INTERPROVINCIAL MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 209, 4 September 1899, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL MATCH.

AUCKLAND V. OTAGO

VISITORS WIN BY 13 TO 3

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, Saturday.

The seventh interprovincial football match between Auckland and Otago, for the benefit of A. M. Armit, the Otago three-quarter-back, who was injured last Saturday when playing against Taranaki, attracted, the large attendance of between 8000 and 9000 spectators to the Caledonian Grounds this afternoon. The day was very warm, in fact too warm for, football. The match was on the whole fairly interesting, and the Otago players, who did not seem to show their usual dash for the greater part of the first spell, livened up an the second half and played a fine up hill game; in fact, on the whole, it may be said that they had a trifle the best of the play, though the visiting forwards had it all their own way in the scrums, and this, with the indifferent play of the blues' scrum half-back, and the latitude allowed Gallagher on the wing, gave the Otago backs little show to indulge in passing runs. Even when they did get a show to get to work their passing often lost ground.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

DUNEDTN, Sunday.

Aucklanders have every reason to be proud of their football representatives' display on Saturday. For the first time on record an Auckland ternn has defeated the chosen of Otago on the latter's own ground, and defeated them in no uncertain manner either. This is Auckland's first win rgainsr Otago since 1887, when the Southerners were defeated at Auckland by 5 points to nil. In 1889 tho match wntlrawn. while in 1895 and JB9<> Otago scored a couple of wins, so that our boys' victory on Saturday is all tly ■more welcome from the fact that it at last makes honours easy between the two provinces. Saturday's match was for the bene-

| fit of A. M. Armit, the Otago three- | quarter, who was injured last Satur--1 day. j Seldom before in the history of ! Otago football has such a crowd gathered together under similar circumstances; for despite the fact that perhaps the two best teams in the colony were met together on smell, a perfect day and ground to fight for their colours and their province, it was evident, even to the -usual observer, that something else was uppermost in the public mind, anil it was 1o us a great pleasure to be able to assure Mr Armit and his friends of the universal sympathy of footballers in Auckland, where ho is recognised as one of the finest three.-, quarter backs in the colony. On our arrival at Dunediu Mr Murray losi no lime in calling on his olit comrade of the last New Zealand team and all will be pleased to hear found him looking well and in the best of spirits, and what is more, confident of getting well again. But to revert to Saturday's match. As the two teams Hied out o\ the pavilion a glance at the forwards showed that there was little to choose between them as regards weight, our men. as the programme showed, having slightly the advantage. Otago's eight men averaged 13 stone 11 lb. 'while ours seaded as much as 13.1. As both sides looked fit and well it i* little wonder that a great forward struggle was expected, and for once (an unusual thing in football) expecitations were realised. The packing of ■the scrum at times was perfect, the, ; balance of pcw.er was good, and notwithstanding' their (Otago's) additional man, our fellows more than held their own. Compared with their opponents our back division were small, but their, 1 miggety proportions and consequent : strength and agility was the subject of much favourable comment. As was the ease with the forwards all played well up to form. MePike standing out as the pick of a good lot. Their sound defence was to all the most pleasingpart of the game; the taking and pickj ing up was neat and clean, and they seldom failed to get their kick's. It is with regard to this that I have to make my only complaint: bad judgiment in their kicking is a fault which i has all along been very conspicuous

amongst our backs. For the jirst 20 minutes of the game not one of our jmen managed to find the toucliline; that is, from defensive kicks, and what was the consequence? Why, the game of which we were really having- the best was being' carried on on the rong side of the half way line. Of all the backs MePike was the only man that used the touehline. Of the Otago three-half game I must say we were not a little lisappointed, I although during the match they made several very determined efforts to break through our defence, and tlieit" straight running was at times a treat Ito witness. They bustle along close together, so close indeed that they nearly touch each other; and I an* sure that when some of their best rushes were accomplished five yards would have covered the three men. Our forwards all proved themselves solid grafters, each showing up in turn. If any two were seen more than the rest it was McGregor and Murray. To Gallagher, on the wing, must by given a deal of praise for his quickness in getting on their backs. He was constantly a source of trouble to Duncan, the crack half back, and nipped many a "passing rush in the bud. I append a short review of the principal points in the game as it proceeded, from which it will be seen that all our backs did themselves and their province credit. Gillett at full was safe, but displayed the same tendenc}1- as the rest, viz., kicking the ball into midiield. Most of our passing was started (from loose scrambles, and not as usual from the scrum, where our forwards kept it much to themselves. Many of his Dunedin and Auckland admirers

