FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 183, 24 July 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI v. MAXAWATU. ! AN EASY WIN. Yesterday was uninviting for football, and it was surprising that over one thousand people braved the threatening elements to witness the Taranaki-ilana-watu match on the Recreation Sports Grouud. The ground was not in the best of condition, and the repent intermittent drizzles lrad rendered the surface very heavy at the southern end. The match was not uninteresting, but it was not strenuous. It was very evident that Manawatu was not represented by anything like the team that represented tile Union against the Britishers. and their backs were particularly weak. The forwards, however, played a line keen and clean game, and the match practically resolved itself into a struggle I between the two vanguards. Whenever

Taranaki managed to break through llananatu'g first division, the opposition I was feeble. On the other hand, the Manawatu forwards, who frequently got away, found themselves against an almost impenetrable wall in Mynott and Dive. The visiting backs were parti.Mlarly weak in line-kicking, and this, combined with the long and accurate linefinders of Hardgraves and the other Taranaki backs, practically ran the Manawatu forwards off their feet, whilst the loeal vanguard was carefully nursed. Under all the circumstances, the Manawatu team, as constituted yesterday, was fortunate in that the ground was not favorable to Mynott playing a back game. Had Archie McMinn, Stalker, Wraiata, and Co. been able to make the trip, a much closer game would undoubtedly have resulted. The game was played in exceUent spirit. The teams were as follows:

MASAWATU. Full-back— Hodgins. 7 . ~ Three-quarters—L. Smith, Hewitt, M. Carroll. Five-eighths—Amodeo and 0 Connor. Half— Buchanan. Forwards—Boon fwing), Ward, Alex. McMinn, Carroll, Best, Ryan, Thorlmrn, Brough. Emergencies—Frascr, Lowe, McLwen, Matheson.

TAKANAKI. 1 Full-hack—Hardgravcs. Three-quarters —D. Hooker, E. Divfl, and C. Sheehan. Five-eighths—H. J. Mynott. I Half—Thurston. Wing-forwards T. Sheehan and H. Rothery. Forwards— Whittington, Cain, larnn, Smith, Crowley, O'Sulliyan, and Pukere.

THE PLAY. Maaawat'j UioUed off, Thurston's re turn finding the line in his own half. Tar.i naki forwards rushed to centre, hut Be chanan stopped them. The yellow van guard canie again, right up to Mann natu's 25, hut JlcMinn and his merr; men got the ball at toe and relievec Mynott got the ball from a lineout an passed to Dive and Hooker. The latt? kicked, and Hodgins just succeeded ii lining near the corner. From the line out McMinn, and Boon changed tin scene, but Mynott and Dive essayed passing run, which was stopped by Div losing the ball, and Boon gaining som ground for the visitors, but Hardgrave lined. Mynott grabbed the ball from /scramble, and passed to Dive, who feint ed and passed- wildly to Hooker, Thurs lon cutting in just in time, and the T;i ranaki forwards charged up to the coi aer, bustling the Green backs badly, i scrum was given for a faulty throw-ir /nd the Manawatu men pushed througi but Mynott, Hooker and Dive set up ; passing run, Hooker being collared nca the line. From a line-out, one-'of tli Taranaki forwards appeared to nee only to fall over to notch a score, Ipii the falling was not as simple as it look ed. Mynott kicked sharp to ljowe, v'i> mulled, and O'Sullivan followed ii| crossing the line. Dive's kick at goa was pool - . Taranaki 3 Manawatu 0

Crowley's return found the line. Jloilinn, Boon and Best were prominent if; a loose Manawatu rush, and Mi-Minn marked near the line. Ward's kick failed to find the uprights, and Mynott forced. The kick-out was called ba?k for 'man in front." From the scrum Mynott whipped into the ruck, and was tackled by Smith. The forwards came ilown behind Mynott, and the Green backs were nonplussed. Dive and Slr.«han put in a serviceable run, the ball ijoing out near the goal. Lowe savsd his side by a timely mark, his forwarls chasing the kick well up-field. They lost the ball, however, to O'Sullivan, and the home pack returned the compliment, eoniing with an irresistible rush to the goal line, Crowley touching down. Hardgraves failed with the kick. Taranaki 6 Manawatu ~ .. ..0

