REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 907, 29 August 1910, Page 6

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

MATCHES NEAR-AND FAB, \ "THE MARCH. OF THE MLBORQUQH MEN;" . -OUR ."B" TEA! 'BEATEN: " ' HOLLOW WIN BY THE TOURING' FIFTEEN'.

Tlireo Rugby teams representing Wellington took the field in different parts of the North Island on Saturday, two of those, teams emerging victorious from their contest and the, third suffering defeat. Wellington A rcprcsentativeseasily defeated AVanganui at Wanganui by.2l points to 3, Wellington juniors, defeated Horowhenua juniors at Levin by 18points to 11, but at Athletic Park, AVellington B team . suffered defeat at the hands of Marlborough, by S points to G. Heavy rain which fell in the city on Friday night and Saturday morning did not promise well for the match on the park, : but by' midday the weather had cleared, though a high northerly gale'was blowing. The attendance was only moderate, and could scarcely have totalled 3000 people, and' this included a large number of enthusiasts who had. come from Blenheim to watch the play of their re r prescntatives.. These Blenhcimitcs made, thoir presence felt among.the crowd, for from the kick-off until the whistle sounded "no-side," they urged the visiting team on with continuous shouting, and did not relax their'vocal efforts until the whistle sounded, for the cessation of hostilities. Even then the winners' supporters had not finished,' and for fully five minutes after, cheers could bo heard from the dressing, shed. A large pond had formed on the south end of the ground.at Athletic Park, and a smaller, pond on the south'-eastern corner of No. 1 ground. In consequence of this, the "curtain-raiser", iras transferred to Miranur, and the MsrlboroughWellington match, was played on Ko. 1 ground. - A very interesting game was •witnessed, hut it is not too much to say that after the first quarter of an hour the visiting team had all the best of it, and it was surprising, that they did not win by a substantial. margin, instead of winning from a try which was generally reckoned.to' be no try at all. The Teams. Tho teams.took the field as follow:— Marlborough— Full-back,; Costello; three-quarters; Daly, Horgan, Strickland; five-eighths, O'Brien, Manning; half, Oben; Winger, Casdy; forwards, A. Hegglun.'C.Hegglun. Webster, Southgate, G. Forbes, J..'Forbes, Macdonald. Wellington.—Full-back, Cunningham j three-quarters. Pvle, Grace, Elliott ;' fiveeighths, F. Roberts, Walshe;>half, Tilyard-; winger, Hardham; forwards, Murphy,/ .Tyrell, Hunter, Curtaync, M'Kellar,Macfarlane, W.. Wilson. .: First Spell. '■'• .' / Wellington'-won tho toss, and Marlborough kicked off towards the western goal. After a couple of minutes' play-Roberts made a fine run-down the.northern side, but was well stopped by Daly. , Good work by Manning and Casey took play to AVcllington twenty-fives, .where Horgan secured, a'clever-mark, but as.-the wind. was 1 high, Marlborough left,the 'goal-posts' alone, and put'the ball out in the-cor-ner. Wellington cleared the lino, but a free-kick to Marlborough had tho Blacks in trouble again, and they wore compel: led to force. Even play followed until a free-kick to AVellington. resulted in. Roberts finding the line in'the corner,, and after a brief period of strenuous play Marlborough found, relief in a force-down. Tlio visitors' forwards commenced a fine .rush after the drop-out, and the half, Oben, chimed in and led a dribbling rush to Wellington twenty-fives. J. O'Brien had a. shot at goal from, a penalty, but the hall fell short. Forbes, Southgate, and Webster continued to lead tho Marlborough vanguard in,a determined' assault on tho Wellington line, but we.-i unable to break down tho defence,- and presently the scene was changed, for Macfarlane broke, through, the.Bed forwards at' his own twenty-five and kicked tho ball well ahead.' Tyrell passed to Macfarrant, and installed himself as-man-ager of what proved a great' dribbling rush. With a series of short kicks, Tyrell passed all the visitors' backs, and scored in a nice position, but Roberts failed to convert. AVellington B .!...!.. 3 . Marlborough ....,.........'. ; 0 In tho next few minutes two AVellington passing rushes should have resulted in scores, but the ball went asti'oy between Grace, and Elliott. But, later, Tilyard got the ball from a scramble, and passed to Grace, who sent on- to Elliott, and the: last-named made some, amends for his previous failures by taking a high pass and, cutting in, to score near the posts. AA T alshe missed an easy kick. ' Wcllington'B-. .6 Marlborough ".. 