Rugby Football. NORTH AND SOUTH ISLAND MATCH.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 116, 20 September 1902, Page 18

Rugby Football. NORTH AND SOUTH ISLAND MATCH.

THE unanimous opinion about the North aaid South Island match last Saturday was that it was a splendid exposition of the game of Rugby football from a spectacular point of view. It was full of incidents, varying in character — so much so, that the pencil needed sharpening every now and then to jot them all down. ■» « ♦ As was only to be expected, the "•ame was made as open as possible right from "kick-off" to "no-side," the ground being, despite the rain that had fallen, in tip-top playing order. * * * The North Island team entered the field strong favourites, and during the first half of the game flattered their admirers considerably, but during the second half they were completely outplayed by their brethren from across Cook's Straits. # * » The notaceable features at the opening of the game were the weak "takes" of the backs on both sides, the wet ball or nervousness being the apparent cause. Harper made a bad error early and a rush to Wallace saw that player stop it eamtally, but the kick to touch was a poor one, finding the line yards nearer the coal than the point from where it was kicked. Instead of throwing-in from touch, Wood (the South skinner) selected to have a scrummage fifteen yards out. The ball came out on the side, and Porteous>, outmanoeuvring Laing very simply, dropped across the goal-line. * •+ * At this stage of the game, the referee (Rev. C. C. Harper) was strongly in evidence with the whistle, and the fear came over me that "too much tootling" was going to spoil the game. The referee was however, only getting the players in hand, and the fear proved groundless. *» * * A beautiful passing run among the North backs roused the spectators — Kiernan, Laing, McGregor, Wallace and Tregear all taking part m it. The latter made a characteristic dash, and was only brought down a few yards from the coveted line. From the succeeding scrummage, Wyhe broke away, and passed neatly to Long, who had no trouble in registering his team's first score. Tregear, following up fast spoilt Harvey's return, and Kiernan made a fine run, passing to McGregor, who in turn sent the ball on to Wallace. The latter made a "grubber" pass to Asher, who missed the ball, but Kiernan whipped round, and scored a pretty try. A free kick to the North within range was taken by Cunningham, but proved resultless, and then the South had a "look-in." A scrummage on their line was neatly screwed by the Northerners, and Cunningham was breaking away in rood style when the whistle blew, and a free kick was awarded t 1 - South team. This decision appeared to me a strange one, and up to the present I have not been able to discover why the penalty was given. Kiernan, McGregor, Wallace, and Asher next gained yards, and then c Teter" Harvey — who had been playing in good style behind the Southern "pack" — had the misfortune to sprain his ankle, and was forced to ret 're. His place was taken by F. Roberts who played half-back for Wellington against Otago the previous Saturday. * * * On resuming, McDuff was prominent, but it was for off-side play and the Northern quartette of backs previously mentioned got going again, and this time Asher scored in workmanlike fashion. Wallace was successful with the kick, and the tally was 11 — 3 in favour of the North. Wallace next took the ball splendidly, and sent a long pass to Asher. The latter mulled it, but the übiquitous Kiernan was thereabouts, and centred the ball with a neat dribble. A weak kick by Roberts was gathered in by Wylie, who added another try to the credit of the North.

A rally by the Southern vanguard brought play light down the field, and her© a free-kick was awarded them for off-side play by the opposition. Harper, with a hno' kick, found the centre of the posts, and the first half of the game ended 14 to (5 in favour of this island's team The maa.n topic of conversation in the interval was as, to the number of noints the Northern ers would win by. They had had ail the best of the deal so far, and cbd not appear to have played themselves out. But the cessation of hostilities had led to a conference among the Southerners, and a rushing forward game seemed to be the decision arrived at by said conference. That was the game they played and the result was that they increased their total to twenty noints the while their opponents could not notch a solitary score, with the result that an expected utter rout became a handsome win. * * # However, to detail the incidents. Porteous, Roddick, and Oooke came away at the head of a rush, but McKenzie made his best return of the day from it. Directly, however, something went wrong among the Northerners on the far side, and the Kaiapoi McGregor was noticed making a bee-line for his try. His pace stood him in stead, for he got right away from all the speedy North men and scored behind the posts. Harper had no difficulty with the goal, and the tally was 14—11. The men from, the South were now fully extended, a few of the succeeding pieces of play being — A fine rush, headed by Roddick, a passing run between Harper, Wood, and Smith, dashes by Ihiggan and Porteous, and then Fenwick bustled over the chalk-line, only to be held in goal. From the succeeding scrum D. McMcGregor outwitted the opposing backs with a feinting run, and, practically walking over the line, added yet another to the many tries he has scored in representative matches this season. Harper's kick