Immediately upon resuming Tamu, at the head of a rush, kicked too hard, and Manawatu forced. A lot of loose forward work followed, until Dive puntid to the Manawatu full-back, who ran 'o centre, but held too long, and things looked queer again for Manawatu, but Smith and Amodea got them out of the difficulty by working to the side line. Rothery and O'Sullivan bustled through again, but Boon and Best shifted play once more to halfway. The visiting forwards wefe working hard and were almost run off their legs, whilst Hardgraves, Dive, and Mynott were saving the home pack by fine line-kicking. A free kick was given against Taranaki for obstruction, but Hardgraves sent back a beautiful line-kick. Mynott, who was playing close up and very often right -amongst the forwards, managed lo squirm through and passed to O'Sullivan, but he slipped and lost the ball just as he reached the three-quarter line, and Smith got in a good line-finder. Amodea and O'Connor livened matters up, dodging about and eventually ki&ing to centre, whence Hardgraves drove them back to their own territory with a great kick. McMinn, Best, and Brough dashed away, and caught the home backs at a disadvantage, but Hooker and Dive cut across, the latter lining. The visitors came again, and this time O'Connor had a very likely chance, but he failed to gather in the ball. Then Buchanan essayed to pot a goal, and after a scrum touch-in-goal was given. Taranaki kicked out, and again nodgins failed to find the line, Hardgraves' kick returning play to the Manawatu line. Tamu and O'Sullivan broke away from a line-out and got close to the "scoring-line, but Ilodgins picked up and streaked upheld, beating several men before getting in his kick, from which JlcMinn organised a rush, but Carroll threw the ball forward. Whittington made an opening from some line play, but passed forward. The scrum broke into a scramble, and Lowe made a good mark, but the kick was n | wretched one. Carroll followed it with a nice run. but his kick went direct to J Hardgraves, who lined. Thurston narI rowly missed scoring as the result of faulty fielding by the Green backs, Buchanan' felling him on the line. Manawatu forced. Tn the next few minutes nar-1-graves treated the spectator? to a fine display of line-kicking, nursing the Taranaki pack, whilst lie kept the visitors busy. Mynott, Shecban, Dive, anil Hooker all made attempts to get away, but they were attacking on (lie greasy portion of the field, and failed to gel under way. Hardgraves also put in a good gallop, being pressed out not f.-i' from the goal-line. The two Carrolls and McMinn managed to wriggle out of this difficulty, but taranaki came again. Lowe missed a rolling ball, which O'Sullivan, Sheehan. and Crowley were chasing. There was only the full-back (Hodgins) to beat, and he picked up the ball with the three burly forwards towering over him. He dived from lnfore them, and dodged into play, returning the ball about twelve yards into the field, where it went out, saving his .side by a very clever piece of work just as half-time"was sounded. After the interval Taranaki kicked off, Hodgins failing to field the ball. Tamu. O'Sullivan, and Pukere charged down on him. and a score looked a certainty, but O'Connor kicked out. Play went straight across the front of the goal, the home forwards working hard, and Manawatu secured a lucky let-off. Smith forcing. The force gave very little relief, the home team keeping up a hot attack, and Hodgins had to kick back to the corner i to save. Pukere was penalised for off- j side, but the free kick gained but little'

ground for the defenders. Crowley headed a headlong rush, but M. Carroll picked up and kicked. Ilardgraves fielded it and potted a magnificent goal from about 50 yards, the ball appearing to be rising still as it cleared above the post*. There was great applause, and "e'en the ranks of Tuscany could scarce forbear to cheer," the Greens joining in the plaudits. Taranaki 10 Manawatu 0 .

