SATURDAY'S SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1849, 8 September 1913, Page 4

SATURDAY'S SPORTS.

. KUGBY TEST MATCH. ■ I HEAVY DEFEAT FOR THE AUSTRALIANS. TOURING LEAGUERS. . TWENTY THOUSAND LOOK ON AT AUCKLAND.

ing an impossible pass to Lynch. However, befdro tho end of the second spell Murray scored. Tho Australian full-back, in an endeavour to savo against a hot forward rush, kicked for touch-in-goal. Tho ball, however, remained in play and Murray fell on it. Roberts goaled. Halftime rang with the score: Now Zealand 11 points. Australia 5 points. The Third Quarter. For tho two remaining spells Taylor did not appear, he having had a log hurt in tho second quarter. Gray played half and Mitchinson went on as outside five-eighths. Shortly after tho recommencement the Blues gave their first exhibition of back attacking. Jones got the leather away to Wogan, who made an excellent run and passed to Suttor, but tho last-named was promptly settled. A couple of delightful speculators by Mitchinson gained considerable ground for the Blacks. Black forward rushes were nicely stopped by MacMahon, the visiting full-back, but the Blues could not hold tho New Zealand vanguard. In his own twenty-fivo Suttor kicked for tho lino. Lynch snapped tho ball before it went out and flashed over. Roberts made a great attempt to convert, but tho ball dropped under tho bar. At tho conclusion of tho third stago the scores stood: , Now Zealand 14 points. Australia 6 points. . The Last V/allcovor. The final quarter saw New. Zealand add ten points in a very few minutes. Gray went clean through the whole of tho. Australian backs and dodged round behind tho posts. Roberts goaled. New Zealand, 19; Australia, 5. Shortly afterwards the New Zealanders carried tho oval across the lino and M'Kenzio touched down. Roberts again converted. New Zealand, 24; Australia, 5. Roberts scored tho next try through gflod backing up. Cuthill's attempt to goal was not successful. New Zealand, 27; Australia, 5. Just before tho call of time M'Kenzio streaked through tho Blue ruck and added tho final try, which was not convorted by Roberts. Conclusion: ; ' New Zealand 80 points. Australia .6 points. THE DINNER. SPEECHES ON RUGBY & LEAGUE. Members of the New South Wales team were entertained in tho evening at dinner at tho Grand Hotel. Mr. G. F. C. Campbell gave the toast of "Tho Australian Team." In doing so .he referred to tho period when these inter-State visits commenced and he also recalled tho period when Rugby enthusiasts in Sydney became somewhat alarmed at tho introduction, of tho League game. They were not frightened now, however. Ho expressed the opinion that the oxchango of visits between Now Zealand and Australia was a step in the direction of increasing tho popularity of Rugby. "As regards today's play," Mr. Campbell, continued, "I suppose I have watched tho rramo ns long as most of those present. I think that I am correct in stating that although the best team won to-day. I am satisfied that tho difference in points was more than the difference in tho teams." (Hear, hear.) Mr. C. E. Morgan (manager of the New South Wales team) replied. He stated that it was about tho sixth occasion on which ho had had to respond to very kind remarks made in similar connection by New Zealanders. Ho sincerely thanked the New Zealand Rugby Union, as the agency responsible for the presence of tho Now South Walos team in Wellington. Ho considered that thoir matches with Taranaki and Auckland had aroused moro interest in the game. "AVe are a,young lot and keen, too," ho added, "and we hope that tho balanco of our matches will bo played under better conditions than those* which prevailed to-day. AVe believe that if this team does anything like well wo will no doubt givo tho New South Wales Leaguo pcoplo a big bump." ■ Mr. B. D. Hughes proposed The New Zealand team." Ho said that tho cood times which they had had fairly staggered them. "I don't want to touch on to-day's match," ho continued. "It was disastrous; but we hopo to givo you a better time later on." Mr. Mason (manager of tho New Zealand team) stated that what had been done by tho union had been done for the lov© of the game, and he honed that tho stay of tho visitors in t.ho Dominion would be a pleasant one. The speaker also expressed tho opinion that tho New Zealand team would meet the Americans on an equal footing, as ho had heard that tho Americans wero dotheir utmost'to better their teams. This coueluded the toast list, and'then Mr. Campbell gavo a few words of advico to the New Zealand team. "I do hope," he. said, "that you will enjoy yourselves, but by all means do remember that New Zealand is watching you. . AVe will bo pleased with your success, but would bo very disappointed if there is anything in your conduct to mar tho journey." In reply Mr. Mason said: "AVe realise that responsibility and without saying any more, we are quite prepared to accept the verdict of New Zealand when we come back again." Jlombers of the New South W r ales m left by the late boat on Saturday night for Christchurch. Toams Received by Prime Minister. ■ Members of the visiting Australian football team and of the Now Zealand team which is bound for California wero received by the Hon. AV. F. Masscy (Primo Minister) at Parlinment Buildings on Saturday morning. Other Ministers present were.the Hon. H. D. Bell and the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, and tho Rugby Union was represented b.y Messrs. G. F. C. Campbell, N. Gaibraith, and G. 11. Mason. Several members of Parliament also attended. Tho Primo Minister extended a hearty welcome to the visiting Australians, and. said that while he could not wish them success in all their contests ho hoped they would greatly enjoy thoir tour in the Dominion, and would carry pleasant memories away with them. Addressing the New Zealanders, Mr. Massey expressed a hope that they would be as successful on their Ca!iforli'ian'tour as the All-Blacks usually wero when they went out of their own country. Tho., Government has arranged to havo tho results of tho matches played in' California cabled to New Zealand, as was done in connection with the tour of the All Black team which visited Groat Britain somo years ago.

