FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 197, 2 September 1903, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

TAa.iKAiC v. AUCJCFjANDt WIN l'0:i TAKAM4KI. Tie: annual m between the above teams w.is (iUyo'l ui ihu Reunuttiou; (i 'Undis on Tuesdtv afturttoon, arn U6 i 4000 spectators being piesane, Ttw; ■■ve.-ithur; with the ekcuption of a plight i B'iower or two, was good. The mulo [ 'if the match was, no doubt, a surprise, to the most sanguine of the supporters; of the amber and black, but undoubtedly l che batter team won. Mr D. D. Weir, of Wellington, gave every satisfaction as referee, Messrs Tyler (Auckland) and Young (Taranaki) acting as line umpires. The following represented the ' respective teamsAUQKL&ND (bliiS and white.) Fuli-bick, Sutherland; „ 'three-quarterg, Ashor, McKenzie, Harrison, Five-6ighth, McGregor (captain). Half, King. Wings, Gallagher and Doran. Forwards, Hancock, Smith, Nicholson, McDaff, Long, Eatonj Autridge. TARANAKI (amber and bliok.) Full-back, Blyth. Three-quarters, Olarke, Myoott, Hunter; Pivo-eighth; Allen (captain), Half, Humphries, Wings, Guy and Hamblyn. Forwards, Glasgow, Pihama,Glenn, Douglas, MoDonald, Phillips, Wilson. Glenn set the ball going tor laranaki, Sutherland returning into scratch The visitors were shortly after penalised for off-side play, Allen taking a shot at goal, the ball (ailing short, Sutherland, with a good kick, finding the line near the half-way flig, From the throw-in the Auckland forwards, headed by Long and Nicholson, took play to Taranaki's lino. From a scrum the local forwards transferred play to mid-field. Auckland, however, returned to the attack, but a free kick to Taranaki again took play to the half-way fiig. Auckland were awarded a free kick for Humphries picking the ball from the scrum, the ball going out near the Taranaki's 25's. Auckland forwards then got; on a good rush, but Hunter s»ved with a good kick to the 25 fhg. The visitor's backs shortly atter got oa a good passing ruu, but a bad pass bMcKenzie enabled Taranaki to get possession, Wilson, Guy and Mynott taking the ball to near the blue and white's 25's. Shortly afser Taranaki were awarded a free kick, Allen had a shot at goal, the ball going outside the post, Auckland forcing. On resuming, play centered for some time, eventually the visitor's forwards, headed by Long, broke away and carried the ball to Taranaki's line. A scrum was formed, and the amber and black forwards, who wore playing with great determination, again relieved the pressure, and carried the ball to Auckland's 25's, where Taranaki were awarded a free kick, Ghegow took the kick, and landed a beautiful goal.

Taranaki .. .. 3 Auckland .. .. 0 Play centered for some time, till the local forwards, headed by Guy and Wilson took tbe ball to the visitor's 25's, where tbe latter were awarded a {■•ee kick, tho ball going out near ths half-way flag. TheTaranuki vanguard, however, were not to be denied, and again came at Auckland, but Asher saved with a good kick into scratch. From a scrum Auckland's forwards, headed by Long and Nicholson, took play to Taranaki's 25's, where they were awarded a free kick. E itou, taking the kick, placed the ball well between the uprights.

Taranaki.. .. .. 3 Auckland .. .. 3 On resuming McDuff headed a good rush into Taranaki's bus Hunter saved with a good kiok into spatch. A long kick by Mynott transferred play to Auckland's 25's, where Sutherland mulled, the ball going out. Neither side gained much advantage for some time till McGregor, with a good kick, sent the leather into Taranaki's territory, but Clarke relieved, sending the ball into scratch. The local vanguard again got on a good rush, but a wild pass by Allen enabled Auckland to clear their line. Glasgow shortly aftsrwards obtained a nmrk m a good position, Allon m.king a good but ineffectual attempt at goal, Half tim» was shortly after called, the score being Taranaki .. .. 3 Auckland ~ ~ 3 On resuming, Elton set tbe bill in motion, Burke returning into scratch. From the throw in Auckland got on a good rush, but McGregor, kicking too bard, spoiled a geod chance of scoring, the ball striking the bank. Give and take play followed till Humphries, with a good kick, sent the ball out. near Auckland's 25's. Tai .uaki were here awarded a free kick, Glasgiw m iking a poor attempt at goal, Harrison sending the ball out near the half-way flag. Auckland worked the ball down to Taranaki's line, where the latt°r ware awarded a free kick, Humphries putting the ball out near the half-way flag. From the throw in the Taranaki forwards who were playing a splendid game got on a rush and carried the ball to the visitor's line, where Glasgow obtained possession and paseed to Hunter, who dashed over the lino. Glasgow's kick did not increase the score. Taranaki .. .. 6 Auckland .. .. 3 Once agiin the amber and blacks took the play into Auckland's territory, Mynott sending the ball into scratch. Taranaki made desperate efforts to scot, but a good forward rush by the blue and whites took tn hvlf way, Mynott, with a good kick, sent ball to Sutherland, and tbe local pack following up just prevented a return, a scrum being formed under the goal. Harrison relieved with a good kick, finding the line near the 25 flag. Long and Hancock headed a fo; ward rush by the visitors, but Allen came to the rescue, and with a yood kick sent th< ball to Auckland's line, Clarke missing a certain score bv overrunning the ball, Sutherland forcing. Auckland now livened up and took play to Taranaki's 25's, biu Asher missed a good pass from McKenzie, the ball going out. Saortly after Wilson broke awav and passed to Gl. sgow, but the latter •vas pflDKißad tor ('fl' sv'o nlav. Mviioj.v '. " . ' " ' >. «Q II f tit , 1 v oi '

