FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 114, 22 August 1910, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND RETAILS THE SHIELD. A DRAW WITH WELLINGTON, A SENSATIONAL GAME. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Saturday. The Auckland - Wellington football match for tlie Ranfurly Shield was played here to-day in beautiful weather -before an attendance of 'about 15,000 people. There was a light wind blowing. In many quarters it was considered that Auckland football had deteriorated, hut the Auckknders pinned their faith to their magnificent .forwards, and they saved the situation. The 'local pack played as one man. Passing, kicking, hooking), heeling and rushing in perfect combination, they broke through, the sting of the Wellington back attack. In the first spell, Murray made a brilliant mark, and O'Leary kicked a goal from near half-way. In the second! spell Avery made a great opening. He started from his own half, and then passed to Roberts, who scored an unconverted try. The game ended in a draWj with the scores: Auckland 3, Wellington 3. Playing wiih the wind in the first spell, Auckland had the best of the igame, and in the second they had probably the better of matters, but the backs were unable to avail themselves of the opportunities offering.

THE TEAMS. The teams were as follows: —

WELLINGTON. Full-back, Ryan; ■three-quarters, .Even son, Mitchinson, Dawison; five-eighths, Kinvig and McLeod; half, Roberts; wing-forward, Avery; forwards, Elliott, Irvine, Leahy, Rapson, Perry, Mollatt, Bruce. AUOKLiAiND. Full-back, O'Leary; three-quarters, Stewart, Magee, Murray; five-eighths, Wilkes and Power; half-ibaftk, Morse; wing-forward, Hall; forwards, iSellars, Tyler, Francis, Cunningham, Maguire, Havward, Wylie.

Mr. J. Williams refereed. THE PLAY.

Auckland won the toss, and Tyler decided to play with the wind and sun. llaps'on kicked off for Wellington, and the Black forwards smothered Magee's take, but O'Leary 'found touch. Roberts set the Wellington backs going, and Murray taking too long to field, Dawson downed him in the corner, five yards from the line. From the serum Francis pushed like a Trojan, and Magee helped matters, Hall finally sending the Ml out iait lialf-way. A long kick by Auckland saw Wellington force.' From the play-out, Stewart found the line with a fine kick. Play worked to Auckland's half, where a free kick gave Auckland relief. Mitchinson took ithe ball and stumbled, but recovered 'himself and kicked to Stewart, who kicked low to Dawson, wiho found touch. From the resulting play Stewart was disabled. - A free kick to Wellington was returned into touch. The Auckland forwards were getting the best of the Wellington vanguard, and. worked to Wellington's half. Where Perry showed fine play, and came right through the local pack. Stewart retired at this stage. The Auckland forwards kept play in Wellington's half, where, from a scrum, the Wellington backs secured and set going. They were blocked, but Bruce secured., and the situation looked dangerous. Power secured and kicked, and play was worked down field by Wellington. From a kick out the ball was returned by the Auckland backs, and the kick rebounded'. Cunningham and Evenson chased after it, but the Wellington man touched into the dead-ball area. The play, on resumption, kept in Wellington's hialf, the AUCKLAND FORWARDS MONOPOLISING

the game, getting the ball in the serums, and keeping play close. A fine forward rush carried play to the visitors' twentyfive, where Maguire sorted himself out and looked likely to get across, but the ball went into touch five yards from the line. Wellington gained relief, and a duel of kicks followed. From the lineout play, following a good kick from Dawson, 'Ball almost prevented Ryan from getting his kick in. Hesitancy by the Auckland backs gave Wellington slight relief, but Murray set a passing rush going, in which every Auckland back took part, but play went into touch. From the resulting play, Walker showed cleverness, and centred; McLeod took his kick, and Murray brought oft a grand mark, beating the rush of two Wellington men. O'Leary took the kick from half-way, and a grand goal resulted.