The Umbrella Brigade. Outclassed by the All Blacks, tlio Australian Rugby team cut a rather poor figure in Atlilotic Park in tho gale and fain of Saturday afternoon. Only about 5000 'people forsook the fireside or other -jiaven of cosiness for the bleak, clay'banked paddock which we' call ' "The Park." Many a stirring battle has been fouglit ion' that'same !old paddock; and therb 'rtiany 'a thousand enthusiasts have Stood their little tour-or two in the clay' mud -while the weather imps (which seem to be as predominant in Wellington as Ali Baba's commando of thieveß .were in the days of the Arabian Nights) did their worst., ; Star games , aro often drowned in rain, and this'game did not ©scape. - But these things, by the way I One-fifth of our enthusiastic 5000 sat in comfort in t'ho stand; 4000 stood in clay- mud; huddling together for warmth arid, protection from'-- the clomeiits, a patient.and ehduring umbrella and overcoat brigade.; The dozen pressmen who toiled while everyone else there ; .mado holiday' burn with gratitlido for the thoughtful union who facilitated their '.work by providing them with accommodation from which thoy could ascertain with cortainty how strong tho wind was, how wet the rain .was, and ,what an.excellent shower-bath, was obtainable by anyone who momentarily, took one . eye oft the overflowing' roof-gutter. Vignotto of the Visitors. But to the match. The ground was slippery, and there was a strong northerly Wind driving , a heavy rain before it. The game':was. played in four twenty-minutes' spells.' Australia led at the end of the opeliing quarter; but in the' succeeding spells they.did .not add to. thoir sco;-o. They were "completely outclassed, and any largo, scoro against them would have, fairly indicated ' the merits of the teams. Tho Blues have 'some big forwards, and these showed us several excellent bursts of attack, Apart from this, tho tourists' play was secondrate. They may do better in dry. weather. Pleasing Play by All Blacks. Everyone was interested to' see how ■the recently-collected All Black team would play: everyone who saw them should be highly pleased. They are a fine team. ; In the forwards, Downing, the big'fellow whom Auckland got from Hawke's Bay, stood alone as a champion in loose play. AVylie (Auckland) and Dewar. (Taranaki) also were conspicuous. There are, however, better wing-forwards in Now Zealand than Murray. The New Zealand backs were all good, particularly the outside men. Cuthill (the Otago University boy), who played full-back because Sfcohr (Taranaki) was unable to take the field, gave a brilliant exhibition. His fielding, collaring, lino-kicking,, and head-work stamped liim as ono wlio, if consistent, never had a peer as a last line of defence. Lynch, tho South Island wing three-quarter, ■ scored three tries in the best possible .style; he got three chances' to score, and he scored tlireo tries. M'Gregor (Auckland) showed work of high . quality, but he was called on solely for defence. , Tho centre three-quarter—-R. Roberts, of Taranaki —was, like tho others, hampored by tho conditions, .but he will probably prove to be" among tho strongest backs in 1 the team. In interprovincial Rugby ho has stamped himself as a great centre and fivo-eightih,'and he seems even more at home in'the biggest company. His attention to the-details of backing up .watchfully and getting rid of the Mil iii time to give the other man a chance contributes to his success as .much as the neglect of them .detracts from the good work of some other successful backs. M'Kenzio (Wellington) played a gooddeal better than he has done this season, though ho was not in the form which won him his reputation. Neither Gray nor.- Taylor, both - Southerners, showed to quite the advantage of the outer backs, but they, of course, were more in tho thick of the trouble. Mitchinson, who went on.at,half-time, and played outside five-eighth:,. was quick, clover, and effective in the littlo ho did. : Amongst those present at tho match wore his Excellency tho Governor (Lord Liverpool), tho Prime Minister (Hon. W. if. Massej), tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), and Sir Joseph Ward. TfiQ Teams. . , ' 'Australia (Blue).—Full-back, M. J. MacMahon; three-quarters, E. Carr, J. AVogan, H, Jones, D. Suttor; half, AV. D.'TasKer, F. Wood; forwards, AV. Watson, C. O'Donnell, H. George, E. Fahcv, C. AVallacli, AV. Cody, F. Thompson, P. Murphy. New Zealand (Black). —Full-back J. Cuthill; threo-quartors, A. J. M'Gregor, R. Roberts, T. W. Lynch; fiveoighths, J. M'Kenzie, G. D. Gray; half, H.Taylor: wing-forward, H. V. Murray; pack, P.. Williams, G. Scllars, J. Downing, H. 'Atkinson, J, T. Wylie, H. Dcwdr, A. M'Donald. F. Mitchinson 1 wont on at half-timo owing to Taylor's inability to continue. Referee, Mr. L. Simpson. On 'tho Ball—The First Quarter. Rain was driving hard . down • the ground when the first spell commenced. With tho advantage of tho gale Australia' quic'.cly got into an attacking position, and .within three minutes Now Zealand were forced. A good kick by Downing and a couple of good line-kicks by R. Roberts relieved tho Blacks. Over tne:Bluo swarmed tho Black vanguard, Dewar in the lead'. In tho Australian twenty-five tho ball came out beautifully, but Gray spoilt a great chance by hanging on too long. MacMahon missed a couple of shots at goal, notwithstanding the assisting wind. Threo times in-quick succession Cuthill saved New Zealand brilliantly. At half-way Gray sent out a pass to R. Roberts who streaked up the field to within easy reach of tho lino and sent on to Lynch, who scored a fine try. New Zealand ,3; Australia, 0. Just at tho end of tho first spell Australia scored, Carr getting over from a loose rush. MacMahon goalod. So tho first quarter ended: Australia 5 points. Now Zealand 3 points. Tho Second Quarter. Now Zealand opened the second quarter by again tailing tho lead. Tho forwards took play into tho Australian twenty-five,'and the oval drifting but to tho backs, R. Roberts picked up beautifully and sent on to Lynch, who got over nicely at tho comer. Roberts failed to goal. New Zealand, 6; Australia, 5. Tho Black rearguard was soon inaction again/ M'Kenzio-passed nut to Roberts, who .transferred to Lynch, and then backed up on the outside. Lynch passed out again, but Roberts failed to hold tho greasy oval. A few minutes later Roberts brought a passing rush to a sudden end by. Bond-