was a failure, and bath teams were level in number of points scored. A dash by Armstrong led up to a North attack, Kiernan marking a small kick of Wood's. Wallace, however, was unsuccessful with the kick. * * # At this stage, Kiernan was marking splendidly from the line-out, some of his takes being particularly brilliant. He was being roughly handled, too, bv the big forwards on the opposite side and directly on© of the latter was cautioned. It appeared to me, though, that the wrong man cam© under the referee's eve, and the one who received the rebuke was not the real offender. Porteous and Wood headed a dribbhns dash neht to McKenzie, but the big fellow found touch in good style. A screw kick by Harper was followed through quickly by Smith, and a sensation resulted therefrom. Asher misjudged the kick very badly, and made a weak effort to take it. Smith beating him easily for it. Making off, the latter passed to Cross in good time. Cross galloped down to McKenzie, and then passed to Wood, who was handy. "Morry," with an open field, showed a clean nair of heels to his pursuers, and ended a fine run between the posts. Cooke failed with the kick. * * * The Southerners were now ahead, and consternation reigned among the supporters of the North men. However, there was yet time to win if they only pulled themselves together. They did so, and bustled down the field, but a free-kick, taken by Wallace, was as resultless as its predecessors. * • * The other team were not finished with yet, though, and directly Harper broke away and passed to McGregor. The latter after drawing the wing threequarter on to him, passed the ball back to Harper, who had come round on the outside, and the latter crossed the line, and made his team's tally a fullscore. (Continued on page 19.)

A fine tackle of Asher by Smith was the most noticeable thing of the concluding portion of the game, and the whistle sounded with the score 20 to 1-4 in favour of the South Island. * * * There is an old sa-ing, and a true one, that a game of football is never lost till it's won, and the match under notice is only another proof of the truth of that sayinc. Speaking to "Morry" Wood on the morning of the match, he asked me what chance they had — parenthically telling me that theA' thought in Canterbury that the North Island would win by anything up to forty points. My reply was — "If you can get the ball in the pack, I believe you cadi win , you've got the combination in Harvey, Harper, McGregor, and yourself. But I'm doubtful if you can get the ball." The first half the Southerners could get the ball but seldom, and the second half they did not w ant it. Their vanguard went out to break up the opposition, and they did it. leaving their backs to gather up the ball when they had overran it. The game was a fine one to watch, but the weakness of the defence of the backs on both sides was what hurt me. ''Bring your man," is an axiom in football as 1 old as the hills, I was going to say but I won't say that. — as old as myself, any wav, and that's a few years more than the period of time during w hich any of the players in Saturday's game have been following the leather. But what happened. The majority of the tries scored were simply "cakewalks," and could have been stopped if each man had only done his share of the stopping. However, it was interesting to see the scores obtained, and the spectators got good value for their admission money, and what more should be wanted — so I won't throw any more cold w ater on it as a game. * • • To treat of the individual players and their displays in view of the New Zealand team next year Neither of the full-backs — McKenzie (North) or Booth (South) — were up to mtei provincial form let alone intercolonial. The former I fully expected to have an interest in the New Zealand team, but he has allowed himself to put on too much weight, with the result that his movements are altogether too slow There are no D'Arcy's, Orchard's, or Baby Wilson's on hand lust now, and there is a remote possibility if "Ted" gets that stone and a-half deadweight off him of his securing the place in the New Zealand team. He has played many better games than Saturday's, and his showing in the match under review is a long wav below his correct form. * * * In the three-quarter line, the Canterbury McGregor was a shining hqrht his attacking work being brilliant. Tregeaa- took the ball finely, ran straight, and was a success, but a weakness in finding touch weighs against him. Wallace was variable, taking well, finding touch m good style, but his passm - was erratic Harper, barring a couple of bad fumbles a,t the beginning of the game, was solid, and, on the day's play was ahead of Wallace. Asher was clever, and did many acrobatic feat® and dodgy runs, and was stronger than Smith. The latter did not have much to do, but was easily beaten by Asher when he scored in the first spell. Smith had his revenge in the second half, on the occasion that led up to Wood's try. * * * R. McGregor has not forgotten much All that came his way was done in workmanlike style. He was accused of holding on too long at times, but, from my view-point, it was only because he was beaten in his endeavour to make the oipening a good one that caused the apparent selfishness. Wood was like a bundle of crackers — he was going off here, there, and everywhere. A feature of his play — and an old one, too, but not much practised by other backs, Duncan, perhans, being an exception — is the way in which he gets in among the forwards in the dribbling rushes, and when he gets on to the ball, helping it along with a friendly kick till the opening he wants presents itself. *■ * * Kiernan is a clever half-back, a feature of his play in which I am much in love with being the way he marks knocks-on from the line-out. His passing is clean, but when he has given the pass he does not wait for the next scrummage to get the ball — he quickly gets into line, and expects a pass in the forward march to the opposing goal. I : don't say he is a Harry Roberts or a ' Pat Keogh, but he is head and should- ■ ers above any half-back at present nlay- 1 ing in the colony < Harvey was playing well till his accident, and Roberts, who took his place, ( did a lot of stopping m the second half. £ ] Porteous was cleverer than Lamg on 1 the wing forward, and Brunsden was 1

