TARANAKI DEFEATS BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 176, 16 July 1908, Page 4

TARANAKI DEFEATS BRITAIN.

> Not since tlie famous match of 1904 iais' the sporting pulse of taranaki throbbed as it did yesterday wflun for "V tii,j fourth. time in twenty years the ;■ football elect of Hie province pitted it- " self against the lirain and smew of the K :Uld land. As day suceeded day during ' > the past four weeks, and as the invad- ' " steadily puisued an unchecked ofteer of victoiv, mtciest in f '(fie event that culminated yesterday increased and widened,, until it became k ti n " tuple to lllc utteiniost reaches of the pfovineec. i JfrOtt early jestcrday niomuig, when ~ t n propitious mouttuuu wind ''Ule Clearing 01 tile luuisluit. laden ill- • uiospliere, tue succeeding houia saw tue • irowcto steadily increasing in volume / 'until by noon the pathways of tao is t were practically inou-ed aud uuf: * iegotiau'e. i>y. conveyance of every lit' description the- coastal and iiuiioundiug 1 , Uriels emptied ihcuiaclv eo into town, j . Vfliile six heavily-laileii u-auia poured! '' Weir living treigljt through tlie. railway ' itstion far exceeding any piewuus eieuTsion. Aud upon every up was tlie I one question, "Can we win.'' iUere tuose keen followers ut the game vlw were fearful for the =Ujuig power V of the Taranaki forwards; there were V ' tovsu \ybo liad every conudeuce in.tlie ' ability of Ihcir i>ih:iv - M*crc Uoso who knew not a iooioaiti • 'truAu 14 uunyipi but iitscri-beiesa • * luovtd wun. uiu all-pert auiug exavc- * '• uvuv {&UU Keenly Uistfusauu uie |»Oar?iuaitl<». ' ' • uitOt'iiv" liliCl iu o ciutk tlie. Ucii, LU Ucu u«\a cO ■ U»V 4cCjUii«g gl'MUUll. «"*U ik)u*» tuv tuiaccs nan dirwiuj mxu . iii auu , >Mt«*4n vi ■ ,|jouiv\A tuuug* !>■ ji«e turnstiles uu « p.n., wftu U «•» r - '■ *■ K! - 1 '!" i L<ilt *lllU tCll >llUu* s%*UU lulcd vue t"e d^culeuiar ; tiiivi. u, uilieil >iid uoi wji to liuprees >MI ou Wie huadveuo u k tisuuts wJio i. w«re viewing we lui . v< : tue lirul uixie.

A tfrcat ctiter went up as the teams

' drove up to Uie gate, wiucJi was i vuueU vitli increasing coruuuiv as tut pm\crs am tie tflyii" way to tlie dressing - »uUis. rartlcuiaily warm was Uu | ■ ■ welcome acuorucd, the visitors iruiu ' liluusaudb 01 cheering throats. 11 ' iluiltcr led his meu oil to the iiel'd V ' at tiye minutes to three, amidst xcuew- • v ed cheering, whicn was intensified two- . jold when Harding emerged at the bead villas merry men. Xo time was lost r'■ : intukihg stations, and punctual to the hotir oE three reteree jVylie gave the signal for battle. " £o describe the game in general coin- ' - rnent or by way of summary, and at ■i til? same' time convex correctly the varying fortune of the play is well-nigh >;'* impotable. From start to finish tne game was strenuously contested; the face never slackened, and interest was not -.for a moment allowed to wane. av • Thrilling incidents were of frequent oe- ' »' ' cqwence, but spectacularly there was ■ ■ , something wanting that many realised . - but failed to locate. Two very real f factors, however, contributed to this lacking quality, and the principal one ; was that the teams were too evenly -matched. Further, the all-round excel- • leiice of- the play, the certainty wit.u 'which' the backs on both sides fielaeu the ball, and followed its migrations; i ' ■ through, the air and about tile field, few of Siose openings for which ,tfie: Vigilant second line of -atlaok is i watch. When, for the first and only tiipe during the match, the " British backs momentarily. got out of . " position, Colman, with a flash of genitis. '. giWsped the opportunity. Sending tin; V. "" Vm> far out to Hunter, llive was given ' ' ■ a winning chanee, and pierced the de- • ■ fence.' It would be idle to say that Taranalri did not experience many anxi.ous moments: One ma'gnificent drib- ' blhiK TUifh by Harding, during which he .. v skilfully piloted the oval though a - phalanx of opposition, calling up his back ' i --reserves to drive the advantage home i.':- almost ended disastrously to Taranaki's - ,■ hopes. Again, on at least two ocea- - 'eionsllorgan got his fleet-footed sup--i' • ports under way in dangerous proximi- • ' ■- tv in the local line, but fortune favored the defenders for the time being. ;v Taranaki's passing display did not' eventuate, for. various obvious reasons. In ■ tlie first place, Dive had to play out of . position as centre three-quarter, owing to Cameron's injury, and the establisV ed combination between the five-eighths and ihree-quarter line was thereby - , weiikeqed. The splendid spoiling work of MeEvedy, Davey, and Harding was ■ a bigger element, however, in crippling . Taranaki's attacking tactics from the Scrum. 11l short, the backs were ■ watching and marking each otlicr too to allow of any liberties being ■ taken. . In the circumstances, no detailed plan of attack could be worked to success, and opportunities had to be " watched for with unceasing vigilance.

