FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7901, 17 August 1905, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

-Q~ TARAHAKI Y. HAWKE'S BAY. EASY TO FOR THE HOME TEAM. Considerable interest was evinced it, ■ the match between the Taranaki and Hawke's Hay rep. teams, which took place at Hawera on Wednesday afternoon. Fortunately, Imt one slight shower fell during the afternoon, and on a hard ground there was nothing to mar a good exhibition of the game. The gate receipts totalled nearly £3O, and the spectators wero treated to a willing contest, though after the lirst spell the scores wer» too uneven to make the finish very exciting. The Tarunaki buys acquitted themselves very creditably indeed I for their first rep. match, and their victory over Hawke's Bay by 20 points to 1 was enthusiastically received.

The only alteration in the Taranaki team was that J. Young took the place of Dcller in the forward ranks, the latter sulleving from in-

fluenza. The team was constitutedFull back, Coleman (Huwera) ; throequarters, Nicholas (l'afcoa), Hardgreaves (Tufcupa), E. Bcjurke (Wp.iinate) ; five-eighth, Joe Thomas (Stratford) ; half, Frew in ('l'ukapa) ; wings, .• Guy ,- (Opunake), Hotherj (Star) ; forwards, OHlJorno (Strut ford), Wilson (.Hawera), McKay (Waimato), Crawley (Okaiawa), Kyaa (Star), ,1. Young (Stratford), and

Wilson (Stratford). The Hawke's Bay team was constituted :—Full back, Starkey (City); threc-iuurters. Turner (Hustings Hovers), llusscll (Scinde, Napier), ft>hio (Tamatca, Hastings) ; five-oighths Ward (City), D. McCarthy (Ahuriri) ; half, Payne (Hastings Hovers) : wing, Munro (Ahuriri) ; forwards, Hockel

(Scinde), M. MoCartky (Ahurlri), Carlson (Dannevirke), McKnight (Danncvirke Stars), Willjs (City), Caldwell (Napier Suburbs), g 0 x (Suburbs). Wilson (Ilawera) was skipper tor Taranaki, whoso colours wore yellow and black ; ami Ward w«s captain for llnwke's Hay, who sported black ami

white guernseys. Mr Tllley (Wanganul) refereed the game in good style.

The visitors, who won the toss, and clectfxl to kick with the wind, led oIT on the offensive, and shortly after tho"start Ruasell made a dasjb from the centre, but was collared, and a passing rush was smothered b} Frewin finding the iboundary. On the line, out (.Juy was instmmental in transferring the play into Ilawke's Hay 25, a free kick to the visitors relieving. Give-asd-tnke centre play followed for some time, and then Nicholas and Thomas made a likely opening. Hardgroaves broC« away and dodging cleverly got close up before being gnassod by Carlson. The Ilawke's Bay .men, showing, rather more combination than their opponents, who had not yet settled down, smartly centred, ajid getting a solid' forward rush on a force down was the outcome. The visitors tried h/ird to brcrik through the defence without avail, ;but Carlson secured a mark in a handy position. The kick was cnIrusteU to M. McCarthy, who put up the first score, and as it proved, thi only score, for the visitors. Ilawke's Bay 4 Taranaki 0 On the resumption of play, Payne, the visitors' half-back, had the misfortune to ncceivo a blow in the face which passed him out, and Tomlinson took his place. ,Xlp to this stage, the visitors', with the assistance of the-wind, had more than held their own, but Taranaki now appearto be gainttig more confidence in each other's play. Ryan started a dribbling rush, and from a mark Hurdgreaves had a shot, for goal, but the wind spoiled t!ie attempt. Continuing ithe assault, the forwards put in good work, B nd gave Hardgreaves another opportunity to score, but he was thrown oiut by Ward in th'e corner just in the nick of time. Ilawke's Bay were equal to getting the leather away, but Nicholas returned, and the play was fast and exciting inside the 25. 'Hardgroaves was admirably "fed"l by his side, Thomas and Wilson making two

openings, but, working like a Trojun, he Just missed right on the line. Hya« then spoiled the return of the visitors' full 'bock, and Guy, snapping the bull, dashed over tniu line. Hardgroaves failed to convert. llnwkc's Day 4 Tnrannk-i .„ „. 8 I'lay continued to tie fast. After a force down on Taianaki's part, lluwkc's ISay made a. determined effort and looked dangerous, but Frc-

win smartly roturaed. From n scrum Hawkc's Day heeled out, and catching Taranaki's defence on the hop, there wjis a fine passing dash, Carlsen fretting ovpr the lino. The try was disallowed in ccinsefflic'nlco of a throw forward. A brilliant bit of play by Guy, Thomas? and Nicholas carried a rush from end to end of the ground. ltothery, snapping the ball up from a loose scrum, registered Taranaki's second try. Ifardgreaves' kick for goal .was futilo. 1 Tarnnaki ... ._ „ (? Hnwkf's Hay »... 4 On the changa of cutis there was n marked difference In the play. l The advantage of the breeze was now i|'i Tarnnaki's favour. I'rofiUng by their e*]>crlence in the first llialf, the Taranaki men worked with improvod qom.bjnution, and remedied some defects of their scrum work, while Guy was moved up as additional live-eighth when the other side were attacking, 'line start was auspicious for the lo cal men, two force downs in succession showing that they were, put-

