FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 213, 8 September 1899, Page 3

FOOTBALL

I AUCKLAND V. CANTERBURY.

A DRAWN. GAME

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday,

Contrary to general expectation the match between Auckland and Canterbury resulted iv a draw, Auckland scoring a try, which was not converted, and Canterbury a penalty goal. The day was very warm and the ground hard. The Government offices were mostly all closed, and most of the business houses, but not more than 2000 people attended. The match, as a whole, was disappointing, Ihere being very little of the good back play I that was expected from the Auckland reps. The who!, uf Ihe first spell was a, series of hard fought serums, and touch line work, relieved by i.ret kicks. The Auckland men were very | bad in this respect, a great, number of i penalties being awarded against them,

and this prevented tl.'cni from winning | the match. Wiia-.ii. Avhen a serum wns !right on the Auckland line, got eft | side, and from tho penalty awarded jDajQsey kicked a' beautiful goal. The ' forwards were very evenly matched, and kept the ball among them, neither side, giving the backs enough chance. The passing of the Auckland backs was a very disappointing display. Several times l hey simply passed straight, across the field, gaining nothing, and at other times they passed lat each others' feet, spoiling good chances. Had they been able to use I their backs more they would proi bably have won, as the try, gained by in passing rush between Absolum and | Mcl'ike, was a fine piece of work. The kicking of the Auckland backs was good all round, Harrison especially being clever with his feet. Gillett at full back kicked well, but never attempted to follow up and put his men ou .side, a point in which l.iurroll, the opposing full back showed up to advantage. Absolum and McPike played Avell together, but got little chance, the Canterbury forwards being too quick on the ball. Phelan Avas a great assistance, and Young good at half. In the first half Gallagher was probably the best Aving forward on the ground, lint he was surpassed by Farquhar in the second. Laing played a fine game, and of the pack Tyler and Murray were perhaps the pick. For Canterbury, Burroll Avas very safe, j kicking and 1-nckling splendidly, Orr I Avas not nearly so good as against Taranaki last Saturday, but lie saved Canterbury on several occasions. L. Forbes, who took Balch's place, at centre, acquitted himself well, his tackling being especially good. A I Forbes, as five-eight lis, also pla3red n sterling game, being well supported by Dansey. Of the forwards, Farquhar and Bruiisden Avere the most prominent, but aI) played hard, beating Auckland badly. In the second spell there Avas a great deal of talking, and Referee Norris Avas rather stricter than is Ihe rule with Christchurch referees. The continual Avhistling and successive scrums made the game uninteresting. L. Forbes was the only change in the Canterbury team.

The Auckland team was as follows: —Full back. G. Gillett; threequarters, Absolum, Mcl'ike and Harrison; fiveeighths, Phelan; half, Young; forwards, Gallagher, Laing, J. Gillett, Irvine. McGregor, Murray, Cunningham, Wilson and Tyler.

The game started Avith a scrum, a Canterbury man being in front of the ball at the kick-off, and during the. first spell the ball Avas kept in the scrums and at touch line work on the Canterbury side of the centre flag. The home team saved themselves several times by intercepting the bad passes of the visitors. Absolum spoilt a good run by looking round for someone to pass to Avhen he had only the full back to evade, and Avas collared. Tyler Avas conspicuous in loose play, and Dansey in gaining ground by clever marks. Auckland lost several openings through feeble passing, and the good tackling- and kicking cf the opposing backs. The only piece of exciting play was when McPike got the ball from a scrum in Canterbury's end, made a fine run, and drew Burrcll on to him, passed just as he was tackled to Absolum, who scored at the corner, G. Gillett failing with the the kick.

The rest of the spell consisted of long kicks betAveen the backs, and a number of penalties, the ball seldom getting far from the centre.

In the second spell the local forAvards played a hard game, forcing Auckland a number of times. From a line out Wooller, with a long kick down the touch line, sent the ball otit at the corner. Hard scrums on the line ended in a force for Auckland. After the kick out Evans and Farquhar led a good forward rush, and then gave their backs a chance, passing between Forbes, Orr and Dansey, Avho kicked, ending in another force. Scrums followed the kick out, till Auckland Avas aAvarded a free kick, which Forbes returned Avell down the field. Orr, folloAving up, spoilt >Gillett's kick, and the Canterbury's towards again forced the visitors. The Auckland forwards then got away, but • offside play by Wilson spoilt their chance, ( and Dansey had a shot at goal from the centre, forcing Auckland. A. Forbes returned the kick out to the visitors' corner flag, and hard scrums on the line ended in anothei force. A foi-Avard rush led by Laingtook the play to the Canterbury end, Menzie letting the ball through his legs, but Burrcll saved. After free kicks on each side, A. Forbes made a good run, finally kickinginto Auckland's touch in goal. The Canterbury backs uoav made a strong attack on the Auckland line, Orr nearly getting over but a freo kick relieved, and long kicks between the backs left the ball near the centre, Avhere more scrums and touch play ensued. Orr stopped a passing rush betAveen Absolum and McPike, and the local men again sent the ball Avell down the field. Nice passing betAveen McPike and Harrison, hoAvever, recovered the lost ground A. Forbes made a fine run through the visitors. Off-side play by Wilson on the Auckland goal line gave the local team a chance, and Dansey kicked a splendid goal, making the scores even, amid tremendous applause. Auckland uoav attacked and forced Canterbury, from a mark from G. Gillett. Soon after Auckland Avas aAvarded a free kick near the centre, and G. Gillett made a good kick, which Avent outside the posts. The foi-Avards tried hard to score, Tyler making a good dribbling rush close to- the Canterbury line, but their efforts Avere unsuccessful, and

the bell rang with the score 3 points each.