would be sorry to see H. Absolum

missing from our ranks, but it must

Ibe remembered that Auckland has three more important matches to play, and no doubt circumstances tfiily warranted the selector in his decision. "Hughie's" condition after last Saturday's accident was not improved by the trip down, and we can ill afford to lose him for the rest of the tour. THE GAME REVIEWED. The teams were as under: — Auckland (blue and white): Fullback, Gillett; three-quarters, McGregor, MePike, Harrison (captain); fiveeighths, Phelan; half-back, Young; wings, Gallagher, Laing; forwards, Irvine, Gillett, McGregor, Cunningham, Murray, Scott, 11. Wilson (City).

Otago (blue): Full-back, Wi Eepa; three-quarters, White, Woods and Stephenson; half-backs, J. Macdonald, W. Sinclair and J. Duncan (captain); forwards, Cross, Farquharson, Given, Gregg, D. McDonald, Murphy, Olson. Average weight, 12st 121b. Harrison, having been elected captain, started auspiciously by winning the toss, thereby gaining a slight advantage in the matter of sun, which was fairly strong. I say slight, bejeause it was by no means directly in our opponents' eyes, the ground facing sideways.

From the jump they came at us, anci for the first quarter of an hour made the game more than merry, and forward rushes were exchanged in quick succession, their vanguard showing considerably more dash than our men, and more than once getting dangerously close to our line. One time in particular what looked all over a score was stopped byR. McGregor dashing in and snapping up the ball almost off (their feet. This was not the only time at this stage that Auckland supporters felt uncomfortable. From a somewhat loose passing run between Young, Phelan and McPike, White (who tooltArmit's place) very cleverly intercepted, and sailed up the field, neatly dodging our full; but McPike, taking advantage of the side movement necessary to avoid Gillett, came from behind and saved what must otherwise have been a try behind the posts. Duncan, who had been showing good form from the start, by a bit of good dodging and a well judged kick transferred the play back again into Auckland territory.

It was at this point in the game that our forwards, realising that their reputation was at stake, livened up to their work, and sweeping down the field, carried everything before them. ,A. hard kick gaveWi Repa, their fullback, a chance of escape, but he took rather long about it, and Murray, who ,came ifrht through, was well to the fore, and got there just in time to receive the ball full on the chest. Another second, and the veteran was across the line like a flash, with the ball under him.

Auckland 3: Otago nil

Murray's kick at goal was a failure, falling siiort and wide.

Half an hour of the first spell was now gone. Our forwards continued to buck in to a man, and very soon alter ■our first a second score way registered,, the result of anoihcr-rush up to Outgo's line, where "Jojk" McGregor, ipicuiny up in the nick of time, truusierred to Gallagher, who lost no time i,i grounding tne ball across the line. .ins time again Murray toolc the kick, but was unsuccessful.

Auckland 0; Otago nil

The last ten minuted of the spell were spent almost wholly in Otago's ground, loose rushes being the order oi the day, in the stopping of which Woods, the Otago centre threequarter, seemed to revel. Many U line rush was went to the right about by this player, whose neat, precise taking and lim:-kickiug relieved an otherwise; very monotonous quarter of an hour.

The second spell, which was productive of more inturesting" play, was carried on mostly in Auckland territory, and this notwithstanding the fact that our boys were having rather the best of an "even go. The reason was simply this: Our men were kickingl into the centre of the field, while the Otago backs almost invariably •found the touch line. As in the first spell, (Hugo's forwards were off again with' a great dash, and soon worked . the leather towards Auckland's line, | 'where (Jr. Gillett gave momentary relief, but sent the ball into the middle of the Held. The Otago bucks, headed, by Woods, pounced down upon it like1 a flush, and were soon in full swing for the goal line,, only to see one of j their number shoved out near the line.' i\'o time was, however, lost; the ball 'was away in again almost as soon as it crossed the touch Line, to Sinclair, who dashed across ami scored Otag'O's first and only try.