Few of such as did presciit themselves ' Y to -Taranaki were missed by Mvnott. Who. thoygh the best-marked man on the 1 ground, time after time, slipped ■*' awav on attack, but the tackling was mbsjt deadly. famous Hunter-My-not-combination never really got under ■way, oi\e reason being that Coluvm sel- ■ dom got the ball away from the hack of ttfe acrum when Taranaki did get it. *On a number of occasions he allowed the -ball to get right past him. throwing bis 1 jacks on defence when an attack- , ' ing movement should have been W . ated. Column, nevertheless, played a : very fiDe game; and was a source of u > continual worry to his antagonists. The forwards worked like Trojans, * and earlv, dispelled any apprehension I: ' "that had"beefi felt regarding their ability and stayin'g power. "Jimmy* O'Sul- ! * livan stood out as the finest forward on the ground. In every movement he tfas ably supported by Jlothery and N Whittington, who Were everywhere pro- \ minent. In saying so, no discredit attaches- to Cane, Smith-, Crowley, or Tama, who never for a moment betrayed the confidence reposed in them. TW Sheehan was in fine fettle and played ;iv Btrenuously from start to finish. ,In - the,three-quarter line, Dive played the moßt serviceable all-round game, and v 'his try wa9 a great effort. Few had rredited hhn witlj so fine a turn of

..speed, <?ameron was severely handicapped/with an injured shoulder, hut *, nevertheless played soundly. Con. £hce- ' ban did some very fine work, but made ' aim a number of J unpardonable mistakes/ from which, however, lift generally brought off a recovery. Bardgntves played one of the games of his life, irvariably finding the line with immense *- v ' kicker and was a revelation in the MriDykei, the British fullback. ; ' also. played a very fine game. V Tnan Jones and Vassall were the r most prominent in the Hying threequarter line, which effected some of the ..--prettiest movements in tlio match. Mcin his roving eoiiimissinn. was • (|ii eternal thorn in the sides of Hunter and Mynott. Morgan, biding the serum, was superior as an orthodox < " half, to Colmaii. though lacking destructive capabilities. paver wa* always in evidence. Amongst the f<»rwards, Harding excelled himself. and bad to work .liard. He had not time to span* for the theatric;! 1 direction of i»m« whielr clmra.cferised his irencr&Mtip in previous matches. His footwork wa« a revelation, Andicr, Smith, ' and Morgan were v«rv prominent, but a* n rule where one forward was. there the lot were to he found. The cohenion and hacking up of itv* visitor?? ■ forward brigade was a. treat to witness. • but indlvhluallv the local forwards were mW* to account for their num. 'I"- On f- n <» whota, Taranaki bad the bid•ffcr.pf jyamo. in that rib'* v»« more Im provimitv lo the British line y * (iwpi O^KTWIW. contrarr to expectation*,

THE BIG FOOTBALL MATCH. CLOSELY CONTESTED GAME. i A FORWARD STRUGGLE. WON IN THE NICK OF TIME.

major portion of the work haviug fallen upon the shoulders of the chairman of the Union, Jlr. A. Humphries—were complete to detail, and afforded satisfaction to players and public*. ft was a well-satisfied throng, parched of tongue and hoarse of voice, that wended its way town-ward and homeward with Taranaki's o points viclei-y in lis possession. I j THE TEAMS. : The teams were as follows: — BlilTAlN. Full-back: J. C. M. Dyke. Tlirec-qua iters: J. L. Williams, J. Tiian June*, 11. 11. Vassall, and F. E. Chapman. Halves: W. Morgan and J. Davey. Hover: P. F. Mc-Evcdy. Forwards: A. F. Harding (captain), H. Dibble, I'. J. Down, E. Morgan, I!. It. liiud, T. Smith, and H. Archer. TAKANAIvI. Full-back: A. Hardgraves. Three-quarters: D. Cameron E. Dive 0. Shtchan Five-eighths: H. J, Mynott, J. Hunter. Half: J. Colman. Wing-forward: • T. Slieehan. •J. O'Sullivan' 11. Kothery J. D. Crowley A. Smith 'Jamil H. G. Wkittington 11. Cain THE PLAY. liritaia won tli<; toss, and elected t> defend the northern goal, with the sui at their backs, find the better end o the tield for their defensive operations Colman kicked off for Taraliaki, direct ing the ball to the right corner, Turn Jones returning to llynott, who foam the line at half-way. The first line-on was eagerly watched, and the crmvi roared as Taranaki secured the advan tage. The ball was placed in tone! .again by Hunter, but Harding elcctc to take a live yards scrum instead o the line-out. The spectators were tliu early securing a comparison of the tw teams in different departments, Th 1 scl'lilll was cleverly screwed by the liri! ; ishpack, and the ball came out the sidi ; Jlynott and X. Slieehau, however, wer . first on it. Sharp exchanges took plact and then Tamil broke awav with th . hal( at toe. Taranaki were penalise I for an infringement of the off-side rub , and Harding kicked to Cameron, wh ' kicked smartly. E. Morgan boote

