FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9152, 27 July 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

THE THIRD TEST MATCH.

BRITAIN OUTCLASSED.

A MEMORABLE MATCH

BY TELEGRAPH—PIiESS ASSOCIATION.

AUCKLAND, July 25

The third and final test match between Britain and New Zealand was played at Alexandra Park to-day, the weather being dull and threatening. A heavy shower occurred in the second half. The attendance was about 15,000, the increased tariff keeping away many who otherwise would have attended. The playing area was in fairly good order considering the recent rainy weather. Britain was outclassed from the start, and never at any time threatened the All Blacks line. The following were the teams: —Britain — Full-back, E. J. Jackett; threequarters, P. F. McEvedy, H. H. Vassall, J. Ponty Jones, F. Chapman ; half-backs, W. Morgan, luan Jones; forwards, A. F. Harding, E. Morgan, P. Down, G. R. Hind, R. Dibble, H. Archer, T. W. Smith, J. F. Williams. New Zeal"rui-Full-back, three-quarters, P. Cameron, A. Mitchinson, R. G. Deans: fiye-eightns. J. Hunter, W. Stead (captain); half-back, F. Roberts; wing-forward, G. Gillett; forwards, F..-Ready, F. Glasgow, W. Cunningham, A. FranciF, J. P. Patterson, C. Seeling, H. Hayward.

Stead won the toss and -defended the western goal with the sun behind him. Harding kicking off, play was immediately returned to Britain's quarters, where the New Zealand backs got to work in great style. Three minutes after the kick off, during a forward rush, Harding was injured, and was only able to play for about ten minutes. Britain played the remainder of the game with fourteen men. With a concerted effort the Blacks forced Britain back right on tr> their line, where for an infringement a scrum was ordered. The ball was heeled out to Roberts, who whipped it to Mitchinson, and the Wellington three-quarter was over the line in a flash. No goal resulted. The Blac!t3 resjtned the attack, the forwards making it particularly hot for the visitors. Cameron provided a sensational incident by running through half (he team before beirg pushed out. Then the backs took a hand, but were unable to find a weak link in the defence. At length Roberts found an opening fur his men and got the ball clear away to Hunter, who after putting in a short run transferred to Mitchinson, who again scored, amidst great enthusiasm. The additional points were not secured. Stead and Roberts made things lively on the ball being returned to play, but after a lapse of ten minutes Britain became aggressive, Ponty Jones and Vassall getting in some tricky work. The Black forwards, ■ however, took charge shortly afterwards and rushed play to the front of the British goal, where Hayward picked up and tranferred to Hunter, who touched down \ with little difficulty. No goal was kicked. New Zealand forced the pace on resuming, and had the visitors continually in diffieul'.ies. Just before half time Glasgow scored from a loose forward Scramble in front of Britain's goal. On changing ends Nov Zealand forced the pace, and three minutes after the kick-off from a scrum gillett burrowed his way over the line. The attempt at goal was resultless. After the kick-off the Blacks gradually asserted themselves, and despite the desperate efforts of the visitors to put their backs in motion they never obtained an opening. Eventually Hayward figured prominently in a forward rush, taking the ball through to Vassall, who managed to clear. The home forwards were not to be denied and broke up a weak defence, Hayward scoring almost immediately afterwards. The additional points were not secured. The ball was no sooner in play than the British line was again threatened, and precisely one minute elapsed when the New Zealanders added to their score, Mitchinson just managing to register at the corner, after beating Ponty Jone3. The kick was the most difficult one of- the day, and Coleman placed a fine goal. The Britishers opened up the ensuing play and maintained a slight advantage for a time, the game being uninteresting to watcFi. With twelve minutes to go the New Zealand forwards asserted themselves, and Roberts initiated back play from the rear of a scrum, as a result of which Deans got over in a fine position, no goal beinc kicked. From a line out a few minutes later Francis secured the ball, and beating oft all opposition sec red near the corner. No goal resulted.- Time was called shortly after," the scores beingNew Zealand ... 29 Britain ... 0 The visitors were outplayed in every department of the game, and their defence was as weak as New Zealand's was strong. Stead and Roberts were the main contributing factors to the Blacks' victory, and there was not a weak spot in the whole combination. Britain's attempts to put their backs in motion were crushed in almost every instance. Mr Angus Campbell, of Auckland, was referee.

