INTER – ISLAND FOOTBALL MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13455, 4 June 1907, Page 6

INTER - ISLAND FOOTBALL MATCH.

■ ■•:■ ■ . ■■■ ■:■■. - NORTHERNERS WIN BY n To NIL. SOUTHERNERS OUTCLASSED. [BT TELEGRAPH.— VRf.SS AS*OCIATIOX.j Christchurcu, Monday. Tim seventh inter-island football match which was played at Lancaster Park this afternoon, was favoured .with r*rW - weather conditions, there being but » s ltj»ht breeze, while the ground was in M £@ order. Under these circumstances,' , iIW j with a general holiday in the city, 'there' was a large attendance of the public est] mated at between 6000 and 7000, the at e receipts amounting to £349. the absence - of the Auckland contingent naturally weakened the North Island team, but even without their assistance the Northerners quickly made it plain they were masters of the situation, and "once the game had settled down tho Southerners never looked like winning. It had been thought that with Casey, Johnston, and McDonald in the pack, the South Inland forwards might wear down their opponents, but in all departments the. Northerners ;'■ showed much more dash than their antagonists, whose efforts were too spasmodic, to .-of any real value. The combination of the North Island backs was much superior to that shown by their opponents, and. though in many cases they lost excellent chances by forward passes, their handling of the bail was more accurate and their quickness in seizing the situation very frequently changed defence into attack. The teams were: ;