softly to Myuott, who dodged away, with SUeelian following closely. Taranaki closed iiy, but too strenuous kicking sent the bull over the line. Dyke gathered in and cut across in goal, eventually sending a long kick up licld. lie tailed to find the line, and the Yellows pressed again. There was a lot of tight fout-work close to Britain's line, until Williams punted into touch near the "25 flag. From ilie line-out the lied forwards got on a dribbling rush, overrunning the home pack. Over-eagerness 011 the part of the .Britishers was conducive to off-side play, and Taranaiii was awarded a free kick. Coliuans kick fell just short of the side-line, but the British full-back made 110 mistake, kicking magnificently to halfway. From the, line-out play was kept very close, until 'Myuott snapped at the rolling ball and passed along to Cameron, who lined again near the centre llag. Britain hooked the ball, but Slieehan and Myuott broke in upon the half, and the hall was kicked short out of play. A scrum jvafi' formed, anil this lime resulted in favour of the homo team, (J. Slieehan breaking away 011 a dribbling run. He could not get past Jones, who lidded, /the ball, and just got in bis kick an lie was felled by Slieehan, tile kick going right over to Uardgravcs, w ho dre\y rounds of applause for a great line kick which took the play for the first time over" the western line. Eothery threw the ball in, and the Ked forwards handed it back to Jones. The Yellows swarmed up and compelled him to kick, the ball going out. Then ensued a very willing passage, the forwards playing hard football and neither side gaining much advantage. A headlong Red rash was stopped bv O'Sullivan, and closed lip. It was an indecisivi scramble until one of the visitors liftin to Colman, who ducked and wrigglei right through the ruck, and kicked on alongside Britain's 25 Hag. The line oat ended in favour of the defenders McEvedy starting off on a rim and kick ing strongly up field just as Colman ha; him collared. Cameron returned with 1 beautiful line-finding boost right inti the right corner. Tamu was tempor arily disabled, but be was soon in thi thick of it again. Hunter secured fron a »hort pass !>v Myuott, and attempted to dodge through. He clung to til leather too long, and the chance—no a. very hopeful one at best—was lost lie Has thrown, and Chapman bootei down to Havdgraves. Morgan and Hard ing in hot pursuit. The home full-bacl dodged thein and put in a useful relieving "kick. but the ball rebounded ijit touch near centre, t ll il Slieehun too! the ball front the line-out. and kicke. high to Vansall. who marked. His kit- 1 fell short of the loueli line, and Mynni.t' return was smothered, .Morgan seniliu the ball along the ground to liardgravc who responded with a great kick. Pi this time Harding had found that lh serum tactics by lion instead c line-outs were not as profitable as h would have liked them, and line-out became more frei|iieiU. the lieds genei ally getting the leather. Hardin; Dibble, and K. Morgan made a vigorou attempt to shift play <>ll to Taranaki half -of the field, and beat the opposin pack by tine footwork. Colman helde at slMirt range and dodged hack into th pack. The attack was teiuporaril. staved off by this means, but a wet directed boot sent the ball 0111 to IhilV graves again. He centred, and rn-! 1<■ U]> to place his men on side. Tlun cam the first passing run of the match, an the finest piece of back plav so l'ai Ravcy secured oil the wing, and th hall came across in short stages throng' the hands of Morgan. McEvedy and Var sail to Chapman. There v.ere few me to beat, but C. Slieehan prc-.-ed Cluf, man out to the side and collared hin getting away with the hall, but he \va called back as he had slipped out o I touch. After a scrum the Taranaki to; wards started to throw the hall abon a bit. but the tackling of the visitor was very sound, and the -cenc of opera tions was scarcely changed. The Hunter picked up the ball as il, en in out from some close play, and lie cut ir O'Sullivan got the ball from him. am Whittington and Sbeelian took pari wit him in a fine rush, which ended ii Britain's -25. the ball going out. Tara naki screwed the next scrum, bill Dave, oil the other side got the ball, am gathered his men round him in a slior attack. He was grassed, and Mvnnl, look the ball from the others by ; speculator."

