FOOTBALL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 707, 24 September 1903, Page 12

FOOTBALL

(By

“Scrutator.”)

SOUTHERN TOUR OF THE AUCKLAND TEAM.

THE NORTHERNERS DEFEAT CANTERBURY. It would appear, judging by their later matches, that if the Auckland touring team had been able to have any practice together their record on the Southern tour would have been much better than is the case now. Their later matches have done much, however, to remove the stain of early defeats, for they have successively beaten Otago, South Canterbury. and Canterbury. For the match' against the latter province on Saturday, the teams were as follows Canterbury : Fullback, C. Manning ; threequarters, P. Menzies, W. Woods, D. McGregor ; five-eighths, M. E. Wood (captain). R. Deans ; halfback, P. Byrne: forwards, G. Matthews, W. Duggan, B. Fanning, J. Mahoney, J. Roddick, G. Evans, L. Atkinson, R. J. Cooke. Auckland : Fullback, E. Sutherland ; threequarters, A. Asher, W. Harrison, W. G. McKenzie; five-eighths, R. McGregor (captain), H. Phelan ; halfback, P. Geirard : forwards. W. Doran (wing), G. Tyler, W. Gallaher, P. Long, J. Lewis, G. Nicholson, C. Eaton, W. Hayward. During the first spell the game proved very even, no score being effected, but in. the second-half the Auckland forwards ran over their opponents, who seemed to lack condition. The latter portion opened with a lot of up-and-down forward play, the Canterbury men finally rushing the ball to the Auckland 25, where the visitors met a strong attack with sound defensive work, and Manning had a pot at goal, the ball landing just under the cross bar, The Auckland forwards kicked hard up the field, and Manning falling on the slipperv ground Canterbury’s line was in danger, but Harrison'- lest a chance by passing forward. From a scrum near Canterbury's line Long secured the ball and pas ed to Phelan/ The latter transferred to Harrison, who ran in unopposed. Eaton kicked a splendid goal. The Auckland forwards kept up the attack, beating their opponents very badly in the scrums, but in their eagerness got frequently offside. Long and Dcran were prominent in a strong rush, which was stopped by a Canterbury back kicking out about the middle of the feld. Harrison snapped up the ball and passed to McKenzie, who outpaced McGregor arid Manning, and scored near the corner. Eaton failed with the kick at goal. The Canterbury forwards now nlaved very poorly, and though a rush headed by Wood reached the Auckland twenty-five the ball was soon back to Canterbury’s territory. A scrum was formed near the line, and Auckland getting possession' Gerrard whipped over nea'- the pests. Eaton missing an easy kick. A fine long kick by Asher made the touch near Canterbury s line, but Roddick headed a rush which relieved pre-sure. Harrison then got away and ras ed to Nicholson, who had a straight run in, but was called back for a pass forward The Auckland backs continued tZ passing tactics, and R. McGregor put in a good run. but no further score was made before the call of time, the name thus ending : Auckland 11 : Canterbury o.

THE SOUTH CANTERBURY MATCH

Steady rain completely spoilt the football match between South Canterbury and Auckland at Temuka last week, and the gate was consequently very small. This made the ground greasy, and as it cut up considerably the backs were seen nt a disadvantage. Sutherland, the Auckland full-back, and McGregoe, at centre three-quarter, both showed good football, but McKenzie and Absolum had not

much to do. The forwards proved rather disappointing, but Eaton, Nicholson, Doran and Long put in a lot of good work in dribbling rushes. For South Canterbury, E. Horgan, at full-back, was safe and reliable, his kicking frequently gaining his side a lot of ground. Grant was good on the defence, and J. Gaffaney, on the wing, proved very troublesome to his opponents in the second spell by his fast following up and kicks. On the whole the Auckland team had the better of the. play, and their win by 10 points to nil seems to fairly indicate the difference in the rival teams.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ MATCH.

