FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XII, 20 September 1902, Page 724

FOOTBALL.

TII E INTE K-1 SLAN D M ATCH. SOUTH ISLAND WINS BY 20 POINTS TO 14. WELLINGTON, Saturday. The match between the North Island and South Island teams this afternoon attracted an attendance of between 5000 and <>ooo spectators, and but for the heavy rain that fell an hour before the start of the game the crowd would no doubt have been a larger one. Fortunately, the rain cleared off before play started, and the sun shone out during the afternoon. Despite the recent rains the Athletic Park was in a surprisingly good condition, and the spectators were treated to an excellent exposition of football, and a most exciting contest for supremacy, the Southerners winning by 20 points to 14. The first spell was all in the favour of the North Island men, of whom the Auckland contingent were the bright particular stars, but when ends were changed the Southerners swept all before them, the Canterbury section standing out in marked prominence. The North Island backs had a good innings in the first spell, as their forwards kept play loose, and fed the back division, but in the latter half of the game the red forwards carried all before them, and their backs, showing great Improvement, the Southern combination were enabled to pile up 14 points while their opponents could not increase the total to their credit at halftime. On the whole, it was one of the most exciting games ever witnessed in Wellington, and at times the spectators were aroused to a high pitch of excitement. Among those present were His Excellency the Governor (Lord Ranfurly), the Acting-Premier (Sir Joseph Ward), and the lion. Mills, and each received an enthusiastic reception on taking his seat. The teams were as follows: — North Island (blues): Fullback, E. McKenzie (Wairarapa), threequarters. A. Asher (Auckland), W. Wallace (Wellington)', E. N. Tregear (Wanganui), fiveeighths, R. McGregor (Auckland); half, H. Kiernan (Auckland); wings, J. Laing (Auckland), L. Armstrong (Wairarapa); forwards, E. Dodd (Wellington), E. Wyllie (Manawatu), A. Cunningham. P. Long, R. McDuff. G. Nicholson (Auckland). and A. Cadwallader (Wairarapa). The average weight of the team was 12st 101 b.

South Island (reds): Fullback, E. B. Booth (Otago); threequarters, W. Smith (Nelson), E. F. Harper (Canterbury). D. McGregor (Canterbury); five-eighths, M. E. Wood (Canterbury); half, P. Harvey (Canterbury); wings, 11. G. Porteouß (Otago), A. Brunsden (Canterbury); forwards, W. Duggan, B. Fanning. R. Cooke, T. Cross (Canterbury), A. McNie (Southland), A. G. Fenwick, and J. Roddick (Otago). The average weight was I2st 71b.

The Southerners won the toss, and defended the southern goal, having a very light southerly breeze behind them. Cunningham kicked off, and during the first few minutes the backs on both sides mulled th« ball a good deal. The Northerners’ backs soon settled down to work, and play was centred in the reds’ territory. Then McKenzie, the North Island fullback, failed to take a long kick from Harper, and the ball travelled by itself to the goal line. Smith and Asher raced for it. and the latter had the best of the struggle, and kicked into the fence. Shortly afterwards McGregor (Canterbury) obtained the ball from a broken-up scrum, but made a miskick into touch. Tile North Islanders elected to take a scrum, and Porteous, getting the ball, cleverly dodged round and scored. Harper failed at goal. (South Island 3; North island 0.) After a spell of uninteresting play near centre the blues got on a passing •rush, in which Laing. McGregor, Wallace, Tregear and Long were prominent, and the last named crossed the line near the corner Hag. McKenziu could not improve the score. (South Island 3; North Island 3.) The Northern forwards continued to keep the forward work open, giving their backs every chance, and a few minutes afterwards Asher received a pass from Kiernan. He mulled it. but Kiernan, who was close up to him. grabbed the bail about the 25 flag. Smith ft 11 as he was about to tackle, and Kiernan had a clear run across the line. No goal resulted. (North Island 6; South 3.) Almost immediately J resuming the North Island team was awarded a free kick in a splendid posi>m, but Cunningham failed at goal. The Mms continued to have all the best of ,'ie game, the Southern backs being very Jagged in their play. On one occasion, however, the rotis’ forwards got on a great rush down the ground, and a free kick being awarded to them, Harper only missed the goal posts by a few inches. At this stage play was stopped for ten minutes on account of an injury to liarvev. who sprained his ankle. He had to reliye, and Fred Roberts (Wellington) took his pine*' as halfback. On resuming the blue backs were again to the fore, and. as the result of some splendid passing between McGregor and Wallace, Asher obtained the bail. His pace stood him In good stead, and he scored a ineritoriaus try. Wallace landed a beautiful (North Island 11; South Island