A free kick to Taranaki lor oIV-sidf play wa-f taken by Hunter, !>ul his ■*horfc kick was called back and the ball handed to Column. Taranaki \vh playing now within Britain's iTi, ; unl with three place-kicks like Dive an I Hardgraves, and Cameron in the team il. was expected that, there would have been an attempt at goal. Colman, however, punted high and the forwards dashed in under the ball, but Harding kicked out. Britain got the best of the line-out, and Harding had another bmvt throng]) with the ball at toe. Hardgraves appeared to l>e beaten, and the three-quarters were getting back in support when Hardgraves. by tactics th.it evidently eseajK-d the referee's notice, <nrt his side out of the difficulty. Phiy* was now- almost on the half-way- line and very even. Britain screwed a scrum and Morgan- got the ball to Chapman and then to Tuan -Toner-. the latter | putting w a good spriiifc until Cane

gvasseil him. Cameron had tlic mi fortune to kick over his head, and th British forwards were almost down o; Hardgraves when lie got the ball, whic. rebounded from one of the and placed Taranaki hard oil the defene just inside the 25 Hag. This was the closest that the Beds liai managed to get so far. The ball wen out. Britain elected to take a scruiii and got the ball out, but Myuotl ;itl T. Slieehan beat the halt' and got awa; upheld, Mynott kicking out. T. Slieeliai was successful again iii taking (he biu from the uext gem in,' shooting rmnn like lightning. He booted the ball on at half-way, and play remained just 01 Britain's side of the half-way line fo some time. Morgan and Smith_ bca Taranaki's first forwards, but 0 Snlli van bent. Smith for the hall anil kicke out. Uavey essayed a run, but neglecte. to pass to his supports, and he wa thrown with the ha l ! Myiiutt f'oiiu the line at Britain's 25, and W hittin.t; ton marked, hive had a shot at gun but the distance, about forty yards, w.i too great, the ball falling short and the rolling over the line, .Tones returning t the 25 Hag, where the ball went out. 'I •Tones' run was nipped in the l.md b Cane, who tackled line and low. A ire kick was given agaiitst Britain for of. side |>lay, but they made good use of tii return, kicking up to the home team territory, where C. Slicelmn marked, I«i lie fell out of touch. Another free kit' by Colnjan brought r l ai'a l: ak i vvillii siriking distance. The full-back taile to take the ball, and O'Siillivan. who wa following bard, got over, but he wa called back for a knock-on. A scnu was formed ten yards in front >j Britain's goal, but the ball was sin-.t. cred. Britain shoved through the nc\ scrum oil the same spot, but tin' bai came to Oilman, lb' transferr.'il am ratelv to Milliter, and Mynott and Cam cron handled it in turn, tlie lalte streaking for the line ami Iriug :tow<!c I out just within a few feel of i lie line. . scrum followed, anit the linush lot, back got possession, behind the line. II ran in towards the coiner, and savi returning the. ball to tiie liefd ol pla\ anil just a minute later a pcnall. against Taranaki enabled Hardin;.' 1, punt to centre, Hunter finding tlie iin with liis return. I'lfty was lirislj a centre, and mostly close, until Myuol opened it up, but the chance was take bv the other side, Morgan nipping th ball out toSVassall, who put on his lies pace and passed to Davcy; thence th ball weut to T. •Tones aud Chapmai who was grassed without making grea headway, although the rapid transi from side to side gave the movement, dangerous look. This was one of tli finest runs of the match. Crowle\ wliosc following up was leading hii' into scrapes sometimes, was penalise for off-side work,, and Chapman took shot at goal from within live feet of tli halfway line. The ball fell short an went wide. Kothery made a ivretchei kick to centre, where Vassall securer There were very few players bet wee: the foremost Britisher and the goal 1m at this stage, and there was presents an opportunity for the visitors. Quid as a thought Hunter cut in anil pickc. up the ball, screw-punting into tone [ with a red-and-white-jcvscycd forwav ! clinging to his leg. A scrum was takcj I and"the Englishmen were penalised tin time for putting the ball unfairly i_ut I the scrum. C'olman kicked to the lin- | and another scrum was taken, Hardin; I and his colleagues dribbljug the ball we! uplield. A knock-on stopped the play I and a seriHii sent the bail to Column who passed to Sheclian, and lie hul locked his way through the forward until MeEvedy put a stop to his marc; Then the Beds were penalised for play in'.' the ball on the ground, but Colman kick went to the full-back, and he r. turned right up to the home 25, the ba' going out From a mark by E. Morga Harding got in a line kick. C. Sheeha failed to catch the ball, which rolled out A scrum was formed' near Taranaki' 25. and Mynott and Sheelian got awa; with the ball, Hunter chipping ill at further stage and securing a mark, froi: which Hardgraves (milled right upliek Chapman miscalculated the kick, am the ball came out. O'Sullivan, Bother;, Cane, and Tamu took part in a piece o fast work, hut a knock-on brough about the too frequent scrum agair Britain hooking. Another' scrum, an. the Beds were penalised for handling th ball, Oilman sending the teams up ti the British 25's again, finding the line ■From the line-out Colman marked ill ; handy spot, but again Hunter preferrei not to direct a shot at goal, preferrinj to allow Colman to put high and acrosi the tield, where there was a loos; scramble, the possibility of a score bciiu spoiled by Crowley's atVcction for tin leather. Cameron and Hunter made i bit of ground with a dodgy run, but tin latter was collared, Harding relieving the consistent pressure. Mynott failed to pick up a ball from the scrum, and 'Morgan was on it in a twinkling, riming and kicking through larauakis backs. Hardgraves was in a I'ft'it rar ' iter. He bad to get to the ball before the four Britishers who were lollowing the kick. Tie managed to get. there, and, swerving, let liis opponents dash past, then kicked one of his best kicks into touch amidst lluinderous applause. Crowley was caught oIV-sidc, alid Harding had a free kick, liringiug play back to Taranaki's side of the chalk-line. ■Morgan, who was exceptionally dangermis 11','ar the serums just now, sent- a pass In Tuan .Tones, lull; lie was charged, i 1,11(1 lie kicked otit of touch. A few minutes of loose forward work I'niin I the teams well matched, neither side managing to score any great advantage Then Harding made good use qf the line, and temporarily shifted operations, rhoosing a .scrum instead of a throw-in. Taranaki hooked the ball this time, and O'Sullivan, Whittington, and Cane broke iway, hut tlicy lost the leather to Morgan, who nipped it into touch. O'Sulliran was incapacitated for a minute bv a ill** Oil tlie head. In a scrum the lied 'orwards shoved the home pack almost iff their feet, but Mynott saved. Hardng tackled him, and Smith kicked upi'eld, Hardgraves kicking into touch aluost, at the halfway flag just as the vhistle sounded for half-time. The irst spell ended without score, anil the lossiliilities in Taranaki's favor. THE SECOND SPELT,.