> lost altogether —Armstrong completely oveishadowed him. * Why Cross was emergency in the South Island team is best known to the selectors of the team. An way, his game was worth a place in any New i Zealand team. Roddick was a shining light and Cooke was ever on the ball, although inclined to deal in the second spell. Wyke took Tyler's place in the front of the scrummage, and worked well with Dodd. He was prominent throughout, Long, MoDuff, and Cunningham did their best to avert defeat, although McDufF was not so conspicuous on the lineout as I expected from the glowing accounts I had heard of him. * * » The refereeui" was good. Quickness of action, and promptness of decision, were the marked features of the Rev. Harper's method of controlling the game .and his work was keenly a^re.ciated both bv the players and the spectators. * * * Before concluding this notice. I must add my meed of praise to the New Zealand Union for having brought the North and South Island match to ai successful issue, and on their decision to make the match an annual one. The Management Committee of the New Zealand Union, as at present constituted, is an able body, and they have done a lot. towards making the match a success. But. the main credit belongs to Mr Norris, the secretary No matter how able a committee may be. their best efforts are wasted if the secietary is not an enthusiast and a "erafter." This, Mr. Norris has proved himself to be, not only in connection with the North and South Island match, but in all the doings of the New Zealand Union during this season, and I congratulate him on the success of his efforts, and the union on the securing of his services. j

How have the mighty fallen ? I am led to remark thus because of the fact that Masterton and St. Patrick's College' tried conclusions last Saturday, and have decided to make the match an annual one. But a few years back the country club had an annual fixture with the Melrose Club and now the instituting of an annual match with a Wellington junior club would seem to indicate that the town with the Oval is weakening in football. Just fancy, if you can, players of the stamp of "Billy" Watson and "Rody" Gray —two of the best —Thompson, "Harr<-" and "Tom" Wrigley, the "Teat sport Whatman, and so on, playing an annual match with a junior Wellington team. This paragraph means no disrespect to the St. Patrick's College team, for, in the days when the players I mention were the backbone of the Masterton Club, one match would have convinced the "College" authorities that it was not in the best interests of the boys to pit them against such a team of giants on the football field * * • The first round of the Ordnance Football Tournament will be nlaved at Miramar next Saturday. Mr. G. Katterns made his reappearance as a, referee in Auckland, in the Citv-Rotorua match, on Saturday week. Of the players in the North and South Island match last Saturday, B. Fanning, of the South Island team, was the only one who had taken Dart in the first inter-island match, in 1897. Three ex-Poneke players —Fanning, Brunsden, and Porteous —were in the South Island team and an ex-Welling-ton Club man m the person of Wood fche captain of the team. When Harvey was disabled, a cry was raised for Meredith to replace him. It would have been a treat to have seen Wood and Merecliii once more in double harness. One has some unique experiences as a football reporter. Last Saturday morning, a gentleman from the land of the Stars and Stripes waited on me, and said he would like someone with a knowledge of the game of football to accompany him to the Athletic Park that afternoon, as he washed to write a description of the match for some American paners, and he had not seen a game of football in his life before. Needless to say, the undertaking was not to mv liking, and I got out of it wHi the least discourtesy possible. Thus "Drop-kick," m the "Weekly Press" —"After Porteous's try at Wellington on Saturday, X Harper had two shots at goal. The referee, I believe, was uncertain about the first shot, a remarkably close one, and, as the touchjudges disagreed as to whether it was a goal or not, the Canterbury nlacekick was given another trial, and again just failed to land a goal. This was probably an equitable way out of the difficulty, but where is the authority ?" My confrere does the referee an ini'ustice. The second kick was allowed because the Northern Dialers charged after the referee had given "no charge." If the goal had been obtained, it a. ould have stood, as it was not the kicker had another kick.

The Welington Battalion matches commence on Saturday, at Miramax. Four matches will be played, the semihnaJ and final games being set down for decision a fortnight later. A representative team from the Battalion plays a match at Christchurch on the 27th instant, against a similar team from the Canterbury Volunteer district, and a deal of interest is taken in the match bv local volunteers. "Harrier " commenting on a recent match in Auckland, says. — "The best back for City was 'Hen' Kelly. He made some beautiful openings, and often he got through the opposing backs but found no otne to back Mm up. It is evident that this nlayer intends to still keep on the game, but it is too early to say what team he will play for. Whatever team he does throw in his lot with he will be a great acquisition." George Tyler got a nasty knock in the ribs in the City-Rotorua match on Saturday week, and this was the cause of his not playing for the North Island team last Saturday. Being chary as to whether he would be fit to play, he consulted a doctor before leaving Auckland, and he was assured he would be all right. Hence he came, but not feeling too well, he decided it was better for himself to watch the game than play in it.

The " Miciobe," bringing cough and cold Has now a busy season, And bound to set a lasting hold Unless we list to leason. Neglect may bung us to the giave, That's positive and suie, But eveiy dangei we can brave With Woods' Geeat Peppermint Cure.