Manawatu kicked off, ami Xurana', came again, Mynott kicked the ba: from Buchanan's toe across to (_'. She, han, who chased and centred, Im Auioilea- lined. From the line-out M\ nott passed to Dive, to Hooker, wh galloped for the line lml was throw; out, bringing down the Maimwatn lin umpire with him. The visitors wcv kept on the defence, the Amber jersey hovering within a few feet of their Urn Dive grabbed the ball straight in fron of the posts, and, although his back were well placed, he elected to cut i; "on his own," and was grassed, O'Conno hooting to Hardgr.ives, who caught th ball on the full. A mark must hav given a goal, but he tried a pot—am missed. Manawatu forced. The Yellow continued to attack, hut it was eviden that they were not being called upo' to exert their best, and there were sev eral instances of carelessness, mistake occurring which would have lieen fata in their game against Britain last week Best and Boon took advantage of a sli by Thurston, and got over a good dea of ground, but C. Sheelian gathered th ball at toe and dodged his man, the' picking up and galloping across the line but the line umpire's flag called hiv, back for having placed his foot on 11 line Temporary respite was given tli* visitors bv a penalty for offside, but th Taranaki men soon placed them one more on the defensive. Mynott got th ball from a line-out, and kicked acros to Hooker on the other wing. He a? cepted the pass and galloped for th line but once again his chance of notcli ing a try in his first representative gam was spoiled, he being thrown out on th corner flag. Then came about the mos exciting forward rush of the day, tli outcome of an opening by Mynott. lam' and Crowley supported him, and Simon scored a fine try, Hardgraves placing fine goal. _ ,- Taranaki xa Manawatu A mistake by Dive gave McMmn ai opportunity and he got the ball ou ainnogst his backs, but they were to. slow and uncertain iu their movements and (J. Kheehan got auiougst them am kicked to the line, thus averting dan gcr. The hall went to centre, o'<Jomio lining again at the- 25 flag. Urowlei and ltothery, however, got away on > dribbling rush, Hodgins just saving n the last yard or two with a flying kid into touch. A minute later ho had tli< dose repeated. From a long line-ou both sets of forwards got down to it Then Pukere bullocked through, and i was thought he had scored, but h> grounded the ball on the lme. Mann watu came at it gamely, but Mynot stopped the rush and passed to Hookei who was grassed, Buchanan kicking in to touch. The Yellows were ncgiectin; their backs, and another great forwar, rush pinned Manawatu close to th goal. They failed to get down to it and touch-in-goal resulted. Bother; was penalised for oll'-side tactics in th Scrum, Ainodea finding the line, Boor. Best, McMinn, and Ward heat the Yel low pack, but Dive picked up the ball and high tackling by the visitors en abled him to get away. Ainodea kick cd down centre field, and Hardgrave returned, following up his kick wit! Cjrowley and Tamu close up to the Inn but the ball rolled out. Dive and 1 S'lieehan charged at the opposite cor ner, but Buchanan got the ball out o play. Lowe changed the scene, puttin; m a smart run, buViie held too lonj; Dive collared him, and the ball wa carried on by a knot of the Greens un lil things looked a bit queer for th' home learn. Cain, however, ''speculat .•d,'' and found the line. Boon also tool [he Taranaki backs unawares, and got iway with the ball, but some grey iiound got him from behind, and the will went out. Hand-ball gave Manawatu a "free," but Ward's kick iell just outside the posts, and Taranaki orced. After a lot of indecisive play, uoslly on Manawatu's side of half-way, Smith broke away from the line, hackid up by Tamu and Rothery, and the alter scored, O'Sullivan kicked a good ;oal, making the Score: Taranaki 20 Manawatu 0 The rest of the game was in the winiers' favor, though* the visitors played lard right to the call of time, whenhe ball was out near half-way.

For the winners, Hardgraves, at full, was aa safe as a house, and his linekicking was a feature of the match. Mynott also played a great game, although he could doubtless have opened up the game with advantage. Hooker, Dive, and Shcehau, on the three-quar-ter line, handled their work well. Thurston was not a great success at half. Of the forwards the most prominent were O'Sullivan, Rot'hery, Whittiugton, and Tamu. Every man .worked like a Trojan—at times—but there was sometimes evident a certain amount of indolence and carelessness. Among the Manawatu team Boon and JlcMinn stood out as the best. Most of the players were playing their itrst rep. game, and many of them were juniors last year, being mere lads and witweighed by the big Taranaki men. This may have accounted for their very evident dislike to going down to rushes. The forwards, however, were a good lot, and Iliad their backs been of the' same quality the game would have worn a different aspect. Hodgkins, at full, was kept busy by the weakness of the three-quarter line, and he displayed considerable resource in extricating his side from difficult positions. Lowe wus> perhaps the safest of the three-quarter line. Carroll and O'Connor both played fair games at five-eighths. Mr. Geo. Hopkins, of New Plymouth, controlled tte game, and, whilst lie erred on the side of lenieucy, his decisions were quite impartial.

STAR-TUKAPA VETERANS. Great interest is being displayed in the match to be played next Thursday between veterans of the Star and Tukapa Clubs. At a meeting of intending players yesterday, it was decided to make the game a complimentary one to a Taranaki veteran who has been seriously indisposed for. some time, who represented the province on the football field about twenty years ago, although he played many a good game of football and the battle of life since then. At any rate, we have no doubt the "veterans" have hit on a most popular draw, in addition to the game itself, for their gate. The following will represent the Tukapa veterans:—Full-back, R. Ridlan-i; three-quarters, G. Braund, Dr. Fookcs. P. Johnson; five-eighths, W. Woods and J. Woods; half, James Scanlan; forwards, W. Bemlal, G. Bendal. Don Watson. B. O'Dowda. W. Pryor, R. Standish, 0. Webster; wing-forward, E. P. Webster.

The Star team will lie selected from the following:—C. Hammond, R. Calendar. E. Humphries. W. Roeh. J. Chute, 1,. Allen. A. Humphries. A. George, fl. Bullock. H. Allan, G. Stokes. .1. Murphy. R. Bcllringer, W. .Toll. W. J. Smith. A. Murphy. T. Clow, V. Hammond. W. Richards, C. Allan.

THE PUOFESSIOXAL CAME. Sydney. July 23. The New South Wales Rugby t'nion has decided that members who have signed the League's form but have notplayed the professional game or received any remuneration have not thereby sacrificed tht'ir amateur status.