FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81826, 20 August 1906, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND (18) v. TARANAKI (5). A WELL-CONTESTED GAME. TARANAKtS FORWARDS BEATEN. Per Press Association. Accelasd, August IS. The nineteenth interprovincial match between the Auckland and Taranaki Rugby football representatives was played at Alexandra Park, Epsom, this afternoon, in the presence of about 9000 spectators, Auckland winning by 18 point] to S. The weather was dull bat remained fine. The ground and ball were dry, giving the backs a better opportunity of handling it and throwing it about, the result being that bettor football was witnessed. Tue Taranaki forwards were a much weightier lot than the members of the Canterbury vanguard, and in close work quite held their own, but lacked the cleverness of fie Auckland pack wh-n in the open. The Taranaki backs were seen to better advantage in attacking movements than the locals, tilling the ball cleanly and backing up splendidly, while time after time they turned defence into attack by intercepting and making use of the mistake* made by the homesters. Although Auckland got to work early and quickly registered 18 points. Taranaki had the better of the second tpell and there was not much between the teams.

THE TEAMS. The sides were as under ICCKLASD. Full back J. Dufty. threcquarters Wilson, G. Smith, W. E. H McKcnzie, five-eighths B. Wynyard and B. Magec, half-back H. Kiernan, wing-forward G. Gillettj " forwards E. Dunning, Maguire, W. Cunningham, A. Francis, C. Seeling, W. Hayward, G. Nicholson. TASASAKI. Fullback Hardgrcaves, threequarters Dire, Cameron, Abbott, fiye-eighths Hunter, and Mynott, half Frcwin, wing-forward J. Coleman, forwards Johnston, Osborne, McKay, Byan, Crowley, Wiiittington, Greenbanks. Mr Howe, of Wellington, was the referee. THE PLAY. Auckland won the toss, and played from the western end of the field with a fair wind in their favor. From the jump play was lively, Auckland getting into Taranaki's quarters with a couple of kicks by Magee and Wynyard. A ■cram followed in the visitors' 25. Here Taranaki got the ball, but Hunter failing to take a pass, the Auckland forwards rushed it over the i: ne and Gillett scored for Auckland four minutes from the start of play. Dufty added the extra points. Auckland ... ... 5 Taranaki 0 From the kick-off, the ball travelled up and down the field for a few minutes. The Auckland forwards poshed the visitors beyond their 25 peg, when the blue and white backs started a passing rush, but Wilson failing to take a difficult pass, a certain try was lost. Then Mackenzie marked, and Dufty had a shot at goal from the touch line, the ball striking one of the pMti and Taranaki forcing. On resuming, the amber and black' got to the Auckland 25 with a free kick, but the local forwards, aided by a lonjt lock by Seelmg, pushed Taranaki back over the half-way peg, and Dtfty improved matters by kicking out close to the visitors' goal-line. Here Auckland made desperate efforts to get over, but the defence was too (olid. However, the V.ue's backs were Hot to be denied, anu Francis, breaking away from the line, swept across the field, where Magee picked up and dashed across, scoring Auckland's aeeond try after 19 minutes' play. Dufty landed a nice goal Anckland 10 Taranaki 0 Shortly after resuming, Hunter got in one of his swerving runs, and got beyond the Auckland 25, and the visitors fought hard lor a score. Hardgreaves had an ineffectual shot at goal, and the Auckland forwards then relieved the pressure, going back beyond znidfield. Here Auckland were penalised for illegal tackling, and the kick, followed by a nice punt by Hunter, saw the leather out a dozen yards from the home goal-line. Some tight work followed until Wyny.ird marked, and Dufty relieved for Auckland with a line kick to the half-way Hag. From the throw-in, Taranaki broke away, and Cameron, intercepting a pass, a moment later dashed down the fie'd ■nil passed to Abbott, who looked dangerous, but was pulled down by Wilson. The ball was kicked across the local line and McKenzie forced. From the kick out the blue and whites slowly worked their way to the j Taranaki 25, where Dufty bad a shot at goal, but failed, though the kick was a good one. From this out to the call of half-time, play was between the Taranaki half-way and 25 pegs, but the score remained unaltered, Auckland 10 Taranaki 0

On renaming Taranaki had the benefit of the wind. and Cunningham let the ball rolling for Auckland. My ■ nott marked, and found the half way peg, and a long kick by Dive carried them to the Auckland twenty-five. The local forwards came back with a •trong nub, and MeKenzie centering, Nicholson picked up, and looked like ■coring for Auckland, but instead of keeping on, he passed, losing a certain try. Then Taranaki took a turn, and the backs, tluowing the ball about m good style, Dive reached the Auckland full-back, but was pulled down. The amber and black backs got going again, but did not gain much ground. anJ after an unsuccessfal slot at goal by Hardgreaves from a mark, a couple •C powerful kicks by (jillet had Taranaki defending. The Auckland backs got the leather, and a passing rush saw Mackenzie throw out almost on 'l'aranaki's line. When the ball came in, the Au"k!»nd forwards swept it across the field, where Wilson marked, and Duity landed a goal, Auck and m ••• i:( f AA Taranaki ... 0