Auckland 3 Wellington 0 Wellington came down field with a most determined rush from the kick-out, every back taking part in finished style, but Dawson's failure to take a pass near, the corner saw a chance to score lost. The passing worked back across field, where .the local forwards blocked, but an infringement gave Wellington a shot at goal. Roberts' kick, though a good one, failed, and Magee found the line

with the return. From the play from touch 'Sellars and Francis were prominent in a grand rush, and Hall carried play on to the visitors' territory. Auckland forwards kept the play in the visitors' half, and Mitchinson was seen to be WEAK IX DEFENCE.

Evenson made a dash, but was well col-

lared by Murra_t, and the Auckland pack, led by Wylie, made matters look

dangerous for Wellington. For about ten minutes play kept in t'lie Wellington twenty-five, dashes being made for the line by Walker and Wylie. Auckland's hookers were getting the ball, and it was coming) out smart and clean, but Morse was fumbling a lot, and shooting the ball out badly, the visitors thus getting plenty of time to smother the passing runs. Play, however, 'kept in Wellington's 'half. A succession of scrums and line-outs followed. Wellington got relief from a free kick, Roberts finding the line from half-way. Prom the tftrow-in Perry dashed through. A pass-forward resulted in a scrum, and then Hall got off-side. Roberts' kick found the line, and from the throw-in 'Hayward ibooted well down ,the line. The local forwards then set up a rush, Hayward making

an opening and passing to Francis, who | sent on to Cunningham. The latter j passed to Sellars, who was well collared by McLeod. I A " SPECULATOR." 1 Perry was prominent in an invasion | of Auckland territory, but pood kicks by Walker and Wilkes carried play to the other end, where the crowd got a thrill bv Murray speculating down to Ryan, who saved splendidly and removed play to midQekl. Bruce dashed down field and beat O'Leary, but Walker came on the scene nnd, beating several railing forwards, found the touch-line about the Wellington twenty-five. An Auckland back secured, but mulling prevented eventful play, arid a hard kick sent the ball over the line, where it was forced. The Ibell rang for half-time with Auckland leading iby the efforts of a. fine pack of forwards, who had kept play a great deal of the time on the visitors' half. The score at half-time was: Auckland 3 Wellington 0

SECOND SPELL,

Wellington had the advantage of the sun and wind in the isecond spell. Hall kicked off for Auckland, and Mitchinson returned into touch about the twentyfive. A Wellington forward rush was well stopped by Wilkes. O'Leary's kick was taken by Roberts, who ran down field and gave a long pass to Kinviig, who took well and sent on to Mitchinson. The latter was blocked by Murray, and dropped tip ball. O'Leary secured., and kicked up field. From the line-out Leahy was prominent, but the play of the Wellington backs was smothered. They gained a free kick, and IPiower marked a high kick (beautifully. After the kick, Sellars was noticed in front of the Auckland paok, and play was near the Wellington twenty-five. From the serum, Wellington got a free kick, and from the return Mitchinson brought off a nice piece of work. Wellington were on the attack, when Morse was knocked out. Murray made a good attempt to make a rocket-like kick, and Wellington forwards got possession, but Power kicked into touch. DESPERATE PLAY.

From the line-out play, the desperate nature of the Auckland forwards' game was noticeable. Roberts made a dash, but was promptly smothered, and then Wylie, by a, wonderful dash, came through, and Auckland got relief from a dangerous situation. Kinvig's return kick was forced by O'Leary. Wellington kept on the attack, and O'Leary earned applause by fine line kicking. The Auckland forwards removed play,, and the game resolved itself into a duel between Auckland forwards and Wellington backs, in which' the latter got the worst, and at times showed a disinclination to face the great overpowering/ rushes of the Blue and White vanguard. In the resulting play, Avery showed to great advantage. Auckland kept up the attack, and from a passing run by the forwards, play worked into touch five yards from the Wellington. line. A NARROW SHAVE. ] Prom the play-out Ryan knocked the j ball over the goal line, and then picked up and kicked out into field from under the posts. Murray took well, and had a good pot at goal, but missed the posts. Wilkes followed l fast, and almost scored. Auckland! kept up the attack, and in the forward play Tyler showed to advantage. The pressure was kept up, the Wellington backs having no chance against the concerted rushes of the whole Auckland pack. From out of one of j these Wilkes received ifrom Morse, but' was downed two yards from the line. I From the play-out, R. Magee made a 1 great opening and sent on to Walker,! who sailed for the line. (Roberts made a great save. In the resulting play Aivery burst through in his own half, and carried play to t'he 25 yards line, where he picked up and passed to Roberts. The latter made a great dash with a clear field. He was side-tackled by O'Leary on the line, (but scored amidst indescribable excitement. Kinvig failed at goal.

