FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10, 5 September 1912, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO (18) v. TARANAKI (11). There was an attendance of about one .thousand at the Hawera Show Grounds yesterday, when Taranaki met Otago. Few foresaw a decided beating for Taranaki, but such proved” the ease. The southern team. Which was reputedly a weak one, and which was beaten by Canterbury, made Taranaki look a second-rate team, outclassing it in all dep rt.i ent>. of the game. The match commenced with a sensational kick by- Stohr, who, from two yards off half way, and against a strong wind, kicked a magnificent goal. Cockroft, however, appeared as a rival kick, and his performance was a finer one even tnan Stofir’s, being characterised by accuracy rather than brilliancy. Rain fell throughout the match, but the ground was in a fine condition, the inclement weather affecting practically only the spectators. In the first spell Otago, puiymg with cite wind, piled up tm points on Taranaki, mainly by penaltygoals. They snowed excellent combination, and not a little individual brilliance among the backs. Taranaki supporters were confident cf a change in cue game when tno ameer anu blacks had the advantage of the wind, but Otago easily held their owii, and had the betters of both spells. Their line kicking against the wind_was superb, and their fielding of the slippery ball accurate and clean. Roberts appeared to be sorely missed in the local rearguard, and there was lit tie combination in the team, who played much below their usual form. The following were the teams: — Taranaki—

Full back, S. Cameron; three-quart-ern, I). Cameron, Stohr, and Bertrand ; five-eighths, McLeod and Franklin ; half, Brown ; wing-for-ward, Taylor; forwards, Winters, Cain, Kissick, Young, G. Ryan, Whittington, and Dewar. Otago-

Full back, Watson; three-quarters, Alexander, Gockroft, and Chambers; live-eighths, Cuthill and Eckhold; half, Dryden; forwards, Casey, Russell, Woodrow, Symentis. McDonald, Graham, and Sheehan; wing forward, Smith. The Play.

Taranaki kicked off, and from a line out Brown marked, Stohr taking a shot at goal, putting the hall over with a magnificent kick from two yards this side of half way. TARANAKI 3, OTAGO 0.

From the kick out, Taranaki wonforced. A hot rush hy the Otago forwards was well stopped hy S. Cameron. Otago were awarded a free kick for kicking in the_ scrum, but Coikroft’s kick from half way failed. Otago continued to attack, till Stohr relieved with a fine kick, and, following up, looked like scoring, hut Watson saved. In Otago’s twenty-five Brown secured from a scrum, and the hall went through McLeod’s hands to Stohr, who failed to find the line. Otago cleared their lino and swept down the field. Brown secured from the scrum, and kicked high, Watson marking in a good position, Cockroft kicking a splendid goal. OTAGO 3, TARANAKI 3.

Taranaki livened up with a forward rush headed by Ryan, but an obstruction saved' Otago. From a scrum, Smith picked up, and Cuthill secured, putting in a clean dodgy run, and he touched down near the posts. Watson failed with the kick. OTAGO 6, TARANAKI 3. From a mark in midfield Cockrofc had a shot, but this proved abortive. Otago were awarded a free, and kicking across, the blue forwards were nearly over. Otago secured from a scrum, and kicking down" field, Don Cameron put in a line run, finding touch at half way. Dryden took a clever mark in loose play, and Cockroft again made no mistakes. OTAGO 9, TARANAKI 3.

From the kick off Cuthill secured, and putting in a straight run, punted do touch within live yards of Taranaki’s lino. Bertrand kicked across tbo field into tbo arms of Alexander, wbo was well collared by Don Cameron. Otago swept down on Taranaki's line, but were well held up by Franklin, Don Cameron ultimately finding touch. Anotiior penalty, and Lockroft, from just over tbe three-quarter hue, and near the touch, kicked a great goal. OTAGO 12, TARANAKI 3. Brown led a Taranaki attack, but Otago soon cleared their line, and witii accurate passing among tricar backs, took play once more into Taranaki’s tweiity-nve. From tlio scrum Dryden secured, and pub in a good run, kicked into S. Cameron’s bands, a mark resulting. Taranaki set up a solid forward rush, and gradually worked the ball into Otago territory, where the amber and blacks had a spell on the attack. Taranaki, however, wore penalised for putting the bail in unfairly, and lost the advantage gained. Attack and counter-at-tack characterised the next half minute, the Otago backs showing a good turn of speed. A long kick by Otago, and S. Cameron, instead of forcing, tried to kick, and missing, Sheehan got over. Cockroft failed with the kick.

