Interprovincial Football

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 205, 27 August 1904, Page 5

Interprovincial Football

» TARANAKI V. AUCKLAND.

The Taranaki and Auckland represen- I tatives are playing their annual football match at Alexandra Park this afternoon. \ On the result of the game practically de- i pends the interprovineial championship | of the colony, as both teams are recognised to be the strongest combinations, though virtually Wellington has prior right to the championship title, being the present holders of the Ranfurly Shield. Reviewing the teams before the game it would seem that they are fairly evenly matched. In the pack Auckland has whatever advantage there is in weight, and both divisions are of the dashing order. The backs on either side are a speedy lot, and in regard to the Auckland three-quarter line it may be mentioned that Renwick, Murray and Carlaw are all playing their first season in representative football; in Carlaw's case this is his first appearance, while the other two appeared for the first time in the match against Britain last Saturday. THE PLAY. The following were the teams engaged:— Auckland. —Full-back, W. Harrison; three-quarters. Cnrlaw, W. Murray, A. Renwick; five-eighths, R. McGregor; half-back, H Kiernan; wing forwards, D. Gallaher, Seeling; forwards, G. Tyler, A. Sandall, Cunningham, G. Nicholson, W. Maekrell, Joyce- Hayward. Taranaki. — Full back, Dr. Fooke3: . three-quarters, E. Burke, J. Hunter, H. Abbott; five-eighths, H. Mynott; halfback, Frewin; wing forwards. Guy, R. '"M-thy; forwards, J. Thomas, F. Glas ,'ow, J. O'Sullivan, W. Glenn, R. Doug!xs, Young, McKay. At three o'clock, when the playerF f ook the field, there were fully 10,0 .(. people present. All the stands espe•ially the main stand were completely :_ii. FIRST SPELL. D. McGregor captained the Auckland "earn, and Mynott the visitors. Tara- : naki won the toss, and elected to dsf end the western goal, Nicholson kicking off for Auckland against a strong westerly wind and sun. After loose forward play between the uvlfway and Taranaki's 25. the latter's orwards took play beyond the half and. -icking hard, prevented Carlaw, by fast following up, from making a good return, the ball going out near Auckland's 10. For two or three minutes Tarana:i kept up the attack, but giving sev>ral penalties enabled Auckland to gam ihe half. It was noticeable up to this stage that Taranaki invariably got tho lull from the scrum, .although tbe Auckland wings as often got round and ..•ollared the half backs. One or two passing runs by the Anckund backs did not improve the posi lion, as the tackling oi the opposition >as sound. Seling failing to take the i>all on the full. Auckland were temporarily placed in difficulties, but H.irrison relieved by a well judged kick. Maekrell got the ball from the fie.d. md passed to Nicholson, several other forwards handling. Near the 25 Taranaki stopped the passing, and, rushing :he ball to half way. gained a further idvantage, and by kicicing across the ■ line forced Auckland, ! The Taranaki backs then instituted a hot attack, which, however, was spoiled by Abbott, who fai.ed to take a pass. : Shortly after this the Auckland for , war.s rushed down to the opposing goal. Here Kiernan. running along the ; Touch line, got very near the goal line before being thrown out, and in a sub sequent passing run initiated by Kiernan, Murray threw away a certain .core by holding on to the ball instead of passing to Ken wick, who was waiting under the posts to receive it. Auckland continued to press, but Hunter relieved by kicking out near the half. The forwards then kept the bail pretty close, and play was at the centre for some time. Nicholson secured the ball and passed to McGregor, who kicked out near the Taranaki 25. Ki.rnan getting the ball out from a scum, passed to McGregor, Murray and Carlaw subsequently handling the ball. The lastnamed, however, was forced to throw out near the Taranaki 25, the ball travelling straight across the field. Taranaki were kept defending, but wild passing nullified the efforts of the Autcklanders, and Taranaki transferrea to centre, McGregor subsequently kicking to the 25 mark. Then Harrison missed a long kick, and Taranaki were awarded a free kick for this player lying on the ball. The position was a good one, and Frewin kicked an unmistakeable goal, drawing first blood for Taranaki. Taranaki • Auckland ° The Auckland forwards then took charge, and forced the Taranaki backs close"to their 25. Hunter transferred to the opposing 25 with a long kick. Taranaki were again awarded a p.nalty kick through Nicholson being off-side. Frewin again Look the kick, but the ball fell short. Auckland forced, and play was centred once more, but the Taranaki forwardby fast following up stopped Murray from making a return, Carlaw saving by kicking out in his own 25. THE COMPLETE REPORT. In our second edition, published as soon as possible the match, a complete report of the game, telephoned direct from the ground, will appear. OTAGO V. CANTERBURY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. There is every prospect of fine weather for to-morrow's football match, Otago v. Canterbury. The following is the Otago team: Full back, J. Kindley; three-quarters, R. Baxter, E. Booth, and C. Gilray; halves, J. King, W. Munro, and C. Hislop; forwards, B. Spiers, S. Casey, A. McDonald, D. Stuart, R. Abbott, C. Stewart, W. Johnston, and H. Porteous. Bennett and Mitchell are not sufficiently recovered from their injuries to play. OLD BOYS' MATCH FINAL. i Pa-mall Old Boys, 6; Ponsonby, 0.