NORTHERN RUGBY GAME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 60, 20 June 1910, Page 5

NORTHERN RUGBY GAME.

BRITAIN v. AUSTRALASIA. Auckland, Saturday. Mr. Watts, secretary of the Xew Zealand Rugby League, has received a cablegram from Sydney to the effect that the match Britain v." Australasia had been fixed for !)th July, and asking that six New Zealanders be sent, three backs and three forwards. The men! will be chosen by the selectors at an early date.

ENGLAND DEFEATS AUSTRALIA. A CLOSELY-CONTESTED GAME. Received June 19, 5.20 p.m. / Sydney, Saturday Night. About forty thousand witnessed the League match. The game provided a vigorous, stirring display, the Englishmen winning chiefly through their superiority in the forwards, whose weight •told in the scrums, and whose footwork in the open was a long way better than the Australians'. The Britishers had the wind against them in the opening spell, but kept close on the Australians, and were a point behind when the whistle sounded, the spell endingAustralia 12 England 11 In the next half the visitors asserted their superiority. The backs on both sides performed well, but the English were more machinelike: Batten and Leythan (wings) played fine games. Messenger, for Australia, was in fine form, making several brilliant runs. The British combination, however, outmatched the Australians, but the match was stiffly contested right through. The final scores were—- ' England 27 Australia! ..., 20 Prior to the commencement of the game a goal-kicking contest was held between Lomas and Messenger, the Englishman winning by a goal.

A bitterly cold afternoon on a ground exposed to a Weak mountain wind. Seven or eight spectators on the terraces, or sheltering below a 'bank, and amongst them four men wearing the uniform of the Royal Navy. On.the playing-field, about eight men—in motley uniform, scarcely any two jerseys alike—kicking a foal} about. The disconsolate few awaited the beginning of the match advertised to be played between the East and West teams under Northern Union rules. This was the state of affairs on the Western Park ground on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. By 3.30 p.m. three more players had emerged from the little dressing-shed, and after a further spell of aimless kicking, sides were picked, seven playing the other six. The latter team was strengthened by another player before the game had progressed very far. Only a few of the (players seemed to know the game, and the referee couldn't be blamed for lack of interest. Altogether it was a most inauspicious opening of the season 'by the local league. Several of the amateurs who had decided to enter the ranks evidently reconsidered their decision. Some of the others were unable to attend on account of injuries, or of sickness at home, and the secretary of the league suggested others were suffering from stage fright. A strong effort is to be made to infuse some life into the game, so that a good team can be picked to meet the Englishmen when they come this way. SATURDAY COMPETITION. CIVIL SERVICE (3) v. WAREHOUSES (3).

The second meeting for this season between these teams took place on the racecourse ground on Saturday. The game was very keenly contested, although there was no very (brilliant play, the strong wind which blew until the second spell had commenced militating against what might have been an attractive game. Service played with a strong wind in the first spell, and registered only three points, and even their most ardent supporters thought defeat was inevitable when they changed ends. Fortunately for them, the wind dropped soon after the second spell had commenced, and, having had the advantage of the wind in the first half, they kept their opponents on the defence most of the time. There was a series of knockouts in the first half, three players having to retire. Two noticeable features of the game were incessant appealing and a great tendency on t'c part of some of the plavers to play the man instead of the ball. Mr. J. Thomson was the referee. Markison kicked off for Service, and even .play between the 25's ensued. From a line-out the Blue forwards broke . away, and play was taken into Ware- \ houses' Jprritory, and several dangerous ( rushes were stopped by good defensive I may by their backs. 'For offside play I Service were awarded a free kick. LoveI vidsre essayed a shot at goal, but the kick was a,po?ir one. Resuming, Service again attacked the Warehouse line, and j a. nice passing rush by the Bine backs ! resulted in Loveridge crossing over near J the corner. He took the kick himself, ' but failed to increase the score. Ser- ' vice 3, Warehouses 0. For the remainder of the spell play was kept on thY

Yellows' lino, but the nines failed increase their score. On opening the half, Ware* houses took a-turn at attack, and pinned the Blues on their line. From a penalty kick Hawkins took a shot and landed a good goal. Serviee 3, Warehouses 3. At I this stage a slight shower fell, and the wind completely dropped. This was a decided advantage for Service, who, having had the wind in the'first stages, were in much'better condition than their opponents. They soon reversed the order of things, and made a vigorous attack on the Warehouse line, where Hmieyfield was splendidly tackled .by Crockett when he looked like scoring. The remainder of the game saw the Warehouses defending their Jine, though they occasionally broke away', but Were unable to keep off the strong attacks made by the Blue forwards. Time was called with the scores—Serviee 3, Warehouses 3.

For Warehouses Richard and Hawkins were the most conspicuous in the loose, but the latter "plays the man" too much. Stannering and Jensen played solid games in the backs. For Service, Pfankucli, Loveridge, and Honeyfleld were the best in the back division, while the forwards played with more combination than their opponents.

The Recreation Sports Ground was not available on Saturday afternoon, so the match between Pirates and Rovers was not played.