FOOTBALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 604, 14 August 1902, Page 8

FOOTBALL

(By

Amicus.)

The following is a list of the interunion fixtures arranged for to date : — August 16 —Southland v. HaXvke’s Day, at Napier. August 20 —Southland v. Wellington, at Wellington. August 23 —Canterbury v. Southland, at Invercargill. September 6 —Canterbury v. Otago, at Christchurch. , September 10 —Otago v. Hawke’s Bay, at Napier. September 13 —Otago v. Wellington, at Wellington. -• AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. VICTORY FOR THE HOME TEAM. , SCORE 18 to 5. The Auckland interprovincial football match between teams from the Auckland Rugby Union and the Wellington | Rugby Union was played at Alex- ” andra Park, Epsom, on Saturday after, noon. The weather was showery, and a strong westerly wind was blowing. The day being a public holiday. Coronation Day, the match attracted many thousands of spectators to witness the ' contest, • and record gates were the result. Long before play started, “ Standing-room only ” was the cry, in fact it was impossible to get even standing-room in a position to see the field. The game was a very interesting one from a spectator's point of ▼lew. In the first spell both teams played a fast, even game, and although the visitors scored > 5 points, the merits of play were pretty evenly divided. The second spell, however, » the local boys were not to be denied, . and played with a dash and determination that brought them out as victors by. 18 points to 5. This is the thirteenth meeting between the two provinces. Auckland have won seven flfames (the last six consecutively) and Wellington five games, one game being drawn. Mr W. G. Garrard officiated aS referee. '.The following were the teams , Auckland (blue and white) : Fullback, W. Harrison ; three-quarters, H. D. Thomson, W. E. H. McKenzie. A. Asher ; five-eighths, R.. McGregor ; halfback, H. Kiernan; wings, W. Doran, J. Laing; forwards, Cunningham, G. Brady ( G. Tyler, G. Nicholson, R. McDuff, P. Long, and A. Wilson. Wellington’(yellow and black) : Fullback, G.. Spencer three-quarters; A. Mclntyre, W. Wallace, S. Wilson ; fiveeighths, F. Johnston half-back, V? Meredith ; wings, C. H. Manson, E. Watkins ; forwards, P. McMinn, E. H. Dodd,; Skelton, W. Joyce. A. Wilson, J. •Sweeney, and W. S. Adams.

THE PLAY

Wellington winning.the toss, decided I to play with the wind in their favour, defending the western goal. At the kick-off the,, ball went out near half- i way, and from the throw-in open play p ensued. The visitors' I acks got on a passing run, Kiernan bringing' down Mclntyre. Harrison kicked out. at halfway. From the line-out McDuff led a j ■ forward rush, which was cleverly saved by Spencer.. A duel of long ~ kicks followed, neither side getting any advantage. Front a scrum in the centre Kiernan started a passing run.-- • in which McGregor, McKenzie and i Thomsons took part, the latter being collared in the visitors' 25. Wellington forwards worked the ball to mid- j field. Another passing run bv the > blue and white backs transferred the play to ,Wellington territory. A bad ; pass by Laing in mid-field gave Wellington backs an opening, which they quickly took advantage of, McGregor '

stopping the advance by good play. . I oose torward play in Vodlingtott territory resulted in Auckland being given a tree kick, and Wilson tried unsuccessfully at goal. Wallace marked,. sending the ball out at (he 25 Hag. A passing run by Asher and Thompson, followed bv a forward rush, swept the ball over the visitors’ lihe, and a force resulted. Auckland ' continuco to play to the Lacks, and kept up the attack, but the visitors’ defence .was sound, and a free kick relieved the pressure. Wellington forwards from the throw-in broke away with a good rush, hut McKenzie saved by kicking out. A useful run by McGregor, followecd by a forward rush, returned play to centre, where the visitors were awarded a free kick.- the ball g'oiiig out in Auckland's 25. A forward rush by McDuff, Laing, and Doran swept the I.all well down the field, but a hard kick by- the. latter player gave S. Wilson a chance, aiid he sent the ball into neutral territorv. The home for-