Harding opened the second part of the ' proceedings with a- long kick. C. Sheehan sending up a good return. Right from the jump it was seen that each side had * satisfied it-self of the soundness of the f other's vanguard, and each endeavored to make the game more open. The first, scrum hroke up as though there were a premium on promptness, and O'Sullivan [ and Sheehau .set out on a strong rush, which was stopped by Yassall. An over-generous kick sent the ball to 1 llardgraves, who ran up and passed to Dive, who put 111 a short, serviceable run before he lost possession. Whiltington j and Cane broke away again, and kicked up to tlie line, where 'Dyke hooted safely into touch, amidst great excitement. Tlx; spectators were now yelling 1 themselves hoarse, for tin; locals seemed ' to be getting the upper hand. They were within striking distance, and th'»v had a three-quarter line containing ono of Xew Zealand's most dangerous threequarters dose to the line. A lhie-sout ensued well inside Britain's base, and thi? defenders got the advantage, Smith ' sending ihe ball out. A long throw-in placed the ball at the feet of Whitting- ' ton. Crowley, and O'Sullivan, who endeavored to break through the line, hut ineffectually. -Column sent a long and misjudged pass amongst his backs, and Harding and .Morgan and Dibble quickly secured the advantage, but Hunter found tho line nicely at halfway. A sharp exchange of short kicks for a time was not a very safe feature, and eventually Taranaki secured a "free" for deliberate off-side. dolman's kick fell infield, and Tuan Jones also failed to "line."' his return. Mvnott punting into louch. Une-outs were now less frequent, Harding electing to take the alternative scrums when the advantage canto his way. This particular scrum tliev played with, and to the yells of "feet, feet" from their colleagues on the oilicial sl.and they rushed through. Archers booting was too powerful, however, and the ball arrived at llardgraves' station a> to give him time to get in one of hl< best line-kicks, the ball going out near )Iu» ii.~> Nag once more. scrum I followed; and the ItriliVh forwards sent; the bull out Wearily to Morgan, who beat Sheehan by a fine piece of footwork anl "lined" at halfway. Jlothery. who was breaking off Ihe back of the >ennn as soon as the ball went awav, got. <i], a powerful lone-handed dash, and Column joined in, gathering up Ihe lull and uniting up a good run. ending with :• kick that fell short of (lie sideline, Morgan kicking to Hunter, who nmlM. • The rebound was expensive, for Ihirding boo I ed it up info Taranaki's with the nack in hot pursuit, but llardgraves found the line. The British hacks got into motion, a caoil-al bit of passing be! ween Morgan, "McEv-edy, and Jon n s being spoiled bv the hitter's difficult pass to Williams, who knoeked-on. The resultant scrum ended in Mvnott kicicTnar out. and the next scrum gave Britain a "free," Sheehan l>eing penalised for getting round the scrum too soon. At this stage of the game the referee was putting the ball into the scrums for Ihe Englishmen, probably to save his whistle as well as to give the Reds an object-lesson in what Xew Xcalanders mean by putting the ball fairly into the scrum. Down came tlie Britishers

