CANTERBURY v. AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12904, 9 September 1907, Page 8

CANTERBURY v. AUCKLAND.

A WIN FOR THE VISITORS

The thirteenth match between teams representing Canterbury and Auckland was played at Lancaster Park on Saturday, whon tho weather was fine, end there was a good attendance, the good form exhibited by the local team during their recent southern tour evidently causing more than ordinary interest to be taken in tho game. The takings at the gato and stands amounted to £195. Considering tho recent heavy raine, the ground was in very fair order, Friday's strong sou-west wind having mado it in a much better condition than anticipated, although the frost during the night caused it to be a bit greasy. The play did not prove at all interesting, nearly all the work being carried on by the forwards. . In this department tho Aucklandera exhibited considerably more dash and cleverness than the home team, end as the latter could but seldom bring their backs into play the visitors were able to win by 3 "points (a try) to nothing. The winners for the most part played a hard game, so much so in tho second spell that a section of tho crowd thought them unduly rough, and they were frequently hooted. In the first spell, tho referee, had occasion to caution the wing forwards on each 6ido, and in the second half, after administering a couple of cautions to one of the Auckland forwards, ho had tho unpleasant duty of ordering him off tho field for "scragging" a Canterbury player when he was on the ground and had got rid of the ball.

The following -wore the teams:— ATCKLAXD CANTERBURY Full-back: Miller A. Dooir Three-quarters: Dillamoro F. C. Fryer Murray l\. Q. Doans Wilson (captain.) J. Howison Five-eighths: Twinamo W. Fuller MGco(capt.) G. D. Gray Half: Coote P. Burns Wing-forward: Macdonald D. McPhail Forwards: Herring J. Mahoney M'Guire W. Shannon Francis J. Hopkins Kinder W. Menzies Williams Alexander Hayward T. Bain Hall O. Evans Mr W. McDonald, of Dunedin, waa referoo.

Canterbury (Red and Blacks) took the field punctually on the stroke of 3 p.m., tho advertised time of starting, and a couple of minutes Inter they were followed by the Aucklanders (Blue and Whites). Deans won the toss for the local team and elected to defend the oastorn goal, thus having the wind in his favour. Francis kicked off for the visitors, and play at onoo settled down in the local twenty-five. Burns marked and kicked to the centre, but the Blues returned with a loose rush to the Reds' twenty-five. Tho Rod forwards gradually worked the ball back to mid-field, and a kick by Fuller took play to tho visitors' twenty-five. Tho Blue forwards soon relieved, and for a time fast play wae witnessed in mid-field. Canterbury again invaded their opponents' twentyfive, and Twinamo returned by kicking to the centre. A free kick to Auckland saw Francis kick to Doeli. who returned well out of touch at the centre. Fuller marked, and rumbling by two of the visitors, who hesitated as to who should take the ball, enabled Canterbury to reach the Auckland goal-line. The tatter's forwards broke away, but McQee being off-side, Canterbury were awarded a free kick, and Howison had a shot at goal,. a foroe-dowi only resulting. Even play in neutral terntory followed, and exchange kicks between the Wks'ended yi Fuller finding touch past the centre flag. The Reds then worked tho oval to their rivals' twenty-five,' but Twiname relieved with a serviceable kick, and further play followed in neutral territory. After a good many scrummages and line-outs, Canterbury woro awarded a free kick, but the lost ground was coon regained by the visitors. Canterbury then got on a good passing run, and Fryer lost a fine chance by failing to take a pass. Kicks between Deans and Miller saw the latter find touch, at the centre. Cooto marked, and kicked out of'touch in tho vicinity of the Reds' twenty-five, where several scrummages were fought. So far tho visiting vanguard had more than held their own. , A fumble by Howison in his own twenty-five placed the Reds on tho defensive, and JlcGuire nearly scored. A kick by Burns relieved, but the Auckland forwards returned with another dangerous-look-ing rush. Canterbury removed the ball to their twenty-five, but Auck-. land being awarded a free kick McG«?e had a fruitless shot at goal, the bell falling a good deal short. Fryer returned to the centre, and by fast forward play the visitors were placed on tho defensive. The Auckland forwards headed by Maguiro carried the leather to midfield, and after a few loos© scrums' the Blues broko away and Twinemo all but scored, Canterbury jurft forcing in time. After the kick out. the exchange of kick* ended in favour of the Blues, who coon had the oval back again in their opponents' quarters. Exciting scrums followed close to tho Canterbury line, and a chanco was lo3t by Twin nine knocking on. Play continued in the home team's twenty-five, but tho Reds at length were relieved by the means of a free kick. Tho Blues got on some passing, but they failed to make much ground, and Fuller getting possession kicked to Miller, who. in return, found touch at mirlfidd. The Rods took the ball to their antagonists' twonty-fivo again, and they were awarded n free, kick for obstruction, but no ground was gained. Passing between Burns, Deans, nnd Fryer enabled the lost nnmed to kick to the Blues' goal line. Miller kicked back, but Canterbury were awarded a free kick for off-side, and took the scrummage from where the. bnll had been kicked. An injury to Murray then caused ploy to bo suspended, and he hnd to retire. On continuing a free kick to Auckland enabled Francis to kick to thft centre. The Reds returned and half-time was railed with tho play in Auckland's quarters. On changing ends after the- usual interval. Wntson filled the vacancy caused by Murray's mishap, and played forward, Twiname going eentre-thfee-quarter, and Hall took the , latter's place at five-eighths. Canterbury kicked oft", and the exchange of kicks ended in favour of the homo team. The latter attempted passing, but Ooote intercepted and kicked to centre. The Blu«9 -worked tho ball to the Reds' twenty-five, but it was coon removed to midfield again, and scrums and touchline play followed. The Auckland forwards, who were playing a dashing game, took th© oval back to their rivals' twenty-five. The Reds gradually worked the ball back, and for some time tho play was of an uninteresting character. The local vangnard, headed by Bain, momentarily invaded the Blues , quarters, but tne danger was quickly removed. The Blues then got on a fast rush, and Wilson getting possession kicked over the line, and, following up fast, Bcored a try near the corner, MeGoe failing to convert. Score:—-