wards were now playing with greater dash, and came away with a succession of rushes, but hard kicking gave the Wellington backs opportunities to save, and they made good returns. A forward rush by the visitors, headed by McMinn, Adams, and Watkins, enabled the latter to score near the goal-posts. Spencer kicked an easy goal : Wellington 5, Auckland 0. A forward rush ■ from the kick-off carried the ball right down the field and over the Wellington line, a force resulting. .Play for the rest of the spell was confined to the forwards, both teams playing hard games, but good line-kicking by the visitors’ backs neutralised the game. A few minutes after the resumption of play Doran broke away with the bail and passes to Asher, who was almost in at the Corner. A little later the' home forwards rushed the ball over the line, but Spencer saved. Loose forward play followed the kickoff, and Wellington 'were penalised for offside. Wilson had a shot at goal from a difficult angle, but it dropped short, and another force resulted. The home team continued to. pen - the'visi-. tors in their 25, and from a free kick Wilson had another unsuccessful shot at goal. From a line-out at the visitors’ '25 Laing, by means of a tricky throw-in, obtained possession of the ball and dashed for the linS, getting in at the corner flag. Wilson failed, in his attempt at goal : Wellington 5, Auckland 3. Play became .faster after Auckland scored, and following the kick-off the Wellington vanguard broke away with a good loose rush. Harrison stopped well and sent the Dall out at centre. From a scrum in midfield Kiernan got the ball and clashed round to the right wing and kicked hard up the field. Asher raced after the ball, • and Mclntyre, failing to take the. ball on the foil. the Auckland three-, uiarter snapped it on the bounce and dashed over, scoring beside the uprights. Wilson kicked an easy goal, making the scores : Auckland 8,. Wellington; 5. Kicking-off was followed by open loose play, of which Auckland had the best, and an Auckland rush, supplemented by. a long kick by McGregor, sent the ball out near the visitors’ corner flag. From loose play near the line Tyler picked up and dashed over, scoring Auckland’s, third try near the posts. Wilson again converted • Auckland 13. Wellington 5. Play now became hard and fast. Wilson (Wellington) and Harrison being temporarily disabled. A free kick to Wellington, well followed up. resulted in a. sweeping forward rush clown the field. Asher’s pace stood him in good stead, and he dashed round smartly and saved, sending the 1. all out near the home 25. Wallace stopped an Auckland rush, and a Useful kick by Meredith sent the Kall out at half-way. M< Dull broke away from the throw-in, (he forwards al] joining in. Long picked up. and when tackled by Spencer transferred to Ounningham. who had a clear run in. and Scored close to the uprights. Wilson kicked another yoal : Auckland 18. Welling-

ton 5. Play centrefl after the kick-oil’, and from a scrupi K iel nan made a dash and passed to Asher, who was tack;ed by Spencer and Alanson near the Wellington line. In the collision Manson unfortunately met with an accident, his leg being broken. By mmtual consent, play iwas stopped eight 'minutes before time, the game resulting: Auckland 18 points, Wellington 5t WAIHI V. KARANGAHAKE. The football match between Waihi and Karangahake was played at , Waihi on, Saturday afternoon. Twenty* i five per cent, of the gfoss takings was generously donated to the hospital. The match resulted in a win for Waihi , by 12 points to 6. For Waihi. Leslie • secured two tries and .Tandy and J. Phillips one each. Kirkwood scored a try for Karangahake. and McLean kicked a penalty goal. CANTERBURY BEAT WATRARAPA. Canterbury defeated Wairarapa by 2-1 points to 3 at Masterton on\Saturday. The game in the first sjx'll was very even, neither side being able to claim any marked superiority, . the score against, a strong wind. Canterbury

standing : Canterbury 8, Wairarapa 3. In the second spell, though playing 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 corverted. Cadwallader scored the try for Wairarapa. G. Fache, of Wellington, acted as referee.

FOOTBALL AT WHANGAREI

On Saturday, the 2nd. inst., the maitch, South v. Whakapara, was played in the North paddock at Whangarei. Whakapara played very gamely, but the South team proved far too smart for them, and won the match by 18 points to nil. All the tries were scored by passing runs. The Whakapara men were far heavier than the South players. The. scorers were : C. Foote, two tries), T. Conaghan, B. Clarke, S. Tippitt, and B. Camba one each. Mr L. Clarke acted as referee.

CANTERBURY V. TARANAKI

The fourth interprovincial match between Canterbury and Taranaki was played on Wednesday, August 6th, at New Plymouth. Taranaki kicked off

and Canterbury kept control of the game almost from tj.c jump,, though the Taranaki forwards at first made a few rushes which were soon upset. 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 Fookes, 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 a goal : Canterbury 4, Taranaki nil. Both sides were now putting in. hard graft, and there was no great advantage, the spell ending Jn midfield with no further score. Shortly after resuming the Taranaki backs made a determined effort and carried play into the visitors’ quarters, but the’ ball wen out. From a throw-in a forward rush by Taranaki ended in Guy crossing the line, but Hardgrave failed in I the kick : Canterbury' 4, Taranaki 3. Play 7 continued mostly in

favour of Canterbury, whose collaring was perfect and backs sure in kicking, • finding the line evetfy 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, Orman by, and Brunsden, ended in the latter scoring Lavery’s kick went w'ide : Canterbury 7 7, Taranaki 2. The reds continued the onslaught, and almost immediately 7 after nearly 7 scored, getting right on the Taranaki line, when a free kick relieved the pressure for some minutes. Taranaki continued on the defensive, t'lhe sameness of things being relieved bv an occasional dashing run, but the visitors beat the home men in every department. From a free kick Lavery took a shot at goal, bat went wide, 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. Taranaki wote 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. Amid 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 Haljmore (Napier) was referee..