ling some weight into their work. t!jiy and Thomas passed to Ilnrdgreavrs, win), cornered near the line, passed ibnck, and the visitors securing made a flash up the line. They could barely get. it thiee-ijuaeter.i' of the way before, the local men were at close quarters again. Itourk" snapped the ball- from a scrum, and the backs mjvde another assault, but llawke's Bay defend'ed solidly, al'id sayed a score. This availed little, for Hothcry then marked in fro'n't. and Coleman kicked a well-judged goal. Taranaki 10 liawke's Hay i Though working hard, the llawke's Hay 'men had all their work cut out in defending, while what offensive moves they did mak<j were quickly frustrated. Coleman was responsible for another force down, and on lb,' kick-off there was some scrimmaging, a free kick to the black-anil-whlitcs; re. lieving the situation. By the agency of Crawley and Bourke, two ilasfnes up the line by tfewke's Hay were obviated, and t'h.c IbsiU rettmiNxl into their '!'■>. The attack was so persistent, though there was rather loose play, as to try Hie strongest defensive powers of Hnwke's Day, mid although they battled hard the visitors were somewhat demoralised. The Taranaki forwards were playing a line dashing game, supported by a back line that missed comparatively' few chances. One of the -best Ibittw of play in the match, ll'::y sow* lirilliallt imssihg which must, took place between d'ny, l''iv»ln, Nicholas. Voting, and Thomas, titeh man in turn transferring when cornered. Thomas succeeded in l crossing tliie line, nml plucinjg, tlio ball between the posts, Coleman converting. Taranaki 15 Hnwke's May 4 The, visitors transferred their operations to the rent re, hut did not hold their ground long, and Tarntytiki rushing their territory 11 force, down eventuated. I! Hot faery miss jug nicelv it* Hnrelgreaves, the latter scored, n try near the posts, Coleman renin putting up the major points, Tnrannki 20 lUvwke'H Hay \ The balance of the match was simply n repetition of the foreigoiivg. Taranaki held' their oppoactfts sufo

throughout, aril the latter novo; , looked like adding lo their score During the whole of tI.U j alf, in-,' deed, Hawke's Bay got the ball in* side the 25 only .ou two or three occasions, and then the defence was too solid to pqnetratev Tho local men gained two more tries before tho finish. Jiourke's was most meritorious, us Me dodged and feinted full) half a dozen opponents, and walked through them. Coleman was unsuccessful In converting. The last was secured through the agency of Rothery, who raced tho Hawke's Bay backs for the ball over the line aJnid touched down. Coleman struck tho post in his shot tor goal. Amidst, great cheering the match coded Taranaki 20 Hawke's Bay i

I Dotes oo the Play. o,n the whole Taranaki's ojxrn forward work was excellent, and the wing men, Guy and Hothery, did griiu work, assisting a large amount of vork oft* the side of the scrum. The Hawke's Bay open forward work was rather weak, but their scrum wiorl; was equally as good .as that of their adversaries, and better in the lirst half. The hooking was ab,out even. It may be remarked, however, that the local reps.' scrum work was not so clean as it might be; the ball did riot come out at the back of the scrum as it should. ,I]araiiaki did the best of the line work. In the first spell the visiting backs showed rather better combination, but when subsequently the local backs got together and opened the game up, thero was no comparison between the two teams. The tacks played a fine ganus, Thomas and Hardgreaves perhaps being most prominent. Nicholas needs to exerciso a little more judgment as tojiosition, but 6oleman's display was very creditable. Taranaki's defence was very sound ; tho forwards"! were collaring well, especially Crawley and Osborne. Alt tho forwards j played a. with tho exception of Wilson (Stratford), whoss place in tho .Auckland match will ba filled by Hwnerton (Patea). This will be the only change in tho team. The other: Wilson (Unworn.) 1 coold also do wit!) a bit more condition than be displayed. 'Die visitors' defence was hot up to tho by any means, tbe collaring, excepting In orto or tiwo instances, being very pofor. Ward, tho skipper, played a splendid game, and l'ohio did well, while in the forwards Carlson made a nico display. Admitting that Hawke's Hay touring team is somewhat weak for a rep. combination, Taranpki's performance was still a flrSt-class one. It is tho first time the men have played together, and wihcn tJiey got rid of tfapir "rawness," and acquire the necessary combination, Uacre is every Justification for assuming that the team will worthily uphold Taranaki's reputation, tlespitelhe absence)! of our lending players with the Eng- | lish team. Auckland, nfter having tho benefit of a couple of combined matches, defeated Hawke's Hay by 28 points to 8, and taking ttria as a criterionI—though 1 —though admittedly scoring id not always a surd, guide— Tiii-annki should make Auckland play all they know on Wednesday next at New Plymouth.

lELUKGTOH DEFEAT WAIRARAPA. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Auw. 16. In the terms of its challenge calling on Wellington to defend its titla as holder of the lfenfurly Shield, the Wairarapa Kug'by team arrived in Wellington, and in the aftennouo mot the home team' at the Athletic Park, where ibelwecn eight and nine Swudred people had assembled to witness the contest. The ground, owing to the ■ heavy rain which fell over nifeht, was in a vcyy bad state, and anything like decent back play was practically out! (of the viucs-'itijoii.. The forwards did a heap of work ,in tho mud and slush, and It says a great deal .for the visiting team that it succeeded in making a draw of the .fixture, each » side scoring thavo points. Wellington accordingly retains possession of thy. shield. Spackinan (Wairarapa) antl H'ardrmm (Wellington) ea<h scontl tries. Wrigley (Wairarapa), thnv+rUarterH, played the best game on the ground. The A.v.rial ion I rial match will lie played this afternoon on the Tuklaph ground (West End), instead of at Inglewoo'.l, as previously uri'imged.