Auckland 0; Otago 3

It was only during- the second spell that our backs got a chance of exhibiting' their attacking, ability, and .MePike notably made several excellent runs, dodging- and outpacing- his opponents very cleverly, always kicking when pressed. Seldom did this ■young player get the ball and fail to gain ground. Soon alter the reeom(meneement of play, securing- from a scramble, the same player narrowly missed potting- a goal. After Otago's score play became rather uninteresting-, scrums and forward rushes by our men taking- place in midiield. One mistake (which, however, was on the safe side) our forwards made: Instead of getting the ball away to our threequarters when they had a good chance, .they preferred to keep it to theinfeelves seldom letting- it out of the scrum. Consequently our quick little centre half had little chance to shine, 'but what he did he did well, his passing being- quicker and less overhead than usual.

And now, when about a quarter of an hour had elapsed, the spectators were treated to one of the finest passingl rushes I ever have seen, and one j which was a pfreat relief in a not too brilliant "iirae, for though the game was .sound, it was not brilliant. Phe-j lan, picking- up quickly in the open,' ranujip to his man, passed to our centre, who, slipping up the tield, sped IJike a greyhound for the line, only to be cut off by their centre and another. All three seemed to reach the spoti simultaneously, MePike taking1 both on his hips; and though both men j made a determined tackle, our three-: quarter was as steady as a rock. He, lost way by the collision, however,! and this gave their backs time to cut him off again: but on being1 pressed he passed to Harrison, who in turn passed to Phelan, and he back to Me-1 'Pike, and with one man in front of Ihim only, five yards fronv the line, he made a rush and a dive for the line, i and with the fullback hanging on his feet scored a try. It was a "rand piece of passing, and one which received loud npplau.se from the specta-j tors. Again the attempt at goal, this time by (I. Gillett, was a failure.

Auckland!); Otago 3

During the next ten minutes McPike and Phelan treated us to some more dashing passing runs, always gaining ground. We were now having all. the best of it, Otago forwards tiring. Ten minutes before the call of time Murray secured a clever mark, and G^ Gillett taking the kick, landed n beautiful goal from nearly half way. This practically closed the-game, nothing worthy of notice happening up to call of time.

« With the referee (Mr Evans) both teams were thoroughly satisfied; his decisions were well given and prompt.

Of the local backs, Duncan was the best, with Woods, their centre threequarter, a good second. The former was conspicuous for his straight ahead dodgy running and neat, quick passing, which our men would do well to emulate; and the latter for his good defensive kicking and sure taking.

Sinclair, at half, was also seen to advantage In attack, but of the whole lot the one that appeared to give most Ipromise of developing into a rattling good man was White, the threequarter taking poor Armit's place. He was the only one (Duncan, of course, exeepted) that showed much brilliance; he is only a boy, and with a. little experience will do credit to any side he plays for.

Of the forwards, McDonald was the best of an even lot.

Apart from McPike and Gallagher, none of our men stood out prominently. To these two must be attributed a great measure of our success. I would like to acknowledge here the impartial manner in which many of the spectators applauded our good play. The team are all well, and greatly elated at such a dicided victory. At the hands of Otago our men have received every kindness. On Friday they were driven round the surrounding country, and to-day were taken an excursion to Portobello. Armit still keeps the same. THE RECORD. The following table shows the results of the matches played between the provinces since 1877: — 1877 —At Auckland. Drawn; no score. 1383 —At Dunedin. Drsiwn; no score. JSB7 —At Auckland. Auckland won; 5 points to nil. 18 89_At Dunedin. Drawn. Auckland 3 points (goal from a try); Otasro 3 (goal from field). 1895 —At Dunedin. Otago won; 11 points to 8. 1896—At Auckland. Otago won; 8 points to nil. Ig99—At Dunedin. Auckland won; 13 points to 3.