AUCKLAND, July 26. The British team leave by the s\s. Victoria to-morrow evening for Sydnev. / Five of the British team were injured yesterday. Harding, who received a severe kick in the region of the liver, was seriously injured. Dr. McEvedy and Ponty Jones had their shoulders injured, J. L. Williams his knee dislocated, and W. Morpan was partially stunned and had his face injured. ,

WITH THE WAIRARAPA TEAM.

OTAGO WIN EASILY. (By Telegraph—Special Reporter). DUNEDIN, July 25. The match between Wairarapa and Otapo was played this afternoon in fine weather. The ground was in pood order, and between 7,000 and 8,000 people were present. Wairarapa lost the toss and played with the sun in their eyes, and against a fair breeze. They were de fending practically the whole spell, and Otapo had things their own way. In the first five or six scrums the

Wairarapa front-rankers got the ball, but after this they got the ballwhen Casey and Fitzpatrick let them. The Otago forwards played with great dash during the spell. The Wairarapa, backs with the exception of Adams and Duggan, were weak. Their kicking was poor, and all round their display was disappointing. The Wairarapa five-eighths line was a very weak one. About fifteen minutes after the start of play a passingrush between Eckhold, McLeod, Bennet and O'Sullivan resulted in the latter scoring. Johnston convened. The Otago forwards broke away with a passing rush, and after the ball had passed through several hands S. - Casey scored. Shortly after the home forwards started another passing rush amongst themselves, ami M.. Casey scored. Wairarapa attacked for a few minutes, but the Otago backs got away and a pretty passing, bout saw O'Sullivan score again. Halftime sounded shortly after, the score being—Otago, 14; Wairarapa, nil. Cadwallader during the spell broke his nose, and at half-time retired. Lyall taking his place. Wairarapa played bettir football in the second spell. The forwards showed splendid combination, and the backs fielded the ball better. They kicked well, and collared in capital style, stopping several dangerous Otago passing rushes. Otago attacked at the commencement of the spell, but the Wairarapa forwards broke away, and a dangerous rush was nipped in the bud by Kindley. From a line-out Adams set his backs in motion, and some clever passing resulted in Darvill having a clear run in. O'Leary failed to convert. The Otago backs retaliated with a passing rush, which resulted in O'Sullivan scoring his third try. Ivimey converted. Good kicking by the Wairarapa backs saw play within a few yards of the Otago line. R. McKenzie got the ball from the line-out, and after .making a tricky run passed to Darvill, who scored in a good position. O'Le.trv converted. Thanks to the good work of Henderson, R. McKenzie, Mason and Brench'.i-y, combined with the fine kicking of the Wairarapa backs, Otago had a busy time defending for some minutes. Eckhold and McLeod eventual I v relieved, nnd the Otago backs indulged in another passing rush, irom winch O'Sullivan again scored. Otago continued to attack, and Duggan just stopped Stalker at the corner flag. The Wairarapa forwards removed play to the centre, and for the rest of the game Wairarapa had the upper hand. There was no further score, and the game ended—Otago, 22; Wairarapa 8.

RESULTS OF MATCHES PLAYED.

1903, at Duncdin, Otago won by 13 points to 3. 1904, at Masterton, Otago won by 5 points to nil, 1908, at Dunedin, Otago won by 22 points to 8.

WELLINGTON v. WAIRARAPA.

b: telegraph —press association. WELLINGTON, July 26. The following team has bt.en selected to represent Wellington against Wairarapa, at Wellington next Saturday: —Fulltback, J. Ryan; Three quarters, 'Mathesor, Mitchinson, Evenson; five-eighihs, Mcleod, Roberts; half-back, Green; forwards, Ready, Houlihan, "Rangi"' Wilson, A. C. Wilson, Rush, Dewar, Alexander. Emergencies—Back, McGee; forwards, McKellar, O'Brien. It will he noticed tnac only fourteen names are given, probably the name omitted is that of Hardham(wing forward).