FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 6956, 7 September 1883, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

INTERPROYINOIAL MATCHES.

CANTERBURY v. AUCKLAND.

Christohchoii, August 25.

After all the changes of weather a better day overhead could not have been picked for a football match. A bright sun and clear sky made it pleasant for spectators, and the weather was not too warm for players ; while there was no wind worth speaking of to interfere with the game. Two spells of 45 minutes each were played, and the match was commenced a little after 3 p.m. before 1800 spectators. The ground itself was heavy, the southern side having throe or four shallow pools of water, which considerably interfered at times with the men. The major portion, however, was dry enough, to afford good foothold. Messrs Cotter and Ataok acted as umpires, and Mr Sleigh, of Dunedin, as referee. The names of places of the players need not be set down, as by this time they are probably well known to everyone. Million lost the toss, and kicked off, the Reds (Canterbury) occupying the western goal, and the Blues (Auckland) the eastern. Making use of their weight in the i crimmage, the Reds immediately forced their" way towards the Auckland goal. The defenders

of the latter gave way gradually, and for the time being tacitly admitted the;r inferiority in scrimmaging. Carter got away ; but ran rather across the ground ; then passing to one of the half-backs, the latter kicked it well up to the Canterbury goal. There was some close scrimmaging after this, and at length Archer got it clear with r. tins dribble, and the ball went towards the Auckland line. It was passed to Robinson, but Whiteside collared him neatly before he got well awa j Next D’Auvergne got it in his possession,and t was only one of the men collaring him by the end of the jersey that prevented him getting in. There-was seme rather reckless passing to the Auckland backs at this time. One man actually threw the ball to Warbrick while the latter was standing on the goal-line all but surr.-uaded by his opponents. Warned by their Wellington experience, the Canterbury forwards refrained trorn kicking die ball over the line ; but dribbled it up. The Aucklaud backs momentarily got it clear, and the spectators were delighted with the unexpected turn events had taken, and loudlv applauded the Rods. Ad eyes, meantime, had been turns 1 on Whiteside, whose play from the beginning of the game had been keenly watched. Whether he was too closely shepherded, or whether the slippery ground prevented him from getting away, certainly he was not in form this spell, and never but once got clear for half-a-dozen yards. The good dribbling of the Red.s was nob without its reward, for driving the Blues right on to their goal-line, Archer, ever in the front of the game, had it over and touched it down. He was cheered by name from all parts of the field. Million could not convert the try into a goal, making a hash altogether of tho kick. The ball being kicked off. the Northerners, stung by their temporary defeat, played up vigorously, and kept the game for some time rather near tbs Canterbury goal. Owing to a habit their forwards all seemed to have in common of charging off-side, they very nearly got a touch-down once. The process is this :—The ball being kicked to a back player, the forwards near him immediately rush on the chance he will drop the bail and thus put them on side. However, it did not oome off this time, as Cotterill played coolly and kept the goal clear. Arneil had a pot at goal, to which he was indebted for Whiteside’s fine throwing out. The aim was not true, uor.iwas Ryan’s, who had a try a little later. Things becoming rather warm, the Rods braced themselves up, and Ilea made a capital run past the urddle of the ground. The Sydenham captain, whose inclusion in the team had been much cavilled at, played very well in this spell, and quite justified his selection. The first spell came to a close without further score. Tho Canterbury supporters were naturally jubilan t at the unexpected good play of their team, but tho knowing ones shook their heads doubtingly. “It’s not all over yet,’’ said one good judge of the game ; “ wait till we see whether the training of the Auckland boys tells before we crow too much.” It did tell very soon, and the Reds palpably tired as time wore on. Warbriok began business by a dodgy run that took him through all the forwards and some of the backs, and th's brought the garni into the Reds’ 25 ; but, dribbling constantly down, it went and flow into touch twenty yards from the Blue goal line. It was flung out, and passed to Robinson, who ran in front of goal, and let drive at it ; Whiteside, not able to reach him in time to ; collar, did the next best thing, and charged him, just managing to touch the ball. Luckily for his side that ho did, for tho leather sphere flew straight betweeu the posts, aud the spectators, knowing nothing about the rule on the subject, cheered t) the echo. It was hard lines for Canterbury, ns precisely the same thing happened in the Wellington match in 1879, and lost them the game. At this juncture, Whiteside discarded his shoes, and presently his stockings aft-r them. Having now the dry side of the ground, he began to exhibit adittlo of his metal, and the closer the time drew nigh, the harder he worked to avert : defeat. All the Auckland backs played up better