LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1837, 25 August 1913, Page 8

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

CUP MATCH. - CAPITAL GAME IN AUCKLAND. ' 8000 PRESENT. (By Telegraph—Pr<es Association.) Auckland, August 24. Auokland once moro demonstrated their right to tho Northern Union Cup this afternoon by defeating Wellington. Tho match was played inthe presence of about 8000 spectators, and was by far the best seen hero this season. Wellington played a groat game from beginning to end, and wero extremely unfortunate to loso by a singlo point., Right from tho whistle, they attacked, and, before tho gamo had been in progress moro than a few minutes, Barber dodged across, and re-, gistored the visitors' first try. Wellington, 3; Auckland, 0. Very fast play followed, and then Ifwersen took a mark near tho line, and kicked a fiuo goal. Wellington, 3—2. Although Auckland now attacked liotly, tliero was no further score till half-time.

On resuming, Wellington returned to the attack, but wero soon driven back, and eventually from a long kick Weston followed up fast and scored. Auckland, 5 —3. Wellington responded ' with a great rush, but wero ultimately driven back, and Ifwersen, securing from the loose, raced round and scored, Wobb converting. Auckland, 10—3. Even play followed with an undoubted advantage to the Blacks, and Finlpyson, by boating his man badly, instituted a great passing rush, which ended in Procbstcl passing back to tho. full-back, who scored. Wellington, 6—' 10. . For tho next ten minutes Wellington took the offensive, aud eventually Ifwersen j from a penalty shot, put his side in the lead by kicking a iino goal from a try. Wellington, 11; Auckland, 12. In tho closing stages Auckland got to work properly, and eventually got homo by a singlo point. Sir. A. Fergusson was referee. [Tho message is given as received from"Auckland, but ono of the Wellington 6Coles is' obviously missing.] SEEN FROM THE LINE. WELLINGTON BACKS BRILLIANT, (By Telegraph.—Spocia.l Correspondent.) Auckland, August 24. Tile big crowd that assembled at Vic« toria Parle expected great things from tho Wellington backs, as these, included such players as Kelly. Bradley, and Proebstol. They wero not disappointed, for the bright "display, of tTje visiting backs was the feature of tho match, and tlio best for the League season 'so far. Nor wore.th 6 £laek forwards lacking in dash and,initiative. If Wellington had had a little more of the lutfk that was going tho trophy .would have been leaving Auckland. It was not' until the second spell was well under way that tho Auckland forwards seemed to strike anything like their customary form. Early in tlio game they did not play with their usual vim, ncitW did they make any apparent effort to combine with tlio backs. In tlio latter stages, however, they woke up to tho fact that tlio cup was shaking, and, aftor settling down in fino stylo, they supplemented the good work of their backs.

Tho sound tackling of the Bine and, White backs did a great deal to break

(the visiotrs. On nearly every occasion, in t'he early stages, tho ball was si-curod in the scrums by the Wellington hookor3, and Barber sent his lino away yery quickly, hut tho defenders collared determinedly, ' Both sides wore unfortunate in losing playors as tho result of mishaps. 11. Elayward, tho Auckland forward, was tho first to go, his placo being taken by Seagar, A littlo later, Finlaypou. of W-ollington, retired for a time with an injury to his leg. 110 returned bo the field, but shortly before the bell 'sounded for timo he was carried off again. Soon- -after tho .commencement of the second spell, Houso, a Wellington five-eighth, retired with a nasty inhis face, but wont back in. a ;ched up" condition. 'Barber, who played behind tho scrum for Wellington, gave a fine all-round exhibition. Ho opened up tho play in great style, being particularly clever in getting t'ho ball away -to his backs from the ruok. On seyoral occasions he worked the Wind side very nicely, and 'In both attack and defence overshadowed Webb. , He secured two of the threo tries.

At fire-eigliths, Bradley and Houso played brilliant football. Both handled tho ball cleanly, produced a fair turn ijof speed,- and were quick to tako advantage of openings. Bradley was rathor moret nippy than Houso, but tho latter was the) mora impressive in idefence, and ran very strongly. . Kelly proved liimsolf a tower of ''■strength at centre-three-quarter. for , the visitors. Ho, displayed an all-round knowledge of th,b game, and his handling and kicking, and ability to turn defence into attack, stood his sido in good stead time and again. Ho was unlucky in missing a try, just on tho call of time.

• Tho wing men were a useful pair, and on their performance thero is, not much to chooso between Proebstel and Strickland for all-round work. Tho former should perhaps get the verdict. His experience on tlio recent tour in Australia has taught him a lot, but Strickland ha,s also had the advantage of claying in first-class club football in Sydney. Tho selectors cannot entirely 'pvorlook t'ho claims of, cither for inclusion in tho best teams. ] Finlayson's work was decidedly neat, his injuries were regrottablo. The visiting forwards worked with a good '(Understanding, and were an even lot., .Parker, Turner, Spencor, and Manning took a lot of gruelling in tho pack work, 'and the first-named was smart at following up. Wilson showed his tility by playing alternately in the pack, eg a second five-eighth, and as a fullback when Finlayson was hurt. On the Whole, ha was tho best man'; on the ground; ■ ' ■ The defenders , did not show the form that was discernible in tlio CanterburyAuckland match, although allowance must bo made for the fact that they were "up against it," as they have not been before this season. Perhaps, tho taost disappointing feature to their admirers was tho triumph of the Welling-, ton hookers, particularly in the earlier stages, >■ -The game was a highly-spectacular ono, and Wellington were always a littlei bettor than Auckland, being deipidedly. unlucky' to lose.