AUCKLAND DEFEATS TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 214, 31 August 1908, Page 3

AUCKLAND DEFEATS TARANAKI.

THE RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH. HARD, TIGHT, AND SUDDEN. GH-LETT A TEAM L\ HIMSELF. TARANAKI HAS THE WORST OF THE LUCK. (From Our Special Reporter). Auckland, Saturday Night. <WtottlQilbttlloaiett!!!-H rt "lMt ttnd every time. The Taranaki team tad considerable respect for this great plftjers reputation before today Now they marvel at the prowess and skill of , i?, man - Wlt hout flattering you, Gillett, said Arthur Humphries at the teoncluaion of the match, "you're the greatest footballer we have ever seen on » neld,' and in so saying he but expressed the unanimous opinion of the aaranaki players and supporters. A team m himself, he anticipated every taove, filled every gap, and played wine •forward, half, and five-eighth with surpassing facility. In short, he was a re •velatmn of football finesse. This eulofeism is not.overdrawn, and it is not an exaggeration to say he alone holds tie •Ranfurly Shield for Auckland. Without •hun Taranaki would have carried the trophy to New Plymouth on Monday morning. The ground was in good order. A crowdofbetween8000 and 10,000 assembled. Th e teams took the field as follows;

TARANAKI. Full-back: Hardgraves. Threenjuariers: Sheahan, Cameron, and Dive. ' Five-eighths: Hunter (captain), and •ilynott. 'Half-back: Frewin. Forwarda: Caiman (wing), Whittiagton, Cane, Uatou, Pukere, Crowley; Kotaery, and OBullivai. AUCKLAND.

Full-bacs: A. Kenwick. Three-quarters: Wilson, Murray, and Johnston!* Five-eighths: Bater and Magee. Half-back: Morse. Forwards: Gillett (wing), Herring, McGuire, Francis, Cunningham, Nicholson, Seeling, and Hayward.

Taranaki lost tlw toss. Column kicked off against the sun and a still breeze, Gillett returning to Cameron and found the line. Auckland were penalised for obstruction,- and Coleman lined in Auckland's 25, Morse, Gillett and Bater replying with a passing rush, which Hunter returned to centre. Colman, getting off-side, gave Francis ■» snot ar goal, Rothery making a poor return. 'from a scrum in Auckland's 25, Frewin Bent to Hunter, to Mynott, O'Sullivan, and Sheehan, who dropped the ball to dribble within five yards of Auckland's line, O'Sullivan taking and shooting over the line easily, but he was called back for touching the ball with his hand, and B scram was formed under the home goal Auckland forwards slowly cleared, till Frewin shot out to Dive, who kicked lightly and followed, but the -ball crossed and Auckland forced. Auckland, although playing with the wind and sun, were taking no risks, keeping the play tight and close as possible, giving the 'Yellow backs no chances. Fumbling on the part of our backs, let Wilson through, but Hardgraves returned to centre. Mynott shot out, but Kenwick •was safe, and drove the attack back to Taranaki's 25, where Johnson got away, Imt was upset by Cameron" when alraoit OTer. A penalty brought relief, Col snan lining past the 25. Crawley, Rothery, and O'Sullivan got away, Renwick returning to centre, where Auckland "Were penalised, but the kick gained no ground and, play continued in mid-field. •Here Gillett got away from a line-out. and almost got through when he knocked, over near the line. Desperate play followed, the collaring being very deadly, Cameron, and then Dive, upsetting their vto-a-vis when almost over. Rothery, Crowley, and Pukere headed a rush that cleared the line, Renwick returning to Hunter, who marked. His kick was taken by Gillett; who made a great nn on his own, Cameron and Mynott Baring, and, with Colman, taking the play out of danger. A series of uninteresting but hard lines-out followed near the centre, Dive eventually marking, but Colman's kick went to Giiiett, ■who returned into the* visitors' 25. At this stage Morse came into prominence, land thenceforward played a splendid half game. Securing, he cut in and set •Magee and Johnston going, the latter toeing thrown out. • Almost immediately after Colman got off-side and Gillett locked a fine goal.