0. 'Webster, Casey, and Macdonald followed up fast from the' drop-out, .and, getting among tho local backs, prevented the return. • For several minutes Marlborough kept up the pressure, but then the Blacks moved back to midfield, and a serviceable punt by Tilyard placed tho visitors on the defensive, but in the difficulties-that arose, O'Brien and . Costello managed to repulse tho. local men. Tn one good Wellington rush,- Hunter, Hardham, M'Kellar, Walshe, and Tyrell took the bnll right- down to the visitors' lines, but in tho resulting scrum the burly Marlborough forwards pushed the. local pack almost to the twenty-five. Manning placdd his side in danger once by being penalised for obstruction when' Wellington were within easy range of the goal, but Mncfarla'ne's kick failed. From this until the end - of the spell-Marlbor-ough had all the best of the game, the outstanding feature being Costello's (visitors' full-back) accurate fielding and sure line-kicking. - ' ' "Mud-smeared.Giants." Wellington's kick-off in the second spell was returned by a tremendous punt ffoni O'Brien, and as Cunningham and Elliott failed to see the ball against the sun, Daly followed up, and pushed Elliott into touch as he took the ball on tho second bounce. Now followed a strenuous battle, in which Marlborough forwards played magnificently. Oben shot the ball-out from a serum,, but it. did not pass Manning; Macdonald tried to push his way over the line, but was penalised for hanging-on. The freekick did not give AVellington much reliof. Roberts found the line, but from the throw-in and from many subsequent throw-ins, those mud-besmeared giants— Forbes, the JTeggluns, .Webster, Southgate, Macdonald— ably assisted ' by Casey,, charged down on the AVellington line. It' was only because (hey Were over-eager that they did not score moro than onco. AVellington were in sore straits, and had to resort to infringements on several occasions. On one occasion the "referee managed to detect them, and J. O'Brien placed a' neat goal for Marlborough, which made the scores: ■ ' ' AVellington B G I Marlborough 3 AYollington's kick-out was returned by Daly, who followed up and caught the ball himself, .but. was penalised by the referee. Marlborough , forwards" now found weak spots in the Wellington backs in the shapo of Elliott and Cunningham,' and both these players were nervous on tho wot ground, against the repeated onslaughts of tho visiting vanguard. Elliott presently suffered a sprain, and had to retiro. On such-rare occasions as Wellington did invade the Marlborough torritory, splendid fielding and great kicking by Costello and O'Brien drove thchi back. Daly, who was following up- well from wing three-quarter, looted certain to score once, when Ciin.

ningham misfielded, but he overran the ball. A dangerous nassing rush between Manning, Horgan, and Strickland ended in the last-named knocking on. In Real Grips. Two high kicks by Manning gave his forwards a chance near the posts, and the ball was kicked over the line. " Cunningham forced down, but when he had taken both hands off the ball, Daly rushed up and foil' on , it, and the referee blew his whistle for. a try. O'Brien kicked an easy goal. ' ■ , Marlborough ..-. 8 ' Wellington' B ' ; G ■Wellington livened up a'little after the kick-out, but whenever they approached the Marlborough twenty-five, Costeilo would .bring off .a great kick to the line. H. D. Thomson came on in place of Elliott at this stage: Macdonald,-who appeared to improve as' the ganie progressed, now led the Marlborough . forwards, among whom there was not a singled , tired man. A few i spasmodic efforts of the home team shifted play to half-way, where Roberts made a fine opening, and-passed to Grace, to Thomson, but the last-named was, pushed into touch before he could gather pace. Subsequent passing between Tilyard, Roberts, and Walsho looked dangerous, when' the last-named knocked on. i The' Locals Walked Over. . The rest of the game w»s - one- continuous Marlborough forward - rush. Toipards the close of the game, in an effort to clear the Wellington line.'Thom- , son, chased by. Macdonald, ran under the goal posts, where Oben tackled him! In the resulting scramble Macdonald-had a clear .opening to. score, but, much to his chagrin, the greasy ball slipped through his hands. Marlborough' were still attacking when the whistle sounded, with' the scores:— ■ • ' ■ Marlborough 8 Wellington,B '6 . Mr. v F.Laws was referee; ' Notes on the Game. -The game 'was fast from -a forward point of.view, with few scrums.and very few 'lino-outs., - They Marlborough' men, who were much the heavier, iappeared to rely mainly'upon their..loose play. They dribbled iu a phalanx, M'Douoid and Webster usually in the van, and time and, again, especially in the second spell,' they: rushed pell-mell over the Wellington vanguard, .and scattered \ the back division like -chaff..