SELECTED TEAM. PLAYERS FOR SECOND TEST. Tho following team has been selected to represent New Zealand against Australia in tho second test, to bo played at Dunedin next Saturday:—Full-back, O'Leary (Auckland); three-quarters, j Stewart (Auckland), Cockcroft (South Canterbury), and Mackay (Auckland); live-eighths, Spillano (South Canterbury) and Geddes (Auckland); half, Burns (Canterbury); wing-forward, Taylor (Taranaki); forwards, Ilassall (Canterbury), Francis (Wellington), Gillespie (Wellington), M'Neeco (Southland), Barrett (Auckland), AVilson (AVellington); and Tamu (Taranaki). Wellington Team. Mr. V. It. Meredith has selected the following team to represent AVellington against tho Now Zealand team at tho • Athletic Park on AVednesday:—Fullback, J. Ryan; three-quarters, Young, ICinvig, E. Ryan; five-eighths, M'-Leod, Ramsdon; half, Nunn; wing-forward, J. Cunninghams; forwards, Francis, R. Paton, H. Paton, AVilson, M'Kay, Miller, and Hills. These players will also compriso tho team for tho southern tour, with tho addition of Bell, D. Sullivan (forwards), and Morris and another back yet to- bo chosen. Tho team mets Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. Junior Representatives. The following will constitute tho junior representative team to play tho Wednesday representatives on Wednesday next: —Full-back, Shaw (Oriental); three-quarters, M'Girr (Oriental), M'Donald, (Selwyn), Carmichael (Oriental); fivc-oighths, Miller and Wynard (Petone); half, M'Vea (Athlotic); wingforward, Roberts (Selwyn); forwards, Cooper (Selwyn), Reyling (Athletic), M'Pheo (Selwyn), King (Selwyn), Corless (Athletic), Gairs (Oriental), and AVaters (AVellington). Emergencies: Hagan (Petone).