FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 709, 8 October 1903, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

(By

“Scrutator."]

Owing to the drearily -wet afternoon the football match between the Upper Thames and Auckland branches of the M.V.1.0.0.F. on Saturday, was completely spoilt, while the spectators were very few in numbers. The teams were as follows Auckland, Pillenger, Smith, Foster, Fearnley, Stone, Polson, J. Clark, W. Hunter, Brewin (2), Huddlestone,' Mackrell, La Roche, Shaw, and Tremain. Upper Thames : Stephenson, Bromwich, Bain, Bainbridge, Jolly, Brennan, J. Silcock, Corbett, S. Silcock, Hamilton, Collins, Clarke, Forrest, Jones, and Bramble. The Auckland captain won the toss and elected to play down hill for the first spell. The state of the ground made a forward game the only one playable, and as the home team were decidedly superior in that division, the opposing defence was very severely tested. The Aucklanders failed to register any score, however, until within some five minutes of half-time. Stephenson, the full-back, made a bad mistake. Hunter, at wing, by fast following up. registered an easy try. The kick at goal proved a failure. Before many minutes had passed Foster potted a nice goal from the 25 mark. The home team set up another onslaught, but the visitors rallied and carried play to the other end. Their advantage was not sustained, however. La Roche, who headed a capital forward rush, succeeded in placing the oval behind the posts. Foster’s kick lacked elevation. Smith, some five or six minutes later, made a . pretty run and scored in good style. The kick at goal failed to improve the score, which, when the whistle blew, stood : Auckland, 13 points ; Upper Thames, nil. Mr Angus Campbell acted as referee.

The representative match, Wanganui v. Manawatu, was played at Palmerston North, and resulted in a win for Mana watu by 8 points (two tries, one converted) to 3 (a try). The game was to a large extent marred by the roughness displayed, resulting in two of the visitors and one local man being ordered off. Several cautions were administered. Galloway, of Manawatu. dislocated his shoulder.

The eleventh interprovineial football match between Canterbury and Southland was played last week, at Invercargill, and was won by Southland by 16 points to 6. Southland won the toss: and played with a fresh south breeze behind them. The Southern team's scores were the result of combined passing rushes, from which' Reid scored thiee fries and Jenkins one, from which Alanson kicked a goal. For Canterbury Mcllwraith scored a clever try from an opening made by himsell, and Beana got over as the result of a good passing rush. In the second spell the Canterbury players, taking full advantage of the wind, were continually in Southland's territory, and had their passing been well directed at least two more tries could have been added to their score. Mr Harris, of Dunedin, acted as referee. This was the last interprovincial match of the season.