THE RUGBY GAME.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 28 August 1913, Page 8

THE RUGBY GAME.

AUSTRALIAN DEBUT. CLOSE MATCH AT AUCKLAND. • (By Telegraph— Press Association.) Auckland, August 27. Tho Australian Rugby team opened .its New Zealand tour this afternoon with a match against Auckland. There was a good attendance, fully 6000 being present. A strong wind and occasional light drizzles made accurate handling of tho ball a little difficult. On the form shown tho visitors should bo a stiff proposition when they work up combination. Had they taken full advantage of their chances, they would probably have won.

Weston returned tho kick-off to tho half-way fig, where Ross sent Macky away on tho blind side, but off-side play stopped tho movement. After somo other play, an Australian infringed tho olf-sido rule, and O'Leary gaoled. Auckland, 3; Australia, 0. Almost immediately Ross, Stewart, and M'Gregor handled tho oval in turn, tlio lastnamed going over in a handy position. Auckland, (3; Australia, 0. The Australians then livened up, and, from thence onward, had by no moans tho worst of matters. Auckland presently tried passing in their own territory, and almost met with disaster as a dropped pass gavo Tasker an almost clean run in. The Australian, however, could not field tho ball. Eventually, Auckland cleared, and Geddes picked up in tho loose, and centred beautifully, several Auckland forwards being left with an almost clear field. Bilkoy was first on the balli and, fielding smartly, appeared to score under tho .ar, but tho refereo ruled no try. Auckland then obtained possession, and Stewart got tho ball in a potting position, but was overwhelmed. Fahey, George, and Murphy then led a forward charge to the centre, but they over-ran tho ball and a counter-chargo by tho Auckland pack found the Blue backs all out of position, Macky being enabled to pick up and score.' Auckland, 9; Australia, 0. After resuming the Australians asserted tliomsolves, and MacMahon picked up near the centre and, beating a couplo of loca 1 ! backs, punted over tho full-back's head. Carr followed up fast-, caughjb tho ball on tho bounce, and ran over near tho posts. The try, however, was disallowed. In tho following scrummage, however, the Australians were-given a free kick and MacMahon had no difficulty in goaling. Auckland, 9; Australia, 3. Subsequently play was fairly exciting. After MacMalion had failed to kick a' penalty- goal, Wallach, Fahey, and Georgo led a rush riglit on to tho Auckland line, where, after a fierce fight, Wallach picked up and forced hisway over. MacMahon goaled. Auckland, 9; Australia, 8. In the early stages of the 6econd spell the Auckland men wero seen to better advantage, and almost immediately the visitors wero forced by a shot at goal by O'Leary. M'Gregor next ■scored a pretty try as the outcome of a clever piece of work by Geddes. Auckland, 12; Australia, 8. Auckland wore almost over immediately afterwards, ,but Weston dropped a pass and tho visitors forced. Australia then livened up, and Murphy led a fino rush ill tho Auckland territory, but the advantage was lost. Tho Australian backs brought off a great bout of passing, and Carr's centre kick falling clear, matters looked ominious for Auckland. Bruoo, howover, raced back and saved. Sutton intercepted a pass,, and raced,, t-o the halfway where he kicked'ove'r 'tho fullback's head, but Macky ran back and saved. A little later passing between Ross, Weston, and Macky ended in a good try for tile last-named. Auckland, 15; Australia, 8. After resuming MacMahon intercepted a poor pass from Ross, and running strongly, handed on to Carr who outpaced the opposition and scored near tho posts. MacMahon goaled. Auckland, 15; Australia, 13. Play now became very exciting, but there was no further score. Mr. Geo. Nicholson was reforeo.