from this point, and in proportion the Reds began to tire. Their exertions on the heavy ground necessarily told a tale on untrained men, for a Canterbury team was never yet known to train, and the Northeners ! gradually pressed, them up. Some more ■ potting at goal took place without effect ; but one shot sent the ball high in the air, and close jto the line. Immediately a number of Auckland forwards, all of whom were off side, rushed up as usual; and Robinton, failing to get a firm hold of The ball, O’Connor, the heavy weight, of the team struggled over with three men to him. The Canterbury men wore natura ly chagrined at this turn of affairs, and the Aucklanders equally delighted; but though according to rules there is always a feeling of discontent at this kind of off side play. I should adviso any backs with the laatoe circumstances, no matter what side they jwere playing on, not to touch the ball at all, .but let the off-side men do so, and then claim jto have it taken back to where" it was kicked ifrom, as the rules provide. A few lessons of -this kind would soon put a check on the inclinations of men who loaf about for the purpose of play off-side, as many invariably do .under the fast game now generally played. If jl remember rightly, the Otago men lost their snatch at Wellington under similar circumstances. Ryau took the try, rather an easy one, put missed it, aud the score was thus put level. The game was quickly set going again, and ptill more palpable became the superior condition of the Aucklanders. They kept the ba'l rolling merrily, and by their excellent hollaring nullified the good passing of their opponents. D’Auvergne ran past the half-way flag, where he went out of touch, but the goed kicking of Warbrick, Ryan, and Webster equalised matters. Robinson took the ball from one of these kicks near the goal line, and, ns usual, was unmercifully rushed by two or three men off-side. This time, however, the thing was so palpable that the umpire was Obliged to step in, and order Robinson to have a free kick. Shortly one of the Auckland men ran in, through a misunderstanding about being fairly collared, bat it was ruled that he Was, and should have put the ball down. Robinson just afterwards got an ugly knock in tho face, aud had to retire for a short time. The Auckland backs now began to play up freely, and passed the ball with considerable dexterity, except that occasionally they threw it forward instead of back, Whiteside made several ugly rushes, aud ran in once, but found he had stepped on the touch line. Quickly bouncing the ball out, he ran in again, but was thrown into touch in goal. The men on the Auckland wings made several neat passes from the scrimmages with their feet to the backs'—a very useful knack when there is no time to pick up, and one that might well be more cultivated. One of these passes sent the ball to Carter or King—l could not distinguish which—and lie immediately flung it far across to Whiteside, who, though playing quarter-back, was standing well out to the side. The Auckland crack, gathering tremendous speed in a few strides, evaded the outstretched hands of the Red backs, and landed in goal some distance from the post, the effect of a capital piece of judgment aud execution. Arneil was entrusted with the try, and, though it was at an awkward angle, his effected a splendid goal, which was received with hearty applause all round. There h nothing more to relate of the game, which once again ended in the defeat of Canterbury by a goal and try to a try. The match, considering the state of the ground, was a fast one from beginning to end. The local men showe I some splendid dribbling, and in that and passing among the forwards were much superior to the visitors. The latter, however, were the better oollarers, and their back play was superior, though decidedly not up to the expectations formed ol it from general report. Warbriok was' an excellent full back, and in the early part of the game by his agility more than once saved his side from a certain touch-down, Webster nind Ryan are also good kicks, but King did not show up much, and Whiteside only came out of his shell in the latter portion of the game. On a dry ground, I should say the latter would be much more effective. The Aucklanders do not seem to keep np their knowledge of the alterations that are from time to time made in the rules of the gams, of some of which they were evidently ignorant.. This may account for their propensity to off-side play, and to hold the ball after being fairly collared. With this exception, however, it was a capital game, and there was little or no disputing. Of the Canterbury men X need say little. They played mnch better than wae expected, but so long as they will not take the trouble to train they cannot expect to beat teams who do. The forward- play was very good ; but that of their backs only moderate ; the quarters in particular scarcely ever passed to the half- , backs, as they should have done. The com- j paratively close issue of the game, which, bat i for" Robinson’s kick at goal being nullified, j would have only resulted in Auckland’s favor i by one point, was a surprise, and there was : some disappointment at the play of the i Northerners, who were expected to make a 1 clean sweep of their opponents. The general opinion amongst footballers- here now is that j they cannot beat Dunedin it they do not im- < prove on to-day’s form. <