FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81836, 31 August 1906, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. BROWN SHIELD MATCHES. The second match of the series to decide the Brown Shield competition was played in the New Plymouth Recreatic.n Grounds on Thursday afternoon, when Wellington beat Auckland somewhat easi.y by five goa's to one. There was a fair attendance of spectators, the bulk of whom were Rugby enthusiasts, and they wre somewhat at sea with regard to j the rules, hence a good deal of amus ing comment at times. Wellington kicked off, and immediately set up ! a hot attack on the Auckland goal, . Scholefield and Irving showing out brilliantly, thus eariy as they continued to do the whole match through. The first few minutes' play gave the impression that Wellington rather superior in combination. As the result of some concerted play amongst the Wellington forwards, who carried on a pass from Irvine, the blue and white backs were hard pressed, and Takle made an unfortunate kick that sent the ball in the wrong direction for his side, ; thp ball shooting between the posts, aivl notching the first score for We'ling ton. Auckland continued on the defensive, the yellows making several ineffectual shots, the ball going wide. Scholefield was unfortunate in raising the leather twice right over the cross-bar, but in his next attempt met with success. (2 —0.) The Northern men now got in a little better work, Sale being particularly good in the forwards. The backs, however, were not so clever as their opponents, and the burst was shortlived, Irvine being responsible fcr the change of scene, and Bond had a close shot. Scholefield essayed a header, but the ball went high. There was a good deal of line play now, the Wellington players throwing ; n unfairly as a ru'e, the ball not being launched over his head. Auckland was awarded a free kick near the centre as the result of a foul by Irvine. He had his revenge quickly. A good dribble and a fine kick at" goal caught the Auckland goalkeeper napping. Mulling in an attempt to catch the ball, he essayed to kick, but failed, and a goal resulted. (Wellington 3, Auckland 0.) A rally among the Aucklanders lock play down to the other end, McNair, Sale, and Harvey being conspicuous. Great work was done by Sale, and a behind was registered. Irvine once more transferred operations to centre, and sent a long pass .out to the outside left, but, being offside, he could not follow up the advantage. Sa'c was leading a determined attack on the Wellington goal immediately after, the ball travelling rapidly acrcss the front of the goal, but there was no luck with the shots, the keeper being perfectly safe. Half time ended : Wellington 3, Auckland 0. The second spell had hardly begun when the yellows were penalised for "hands," and they played on the defensive. Their mechanism was far more scientific, however, than was displayed by the Northern men, and the pressure was soon relieved, but not before Irvine had been forced to kick back over his line to stem the attack. Black had a shot, but Harvey smartly returned to centre, and Auckland pressed again, Nicholson making a long kick that just missed the posts. Wellington's outside right brought the ball handy and a sliot fair at the goal, but the goalkeeper saved splendidly. Relief for the Northerners came in a free kick for a foul by one of the Empire City team, and Bond, who was playing neatly a t half, placed a goal. (Wellington 3, Auckland 1.) Another infringement gave Auckland an advantage, and Sale pressed it home ; , just failing to guide the ball between the uprights..'_ Then thg blues had a bad few minutes, playing without combination, and Mouat scored Wellington's fourth goal. The Southern men now had the best of the game easily, play seldom crossing the half-way Ijpo, tjie Auckland combination being very poor. The combination of the leading team improved as the game progressed, and Hodges triojl to rjiap the reward of thmc' splendid passing,| but 'again his direction failed. Sale came through again, but lacked support, and the resti't was nil, a turn of the tide compelling his fullback to kick back over his own lino, iiodges passed short to who kicked a fine low goal that gave the keeper no chances. One of the best pieces ( f noticeable p! a y was a fine piece of feinting by which Fitzgerald c.eared his goal line. There was no further score. Mr L. Frost was referee.

Wellington won both on individual effort and on combination. Their best man was Irvine, the best back on the ground, and Roberts was also conspicuous in this division. Scholeficld. Black and Mouat were the pick of tiie forwards ,and Fitzgerald was a safe goalkeeper. Auckland's goalkeeper was not oqviftl to 'his vis-a-vis. McNair, at full, and Bond, at half, did splendid work. Sale eclipsed every other forward on the field, but his team-mate Nicholson was also noticeable for e'eyer work. The last meeting of the teams was m 1903, when Wellington (the present of the Shield) proved victorious. The final match to decide the holder of the shield for igoS fakes place at Eltham on Saturday between Taranaki and Wellington.

Tli(* Wplling-ton-Taronaki representative Rugby match will be played on the New Plymouth Recreation Gr< und next Thursday. Our local men are reported to have improved considerably of late, and the contest will probably be glastc, The Wellington "All Black' 1 three-quarter line is said to perform football marvels. The Tanmaki team wilJ be: llml. greaves. Cameron, Hunter, Dive, MyHolt, Ward, Colemau, J. Tiiotuis (wmgEarivaril), Osborne, Wliittington, Crowley, McKiy, J. Young, O'Sullivan. Em£'genoio3—For'ad, T. Sheahnn, « Major " Burke. W rites our Whangamomona correspondent The second matcli in the contest for Mr P. J. While's handsome si.ver cup came otf here on Saturday between teams representing Whangamomona and Kohuratahi. The Wlianga team got together a strong pack, but their back division was again weak, and showed cut in strong contrast to their forwards, who to a man played a hard game. Had the forwards been supported by a strongback division, probably there would have been a different tale to tell. As it was the result was never in doubt after the first 20 minutes' play. Kohuratahi was not so strongly represented as formerly. However," though lighter than their opponents, they seemed to be in better condition. A rather regrettable incident occurred at the latter end of the play when certain players who cou':l not agree with Some of the decisions of t'.ie referee bo.gan ventilating their dissatisfaction by abusing the latter gentleman. And I might say that Etpart from whethei the referee's decisions were right 01 wrong, no one, could say that the do cisions wore not given conscientiously. However he was strict, and lightly so, in enforcing the penally for 'nfractions of the rules. I was pleased to note that thf. captain of tho Whangs team (the losers), in a congratulatory speech, admitted the integrity .and conscientious endeavor of the refe;ee. The cup, a handsome one, was presented by the donor, Mr White, 10 Mr Tocker, the Koluiratahi captain, ;it a very pleasing function held at the billiard room. A large number was present. Mr Jackson presided, and congratulated tho winning team. Mr Tocker, 011 behalf of Kohuratahi, suitably responded. The cup now remains with the winners until next year, when it \vi;l be again competed for. In conclusion, I might say that tho above meeting was of a most pleasing character and the few words spoken 111 (lie excitement of the game (allowance for which must alwavs be made) was entirely forgotten and nothing occurred to mar the harmony of the gathering. I omitted to mate that tlu 1 match was won by K ( iuuata'M by II points to nil,