INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue VI, 9 August 1902, Page 340

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND v. CANTERBURY. The meeting' of the above teams drew between.six anti seven thousand spectators to Witter’s on Saturday. The grandstand was packed, and hundreds were unable to obtain seating accommodation. The sum of £360 was taken at the gates.' The Governor, Ijord Ranfurly, was amongst those present. More than ordinary interest was centred in this match, owing to the fact that “honours were even” as far as interprovincial contests between these two provinces were concerned, each having' won three matches, and also owing to both teams being unbeaten last season. The teams lined out as follows:— Canterbury (red and black).—Full-back, S. Tustill; three-quarters, A. Revell, Phillips, D. McGregor; five-eighths, G. Ormandy, M. H. Wood; half-back, Weston; forwards, L. Corbett, Duggan, B. Fanning, R. Cooke, T. Cross, W. Drake, A. Brunsden, Matthews. Auckland (blue and white).—Full-back, W. Harrison; three-quarters, H. D. Thomson, W. E. Hay-McKenzie, A. Asher; five-eighths, R. McGregor; half, 11. Kiernan; wing forwards, W. Doran and J. Laing; forwards, C. Brady, (3. Tyler, W. Cunningham, A. Wilson. G. Nicholson, P. Long, and A- McDuff. Canterbury won the toss, and took aflvantage of both wind and sun. The first scrums were watched very keenly, for the Canterbury forwards bad ■come with a big reputation, and when it was found that the Auckland forwards were at least holding their own, the blue and white supporters could not help expressing their delight. Play was very even for the first quarter, being mostly forward play in the centre. A faulty kick by Phillips let Auckland into tlieir opponents’ 25. Here Kiernan obtained possession from a scrum, raid passed out to McGregor, who transferred to Asher, and the City player, jumping over the full-back, scored the first try amidst great applause from all parts of the ground. Wilson took the kick but failed. Auckland had slightly the best of the play for the remainder of the first spell, but no further score resulted. The start of the second spell must have been a shock to the visitors. Shortly after tile kick-off, a good passing- run among the local backs ended in Thomson crossing at the corner and running behind the posts. Kiernan kicked a goal. From the kick-out Alex. Wilson returned, and Asher, following up fast, spoilt the Canterbury full-back, and the ball was rushed down over the red and blacks’ line, Kiernan scoring. Kiernan’s kick at goal was charged down. Play had hardly re-started before Thomson was seen galloping through the opposing backs and scoring his second try. Kiernan again missed an easy shot. Eleven points had been added in the. first fifteen minutes of tlie second spell. Canterbury now livened up a bit, and play centred for a time, but Auckland were not to be denieiW and McKenzie scored Auckkfnd'r fifth try from a good passing run. With 15 minutes to go, and Auckland still on the attack, there looked every chance of the local team wiping out Canterbury’s score of 24 points in 1892. The visitors, however, now livened up a bit, and started playing a Lit more to their backs. A passing run. started by Weston saw Revell clean past all the local backs, and a score looked certain, but Kiernan chased and overtook him. Play came back to centre, where Wood picked up smartly, made a fine opening, and a series of short passes by. the Canterbury backs completely beat the Auckland defence, and McGregor scored Canterbury’s onlj’ try. Cooke missed the shot at goal. This was undoubtedly one of the finest pieces of play in the match. Canterbury continued tt press, and when the bell went they were in Auckland's quarters.

NOTES ON THE PLAY. There was very little to choose between the two forward divisions. Auckland were mostly successful in hooking the ball, but the Southerners excelled on the line-out. It was in the back division that Auckland proved superior, the defence of the opposing backs being unable to cope with the blue and white’s passing runs.

Coming to individual play, Harrison can be congratulated on his first appearance as a full-back. He kept very cool, and got out of a tight corner or two very cleverly. Asher put. in a lot of work, and followed up well. He has a bad habit of not keeping in his right, position, and on -Saturday was playing- too close to the scrum. His jumping tactics came off, but they will land him in trouble sooner or later. They look all right from a spectator’s point of view, and are generally applauded. Poor Billy Armit was very good at it, but he tried it once too often. McKenzie was hardly up to his usual form. Thomson was in good form, and he must have surprised the Canterbury backs with his sprinting and dodging powers. ■ McGregor showed greatly improved play, and is by no means the back number some would have you to suppose. Last, but not by any means least, we come to Kiernan, who can be congratulated on the way he handled his team. He kicked and passed out well, and his tackling and stopping of rushes was first rate.