again with a concerted dribbling rush

but Dive went down gamely and snv-p'd. At- the end of a little bout of passing '.Toilcs tried to not/but the attempt vwk a.failure. .Williams v .o\

break through tlu» homo dclcuce, "but Cameron grassed him in line style, and Con Siit'uliiiii sent, a loug kick up the lino into Jiritain's half of the Held. Morgan and Davey smothered a kick of Hunter's, but Aiyjiolt caught the re-

Ijouud and made good use of the sic. line again. Jones, AieEvedy, and Wi lianis again introduced play to the 'far. liaki end, but Williams lost the ba and Cameron fielded well, cutting ol and changing into attack what seonie, likely to he a piece of fairly serious <i'. fence, -Morgan was waiting oll'-side a.l interfered with the local men's open tions, but Alvnott was safe. from ; mark Harding sent a long kick to centf. where Hunter caught at the full an after a dodgy run booted into touc: 'Play was now close again, the jiritisheri advantage in footwork being nullified i a large, measure, by the smothering la. lies adopted by Xaranaki-'s first line n defence, with Mynott and Sheehan pUi\ iug close up to the scrum. The Yellow set up another forward rush, but -Moi gau slemmcd the tide and sent « fou | ; a sto Vassal!, who kicked high, Hard graves making no mistake with his kic! to line. .Mynott again got away wii the ball from a scrum, and Britain wa given another turn of hot defence, th Taranaki men gaining much by a sci'ic id' line kicks. The Yellow forwards wer working more like a machine now. ail I heir cll'orts were certainly availing The frequency of the line play, how ever, uas nibbing (lie game of a goo deal of its interest, all hough there w,i always a glorious uncertainty as to wli.i would happen next. Chapman kicke hard down the line, but the ball fell ju> inside, and. fortunately for 'J'aranak llardgraves was there io receive it. r: turning to hallway. Again the relciv penalised liarding for his method n placing the hall into the serum, bu Tar.inaki neutralised Column's kick l\ giving away a. "free" for oil",side won Tuan" Jones cleared Britain's linn wit a Inn" kick, and 'Williams markeil Slh'c Harding's kick went out Morgan and Jones opened up play, bu • Taranaki more than held its own. The: the game settled down again on th halfway line, and it was very willinj. several' players getting tip from a tigli tussle rubbing their limbs and limpin;: There were no "beg pardons," thong no undue roughness, the play being «u tremely strenuous but very clean. W Morgan broke away from the linc-oui but Cameron heat him for the hall an kicked out. A scrum was taken, and th Taranaki hookers got the ball away t Colman. There was it splendid opening but lie contented himself with kickin; out. The visitors tried harder thai ever to openup the game, and hacks an forwards alike were handling the bill' but Tamu, Whittington, T. Sheehan Cane, and O'Sullivan were playing wit. undiminished vigor, whilst Colman als did a lot of etfective spoiling. Desptt all their efforts Britain was playin; nearly all the time on their own side o the centre chalk. Dive and Caniero.' did a nice hit of passing, and eventual!; Colman placed the ball out of play a Britain's 25 Hag'. Securing from th line-out, lie kicked out to Dive, wh was brought down, but not before h had got ill 'his kick, and the hall wen out within live yards of Britain's gon To say that the crowd was excited nois nothing. .From their yelling and fraii tic cheering it was evident that man; of them would have burst but for til thoughtfuluess of Nature in providin, for them this method of relieving tliei feelings., Britain threw in, aud Caniero took the ball for llardgraves, who won', have had some dilliculty in gettin; there." but 'Taranaki was penalised a I the critical moment, and Harding n I lieved thi' pressure, sending the ball on ! near halfway. Cane, aud Tamil lirok [ away from the ruck; but Down took tli hall'from them, only to he thrown on of touch by O'Sullivan. Taranaki kep up the attack, and presently Smith wa penalised for off-side. And the peopl held their breath for a time, but Dive kick at goal, though a tine ell'ort, wen outside the posts. Hunter, Mynott, an Divo onjrujioil in a jn'otty purlin but Dive threw forward. A serum ci sued, Harding lieating the Taranai, half for the hall. Cameron got throng to Williams, and was telled to th ground. Then Tuan .lones, Vassal!, an Williams essayed a passing bout, bu Williams was thrown out by Caiueroi who was tackling gamely. This was th most "shaky" experience that the i'aia liaki side had. AVith Cameron beaten, , try was a dead certainty. The ball wa kicked hither and thither until it wa. booted out of touch at the halfway il;iJ Jlvnott, Hunter, and Dive again tried i passing run, and Dive, kicked crispij over the full-back's head, but one of tin others came to his support and savei the situation. There were now only te> minutes to go, anil both sides, who hai; played their hardest up till now, played even harder —to use an expression heard on this line, llardgraves made a beautiful line kick, which gained about, forty yards. The kick was smartly returned, the lied forwards getting a combined fold,-passing rush, llardgraves saving again. After a. rush by O'Sullivan, Slieehan made a foolish kick into the ltcil forwards, and Hunter had all he coil!.I do to save. Britain was now attacking, anil the Yellows' supporters were.looking glum, bat, llardgraves kicked right up to the top of his form, returning play to halfway, where the hall went out. Ten minutes to go. A scrum near the •lit line gave the ball to iMynolt, but at an. angle where no mail could be expected to grasp it. Somehow iie grabl>cd it and slipped past several men, transferring then to T. Sheehan. Jones got his side, out of dilliculty for a while, but .Mvno'tt, Kothery, and Sheehan persisted, and Britain had its defence thoroughly tested. ; C. Sheehan spoiled tile ell'ort by missing his hall. Then the ball went nut. The unexpected happened. There were five minutes to go. Sheehan was leisurely preparing to throw-in. Colman took it. "Hive it t» me," he said. And he threw it clean out to Hunter, who inssed to Dive, and the Elthamite put in his best sprint and set out for the ine. He streaked for all he knew, and Britain was caught napping. Only Vasiall and Dyke made any decent attempt :o intercept him, and even had they leen dangerous, Cameron was following lose up, ready for a pass. Dive groumld the ball over the line amidst frantic xeitement. Taranaki had drawn first, ilood. People hardly believed it. But ihcn Cameron placed a beautiful goal, iiidwuy between the uprights, there was io room for doubt, and the crowd went