-' So persistent' were they 'in this -respect that they absolutely unnerved Cunningham, the Wellington fullback. Tho visitors wore' also very, quick in breaking away from the scrum, M'Donald and Casey being usually the i primo leaders in this movement. A pleasing feature, in order to provide an attractive and -last a game as possible,' was their . long '. throwing-out' from touch. . With; the brothers Hegglun as ■/'hookers.'-''.Marlborough got more than: theiT'sliaro" of "the Ball' iu the scrum, but owing to somewhat weak back' play the advantage was nullified.-. ■ ' ; - Wellington, might .have, won had they taken advantage of their chances ih-tho fivst quarter of an hour. That.they did not do so' was caused through the' weak passing of Grace, and' Elliott. In addition, . .both tries should have been, converted, as'they were easy kicks. As a matter' of fact, the game was really won by Wellington, inasmuch as Cunningham, the Wellington. fullback, had forced down the ball fairly and squarely just previously to Daly (Marl-, borough) swooping down on it. The referee apparently did not notice the circumstance, and awarded a try.to Daly. Wellington did not do a-great deal of back'play, and what they did do was usually rendered ineffective by tho fast play of the visiting forwards. The Wellington forwards, who' were much lighter ' than Marlborough, played fairly well in the .first spell; but were completely butclassed. C.' Tyrell's dribbling • dash in' the first spell was one of; the loatnrcs of the game, . . '~-"' Amongst the visiting backs, Costeilo (full-back) and O'Brien (outside fiveeighths), in that order,'wcre the principal factors. A big burly. follow, Costeilo gave an admirable exhibition of fielding a muddy ball. He dropped it only once. Some of his line-kicking was very good, but he - badly missed Elliott.' O'Brien did some' good kicking, and one phenomenal punt, with the wind_, carried thoball between sixty and seventy yards. He did the bulk of the tackling for Marlborough, and no doubt will''again- fill, the position of full-back; this season for the South Island team. ■-.-' Manning kicked with judgment, but otherwise hung :on too ' much' to- the leather. Some time in the'second spell this'player had the misfortune to!.fracture some of his. ribs,. bnt, with usual footballer's endurance, he played right on to the end., The other, backs call lor no special mention. Besides M'Donald and Casey, already mentioned, Southgate, Forbes, and Webster were very prominent in a good lot of forwards. . ■ -Of the Wellington: backs Roberts was tho only man. who played consistently throughout: He made sonio./:very. good' run's, did some fine kicking in the second spell, while in the last twenty minutes he tried. every' scheme .'imaginable to drag his team out of the fire. That he was 'unsuccessful was mainly owing to'.tho wretched manner in which he.was supported by his colleagues.' Although Tyrcll scored a fine try, ho is manifestly too light for a representative forward. In fact excepting" MTarlane, Hunter, and M'lvellar, the whole of the forwards wore top light, and. the wonder is that such men as King, Dent, and E.. Leahy, (good heavy, active men) wero not included in the combination. MTarlane and M'Kcllar wero the best.of tho lot. It is some-' what curious that MTarlane was not given more opportunities of place-kick-ing, inasmuch, as his record, this season is. seventeen converted tries and • four penalties. ; .- HOLLOW victory; WELLINGTON.A, 2-t; WANGANUI, d. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' Wanganui, August 2S. The Wanpnui-AYcllington representative football match was played at Cook's Gardens on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a\small number of spectators. The game calls for little description, the visitors being greatly superior to the local, men, whom they defeated by 2-t points 1o 3. The .Wellington team did not quite come up to expectations, but the local men played much below their usual standard, and were outclassed at all points, of the game. The weather was showery' in the morning, but remained, fine during tho match, though the'ground was slip pery. Wellington, playing/with tho wind in tho first spell, ran up 11 points—Bruce, Dawson, and Jlitchinson securing trios, Mitciiinson converting his own.: In tho second spell Wanganui played up well at the start, and secured a try, M'Donald getting over after good passing. Southcombe failed with the kick at goal. Some.even play followed, then Welling-' ton began to get the upper hand, Porry securing a very doubtful k try. Kinvig kicked a good goal. Then Itinvig scored, but Avery failed with the kick. Dawson then secured another try, after clover play, and Evenson convened, making the scoro 21 to. 3. The decisive defeat inflicted on the local team in Saturday's representative match was n disngreeablo. surprise to most of their supporters. Wanganui, of course,

