LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 300, 15 September 1919, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

FOURTH TEST MATCH RUNAWAY VICTORY. FOR THE AUSTRALIANS Ry Teleeranli—Prang Association. Auckland, September 13. Australia nnci New Zealand played tho fourth League football test match at the Domain to-day in the presence of about 15,0C0 spectators. The weather was iino and the ground in good order. Australia won by 32 points to 2. Tho giinio opened very last, and alter about ten-minutes' play the Australians were penalised inside the half-way line. Ifwerson made a good attempt at goal, the -ball went outside. Shortly afterwards Australia were again penalised, but Ifwerson failed with the luck. This was followed by another penalty insido tho visitors' half-way line, and Ifwerson again failed with a difficult Icielc. Open play followed, and as a result of a smart follow up Surge scored for Australia. Horder tailed with the kick. Australia, S; New Zealand, 0. Australia attacked for some' time, and as a result of a smart passing rush' Cubitt scored under the posts for the visitors. Horder eonverted. Australia, 8. New Zealand, 0. Give-and-take play followed, and Australia were again- penalised. Dttfty missed a somewhat easy kick. After fast, open play in which tho home team had the best of matters the Australians wero again penalised, but Bradley -lailed with the kick. New Zealand again attacked, and. Australia forced down. From play at half-way Australia got the ball from the scrum, and it went out to Horder on the blind side. The Australian crack uieed for tho line, and, beating the New Zealand backs, scored. Horder failed with tlw kick. Australia, 11: New Zealand, 0. After- a spell of even play Australia took play into the New Zealand twenty-five, and the ball went into touch in goal. New Zealand attacked, and offside play by, Australia jjavo Ifwer- - son an easy kick:, which he missed, and the spell ended—Australia, 11. New Zealand, 0. The second spell opened very fast, and some exciting play was witnessed. , The backs 011 both sides threw the ball about freely, and some line passing bouts wero witnessed. Australia gradually worked play into New Zealand territory, aud as th« result of a passing bout Vest ■scored for Australia. Horder failed' with the'kick. Australia, 11; New Zealand, '1. Soon afterwards tho Australians converted defenco into attack, mid the full-back passed to Horder, who raced half the length of the held ,and scored a inagnilicent try. Surge converted. Australia, 19; Now Zealand, I). Soon afterwards Australia were penalised, and Ifwerson kicked a good goal. .Australia. 19; New Zealand, 2. Australia attacked, and Vest scored on tho blind side. Surge failed with the kick. Australia. 22. New Zealand, 2. Open followed, and from an exchange of | kicks Burge took the ball on the full, I and. beating tho New Zealand defence, scored a spectatcular try, which he converted. Australia, 27. New Zealand, 2. Shortly after Horder raced away and scored, Burge converting, Australia, 32; New Zealand, 2. Tho game ended with play in mid-field.

WELLINGTON V. CANTERBURY A. DRAWN GAME. The representative match between Wellington and Canterbury ivas played at Newtown l'ark on Saturday afternoon. 'Phoso who attended were reratlod by ,a fast, open .spectacular exhibition. Tho teams wero yer.v evnniy niatchcd as thescore (23 all) indicates. The Canterbury hookers were sueeesstul in obtaining the ball in the majority of the scrums, but • in ' the ,opcn work the Wellington forwards more than held their ov,-n, some of their dribbling rushes carrying all before them. Their tackling also was? very deadly. The Canterbury backs.had more opportunities than their opponents, but the defence proved sound, and tlie majority of the scores came from really geed efforts. ■ Canterbury won llio toss, and immediately set up a strong attack, and patsing "betweon young, Mitchell, and George threatened danger, but Finiay&on saved well. Securing the ball in tho sci tuns, the visitors were throwing tho leather about, and for a time the -Wei-' lington line ivns in danger, Morris eventually relieving with a good run. From a free-kick, Whitley had a fruitless shot ' at goal, Canterbury being forced. Beturning to the attack, the visitors' backs again got going, and passing between ilitcholl, Molloy, and I'oung saw tho latter draw first blood, Mitchell converting. Canterbury, ft; Wellington, 0. Alter further fast play Morris smartly, and, side-stepping well, gained a lot of ground, and then centred to Finlayson, -who beat several opponents, and scored. Whitley converted. Canterbury,. 5; Wellington, 5. _ Canterbury attacked strongly lor some time. Henderson, by a good tackle, followed'by a tricky, run, relieved the pressure. Pollock placed the home team on the attack, and. a line, loose rush by Kruse, Scott, Zimmerman, and, Pfeft'er forced the visitors. • Prom some loose play near half-way Henderson sccured, and making an opening passed to Whitley, who centred. Mitchell and Thackwell failed to field the ball cleanly. Dawe, who had followed up fast, secured possession, and scored. Whitley's kick failed. Wellington, S; .Canterbury, a. Childs broke away with the ball at his feet,-but was obstructed by Mitchell when. near the line, and ■ the referee