mad. Taranaki 5 Uritnin 0 Playing with fourteen men for a minute* or two. owing to an injury to Morgan, Britain struggled hard to equalise matters, but the task was beyond them. Taranaki still continued v\i do their full share of attacking when many a side would have played to the line for defence only. .Tones and "Williams tried a feinting run. lnit- the hitter's kick was a failure, Dive 'lining" in Britain's 20. Again and again the Red hacks tried to get. going, hut the Tara* link! tlfteeu was collaring like clockwork, and nipped evcrv elFon; in the hud. Column played the last stroke oi' tin- fight, finding the line in Britain's corner with one of his best kicks of the day. The game ended without further score.

GENERAL. '•Polity'' Jones, one of the star backs ol the team, who was incapacitated from playing owing' to A had shoulder, was much impressed \vfth the Recreation Ground. I liave seen ail the best grounds in England, Scotland, IrelitnJ. and, Wales, besides those we have played on in New Zealand, but none can equal your ground. Yon ought to be proud of it." Asked his opinion of the Taranaki team, he said it was the he>t combination thev had yet been pitted against. "Your forwards are clinkers, especially in the open, bub the jtfynottllmiter combination disappointed me. At Home this combination ttps hugely successful: in fact, we never had. anything like it. Of course, 1 know they did not get iho hall very often. Otir men -were more successful than yours in the scrum, and the leather did Jiul get, out lo this formidable pair." Hardgraves he considered the best full-back' | iho Ibiiis'hers haw yet played, against. | T-lis kicking was unsurpassed. On the I day's play. Taranaki. he believed, was fhc belter team, l ln* representing the difference between them, fie d<'serlbedthe I rya.s lucky, but by no means unfair. it was a splendid piece of j play leading up to it. Jje wis sorry, ' however, thai- tin* referee did not stop ' the game "when the men "were lying on I the ground just before the score took place. i

Interviewed last night, Mr. A. Humphries, 0110 of the selectors uf the Mew Zealand and Taramilci teams, said the British team yesterday could hardly be recognised as the team which Mew Zealand romped oTer at JJunedin. It was immeasurably better, and a splendid side. They played betti'r football all round, more especially in the vanguard 'department. Mr. ]•;. Wyllie, the referee, interviewed, said hp knew that, the members of the British team were complaining that he had favored the Taranaki team in rejtnrd to penalising Britain for oil- I 'side play and in awarding' ihe one try of the match, ft had been explained that Morgan was hurt, and that the| British team appealed t'or cessation of the game. The man, however, was not. in danger, and he could not stop the frame. Shortly, Taranaki men played to the whistle. Britain didn't, and Column. Hunter and Dive taught them napping.

