FOOTBALL

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XI, 12 September 1903, Page 736

FOOTBALL

All KLAND TEAM ON TOUR. MATCH AGAINST TARANAKI. TARANAKI WIN BY 6 TO 3. FINE DISPLAY BY THE HOME FORWARDS. NEW PLYMOUTH, September 2. Tiic match Auckland v. Taranaki was played here yesterday before some 4000 people. The ground was in good condition. and tiie weather fine without much wind. Just before and during the mateh a slight drizzle fell. Auckland went out favourites. In the first spell each side scored a goal front a free .kick. Taranaki added a try in the second spell, the game ending, Taranaki ti, Auckland 3. For Auckland, Sutherland, at full, was sure in fielding and kicking. Asher was well watched, and could not get in any attacking work, but in defence he was sound and saved his side on several occasions. McKenzie got away with some fair runs, but his passing was not clean. Harrison had little, to do. King could not do mtreh behind a pack that was smothered time after time, but he played well when he got an opening. The forwards on both sides as a rule broke right through and sent the ball along with sharp rushes. Among the .yuekland forwards MeDufT, Lofig, Nicholson and Hancock shaped well in the ru.yhes. ■ A feature of the game was the way in which the Taranaki forwards beat their opponents with a series of sweeping rushes. Wilson and Glasgow were very prominent in the .forwards, and Humphries played a great game, as scrum, half. The collaring of both, sides was deadly, apd the game was played right through with grim determination. Mr Weir, of Wellington, was a satisfaetorv referee.

The game was the fastest find best ever witnessed here, * ,

THE WELLINGTON MATCH

A UUK LAN D D EFEAT El).

WELLINGTON, September I

After a six years’ unbeaten record the Auckland football representatives have suffered defeat in two successive matches, Wellington securing a win by the narrow margin of one point after Taranaki has broken the spell. The first defeat was ascribed by those who saw the game to what is colloquially termed ‘’Swelled head,” the long list of victims giving the team the impression that they were unconquerable. Another fact that contributed to this impression was that the team inehided seven New' Zealand reps., who were perhaps more or less content to let the other men have the work, as long as they wore allowed to put on the finishing touches. The fact is the team includes too many reputation men. Duncan, the captain of the New Zealand team, taking a line through the North v. South Island mateh, declared that Auckland would go down before both Canterbury and Otago, and the prophecy seems io have some chance of fulfilment. The game on Saturday was played at Athletic Park before an attendance of about five thousand people. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Major Alexander and Bishop Neligau, were among those present. The ground was in fine condition, and the ball dry. The teams were as under:—

Auckland (blue and white) : Fullback, Harrison; threequarters, Asher, McKenzie, Absolum; five-eighths, R. McGregor and Phelan; half, King; forwards, Doran (wing), Tyler, Gallagher, Lewis, McDuff, Long, Nicholson, and Eaton.

Wellington (black): Fullback, G. Spencer; threequarters, Wilson, Barber, Mclntyre: five-eighths, Gray and Bush; half, Johnson; forwards, Dodd, Watkins, Driscoll. Wright, J. Spencer, Cross, O’Brien, and Hardhanr.

In the first spell Absolum scored a try, which was not converted, and in the second half Spencer landed a goal from a mark for Wellington—Wellington 4, Auckland 3.

The game was not a very interesting one to watch, especially in the first part, when it was of the “scrappiest” condition, just a little below ordinary club form. It brightened up a little in the later stages of the game, but at no time was it really interesting. The brilliant short passing of the Auckland backs which, combined with effective supporting, has made the play of the team so attractive and successful during the past few years, was noticeably absent, and among the forward division, although there was evidence of hard work, there was a plentiful lack of cohesion. The old fault of “rooting” the ball in the forward rushes was more than ever apparent.

The great weakness in the Auckland team was in the slow play of King, the, half. Playing with the wind, when everything depended on quickness, he would wait with the. ball for a second or so, sufficient for the Wellington backs to be so close to those thej- marked that effective passing was out of the question. He failed to mix his play, too, and with only one wing to protect him

was in trouble far too often. Phelan played a fair game, but was not always in his place, and undeniably the two live-eighths game proved unsuited to the team. Four three-quarters would have proved far more useful. McKenzie collared well and picked up cleanly, but his passes were given rather slowly, and were not always at the right height. He kicked splendidly with the exemption of one occasion when the ball caught tho wrong side of his foot, as the result of which Auckland lost the match. Asher was too well marked to do much, but he made several unaccountable mistakes. Three times on the defensive he was lieaten by Wilson. Absolum handled the ball about twice, scoring on one occasion and being within an ace of scoring on another. Harrison was not a great success at full-back, failing to take the ball cleanly several times, while his kicks did not always gain as much ground as they might have done. The backs as a whole were not so smart in taking long kicks as were the Wellingtonians, and much valuable ground was thus lost. Iteeould hardly be said that either side deserved to win, and certainly Auckland had nothing the best of the game.

