INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 215, 9 September 1907, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL

AUCKLAND DEFEATS CANTERBURY. A CLOSE GAME. ' ■ < •' AUCKLAND, 3; CANTERIJURY, NIL. - (By Telegraph.—Press Associatioa.) ~, V ..CHRISTCHURCH, .Saturday., The 12th match between teams representing the Auckland and Canterbury Rugby Unions was' played at Lane_ster Park this afternoon, when the weather ;was fine, and there was a good attendance. In the,first spell Mr. McDonald, of Otago, the referee, had occasion to caution the wihg-for wards on each side, and, in the second half, after aelmi—stering a couple of cautions to one of. the Auckland forwards, he had the unpleasant duty of ordering him off the field. Deans won the toss for the local team, and elected to defend the eastern goal, thus having the wind in Ms favour.: Francis. kicked off, and play at. once settled down in the local twenty-five. Burns marked, and kicked to centre, but the blues returned with a loose play to the visitors' twenty-five. The forwards gradually worked the.ball hack to rnidfield, and a kick by Fuller took play to the visitors' twenyt-five. The blue forwards soon relieved,. and for a time fast play, was with es sed in"_iidheld. , Canterbury, \ again invaded their opponents' twenty-five, and Twiname. relieved the pressure by kicking to centre, A free kick to Auckland saw Francis kick to Doell, who returned well out of touch at the centre. Fuller marked, and fumbling by two of the visitors , hesitating as to who should take the ball enabled Canterbury to reach the Auckland goal-line. The lattei"s.forwards broke away, hut Mageei benng offside,. Canterbury were awarded a free kick, and Howison had a shot at goal, a force resulting. Canterbury then got on a' good passing run, and Fryer lost a fine chance by failing to take, a pass. So far the visiting vanguard had more than held their own. A fumble by Howison in his own twentyfive placed the reds on the defensive, and Auckland being awarded a free kick, Magee had a fruitless shot at goal. Fryer returned to the centre, and by fast forward play the visitors were placed on the defensive. The Auckland forwards, headed by Maguire, carried the leather to rnidfield, and, after a few loose scrums, the blues broke away, and Twiname all but scored, Canterbury just forcing in time. Exciting scrums followed close to the Canterbury line, and a chance was lost by Twiname knocking on. Passing between Barns, Deans, and Fryer enabled the last-named to lock to the blues' goal-line. Miller kicked back, bnt Canterbury were awarded a freekick for offside play, and the scrummage from where, the balH had been kick cd. An injury to Murray then ca. used play to be suspended, and ho had 1 to retire. On continuing, a free kick to Auckland enabled Francis to kick to the centre. The reds returned, and half-time was called with the play in Auckland's quarters. On changing ends, Walsh filled the vacancy caused by __rrayr"s mishap, and played forward, Twiname going centrc-threequartef? and Hall taking the latter's place at five-eighths. The exchange of kicks ended in favour of the home team. The latter attempted passing, but Coote intercepted, and kicked to centre. The blues worked the ball to the reds' twenty-five, but it was soon removed to rnidfield again. The Auckland forwards, who were playing a dashing game, took the oval back to their rivals' twenty-five, but the reds gradually worked the ball back. The blues then got on a fast rush, and Wilson, getting possession, kicked over the line, and, following up fast, scored a try near the corner. , Magee failed to convert:

Auckland 3 Canterbury q Howison kicked out, and even play followed for a time, and then a long kick by Williams sent the ball over the Canterbury line again, and a forcedown was recorded. After the kick-out play was again in the Canterbury half, but the local forwards got on a good rush to the centre. Auckland returned, their forwards over-running the red vanguard. Then Canterbury were relieved by the means of a couple of free kicks, and play in neutral territory followed. After exciting play in Auckland's twenty-five, Williams was ordered off the ground. Auckland momentarily relieved, but Canterbury quickly came back, and exciting play was witnessed in the vicnity of the blues' line. The latter's defence, however, proved very solid, and at, length the forwards removed tho leather to ..safer quarters. Good line-kicking enabled the Northerners to further improve their position, Wilson finding touch at the centre. Good' passing between Magee and Walsh saw the latter nearly reach the Canterbury line, but he passed forward, and Fryer came to the rescue with a good kick to past the centre. Time was called a minute or two afterwards: Auckland 3 Canterbury //[ q A TAME, UNINTERESTING GAME. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The match, Canterbury v. Auckland, played this afternoon at Lancaster Park' excited considerable interest, as it was' Canterbury's first representative match played at home this season, and the strength of their reps was practically unknown.to the local supporters. Canterbury were supposed to have a good set of backs and fast but rather light forwards, whereas Auckland put. in their heaviest forwards,, and trusted to them for victory, and relied upon their backs to defend solidly. The game, . except occasionally in the second spell was tame and uninteresting, the spoiling tactics of the Auckland backs and forwards making it so. The Auckland forwards again played a hard, dashing game, and one of them was ordered off the field for rough play in collaring an opponnt. The forwards were superior to Canterbury in nearly every department of the game, although Canterbury put up a good light against their heavier opponents. • Auckland did much better than usual in the hooking, the honours in this dejpartm ent being easy, though Auckland were playing one man short for about half of the. second spell. Hayward was the best forward on the ground, and he was well backed up by Maguire ant Francis. McDonald, as usual, did a lot: of good defensive work on the wing. The Auckland backs throughout the • to.ur . have not shown much combination or cohesion but their play has been solid: Into- • day's match their defence and line kicking were admirablec, and. they easily spoilt any attempts by, the .opposing backs at passing. Miller at full played a splendid game, kicking and fielding i

the ball .yery well.. .Jlurray.was in juried in the first spejii. and Hall took, his place in the centre, where he. performed e_editaWy." D_lamore and Wi—oh, the two wings, kicked; for the. line splendidly, Dilla_ore : especially, and Wilson scorch's try in great style. He received a pass,, nd after a short run kicked over the fullback's head, and: showing great pace L just /managed to ' score ■ near the corner. Magee and Twiname were satisfactory at five-eighth's. Coote defended:, well' at half.. ..The. Canterbury backs ■ were considered to be a strongattacking lot, with such men as Deans and Fryer in them, but though, they.threw the: ball abouta. lot they ran across the field chiefly, and attempts at passing were soon;checked.by the good tackling of the Auckland backs and forwards. - The tac_ihg "of' the Auckland forwards has been, good, throughout the tour, and it was their hard taejkling that has ,led them to be accused at time— ol rough play. Deans,, at centre threquarter for Canterbury, played well e_ough, but he was too well marked to be dangerous. Fryer m_le' : some good dashes, butdoesn't—aidle a. ball too well. The Canterbury forwards .played willingly,. and followed up in good styles, but, generally speaking, they,were not equal to their opponhts except "per—aps' in the scrums. Auckland .had, some splendid chance— of scoring during the game, but tKeey, did,not .use- these...opportunities, generally through over-eagerness; in faet,':dnr_ g:—ie whole.."tour the Auckland tram have not shown enough scoring ability,,: and consequently., have not J met •with the success of former tea—is. >