Till! lirilisli ton in frjinlvTy admit thai. I jfliis was the most «ent lcnitinly game of Uio tour. "I'v Knrry, Taranaki lip can't got ti win time tic liefer hafc ti Aluori in ti pmy (play). Tamil lieasy ti pest man I' liefer seen pefore." lcinaikcil nil excilalile Maori on 1 lie terraces. Tiie. diiskv onlooker vxcitalilv veiled. "K!i" him ti pout., 'laurn, hit him li lirad, ake. ake, kia. kalia." lolinst colored lady who was attired in a garb thai showed many 11101-4; lint* Itian tin' eoniliiiied leanis enjoyed the out 11s niiieli as she would have relished a. meal of potatoes in a lilighi season, Her ' eoiiiiiiciit, was nt all times vigorous and ol'Uh'U's original. "Kupai 'raranaki, kapai ti I'rilisli. lie prnity trong. Ail ti ti 11 h 1 he ko iirenty quick. Whit- I'oi tat fcrra hot li whistle, lie ti porangi llepry time lie can't: run too. then In prow ti whistle," and lier facial contoi' lion was sui'li that had the. referee oli 1 ililied a glance of it ho must aswuredl) have sun: 11 nilied.

JUNIOR TRIAL MATCH. NORTH 02) v. SOUTIX AND WEST (Gj, The junior trial match Xorth v. South and West, was played 011 the racecourse ground yesterday before a large crowd of spectators. The teams as picked took the field with the exception of Campbeil and Hunter in the South team. These players were replaced by Robinson (Kltliani) and Lowe (Star). The high wind militated against anything like an exposition of football, and the game was uninteresting and utterly devoid of incident. The Northern backs were superior to those of their opponents, Slannering, Stiilir, and McLaren being the most conspicuous oil the North side. The forwards were evenly matched. Maslin and Heller, the North front-row men, hooked the ball from nearly every serum, while in the South vanguard l'epperi'l aud Mcljclnud got in good work in the loose. The South backs, of whom Morris and Tamil were, the most prominent, failed to make use of several good openings. South won the toss, and Brown set.the leather rolling, l'earce saving ; 1 forward rush in splendid style. South again got the leather, and a dangerous rush was ngaiii staved off by (Johlsmith kicking out. I'roin a line-out the Southern backs started a passing rush, but Stolir smartly intercepted and cut up the tield, heing grassed on tlie South 25. South again worked down into Northern territory, and the. forwards carried the oval 011 to the line, where Brown snapped up and -roreil in a handy position. Koru failed with the kick. Shortly after Smith were awarded a free kick for offside piny, and Koru landed the oval over the bar. Hall-time was calie.l shortly after with the score -South fi, Xorlli 0.

In the second spelt, with the wind in their favor, the North team livened play a little. I'rom a penalty Stolir kicked a line goal from a difficult angle. North kept the ball in the South territory, where Stannerilig secured, and, squeezing through the pack, touched down. Stolir failed to increase the score. On resuming South were again penalised, aud Stolir registered another goal. Play was still held iu the South From a scrum the North vanguard carried the oval over the South line, and Jones, who was following closely, touched down, l'earce took the kick, aud the ball went wide. Time was called a few minutes Inter without; further increase to the score, which ended—North 12, South (i.

TAKAXJKI JUXIOI! BIit'KKSHNTATIVES.

The following junior represcutativ" team lia.i been selected to nlay agaiu.it Auckland and W'anganiii juniors:- fullback, Ryan (Waiuiate): three-quarters. Tail (I'atea), Stolir (Ttlkapa), Koru (Opunake); live-eighths. Stannerilig (Tu-l.-apa); half. .McLaren (Star): wing forwards, Taylor and 0. Brown (Wai-, mate): forwards, Maslin, Heller, McDonald (Kltliam), li. Brown and Yillcrs 11 lan era). Willis (il'atea), and MeAllum (Tukapa): emergencies—backs, Morisou I Waiinatei and (llcutwortli (Kltliam); forwards. I'cpperill (Opunitke) and Winters (Kaponga).

WEDNESDAY REP. MATCH. By Telegraph.—l'ress Association. Wellington, Last Night. The AVi'lliiigton Wednesday football reus, defeated the Wairarapa. Thursday fifteen aI. iVtheltie Park this afternoon l>y 15 point's to J5. The weather conditions iiiicl the state of the ground prevented anything .like good play. For Wellington trios were, obtained by Whittakev (2), Browne, Gosling, and Mclvay. Wairaparapa's score was n try obtained by Fairlirother.