FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9143, 20 July 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

BRITAIN v. AUCKLAND. VISITORS DEFEATED. AUCKLAND H BRITAIN 0 BY TELKGRAPH —PBESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, July 18. The Anglo-British footballers met the Auckland team to-day. Glorious weather conditions prevailed. Some 20,000 spectators were present. The ground was dry and the game fast find fairly interesting. Britain was without the services of several of thc-ir "cracks" through injuries. Ihe teams were as follow : BRITAIN.

Full-back, Dyke; three-quartern, Chapman, Vassall, J.P.Jones and McEvedy; halves, Laxon and G. L. Williams; forwards, Harding (captain), Dibble, Morgan, Down, hind, Smith, J. F. Williams and Thomas.

AUCKLAND. Full-back, Renwick; three-quarters, Wilson, Williams, Magee ami Murray; five-eighths, Morse and Bater; half-back, Kiernan; forwaids, Gillett (captain), Maguire, Herring, Cunningham, Francis, Nicholson, Seeling and Hayward. The pace set wa3 furious at the outset. The Britishers were not allowed to get their backs in motion, the Auckland forwards doing a lot of "spoiling." Five rhinutea after the kick off Bater unexpectedly broke away in the midtield, and raced for tjne line with three British bucks in pursuit Dyke caught him a few yards from the line, and in the ensuing scramble the ball rolled over the line, and Hayward pounced on it, drawing fii-st blond for the home team. Kiernan's!attempt at go?l proved fruitless

Auckland 3 Britain 0 On resuming the Britishers became aggressive, and forced play into Auckland territory; The backs, hbwever, owing to the excellent tackling of Auckland never got out of hand. Seeling, Francis and Gillett were the most prominent in nullifying the attempts. At times Britain got within striking distance,_ but the Auckland line was never seriously endangered. The spell closed without further score, thu visitors having the better of the play. The second spell opened without much incident, play being fairly good for the first twenty minutes, when the Britishers showed signs of going t) pieces. Half-way through the spell Batter cut off a pass from Harding, and endangered the Britishers line. Immediately afterwards Gillett, from a line-out, whipped the leather smartly away to Herring, who raced across without much opposition. Francis' kick at goal went wide.

Auckland 6 Britisn ... ... 0 The subsequent play was very lively, the Auckland tacks entering into the gaiiie with great spirit. Morse and Batter f,ot well away shortly after, but a bad pais to Wilson a few yards from the line robbed Auckland of an almost certain score, and the Britishers made the moat of the mistake. No rt'spite was given, however, and at length Murray sr.apptd up the ball in the loose at ihe twentyfive and scored a fire try. Dyl « tackled him, but he wrenched himself free and struggled over The lutk was at a fairly easy angle, and Magee placed a nice goal, 'lueie was mill lifteen minutes to go, but tht visitors' subsequent play lacked heart and they were never dangerous. Auckland lost several line chances through over-anxiety. The game closed without further incident, save that Britain was forced shortly before the call of time. The final score was —

Auckland 11 Britain ... ... 0 The feature of the game wa3 the fine display and deadly tacklipg ;of the home team, which never allowed the British rearguard to make much headway. Mr A. Campbell, of Auckland, was referee.

WITH THE ■ WAIRARAPA TEAM,

MATCH AGAINST CANTERBURY. WIN FOR CANTERBURY. (By Telegraph— Special Reporter.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 18. The match between Wairarapa and Canterbury was played at Lancaster Park to-day in unfavourable weather. The ground was very heavy, owing to the rain, and after the game had been in progress a short while the field of play was literally a sea ot mud. Brilliant play was out of the question, ami the game resolved itself into a battle of forwards, in which Wairarapa came out with flying colours. The Greens were superior in all departments to the Red and Black pack. The Wairarapa backs did not handle the wet ball as well as the home backs, and two or three of them had not recovered from their rough passage in the steamer from Wellington. In the first spell, Canterbury had things pretty well their own way. Rain came down in torrents at times, and Wairarapa had to face a strong southerly wind. The Canterbury backs fielded the wet ball in capital style, and indulged in a number of passing rushes, from five of which they scored. Tries were scored in the spell by Deans, Fuller, Fryer, Gray, and McPhail, and half time sounded with the score — Canterbury ... lf> Wairarapa ... 0 Wairarapa played a better game in the se :ond half, and had Canterbury almost continuously on the defensive. The Green forwards headed invariably by Brenchley (who played a grand game), R.McKenzie, Henderson and Ross invaded the home teams' territory with clock-like regularity, and during the last ha'f of the spell Canterbury were forced down every few minutes. The only score in this spell was a good try by Darvill, which O'Leary converted. The final score was — )■ Canterbury ... 15 Wairarapa ... 5

