FOOYBALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 528, 6 September 1900, Page 7

FOOYBALL

LBy

Vigilant.]

INTERPROVINCIAL FIXTURES. September B—Otago v Wellington, at Wellington’ September B—Taranaki v. Auckland, at Auckland. September 12—Wellington v Southland at Wellington. Sepsember 15 — Wanganui v. Auckland, at Auckland. September 16 —Otago v Southland, at Dunedin. OTAGO V. AUCKLAND. ANOTHER WET DAY. ' A STUBBORN CONTEST ENDS IN A DRAW. We all hoped that after the awful experience of the Wellington match that fine weather would be forthcoming for the game with Otago. But it wasn’t.< Saturday’s rain, though not so heavy in the forenoon, was more persistent later oh, and the day proved far wetter than the pre vious Saturday. Still, there was a very good ■attendance at Potter’s, and considering the downpour the Rugby Union officials must feel very satisfied with the financial result. Both stands were crowded. /The main enclosure was packed long before the game commenced, and the other rapidly filled when spectators found there was no nhance of gaining admission to the covered staiad. Many started very early to get a good seat. Probably the majority obtained their ■wish. 1 know one man who did not. I saw him early in the morning with his lunch packed very neatly in a clean serviette. He was proclaiming that he intended to get a front seat on the grandstand, and there eat his lunch. I saw him shortly after one o’clock. He still bad his lunch, but in addition such a “ load ” that l am morally certain prevented him from seeing anything of the game, even if ho- got out to Potter’s Paddock. There wan a rather confident'feeling among Aucklanders about the result of the match. It was said that our forwards were such a clinking good lot, and that our backs were so smart that the Otago men must be beaten. Odds were laid, and freely too, on Auckland’s success. But they were not landed, for the game ended in a draw. The rain held off at the time of starting, and during the first half none fell. When the rival fifteens came out on the field of play it was realised that the home team had a stiff undertaking in view. The visiting forwards looked a “ grafting ” lot. Heavy they certainly were, but they also seemed very active, and many anticipated a hot time for our front rankers. In the back division the Auoklandero appeared to have an advantage in the matter of weight, but probably it was not a great one. ? The visiting full-back, J. Adams, is not a big fellow, but in the game he proved himself a great man. The linesmen were Mr Hobson for Otago and Mr F. W. Edwards for Auckland. The latter wore the cape of his mackintosh, and this led to the remark from someone who had evidently been at the Dog Show that “Fred

Edwards was clipped—like his Poodles.” Mr Mr W. Syme, of Taranaki, was the referee. Little time was coasted once the teams were on the field of play. Harrison won the toss, and, of course, elected to play with the wind, which, though not very strong, was a valuable ally. From the kick off Auckland returned into the visitors’ territory, and attacking strongly a score seemed imminent, but a knock on stopped a dangerous rush, and the immediate danger was removed. Almost directly afterwards a mark by Riley gave Alex Wilson a chance to score first blood, but that sterling forward and good place kick failed to put the ball over. A smart bit of play by Kiernan followed, and had Harrison not punted a good bit too hard the home side would probably have scored. Recognising that the pressure was too hot to last the Otago men rallied, and getting on a fine rush they travelled right away to Donovan. The full-back fell to the occasion, and stopped the onslaught. Presently there was a little kicking. In this Donovan did not shine, for he failed to take the ball cleanly, and did not make use of the touch line. Adams,

however, rarely missed touch, and . playing with skill and coolness he received and held the greasy ball magnificently. A, good kick by Burt gained a deal of ground for Otago, whose men were now. in full swing and doing very well. By one of his few good kicks Doncvan then relieved the pressure, only to shortly afterwards cause dismay amongst the Auckland barracker fl by fumbling a return. Smart work by the visiting front rank and rearguard—with Duncan shining resplendently—caused Auckland to force. Once more the Auckland forwards got on a very fine rush, and Duncan stopped it. Again the Otago skipper was prominent with some smart passing, and a fine kick by George Stevenson put the home side on the defensive. Just here Mr Syme cautioned Gallaher and Porteous for an exhibition of animosity that was anything but friendly. McKenzie’s good play was largely responsible for another force after Wallace a good kicking and “ Scobie’s ” smart running had made a score for the visitors seem almost certain. Kiernan and Riley were alert just a little later, and then another force by Auckland was the

