FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4, 5 September 1913, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

♦ ■- AUCKLAND (11) v. TARAXAKI (8). Tlie gome all were waiting for was played on the sports grounds, New Plymouth, yesterday afternoon, and it proved to bo worth the trip from Stratford. The fixture, Auckland and Taranaki, always draws the season's top gate, and "yesterday was no exception. In fact, the beautiful grounds held almost a record attendance, the people being out to see a repetition ol the Shield match of a few weeks ago. when 'Taranaki managed to snatch tin coveted Ranfurly from the Auckland-

ers. There were fully 2,500 people present, and Stratford contributed i big share of supporters. Yesterday';tight was an exhibition of good Rugbj —good forward rushes and nippy work in the back divisions, especially l>j Auckland'. That the scores were nol bigger can be put down to the deadh collaring indulged in, being of the "throw-yourself-at-their-feet" kind ol style, although Taranaki were inclin ed to go high at times. The Taranaki men seemed stal and did not ap pear to get going in anything like theii characteristic dashes. Far different were the Auckland men, who seemed in condition. However, in the seeom: spoil after they had registered theii first score, the local men threw of their sluggishness and went at it hammer and tongs, only to be meet with solid defence, Moft'att at full bad saving again and again with a sure ness that must have broken the Am bers' hearts. The game was will ing, 'very at times, but not rough and it was surprising that the numbe of knockouts was so large. The referee had occasion to caution on of the Auckland vanguard for malum too free with the boot in the scrum MLceod's head happened to be when the boot landed, and he was laid on, for a few minutes. Knock-out time amounted to about 12 minutes. The teams lined out as follows:

Auckland: Moffat, McGregor, 0' Brien, Stewart, o'Leai;y (captain) Weston, Brown, Hall, Barrett, Wy lie*, Bruce, Cunnningham, Downing R. Sellars, G. Sellars. Taranaki (Amber and Black) George, Hill, Roberts, Cade, Tocker MeLeod (captain), Brown, Taylor Hawkins, Whittington, Tanm, Pronse Pini, Cain, Dewar.

The teams on lining out were greeted with hearty applause. Anck land won the toss and elected to play with the sun at their backs. Taranaki kicked off and'Stewart returned to

halfway. From their own 25 the Am her forwards carried the ball to tic line, but were penalised, and thi brought relief to the Northerners, wli< came down the field, and Cade mad a bad attempt to kick. The forward:, got on to him, and Stewart secure:': and made a good run. but the attempt to get over was spoilt by a bad pa's: at the corner. George relieving i;i time. O'Leary essayed a kick at goal from a mark at half way, but the ball was returned by Cade. A run acros the field from the throw-in, in which all the Auckland backs took part, wa: blocked before it became dangorour Taranaki were penalised for an in fringement. and O'Leary again had ?. good shot for the goal, but with n< success. The ball was .taken by Brown from behind the posts, and from his kick Stewart got possession and almost dived over, but was pushed out at the line. George's kick Wa: not succesfnl. Auckland were makim the pace now,coming again and again The Ambers were penalised in front o! the goal, Brown being the offender, al though he appealed for a mark. O'Leary made no mistake with the oval this time. Auckland 3, Taranaki 0.

Taranaki changed tactics, now, and by marks and good kicking kept on the nggre/sive. Most exciting pla\ followed. Brown was responsible foi starting a Taranaki rush. Brown again secured and got over, hut the whistle went, Auckland being penalis ed for obstruction. A splendid chance shortly after among the Taranaki backs was spoilt by Hill trying to cut in and the ball went out. Taranaki were pressing and Auckland sav ed by forcing down, Tamu being in tin nick. The Blues took charge, and O'Leary made a bold bid to get over, ■jetting the ball from Stewart at the scrum. George grassed, and saved. Cunningham got off-side, and Taranaki thus relieved to half way, McLeod shortly after making play to the 25. McLeod indulged in a pretty piece ol uiiiy, taking an Auckland pass, am' Roberts was responsible for starting an attack. From a scrum well down on the Auckland line lloss broke awa\ with a long kick, and Cade mulled, George saving in time with a line kick to the side. l'ini made awa\ with the hall at his toe, but got jostled out at the 2.1 by McGregor. The Blues wore awarded a free kick, but Huberts returned out in neutral territory. Shortly after, the Ambers wore penalised in the scrum, Roberts saving only to give the Auckland backs a chance, which ended in the bather going out at Hie corner. The Blue hacks were taking advantage .of every eliance, lull the defence was solid. McLeod saving once with a good liner. Auckland were attacking, and Brown saved again. For some time the ball was travelling iiuside the 2-~> Hags, neither side getting much advantage, until Roberts marked. From a. scrum the ball went to the Blue backs, and Mill saved alter making a had catch. O'Brien secured from (he line-out. but ('ado returned. Play went across the field and Auckland got to the line. A dodgy run by McGregor, who centred, was stopped b*. George, who secured and marked. The Auckland hoys were strongly pressing but offside tackling brought relief to iho Ambers, and Taranaki al half-wav

