INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue VII, 16 August 1902, Page 402

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. Close on ten thousand people journeyed to Alexandra Park on Saturday. The ground was In good trim, and the crowd were rewarded with witnessing a good fast game, which was only marred by the unfortunate accident near the finish. For the sixth time in succession Auckland proved strong enough to lower the colours of the Empire City. The Rugby Union funds benefited to the extent of £468. This sum has only been beaten on one occasion—that of the English match in 1888. THE TEAMS. AUCKLAND (Blue and White).—Fcllback, \V. Harrison; three-quarters, Asher, McKenzie, Thompson; live-eighths. McGregor; half. Kiernan; wings, Laing, Doran; forwards, Brady, Tyler, Cunningham, Nicholson, McDuff, A. Wilson, Lung. WELLINGTON (Yellow and Blac-x). — f Uil-back, G. Spencer; three-quarters, ivlclntyie, , Wallace, S. Wilson; 'fiveeigiitlis, Johnston: half, Mereditn; wings, Watkins, Manson; forwards, McMinn, Dooit, Skelton, Joyce, A. Wilson, Adams, Sweeney. THE PLAY. Kiernan lost the toss, and Wellington took advantage of both the wind and sun. Auckland at once commenced to attack, and play was in Wellington’s 25. From a line out Nicholson broke clean away, and the ball was rushed across, Wellington forcing. The Auckland backs got on some good passing runs, but the defence of the visitors was equal to the occasion, and they could not break through. Thomson went very close to scoring a couple of times. Wellington now took a hand in attack, and Manson made a fine opening, but Mclntyre missed the pass, and with it a fine chance of scoring. McDuff and Long headed a rush into their opponents’ 25, Mclntyre relieving by a long kick down the touch-line. From play in the centre Adams dribbled into Auckland’s 25, where McMinn picked up and passed to Watkins, who scored near the goal. Spencer converted. From, the kick-out Auckland made things lively, and Kiernan dribbled across, but Spencer saved very smartly. Half-time was called with ■Wellington leading by 5 points to nil.

Auckland now had the wind with them? and started with a good passing run, Thompson missing a pass from McKenzie right on the line. Klemm now altered his plan of attack, and let the forwards take a hand in the game, and they rose to the occasion. From a line-out in Wellington’s 25 'Laing bounced the ball in, and, taking it again himself, he was over the line like a shot, and scored. Wilson made a poor attempt at goal. Shortly after Kiernan kicked high, and Spencer and Mclntyre, hesitating which was to take the ball. Asher dashed in between and settled the question, scoring in a good position, and put Auckland in the lead. Wilson kicked a goal. Wellington held the upper hand for a time, but the Auckland forwards were too superior, and play was again in the visitors’ 25. From a throw-in Long prssed to Tyler, who scored Auckland's third try. Wilson made the score read, Auckland, 13; Wellington. 5. The local team still continued to press, and Brady started a run, passing to Long, who transferred to Cunningham, and Auckland’s lock-man forced himself across the line and scored. Wilson kicked a goal. A passing run by Kiernan. McGregor and Asher ended in the latter being tackled on the line by Mclntyre and Manson, the last-named unfortunately breaking his leg. After a consultation the captains decided not to go on with the game, there being only about five minutes to piny. The match thus ended in Auckland’s favour by 18 points to 5.

NOTES ON THE PLAY. Interest was maintained in the game right through, play being fast, and the tackling good. Auckland’s backs did not shine so prominently as on the previous Saturday, the tackling of the Wellingtonians being too good for them to get through. The local forwards were in good form., and to them, in a great measure, must be given the credit of the win. Harrison and Spencer, the opposing full-backs, both played really well, and put in some first-class work. Auckland’s three-quarters haVe showed better form. McKenzie was very slow. Thomson ran well, but the less said about his defence the better. Asher grafted hard right through the game, and deserved the try he got. He missed his man rather badly on several occasions. Dick McGregor clung to the ball a bit too much, but nevertheless played well. Kiernan, the Auckland skipper, was easily the best back on the ground. The amount of work he gets through is astonishing, and he is, without doubt, one of the best halfbacks Auckland have had, and they have produced more than one good man. He should stand a good chance of being picked in the North Island team. The local forwards all played well, and with more combination than before. To try and select the best would not be an easy task, but McDuff, Long and Tyler were prominent right through. Brady was in good form, but his habit of arguing points of football law with the referee may get him into trouble.

The Wellington backs showed good defensive powers, Mclntyre, Wallace and Meredith both tackling- and kicking well.

Manson and Watkins, on the wing, McMinn and Adams in the forwards, were prominent all through. Mr. Garrard acted ? as referee, but he was not in his usual form, glaring cases of offside play on both sides passing unnoticed. THE RECORD. Saturday’s match was the 13th occasion on which the provinces have met. Seven matches have now been won by Auckland, five by Wellington, and the remaining match has been drawn. The record is as under:— 1880 —At Auckland: Wellington won, 5 points to nil. 1883—At Wellington: Drawn. Five points each. 1886—At Auckland: Auckland won, 4 points to 2. 1889—At Wellington: Wellington won, 3 points to 1 point. 1894 — At Auckland: Wellington won, 13 points to nil. 1895— At Wellington: Wellington won, 9 points to 5 points. 1896— At Auckland: Wellington won, 3 points to nil. 1897— At Wellington: Auckland won, 11 points to 4 points. 1898 — At Auckland: Auckland won, 19 points to nil. 1899.—At Wellington, Auckland won, 14 points to 3 points.

1900— At Auckland, Auckland won, 14 points to 4 points. 1901— At Wellington: Auckland wen, 9 points to 3 points. 1902— At Auckland: Auckland won, 18 points to 5 points.

