FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 179, 20 July 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE BRITISH TOUR. ' VISITORS DEFEATED BY AUCKLAND. k By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Saturday Night. •The Anglo-Welsh footballers met the Auckland team at Alexandra Park today, when the weather was delightfully fine. Some 20,000. spectators attended, stand accommodation being provided for 14,000. The ground was dry, and the game was fast and fairly interesting. Britain was without the services of several of their "cracks" through injuries. The teams were as follows: BRITAIN. Full-back: Dyke. Three-quarters: Chapman, Vassall, J. P. Jones, and McEvcdy. Halves: Laxon and G. \V. Williams. Forwards: Harding (captain), Dibble, Morgan, Down, Hind, Smith, J. F. Williams, and Thomas. AUCKLAND. Full-back: Renwick. Three-quarters: Wilson, Magec, and Murray. Five-eighths: Morse and Baker. Half: Kiernan. Forwards: Gillett (captain), McGuire, Herring, Cunningham, Francis, Nicholson, Seeling, and Hayward. The home team lost the toss, and Francis kicked against the sun and a very light wind. Gillett was the first, player to show up at all prominently? and beatin'g several Britishers gave Auckland a slight advantage. When less than Ave minutes had gone, Baker unexpectedly broke away from the loose, and had a clear run in from near fcalf way. He was quite unsupported, however, and Dyke brought him down a few yards from the Britisli line. The teams packed round the ball, and in the ensuing struggle the leather went over the line, and Hayward, who was handy, pounced on it, drawing first Wood for Auckland. The kiek was not a difficult one, but Kiernan failed to improve the score. Auckland a Britain .. .. .. 0 On resuming, Auckland forced the game; but Laxon and G. L. Williams' stopped an ugly rush, and returned play to neutral territory. Britain's forwards improved their position slightly, and for an infringement Auckland was penalised, and Harding had a long shot lor goal from about half-way. iiis kick was short. Chapman and Vassall then gave an indication of their ity, but the tackling was sure and nothing resulted. Dyke attempted another penalty from half-way, with the same result as before. The ball did not go out of play, and Francis, Seeling, anuj Hagee, in a useful passing rush, reached the Britishers' 25, and for"an infringement just later Francis attempted a goal from a diflicut angle without result.

Thereafter the Britishers became decidedly aggressive, Chapman and V assail showing up prominently on more than one occasion. The visitors were attempting an open game, while Auckland was relying on its forwards to smother all attempts to get away. At length, through a back tailing lo take a pass, the- whole team turned the tables on their opponents, and were getting into a dangerous position when a free kick brought about relief, and a long punt by Harding removed all dan- , ger. Hard forward play about halfway followed. The visitors were securing the ball from all the scrums, but Were unable to get it away owing to tiie smartness of the Auckland van. Half-way through the spell, the visitors -were having much the better of the game, and kept Auckland penned up within the home territory A run by Tuan Jones and Vassall looked ominous for Auckland, but the latter lost the ball when not far from the line, and Murray saved with a dodgy run to the 25. Almost immediately, McEvedy on the other side snapped up the ball and made a determined bid to get in at the corner, but Horse and Wilson between them held him up, and when the bunch separated, McEvedy was found to have sustained an injury to his head. Flay was resumed, however, after a short interval.

Britain continued to force the game, but found the defence very sound. The play slowed down considerably during tne last ten minutes, and the spell ended slightly in Britain's favor. Britain secured the first advantage in the second spell, and maintained it for a few minutes. Then Hayward, who together with Francis, Gillett and Seeling, was doing a lot of spoiling, tojok| charge, and rushed play into Britain's 25. At length Chapman broke away, and racing round the- opposing i|or wards, who were hard on the ball, kicked out at half-way. Tuan Jones and Chapman followed this up with a run to the 25, but Nicholson came to the resCue and returned play to a safe dis-> tance past half-way, and Baker, coming on the scene, gave the {home team the advantage. The Aucklanders continued to maintain the upper hand, and the last-nam-<ed player and Magee looked like scoring, but Murray proved a weak link in the chain. The Britishers had their hands full for some time, but eventually Dyke saved by marking on the goal line, Hie visitors were getting no respite, and were unable to clear their line. A well-timed kick by Harding gave temporary relief, but clever lineplay by Gillett resulted in Herring) eludin'g the defence and scoring at the corner. Francis' kick was a good one, but wide. , Auckland . . •• 0 Britain 0 •Morse, Baker ancKWilfion appeared likely to increase the score immediately after the ball was returned to play, but a faulty pass to the latter spoilt .the chance a lew yards from the line. [The British defence then appeared to go to pieces, and the backs for the most part appeared content to find the line without attempting any passing play. Tuan Jones saved at a very crnical time by marking in the nick of-, tjme right on the line, and kick removed all danger, play being removed to half-way. Francis attempted a penalty goal from half-way at ithis stage, but the ball did not go out ol play. In the subsequent scramble, Francis secured in the loose, and whipped the leather out to Nicholson, wflio passed in turn to Baker. Tne latter gave a poor pass to Magee, who lost the ball. Then followed the most exciting piece of play of the day, Murray running in very determinedly frqiu near the 25. Dyke collared him when near the line, but he struggled loose, and just managed to register a try. The kick, which was from a good position, was taken by Magee, who secured viie additional points. Auckland 11 Britain ; u