RESULTS OF MATCHES PLAYED.

1887, at Masterton, Canterbury won by 1 try to nil. 1895, at Christchurch, Canterbury won by 12 t6 nil. 1898, at Masterton, Canterbury won by 13 to 4. n 1900, at Christchurch, Wairarapa won by 4 to nil. 1902, at Carterton, Canterbury won by 24 to 3. 1903, at Christchurch, Canterbury won by 28 to nil. 1906, at Masterton, Canterbury won by 15 to 9. 1908, at Christchurch, Canterbury won by 15 to 5. BY TELEGIIAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, July 18. Wairarapa kicked off against the wind. The Canterbury backs quickly got to work. Bums set his men going, and Deans raced over the line. Weston's kick at goal failfed. . The kick out was followed by a dash by the Wairarapa forwards, but it was soon stopped, and a pretty passing rush by che Canterbury backs ended with Fuller scoring. Weston's kick at goal was unsuccessful. The Canterbury backs got to work again, and after all the backs, except Doell, had handled it, Fuller gave a pass to McPhdil, who scored. Weston was again unsuccessful with the kick at goal. Henderson headed a rush of the Wairarapa forwards, and for a time play was at the centre. A dangerous Wairarapa rush was stopped by a very clever mark by Gray, and the Reds were soon attacking again. Good cefensive work by Adams and Darvill kept them at bay for a while. A scramble on the line followed. The ball was kicked over, and Fryer's pace enabled him to score. Weston's kick failed. Shortly, after Gray put in a very dodgy run and scored. Fuller's kick was unsuccessful. The second spell opened 38ith Wairarapa attacking, and Canterbury were compelled to force. A misunderstanding between Deans and Weston had .Canterbury in trouble, and Johnston, Brenchley and Levick headed a rush, which was stopped by Fuller forcing:. , Canterbury attacked momentarily, but Deans held on to the ball too long, and the Wairarapa forwards were quickly on the aggressive. Off side piay spoilt an excellent opening, and the Reds cleared their line and threatened danger, but Darvill saved the situation, and a loose rush tested the CanterburyJJdefe ice, and in going down to it Doell was slightly in- ' jured. From a free kick which followed, Ross had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Wairarapa were now having the better of the game, and, mistakes by the Canterbury tucks kept play in the home twenty-five. Here Darvill secured possession, and after a fine swerving run he scored near the posts. O'Leary converted the try. Canterbury forwards had by this time s'acktned off very perceptibly, while the Wairarapa men were playing with a lot of dash. The Green forwards took charge of tl.e game, and Canterbury were forced twice in quick succession. Some clever footwork by R. McKenzie kept tf-p Reds busy, bin Fryer saved his side and took the bait past Duggan. Unfortunately the leather had gone into touch, and his good work was wasted. When time was called Wairarapa were again attacking. DUNEDIN. July 18. The following team will represent Otago against Wairarapa on Satur-daybull-back, Kindley; threequarters, O'Sullivan, Bennett and Staler; five-eighths, McLeod and Eckold; half, Sutherland; forwards, S. Casey, Fitzpatrick, Paton, Iviney, McDonald, McKenzie,. Johnston, M. Casey (wing).

BT TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, July 38. The'senior football matches were played to-day in fine weather, but the ground was heavy after the recent rains. Alhambra (3 points) drew with Dunedin (3 points), Southern (21 points) beat Zingari-Riehmond (nil), Kaikorai (13 points) beat Port Chalmers (nil), Pirates (11 points) beat Union (nil), Taieri Rovers secured a win against University by default.