points, and.Diamonds third with 16 points

) -;V.M.C.A. (4) y. ,d; amonds (i). v .-; v : Rain'and "wind made/.Miramar a .''bleak; r place/on Saturday, afternoon,'but the knot of spectators.huddled round -the Y.M.C.A>Dia'nibnd. gam'o /took comfort from the fact that there was some vigour and real football in their rnateh/ Diarapnds.wcro at no littkrdis-; advantage' from tho outset,- and showed a poor ■ defence. 'The 'team has gone . back, noticeably' in/form.;, Y.M;C:A-. early • showed energetic intentions; arid at the.call.of time" they had the- satisfactory, record of. 4, goals' -^-thfee.obtained,. by ; 'Tunpe'rley.-'.and /one 'by; Gibson. Diamonds scored once , , 'as the result; 'of a corner-kick, 'and, luckily'.'for them, the. ■ball ■•.went. ■ through off- "a : YvM.C.A. player;; Mr." J;; Davidson was referee. ■.'; : : ~.\ . ;

V SWIFTS'(2) V. ROVERS (0). ; The: ..Swifts-Rovers .contest, • originally set down for the 13asin. Eeservc, took place on NoI-4 ground, Miramar, and provided ' a fairly- \ .game. : ; - -ltovcrs attacked from :the and |made several promisbut. fruitless, onsets in ■ their opponents territory.''■ .Swifts'--.defences wero sound, and the attack of tHo Rovers -.was ;sbon converted into a defence - , the Swifts forwards playing energetically and with .creditable combination,, arid only the. brilliant defence of Oldnail (in'goal), saved the Rovers from..a moro overwhelming def?at.; 'Ho, was, ; however, out-manoeuvred by Sau'nders 'and Sparrow. Saunders sent in .a. ; dropping . shot which Sparrow,, With'a. neat header, son); through the: posts.. Tho. game then -became faet and open, aud a series-, of strenuous'. skirmiahes took place ■<"in either -territory, until Saunders, from a struggle in front of the Rov- : era' "oal, ! drove' the leather through-, ana the first spell-endecl with" Swifts leading by two goals. Tho second spell was-resultless. though- characterised: .by -some spirited play, especially' by Rovers, who .were determined on evening the score.if possible. But the Swifts defence was too solid, and the came ended--Swifts 2, Rovers nil. Mr. J. B. Paton refereod. :, ' ;■:.'■ :-'.,v. ;" ■ j :'■■ >ETONE (1) V. ST. JOHN'S (1). ■' On tte suburban ground. Petone. drew, with , St. John's, after an even game. Tho Petone team was a mixed lot, mainly umors, with a sprinkling of 'senior omen.- The rain and the state of the: ground seemed to. affect the spirit of the players,..who lacked energy and dash., St. John's were weak in the inner defences, and the .suburban forwards made light:work of breaking through,-- .b?.d shooting alone being responsible for the fact that St.'John's did not .suiter more serious disaster. The first ■spell was without score. After resuming play i for the stoond spel Petone played more carefully, though noi less energetically. 'Soon after. tho Rick-off TapliJi centred neatly, and Curtis scored the first goal of the match. John's retail ated, attacked strongly, and Jc-hwon evened the score.' Petone had a narrow call snortly before tho whistlo blew, when Guy miiSftd an easy chance of sooruig for St. John's. Mr. Heme referred. i SENIOR BECOND DIVISION. • '' In the' Senior Second Division; chalkngo metobes, Wanderers defeated St. John's by 7 \ goflla to nil, »fl*r » e*me which, m the Jcore .indicate., *»s renr Woodcock (2), Holland (2), Heather, Benton, and 1 Ritchie (ono each) scored for the. winners. ' Jir. Fisher roferepd. "■'.-. '. : Letter-Carriere sufferwl defeat at tho ' hands of Diamonds, the scores—ll goals to " I—affordine eloquent testimony to the chari actor of tb G e garuo. Blgok; (3), Map* (2), JLow«, lUbertSi Ril*l, Hall, Fitegerald, ami 1 T Collinfl«ooicd for the winnert, and Houls- . ton. ecorod the -flolitary goal for the losers. I Mr. j H&J'ton referred. ' / " , Porirua Toa (12) defeated. Marist. Old f'i'Bovs (3). , . '~... t Swiftsl defaulted to YM.QJI : ■ ' '

: JUNIOR GAMES. T.M.C.A. .B (first 'division; drew with Diamonds, 2 goals each. Marist A (third division) won by default from South Wellington.' ' : Bangers A (third division) won'by default from Brooklyn B. Marißt Old Boys (fourth division) won by default •' from' Kaiwarra. Marist. C won from Brooklyn by default. Wadcstown Wanderers (5) beat St. David's (0). ..Overond (2), .Amies (2),, and Kaywood scored.- Mr. Wilson refereed.' • ■ .:. Institute' -B won" from Island Bay Bby default.: ■'"■"■.. , -..■..-■ THE BROWN SHIELD MATCH. The■ following 'team has.been selected by Messrs. Paton, Mayer, and Waters for the match against Auckland at the Athletic Park on Saturday next:—Goalkeeper, Oldnail: right-full-tack, J. Pye-Smith; loft fullbaok, Hall; 'centre-half, J. Taylor (captain) ; right half, Kerschberg; left half, R. Gibson; 'eentro forward, W. Gibson; outside left, Blackwood; inside loft, Timperley;. insido right,- J. Ash, outside right, SmaJlbone; Emergencies: Forwards, Vossey, Moore; backs, W. Roberts and Jackson. . A CHARITY BANNER MATCH. ! (By Toleirapb.—Press Ansuciallon.l : ; Dunedln, August 28. ; Tho Charity Banner match; in which tho' winner of the;cup matches plays the .runnerup for a banner, the proceeds of the match going .to charity, was played this afternoon, and resulted in a win for tkv Northern Club, who beat City by 7 goals to nil. Tho ciip.w.as-won by the-City team. ■. , . ■ '■