AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 174, 24 August 1897, Page 3

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON.

It is not hard to imagine the rejoicing that would takepliicc in Auckland when the news of the defeat of the Wellingtonians after a desperate struggle was made known, more especially as this is the first reverse Wellington has suffered in interproviucial contests on their own ground since 1877. After the glorious performance of the Aueklanders against the crack colonial team and a little later on against Taranaki, their chance against the representatives of the windy city certainly assumed a very rosy hue, although as was expected the wet, slippery ground militated severely against them. Anyone who saw the vtay in which the Auckland forwards outclassed thu New Zsalanders, and shortly afterwards read of their achievements iu Hawera, can scarcely credit the fact that whin pitted against the flower of Wellington the Northerners were never in the hunt, notwithstanding that they also had the assistance of men who were without doubt the chining lights in the team which inflicted such a decisive licking upon the pick of New South Wales. The telegraphed account of the match in contrasting the wretched display of the Wellington backs with their opponents and referring to the forwards, says : 11 How different was the play of the brilliant Northerners behind the scrum hampered by wet and heavy ground, clogged by broken and defeated forwards, driven to top speed again and again to cut in before i dtring of dashing skirmishers close upon the goal, they were always more than equal to the work, for the local forwards were undeniably superior to thtir opponents ; and when it came to loose play, and following up fast upon the ball they carried all before them. Again and again they broke up all opposition and sent everything whirling down the field to the goal line, but always in front of them sped some fast-fcoted dasher quick enough to save the score. The Auckland backs pasted without fear, but again and again they were stopped by the fine collaring of the. home forwards, but if the play ever approached Wellington's goal it was with nervous anxiety that the spectators watched Smith, Absolum and others till danger was removed. For some reason in the early part of the game the Aucklanders did not use their backs so much as they might have done, but in the second spell they fed them to their hearts' content. Nevertheless, despite all, up to five minutes from the end Auckland was to all intents and purposes a beaten team. Their forwards were overdone and run over, aud their line was constantly in danger. The score was a poiut against them, and like the Romans at the carnival, the spectators were already raising a cry of victory when disaster complete and crushing fell npon them. The hour had come and the man for Auckland was there, namely, Smith, dashing, fleet of foot, and untiring, who had been working like a hero ; Smith, who came hack from Australia foremost of the New Zealaud team, as a local critic, who only paw him play in the North v. South Island match, predicted he would, actually scored two the middle of the ground, referee, as it were, had the whisJe to his lips waiting to call no side. From imminent defeat he snatched a substantial victory for his side, for one of his tiies was converted, and the score became 11 to 4. Thus Auckland won by a good margin, but on dry ground there can be little doubt it would have been larger."

A uckland was the first to score, Smith making a dashing run along the boundary, iind transferring to Harrison, who was at Lis cil>o\v at the critical moment, the latter getting over without opposition, Murray failed to convert. This was quickly followed by a goal from a mark, placed by Wallace (\V> Uington), and this was the score at the end of the first half, during which the home team had all the best of the struggle. The same order of tilings was maintained until just before the whistle sounded "no side." When defeat seemed certain, Smith made a phenomenal run along the boundary line as usual, and eluding five of his opponents, scorfd after a hiilliant burst of 50 or CO yards, and Murray placing an easy "goal brought the total up to 8 against i. Scarcely had the men got back in their places before Smith again made a das-h for the goal line, and coming from mid-field his only opposition was Bautnber, at full-back, whom he eluded, without difficulty, and registered the third try, after which play was immediately stopped, the scores being Auckland 11—Wellington 4. Smith and Absolnm were tlio heroes of the game, while Masefield played splendidly. Murray shone out among the forwards, but Mackenzie, of Wellington, is described at being the best forward on the ground.