THE INTER-ISLAND MATCH.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14407, 15 July 1912, Page 2

THE INTER-ISLAND MATCH.

A WIN-FOR THE NORTH. (VKESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.! NAPIER, July 14. "The inter-island Rugby football match was played yesterday afternoon in beautiful weather, and in the presence of an enthusiastic crowd, estimated at little short of fivo thousand, including many country people and a number of visitors from different parts of New Zealand. The game resulted in a win for the North Island team by twelve points to eight. After the recent rain the ground was a trifle heavy and slippery in places. Lack of combination was noticeable among the South Island team in the early stages of the game, but except that the North Island forwards were sightly superior to the South Island front rank, both teams were fairly evenly matched. No doubt the better team won. The teams were: • — NORTH ISLAND. (All Blacks). Full-back: J. O'Leary. Three-quarters: Stohr, Roberts (Taranaki), and McGregor. Five-eij_hths: Kaipara and McKenzie. Half: E. Roberts. Wine forward: Dustin. Forwards: Desmond, Bruce, Downing, Moana. and Wilson (captain). Hookers: Sellars and Elliott. SOUTH ISLAND. (All Whites). Full-back: Docll. Three-quarters: Mac Donald (Otago), Lynoh, and Alexander. Five-eighths: Black and Gray. Half: Burns (captain). Wing forward: Nolan. Forwards: Richards, Forbes, Maxwell, McGuffog, r.nd McDonald (Marlborough). Hookers: Ongley and Williams. THE PLAY. Wilson led the All Blacks into the enclosure, and Burns followed with the All Whites in his rear, both teams being greeted with hearty applause. North Island won the toss and played from the eastern end, having the sun in their eyes. From the kick-off Nolan received the ball, and found touch with his reply. From tho first line-out Downing received tho ball and found touch. Give-and-take play followed, mostly in tho Southerners' territory, where tho Blacks were pressing tneir opponents hard, A scrum was formed iv the Southerners' twenty-five, and the ball went out to Dustin, who threw it to E. Roberts, and the Taranaki man feinting cleverly, got over the lino behind tho posts. 0 _eary converted. North Island 5, South Island 0. With first blood drawn by the Northerners within eight minutes of the kick off, the Southerners began to play with moro dash and better combination, although handicapped for some minutes by the absence of Doell, who had! received a knock on the temple. Play was now very open, and the Northerners were .gradually forced back, but, breaking away, they carried the ball back to their opponents' twenty-five, and tho Southerners were forced down. Play remained for a brief period in midlield, where several scrums were formed. A free kick was given to the Southerners, who found touch with advantago to their side. Burns, obtaining possession from a scrum, mado a magnificent run, but was stopped by O'Leary. Another scrum was formed about twenty yards from thei,; Northerners'* -line, the ball going "'otrtfto Burns, who punted, and the Northerners wero forced down. Play came back to the centre, and almost immediately afterwards Burns, kicking splendidly, sent the ball down to O'Leary, who failed to secure it, and Alexander, following up, smothered the Northerners': full-back and secured the first try for the South Island. Doell convorted from a difficult anglo, amid applause from the spectators. North Island 5. South Island 5.

For somo time after this, although the game was fairly fast, the goal line of. neither side was seriously threatened. Towards the end of the first spell a rush by the Southerners was stopped by O'Leary, and tho Northerners were forced down. Almost immediately afterwards a splendid forward rush by tho Southerners earned the ball to the Northerners' twenty-five, where Gray obtained possession, and going on the blind! side, cleverly passed to Alexander, who scored amid great excitement. ' Doell failed with the kick. South Island 8. North' Island 5. Play remained in mul-ficld till halftime. SECOND HALF. Tho Southerners crossed over with tho advantago of a try. AlcGuffog kicked off for the Southerners, and Bruce returned. The Northerners came through, and Stohr following up, scored. The kick was from a difficult angle, and O'Leary failed to add tho major points. South Island 8. North Island 8. , From a line-out, the Northerners established a fast forward rush, whicn ended in a maul on the line, and from a penalty Gray found touch about midfield. After* an exchange of kicks, McDonald found touch well inside the Northerners' twenty-five. After some loose play, in which the pressure of the Southerners was relieved, tho Northerners came through with a solid rush which was stopped by Alexander, who found touch at midfield. The play up to this stage had been principally confined to tho forwards, the Northerners showing to greater advantage in tho scrums, but the Southerners wero better in the loose. The Northerners carried the game to within their opponents' twenty-five, and from a scrum in front of the Southerners' goal the ball was secured by E. Roberts, who threw ,to McKenzie, and the latter potted a neat goal. North Island 12. South Island 8. Soon after resuming, a splendid passing rush, in which E. ltoberts, McKenzie, and Kaipara were conspicuous, took placo, but Lynch checked the onrush, and play was again centred. Play now became more open, and was characterised by some, good forward rushes on both sides, the game swaying from one side to the other. The passing, too, was cleaner, but repeated efforts by both sides to get through were frustrated. From a mark by Kaipara, Stohr had a shot at- goal'from halfway, but the ball went outsido the po3ts. After an interchange of kicks, in which the Southerners gained a slight advantage, an opening offered for the Southerners to get through, but they failed to field the ball. Play now became fast and furious, Nolan being very conspicuous, and for a long time there was very little advantage to cither side. Black was hurt at this stage, Church taking his place. Both teams were unable to maintain the pace, nnd tho game became less exciting, except that for a moment a vigorous attack by the Southerners threatened the Northerners' line. The play for the iemainer of the game "was mainly confined to midfield play, and ended "in the Northerners' territory, the final scores being: — North Island 12. South Islnnd 8. Black sustained a broken collarbone and a dislocated shoulder.