TARANAKI DEFEAT CANTERBURY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1229, 11 September 1911, Page 7

TARANAKI DEFEAT CANTERBURY.

BY 24" TO 3,

NORTHERN TEAM GIVES A BRILLIANT DISPLAY. (By Telegranh.—Press Association.) Christchurch, September ?. The football match between tho repre-. sentative fifteens of Canterbury and Taranaki, which, was played at Lancaster Park this afternoon, drew a largo attendanco of tho public, tho takings at the gate and stand amounting to £2io os. The weather, was fine, though a fresh north-easterly breeze was blowing across tho ground. Some attempt had been made at watering the ground, but at present the supply of water at the park is quito inadequate, and very littlo impression could bo mado on the playing field, -which was decidedly hard. The visitors' performances' in tho earlier matches of their tour had proved that they had a brillant set of backs, while one of the number, J Stohr, had done some phenomenal place-kicking, and consequently tho public looked forward lo an attractive display of football. Nor were they disappointed in that respect, though trS attractiveness was all on' ono side, and that side was not Canterbury. During the first spell, playing against tho trind, tho home team performed fairly well, and at half-time, with tho score only 3 to nil against them, .it was thought that they might put up a fair gamo in the second half. It had, however, been mado clear early in the game that tho Taranalci players were a better combination than the home team. Tho forwards had an advantage in weight, and wero decidedly moro dashing, and their backs were much more resourcefuj, and were prepared tq throw the ball about and take chances that, in tho majority of cases, cams off. In tho second spoil they gave ample proof of their quality, and both backs and forwards had Canterbury badly beaten, inflicting on them tho most decisive defeat that tho home team has yet sustained in an intorprovincial match at Lancaster Park. It was unquestionably a brilliant display that the visitors gavo in the early portion of tho second spell, the fast, following up of the northern team's forwards proving very disconcerting to the Canterbury backs, • while tho ail-round cleverness and dash displayed by tho Taranaki rearguard mado the Canterbury players look decidedly second-rate. Tho Canterbury defence was for a timo absolutely demoralised, and tho tackling was painfully weak. Stohr's debut as a placekick in Christchurch was looked for with much interest, but it was not his day out, and his only success was gained from a kick at goal from a mark,- his other attempts, though good, being a triflo wide nf the mark. Tho Teferce was Mr. J. N. Miller (Dunetlin).

Tho First Spell. Taranaki won the toss, and Bain kicked off for Canterbury from tho south end. An exchango of kicks was followed by a penalty to Taranaki, and Stnhr found 'the line well down tho field. Fast following up by the Rod forwards quicklv regained lost ground, and play settled at the centre. The first scrum gave the Taranaki backs possession, but faultv passing lost tho chance. Almost immediately after pretty passing betwen Cameron and Mynotfc let the last-named over, fclio line, but before he could touch down Murray pushed him. into touch in goal. Tho kick-out was followed by a free-kick to Taranaki, and Stohr was given, his first shot at goal. He mado a fine attempt from near tho touch-line, but tho wind carried the ball just outside- the posts. The kick-out enabled the Reds to clear their line, and the forwards, backing nn with some dashing foof-work, in which Bain was specially prominent, the Taranaki backs had some defensive work to do. A free kick checked the Canterbury effort, Stohr gettihs: in a great line-kick With play in the Reds' 25, the Taranaki backs attempted to open un the game, but Gray saved in good stylo. Fast fol-lowing-up by tho Taranaki forwards had Doell in trouble, and long passing by the Yellow backs sent tho play over to the ritrht-wini, which was left onen, and M'Leod got across the line. Stohr's kick was unsuccessful. Taranaki, ,1; Canterbun-, nil. Canterbury at once livened up, and a good passing rush ended in .Tarob'on being mished out at the Tarnnnki's 25. Play became verv fast, the.ball being kent in play, and dashing work by the Red forwards threatened trouble for the visitors. Hnsell dribbled tho ball over, the line, but bad not .sufficient pace to reach it, and Hill kicked over the dead ball line. Tho kick-out was at once followed by an athok by Taranaki, who were endeavouring to open up the play on every occasion. Good tackling kent them at bav, but a strong run by Stohr found the defence wanting, and he cot right to the line, where he lost the ball, and Cnntorbtirv saved by forcing. A free-kick envo the' Reds some relief, and a useful linekick wliicb followed took place at the Taranaki 2'i. Tt did not remain tlipre long, Hill tindinir the line w»ll down the field, and from the line-out that followed a forward ni«'' compelled Canterbury to force again. ;Taranaki'kept up the pres-

