FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7922, 11 September 1905, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

ing T'anmaki'H -weak spot. The tuckiuiy was very fair, however, and the Jqcul men luatie a determined resistance. After biuith aiul (Jlarken had' NEW ZEALAND IGAH REACH PLYMOUTH transferred the play to neutral ier-i ritory, and McDonald and Guy carvied the ball down. Some oxclting play followed, nnd it looked like another score for the amber and blocks There was a lack of system iff the attacking force, however, and the spectators were chagrined to see the Australians 'deftly turned the tables. Once the back men got the 'Wall they made full use of it, and a beautiful bit of passing between six men ended in ilcLeau breaking through. M. Smith had the shot for goal, and converted. Australia 15 Taranaki 10 With leeway to make up, the homo team waded in strongly, and with something!liike their old form invaded the 25, and a fierce took place. For a breach on the part of the defenders, a free kick was award ed Taranaki, and to the delight oi the spectators Hardgreaves scored. Australia ... 15 Taranaki 13 The exchanges were keen, ending in | l'eumaii finding the corner line, but dangx;r was averted until a penalty against Taranaki was given. M. Smith failed to judge the kick, but play still kept near the thrce-quar-ler mark. Australia got the ball from the scrums, and from this out had the homo team in trouble. Taranaki got the ball away two or three times, but it was as quickly returned, ami the bombardment continued. Towards thb end, plas' was very rough indeed. The amber and blacks made s-trenuous efforts to pull the match out of the fire, but the visitors' combination was too good. Australia scored again just before tho call of time through the agencj of Colton, Wickham again being unsuccessful for goal. Colemjin was injured when attempting to collar on tho line. A great game thus ended

A Hearty Reception

(Received Sept. 10, 4.51 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 9. The New Zealand footballers arrived at Plymouth, and met with a hearty reception at the hands of.the English Rugby Union ollicials. The team appear in good condition.

Australians defeat TaraMki-Waoganiii

Fine Match and Large Attendance

The great interest taken in the match between the Australians and ft Combined Taranuki-Wungunui team was evidenced by the assemblage of over 2000 spectators on the Ilawera ground on Saturday afternoon,,visitors from all parts of thcdistrict attending The. afternoon was overcast, but beyond a sprinkling early ia the game the rain .kept off, and the ground was fairly *lry and hard, although the grass was a trifle slippery. The spectators were treated to a fine display, and at times great excitement reigned. On their form down South, it was anticipated that the Australians were in for a defeat, but tho home combination did not show to advantage, and was vanquished by 18 points to 13. The display of the Australians was excel* lent, and it was unanimously conceded that the superior team won, while the opinion was freely expressed fliat a better visiting team has not been seen in Taranaki since tbfl Britishers were here. The teams were constituted as follows

Australia .... i... ... 18 Taranaki ... 13 On the whole it was tho Australians' admirable back play that carried tho day. Their tour has sharpened the team tip wonderfully, and it ia very evident they have struck form.

Taranaki—Wanganui (amber and black). —Full £ack, J. Colman; threequarters, E. Ho'urke, A. Hardgreaves and McDonald (Wanganui) ; fiveeighth, A. Hunter ; half, S. Forsyth; wings, A. Guy (captain), F. 11. Hothery ; forwards, I'. Murray (Wanganui), A. Guscott (Wanganui), J. Young, S. McKay, P. Kyan, K Ilnmerton, J. Cowper. Australia (Now South Wales and Queensland), maroon and blue.—Full back, 1!. Smith ; ithreo-quarters, S. Wickham (captain), M. Smith, A. P. Penman ; five-ciji'hth, McLean, halves, M. Dore, F. Woods ; wings, A. Hurdon, .1. darken ; forwards, E. A. Oxladc, H. A. .Tudd, W. Hirschberg, C. Murnin, It. Swunnell, | It. Lucas.

Tin.' visiters had thri foot of the home team throughout, ami, finding' Taranaki's vulnerable point, relied mainly on keeping the game open. In this they succeeded, despite Taranaki's countor move. Their passing at full speed, and quick transferring of the ball in turn when collared, were 'an object Ivsson which should not be lost on our men, who rely too much on individual effort, and are not supported as they should be. The visitors had ,the best of tin scrum work, ami were as sharp as needles in passing it out to the scoring men. There was not a gnjat deal to choose between the forward packs otherwise. Taranaki proved themselves rather superior to the Australians in defence and collaring, until somewhat demoralised towards the end of the match. The condition of the Australians after a hard tour was also a factor in the defeat. Hardgreaves was the mainstay of Taranaki's back division. He was excellent in both attack and defence, and made" as good a showing as any man on the ground. His kicking was much superior to that of my of the opposing team, and '|roatly nssisted his side. Coleman at full was fair, and McDonald piny.fl a good sound game. Hunter and Forsyth were beaten in their respective positions. Guy played a verj useful game, but was frequently penalised. ltothery also did good service, and Ilyan, Hamerton, and McKay appeared to be the most dashing of the forwards.

'On taking the field at ---i' ►. Ibe teams were seen to be pretty evenly matched in size, with the advantage of weight on the side of the liom* team. Tim match was rcferecd by Mr Skoglund (Stratford), who was impartial, but hardly strict enough towards the end of the second spell, while Messrs Mandeville (Australia) and Powdrell (Taranaki) acted as line umpires. Taranaki kicked towards tho pavilion end. Thcro was no wind to hinder the play. The Australians got the ball out of the first scrum, but Uuy smothered the pass. Taranaki secured possession, a force down resulting in the first three minutes.