The Auckland forwards set up a vi{ orous attack, and gradually pressed th visitors back riglit on to their lint when a succession of tight scramble followed. Auckland was within an ae of scoring on more than one occasion but faulty passing was responsible fo: two good chances being lost. By using the line, the Britishers ef fected a clearance, and with ten mill utes to go play was at half-way. Trin cipally through Harding, Britain sue ceeded in reaching Auckland s 20, bu the advantage was only temporary, am the Auckland forwards soon afterward: lushed play past the half-way Hag Here the home team was awarded a free-kick for a scrum infringement, bul Magee's attempt at goal was a failure Nicholson initiated a fine passing rush but a forward pass spoilt an almost certain score. Baker figured promin ently in the ensuing plav, but anj chances were thrown away by the erratic passing of the local backs. During the closing minutes (I the spell, the Britishers attempted to open lip play for their bacKs, Vassall, putting in one or two bright runs as a result. The defence was, however, very sound, and the visitors were never really dangerous. The ball shifted up and down the field once or twice, and no time sounded with play in Britain's territory, the final scores being: Auckland Britain 0 The play was not of a very interesting description, the spectators ne\er icing roused to much enthusiasm. lhe visitors on manv occasions gave glimpses of what they might nave done against a weaker defence, but fast following up and sure tackling of the home forward division particular v. spoilt their chances of opening up play for the backs. In the serums, Britain, was nenrlv always successful 111 obtaining the ball, but Gillett was usuall'V wide awake to what was going forwardand frequently smothered the Tailbacks' attempts to feed the flying '"ice■quarter line. Quite a feature of .lie game was Harding's magnificent Iraekicklng. The defence of Hie Isriti-.li back" and their tackling were weak. While their attack did not cow up to <ptpertatSnos. A assail, Ha rdi uir. '' M '' McEvedy were the jiopiilur fivovit''-. while for Auckland, Oil'icU. I'mucis. Nicholson and Peeling were mo 4 prominent. Jlagee. Murray, ami Baker : Were the best of the back division. As , referee Mr. Angus Campbell f Aurkl;irnV) Ttjaya. satisfaction to plavers and the Ijb was expected that Auck-

land would win, but not by sucli a large margin. °

The British team left by special train in the evening. An informal game will be played against a Rotorua Jlaori I team on Wednesday, and it is intended , the , teaiu stall have a full day's rest previous to the third test match on oaturday next.

N.S.W. v. QUEENSLAND. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) Received 18, 10.30 p.m. a ft) ■ Sydney, July 18. At Rugby, New South Wales defeated Queensland by 17 points to 10. THE MAORI PltoS.

| FRICTION IN THE CAMI'. n, Sydney, July 18. nf !'' u »; as at <»'« time a probability field tn i la T,' ! nms <"> t0 to test to *' A "' lrali;nl3 >" the final test to-day. Trouble arose through disThTnfl- °T •"}* sclcctiol > «f the team. senior d one tcam and the dis " »entients another. With some difficulty the dispute was settled.

DEFEATED BY AUSTRALIA.

Received 18, 10.3 a.m. Tl , ~ Sydney, July 18. The weatlier was fine and there was an attendance of 8000 at the game between the Maoris and Australia. Tire game was very fast and exciting, and m the early part the Maoris earned all before them, placing ten points to their credit before Australia scored. Tries uere obtained by Haira and Papokura, tv men the latter and Asher converted, and also kicked a penalty goal. 'JPhle Australians levelled the scores by halftime to 10 all. The second half was marked by many fine rushes on the part of the Maoris, but they failed to penetrate the defence. The visitors tired their forwards towards the finish, the home team adding two more converted goals, and tile game ended: Australia 20 j Maoris ~ .. .. lu

OTAGO v. WAIRARArA.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night, llie following team will represent Otiigo against Wairarapa next Saturday: till 1-back: Kindley; three-quar-ters: O'Sullivan, Bennett, Stalker; fiveeighths: McLeod and Eckhold; half: Sutherland; forwards: S. Casey, Fitzpatrick, Paton, Ivimey, McDonald, A]c Kenzie, Johnston, M. Casey (wing).

WAIRAKAPA ON TOUR. DEFEATED B\ CANTERBURY. By Telegraph.— Pres3 Association. Christchurch, Last Night. -I lie first of the season's interprovincial matches was played yesterday afternoon, when Canterbury and Wairarapa met at Lancaster Park. As tih«' result of the rain during the week, and; to-day's showers, the ground was in a very bad state, and the game was spoilt to a large extent. All things considered, however, it was a much better display of football than is usually witnessed under similar conditions, and judging by the form shown it would have been a very interesting match on dry ground.

In the first Spell, with the advantage of the wind, the Canterbury backs played a remarkably good game. They handled the greasy ball in fine style, and some of their passing rushes were extremely pretty. In the second half, the Wairarapa forwards played a much brisker game, and in the loose work they were much superior to their opponents. The Canterbury forwards seemed disinclined to put the necessary amount of "boot" into their work, and their rushes were easily checked. The result was that in the second spell the local backs were compelled to act on the defensive for the greater portion Of the game. The match resulted: Canterbury 15 Wairarapa 6

PRIMARY SCHOOLS. The following fixtures have been drawn for the first week's play in the North Taranaki primary school matches:—July 2f>: Inglewood v. Clifton, at Inglewood; Stratford A. v. Stratford B.; Central v. West End at Western Park; Fitzroy a bye. No intimation has yet been received that the play-off between Tukupa and Opunake juniors will take place on other than the dale originally fixed—next Saturday—at New Plymouth. An effort is being made to have the match played as a curtain-raiser to the Mana-watu-Taranaki match on Thursday. The Taranaki junior reps, meet Auckland juniors at Auckland on 22nd Aug-, ust. The Manawatu reps, are stated to lie a very good and impioving combination this year. There is not a great deal of apprehension regarding tile result, however, the Taranaki forwards having utterly falsified the predictions of the prophets who failed to find any merit in the forward division when originally selected. (Further notes will be found on fourth page).