Auckland Wellington FIERCE PLAY.

The Auckland forwards' play on the resumption was something to be remembered 1 . In one of the great rushes Ryan went down, and when the ball had left 'him a Blue and Wihite forward was noticed to deliberately kick the visiting full-back. The action earned the displeasure of the crowd. Auckland forwards, assisted b;- line kicking by the ibacks, kept up the' pressure, and there were two hot rallies. From the line-out five yards from the Wellington line the fierceness of the play of the local pack was something remarkable. Almost every forward made a dash, Hall and Francis grounding the ball just inside the line. From a scrum Roberts 'secured l , and Avery and Perry carried play into Auckland's half. A cross kick gave Mitchinson a chance; but O'Leary blocked 'his progress. Wellington backs attempted some passing, and play remained open for a while. Roberts made a great dash, but O'Leary saved splendidly, and his kick going into touch at midfield, the fbell sounded, and then ended in, a draw one of the most sensational games seen at the Park for years, the scores being:— , Auckland 3 [ Wellington . 3

['The Press agent does not explain where the player Walker came from. He is not mentioned in the list of players in the teams.]

UNIVERSITY MATCH. CANTERBURY DEFEATS WELLINGTON. Wellington, Last Night. The annual University 'Rugby match, Canterbury College v. Victoria College, played here on Saturday, resulted in a win for the Christchurch team by 5 points to 3. 1 Neither team showed much finish, and the game was dull. In the first half Victoria College 'had the better of the game generally, but a try waa scored against them by Langridge, Murchison converting. In the second spell iStainton scored for Victoria College.

WANGAiNUI BEAT HAWKEfS BAY.

Wanganui, Last Night. The rop. football match, Wanganui v. Hawkc's Bay, was played yesterday afternoon in fine weather. Wangiunii proved victorious by 12 points to 3, Wanganui s score consisting of three unconverted goals and a penalty goal. Sculling scored a try for Hawkc's Bay. The game was interesting, though Wanganui had the better of it throughout, 'both backs and forwards being superior to their opponents.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

WELUNCTON WINS TILE BROWN .SHIELD. Wellington, Last Night. The Brown Shield challenge match, Otago v. Wellington, resulted in a win for Wellington by 3 goals to 1. Wellington representatives therefore retain their position as Association champions. Rain oame on and made the ground slippery for the second spell, but dashing football was seen in the first half, during ■which Otago scored first, and Wellington retaliated with two goals. The challengers maintained a fairly sound defence in the second spell, but Mayliew (Otago) miskicked right into Wellington's goals, and this was the only change in the position of the teams. Other scorers were Gibson and Smallbono for Wellington, and Webster for Otago. THE VICTORIAN GAME N.S.W. BE'AT QUEENSLAM). Sydney, August 21. Playing the Australian (Victorian) game, New iSonth Wales beat Queensland 'by 10 goals and 15 behinds to 6 goals and 12 behinds. CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BENEFITS. Wellington, Last Night. 'llalf the proceeds of the Brown Shield football match yesterday go to the iMayoress' Children's Hospital Fund. This will mean a donation of £SO or £OO. Could Taranaki of 1910 make even a moderate stand against Taranaki of IS!>4? The 1010 Taranaki team compares very favourably with that of 1894 The backs include such men as Cameron, Dive, Stohr, Roberts, and Mynott, and some of the Waimate Plain forwards are big, fast, active men with a good knowledge of the game. The team that beats Taranaki this season will be entitled to declare themselves New Zealand champions for the year.—"Off-Side Mac" in the Dominion.