have often played better games, but on ' this.particular occasion they never seemed - nblo to get going. The giiine moved'with very fair pace throughout, but save for a brief rally when they played with advantage of wind in. the boginniug.,of .'.the . second spell; Wanganui were never, really'. . - dangerous. '. ' - • ■'• Tho-Wellingtonattack was clean, hard,' and effective, and steady combination was a leading feature of their play. It', is to bo said for tho selectors that they have picked a touring team for Wellington m which'c-VH-y forward is.a worker. Xhe immediate scoring honours of tho day rested with the backs, but' to judge tho performance of tho team from this standpoint alone rsnld be short-sighted and unfair. Tie' backs made lively use- of opportunities, and were quick to piece* woak spots in tho .imposition defence, but for the mcecss that attended" their efforts they rere- indebted in Ho small decree to the stronnous and effective advance work of a hard-driving pack ' of' forwards. The Wellington forwards had a two-fold value. . The, pressure of their, .attack, their reliable- tackling and steady de-1 •'• .fence, at: oiico..destroyed 'the . initiative and enterprise df.the local tearn, v and .-■■- gave their own backs scope in which to ' operate with effect.. This feature of soliddriving forward, play is worthy of more than passing mention.. It is too often : lacking in the. play of even' the finest' teams of. the day, and is therefore all the' more.to. bo welcomed when" it makes a' tardy, appearance., Ini.ttio match against Uanganui it was a success-producing factor to the full, as important as thobright and spirited play of. a clever baci division. The Wanganui. forwards .played ■a ' '- : plucky game, but they were out-generalled at every turn. In the majority of cases •' they were beaten for the ball in tho scrum, and in tho open the Wellington men proved, themselves unmistakably tho suiartor ,and speedier pack. . DEFEAT OF AUCKLAND,/, BY THAMES REPRESENTATIVES, , (Bj Telcgraph.-Press Association.) ' . Thames,.August 28. '-.. Thames defeated the Auckland, representative. football team by 11 points to,nil—a goal from a try, and', two penalty, goals..! The game was .closely; 'contested. >'.'- The--Thames forwards proved -slightly. ■ superior to the Auckland-pack; and the splendid tackling'-of Ho. local "team' pre-' vented Auckland's speedy backs from . scoring. As Thanios is a sub-union, under Auckland administration, ' the inatchV - could not fc.'imt for the Ranfurly Shield,OTAGO BEATS S. CANTERBURY. "• . MAINLY A FORWARD GAME. - (By Teiegrap'h.-Press Association.) Dunedih, August 27. '1Tho. match Otago v.' South Canterbury • was. played a): the Caledoniau Ground" to-day' in the presence of about 3500 per-; '; sons. The .weather .was' fine, but' "dull, and, towards the. close of tlie game, a heavy sliower of hail fell. The Otago team was minus Norrie (wing three-quarter),; this-vacancy, in the backs boing filled by : „ Kellan, ..who played, five-eighths. . . ~ .-.-■. Otago at. once took ' the . initiative, '~ sweeping;play, within a few yards.of tho.' visitors' line, . where, - from- an infringe-, ' nvent, Paton placed an easy goal. '.-.:. Otago' ............;...' 3 points. ';'■ • South Canterbury .-......'• Nil.",' ■■■•■' Roddick, attempted:, ''to" equalise. mat-/ , ters.by- taking a long kick .at goal, but' the-ball fell shot, and a second attempt; '. was. also . unsuccessful. The visitors'-: then bore into local territory, and throat-', • ened Otago's Jine, until Paton turned the''- '' tables cleverly, and; in .company: 'ivilh. : . Mitchell, beat the Greens back, and, got down *to half-way. ■. South Canterbury, however,: set up a second 1 attack, -the; Green pack, in a concerted rnsb, carrying, the ball:to tho,local twenty-five, but Duthie was equal to the occasion'.. Fast '- following, up by, Taton brought Otago into an attacking; position, but a tricky; run^by, Hardinghani .troubled ~ •l:brs.