Inaugural Fixture Decided On Penalties by Jeremy Ruane Auckland edged past Queensland 5-4 on penalties at Bill McKinlay Park on Tuesday night, after the two provinces had fought out an absorbing 1-1 draw over ninety minutes, in the inaugural Sir Robert Muldoon Memorial Trophy fixture. After the opening fifteen minutes, which Auckland had largely dominated, Queensland took the lead through the bizarre antics of Auckland 'keeper, Grant Schofield. Charging off his line for a ball his defence was well placed to deal with, his misjudgement of the situation was compounded by the ball bouncing over his head, much to the delight of Queensland's star player, Chris Slater, who headed home. Ten minutes later, Schofield erred again, only this time Queensland failed to capitalise. A badly placed pass by the last line of Auckland's defence found Brian McNichol, with two of his Queensland team-mates for company. Schofield recovered to save McNichol's shot, but the rebound fell to Warren Allen, who rounded the prone 'keeper, but was off-balance as he fired his effort narrowly wide. Auckland replied in the 29th minute through Terry Torrens. A fine build-up, which had been preceded by a move of similar quality two minutes earlier, saw Thomas Edge tee-up Torrens, whose twenty-yard left-foot drive deceived Queensland 'keeper Robbie Farrow (replaced three minutes later by Graham Ross) for the leveller. After 37 minutes, Schofield's nightmarish display continued, as he handled outside his area. But he redeemed himself four minutes later with two saves in twenty seconds from Slater. The first was a full-length diving effort to tip the goalbound ball round the post, while the second saw him spectacularly tip the Queensland striker's powerful fifteen-yard header over the bar. Slater's personal duel with Schofield resumed in the fiftieth minute. His rising twenty-yard drive smacked against the crossbar, the ferocity of the shot leaving the spellbound 'keeper standing. Queensland's defensive effort was superb. Scrambling defence is hard to penetrate at any time, and Auckland, despite attacking down both flanks, rarely found a way through. That said, the home team should have clinched the match in the dying minutes. Rodger Gray was clearly impeded in the penalty area as Neil Woodhams' corner came in, but referee Gary Lake was unsighted. Tony Laus then fired a difficult volley narrowly over, before the miss of the night, from Nigel Wallace. After a fine run by Harry Ngata, the All White's shot was well saved by Ross. But the rebound fell to Wallace, who proceeded to fire wide of an open goal. With seconds left on the clock, Edge crossed for Tony Jasper, whose looping header was brilliantly saved by Ross, low to his left beside the upright. So to the shoot-out. The first three penalties of each side went by the book, before man-of-the-match Gray stepped up. At the third attempt - the previous two were saved by Ross, but he was adjudged to have moved before each shot was taken - he netted, only for Queensland to level at 4-4. Tony Jasper stepped up and slotted home at the second attempt, after Ross had saved his first effort. But he'd moved again, and Lake rightfully booked him for persistent infringement. At 5-4, Queensland plumped for the experience of 36-year-old Frank Pimblett. He fired over, but because Schofield had moved, Lake allowed a retake, which hit the crossbar. Schofield took a bow as Auckland jumped for joy - the Sir Robert Muldoon Trophy was theirs. Auckland:   Schofield; Byers (Atkinson), Jasper, Gray, Douglas; Woodhams, Jorgenson, Ngata, Torrens (Wallace); Edge, Laus Queensland:  Farrow (Ross); Cahut, Grodum, Archer; Pimblett, McNichol, Hinton, Collins, Cranney; Slater, Allen (Lees) Referee:    Gary Lake