FOOTBALL.
THE INTER-ISLAND MATCH. Per Press Association. Wellington, September 22. The xvoather conditions were almost perfect for the annual interisland match, which took place at Athletic Park this afternoon, in the pr'-senco of about 8000 spectators, including- Lord Plunket a/\d party, the Premier (Sir J. G. Ward), mem bers of the Ministry, and representatives of both branches of the "Legislature. Piay was decidedly interesting and fast on the whole, and such pace was imparted into proceedings that mid way through the second spell the forwards on both sides were practically played to a standstill. A first-class standard of Rugby was maintained individually by the contestants, but combination was lacking. There was little to choose between the respective sdrummmaging divisions, the blacks (South Island) showing to better advantage in the loose rushes, while the Northerners held the uppr hand in solid and on lineout, their greater weight and height being an important factor in these respects. The Northern front-rank-ers beat the Southern scrummers for possession, in consequence of which the White rearguard was given plenty of opportunities for bringing pass ing rushes into requisition. The deadly tackling of the Blacks' forwards, however, was successful in warding off danger. The game was evenly contested, with the exception of the latter stages, when the Northerners appeared to outstay their op ponents.
A feature of the game was the utter failure of Dufty at place kicking, not one of the tries registered by his side being improved upon, although all were scored in close proximity to the goal posts. O'Sullivan and Seeling touched down for the Northerners in the first spell, and Mitchinson also registered a clever try in the succeeding half. Fryer touched down for the Southerners in the first spell, his score being the outcome of tine play by McGregor and lleetness of foot by the try-getter. If anything, the Northern team had the best of the luck.
The following are the results of the North and Solth Island matches to date:— IS97 —At Wellington, North Island won by 16 to 3. 1902 —At Wellington, South Island won by 20 to 14. 1903 —At Auckland, South Island won by 12 to 3. 1904 —At Dunedin, drawn, 3 points each. 1905—At Wellington, North Island won by 26 to 0. SEDDON SHIELD FINAL. Per Press Association. Wesiport, September 22. The final of the Seddon Shield football tournament was held at West port to-day, between teams representing Marlborough and Buller, and won by the former by three points to nil, a try scored fifteen minutes after p'ay began. The ground was in a slopy condition, heavy rain falling during the night and in the morning, with light showers during the progress of the match. The Buller backs made some pretty passing rushes early in . the game, but fell away as the ball became more slippery and difficult to handle. Man-" ning, the captain of the visitors, was the most prominent player, his linekicking being especially a fine feature of . the match.
The close of the Rugby football season in Taranaki is an opportune moment for asking the question whether football under the Rugby rules is deteriorating in our province, says the Eltham "Argus." The representative matches played this season would seem to indicate that, in . comparison with former years, there has been a notable falling off. The Taranaki players lost the three principal matches of the tour. They wore beaten in turn by Otago, Auckland and Wellington. The victories they won, were won at the expense of the representative teams from districts that have never loomed very largely in the football world. Are wo to conclude that Taranaki has lost ground in the Rugby arena? Or would it be more in keeping with the obvious facts of th'e situation to draw the inference that the selection of the Taranaki team was a poor selection from the very start ? This latter seems the more reasonable supposition. Some of the clubs were practically ignored in the picking of the team, in the general administration of the Union in this province, tlure was evidence of b'undering throughout the whole of tho season. The refusal of a district to Kaponga, the strange treatment of the Eltham juniors, and the long postponement of the final for the senior championship are instances in'point. Lot us hope that next season there will be a more busi-ness-like administr;\tioi\.
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81849, 24 September 1906, Page 2
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725FOOTBALL. Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81849, 24 September 1906, Page 2
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