The Shield Shifted.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 21, 11 September 1914, Page 2

The Shield Shifted.

GREAT fiAME^ESTWWW. WELLINGTON BEATS TARANAKI BY 12 POINTS TO 6. It was a "great" day yesterday, there was a great crowd of spectators on tlie Showgrounds, and they witnessed a great game of football, the occasion being the meeting of the Taranaki and Wellington representative football teams to decide the guardianship of the Ranfurly Shield, ; which Taranaki had come to look upon as one of its permanent perquisites. The football played was of a bright order, albeit a trifle too strenuous at times. During the game the home team lost the services of Roberts in the back division and Young in the vanguard, and their absence from the field made a- considerable difference to Taranaki. It is safe to say that had their team remained intact Taranaki would have altered the score a bit. In fact the first-spell score (7—6) pretty well represented the merits of the teams as they took the field. The visiting backs gave a fine display of passing, and both sets of forwards worked hard. The game was well controlled by Mr George Nicholson, of Auckland.

The teams lined out as follows:

TARANAKI.— Amber and Black. Full-back, J. Stohr. Three-quarters, Don. Cameron, R Roberts, C. Whittington.

Five-eighths, S. Cameron, J. Colman.

Half-back, C. Brown. Wing-forward, R. Taylor. Forwards, M. Cain, H. Dowar, J Kessick, 0. Young, J. Robertson, R Patterson, H. Whittington.

WELLINGTON.—BIack

Full-back, Twomey. 1 Three-quarters, Fisher, Algar, E. Ryan. Five-eighths, Tilyard, Evenson. Half-back, E. Roberts. Wing-forward, Shearer. Forwards, Brown, Francis, Wilson (Capt.), Moffatt, 8011, Dent, W. Ryan.

Taranaki defended the northern end. Play was fast right from the jump. Just after the kick-off the ball was booted well into Taranaki's territory by Evenson and the return kick was rushed down, but Taranaki came well and play was taken to the visitors' twenty-live. Here a Wellington man got oft-side. Stohr had a kick at goal from a nice position and put the ball over without difficulty.-—Tara-naki 3, Wellington 0. The first score had taken three minutes- to get.

In play' again, the ball was taken to the Taranaki's twenty-five, where the visitors attacked strongly, and were often dangerously, near the line. After a short visit-to. Wellington ter-< ritory the ball was taken along 1 to the home end again by a magnificent passing rush, which had a dangerous look until Whittington changed the venue of play temporarily with a nice kick to the line. The blacks, hoAvever, returned to the attack. Wilson got the ball and was well backed by Fisher, and a score looked certain, but Whittington tackled Wilson, and his pas>s went forward. A little later Algar got the ball very close to the goal. Taranaki bunched round o defend, and Algar potted the ball over the posts.—Wellington 4, Taranaki'3.

' Wide-field play followed for some time. A nice ruii and kick by Tilyard took the ball to Taranaki's territory for a time; but very soon again it was back in 'black country. Here Twomey and Fisher carried out a fine passing manoeuvre on the side line, but it failed for lack of support. From mid-field play, Brown got the ball, ran and passed to Golman, who passed to Taylor, the ball being now close to the line. Taylor passed the ball and the attack was continued, Taylor finally dropping over afte« getting the ball from Young. Stohr failed with the kick.-s-Taranaki 6, Wellington 4.

Wellington again attacked, and Taranaki cleared with a free kick. The blacks came again and the ball travelled up the field through the hands of all the backs, Fisher being left with a fairly clear run in. Roberts tackled him close to the line, the corner flag being displaced, but Fisher managed to touch down. Wilson failed with the kick.—Wellington 7, Taranaki 6.

Play had started again when it was found that Roberts had been disabled. It was found that his shoulder had been hurt and he decided to go off. S. George took up duty as full-back, Stohr moving up to the three-quarter line. The rather long spell until play started again apparently cooled down both sides, and play was of a more quiet description for a time. The men wero just getting warmed up again and play was becoming vigorous when half time was called with the scor© unaltered.

Th© second spell was not long started when things became lively. Stohr got the ball in black' territory and put in a grand run, nearly up to the twenty-five' flag. He cleverly dodged two Wellington men, and passed to Cameron, who was pushed out soon after. Then play was held up again for a time owing to Brown being disabled by a kick on the leg, but Brown was ablo to resume. Wellington set up an attack and' indulged >in a good bout of passing, an which most of the backs and some of • the forwards (including, the übiquitous

Wilson) took part. But though the ball was shifted along well and handled cleanly,*the defence was solid to an equal-degree, and play had hovered near the line for some time, Taranaki relieving. After a line-out near half-way, Young was disabled, it being feared that his leg was broken, but though this was not so he had to leave the field, and S. Paul went on in his place. From near midfield, Colman transferred play to black territory with a fine line-kick, but soon again Taranaki was defending and Stohr was pushed out near the twenty-five flag. Play was shifted out by a line-kick by Colman, but the next moment George forced for Taranaki. Near half-way the Wellington backs got the ball, and Evenson, Tilyard and Algar handled the ball in turn, the latter running round and grounding the ball under the posts. E. Roberts 110 mistake, with the kick. Wellington 12, Taranaki 6. Taranaki attacked strongly on resuming, but Wellington set up a counter-attack, Wilson and Bell going for the line with the ball, without much opposition, but Whittington stopped the rusa not far from the line. The home ; team were kept defending until Kissick came to light with a grand dribble, which was stopped outside the twenty-five. Play was then pushed into the home quarters and Dent took a mark. The position was good, but Evenson failed in direction. The home team were still not allowed out, and a mark by George was a welcome relief, D. Cameron also helping with a run and a t good kick. Stohr had a shot at goal from just over half-way, failing to goal by very little. Play was only in Wellington quarters for a short time, before it was returned to the yellow end. Here, Whittington was penalised for lying on the ball, but the resulting kick failed. Taranaki's hope rose when D. Cameron got the ball and streaked for the line. He had a sporting chance of getting through, and his run was a fine ond, but he was pushed but. Taranaki livened up, and 1 Stohr had a shot at goal in front of the posts, but though given a no-charge kick he could ' not get the ball over. D Cameron again put in a good run, but did not get through. The game ended' soon after with the score unaltered. SOUTH CANTERBURY DEFEAT OTACO. (Tkr Press Association.] Timaru, September 10. Tin Otago to iring term pla/o; South Canterbury to-d:iv I'i-e ground was very greasy, light rait, living fallen on a previously dry ground. The home team won by 12 points (three penalty goals by Cockroft and i try) by Wilson) "t*. Otago f> (tries Iby Duncan and Willia'n-.).