NORTH ISLAND v. SOUTH ISLAND. A WIN FOR THE NORTH.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 150, 28 June 1897, Page 2

NORTH ISLAND v. SOUTH ISLAND. A WIN FOR THE NORTH.

There was very fine weather when the cracks o£ the colony gathered at the Athletio Park on Saturday to tike part in the first inter-island contest arranged by the New Zealand Union. A majority of the players who are now on their way to Australia were of course taking part, and the public were anxious to see and criticise the points of those who had been selected to' uphold Maoriland's honour against the Cornstalks and Bananalanders. There was not a great deal in the play calling for special mention, and the match as an exposition of good and scientific football 'fell far below expectations, and only a few cases of individual brillianoy, which at times overshadowed the failures in other instances, were the bright gleams in an otherwise disappointing game. The match was essentially a forward one, of a hard, fast, and rough description, and the pace cut up several of the players ere the whistle sounded for half-time. Comparison of the forwards of both teams was in favour of the Northerners, who were stronger in the pack, better in the loose, and worked the scrum much more methodically to net important points than did their fellow reps, from the other island. The opposing team, when it did get possession of the ball, failed to get mncli advantage, having no reliable scrum-half. At times there -were efforts on the Southerners' part which gained ground, but the inability of the scrum-half to take advantage of the openings neutralised whatever benefit they had obtained. In the baok division one or two players were comparative failures; some tad no opportunity of distinguishing themselves, the ball rarely coming their way, while for others it was / an afternoon's triumph. Special mention must be made of Boberts, and rarely has the Poneke crack played with better effect. He had declined to tike part in the match when chosen, but it is understood that the persuasions of Mr. T. E. Ellison induced him to reconsider his determination. His play was brilliant throughout, the best on the ground, and that the spectators sympathised with him in his exclusion from the New Zealand team was evidenced by the hearty cheering which constantly greeted his efforts, and which culminated in a scene of great enthusiasm when he at length crossed the coveted line. His play at all points is spoken of with the highest praise by the players of both Islands, and considerable surprise was expressed as to the reasons which induced the Committee to ignore his claim. Saturday's exhibition should convince the Committee of one of the greatest blunders they have yet made in the selection of a New Zealand team. The ever-green Duncan quite upheld his reputation as one of the best five-eights in the colony. His strategic display was faultless. He had to play mostly a defensive game, and the absence of a reliable scrum half imposed the heavy task upon him of having to make all his openings. "What the score would have been had he been playing on the Northerners' side is something that may be imagined. Another player who gave a sterling exhibition was Orchard, his kicking, collaring, running, passing, and stopping rushes being almost perfection, while he executed several very clever pieces of screw kicking. To Duncan and Orchard are due the cre"dit of having prevented a larger score from being registered against their side. Everybody expected to see Humphries play well, and consequently no one was surprised when he did a considerable amount of brilliant, fast, quick, clever, and effective work. Moreover, he was responsible for scoring a try which he converted, as well as one notched by Hardcastle, and kicking a penalty goal. Glennie's play was poor, and heightened the great sur-, prise "felt in football circles when his selection»%as made known. He was nofa success at palf, arid a still greater failure when put at wing three-quarter. A lot of useful, if r.ot shpwy, work was perfoimed by Allen, particularly on the defence, while Smith showed a great turn of speed. He is apparently a dangerous man on the attack, but he failed to uphold his Northern reputation as sound on the defence. Benjamin started nervously, but improved as the game wore on, and his collaring and kicking, save in one or two instances, were very well carried out. To the surprise of the spectators Laws started very poorly, and it is evident he has gone clean off in his kicking and collaring of late. There were signs of improvement in the later stages, but at no time was his play first-class. Of the Kaikorai cracks, Armit had not the slightest opportunity of adding to the reputation he gained against Wellington last year, and for the most part of the time he stood idle in the field. An almost similar instance occurred in "Wood's case. The very clean way in which he took and haudled the ball was a feature in the Southerners' back play. Bayley was completely eclipsed by Duncan, and is a long way below the Bayley of old. Of the wing men, M'Kenzie, of course, played a slashing game, while his confrb-e Hills, particularly in the first spell, was in tip-tap form, and harassed the halves incessantly. M'Laren— who was put at scrumhalf for a considerable time vice Glennie, who had been put back to three-quarter, Orchard having been brought up near the scrum — shaped very fairly, and when on the side of the pack paid particular attention to Mills, whom he beat on more than one occasion, and started several dribbling rushes. Priest gave a fine display, but his task was a heavy one with M'Kenzie in the way. In the pack Fanning and Harris, as front men, out-manoeuvred their opponents, and in the majority of cases got possession of the ball, but derived no no great benefit from it. ,An old Wellingtonian (Rhodes) played -well from start to finish, which is all the more Surprising since he had not taken part in a match this season until Saturday. Stewart, Brooker (especially in the second spell), and Smith put in a lot of useful work. Johnston was very good in the open, but after receiving a nasty kiok in the leg he took the place of M'Laren as scrum-half. Of the North Island pack, Handcock /worked incessantly from start to finish, and was seen to equal advantage in the loose and pack. He is a thoroughly good forward. Murray was greatly to the fore, and shone out in the loose dribbling rushes. Pauling and Calnan played well, particularly the former, and "Wilson bore the brunt of some heavy work. Blair executed commendable ruck work. ' THE play. The 'following are a few details of the game: — Wilson (North Island) set the ball in motion, and the Northern forwards, starting with a great dash, penned their opponents. A free kick to the Northerners, from which "WilsQn attempted to put the ball over the bar, was followed by Benjamin knocking on in the return kick, and from a scrum the Northerners were awarded another free kick. This time Humphries sent the ball over the bar by a really fine kick. North Island, 3; South Island, nil. After the kick-off, operations were confined to the Northerners' territory, Duncan in particular playing brilliantly. A kick from Eawes was smothered by Duncan, but the rebound took the ball over the boundary, and a force down resulted. A rush of the yellow (North Island) forwards, with Hardcastle and Handcock in the van, took the play to the 25 flag, and immediately afterwards, Duncan having been granted, a free kick, Priest kicked a splendid goal. Honours were now even — South Island, 3 ; North Island, 8. A spurt on the part of the South [stand team, and Humphries seeing the ball in his own territory, rau round the ruck