sure, anil only wild passing prevented thorn from scoring. A free-kick once, more got the Keds'out of difficulties,-lint their opponents wero at this shtgo playing a much more dashing game, and piny was quickly back in the Canterbury twenty-live.' A loose rush took it back to the centre, where some tricky touchline play between Cameron and Coleman went wrong owing lo the latter getting off-side. Line-kicking by the Ucds backs ended in a scrum oh the Taranaki lino, where their forwards easily secured the bull, and a force down resulted. The piny immediately after the kick-out slowed down slightly until Gray broke away, but was tackled in trying lo beat Cameron. Half-time was called with play in the Taranaki twenty-iivo.

The Second Spell. Immediately after the opening of the second spell Brown marked in a good position, and Stohr kicked a nico goal, i'aranaki. G; Canterbury, 0. Canterbury were kept busy defending for some time after tho resumption of play, until Jncobson got in a good linekick. The relief was but momentary, as tho Tara.'.iaki backs were throwing the ball about very freely. A misunderstanding between jjoell and Jacobson very nearly had the Reds in trouble, but Bain saved his side. Alyuoft made an' opening for his backs, in which he was assisted by poor tackling by the Reds, and as tho result Princo got across at tho corner. Stohr made a good, but unsuccessful, shot at goal. Taranaki, !); Canterbury, 0. Taranaki kept, up tho attack very, briskly, Canterbury being able to make very little headway except by line-kicks, which ns a rule were soon returned. At this stage Bain had,to retire hurt, a.ud Shadbolt took his place. Play hung in the Canterbury twenty-fivo until Guthrie managed to find the line near the halfway from a line-out at the centre. Dewar broke away with Mynott in attendance, and passed to the latter' at the Reds' twenty-five. When tackled, the Taranaki skipper gave the ball back to Dewar,' from whom it went to Prince, tho latter scoring again at the corner. Stohr's kick was just ontsidc tho posts. Taranaki, 12; Canterbury, 0. Taranaki were quickly attacking again, the Canterbury defence collapsing, and from a scramble on tho lino Mynott dodged across. Cameron failed with the kick at goal. Taranaki, 15; Canterbury, 0.

An unsuccessful shot at goal from a mark by Stojir was followed immediately by a dash down tho touch-line by Cameron, who scored at the corner. Coleman's kick at goal went wide. Taranaki, IS; Canterbury, 0. Taranaki wero penalised and Doell had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Tho Yellows did not remain on the defensive long, and a moment lator wcro in a strong attacking position. A pot at goal by Stohr sent the ball over the dead-ball line, but the Taranaki centre made amends immediately after by a dashing run right through the Canterbury team, scoring near tho posts. Cameron missed an easy kick. Taranaki, 21; Canterbury nil.

When play was resumed, the Canterbury backs for tho first time ill the spell showed a glimpse.'of attacking form, but Burns dropped his pass, and the opening was lost. They made another attempt just after, but a kick-by Gray was charged by M'Leod, and Tarnnaki were on tho aggressive agaiin. Prince marked almost straight in front of the goal, and Mynott took tlm kick, but his kick was charged. A good kick by Gray was well followed up by Crawshaw, Shadbolt, and Carroll, and Hill was tackled right on the line. Ho lost tho ball, and Carroll picked up. and scored. Crawslimw's kick was unsuccessful. Tara.nnki, 21; Canterbury, 3. Canterbury could not hold their opponents long, and from a scrum in the Kcds' twonty-fiv-e' Brown secured possession, and dashad over almost unopposed. Stohr again failed to kick a goal. Taranaki, 24; Canterbury, 3. Tho closing few minutes of tho game found Canterbury defending strenuously, and had Taranoki taken the game quito as seriously as they ' did earlier they would' probably have added to their already largo total. Time was called with the score: Tarnnaki (a goal from a mark and . soveu tries) -1 Canterbury (one. try) 3