-;» 'Scott ''(South' Canterbury)- failed-' ' . to-field a .kick, Sheehan was down on,him in an instant, and the Blues swept' • the- ball. to the line, MTJougall cutting through, the. ruck ; and scoring.. : Paton,-./ placed a fine,goal. ,'\ -. . ■•■.. - . Otagft ...„..'. .:.'. ,8 points. South Canterbury -Nil. -, ■ Otago again attacked, but a' oo'mbineol '.. rush by the Green vanguard reached !th9. local twenty-five.' Kellan, however,- ihiti- , . ate'd a telling counter-move, but Harley returned, the ball, and, in a . fast rush;, Dutbie was smothered with tho Bail, ani M,, Horgan.'scored; Roddick'failed to convert, .-■"..',. , ■„"". • Otago ' 8 points. . South Canterbury............ 3 points'.. The visitors'. back division swung into ','-; attack from- the kick-off, and Wall easily : penetrated a.-weak defence,- and scored under the post's. Darroch converted." ' Otaro .........;....'.V........... 8. points. •South Canterbury..-.....;'. 8 points. ;'V .- -The. 1 Bluo'-Vanguard responded with a thrilling rush, but it 'stopped at the, tt-enty r five.: The ball hung there) for some minutes, and an'nttempt by th* visitors' full-back to oust .the opposition, led to his being tackled by.; Scott,: (ho ball going into-touch at the corner. .The .'• , spell ended with. Otago .'attacking.; ..'. : On; resuming, Otago • at, once invaded, and the game for some time, was a duel, "- : between the' forwards.' Coles eventually made a (lash up, the field; but was well tackled by-Scott. -Ploy settled-on Otago's. line, where a Titanic, forward struggle ended in the Blues driving -the opposition off. The position, however,, was still dangerous,, untilEckhold intercepted .; a pass. Then'Otago were forced, from : a long-kick. ...When hostilities reconi- .' roenceu, Paton had a shot at goal with-"/. - out result;- and • another attempt by the home' backs to" break down the defence ended in Duthie being soundly grassed ~ in- the- race for- tho lino.: The'.visiM were soon sorely pressed,: and an. in* fringement gave Paton a'shot at goal which he made no mistake with.'. Otago .:.;...'...;'...'..'.'... 11 points.' ' South-Canterbury.,.:'...... 8 points.-. ' ; . The home pack attacked again in tin* style, and, from inside tho. twenty-five. Eckhold cut through the .opposition, and'..-' passed to Mitchell, who score:!. Otago .'.-. 11 points. South Canterbury-'........ 8 points.;- , ', South Canterbury.now swept : into'thS local twenty-five,, and the position wai a dangerous one, ..until the home forwards made a brilliant, burst down the . ' . field to. within a few yards. of their .op- ( :ponents'- line.- . South iCanterbury coun- . tercd. determinedly, •' and ■ Scott just, succeeded in getting the Kail away, from fht , visitors, for whom.' n'try looked certain, , Paton,and Mitchell, then, drovolthe opposition out, and Otago soon had thein (iofending. Eckhold was. held up on tht ' li»e with the ball, and.the attack ended' in touch-in-goal. - A final rally,by South ■ Canterbury .came to nought.. Tho gam<> , thus ended:,. ,' .-' Otago ■:..'.....'........ 1-i points. South-, Canterbury ..: S points. The game was, oh the whole, decidedW interesting. ■ The forwards provided • most of fiie play, and some'of th 6 bufste made by the two. vanguards—more.particularly Otago—we're extremely, tine to waldi' Otago's back division was sound, but not brilliant.':', Their play, however, - ,' was-an improven\eut on previous show-., ings. .'■-. '.--. '~. - :,:., .'•'. ' • "COMPLETELY OUTCLASSED.". ,;-' OANTEUBU'RY'S. BIG WIN. 11-.y lelciii.-.-.i-. I.T--J. .--:-.•-:'•-!'. -r.., ,-. Chrisltliu'rcli; August -Si. . The ihterproviucial inatcli, CaiiU'rliurj y. sonthlnnd,'waV. piayed to-daym »m----try weather and was won by Lanicroury ; 'by .12 points to nil. For.the first twenty minutes Southland. more than hold theil . own; in fact-their, forwards were' playing nltogotlier better in tho scrums ■ and beating the Canterbury forwards for tho. bill'. -As a consequence tho first quarter ended without either side ..scoring and -it wim: not till well into ,the second . quarter that Canterbury scored the first try. Tho firet'speill ended: Canterbury, 0 points; Southland, nil. On ppeniiigtho second spell, Canterbury settled down ta their garni-,'.the forwards playing muck mor« briskly, than previously, and tfe* bach skowiTrrjoms very successful com*' bination with' thV result that Southlani - were' compUtriy' outclassed. The gam* . ended: Canterbury, 3!' points (four; goals from- tries and four,'trios); Southland,,;, nil. ' "■' ... ".'."-