THE LEAGUE GAME

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2212, 27 July 1914, Page 7

THE LEAGUE GAME

PGLAM) V. AUCKLAND NORTHERNERS BEATEN BY' 34 TO 12 '.: V .-..-,__ v, V ■:■ (By T«l«Bi»Bh.-P™M, Atswtttttoa.l Auckland,' July 26. . Tho Northern Union football match between England!.and Auckland ' was played here to-day in showery weather, and before an attendance of about'Booo persons. Tho, ground was heavy, as a result of the early morning rain, The English team, baok and forward, 'handled the heavy, slippery ball in a remarkable manner, and their fast passing runs evoked mudu applause The Auckland forwards were a match for the visiting, paok in the. scrum and loose work, but the failure of Auckland backs, to each account for his man was responsible for the large score'recorded, England winning by 34' points to 12. The teams were as follow:—England: Woodß, Moorhouse,, Hall, ■; Jenkins, Davies, Smith, Rogers, Ramsdale, Longstaffe, Ohiloott, Johnson, Holland, Coldrick.. Auckland: Cross, Wooley, Ifwerson (captain), Fox, M'Olymont, Hardgraves, Webb, Savoury, Bennett, Walters,.;Mitchell, Haywa'rd,- Clark. Auckland won the toss and deoided to play with the sun at their "backs. Longstaffe set the ball rolling, and momentarily play was in Auckland's territory. •Auckland, by well judged kicking, worked to England's twenty-five- line,' where Ifwerson had a shot at goal from a penalty. It was an excellent 6hot, and just went outside the post. " Play remained in England's half; Auckland kept up the' . pressure, but relief waß - gained by a pretty passing run. Shortly, after, from a mark Cross attempted to run, instead of kicking, and was with _the. ball. From the resulting play, Coldrick, sidestepping like a back, beat two of the Aucklanders, and ran in and scored. England' 6 first try.- . Wood., converted., Shortly after Longstaffe. -secured' jiear touch and passed ifco Moorhouse. The latter kicked . .over the cross-head. Several of the visitors and local men raced for the ,ball, and Jenkins reaching it first, scored: England's second try, Woods again- converting., England, 10; Auckland, o.'' Again~Auckland attacked for a while, but another passing runjmt Auckland on the defensive. The English forwards.and backs passed'the ball oh'the slightest provocaA brilliant passing run was initiated by Rogers, and the ball went to Jenkins and Moorhouse, who ran round behind the post'and scored. Woods converted. England, 16; Auckland, 0. Play was resumed in a'shower of rain and hail. Cross again got his side.into trouble by running ; with the ball' instead of kicking: 'A free-kick to Auckland found touch at.England's twentyfive, and. in the'forward rush; which followed Mitchell and Savoury were prom■inent, but Woods saved well. The pressure was kept'up, and from a free-kick Ifwerson ! kicked a goal from an angle oi 35 yards out. England, 15; Auckland, 2. Auckland kept t up' the pressure. After some in-play, an-Englishman got offside under/the posts, and Ifwerson kicked a, goal. England; 15. 'Auckland,- 4. The , Auokland forwards kept, up the pressure, and, Wood, Mulling, and Savoury picked up and scored. . Ifwerson kicked a poster. England, 15:-Auckland,' 7. On the play out Hall broke through, and, shepherded! by Jenkins;', ran oyer' and scored. Woods's kiok at. goal failed. England, 18; Auokland, 7. The Auckland forwardSj.attapked^for;awhile after the kick out/ arid, ihW.XTohnsbn "secured the ball and broke through'.;'. He ran to the full-back, and 1 passed to Moorhouse, who, although tackled as'he.went acro'ssj th»; line, . scored'-,-again,.'' for ''Engfail'd.:' Woods's kick at goal failed. •21; Auokland, 7. . Shortly after -Jenkins drew the.defence, and.passed to Holland, who side-stepped the full-back and ran. in behind and-posted. Woods converged. ' England,: 26: Auckland, 12. Froiri a scrum under the posts the.English forwards rushed the bali over'the line. Longstaffe carried it over, but lost it in the- dive. Ramsdale was handy, ind touched. down alongside the post. 'Woods failed at the goal kick. England, 29; Auckland, 12. Auckland, with .'Viir> cherl in the van, then attacked, but Johnson came through with the ball at his'- toe, and kicking past . Cross' was joined by: Rogers, whose pace was 'a great asset.' He followed the kick over: the line and touohed down.' Woods-con-verted. England, 34; Auckland. .12. Play was; carried/direct to Auckland's line on resuming, but'the defence was good, and eventually Savoury carried the, ' ball .to England's twenty-live. A free-kick-to England found tinich- at Auckland's twenty-five, and. tl» game ended. WIN FOR WEUINCTON. MATCH WITH CANTERBURY. IBy Telegraph.—Prnsi, Ascuoiatlouj ; ' Christohuroh, July 25. ! ■'■ The League representative match.Canierbury v. Wellington, played to-day provided a good display of open foot- j ball. In the first spell Wellington put | on eight points to Canterbury's nil. The following were, the teams:—Canterbury j —Full-back,'.C. K.ruse; three-quarters, i ' W. J.'Mitchell, W. Smyt'ho, K Gassori; ; halves, V. Boon and W. S. Bassell; forwards, -Ei L. Button, J. U.' Lagan,E. Smith, W. H. King, W, J. Lyes, A. Morris. Wellington—Full-back, Strickland ; thre'e-quai'tei's, W. Wilson, G, Eradley, j. Parker; halves, B. W. j Whiteley.and A 0. Murdock;-forwards, I A. Donaldson, J. Spencer, Les Campbell, J. Ashton, F. Manning, G. Lawler. .- Canterburykicked-olt.- The first scose came from some passing between Whitely, Parker, and Wilson, and tho lastn'amed- scored behind -the posts, I Strickland converting. Wellington, o; Canterbury, nil. :'-Following a great ruehj in' which- Parker transferred to Bradley, \ tlie latter ran from half-way and just got' over as .Mitchell tackled bim. Strickland iailed at the goal-kick. Wellington, 8; Canterbury, nil. ■' Immediately the second spell opened, a forward scramble ensued between both sides, while continual passing by thotwo sets of baoks worked the ciowa into a state •of enthusiasm; The game, shortly after, was stopped, owing to Gasson being injured, and he , subsequently left the field. The first score of the second spell oame from a pass bynear the corner. Campbell converted with a good kick. Wellington; 13; Canterbury, nil. A spell of exciting play followed, culminating in a score by Smith, near the corner. Mitchell failed with the kick Wjlhngtoh, 13; Canterbury, 3. There'was no further scoro, Wellington winning by a ten-point marijin. . ■ ,; ' ..-.■■ .JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES. (By ''l'deerarS Christohurch, July 25. In the junior representative match, Wellington (9) beat Canterbury (6).