FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 216, 20 September 1901, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND v. TARANAKI. WIN FOR THE VISITORS* \ Splbndib weather favoured the annual 1 fixture between Auckland and Tara- j naki representative teams on Thursday, j in the Kecieation Grounds. There was l a large atteuda- ec, fully 3500 persons being present, including large contingents from the country. The teams wora as follows.! Auckland (Blue and White). I Full-back: E. Sutherland. Three-quar-! ters: Absolum, Ashor, Auckland. Fire- ( eighth: K. McGregor. Half: Kiernan. Forwards: Cunningham, S. MoGregor, Tyler, Doran, Smith, Nicholson, Bonella, Bakewell, Brady. TlKAKiki (Amber and Black)." Fall-back: tfillinger. Threa-c(uarters: Fookes, Carter, (Smith), Hunter. Fiveeighths : Mynott, Allen. Half: Humphries. Koverhalf: Hamblvn. Forward: O'Dowda, Gleun, Christie, Vibauia, Young, Bayly, Glasgow.

Taranaki won the toss and chose the! southern end. Cunningham kicked off for Auckland, Allen retmrniug to McGregor, who kicked well up the field, and Mynott got hold of the ball and kicked out. Humpbri. s next got the ball,from the ssrum and passed to Allen, who missed, and Mynott being handy picked up and kicked out near Auckland 25's. A free kick for offside play was awarded to Taranaki. O'Dowda took the kick and made a good though unsuccessful shot at goal. After the .kick out play centred in

Auckland quarters till McGregor got the ball from a sccum, and some short! passing batween the backs relieved them for a time. Mynitt got a mark and kicked well up *ho field, Sutherland kicking out at half way. Auckland got.the ball from a scrum and passed splendidly to AsW, who passed to Abioluw, but the litter misled. A free kick was given Taranaki for the ball not b«ing put in tbd scrum straight. Humphries passed to Allen, who kicked high, and Hunter following up got hold of the b ill and made a fine run till stopped by Bucklan'J. Some give and take play to;k place, both sides puHing in some good work. The game game was now stopped for a time on account of Carter having the mis-, fortune to break one of the snull bones * of his leg. Smith filled the vacancy. ° Allen got a mark and kicked well up v the field. Kiernan got the b ill from a scrum and passed to McGregor, who j ; ran to within ten yards of Taranaki's line, when he passed to Absolum, who ' i was splendidly collared by the Taranaki backs. Auckland were now c ! playing a grand game, and Taranaki c ! had to p'ay all they knew to keep their , I line clear. A free kick to Taranaki ' for holding the ball cleared their line. . . From a scrum Humphries got the ball , 1 and passed to Allen, who kicked out ; 1 near the half-way flag. Humphries ' again got possession and pasaed to , Allen, who transferred to Mynott, but the latter was grassed before lie got ' far. Taranaki now took the play to ' Auckland's quarters and looked like scoring, but the Auckland forwards ' shifted the play back again, -nd a scrum being formed about the.half-way Una Kiernan got possession, and eluding the Taranaki backs ran up to Kllinger and then passed to Buckland, ! who scored in a good position, Cunningham kicking a fine goal. O'Dowda kicked out, Absolum returning to ' Taranauki's 25's. From a line out Allen got a mark and kicked well up the field, Absolum again returning to ; Taranaki's 25's with a splendid kick up the line. Kiernan next got the bill from the scrum, and again beat ' bis opponents and passed to Asher, who in turn transferred to McGregor, who was splendidly collared, and Absolum (getting possession went very near scoring, being pushed out near Taranaki's corner flag. Half-time was

called shortly afterwards, the .score being, Auckland ~ ..5 Taranaki .. ..0 Glasgow kicked off for the start of

the second spell, and Taranaki at once started the attack very strongly, Auckland forwards got on a dribbling rush and took the play to Taranaki I quarters, Absolum bung pushed out near the 25's flag. From the throw-in the ball went to Fookes, who speculated and kicked out near the half-way flag. A free k'ck followed to Auckilind for offside play. An interjhange of kicks between the backs on both sides ended in McGregor kicking out in Taranaki 25's. Kiernan next smarted a passing rush, the ball going through the hands of Asher and McGrego", the last named player being splendidly collared when looking very dangerous, Auckland again gave Taranaki a taste of their passing ability, the ball going through the hands of nearly all the backs, and McGregor slipping when near Taranaki's goal line. Smith (Taranaki) next got away with the ball,' but lost all the ground he had gained by pas-ing badly. Taranaki now carried the play to Auckland's quarters, but Auckland once more cleared their line by good passing among their backs, and the ball going to Buckland, that player made a splendid run up the touch line, baing

