INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue IX, 30 August 1902, Page 532

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

•i AUCKLAND V. TARANAKI. The Auckland football season was brought to a conclusion on Saturday. There was a good attendance to witness the meeting of the above teams. The day was an ideal one for football, and a fairly fast game resulted. Auckland kept up its reputation for big- scoring, and succeeded in defeating the visitors by 21 points to 3. Taranaki were unfortunate in not scoring a couple of times, but were overmatched all round. The match >vus played in a very friendly spirit. Auckland (blue and .white): Fullback, F. Ceiraid; tbreequarters, Asher, McKenzie, Thompson ; flve-eighths, 11. McGregor ; halfback, Kiernan; wings, Laing, Doran; 10l wards, Brady, Tyler, Cunningham, Nicholson, McDuff, Long, Bispham. Taranaki (amber and black) : Fullback, A. Hardgrave; threequarters, A. Hunter, K. George, W. Woods ; live-eighths, 11. Mjnott; half, A. Humphries; wings, 11. Bullock. A. Guy; forwards, W. Glen, B. O'Dowda, I'ihama, F. T. Glasgow, J. Thomas, A. Loveridge, J. O’Sullivan. j THE PLAY. Kiernan lost the toss for the third time in succession, and Humphries, the Taranaki skipper, elected to take advantage of the sun, which was a bit strong when play started. Cunningham started proceedings, and play was soon in the visitors’ quarters. A free-kick for off-side play by Laingrelieved. Auckland forwards worked back, and MacKenzie spoilt a good passing run by failing to take. From a loose rush Asher picked up, made an opening, and passed to MacKenzie, who transferred to Thomson, who beat the fullback and scored. Cunningham kicked a goal. Hunter, the Taranaki fullback, failed to take the return from the kick-out. Taranaki forcing. The local men still kept up the attack, and a series of short passes between McGregor, Kiernan, McKenzie and Thomson ended in the latter again beating Hunter, crossing at the corner, and scoring- behind the posts. Cunningham was ag-ain successful with the kick. Hardgrave was here shifted to full, Hunter going up three-quarter. Taranaki forwards got on a good rush, right down the field and over the line, Auckland forcing. From the kick-out Asher got hold, and was nearly in. Off-side play by McDuff gave the visitors a free kick, which they followed up, and rushed over, MacKenzie saving smartly. Taranaki carried a scrum in midfield, and dribbled the oval between the posts, and a score looked certain. Kiernan here appeared suddenly on the scene, picked up the ball right off the opposing forwards’ feet, and forced. O'Dowda had a couple of shots at goal from free-kicks, but made very poor attempts. The first spell ended in Auckland leading- by 10 points to nil. For the first quarter of an hour of the second spell Taranaki had all the best of the play, and forced Auckland two or three times. Humphries and Mynott put in some good work, and the visitors’ forwards were playing very hard. Glasgow, one of Taranaki's forwards, injured his leg, and retired. The spectators were asking Auckland “to liven up a bit,” and they did so. and from this out the issue was never in doubt. Passing- by the local backs brought play into the visitors' 25, where MeKenzie picked up and passed to Asher, who scored. Cunningham kicked a poster. From a line-out in centre Long got possession, and a fine bit of passingwork between Kiernan, MacKenzie, Thomson and Asher ended in the latter scoring his second try. Cunningham missed. Soon after play restarted Tyler broke away from a line out, and short passes between the forwards were stopped by Hardgrave in front of Taranaki’s goal. Bispham broke through the following serum, and scored between the posts. Cunningham brought Auckland’s score to 81. Interchange of kicks between the backs saw Asher in possession of

the oval. He lost his head, ami started a run across the field towards his own goal, where he was bowled over, and the visitors took the ball across, scoring in a good position. Hardgrave missed an easy shot. From the kick-out Auckland rushed into their opponents’ quarters, Thomson forcing them with a shot at goal. Time was called with the score standing 21 to 3. Auckland have played Taranaki fifteen times, winning 9, losing 3, and 3 have been drawn. NOTES ON THE PLAY.

Gerrard, taken all round, was hardly up to Harrison, his chief fault being a failure to find the touch-line. Hardgrave, who took Hunter’s place as full after the first fifteen minutes for Taranaki, was responsible for a lot ,of good work.

Thomson was the best of the local three-quarters, 'playing a good, consistent game right through. He was responsible for two tries, and took a band in two others. MeKenzie was very slow. His passing at times was good, at other times very indifferent. Asher was brilliant at times, but on other occasions'he seemed to lose his head altogether. Perhaps the cheering of his “friends” on the stand made him excited. They were cheering him every time he got the ball, whether he made use of it or otherwise.

Dick McGregor showed a glimpse of his old form. He made some fine openings on Saturday. Kiernan was easily the best all-round back on the ground, and it would be hard to find his equal. None of the teams Auckland met this season have produced anything near him. Humphries, the Taranaki half, is next to Kiernan, but he is much below the Aucklander’s form.

Tyler and Long were prominent right 'through the game .and the former player considering that he •plays in the front row—and there is no doubt but that he does his work there —must be a marvel, for he headed nearly every Auckland rush. McDuff was good on the line-out, but seemed inclined to play offside. Laing and Doran did not show up as well as in former games. The latter player was passing very badly. The Taranaki forwards played well. In their rushes they kicked too hard. O'Dowda seems to have lost a lot of his old-time dash. His place-kicking was very poor. Glen, on the wind, put in some good work at rimes.

PAEROA FOOTBALL. PAEROA V. KARANGAHAKE. The return match between Karangahake and Paeroa was played on Saturday afternoon at Mackaytown, and resulted in an easy win for the former team by 19 points to nil. Paeroa were without the services of Dunlop, Rukutai and Chamberlain; but their display was very disappointing, the backs being- weak in defence, and the forwards lacking altogether in dash. On the other hand the Karangahake backs played a splendid passing game, and in the latter part of the second spell simply rsn through Paeroa. In the first spell W. McLean and A. McLean each scored tties, both being converted by W. MiLein. In the second spell Montgomery, Buick and Kirkwood scored, but none were converted. For the losers Flynn and Vuglar played well amongst the backs, and amongst the forwards W. Caplll, Callaghan, and McGuire were the best. For Karangahake Middleton at full had very title to do. Kirkwood and the two McLeans ail played well at threequarter, the kicking of W. McLean being particularly tine. Black at half also played a good game, in the forwards Bagust, Smith and Arns were most conspicuous. Mr F. Ladner was referee. The match was very rough and In the second spell Bromwich w-.is hurt and had to retire.