FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 134, 28 May 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

BRITAIN V. WELLINGTON. A FIERCELY (UNTESTED .MATCH Jilli KCOltlXtl. WIN' Ft lit WELLINGTON'. AN KXOKMUI'S ATTENDANCE. Per Press Association.

•I Wellington, Luni X'ght. = The AngloAVelsh tram met the Wrlk lington combination at the Athletic ' I'nrk this afternoon, and was defeated by 10 points to \X The weather overhead was line and the ground oil the soft side. A smart northerly breeze \ wan in evidence throughout:. The at- ' tendance was oflicially given at 18,0(10. The takings amounted to about The game was fiercely contested on both sides, the forwards in particular giving n line exhibition ol' their nippiness and strenuousncss, nullifying the elVert*, to a material extent, of their rival rearguards. The smashing taetic.of the M-runnnagers was felt v o keenly and strongly by the backs that the bitter were burred repeatedly from exorcising pa-sing and running tactics. There was inaccurate manipulations of the leather on numberless occasions by tlie back divisions, and the pasMng wan not infrequently inaccurate and ill-timed This remark applies to both sides. At times (lie visiting backs gave evidence of slickness, quickness, find speed. Only hard and sure tackling 0 n the part of the Wellington forwards stopped their ehalkniarks from being cros>cd oftener. In scrum work neither side could claim to have a material advantage, the Jlri- ; tishers being slightly superior in the, tight while the local vanguard were seen [ to the best advantage in the open play. The visiting players gained repeated stretches of territory by quickness in throwing out the ball on the line, the home team leaving several of their opponents unmarked. The Wellington forward brigade .shaped bettor than was expected, ami worked cohesively. Time after time in the sr<t>nd spell they drove home the atta<k with telling force, Imt over-eagemes* caused them to get off-side and the visitors were enabled to clear their citadel from danger by penalty kicks. The Britishers were handicapped for some timo by the loss of tho full-bucH,

o received a nasty knock on the head

ill stemming a fierce Wellington forward onslaught. Dyke, who was taken out of the forwards, replaced him, and did fine saving service, dackelt came on again when the Britishers had notched eight points, playing in tile throe-quarter line.

The stubborn figlit among the forwards was responsible for players 011 both sides being temporarily disabled. The pace was nude a cracker l>v the rival vanguards, and the suspension of hostilities owing to 11 plaver knocked out gave them an acceptable breather.

Wellington; playing with tile wind and sun behind tiieni ill the first. spcii' notched 11, Roberts, (,'rei 11 and Ilaidham being the try-getters. Wallace converting the latter's. in the succeeding spell Thomson, for Wellington, notched a try, Roberts adding the major points. Then the visitors got to work. ,1. F. Williams, J. L. Williams, and McEvcdv crossed the home team's chalk-mark. Dyke converting on two occasions. A few minutes to no-side Mitehinson slipped across the British goal line. THE I'lßSx SPELL

A\ ellington won the toss, and England kicked oil". The latter Wii-i mjoh mvc, Thomson checking a dangerous rush 011 his own line. Wellington worked the ball into the visitors' territory, and from a scrum Green secured posses' sion, Ileal Davy and Laxon (halves), and passed to Roberts, who eluded the full-back and touched down. Wallace failed at tile goal. Wellington Britain 0.

The visitors indulged in two fruitless |"iis--ing rushes near the quarter (hig. Robert's got possession, ran through the op]iosing cordon of lucks, iU ,d gave a timely pass to llardham. who burst over the line. Wallace added the major joints, Wellington S: Britain 0. Shortly after Hardham broke away, but neglected to pass to (ircen, who was lying handy, and threw away it splendid scoring chance. Strong counter-charges among the forwards was followed by a pretty piece of concerted passing by J. A. \\ illiatns and Gibbs, the latter being bowled into touch when looking danger--011-. Jackett at this stage retired temporarily front the lield, his place at full being filled by Dyke. The Wellington backs opened up the play, but indecision and fumbling 011 their part failed to gain much headway. From a scrum near the visitors' line (ircen cleverly baffled his opponents and slipped across the line, Roberts failing to nofcli the extra points. Wellington 11: IJritain 0. SECOND SPELL.

Tho first feature of the second spell was a fine bit of passing between Mitchi*on and Wallace. The latter lost possession of the ball, but recovered himself and drove it up the field. Thomson raced down at a great bat, bul overran the ball when within a couple of yards of the goal line. Another passing vu*U was set in motion by Mitchinsou. who transferred to Wallace, who in turn sent the bather on to Thom-on, who showed a clean pair of heels to his opponents and meed behind the poets, Roberts converted.

Wellington HI: Britain 0. The visitors now put plenty of energy and ginger into their work, and the sequence to a strong assault on the Wellington citadel was Evenson making a mis-kick, and the leather wa- smartly grabbed by J. l\ Williamson, who touched down, (ribbos failed at goal. Britain 3; Wellington 10.

Encouraged by this success, the Britishers made a succession of hot attacks in Wellington territory, where from a scrum Davy got possession, baffled Roberts, and transferred at the right moimcnt to J. L. Williams, who went clean through the Wellington three-quarter* and full and over the goal line. Dyke converted. Britain S; Wellington 10. The visitors still kept up the pressure. ! and the local men'.-, hands were full in ! repelling invasion. At length Welling- ! ton a>suiued the offensive and tile l>iiti>lnri> were (-silled upon to e.\er<'ise their l>e-t defensive abilities to ward oJV the danger. On successive occasions, the Wellington forwards?, aided by Green' and Roberts, penned their opponents on j the hitters' goal lin.e. but o\er-eagerne.-s cau-<ed tiiem to infringe, rules, and the Britishers had acceptable saves per medium of free-kicks. Dyke distinguished himself bv robbing Wellington of two seeming scores by sound tackling and .smart kicking. The struggle was suspended at intervals owing to Green and Roberts and Mien Down being "hid out/' A brilliant rush bv the British rear-

i:it.ml down tin* lield wound up uiili ,\]e Lv«dy gethUg —.hmi id ihe l";i'ner, and liiii>liiiig up a splendid -prim :by

going o\ej- Wellington's line.. |Jyke \va. Micce>-,tul at goal. Britain Hi; Wellington ]i;.

Tin' I'xi'itcinc'iit was inlen—, mid l»>(h teams played with deadly earnestness. Wellington gradually sliiited play into their opponents' r|ii;irti'r", and UolierU. ■picking up in the loose, ck-\t'lly transferred to .Miteliinson, \yhu sprinted m-rii-, wry >martly and owed. Tie' try nas mil converted. Wellington Ill; ISrililin J:!. 1 Miiy was in tilt; ISiitr-.* when the whittle soundnl for no sid". Tin l Anglo-Welsh ten in was the s-i me as tliut played ul Mastcrlon, excepting Unit Harding and Smith were replaced I>y Down and Dyke. There was no alteration in the Wellington team as originally published. (;roen (who is ;i dim ! imitivn hid from l'ctone) w undoubtedly tile licro of the match. ; ,nil on his nliowinj; proved his nndonlited claim to a place ill tile Xcw Zen land team. erts nl-o jilaved splendidlv. Anions tile jtritish 'backs. D nv y. (Jildx-s. McKwdy, jukl |)vkc did .iCTvicti. All tlio jcvwanls in tin- jvspwrtive vaniiuanls did work, and no piayrr could |„. .iii<.-!<.d (H ,t for 5,„.<Ul| OH fitlu'V sillc.