promptly awarded a penalty try. Whitlev converted. Wellington, 13; Canterbury, 5. These reverses roused tho visitors. Combined work by fouug and Mitchell placed the home line in danger, but Whitley saved by a good centre, JJawo headed a loose rush to Canterbury line, a knock-on spoiling at Hie critical moment. A got tuo visitors out' of trouble. Trudgeon was next prominent by a good dribble, and, passing between Thackwell, .Young, Mitchell, and George, saw the latter well stopped, by Meares, when looking dangerous. l'Yom the following serum the visitors secured, and Thackwell set his backs going. Mitchell passed to King, who cut iri and scored. Jlitcliell failed to goal. At this stage Zimmerman injured his ankle, and Green took his place, Combined work by Morris (who was playing well), Henderson, and Finlayson placed the homo team on tho attack, and passing by Meares and Henderson looked dangerous, but a forward pass spoiled a good opportunity to store. Being awarded a tree-kick, Mojrris miido 110 mistake. Wellington, 15; Canterbury, 8. Fast play followed till half, time. ' Tho opening stages' of the second spell were marked by a fine dribble byDawe, and being joined by Scott the pair took plaj to the lino, Wright savins, cleverly. George and Kidd, by good kicking, took I play well down, where Meares mis-kicked to Molloy, who ran in unopposed.' Jlitcliell converted, Wellington, 15 j Canterbury, 13. Morris, by a solo effort, was nearly over, a fine tackle by Healcy saving. . Prom some loose play Pollock and passed to Scott, who transferred to l'feifer, who scoied between tho posts. Whitley converted. Wellington, 21); Canterbury, 13. From an opening made by King, -Mitchell broke tli rough, but was well atopprd by WhitIcy. ' Shortly after Jlitcliell again threatened danger, but'lie passed instead of going over himself; Finlayson, intercepting, saved a certain try. Faulty handling of the ball spoiled two inoro chances for the visitors. From a return by Meares, Wright marked and Jlitcliell kicked a good goal. Wellington, 20; Canterbury. 15. Kruse kicked to the centre! and. the home forwards, led by Childs, took play well dowa the field, Jlitcliell coming to the rescue. Henderson and Morris wore prominent in staving off another strong attack by tho visitors, and combined work by Kruse and Pollock gained further ground. Tho home backs started passing, the ball being handled by Kruse, Morris, Whitley, and Finiayson; a knock-on spoiling a good chance to score. Then followed the best passing of tiie day. Kruse secured the ball from the serum, and passed to Jtorris, who sent it on to Pollock, who passed infield to Kruse, and | then .to Whitley wlio, seeing an opening, dashed through and scc-red. Jlorris failed to convert. Two more passing efforts by the home team iust failed to materialise. A fine loose rush by the' whole Wellington team was- spoiled by obstruction when a try looked certain, and Wellington were forced by Mitchell's attempt at goal. The paij'e now told on the. home team, and tiie visitors set up a series of strong assaults on their line. Passing between Thackwell, •Young, and Jlitcliell saw the latter score, and his kick was successful. Wel-lington,-23; Canterbury, 20. Canterbury continued to attack, and being awarded a free-kick Jlitcliell caught the homo team napping, and registsred another try. making ilie scores level. His kick at goal failed. 'Wellington, 23; Canterbury, 23. With only a few minutes to go both sides mado strenuous efforts to register the winning try, but neither side was successful. ( Jli'. A. House was referee.

1 CANTERBURY JUNIORS V. WELLINGTON JUNIORS. This match was played as a curtainraiser to tho senior game,: and resulted in an .easy win for tho visitors. The Canterbury lads knew too much for the home team, who have lind little opportunity tlus season owing to lack of grounds. For the winner?, Harper (3), Turner (2), and . Robinson scored tries, and Turner kicked a penalty-goal. Mr. i'. Evans was referee. WELLINGTON AND CANTERBURY - RETURN GAMES! The following teams have been selected to piny in Hie return matches at Christchurch *next Saturday;— Seniors; Fullback, Meares; .three-quarters, Whitley, Bradley; .five-nightlis, Morris, Kruse; half-back, Pollock; .forwards, Ciiilds, Pfeffer, Da we, Keott, • Green, Duske; reserve, Pulcetapu.\ Juniors: Pull-back, Cockhead; three-quarters, Sass, . Cahill, Wilson, Gibson; fiveeighths, Totley, Stubberslield; half-back, lionler; forwards, Evans, Walters, Bell, Spence, Bowers. Messrs. J. Barber and J. Murphy will act as managers. Both teams will practice at Newtown Park on Tuesday evening.