THE RUGBY GAMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1861, 22 September 1913, Page 8

THE RUGBY GAMS.

WELLINGTON TOUR,

DRAWN MATOH WITH SOUTHLAND (By TeJesraph—Presi Association.) Invorcarglll, September 20. Tho fifteenth matoh between Wellington and Southland was played on Rugby Park this afternoon, in fine weather, and tlio groundi in splendid order, but a north-wester mado matters disagreeable for players and spectators.

First Spell, _j Wellington attacked from tho 6tart, and were soon in Southland territory. Good kicking by the local backs soon saw play in neutral territory. Pretty passing by Grant and M'Neeco put Wellington on tho defensive. Assisted by long line-kicking by Paton, Ryan, and Adams, the visitors again got into Southland territory. Play for tlio time was mostly confined to the forwards, but both sides did all they could to make tho game open. For ton minutes tho ball travelled up and down the field at a great pace, but neither sido becamo really dangerous. Time and again Morris set his backs in motion, but deadly tackling always nullified the visitors' passing efforts. A long kick by Ryan put the ball out near the corner, and from tho line-out tile Wellington forward# swarmed over the line, but (Southland forced. Ledv by Miller, the visiting vanguard canio again, and another force resulted. A nice pieco °f passing by the Wellington backs looked like, bearing fruit, until tlioy were hold up by a scrum on tho line. The visitors wero awarded a free-kick, but H. Paton missed a fairly easy chance. Southland then woke up, and gavo Wellington a busy time in their own territory. At lhalf-time neither side liad scored. Second Spell. Southland commenced the second spell with determined aggressiveness, and Wellington were soon compelled to force. A few minutes of even play followed', and then the Southland forwards came again, but •Wellington were equal to the task. A beautiful cut in by Ryan changed tho scene of operations to Southland's ground. From a scrum M'Leod, who was changed to halfback, sent his backs away, but they found the tackling too deadly, and gained little ground.. Play became most exciting, and delighted the spectators. :Up and down tho field the ball trailed at a furious pace, tho forwards on both sides exerting themselves to the utmost. The local backs completely electrified the crowd by the lightning rapidity with which they threw the ball about. The visitors, too, passed in great stylo. Southland, who had been having the best of things, dallied for a time, and Wellington took tho ball to their-oppon-ents' lino and nearly scored, but Southland were not to be denied, and the forwards came away with renewed vigour, and the visitors froced. Tho local forwards were gc-tting tho ball in tho scrum and on the line, and took advantage of eve;:y opportunity. For fifteen minutes play was kept out of tlm danger zone, owing to the deadly tackling of both sides, and shortly afterwards ended one of the. most exoitine games ever played in Invorcargill. _ Tiio came was a draw, neither side scoring.