OTAGO 15, TARANAKI 3

Sheehan, who had received a kick in the head, was forced to retire, and McKellar took his place. Otago kept at it, and S. Cameron forced. At it again, Dryden looked dangerous, but a free kick relieved Taranaki. Another free kick to Taranaki, and half time sounded, with the scores— OTAGO 15, TARANAKI 3.

Taylor mossed up the kick off, hut Brown saved tiie situation, 'laranaki attacking. A good kick lay On thill was returned by Don Cameron, play settling down in neutral territory, vdever footwork by Casey saw Otago on too attack. From a scrum, Dryden put in some useful work, and Eckhold picking up, transferred to Alexander, who found touch. Two marks improved Otago’s position, and fumbling by Don Cameron, who faded to secure, nearly let the bine forwards over. A line out, and Dryden transferred to Cuthill, the latter nearly securing bis second try. Casov headed a blue rush, which looked dangerous. From a scrum, Don Cameron speculated, and Watson securing, found the line near the corner. Cuthill was prominent in brilliant defensive work, and Fckhold showed up with fine lino kicking. Young, who had been playing a good solid game, twisted his knee and had to he carried off. Otago set off again with lino passing rushes, Dryden losing no opportunities in setting his backs going. Taranaki were awarded a free, bub Cockroft marked Stohr’s kmk, and Otago set up a series cf rushes distinguished by solid combination among both forwards and backs. Tin--11 ey then came on in Voting’s place. S. Cameron was responsible for a change in ithe scene; fast following up put Otago on the defensive, am r l then from a forward scramble. S. Cameron

dived in, ami touched down. Stohr kicked a beautiful -1 OTAGO Id. TARANAKI 3. Otago forced tne pace, but a tree idvK gave biojir an opportunity of reaving ifie pressure. A good rush by vuiin was cue snort by \viio lound me lino m splendid style, Then followed the best uisii of the day, a straight-out passing rusii, in w.aen Uryaeii, r.cknoid, thill, vockioft, ana Ohamncrs participated, the Jastnauied, vvnen collared oy Id. Cameron, passing on uncoewrof fc,vvlio was suamp-. „a. Or.)del secured from mo nick, af.o unipped me ball one to f'.cknold, tut oali going to Chamoers, who kicked. Anotner likely rush among tne forwards, which Alexander had sot m motion, was spoilt by Bussell, who knocked on. Alexander was twice prominent, snowing a great turn of spoon and putting in line dodgy runs, from a penalty, Stohr had a shot from uv. yards past half way, the nail i-dlnip short. Cockroft intercepted a iara naki rush, and found the kite past hah wav. A long kick by Otago was ic turned to liaif way by 'linney. A pass ing rusii by Brown, >S. Cameron, and I). Cameron saw Otago penalised foi obstruction. The scrum was cameo oy Taranaki, who swept down cm held, a score looking certain. Anothc. great rush, and laranaki were award ed a free kick right on the line. Stohr missed a fairly easy kick, I* ron a penalty, Cockroft kicked a grea goal from near half way. OTAGO 18, TARANAKI 8. Another penalty, this time agnins Otago, and Stohr made no mistakes. OTAGO 18, TARANAKI 11. Brown secured from scrum, and S. Cameron stroakod through tlie crowd, but was well stopped, Otago retaliating with a forward movement. N< side sounded with tiie scores unalter ed, Otago being in the attack. Tin game ended— OTAGO 18, TARANAKI 11. Mr. Spurdlo refereed. N.S.W-. DEFEATS ROTORUA. A VISITOR SUSTAINS BROKEN LEG. (Per Press Association.) Rotorua, September I. The, ground was very wet for tin Leagtie match, Now South Males v Rotorua. Play was fast and interest ing throughout, for though the visit ors had the better of the game, tin local mon continually attacked. Tin superior knowledge oi cue lino points enabled them to score fion every opportunity, whereas, in similai cases, Rotorua failed. The first f-.pel ended—-New South Wales 29,iiotoni 5, and the game, New Sent a Wales 39 Rotolma 13. . Tl/e winners’ score included dries b\ Garlick (2), 11 alia way, Davis, Gleoson Cann, Thompson, Burge, and Norman who also converted four tries ami kicked two penalty goals. Rotorua f score consisted of throe tries, twe converted. Towards the end of the game, Gar lick broke Ids log as the result of t om ing in contact with a player.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. Invercargill, September -1An interprovincial match was playo. to-day between Southland and Otago under ideal conditions. Southland .voi hy three goals to one goal, after ; very fast and evenly contested game McGregor scored two goals, and 'Taylor one goal for Southland, and Hai<: scored for Otago with a high dropping shot.