Auckland ... ... 3 points Canterbury ... J»n. 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 ftwoe-

down was recorded.. After the kick ont, play wa* again in the Canterbury half, but tho local forwards got on a good rush to the centre. Auckland returned, their forwards oTcr-runnrng the Red vanguard. Then Canterbury wore relieved by tho means of a couple of free kicks, and play in neutral territory followed, any ground gained by the visiting forwards being regained by eerviceablo kicks by the local backs. * A lot of play took place between the two twenty-fives, and then passing, between Burns, Grey, Deans and Fryer, saw the latter run to well past tho Blues' twenty-five. More passing gavo the Reds a further chance, but foulty handling of tho tall lost them tho opportunity of scoring. 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 vicinity of tho Blues' lino. The latter's defence, however, proved very solid, and at length th« forwards removed tho leather to safer quarters. Good line-kicking enabled tho northerners to further improve their position, Wilson, finding touch past the centre. Uninteresting pliy between tho two twenty-fives then ensued. The Blues then worked the leather to past their opponents' twenty-five, but it wne soon shifted to mid-field again, end further play in neutral territory followed. Centerbury wero awarded a freo kick, but they failed to gain much ground by it. Good passing between M'Goe 'md nalsh saw tho latter nearly reach the Canterbury line, but he "passed forward, end Fryer came to the rescue with a good kick to past the centre, lime wee called a minute or two afterwards, v ith the score

Auckland ... 3 points Canterbury ... Jjfl. T 1 " following ar* the results of the mutches betwean Canterbury and Auckland :—

po^tt t J sl hriStChUXCh, C ,0 *" 1 ""* "° n 9J

1B7&-At Auckland, Auckland won, 7 points to 3»

1833-At Chxietchurch, AuckUnd won, 1 goal 1 try to 1 try. 1887—At Auckland, drawn, 1 goal to 3 trios*

lf&>— At Chrietchurch, Canterbury won 1 try to nil. J

1892—At Auckland, Canterbury won, 23 points to nil.

1895—At Chrietchurch, Canterbury won, 10 points to nil.

1896—At Auckland, Auckland won, 24 points to 8.

18J9—At Chiietchureh, drawn, 3 points each.

1902—At Auckland, Auckland -Mon, 19 points to 8. 1903—At Chris-tchurca, Auckland won by 11 points to nil,

1906—At Auckland, Auckland won by 29 points to 6. 1907—At ChristchuTch, Auckland won by 3 pointe to niL