FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81830, 24 August 1906, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON TOURING TEAM,

Pkr Press Association,

Wellington, August 2j

The final se.uction of the Wellington touring team to go on tour is : Backs, G. Spencer, Wallace, Ramsden, Thomson (2), Mitchinson, Rollers, Walsh, Ryan; forwards, J. Spencer, Watkins, Slandjn, Wright, Cross, Byrne, Manning, Callum, Alexander, Ifardham.

TARANAKI CUP SEMIFINAL,

Taranaki Rugby interests on Thursday centred principally in the Star-Stratford senior contest at Stratford, the deciding game for the North Taranaki Premiership. The day was almost perfect for football, rather mild, perhaps, but without without wind or bright sun; and the ground was dry and fast. Under such conditions, and taking into consideration the importance of the match, the large crowd of spectators wore justified in expecting a good dispiaj of football; but, as in the bulk of the Cup games this year, the play was of a very mediocre descript.on, bud-dog tenacity and much "headless" work being the leading features. The Stratford men took the field in fine fettle, the result of weeks of solid training and coach- >'!;;> giving their opponents an object lesson on how to prepare for a game, and exemplifying by their determination to strike form that, that if a tiling is worth doing it is worth dong well. The Star team, the forwards particularly, showed all too plainly a lamentable lack of condition, and though they piayed a hard game it was seen shortly after the second spell opened that they could not stand the pace set by their highly trained opponents.

The game was principally confined to the forwards, on account of the weakness of the halfback on either side, each failing to set the ball moving among the backs. The visitors' half was weak in defence, and with the redoubtable Bob Masters charging down on him was lost at times. Another weak point noticeable in the play of the bulk of the Star backs was their failure to fill gaps in the ranks, and the rear division was beaten because the men were seldom in their appointed places. Two of the tries scored by Stratford would never have come off had the blacks' rearguard been in position. At times, the fullback was left entirely alone and unsupported. The Stratford backs were somewhat better in this respect, but the fault was noticeable in their ranks also. The forwards on both sides had a fair share of honours, but Ryan (Star) stood out as the best forward on the ground, initiating rushes, beating his men on the line-out, tackling and kicking with wonderful dash that showed he was in the pink of condition. As a result of a closely "fought game, in which the mistakes of the visitors were turned to excellent account by the home team, the result was announced : Stratford 14 points, Star nil.

At the commancement of the game Stratford forwards pressed the visitors hard, but a series of line kicks worked play to centre. Fumbling; among the Star forwards lest them some ground, and within five minutes there was a scrum within five yards of the Star's goal line. Cameron marked in a good position, but his kick at goal failed, and Boulton forced, liar' kicking by the Reds kept Richards busy, but hi:; Kr.e kicking was good, though hi.; catching was none too good, from ore of his long kicks Ryan and Kivell got possession ,and Stratford had a turn at defence, Tocker saving nicely. Stars were vigorously attacking when Ryan twisted his ankle badly, and play was suspended for a few minutes. Resuming, they kept up the attack, Pike breaking through till tackled by Cameron, who secured possession and kicked put. In a twinkling Stars were looking after their interests at the other end, Tocker nearly notching a score, but KivcU's kicking cleared the line Hoskin and Ryan did Trojan work in a series of lineouts, and Stratford lost ground by off-side play, the ball going back to centre. IS. f earon executed a lightning stroke, and seemed sure to score, but lost the ball, and Kivell marked. Cameron again failed with the kick at goal ,and Star forced. Thomas ,who played one of his best games, headed rush after rush, often non-plussing his old club mates by his rapid change of tactics, and as a result of some of his work Cook got he ball and whipped out to Pike, who transferred awkwardly to Potier, the ball striking his hand; had he taken the ball, there was nothing to prevent a score. Pike had a fruitless shot at goal from an easy position, and Stratford were getting rather the worst of it in the corner near their line when the half-time whistle sounded.

A fine interchange of kicks among the backs opened the second spell, and from one of these Cameron opened out a run, and the ball slipping rapidly to Tocker, And then Kivcll, the latter scored, Cameron failing with the kick. (Stratford 3, Star 0.) Star forwards seemed now 1 to become thoroughly demoralised, and the debacle lasted for some minutes, in which Stratford knocked up another three points, the ball rebounding from the goal posts into the arms of Dcllcr, who scored comfortably. Cameron missed the goal. iV rally for a few minutes gave Stratford defensive work to do, Potier having several fruitless attempts at goal. One of his kicks, however, was in our reporter's opinion, and in the opinion of the line umpires, successful. Joe Young and Marcham took the ball out of range ,and Cameron got possession. With every chance of a score by passing to Stohr, he selfishly held until forced to kick, when Rothery got away, and as the result of a hard kick by Potior, Stratford was forced. Courtney, Ryan, and Pike showed up in a rush that threatened the Stratford line, but the ball rose, and E. Kivell marked, Stohr narrowly missing a goal from half-way. Courtney and Rothery scrambled over the line, but were called back, and a scrum ensued almost under the Star posts. The bail went Hying up the field, and beating Poller, Pike,- and Richards, who seemed possessed of butter fingers, Cameron nipped over the line. Again he failed with the kick. (Stratford u, Star 0.) Uefore Stars recovered from their surprise, Stohr cut through, and, passing at the rrucial moment to Cameron, the latter added another try, and kicked a goal. (Stratford 14, Star o.) Sue-

,i',s scorned In have a bad effect on the Reds, uh,i now commenced mulling badly, and Itavs placed 'hem

'.n the dcl.T.-:ivc. Thomas, Ryan and KMthen showing up brilliantly, but the opportunity had gone, and the Kami; ended without alteration to the scores.

The better team won, though there was not ,on the play, fourteen points difference. Condition was the deciding point, the want of it on the losers' side being seconded by the failure of the backs to keep in position. For the winners, I.awson was very safe at full, and Kivo.ll, Cameron, and Stohr played well, th.w.gh the second was too selfish,

an.! the a little tired. T'ukei was up to form at fiveeighths, but lite half was weak. Masers and Jo<- Young wor* the bi'sl forwards. The Star backs were only fair, with the exception of Joe Thomas. Ucan plaved a sterling game in the forwards, ably backed no by Uotherv. Courtney, and Hoskin .with Kivell shining at times. Mr Griffiths was referee. TARANAKI RKP. TEAM.

Mr l'.avly has se'ccled the, follow-

learn to represent iT'aranaki against Southland at llawcra next Werlnesdav: Vullb.i.k. I lardgreaves ; Ihrerruiart-rs. I)i v -. Ward, and Cameron; five-eighths, Mynott and Hunter: half, l-'iewin: wing forward, Oilman: forwards, Johnson, Osborne. Grecnbanks (lock). Ryan, J. Crowley, McKay, and Joe. Young; emergency (forward), Whitting-ton.

It is understood that oje Thomas declined a place in the team. Abbott's weak display at Auckland settled his chance. In the interim between the Auck land Taranaki and Southland-Taran-aki matches the Cup finals inTaranaki will probably bo decided. Mr Frank Glasgow, formerly of the Eltham football team, has been picked as one of the forwards for the liawkc's Bay representative team.