From the l£iek off, Taranaki invaded, and getting possession' from the scrum, lent the ball out to the hacks. Cameron sent a long pass to Dive, who reached the Auckland full-back, but was Smartly grounded near the blue and white goal-line by Dufty. The visiting forwards came away with a determined rush, and took the ball over the Auckland hue, but McKenzie forced. The loeala were again forced by a long li'k by Dive, after which the blue and white forwards, with two or three determined rushes, reached the Tisi'ors 36 flag. Here the hacks got hold of the ball, and Wjnyard made a nice. da«b through the ruck. He lost pos-, union, but Dunning chipped in and dribbltd gcros?, where Seeling fell on it Dufty added the major points. j Auckland IN Taranaki 0 On returning, the Auckland forwW<. headed by N icliolson, came away will, a powerful rush, and the Aucklander, picking up, a score looked certain, as Smith wu there waiting for the pass. Nichols >n, however, clung to the hal< too long, and the chance had gone. Then WiUon made an unsuccessful daih for the line, the defence being foomiad, tL . _

Taranaki now took a turn at attacking, but a long kick by Cameron crossed the lino, and the locals relieved with a force. The visitors pressed again, and a nice passing bout between Mvnott, Hunter, and Abbott saw Hum on the Auckland line. The pressure was temporarily relieved, but back the amber and blacks eaui", and a nice passing bout saw Cameron beat t'.vo men cleverly and score right behind the posts. Hardgreavcs added the extra points. Auckland 18 Taranaki 5 The homesters rallied on resuming, and were soon down to the Taranaki 25. The visitors were, however, fighting gallantly, and making the game open. Hunter, Cameron and Dive got away, carrying the ball into the home teams' quarters. Tncre they stayed until Gillett headed a powerful forward rush which carried play to the Taranaki 25. Thence on t j the call of time, the p'ay was very even, but the score remaiced unchanged, Auckland thus winning by IS paints to 5.

SOUTHLAND 12, OTAGO 3. (Per Press Association.) Dpsedis, August 18. The football match Southland v. Otago was played on the Caledonian Ground in lovely weather, too warm indeed for football. About eight thousand spectators were present. The ground was dry but heavy. Southland won by 12 to 3, and on the d*y's pl.iy weil deserved it. Their forwards generally swarmed over the Otago men, and paralysed the back play ofj the local team. For the first ten minutes the local men missed several opportunities, but after that they liad very few, and wheneyer they got into Southland territory, the latter's forwards would break away with an irresistible rush. Southland's first score was a goal from a penalty. Bain, wing three-quarter, got three tries, but the kicks were at fault. Otago's try was secured by Scannell, but here and with several marks the kicking at goal was poor. The Southland pack was composed of a fine, heavy and fast set, and the backs were very safe and handled the ball beautifully. The Otago men were never seen to advantage. The backs mulled all chances, and their passes never gained much ground j in fact their opponents generally turned defence into attack. Southland should give a good account of themselves in the North.

WELLINGTON 34, CANTERBURY 0. PEE PBE6S ASSOCIATION. Wellington, August 18. The match between Canterbury and Wellington, played at Athletic Park this afternoon, resulted in an easv victory for the home combination by 3i :»ints to nil. The weathsr was fine md the ground in good order, but a fresh westerly breeze was in evidence, and made it difficult for the backs to manipulate the leather with any degree of certainty. Play was fast, but not of i sensational character The Wellington rearguard failed to show its cxpertness as in the Wairarapa match, ind though occasionally pretty bouts of passing eventuated, the indifferent tackling and weak disposition of the opposing forces was chiefly instrumental in the local men building up a respectable score. The Canterbury back division had numerous chances of •aving when favored with the strong wind behind it in the first spell, but failed to turn them to profitable advantage. As regards the forward division, Wellington had the upper :iand throughout in ti:e loose and line out, and in the second half swarmed >ver the visitors. In tight play honors were about even, Wellington scored two tries in the first spell through the agency of Roberts and ,f. Spencer, both tries being converted by G. Spencer. In the second half, Wright, Walsh, Thompson (twice) Wallace and Byrne touched down, G. Spencer adding the major point in five instances. Canterbury failed to draw blood. With the wind m their favor in the second spell, the local men had the visitors practically defending their territory throughout.