The visitors soon showed themselves very smart at picking up and handling the ball, and after some give and take play Murnin broko down the line, but McDonald relieved by liitding the line. After some exciting scrimmaging, M. Smith (centre threequarter) marked in a good position for the maroon and blues, and Wickham kicked a nice goal.

On the Australians' part, as stated, the back men are the shinii% lights. Wick'ham was particularly good, and the two Smiths, McJjean. and Dore were oonspicuous. The forwards were a good even lot, Clarkon and Swannell (who played with the Britishers) being prominent, j Tho Australian teaan left on Saturday night for Auckland.

Australia 4 Taranaki 0 The visitors kept things 'going, and after good, play by Lucas, Hirschberg, Wickham, and McLean made a dash for the line, but were grassed. ' Following on some good defensive work, the amber and blacks asserted themselves, and the visitors had to repel a good rally. Guscott and Kyan were instrumental in placing the ball well down the field, and the homo team's first show of good passing gave Hardgreaves a chance. He made a brilliant effort to score, and was thrown out at the corner just in time. The Australians gradually worked the ball across the field out of danger, but were again ' hotly pressed Jor some time, McDonald, Guy, ltothery, and Hardgreaves doing especially good work. Some blind passing spoilt the effort. The visitors showed unusual facility in transferring l the ball rigfit across

Wellington y Qtago (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Sept. 0. Tho football match, Wellington v. Otago, played to-day, ended in a draw, neither side scoring. A! driving mist set in, and continued during the play, rendering the ground and ball greasy, flaying with a good breeze in the first spell, Wellington was attacking most of the time, but the defence wan solid. The defence took so much out n. tho local men that they were not equal to putting up a, score in ttic second spell. As a display of interprovincial football, it was poor. The Wellington forwards were decidedly the better, but the backs were poor except at fielding and kicking* !•

the ground, but found the opposition solid. After a line out in Australia's territory, Ryan secured, after a good bit of ploy, and succeeded in crossing the line. Hanigreaves was unsuccessful in a difficult shot for goal. "Austyilia ' .... 4 Taranaki ... 8 renman got tlie ball after a scrum, and the Australians vigorously »ttaeked« After finding the boundary, the backs passed right across the ground, Bourke relieving. These tactics were repeated, and a struggle ensued inside Taranaki's 25's, but the Australians were .repelledithout finding an opening. The ball hovered in the home team's half for some minutes, A forward dribble was smothered by the back division, and then from, a line out the Taranaki forwards put some weight into thoir work and invaded their opponents' territory. Defensive work was not the Australians' strong point, but they stemmed the tide until Hiin-

Thames i Auckland (rcr Press Association. > ' THAMES, Sept. 9. Thames defeated Aucklßßtl by 7 points to 6. The game was played under most favourable conditions, 'but was principally confined to the forwards. Auckland scored two tries, while Thames scored a penally and a pot-' ted goal.

ter marked. The kiGk .was entrusted to Hardgreavcs, who scored with line judgment.. Taranaki 7 Australia 4

Poierty Bay y Hawke's Bay (Per I'ress Association.) NAPIER, Sept. 9. The representative football natch Poverty Day v. IJawke's Hay was played here this afternocn, and rcj suited in a win for Poverty Bay by 9 points to 0. Tho visitors played a rattling forward game, but the Ilawke's Bay backs wen; superior. For Poverty Bay, Sherratt, Rowe and Sharp scored tries, and for Hawke's Bay M'unro scored a try, and McVay kicked a goal from a penalty kick.

011 resuming, Murnin, one of the Australian team, was incapacitated, and permission was given to play Oglton in his stead. From a tope out .Vustralia again got into dangerous ground, but their passing was smothered ill good style, and the play transferred. Taranaki were attacking when the whistle sounded half j time. Up to this the home team had fairly held their own by fine defensive work when pressed and occasional onslaughts. The pack worked strenuously, JSut did kot give the back division the same support as the visitors' pack did their men. The Australians' passiivgi was.miuch cleaner and gflfer, and their pace superior, but they gained little by their mcthof rushing the ball right across the field, and might havo made better use of their openings.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME TarantXi i Auckland A Draw (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 9. The Association football match, Taranaki v. Auckland, played here to-day, resulted in a draw, both sides scoring one goal. The weather was tine, and the attendance numbered GOO.

THE SECOND SPELL. With the home team three points in the lead, the i Australians made things fast from the jump. Soon after the start, Swannell got a bad kick in the nose during a scrum, ami had to retire for a while. Taranaki were quite as willing as their opponents, and some hot scrimmaging in Australia's ground ended in Guscott dropping over the line. Ilardgicaves was unsuccessful in an angle shot for the posts.

In the first half Foreshaw registered a goal for Auckland, and Scholcficld succeeded in accomplishing the same feat for the visitors In the second spell pluiyi was very interesting, and both sides tried hard to score, but without success. Throughout the game the local men had a bit the best of tho play, and but for the display given by Frost (;in goal for the visitors) must have w.on. Seholefleld, of the Taranaki team, was perhaps the best forward on the field.

Tara'naki .... 10 Australia 4 A free kick was given to Australia

but llothery marked and put out of touch well down the lino. The tmaroon and blues tmrdo up the ground by a hard dribbling rush, and from a long throw out the backs got possession, a pretty pieee of play resulting in a try by 11, Smith. Wickham failed to convert. Tarannki ... ... ... ]0 Australia ... ..! ... 7 The Australians continued to harass the amber and blacks, and Lucas making a good opening McLean secured the leather, and, beating the opposition, equalised matters by struggling over the line, Wick ham's, attempt at. goal failing. 'j'aeaiiflkj ... ■ Id Australia ,„ ... 10 Playing with great dash, the visitors made things wry warm for tho opposition, their fast open play find-