STILL HELD BY AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1807, 21 July 1913, Page 6

STILL HELD BY AUCKLAND.

A LUCKY WIN.

WELLINGTON "B" DEFEAT HAWKE'S BAY.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, July 18. | The Ranfurly Shield match, Auckland v. AVellington, was played here to-day in atrocious weather. Heavy rain fell overnight, and continued' all the morning and most of the afternoon. A strong south-easterly wind added to tho unpleasantness. Nevertheless, the attendance was about 7000. Auckland just managed to retain the shield by a single point, 6 points to 5 points, and were lucky to win. Auckland's strength lay in the forwards, who played well in the mud, but their backs were much below AVellington, who handled the greasy ball really well. Fortune favoured tho Aucklanders throughout, but it never smiled on the Blacks. The general opinion is that AVellington would have won on a dry day. THE FIRST SPELL. AVellington won the toss, and played with a fairly strong wind. Roberts secured from the kick-olf, and, running to the twenty-five, passed to Mitchinson, who kicked well down the field. O'Leary eventually found the line at the'-twenty-five. AVellington set up a hot attack, but Geddes relieved, and the ball went out at the quarter-way. A long kick by Kinvig was mulled by M'Gregor, and tho Wellington forwards followed up the advantage, Auckland being compelled to force. Even play followed the kick-out, aiid then Sellars initiated a forward rush, which removed the scene of action to the AVellington twenty-five, but good kicking by the Blacks relieved tho pressure. Play remained about Auckland's twenty-five for some minutes, O'Leary ultimately bringing relief in good style, but AVellington, playing with plenty of dash, were soon back again, and Auckland had a busy few minutes. Then Geddes broke through, but was unsupported, and was grassed by Evenson, the ball going out at the half-way. Olsen gained a bit of ground with a nippy run, but "speculators by the AA 7 ellington backs nullified the. advantage. Auckland began to infuse much more dash into their play, and Geddes was especially prominent. The game, which up till now had been very dull, began to get much more exciting. Auckland were forced from a long kick by Kinvig, and then judicious kicking by Olsen gained a lot of ground, but Ryan removed play into the local men's territory with a good run. Uninteresting forward play at half-way followed, and then AA T ellington worked their way back to the twenty-five, where, from' a scrum, Roberts shot the ball out to M'Kenzie. The latter cut in nicely, and passed to Kinvig, who beat his man, and transferred to Mitchinson, and the lastnamed put the finishing touch to a pretty piece of work by dashing over in a handy position. Evenson- added the extra points. J AVellington 5 Auckland n " AVellington returned'to tho attack after the kick-off, and Rvan threaded his way through the Auckland backs in great style, but a forward paS9 to Sullivm saved the situation for Auckland.. AVellington were not to be denied, and, returning to the attack, were nearly over several times. Heavy rain set in just before half-time. The spell ended wHh Auckland still busy defending. SECOND SPELL. With the strong wind behind them, it was generally expected that Auckland would -have the best of matters in tho second half, and before the game had' been in progress more than a minute Wellington' were forced. Wellington, however, set up a hot attack, and looked like scoring until a series of penalties enabled the Blues to invade the Blacks territory, where O'Leary had a fruitless shotf rim a mark. Wilson secured from a line-ont. and kicked down field, and Evenson, being caught iii possession. Auckland seemed certain to_ score. Mitchinson, however, saved brilliantly, and a sweeping rush by the Black forwards had Auckland in trouble again, Mitchinson came through cleverly, and kicked toII down, but was iniured by a .hard bump after' he had kicked. Play continued well insido Auckland's half, but a penalty enabled Murray to find tho line well down. Directly afterwards AVellington were penalised outside their own twentyfive, and O'Leary kicked a good goal, amidst loud cheering. Wellington j> - Auckland •' ° AVellington were forced twice in quicksuccession. Roberts marked near his own line, and Kinvig's kick was well taken bv Mttckv, who kicked high. The forwards followed up fast, and Nisbet dashed over near the posts. O Leary failed with an easy kick. Auckland ® Wellington 5 With the positions thus reversed, AVellington set ill) a warm attack, but were checked by a" mark by Macky. A fine kick by Evenson went out near the corner, but a good run bv Geddes sent nlav back to Tialf-way, and when lio-inde sounded a little later, Auckland were attacking warmly. Mr. G. Nicholson, of Auckland, was referee.