8.) Soon afterwards Roberts kicked the ball as it came from a scrum, near the South Island line; it rebounded from Armstrong s head, ami Wyllie, securing it, scored. Wallace failed at goal. (North Island 14; South Island 3.) Just on the call of half time the Southerners were given a penalty kick for offside play, and Harper put the ball over the bar. (North Island 14; South Island 6.) From the kick-off in the second half the Southern forwards swept down the field. Wallace stopped the rush and passed to Kiernan, but D. McGregor intercepted, and streaked for the line. He eluded all opposition and scored behind the posts. Cooke landing an easy goal. (North Island 14, South Island 11.) The red forwards continued their attack, and Harper narrowly missed a goal from a free kick. Asher here put in some good defensive work, but eventually the Southern backs got on a passing rush, in which Wood, Harper, and D. McGregor were prominent, the result being that the Canterbury man ran across and equalised the scores. The kick at goal was a failure. (North Island 14, South Island 14.) For a few minutes North Islanders were on a vigorous attack in the Southern territory, Asher being collared by Smith W’hen he looked dangerous, and Kiernan just missing a goal from a mark. The reds’ defence proved too strong. D. McGregor made a long kick from his own 25. and Asher, in attempting to take the ball, was beaten by Smith, who had followed up smartly. Smith passed to Cross, who in turn sent the ball to Wood. The latter made a brilliant run, dodged all his opponents, and scored under the posts. It should have been an easy goal, but Cooke was unequal to the occasion. (South Island 17, North Island 14.) Wi tain a few minutes Brunsden picked up the ball after a scrum and sent it on to Wood. The latter, aftpr a short run, passed to Harper, who when collared transferred to McGregor. Harper followed up closely, got the ball again from McGregor when he was in trouble, and ran across at the corner flag. Harper did not increase the score. (South Island 20, North island 14.) Time was called shortly afterwards with play in neutral territory.

For the winners, Harper, McGregor,and Wood were in great form. Smith, who made several mistakes in the first spell, redeemed himself in the second half. The forwards all played a hard game. j't>r the Northerners, Tregear shone out most prominently among the backs, and Kiernan played a particularly good game. Cunningham, Long, and Dodd -were the pick of the forwards. The full-backs of both teams were weak. The Rev. G. Coleridge Harper, of Palmerston North, made an excellent referee.

During half-time the Governor presented tire Ranfurly Challenge Shield to Mr <r. F. Dlxoh/who deceived it on behalf. of the Auckland Rugby Union. In the evening the. South Island and .Island, . teams, together with a n timber of prominent "citizens, were entertained at dinner.. by ;the New Zealand Rugby Union. Sir Joseph- Ward, in responding to the toast, of? the Parliament of New Zealand. spoke of the keen enioyment he had derived from the afternoon’s contest. He also proposed the’ toast of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and paid a tribute to the governing body for Its efficien t control of the- game throughout. Closing, he expressed a hope that the negotiations for the visit of a New Zealand team to the Old Country would have a successful issue. Mr A. C. Norris, secretary of the union, in responding, stated that, the North v. South match would be an annual fixture, and would be played in all the principal centres in turn. Every effort would be made by the union to send a team Home. He" indicated that there was a possibility of South Africa being included in the tour. The Rev. Harper (referee) congratulated both teams upon the excellent spirit that had prevailed throughout the match.

REMARKS ON THE GAME.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. Monday. The North v. JSou h Island football match was, from a spectator’s point of view, as fast and exciting a game as one could desire to see. It was a dashing “go” from the kick-off till the call of time. The Northerners made the pace in the first spell, although it was soon apparent they had no threo-to-one chance. The North Islanders did some splendid passing right across the field,, and each of their tries was well earned. ' The second spell had just begun when the Southerners showed a marvellous Improvement in their play..attacking their opponents with groat steadiness and determination. They put the North Islanders on the defensive, and practically held them so right to the end. The North Island men seemed to J 3 somewhat demoralised by this turning of the tables. They were slow in retting the ball, especially from the scrums, and let the Southerners through and again. Half-way through the spell the score stood 14 all. and the crowd were almost delirious with excitement. Strangely enough, the sympathy of the spectators was in favour of the South Islanders from the offset, and when the score of the Southerners topped that of the Northern team the crowd became so jubilant that