were awarded a free lack, which took play to the 25. Brown got down to i.lie feet oi an Auckland rush and saved ,and changed the defence into attack. They were on the move, and it takes something to stop a Taranaki rush, but Stewart kicked well into Taranaki 25, and George mulled, and then securing made a kick to the line. The Blues essayed another i .large, which Cade ended by grassing O'Brien. Dewar was next in the limelight with a beautiful saver which wont out at the other end oi the held. The rushes oi the Ambers were now telling, but the Auckland hacks when they got possession invariably returned to safe grounds. Moffat saved again and again, and Cade in securing put in a nice kick, for which he got applause. The Blue hacks got going, and Hal sent the ball to .McGregor, who after beating 1 his man with a dodgy run, got over at the corner, George collaring. O'Leary'fe kick did not enhance the score.

Auckland G, Taranaki 0 On resinning play centred for about one and a half minutes, until opened by O'Brien, Weston, Stewart, and McGregor getting the ball and the latter streaked for the lime.being taken by Hill and the Aucklanders' chance was gone.- The next moment Cade came in for a round of applause. The Auckland hacks were handling a nice passing rush, which Brown stopped, and Cade recovering the ball made a dash down held, but was pushed out and an interchange of kicks followed, .Moffat eventually finding the lino. Weston made a fine opening from the line out, but it merely shifted play across held, Moffat again saving from a Taranaki rush. Taranaki were attacking strongly, the forwards getting down to work. Tocker took a splendid mark off Cunningham's boot and put the ball well down the field. Brown next made an opening and kicked high, with the pack following up well, the full hack again saving. Taranaki were on the aggressive and were not to he denied, but play was shifted, and George made a mistake, McLeod saving in time. Auckland forwards broke away in the loose, and George may have made a mistake in marking behind his own goal in place' of forcing, but Brown's kick found the line at 25. The forwards were making rushes alternately, but off-side play enabled the Ambers to -hilt .the play. • From the line on: the Auckland backs made a concertid rush right down across the field, 'nit Pihi came away with the ball at <is toe. Taranaki were now on the line, and some pretty play followed. The ball travelled from hand to hand and Moffat saved from his line. Auckland off-side in their own 25 enabled George to place the leather between the posts amid great excitement.

Auckland 6, Taranaki 3. Taranaki, who were now shaking things up, charged down the field, Hill putting in a spirited run, and for fully two minutes the ball was on the fine. Brown I .'in endeavouring to axve, kicked back. FrOm the throwin they came again to the corner, Huberts finding the line, and delay was ■anseel through Brown being out. The Auckland hacks came down the field. Cade collaring and recovering from stewart nicely and causing the hall to go out. Hill intercepted an Amber passing rush in their own 2o and pushed over at the corner, but O’Leary did aot add the additional two Auckland 11, Taranaki 3. Hawkins made an opening and got the leather do\Vn the field, but the advantage was returned by a mark.

Caranaki forwards wore pushing tlioir way, but the Auckland backs got the ball to the line, where Hill put in a splendid liner to the other 25. Cade got the ball from a kick, and in endeavouring to pass two Blues kicked )V er their heads, but this was taken by O’Leary, who marked. Play shift- I ed back to neutral ground, and j George found the line at the corner, but Weston broke from line out and eased the pressure. The relief was only temporarily, however, for Brown set the back machinery going, Tocher, McLeod, and Cade handling in turn. Cade shot for the line, and when cornered, centred, and Roberts gained possession and went over amidst great applause. George made no mis- j take.

Auckland 11, Taranaki 8. There was only 8 minutes to go, j and things livened up considerably, ! Auckland turning aggressive, and a ' mark in the 25 gave O’Leary a shot at goal, which fell outside the posts. Flay came to half way, Brown opening the game, but Moffat spoiled. Taranaki came again, but Boss came i through and found the line at 25. Brown marked on his own goal line, and in the return by Moffat Cade certainly had hard luck in not getting ! possession of the ball, and Stewart I kicked to the corner. Hill stopped \ an Auckland rush and cleared nice- i lv, saving the position. Time nna called shortly after. j THE LEAGUE CAME. NEW SOT TIT WALES v. WAIKATO i

Hamilton, September ■!. i The League match, Waikato v. Now : South Wales, was playod in brilliant j weather before a large attendance. I At half-time the score was: Now , South Wales IS. Waikato’ 2. The second half, with hut few exceptions, : was all iu favor of Waikato. The | final score was: New South Wales 20, Waikato 1 !. _ „