the 25 flag, King obtained a mark and ki'.keJ out ntnr h-uf-way. From r.he itroii-in All:-!., kjr.-fe.-d high butSutiierl.ii. " HKVti'i by rt?r.ur<nnx into r-c'i ,i rb. T-v. anuki, «t '.hi» bs. .gs, war* havisigi dftciuodly the iv-st of> he g-tme, but «. frea tuck to Atf' kl itvl biongh', re u*f, I EYmi a scrum UutnfS'iriOii p shi"l 'o' Allen who kick, d Sut; eWand | marking. Pihama upoili il tne retu'ru j and Auckland were again placed on. the defence. Allen shortly after had' aDother shot a', goal miking a gooij though unsucce-efui attempt. A good * passing run by Humphries, Allen and Hunter again took play to Auckland's linn, the latter forcing. Tiranaki were making great attempts to increase the score ( bU|: good play on the part of JtcQreadr and Sutherland prevented thair doing so. IlVom a scrum King pused to McJienzie, who when collared imt the ball On to McGrngor, w|jo rri.iased d goad chetriee by being off side. Tne amb r and black forwards soon took play to Auckland'* 25's, but Sutherland again saved with a good kick into scatch. Time was called shortly after, the game ending in a well-deserved viotory for Taranaki, the score being— Taranaki.. .. ~ 6 Auckland ~ .. 3 NOTES ON THE GAME. Auckland's plan of action was evidently line play, kicking out and creeping down to their opponent's qcUrters, but in this instance the throws in went in their opponent's favour. l'aran&ki's game was a forward one, and that it succeeded the result shows. The ffr cjuency of free kicks ptoted the over-eagerness of both sides to have the advantage. Taranaki suffered most by this fault, and but for their excess of zeal would have increased their points. The spectators were anticipating some brilliant play by the Northern cracks, but most of them were quite content to find the boot was on the other leg. They admired acd appreciated the sterling qualities of the Auckland rear guard, especially of Sutherland, the full-back. The reputation Asher had achieved in Australia as the "india-rubber" man naturally concentrated attention on bis play. An enthusiastic admirer of Ashor's impre-iied a knot of loc il lads that they should wait and s3e Asher Warm up to the gams. They waited) and asked tbe enthusiast t> point out his champion, which he proudly did, but just at the momont the hero was grassed. Still thß lads waited, and somehow just managed to repeat the above question as a similar misfortune bsfell «hu player. It was rather gilling to the enthusiast, but when his unkind neighbours expressed a sarcastic opinion on thi Northern man's play, tbe enthusiast gasped with horror and retired, All the same Asher put in a lot of valuable work, but at times was unnecessarily rough, Perhaps his play would have been more telling if he had not met his match in more than one of tha Taranaki team. Never hag Humphries played a better game. He was as near perfection as possible in every department. To witness such an exhibition of science was alone worth tieble the gate money. He was the life and soul of the team, never flurried, always at hand to do the right thiog at the opportune moment.

The pace during tbe first spall was decidsdly hot, and it tol l on the Auoklanders. Both sides wjre not sorry when the interval arrived.

That the play was not gentle was evident from the rents in the jerseys, and from the fact that two of the Taranaki and one of the Auckland team were knooked out for awhile. Dr. H >me wns on the spot and attended to the injured, That thii best team won was admit'ed on all sides. Tnny won strictly on 'heir merits, having the best of the play throughout. The result was a surprise to those who considered that as the Auckland team had an unbeaten record for s>me five or six y«ars they were bound to put' Taranaki down. The fates plus good play ruled otherwise, and now Taranaki have this year woo all their matches so far. May their good star see chem through tb» Thames mutcb, Allen, the Taranaki skipper, is to be congratulated on his team, as is the selector, Mr Syme. Allen's play also deserves great praise. He works like a Trojan and to some purpose. Hunter, Guy, Glasgow, Wilson, and McDormli distinguished themselves, bus the torwords on the whole played a rattling gams. Thu crowd was certainly a partial partial one, and though once or twic the hoots they gave at some rouijh play mig''t be excused, they were far too lavish with this dis-tgreeablf method of expressing disapproval. This is a mattwr for reg-et, as it is certain n.i disoour <-sy was iweuJed Ovnr eX'jiieineut must be taken a? the excuse. Last, but not le\st, the referee Mr Weir gaye an object lesson of what a roferee in a first cla«s match should do. His authority and ruling were nover questioned, nor could they ba, Ever on thfl elert, no point of importanc escaped t him, and his impartiality was evident throughout. I