FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 193, 6 September 1900, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

OIAGO V. TARANAKI. A WIN FOR THE SOUTHERNERS. The greatest interest was taken in the match between Otago and Taranaki, which took place at Fitzroy on Wednesday. It was felt by even the greatest enthusiasts "in Taranaki football that the result of the game was a foregone conclusion for Otago, though those who had seen the struggle between Wellington and Taranaki wore confident that the wearers of the amber and black would give a good account of themselves. The Otago men, returning from their drawn encounter with the Auekland champions, were, of course, the favourites, and two to one was freely laid against Taranaki. There was a very large attendance of the public, visitors being present from all towns along the line. The play was most exciting throughout, and though no doubt the best team won, and that by the big score of 12 to 0, thero was a general expression of satisfaction at the way in which Taranaki had played, and a feeling that the scores did not represent the play. The teams were as follows: Otago.—Full-back, Booth; tliree-qnavtors, McKcnzio, Bennett, Stephenson ', haltl-backs, Duncan, Armstrong, Wallace; forwards, Spiers, jMitchell, Murphy, Cross, Porteous, Adamson, Hobson, McEnnelley. Taiunaki—Full-back, A. Hunter; threoqnarter*, Mclntyjro, 0. Young, Nicholas, five-eighth, Mynott; half, J. Hunter; wing forwards, R. Tate and Hamblyn; forwards, Phillips, Bsndall, F. Bayly, McGovern, O'Dowda, Essen and Greig. Mr. G. Syme, jun., of Hawera, acted as referee; and the touch-judges were Messrs. Munro (Otago) and Stohr (Taranaki). FIRST SPELL. Taranaki won the toss, and Otago played with the sun in their eyes, the wind being almost across the ground. Mynott returned the kick-off to centre, where a great forward rush by Otago was stopped by O'Dowda, and Taranaki forced. On resuming, Taranaki rushed Otago's quarters, but a free kick against Tate sent play to half-way. From a scrum on the line-out Duncan shot the ball to Bennett, who passed on to Stephenson, who was promptly muzzled, but Tate again gave a free kick. Ota<;o responded with a penalty, and Stephenson returned Taranaki's kick to centre. Taranaki then got on a fine passing run, in which J. Hunter, Mclntyre, Young, and Mynott took part, hut Otago's collaring was perfect, andhio ground was gained beyond crossing 'the field. The Otago forwards, headid'by Murphy and Porteous, then rushed {he ball to Taranaki's twenty-fives, Hamilton and F. Bayly, by a big rush, transferring to centre. Taranaki were playing with great determination, and a fine kick by Taranaki's full, followed up well by Greig, took play close to Otigo's line. From a scrum, J. Hunter sent the ball to Mynott, when oft-side play (which escaped the referee's notice) on Otago's pare spoilt what looked a certain try, and play again centred. Shortly af torwards Greig got possession in a loose rush, and passed to Phillips, who sunt it on to Young, the latter transferring to Mclntyre, who made a great run into Otago's quarters, where he was downed by Stephenson. Taranaki continued the assault, and passing butwoon J. Hunter, Mynott, and Nicho'as b.uv the latter thrown out near Otago's l<ne. A. Hunter failed to return a kick by McKenzie, and, the blue forwards following up smartly, play was in Tiiv.i-wtki'stiu-itory, but a mirk by Mynott relieved and immedhtely play we'it down the field, by the agency of Tat), Hamblyn, and Groig, to Otago's twenty-fives. Otago wore now fairly on tho defence, but Duncan, Baunett, and Stephenson proved equal to staving off the determined rushes, and after a hard tussle play was taken to centre, and after a couple of scrums to Otago's twenty-fives. Otago now rallied, and McKenzie got on a good run. A hard kick of an Otago man sent the ball near Taranaki lino, but A. Hunter returned to his own twenty-fives. From the line-out one of the finest runs of the day was mtde. Nicholas got possession of the oval, and sailed for the Otago lino. With only the full-back to pass a try seemed certain, as he completely outdistanced his chasers,-but Booth was equal to the occasion and b. ought him down in beautiful style in Otago's twenty-fives. A shot at goal by O'Dowda resulted in Otago forcing. Play then took place in Otago's territory, all Taranaki's efforts to score being frustrated. Otago wore then awarded a free kick, Wallace making a line attempt, and A. Hunter failing in the return McKenzie, who followed up! smartly, scored an easy try. Wallace failed in the kick, i Otago 3 I Taranaki.. ~ .. 0 I On resuming, Taranaki again attacked, and half-time sounded with tho play a few yards from Otago's line. SECOND SPELL: Otago returned the kick-off to contro, and a nice passing run by J. Hunter, Mynott, and Mclntyre' resulted in Otago's quarters being invaded. Mclntyre caused great excitement by another fine run to a few yards of Otago's line, whoro he was downed. The araber-and-blacks were now making strenuous efforts to score, and the visitors were very hard pressed, the play being close to their lino for a considerable time ; O'Dowda and Nicholas on respective occasions gelling near scoring, the latter being thrown out at the coiner. Eventually, J. Hunter got a mark, an 1 Hamblyn, following up smartly, knocked o-er Bennett (who was going to take the ball) just on tho] line, but Booth was there and forced.! Piny from tho kick-out gravitated for a time, and then Porteous got on a nice dribble to Taranaki's quarters, a free k ck relieving the pressure. 0 .igo then made an a-sauft on Taranaki's territory, and a passing rim by Duncan ami Stephenson was stopped by Mynott. After a couple of serums, Duncan secured the leathor and passed to Stephenson, who got over near the corner. Wallace's kick failed. Otngo .. .. .. 0 Taranaki.. .. .. 0 After uninteresting play, a froo kick sent play to Otago's twenty-lives, and then Duncan started a passing run, which was stopped by Young, and Mynott then made a dashing run to Otaga's quarters. Taranaki then kept un a, fierce, attack oa the ykitors'j

quarters, -Essen mid Nicholas gotting on a very dangerous rush. Otjigo, however, defended well, and though Tumnaki had beeu piessingstrongly itlooked as if tho game would end at 0 points to 0. However, the unexpected often happens. Stephenson got in a fine run to Taranaki's quarters, and a rush of Otago's forwards resulted in Cross scoring. Wallace's kiek was futilo. Otago 9 Taranaki,. .. .. 0 Immediately on Taranaki kicking out, Duncan, Uonnefct, and Wallace, indulged in a passing run, and the latter scored. Taking the kick he failed once more, and "no side" sounded, two of the tries having been scored in about three minutes. REMARKS. The game was a most exciting one, being hotly contested throughout. Taranaki had, if anything, the best of the play, but lacked scoring men. In the lust part of the second half they seemed to go to pieces. On the Otago side Duncan, McKenzio, Stephenson, and Bennett were the best of the backs, and in the forwards Cross, Poiteons, and Murphy were most prominent. For Taranaki Mynott and Young were the pick of the back division, the formor being particularly smart, McIntyre showed great pace, and had he been fed raoro would probably have scored. The two Hunters were not up to their play against Wellington, but shaped well. Hamblyn, as wingforward, played a great game. In the forwards Creig, Puillips, Bendall, and P. Bayly did splendid work.