av«uuußiiy Etirown out about ten yards from Taranaki's goal line. Absolum next got the ball, and made a good run to within a few yards of bis opponents line, but lost a certain score by hanging on to the ball. For offside play, Auckland had a shot at goal, the ball falling a few feet short of the uprights. Fookes saved by kicking well up the field, and- the ball going to Kiernan, that player had a shot at goal, going very near the posts, Fookes forcing. The Taranaki forwards, beaded by O'Dowda and Glasgow, took the play to Auckland's end, but over eageri cess spoiled what chance they hid of scoring. Auckland cleared their lines, bat the yellows ooce more invaded their opponents'quarters, and tiied very bard to score, but Auckland onoe more cleared their lines by brilliant passing rushes, and Asher, kicking the ball ovrt- the beads of the Taranaki backs, went very near scoring, Fookes forcing. Play now raged up and down tho field at a good paoe, neither side gaining much advantage. Play was stopped for a time, Cunningham (Auckland) receiving a nasty kick on the ey.\ After the resumption of play, the ball j went to Myr.ott, who kicked to Sutherland, that player returning to Taranaki's 25 fhg. Auckland now took the boll up to Taranaki's line, and a scrum heing formed, Humphries got the ball and gicked well up the field. Auckland were not to be denied, however, and taok the play to Taranaki's end, and Kiernan started a passing rush, but Absolum spoiled any chance of scorliug by holding on to the ball. Time was called shortly afterwards, leaving tho score: Auckland .. .. 5 Taranaki .. .. 0

(Auckland) and Pearson (Taruiaki) were line umpires. The following played well for their respective sides: For tbe visitors, Sutherland; at full-back, played a splendid game, his kicking being a i treat to witness. Buckland and Asber 'at three-quirter were also very safe, [and give their opponents no end of j trouble. McGregor, at five-eightb, was oil' colour, not having got over an attack of influenza. Kiernan, at half, played a splendid game, and repeatedly be.it the opposing wings, and was the means of gaining Auckland's try. The i forwards all played a splendid game, i and nearly always got the ball in the t scrum. Cunningham, McGregor, Tyler, and Nioholsoii were most prominent. On the Taranaki side Pillinger, at fullback, kicked and fie'ded the ball splendidly, and of the three-quarters Fookes and Hunter were the pick. Fookes especially showed splendid form. Humphries, at half, and Myuott and Allen ut five-eightsh, also played a sterling game, and of the forwards O'Dowda, Glasgow, Christie, and Glenn worked . hard to avert defeat.

NOTES OH THE PLAY. The game was a splendid one to watch, and the spectators were kept at fever heat while it lasted, the splendid passing of Auckland's backs being a treat to witness Sutherland, the visitors' full-back, played a splendid game, his kicking and fielding being first-class. Buckland also played asplendid gune, and proved a thorn in the side of Taranaki'B backs. Asher played a sterling game, his tricky runs being vary serviceable.to

his side. McGregor, at five-eighths, was off colour, as also was Absolum, who would persist in holding on to tbe ball when collared, and on more than one occasion lost his side a certain chance of scoring. , Cunningham was the piok of a'fine lot of forwards: This player worked like a Trojan till he had the misfortune togefe a kick on the eye. y The' referee was very slo *in blowing 1 his whistle on many occasions,, . Absolum came in for a good deal of

booting for interfering with Fookes . I the latter was chasing the ball, 0 Absjlum deliberately knocking Fookeß . down. The referee did not see this bit * of playy which 'was just ar well for [ Absolum. Otherwise the game was played in a very friendly spirit throughs out. Drs. Fookes and McOleltnd attended to Carter when he met with the acciv dent, and he was later removed in a ; c»b to his home. r Glasgow played a fine game for Taraj haki, and is a solid grafter. > Auckland had hard luck in not scir[j ing shortly before time was called, lt Tyler crossing the line, but being |8 thrown into touoh in-geal before ha 0 could ground the ball. (. Pillmt»er, who took Callaghan's plaea )ti at fu'l-back for Taratiaki, playtd a 0 splendid «iuie. e Gaiter had La.nl luck in meeting j 8 with Ins accident, for he was playing a a fiae game for his side up till the time he was compelled to leave the fi»ld. |. Fopkesand Hunter both played a j. rattling game, but the five-eighths were j slightly off colour, neither of them takj' ing the ball cleanly. | a Humphries, at half,, put in some fine to defenca work, repeatedly stopping .i. dangorous rushes.

O'Dowda was to the fore in nearly all Taranaki's loose dribbling rushes. ! Hamblyn, rover half for Taranaki, was very smart in getting on to the 1 opposing backs. Writing before the New South Wales-New Zealand match, a Bulletin scribe said that O'Dowda appeared to be the weakest sorumnter of the colonial erowd. The Dunedin Star writer say?:—lt is quite evident that the Bulletin writer was donsely ignorant of the capabilities of tbe Maoriland players, and could he have seen the match must have sung a different tune. However, one has to go from home for news.