A return match between Auckland and Paeroa Public Schools was played on Saturday. In the first match Paeroa won, but in the latest game the Auckland team, on this occasion, were too strong, and kept their opponents for most of the time on the defensive. The first try was scored by Paeroa, however. Delaney putting in a good run and getting a try. The kick at goal failed fo improve the score. Nothing further of interest had happened when’half-time was called. On changing ends the city boys reaped the full advantage of the wind, and before many minutes had elapsed Basley, as wing threequarter, kicked the ball "over the line, and reaching it in time to score. Coleman, the fullback from Devonport, landed a pretty goal. The home team soon had the visitors again in difficulties, out of which they were only relieved by forcing down. From loose forward play in front of the posts Basley got possession, and passed out to Stewart, at half. The latter easily eluded the opposing backs, and grounded the ball between the posts. Coleman's kick at goal again proved a success. No further scoring left Auckland winners of the match. The Wellington junior representative team defeated Wairarapa at Greytown on Saturday, by 6 points to nil. J*. * . * The return interunion matchy Waihi v. Paeroa was played at the latter township on Saturday, and resulted in a win for the local team by 6 points to nil. * * * * The match between teams representing the Newton District Football Club (Auckland; and the Rotorua representatives, was played on Saturday on the Pukeroa Hill, and was won by the former by 5 points to nil. The game was fast and even throughout. Mr Geo. Pelham was referee. * * * At a meeting of the Wanganui Rugby Union, it was resolved that the Wellington Union be informed that until the Wellington team pays Wanganui a visit owing the Wanganui Union will not entertain any amalgamation proposals. * * * * Wellington defeated Southland, at Invercargill, last week, by 8 points to 6. ■Each side scored two tries, but one of these was ’converted for Wellington, which won them the match. The game was very even all through.

The interprovincial football mate'., Otago v. Wellington, was played on the Caledonian 'Grounds, Dunedin, on Saturday, in the presence of about 4000 spectators, and resulted in a win for Otago by six points (two tries) to three points (a try). The weather was fine, but a strong wind blew down the field and the ground was a trifle heavy, but in very good condition considering the quantity of vain that fell during the week. At half time Otago led by two tries, for which Porteous and Baxter were responsible, to a try by Hardham scored from a loose rush. No scoring took place during the- latter half, so it is evident the teams were very evenly matched. There seems to have been altogether too much offside play at the finish. Wellington attacked time after time but could not break through Otago's defence.

Commenting on the match between Auckland and Otago, the “Witness” has the following : — The match itself was disappointing, in so far as the game was largely confined to the forwards, and the public did not get an opportunity of seeing the capabilities of the Auckland backs, of whom so much has been heard. The undoubted superiority of the Auckland forward division decided the match, the visitors being a heavier all-round combination, with greater staying power. Tyler and Gallagher, the Auckland front-row men, generally beat Spiers and Casey for the ball, but Gerrard and McGregor seldom got it away, and the bulk of the Aucklanders’ passing went straight across the field, gaining very little ground except when it went to McKenzie's wing, and the ex-Otago man won a lot of ground by his fine line-kicking. In the majority of cases, however, the ball came out at the side of the scrum, and the wingers were very much in’ evidence. Doran, foi Auckland, proved very clever with his feet-, and Phelan combined the duties of five-eighths and wing forward, being sometimes in the one position and sometimes in the other.

The first spell ended without a score, and in the second the Otago forwards started off with great dash. The attack, however, flickered out in about a quarter of an hour, and thereafter the Aucklanders took charge of the game. They screwed the scrums to advantage, and pushed the Blues off their feet. Stalker was chiefly responsible for their first try, and instead of returning a kick into touch started across the field and got into trouble. He was smothered by several Aucklanders, and before the Blues could get round Eaton and two or three others were bearing down on Adams, who made a heroic, though hopeless, attempt to avert the score. After this Otago seemed to lose heart, and the Auckland lines were never in danger. Duncan made manful attempts to rally his men and stem the tide of misfortune, but the response was feeble, and the veteran was too closely watched himself to make' many openings. As indicated, the backs of either side did not get many opportunities of making a name for themselves, except in defence, and their chief functions seemed to be to stop rushes and field the ball.

A good deal of interest centred in Asher, but he never got a chance near the line, and the on'ly impression left after Saturday’s match was that he is a “gallery” player of a pronounced type. R. McGregor was also disappointing,, and could not have been playing up to form. “Scobie” Mackenzie played a fine game, and his long kicks down the line were enough to take the heart out of the most resolute forwards. Phelan was about the best of the visiting backs. On the Blues' side, Hislop played a brilliant game, and extricated his side from many a difficult position. Adams also played a splendid game at full back, and made some good though unsuccessful attempts at place-kicking. Stalker displayed, rather unexpectedly, the ability to tackle, and several times brought his man down in a style that left no room for cavil. Baxter also did well all that he was called upon to do. Bennet threw away one of the best chances the Blues had of scoring by one of his silly attempts to cut in, and Stalker, who was lying handy, never got a show. Mr R. Galbraith, of Invercargill, acted as referee. As a good deal of unnecessary feeling was displayed on both sides it was necessary that he should be strict, and he performed a difficult task well and faithfully. A hostile demonstration was made by the crowd on one occasion when an Auckland forward used his fist on an opponent, but. evidently the incident was not seen by the referee.