The Wellington forwards fell into their places iu less time than did the Aucklanders, and although a lighter lot held their end up well. Spencer, who was injured in the leg during the second speell, was the best of the division, while Driscoll also played a good game. On the Auckland side Lewis and Long were the most prominent in the. open.

The local backs rose to the occasion, and played decidedly above their club form. Their kicking was very fstr, ahead of that of their opponents, though both sides failed to find the line at times. Wilson was the best of the bunch, while Barber at centre also played well, taking the ball in brilliant style. , THE RECORD. The Auckland and Wellington provincial representatives have now met on fourteen occasions, seven of the matches having been won by Am I land and six by Wellington, the remaining fixture being drawn (five points each). The results are as

A RE INFORCEMENT. Mr F. S. Murray, selector of the representative team, has sent Pilleiiger* the Newton back, to re-inforce the back division of the touring team. THE AUCKLAND SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES. . The most exciting football contest seen in Paeroa for some time took place ou Saturday afternoon, when the Paeroa schoolboys met and defeated a reresentative team front the Auckland Public Schools Union. Tha local boys were known to be pretty smart, but were not considered at all good enough for such a combination as could be got from the schools of Auckland and its suburbs, more especially as the latter team bad been chosen after many trial matches, and had

therefore the necessary combination. The Paeroa boys, however, proved superior both in bark and forward divisions. The only points in which Auckland showed superiority. were the parking of the .scrums and dribbling. In the first spell some splendid play was witnessed, and the passing runs by ('ashy, Barrett, and Delany were very fine< and eventually resulted in a try being gained by Delany. This was the only score during thd first spell, in tin? second half the game was more even, the Auckland forwards proving superior in the neruins, though beaten on the Hue-out. However, when the ball caiue out to Barrett and Delany Auckland’s line was in danger, and finally Delany again scored from a fine opening made by Barrett. A few minutes later Beerho picked up and after a beautiful run scored between the posts. All the attempts at goal failed. The Auckland boys stuck well to their task, and gradually worked play into Paeroa’s 25, when Wynyard at live-eighths made a nice run through and scored, Coleman adding the goal points. The game immediately after ended with the score 9 to 5. For Paoroa, Delany, Barrett, and Casley (backs), and Shaw (forward), were the best: and for Auckland, Wynyard. Havelock, and Basley (backs), and Krohfoldt and Wynyard (forwards), were the most noticeable. Mr W. Mdor? made an efficient referee. The Paeroa team has been asked to play a return match at Auckland, and sufficient funds to pay the expenses of the trip were collected on Saturday evening in a very short time from the public.

MANAWATU BEATS HAWKES BAY.

PALMERSTON NORTH, Saturday. The Manawatu reps, defeated Hawke’s Bay to-dqy by 7 points (a try and a goal from a mark to 6 points (two tries). The local union was represented by a weak team. 'rhe game was hardly contested throughout, and nearly all the scoring was done during the last 20 minutes.

CANTERBURY DEFEAT SOUTH CANTERBURY.

CIIRI STC 1 1U RCII, Sa t u r day. The interprovincial match, Canterbury v. South Canterbury, was played at Lancaster Park to-day, and resulted In a win for Canterbury by 13 points to 3. The ground was in capital order, and there was but little wind. The game was not productive of much good play, being chiefly confined to line out work and kicking into touch. The visitors were superior in forward play, doing some excellent footwork, and tackled well. The back play of the home team was disappointing, those playing behind the pack being seemingly unable to handle the ball with any accuracy. The d’tplay of football in the match between Canterbury and South Canterbury o.i Saturday was poor. Canterbury, althougn strengthened by the inclusion of their recently retunred New Zealand reps., are still weak, and their victory by so substantinal a margin must not he taken as an indication of the great inferiority of their opponents. The game was chiefly comprised of line out work and kicking into touch. The visitors were superior in the forward play. They showed some excellent foot work, and tackled well. The back play of the home team was disappointing, those playing behind the pack were' seemingly unable to handle the ball with any accuracy. It is very likely that the local reps, will not win any . of their matches against the first class unions.

under:— I Played at. Points. 1880—Auckland. Wellington won. . 5 to 1883—Wellington. Drawn... . G to 1880—Auckland. Auckland won.... 4 to 1889 —Wellington. Wellington won 3 to 1' 1894—Auckland. Wellington won -13 to O 1895— Wellington. Well!ngtou won 9 to 1896—Auckland. Wellington won 3 to 9 1897—Wellington. Auckland ' won... 11 to 41898. —Auckland. Auckland won.... 19 to O 1899—Wellington. Auckland w on....14 to 3 1900—Auckland. Auckland w ■on... .14 to 4 1901—Wellington. Auckland won... 9 to 3 1902—Auckland. Auckland won. 13 to , » 1903 -Wellington. Wellington won 4 to 3