Auckland 3 Taranaki 0 On resuming, play centred. Frowin passed to Hunter, and - a aippy run between the latter, Cameron, Sneahan, and Mynott almost penetrated the defence, Mynott's kick just going over the •line. Auckland forced. Murray got •way, and was collared by Sheahan in Taranaki's 25,-and the home team were penalised, Hardgraves lining past centre. Gillett made a fine dash in reply, but ticked too hard, with the wind, and (Hardgraves forced. Colman got away behind the kick-out, and had Benwick in trouble, but Seeling, Cunningham and Nicholson responded with an irresistible passing rush, which was spoiled at a critical moment, Herring knocking-on. Gillett then had an. unsuccessful shot at goal from "a- penalty. An exchange of Jocks ended in Seeling finding the line to the Yellows' 25, where the home tacks got moving, but were quickly smothered. Gillett dashed in, however,

and passed to Seeling under the goal, tut a knock-on enabled Mynott and *■ Hunter to clear the threatened lines. Horse dodged round the scrum and almost got over when Hardgraves made a fine tackle, and, recovering, kicked 25 yards out. From a succeeding scrum Gillett got away, jumping high as Hardgraves tackled him, and falling over the line with a beautifully-judged try. Magee's kick failed, i Auckland .. .. .. 6 Taranaki .'. .. ..0 ' May centred for a spell, but the 'Auckland forwards eventually got away on the line, the desperate defending of the Taranaki backs alone averting an almost certain score. Frewin, Cameron, Hunter and Sheahan got away, but a tad pass enabled Murray to intercept, (Hardgraves neutralising matters, however, by lining at mid. Morse secure .1 and kicked, the wind carrying the bail over. Taranaki forced, the same occurring a few minutes later. O'Sullivan, I Cane, and Crowley, were prominent in a | good dribble into Auckland's territory. I ■where play hung without advantage to naif time. _ < On changing ends, Taranaki had the ■worst of the luck, the wind having failen and the sun being obscured, Auckland not having the disadvantages against which the Yellows bad been contending in the first spell. The game re opened fast. Taranaki endeavored to make the game open, throwing the ■ball into the centre from the lines-out. High kicking by Mynott took play into the home 25, but Gillett and Morse centred. Here Coliuan made a good attempt at goal, Gillett sending the ball ■well back. Whittington got away on the line-out and found the line in Auckland's 25. Fast play followed, Taranaki maintaining the. advantage, and Hunter, •Mynott and Sheahan got away. The latter was thrown out near the line •Fast play succeeded, a rush and a coun-ter-rush traversing the length of the •field, eventually centreing after Auckland had been penalised, fiillett again iplayed a lone-hinder, a-.nl sent play to Hardgraves, whose return was unintentionally interfered with by Sheahan, and Taranaki were in a tight corner. M-'-Guire and Hayward made a dash, but knocked on, and Sheahan eventually cleared with a good effort. Mynott apset Gillett when endeavoring to cross and then Morse made an unsuccessful attempt to dive over. Almost iinmedi•ately after he shot the ball out to Murray to Johnston, back to Murray on the blind side, the latter scoring a good •try near the corner. Gillett's kick fail •ed".

Auckland •> Taranaki " I Undaunted by the reverse, the Yellow I forwards played harder than ever, uong every artifice to open up the jpnii" fo the backs. The attempts usually failed, •however, through the suddenness with which the Blue-and-white forwards accepted the smallest opening, and -went the field with short passing rushes. Seeling made a dash, hut went out of toucn •in goal. Frewin, Hunter. Mynott. and SUeahan gave a glimpse of their passing firilliance, the latter reachins Auckland s 25. The ever-vigilant Oillett, however. secured on the line-out, and Tarana.i found themselves back in their own quarters. Securing again, he kicked (on i Tuird, and Hardgraves forced. l r »r » \ time Auckland kept the advantage. o"Sullivan and Mynott eventually changing the venue, and Hunter, with an eliis ive run. nut the Blues on the deferc but Cillctt cleared. Hardgravo* nm\ then Cameron, with successive kicks took play back to Auckland's line ■where Morse marked Ilardgraves tooK Grtlatt'a kick teyrad half wa\ and put i a 3?f _ $. drop-kick, the ball falling

