THE TARANAKI TEST GAME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8161, 20 July 1906, Page 3

THE TARANAKI TEST GAME.

The North v. South match, to assist the selector in his choice of the Taranaki rep. team, was played at Stratford on Thursday afternoon, in the presence of a fair crowd of onlookers. The match commenced in a drizzle, whieti grew thicker and more unpleasant as the game progressed, and made tho ground and ball very greasy. The exposition of football was rather better than is usually obtained • in a test game, where combination is generally sacrificed to individual effort in an endeavor to " catch the selector's eye." The South team bad the advantage of weight, and lined out in black and amber, whilst the North donned red and black. It was soon seen that the Southerners had the best forwards, beating their opponents both in the scrum and on the line. For the first ten minutes the north-enders played on the defensive, as the result of the splendid forward work of Sheehan, O'Sullivan, and Crowley, backed up, of course, by Hunter and Dive, all'of j these being very conspicuous. There I were several ciosc shaves, but Mynott, Frewin, Cameron and Hardgraves spoiled the rushes and did excellent service by a series of sharp short punts into touch. The Keds had eventually to submit to a force -down. For a while tho South men kept up their attack, and the Bed backs had plenty to keep them busy. Then Courtney and Ryan headed a dash and there commenced an attack on the other end. Guy was playing a great game now for the defence, though he was frequently penalised for off-side play. Cameron put in a good run, finishing his effort in a vigorous line.kick, and the Southerners forced. Hunter executed some of his wellkuown corkscrew runs, and showed all his old cunning. Courtney followed up his kick and smothered the return, when Frewin snapped the ball and passed to Hardgraves, and the ball then went through the hands of Frewin again, and Abbott, who after a good run transferred to Potier, and Frewin booted out of touch. At halftime there was no score. In the second spell the Southerners had the worst of it. Reds attacked gamely, the leading lights at this stage being !!yan, Courtney, (Osborne and Loveridge in the forwards, and Frewm, Mynott, Potier, and Hardgraves in the backs. The backs got in some fairly good passing runs, and play opened out. The cream of the South defence lay in| Hunter, Dive, A. Guy O'Sullivan, and Crowley. Crowley got his side out of difficulties, for a while, and south attacked. Ryan relieved matters. Mynott picked up the ball and wriggled through the pack, sending a long pass to Hardgraves, who took it, ran his distance and sent a long shot to Abbott, who showed his pace in a gallop over the line, grounding between the posts. Hardgraves placed a goal. Shortly afterwards O'Sullivan and McKay took charge, and after some fa«t play the latter scored. The kick at goal failed. Shortly afterwards, time was called, and the following players donned the yellow jersey as " probables : Full, Hardgraves ; threequarters, Dive, Cameron, Abbott; fiveeighths, Mynott and Hunter; half, Ward ; wing, Guy; forwards, Osborne, McKay, E. \ouug, Ryan, Lovcridge, T. Sheehan, Crowley, About twenty minutes' further play was witnessed, during which Abbott scored another try, and then Mr Bayly selected his rep. touring team as follows :

Full-back, Ilargraves (Tukapa); three-quarters, Dive (Eltliam), Cameron (Siratford), Abbott (Clifton); flveeightlis, Mynott (Tukapal, and Ilunter (Hawera); lialves, Frewm (Tukapa), ard Ward (Waimate); wing-forward, Coleman (Hawera); Forwards, Love"J«o (Clifton), O'Sullivan and J. Crowley (Okai&wa), Smith (Opunake), McKay (Waimate\ Cooper (Hawera), T. Sheehan (I'atea), E. Young (Stratford), and Kyan (Star). ASSOCIATION GAME. A meetiiir; ol the Taranaki I T nion was held at Hawera mi Thursday. Delegates attended from New Plymouth, Kaponga, Eltliam, Hawera, and Inglewced clubs. liev. Jacob (Hawera) presided.

It was decided to play the final for the senior nup on Thursday next, at Inglcwood, the competing teams being Eltliam and New Plymouth. The North v, South test gimo will be played at Eltliam the following week, subject to alteration.

The meeting accepted the offer of the New Zealand Council, and the I 13rowu shield matches will be played in Taranaki. The competing teams will be Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Otago, and Taranaki. The secretary will arrange the itinerary. A vote of thanks was parsed to Messrs Skeates and Bockaert for their donation uT a junior cup. "n Ilinrsday Kltliam beat Hawera by 1 goals 13 nil, tin' win being due to superior combination. Dr Deck staved off a big defeat.

New Plymouth beat Inelewood by n to ml.