result of some kicking in which Wallace was prominent. Returning to the attack, the Auckland vanguard onoe more looked dangerous, but a knock on spoilt a great chance. Again Kiernan made a good opening, but faulty passing among the three - quarters nullified the half-back’s tactical skill. Palpable obstruction then gave Otago relief, but not for long, for a useful ru sh took the ball into touch just above Otago’s 25. Doran threw out to Harrison, who passed to Tyler, and the swimming champion being quite • at home in the watery going, beat the opposition, and scored a well-merited try. Though in a good position, Alex. Wilson could not put the ball over. During the rest of the spell, save for one very fine rush by the Auckland forwards the visitors did the pressing, being aided by several off-side penalties They had hard luck in not scoring on more than one occasion, and but for a clever mark by Kiernan they probably would havedone so. Duncan, Stevenson, Wallace, and McKenzie wore all quite alive, and played really well during the last ten minutes. Shortly after the commencement of the second spell Burt had to retire, and his place was taken by B. Adamson Early in the second half the Aucklanders got a seemingly invincible rush. They carried the ball right on Otago’s line, and good passing between Riley and Doran resulted in Doran getting final possession, and almost getting “over.” Unfortutately the ball was knocked out of his hands when on the line, and .the visitors forced. Thereafter the visitors had the best of the game, and from half-way a fine passing run, initiated by Armstrong, resulted in a score. Armstrong received the ball from the pack and passed to Duncan. The Otago captain gained some yards and then transferred to Booth, who passed to McKenzie at the right time, and the left wing three-quarter beating McPike and Donovan easily- grounded the ball beyond the line. The passing and running was the best of the day, and as a matter of fact the best seen at Potter’s during the season. Wallace took the kick, but though the attempt was good it was unproductive After this score it was any odds on the Otago men at least drawing the match, for they had really- had the best of the game all through. The play certainly degenerated from this to the finish, and I have iarely seen so , much sheer “ bullocking ” and foul play Hariison deliberately charged an opposing threequarter after the ball had been kicked into touch, and Gallaher I obseived using hie fists. I do not think we could have had a better example of the absolute degradation - caused by the wing game than in Saturday’s contest. If Rugby football is to descend to a “ plugging ” match, by all means let us have displays similar to Saturday’s, but if skill is to have anything to do with the game then let us, for Heaven’s sake, abolish the wings. The rules seem to me to absolutely prevent wing players — I mean “ scrappers ” —and could one but find referees with enough grit 1 believe the wing evil would rapidly be consigned to the limbo of oblivion. No player is in front of the ball unless he is off-side, and as the wings are ninety-nine per cent of the time in front of the ball they are necessarily ninety-nine per cent of their time offside. The referees have it in their power to do a great deal, and if the various Unions would urge a strict conformity to the rules the game would, be played as it ought to be played. On Saturday the exhibition given by some members of both teams was not football, for kicking, punching, squashing, and mauling opponents is not t< e game The display sickened a great number of people, and it is to be hoped that we may witness no repetition of such unseemly conduct.

JJA feature of the game was the splendid kicking of the visiting backs. Adams, though not a powerful kick, was accurate both in taking the Dall and finding the touch-line. McKenzie and Stevenson, the wing three-quarters, were responsible for a lot of hard work; their kicking was good, and both in attack and defence they were excellent. Booth, in the centre, was frequently ■ stumbling block to the Auckland attack. Duncan played a great game all through. He stopped dangerous rushes magnificently, and was smart as ever in attack, and very sure in defence. His one fault was his weak work on the touchline. He seldom threw the ball out straight, and in this way lost much valuable time. Armstrong played very solidly, while Wallace showed fine form in every department of the game. The forwards all grafted with plenty of vim, and though they were not quite so active as the Aucklanders were in the loose they generally held their own. On the Auckland side Donovan was a bitter disappointment at full-back. He played the worst game he has ever shown since he became a senior. He was apparently very nervous.. The three-quarters did not compare favourably with the visitors. They had many chances, but luck was against them and nothing came of the frequent opportunities. Harrison failed to show good form on more than one occasion, and Dick McGregor and McPike 'were not in evidence a great deal. Riley was responsible for some sterling tackling, and Kiernan was good all the time. Doran was in great buckle, and did as much clever work as it was possible to do in the time. The other forwards grafted hard from start to finish. Without making any distinctions I may say that Alec Wilson, Tyler, and Brady put in a great amount of useful work. The visitors did most of the pressing, but the result gives a very fair idea of the evenness of the teams. The Taranaki and Wanganui rep teams met at .Wanganui on Saturday (August 25), and after a close game, victory rested with Wanganui, who scored a goal from a try to a penalty goal. The scoring was done in the first spell. The game was marred by bad weather, rain falling nearly all the time. This is the third consecutive win the Wangahuis have scored over Taranaki. The Taranaki team this year is green, through want of practice together, and again they are nearly all new players, and I fail to see how they can score a win in the Wellington, Otago, and Auckland fixtures. A. Humphries has retired for the season.—(Taban'aki Cobbbfponpbnt, August 17.)

' The Wellington and Taranaki rep. football teams met at Hawera last Wednesday, and after ’an exciting game Wellington scraped home by a point, the scores being 9 against 8. In the first spall J- Hunter and Nicholas scored tries for Taranaki, Hardgraves converting one. Taranaki led Wellington by 8 to nil within ten minutes of 'the first spell, but Wellington by determined ’ play rattled up two tries before the whistle sounded half-time, Woods and Brodie crossing the Taranaki line. In the second spell Taranaki’s want of condition told against them, but they played a very plucky game. Olaridge managed to notch another try for Wellington, which sent them one ahead. From this out the play Was fast and furious, but neither side could enhance their score. In the second spell Hardgraves, the Taranaki full-back, got his ankle sprained and a knock on the head, which necessitated his retirement. Mynott, at five-eighths, was also badly dealt with. The Wellington team 'played a very determined bullocking game, which, with their condition, brought them home. Mr Angus Campbell, of Auckland, made an fefficient referee. The Junior Flag match, West End v Napier 11, ’ was played on the Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon, and resulted in a win for the latter combination by six points to nil. In the first spell Sellar and Balfour put in good work, and as the result of a splendid run by Balfour, Rbulston

was enabled to score. In the second spell Aplin scored from a rush, although West End succeeded .in checking the attack. of their opponents. The play of b apier was much superior, and they had the better of the play nearly all through. Mr Hallamore was referee. After the above match West End II met Kia Ora in Third Fifteen round fixture, and the game proved a very fast, even, and interesting contest, some good play being shown by both sides. Victory eventually resting with the former by 8 points to nil. No score was registered in the first spell, but in the second half the West End silenced their opponents, tries being registered by Dick, and Balme, Smith played a splendid goal from the first one. The Kia Oras played pluckily throughout. Mr Renouf was in charge of the game. The match, Napier lIIv Ahuriri 11, fixed to be .played at the Spit, for some reason fell through, although Te Aute II forfeited the Junior Flag fixture to Caledonians, and have withdrawn from the competition.—(Taranaki Correspondent.)