and kicked to Orchard, who promptly took a mark and allowed Priest to make an attempt, which was a failure, to land a goal. A dribbly rush of the Southern vanguard, a neat piece of passing by Glennie, Duncan, Harris, and Orchard in their opponents' territory, which ended scoreless, and a serviceable kick by Roberts, who transferred the ball to the half-way, were the next features. Then the Southerners, keeping well together, pressed their opponents, and Rhodes, Orchard, and Duncan made gigantio efforts to get over the line. Good defensive work and a fine piece of concerted passing by Bayley, Mills, and Roberts was followed by equally meritorious work on the part of Armit, Duncan, and Wood, and play hovered about the field with fluctuating advantage to each side. Orchard distinguished himself by stopping a great rush of the opposing forwards, and M'Kenzic gained applause for a big run. Roberts sailed in the direction of the line, and from a scrum Hardeaslle and Pauling both carried the ball across the Southerners' line. The try was awarded. *to Hardcastle, and Humphries registered the major points. On resuming, Priest, by a slashing dribble, took the ball over the Northerners' line, but Laws saved the score. The North came along resolutely, and the Southerners were kept busy defending their line. At this stage Roberts, Humphries, Duncan, and Orchard were playing magnificently for their respective sides, and were repeatedly cheered. Some really fine passing rushes on the part of the Northern backs, notably Roberts, Bayley. and Smith, pressed the South, who were called upon to defend its line from Murray, Roberts, Handcock, Humphries, Bayley, Pauling, and Calnan. A series of desultory rushes on the part of each side, a fine passing rush by Roberts, Smith, and Bayley, which had been preceded by clever defensive play on the part of Humphries in time to stop liis opponent from scoring, ended a not altogether sensational exhibition of play. The usual interval was followed by a vigorous attack by the Southern pack, Panning, Harris, and Stewart being conspicuous, but Allen saved by kicking into touch. Play was suspended for some time owing to an accident to Johnstone, who received a nasty kick on the leg. When the game was resumed the injured man exchanged places with M'Laren behind the scrum, Glennie having been previously shifted to three-quarter, as he was not a success at half, and Orchard was brought up closer to the scrum. A quick pass from Humphries to Bayley saw the leather ultimately transferred to Roberts, who, taking it neatly, beat Duncan and the three-quarter, and was soon speeding for the line, having slipped past^the full-back. Unfortunately he slipped, and lost a fine show of scoring. The South, showing signs of tiring and disunion, were -now compelled to act on the defensive, and Wilson (North) passed the ball on to Mills, who sent it out to Humphries, who ran round his opponents and notched another score to the credit of his team. Humphries took the kick himself and got a goal. Near the line Calnan secured possession of the ball aud made a great dive at the line, but fell within a few inches of it. Duncan and Orchard were repeatedly relieving their side by splendid work. A great run by M'Kenzie, who, however, found Duncan the stumbling block, an aggravating mull by Bayley (which spoilt an otherwise certain score), aud Blair, Handcock, and Pauling got within ah ace of scoring. A couple of free kicks to the Northeners failed to increase the score. A clever pass was made from Roberts to Allen, and then to Smith, who darted for the line, but was collared by Armit. This was followed by an equally effective rush by Duncan, Wood, M'Laren, and Priebt, who removed the play to neutral ground. Armit, getting the ball from a low, quick pass from Duncan, streaked up the field, but was eventually pounced upon by Wilson. Some very good chances to soore were spoilt by over-eagerness on the part of the Northerners. The game now began to open out, and both sides took a hand at attacking without, however, any distinct advantage.! Eventually the Northerners worked the play into their opponents' territory, where Roberts was conspicuous in getting the ball, and after making a short run he gave it to Allen, who in turn transferred it back to Roberts. The latter succeeded in touching down near the corner flag. The kick at goal was taken by Murray without success, and no-side was shortly afterwards called, the scores being — North, 16 points; South, 3 points. Mr. Firth was referee. It is understood that this was the first occasion in which he was acting as referee under the new rules. There was far too muoh whistling for .trivial breaches of the rules. The line umpires were Messrs. J. Poland and E. Davy.