North Island (black): Fullback. 0. Spencer (Wellington);- threeqnarters. Wallace and Mitchinson (Wellington), O'Leary (Wairarapa); five-eighths. Hunter and Mynott (Taranaki); halfback. Roberta (Wellington); wing-forward. Coleman (Taranaki); for', wards, Wilson, Lile, and J. Spencer (Wei- , lington), Mcltao (Manawatu). Bailey (HawKe's \ Bay),. u'Sullivan (Taranaki). Hogan (Wnngav nui). • -.. - South Island (white): ;Fallback, Turtill (Canterbury); threequartors. Booth (Otago). Deans and Fryer (Canterbury):; five-eighths,? Eckhold and Dansey (Otago); . halfback,Burnß (Canterbury); forwards, ltughci (Southland). Carlton (South Canterbury), Casey. (Otago). Baton (Otago), Clark (South- . land). McDonald (Otago). Johnston '.. (Otago), Wade (Westland). South Island won the toss, and J. Sponcer kicked off for ~, the North against the light breeze that was blowing. Play was \ carried on in the South Island quarters, [but Deans relieved with a good run past [ the centre, and the blacks returned, Tin - - (till marked, kicking out of touch at midfield. The Northerners quickly had the ball back again, and Wallace had a pot at : goal, which caused the South ,to force down. After the; kick but the blacks returned to. the attack, and O'Sullivan ; made a good run, but ' was brought down near the line. A moment later Deans intercepted a pass, ahdrwheri collared passed to Dansey, who reached the North twenty-live before he was tackled from behind * by / Mitahinson. Just after the whites were awarded a freekick and Turtill narrowly missed kicking a goal; a force down resulting. Even play followed the kick out and Rood kicking by Turtill was the means of play, being taken to the North twenty-live again. ' A passing rush between Roberts, Hunter,, Mitchinson; and 'Wallace again took the leather to the whites' twenty-five, but it was: quickly removed to safer quarters; and for the next few / minutes the ball moved between the halfway flag and the Southern twentythe halfway flag and the 'Southern twenty-five. - A free-kick to the Southerns enabled : them to momentarily; re- . lieve, but the blacks came back and -being given -a free; kick G. Spencer had a shot: at goal, - which forced the : whites' down. On the ball being kicked out tin/ Southerners invaded their opponents' territory, and the kick by Eckhold forced the -Northerners ,in turn. .Even play, followed, /and ..& passing run carried the ball to the i/whitesVtwenCy -/ five. Further passing between Hunter, Mitchinson, and Wallace saw the. last-named nearly score, but he went into : touch near the corner.; The Northerners continued to press, but they failed to break through the' defence. A mark ?by Dan soy gave i the South Island temporary relief, "but the blacks quickly .returned to '/ the attack, and in a brilliant -passing 1 rush, • in which Roberts; Mynott, Hunter, Mitchinson, : »ndO'Leary took part,the hi,«t-iiained, sent the ball back to; Hunter, who got over at the corner. G. Spencer failed "with the kick at : .goal: North Island;'■ 3; South Island, nil. The blacks kept up the pressure, but at length a free-kick gave '■: the whites' a breather, and / this ' was followed by : * some '/.-.> concerted' work - ', by their backs. Mynott, - however, intercepted a pass i. from"/.-; Dansey 'and ;i; sent the ball on to Hunter. From him it went to Wallace, who kicked well up the field, and half-time was called with play in the whites' twenty-five. The second spell opened with a brisk attack by the' North Islanders, but .Dansey smothered a kick by Mitchinson, and Deans got possession of the ball and kicked across the field;: Roberts returning well. An exchange of kicks ended in favour of the South, and their backs began a passing rush, which was checked by the tackling of Fryer. Sound kicking by the Northern hacks quickly had play in the whites' twenty-five, and O'Leary had a hurried pot at goal, which forced the Southerners. The blacks kept up the pressure, and Wilson, ; was almost over, but Fryer came to the relief of his side, making a good opening, which' his forwards failed to take advantage of. ■ Fryer securing possession near the halfway flag, made a useful run and kicked i high. • G. Spencer fumbled the ball, but Fryer, who had followed up fast, over-ran it/ and the chance was lost, Hunter promptly removing ■the scene of action. For a brief space the whites kept their opponents busy, and Turtill took a pot shot at goal, the Northerners being forced. Following the kick-out the Northern backs soon had their opponents defending, but- Dansey and Deans were prominent in defensive work. Wallace, however,' was playing a very sound game, and by a long kick forced the white*. The kick-out took play to the Northern half, where Deans intercepted a pass and broke awav, but passed badlv, and G. Spencer found the line well down the field. A forward rush, headed byClark, called on the defensive powers of the Northern backs, but they were ouite equal to the occasion, and a dodgv run by Hunter was responsible for the institution of a very strong attack on the Southern goal-line. A series of hotly contested scrums followed, and ■eventually Bailey secured possession and got across' in a good position. Wallace kicked a goal from the try: North Island, eight: South, nil. ; -.-, On the resumption of play the South Island forwards, headed bv Johnston and Clark, showed some dash that promised a. score, but Roberts' defence was sound, and he soon had the men behind him attacking again. Faulty passing spoilt this opening, but almost ' immediately after Hunter made a ' dashing run, which took him to the Southern goal-line. A determined attack, in which Mitchinson was the- principal figure, was met bv. tackling just as determined, and Fryer and Burns," by good kicking, shifted play to mid-field." Sound kicking by the Norlbtrn backs soon retrained the lost -ground, but then Eckhold .and Burns began an attackin" movement which was spoilt by a knockon" A similar fate followed ./.the Southerners' next attempt, Dansey dropping the ball and Coleman saving by a good lire kick. Deans put in some useful kicking, but G. Spencer found the line well, and an exchange of kicks followed. /:/ in*whieh the Northerners gained the; advantage mi each I occasion,. From a mark by 0. Spencer Wallace made a very good attempt at goal, and the whites were forced in the., last few minutes. The whites made a final effort, Burns, Dansev, Deans, and Fryer being prominent, but once again their passing was at fault and kicking by Hunter and Wallace soon got their side out of difficulties. From a loose scramble following a scrum in the whites' twenty-five. Roberts - picked up the ball, and beating the opposing team badly, passed to Wilson, who scored an easy try.' „ Wallace's shot at goal failed, and time* was called immediately, with, the score: North Island, 11 points ; i South Island, iiil. Mr. K. W. Barry was Referee..