ling. Hunter and Mynott together penetrated Auckland's first defence, but Ulllett and Jlorse successfully withstood the onslaught, and Haywnrd, Francis, Seeling, and Nicholson replied with a dash that only ended near the Yellows' line. A penalty enabled Taranaki to cenire play, which was stulibornly fought till i'rewin opened om, sending the ball to Hunter. Cameron got away, but was bumped out in Auckland's 25. llardgraves, kicking well, kepi, the play confined to the Blues' quarters. Colruan got on a dribble, but Kenwiek was safe. Crowley was next noticeable, heading a line dribbling rush, which Wilson stemmed near his line by marking Fast and loose play followed, Cameron, mis-fielding a hall, enabling Auckland to I get close, but Hardgraves came to the rescue. The \ellow backs now "Ot away beautifully and executed a passtii" rush, Dive's centreing kick at the linii" being secured by Wilson, who reached it just ahead of.Mynott, and marked near

the goal-line, and Oillett sent play back to centre where play continued desperately hard for a time. Eventually Dive and Column supported each other well, and got past the principal opposition, when Column foolishly attempted to pot and an almost certain score was lost, as Colman was backed on either side by Cameron and Dive. Auckland forced. Way again settled at mid-field, I Hunter at length opening up with a good run to Cameron and Dive, who were collared in the home >5. Dive s(! . cured again and kicked over ltenwick's | head, but too strongly. Murray cutting round and forcing with a fin*; kick. Oillett found the line in the Yellows' >.: h where McUuire and then Seeling cssaj ?d to cross the line, but cacJi was held up, and Rothery shifted play, Tamu and O'Sullivan carrying it on past the centre. Again the backs got going, the ba'l travelling rapidly through all hands, Dive on the wing centreing back again, but the ball was lost and Auckland cleared to centre. The teams were visibly tiring, but the game was fiercely contested for-about live minutes till time was called, leaving Auckland victors by SI to niL Mr. Jack Williams, of Dnnedin, made an excellent referee. Of the game little in the way of description can be written. It was too I hard, tight and sudden to be spectacaI larly good. Taranaki forwards played a great game, and right to the sounding of the whistle were fighting out every iflch of the ground with the'doughty and experienced Auckland vanguard. O'Sullivan, Crowley, Cane, and the Maoris were perhaps the most often seen in the loose, but everyone played his very best game this season. In tight line work, the Blue forwards car-, ried too many guns, but got no advantage in the scrums. Colman has played [ much better games. Frewin played a ' very useful game, but met a bett-r I player in Morse. Cameron did some clever work in his attack and defence, but has played better. Hunter and Mynott were in form, but very closely ■watched. Dive and Sheahan did all that was asked of them. Hardgravcs plny;d a great game, but, singularly enough, the ball did not come his way so oft-jn as the game would indicate. Luck undoubtedly was against the Yellows, who just missed at least two certain tries and had the worst of lueK in the conditions ofHhe weather. At the same time, a better team on the day won. Auckland's pack as usual was | in great fettle, and behind them llorjc j was the mainstay. The team returns by Sunday's boat<

FOOTBALL IN AUSTRALIA. Received 30, 8.7 p.m. Sydney, August 30. / The Rugby challenge match, Wesbeni Districts' team (which defeated the Britishers) and the Metropolitan team resulted in a win for Metropolitan by 11 poiats to 9, after a hard-fought game.