CANTERBURY V. TARANAKI. NEW PLYMOUTH Wednesday. The fourth interprovincial match played between Canterbury and Taranaki was played to-day in the presence of 4000 people. Taranaki kicked off and Canterbury kept control of the game almost from the jump, though the Taranaki forwards at first made a few rushes which were soon upset. Towards the end of the spell O’Dowda and Glenn started a forward rush, but a knock-on spoiled the chance. Phillips got the ball from a scrum and started a passing rush, assisted by Woods and Gray, who passed to Matthews. The latter crossed Taranaki’s line, but was splendidly tackled by Fonks, and lost the ball and Humphries forced. Shortly after, Turtill, the Canterbury full-back, who was playing a magnificent game, got in a beautiful drop at goal from half way and just went wide. Shortly after Canterbury again penned Taranaki down. McGregor, making a dodgy run, got In front of the posts and potted * goal: Canterbury 4, Taranaki nil. were now putting in hard graft, and there was no great advantage, th*

•pell ending In mid-field with no further •core. Shortly after resuming, the Tara oak! backs made a determined effort ata carried play into the visitors’ quarters, but the ball went out. From a throw-ln a forward rush by Taranaki ended In Guy crossing the line, but Hardgrave failed in the kick: Canterbury 4, Taranaki 3. Play continued mostly In favour of Canterbury, whose collaring was perfect and backs sure in kicking, finding the line every time. From a succession of kicks between the backs a series of scrums were formed, each working nearer the home men’s goal. A forward rush, started by Woods, Ormandy, and Brunsden, ended In the latter scoring. Lavery’s kick was wide: Canterbury 7, Taranaki 3. The reds continued the onslaught, and almost Immediately after nearly scored, getting right on the Taranaki line, when a free kick relieved the pressure for some minutes. Taranaki continued on the defensive, the sameness nf things being relieved by an occasional dashing run but the visitors boat the home men in every department. From a free kick Lavery took a shot at goal, but went wide, and McGregor following up smartly, beat the Taranaki men, and scored in an easy position. Lavery’s shot at goal was ineffectual: Canterbury 10, Taranaki 3. Now. within a few minutes of time, Taranaki woke up, and a rattling forward rush, pretty well the length of the field, resulted in Guy getting a try in a good position. Humphries failed to get the major score: Canterbury 10, Taranaki 6. Am’d great excitement Taranaki continued the attack, but Canterbury’s defence was effective. Taranaki obtained a mark near the 25 flag. O’Dowda landing a splendid goal, and pulling the game out. of the fire. The game then ended In a draw: Canterbury 10, Taranaki 10. Mr Hallamore (Napier) was referee. Among the visitors. Turtill, McGregor, Ormnndy, Wood. Phillips, and al! the forwards played a magnificent game, the most noticeable being perhaps Cross, Brunsden, Fanning, and Matthews. The Taranaki backs, on the whole, were not np to representative form, with the exception of Humphries and Mynott, who played a grand game. In the forward division. Loveridge. Glasgow, and O’Sullivan In the pack, and in the loose rushes Thomas, O’Dowda, Glenn, and Pihama shone out. The visitors were entertained at a smoke concert to-night.

CANTERBURY V. WAIRARAPA. MASTERTON, Saturday. Canterbury defeated Walrarapa by 24 points to 8 to-day. The game In the first spell was very even, neither side being able to claim any marked superiority, the score standing: Canterbury 8, Walrarapa 3. In the second spell, though playing against a strong wind, Canterbury completely outclassed Wairarapa In all departments of the game, putting on another 16 points. McGregor (2), Cook, Lavery, Ormandy, and Wood scored tries, three of which were converted. Cadwallader scored the try for Walrarapa. G. Fache, of Wellington, acted as referee.

THAMES FOOTBALL. The representative football match, Karangahake v. Waihi.was played on Saturday on the local ground. Garvey captained the Waihi team (maroon), and Hockley the Karangahake (blue and black). Mr Ladner, of the Thames, refereed. Karangahake won the toss, having a fair wind behind them. Shortly after play commenced the maroons obtained a free kick in a good position. Landy made a capital shot, the ball just missing the bar. Waihi then took the offensive, keeping the play in the blues’ 25. From open play in Karangahake’s 25 Flett passed to Phillips, who transferred to Landy, who scored first blood. Tbe major points were not added. (Waihi 3, Karangahake nil.) The local men continued a strong attack, and from close play on the boundary near blue’s goal Landy passed smartly to Garvey, who got over the line. The kick at goal failed. (Waihi 6, Karangahake nil.) Open neutral plq,y followed, and the blues then got into their opponents’ territory. Kirkwood, the visitors’ left wing three-quarter, took a good pass while going at top speed, and beating his opponents scored at the corner. McLean failed to add the major points. (Waihi 6, Karanrahake 3.) Waihi lost their combination for' a short interval after this, and the visitors made a great effort to add to the score. The leather, however, came back into the blues’ 25. where from close play Arns passed to Fraser, who made a clever, dodgy run, eventually sending to Phillips, who got over the line. (Waihi 9, Karangahake 3.) Just before half-time McLean kicked a fine goal from a penalty kick. (Waihi 9, Karangahake 6.) In the second spell the local men had all the best of fhe game. Leslie added another try for Waihi,bringing the score to: Waihi 12, Karangahake 6. The maroons kept play in their opponents’ ground for the greater part of this spell, and on several occasions were on the point of increasing the score. During the afternoon the Waihi Band contributed several items. The gate money* amounted to £l9 17/6, and 25 per Vent, of this goes to the hospital funds.

The first interprovlndal match between junior teams representing Canterbury and Wellington was played at Christchurch on Saturday, the visitors winning after a keenly-contested game by six points (two tries) to three points (a try).