In the forward division it would be hard to individualise. They all seemed to rise to the occasion, and their form was a wee bit different to that shown in the trial matches. Laing and Doran were good on the wings, but the former player is inclined to play off-side at times. He was penalised more than once on Saturday.

Wood, the Canterbury skipper, and Turtill, the full-back, stood out by themselves amongst the visiting team’s backs. They both had a lot of work to do, and they got through it well. The defence of the others was very weak, especially that of Weston, the centre-half. Their attacking powers were not shown until the match was practically over. Canterbury possess a good pack of forwards, Cross, Drake, Fanning and Brundsen being a pretty good quartette. The'former player played a very hard game. The result of the match must have been very satisfactory to Mr. Murray. His selection was subjected to adverse criticism, but he has much the best of the argument now. THE RECORD. Honours now rest with Auckland, who have won four matches to Canterbury’s three, the remaining two having been drawn. The results of past matches are as under;— 1876 — At Auckland: Auckland won, 7 points to 3 points. 1883—At Christchurch: Auckland won, 7 points to 2 points. 1887—At Auckland: Drawn, Auckland, 3 points (three tries); Canterbury, 3 points (a goal from the field). 188(1—At Christchurch: Canterbury won, 1 point to nil. 1892—At Auckland: Canterbury won, 24 points to nil. 1895—At Christchurch: Canterbury won, 10 points to nil. 1898— At Auckland: Auckland won, 24 points to 3 points. 1899— At Christchurch: Drawn, Auckland, one try; Canterbury, one penalty goal. 1902—At Auckland: Auckland won, 19 points to 3 points. AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. These old rivals will try conclusions at Potter’s next Saturday, and as there is always a little more interest than usual taken in these meetings, coupled with the fact that it will be a general holiday, a record crowd should be present. On “form” it looks a “good thing” for Auckland, but I think a close game can be looked forward to. Mr Murray has made

no alterations in the team that played against Canterbury. The Wellington team will be picked from the following 17 players:—Baeks, Spencer, Johnson, Roberts, Wallace, Slattery, Meredith, Mclntyre; forwards, Dodd, McMinn, Adams, Sweeney, Watkins, Walsh, Leversedge, Watkins and A. Wilson. Since 1880 Auckland have met Wellington twelve times, Auckland winning 6 and Wellington 5, one match being drawn.

THAMES FOOTBALL. On Saturday Rovers beat Thames by 12 points to nil. In the first spell no score was recorded. In the second half Cameron scored after a forward rush. Tries were also scored by Klngham and P. Baker. McLean failed each time In his attempt at gotfl. Klngham kicked a goal from a free kick.

PAEROA FOOTBALL. The Paeroa and Waihl Unions met for the first time in Delany’s paddock on Saturday afternoon. Waihi were the favourites, though it was expected Paeroa would make a good stand after their game against Karangahake last Saturday. The game was a most interesting one, and ended in favour of Paeroa by 6 points to 3. Paeroa won the toss, and during this spell play was most of the time about^. half-way. very little being done by the' backs. Towards the end of the spell Paeroa were awarded a free kick near Walhl’s line, and H. Sorensen kicked a goal. In the second spell the play was most exciting, the Waihi backs indulging in some excellent passing rushes ending time after time on the line, scoring being only averted by good tackling. Waihi were awarded a mark close in under Paeroa’s goal, but the ball was rushed and the kick spoiled. Waihi were not to be denied, however, and from a scrambling rush Arscott got over and scored. The attempt at goal was a failure. The points were now even, and the result doubtful, but Paeroa rallied tmd attacked with great determination, first Moore and then Bromwich nearly scoring. Finally from a pass by McCullough, Bromw'ich made a slashing run past several Waihi backs and got right round between the posts. Moore took an easy kick at goal, but failed. From this to the call of time Paeroa had the advantage, and the game ended: Paeroa 6, Waihi 3. For the winners, amongst the backs, Flynn, Bromwich. Brenan, and Vuglar were the best; but in the forwards all played so honestly and well that it would be impossible to single out any particular men. For Waihi Currie at full -was very safe. Landy was ■well fed at three-quarters, and ran and kicked well. Phillips also shaped well at centre, and Flett at five-eighths and Garvey at half were both in good form. Amongst the forwards Hughes, Pascoe, and Arns were the best. Mr F. Ladner, of Thames, had charge of the whistle, and gave every satisfaction.