BRITAIN v. QUEENSLAND. Received 30, 8.7 p.m. Brisbane, August £». The British footballers defeated Queensland by 11 to 8. The Britishers' final match was characterised by hard and fast play. At times, especially in the second »peil, the game was very rough. McEvedy (the British vice-captain) had ihis collarbone broken. Tile Queenslanders displayed much better form and combination than in the first match. The first half ended three all, Uibbs, for Britain, and Gallacher, for Queensland, scoring tries. Queensland opened Oic second spell with a brilliant attack, ending in Maher getting over. The try was converted. The final stages were exciting. The weight and better combination of the visitors eventually told against the stubborn and clever defence. Williams and Gibbs wove responsible for tries, Dyke conver'inp; the latter's.

THE VICTORIAN CARNIVAL. Received 30, 8.7 p.m. Melbourne, August 30. The football carnival was continued on Saturday. South Australia defeated Tasmania by 10 goals 20 behinds to 7. Victoria defeated Wcslralia by 13 goals 22 behinds to li goals 8 beJhbds.

INTER-COLLEGE MATCH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchureh, Saturday Night. A match was played tihis afternoon between the Waqganui Collegiate School and Lincoln College. The game was a very interesting one, and untii the closing stages, when the superior combination of the Wanganui boys told, She agricultural students made a, very good fight. In the first spell, their forwards were rather better in the loose work than Wanganui, but the lattcr's lacks handled the ball better, and their line-kicking was generally more effective. The game ended: Wanganui 20, Lincoln 6.

RUAPBHU v. WANGANUI B. Wanganui, Last Night. A match between Ruapehu sub-Union and the Wanganui B. team was played on Saturday afternoon. The Wanganui team outclassed tile visitors who were defeated by 31 to 6. WELLINGTON v. CANTERBURY. Wellington, Saturday Night. The Rugby representatives of Wellington ana Canterbury met on the Athletic Park this afternoon on a good, dry ground, and under excellent climatic conditions. The game was an exceedingly interesting and exciting one. Wellington had the best of the play, especially in the second spell, the lot-wards playing excellently. Wellington won by 11 to 5. In the first spell Magee scored twp, tries for the home team, and Bak-;r scored for Canterbury, Weston convertin" In the second spell Magee added a "third trv for the Blacks, Ryan converting. Mr. P. Mackic was referee.

THE NORTHERN UNION UAJIE. OTAGO AMATEURS" WILL PLAY IT. Duncdin, f.ast Niglit. The supporters of tiie Northern Union gum.' are hopeful of gaining a' strong footing here before the season is over. One of the promoters of the game says: "We liav» some -40 players, including many of the best men lure, who have intimated their intention of playing this gam?. We propose running it on purely amateur lines, and intend commencing practice matches in another week. We have secured the Caledonian ground, and will plav Wellington on it on October: 3rd. and also on the Saturday follow-' ing. We hope to arrange a match against a Maori team for the Saturday after that. On the last Wednesday in September \vv play a mate* at Tivercargill. and will pay (lie player* f<T time lost while away from Duu> din. We are not going in for prnfes--Bionalisin. Tf the New Zealand Union (1 cides to improve the present game \ve shall be -atisfied. bill in the meantime we intend doing our best to push the new garnet'

THE PnoFKSiSIO.YAi. CAME. The Northern Union T-'oolball League his decided to send a team to Wellington to plav the representatives of that city on September .'ith. The team will leave Auckland on Wednesday next, and probably play a game at New Plymouth ■in the way down.

SCHOOLS' CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY CENTRAL. Tin play-oft between the Central and West End schools for the eiiampion*hip of the province took pliee 0:1 the Recreation Sports (iround 0:1 Saturday afternoon. A v-rv fast and interestin" 'rame ended in a victory for Coniral'liv six points to nil, although the W-sf, End team had the best of the name Tt is reported that there is likely to be a nrotest owrn» to the Central team pla-mq a 1-ov who is no In:i""i- 0-1 th" school roll.

Tt is understood that the recent : ri" of the Wellington nrofessioo.nl foothill team to Auckland w« a fhancial success, and lhat each received as his share over £9.