one might have imagined the match was being played in Otago or Canterbury. This, it seems, was due to the preponderance of Auckland and Canterbury reps. In the opposing teams, and the colours of Auckland and Canterbury being worn. The Northerners had several good chances to scare in the second spell, but did not succeed in obtaining a point beyond the total they had rushed up in the first. The Southern team played most consistently* throughout,took advantage of every opportunity, and w'ell deserved the win which they eventually scored. McKenzie (Wairarapa), the full-back of the North Island team, was the failure of the team. He was so much at fault that it is difficult to imagine how he came to be put in that position. Individually the Aucklanders played well. INTERVIEW WITH THE NORTHERN CAPTAIN.

At the conclusion of the match I interviewed Kiernan, the skipper of the Northern team, and solicited his opinion as to the cause of the reversal of form shown by the Northerners in the second spell. Kiernan said that during the last twenty minutes of the first spell his team were able to keep the ball In the scrams as they wished, their hooking being good, but in rhe second spell the hookers were pushing in the front row, and rarely got the ball. Without a doubt some of . the Northern team shirked work in the back row* of the scrum. The men who had done the hooking for the Auckland rep. team were Tyler and Brady, who are two of the best hookers in the colony. Tyler was suffering from a broken rib, and could not play, and Brady was not selected in Saturday’s team. The Auckland men missed Brady considerably. Had he and Tyler been playing the Northern team would have been strengthened considerably, as the Auckland reps, knew their style of play, and in their absence could not depend on getting the ball from the scrums. In the second spell the Northern backs were never given the ball, except w’hen it was kicked to them. He also blamed the full back McKenzie (Wairarapa) largely for the big score put up by the Southern men in the second spell. McKenzie is a first class kick, but requires a lot of time to get his kick in. He was not fast enough when required to chase a man. Harrison, who Is about the fastest back in New Zealand, should have been chosen instead of McKenzie. When D. McGregor got his two tries for the Southern team, he ran round McKenzie. No doubt the Selection Committee endeavoured to have as many districts as possible represented, but this was a source of weakness. He considered the Auckland rep. team would have done ever so much better than the North Island team, owing to their combination and knowledge of each others’ piay. Many valuable chances were lost amongst the Northern men through some of them being over anxious to score. The Northern forwards seemed satisfied when fourteen points had been obtained by the end of the first spell, and took things easy, and did not play with the dash and vigour they displayed towards the end of the first half; in fact, the Northern forwards did not play the game in the second spell. They took a pull and neglected to push. The opposing team scored immediately the second spell opened, and the Northerners could not pull themselves together again.

One of the Southern men attributed their win to the fact that in the second spell their forwards decided to play a vigorous forward game, and keep the ball in the scrum. They frequently succeeded in carrying the scrums and overran their opponents.

THAMES FOOTBALL.

RETURN MATCH WITH PAEROA. A return football match between Thames and Paeroa fifteens was played at Para•w’ai, Thames, on Saturday afternoon. The ground was in a very sodden state, and spoilt a good display of football. The Thames team was very weak, being without the services of Laing. McDuff. Kingham. McPike, and S. Smith, and fj-ir juniors were called upon to fill the vacancies. The play was for the most of the game confined to the forwards. The backs found great difficulty in handling the greasy ball, and passing runs were not frequent. In the first spell, when the ball W'as near the Thames goal line. Shaw took a pass and scored for Paeroa. Sorensen was entrusted with the kick, but failed to add to the score. In the second spell Coote made an opening and initiated a passing run, which ended in Flynn getting over the line and scoring the second try for Paeroa. Moore took the kick and landed a goal. No further score was made. Paeroa thus winning by 8 points to nil. Thames had hard luck in not scoring on several occasions. Mr F. Ladner acted as referee.

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL

GISBORNE, Saturday. The annual football match. Hawke’s Bay v. Poverty Bay, was played at Gisborne to-day, and was won by Poverty Bay by 11 points to 4. The game was fast and exciting, the local men maintaining the advantage throughout. Tn the first spell Newton scored a try for the home team, and Balfour kicked a fine goal from a mark for the visitors. Hatae and Johnson scored tries for Poverty Bay In the second spell, one of which Williams converted, the game ending 11 points to 4. Rain set in after the commencement of the second spell, rendering the ground and ball greasy. Considering the conditions. the display was of a high order, the excitement of the spectators being kept at concert pitch. The attendance was over 1000. 4