FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 63, 5 September 1911, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

NORTHERN UNION GAME. THE SCORING OF MESSENGER. 8y Cable—Press Association—Copyright, Sydney, September 4. Out of 23 points made by Eastern Suburbs in their match with Sydney, Messenger scored seven goats and two tries. A LUCKY WIN. THE AUCKLAND-CANTERBURY MATCH. FURTHER DETAILS. By Telegraph—Press Association. The Auckland Rugby representative team, who are the holders of the Kanfurly Shield, opened their southern toui at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. on Saturday afternoon with a match against Canterbury, which Auckland won by six points (a penalty goal and a goal from a mark) to three points ( a try). There was a capital attendance of spectators, the takings of the gates and stands amounting to £278 8s (id, the largest | amount yet registered for an interprovincial match. The weather conditions were not particularly pleasant, for, though it was line, a fierce nor'-wester was blowing at the start, and the ground was decidedly harder than the players relished. During the game the wind dropped somewhat, and towards the end changed to the south-west, so that Canterbury was practically playing against the wind during the second spell. The game fell decidedly short of the standard expected, and the Aucklanders proved themselves by no means the champions tluit report* from the northern city led southerners to expect. Play was mostly confined to the forwards, and for three-fourths of the game the Canterbury pack quite held their own, but in the final quarter any advantage there was lay with the winners. There was, however, little to choose between the teams, and a reasonable opening to the backs of either side would have made the result sure. The Auckland backs did not give at all a. convincing display, and though at first the Canterbury tackling was not as sound as it should have been, the local team improved in this department, and the performance of the winners could not be considered brilliant. In the closing stages, however, they were particularly sound in their line kicking', and so saved their forwards a lot of uniieceesary running about. The Canterbury baeiks were patchy, and though they made a few combined attacks, faulty handling of the ball spoilt some good chances. j Auckland won the toss, and Canterbury kicked off against the -wind. The exchange of kicks left play near the • Auckland twenty-five, but from a freekiek Murray found the line .well past half-way. Gray returned well, ibut tricky | play between Otterson and Hall gave Canterbury some trouble, Murray coming to the relief of his side. A forward' rush by Canterbury took play to the centre, .but O'Leary checked the attempt, and a moment later Macky took a shot from a free-kick, the ball going very wide. Almost immediately O'Lea/ry had a couple of attempts, both going just' outside. A free-kick by Gray got Canterbury out of trouble, and "the southerners livened up, but were unable to hold their advantage. A long kick, well followed up, enabled Auckland to at- | tack, but Doell saved in good style, j Murray headed a Canterbury rush which threatened danger till stopped by ' Mahoney. A lucky kick by Crawshavr j found touch at the centre'as the first quarter ended. When play settled down in the second quarter the Auckland backs set up an attack, and Geddes, taking a good pass from Magee, made a dashing ' run, being tackled inst outside the line. A counter attack by Canterbury was spoilt by Jacobsen dropping his pass from Cray. The centre 'three-quarters ' made amends a moment later with a fine kick down the field, which Guthrie followed up well. Much dash was shown by Canterbury at this stage, but Burnett and Hay ward headed a rush that changed the state of affairs, and Canterbury were penalised near their twenty-five. Auckland landing a goal., Auckland 3 Canterbury 0 ' The kick-off gave Canterbury the advantage, and Guthrie, snapping up the ' ball in a loose rush, passed to Mahoney, ] who sent the ball to Bain, the lastnamed dashing over. Crawshaw took ' the kick, but allowed too much for l wind. ' Auckland 3 ' Canterbury 3 Canterbury livened up and kept their , opponents busy, but half-time was called , with no alteration to the score, and ] plav in Auckland's twenty-live. < Bain's kick-off was. low, and Bwrns, ■ taking the return, centred, but the ball - was mulled. Much attacking play by . Canterbury ensued, and a free-kick got | Auckland out of trouble. A struggle i followed near the Canterbury twenty- i five. At this stage Geddes retired with j an injured shoulder, and O'Lcary took \ his place at five-eighths, O'Brien filling ( the vacancy. Auckland made strenuous ] efforts to raise the siege, but without i appreciable result. With play in Can- ( terbury's twenty-five, Auckland were , awarded a free-kick. O'Leary making a i fine attempt at goal. The wind carried \ the ball aside just before it reached the j goal. The opening of the final period < was marked bv an attack by Auckland. < Good line-kicking by Macky drove Can- j terburv back, and Auckland continued ] to make «ood use of the line. With | play in Canterbury's twenty-five O'Leary , took a mark and landed a goal from a \ place kiek. Auckland (i Canterbury 3 Auckland's forwards now nut a lot. of dash into their work, and Canterbury were unable to hold their opponents. The concluding stasjes were fought out \ in Canterbury's half, but were iminter- , csting, and time was called with the final ( score Auckland ft I Canterbury 3 1 Tamu, who was expected to play for ' Taratfaki against Canterbury and West ' Coast, has- notified that he will not be able to make the trin owing to the serious illness of his wife. , THE TARANAKT TEAM. ROBERTS INCAPACITATED. TEAM IN GOOD FETTLE. i i (By Telegrnnh.—"Xe-w.," Special ■ ! ' eiiristchureli. Li't Night. The Tarannki team arrived here to- [ liigiht. and love for flrevmoutb in the morning. Hill returned to New Plymouth to-day, bis leave having expired. ! Roberts is incapacitated, and is very nn- j likely to be available for the Canter- ] bury match. He was examined by "Dr. > Thaeker to-night, who found his ankle ' \y.is injured. Roberts goes into the ' Massage Hospital to-morrow. The doc- j tor hopes' to have him sufficiently well ] to plav iir, the Auckland match, but ' there is very little hope of Oris being | available against Canterbury. He will be seriously missed. The team is very

disappointed that Tanm is unlikely t» be available for the Canterbury match owing to the illn<'<» of his wife. It k still hoped that he and Smith may be , secured, as some of the forwards are now feeling the etfects of continual travelling. The team is behaving splendidly and are hoping to go through the t long tour with a clean sheet. i IMPROVING THE RUGBY GAME^ J By Telegraph—Press Association, WunxAiiui, Last Night. At a meeting of the Rugby Union management committee this evening, the following resolution wa« carried, with only one dissentient:—"That a letter l>e written to the New Zealand Union asking what steps it intends taking with a view of improving the game of Rugby and bringing the same more in favor ■ with the general public from a spectacutar standpoint so as to meet the grow- - ; ing competition of the Northern Union game, and at the same time reduce the players' risk; also that copies of resolution be sent to the various unions." The speakers generally were of opinion that if the English Union did not agree with the New Zealand Union's Mig. gestion re improving the game, New Zealand should "cut the painter."