THE BIG FOOTBALL MATCH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 703, 27 August 1903, Page 5

THE BIG FOOTBALL MATCH.

NORTH V. SOUTH.

Despite the fact that the weather looked rather threatening yesterday afternoon, there was a huge crowd present at Alexandra Park, when the rival teams chosen to represent the North Island against the South Island met to decide the question of superiority. It was the one big match of the season in Auckland, and as a very large number of people had obtained a holiday, the city was practically deserted. Additional interest attached to the match , from the fact that no less than eighteen members of the team which has just returned from Australia were taking part in the game. The teams were as follows :— North Island : Fullback, Humphries!; three-quarter, Harrison, Winiata, Wilson ; five-eighths, R. McGregor; half, Kiernan ; wings, Armstrong and Gallaher ; forwards, Tyler, McDuff, Nicholson, Long, Udy, McMinn and Spencer. South Island : Fullback, Turtill • three-quarters, D. McGregor, Laverv, Thompson ; five-eighths, Wood and Stead ; half, Harvey ; forwards, Jenkins, McNie, Fanning, Cooke, Horgon, Scott, Given and Porteous ; emergencies, Neill and Niven. The first spell proved very even,: the North scored by Wilson, who got a try, Kiernan kicking a goal while for the South Island Scott got over the line, no goal resulting. On resuming, Wood was the first to elude the Northern backs, while a little later Stead got over. Then McGregor managed to take the ball across, none of the tries being converted. The game thus resulted in favour of 12 to 5 for the South Island team, seemed superior at all points. ; •