TARANAKI DEFEATS AUCKLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 180, 3 September 1909, Page 4

TARANAKI DEFEATS AUCKLAND.

GREAT FOOTBALL STRUGGLE MAIUJLY OF THREE POINTS. Taranaki (i, Auckland 3. That was tin- result of -the iu tor pro vineial foot* Imll match played yesterday afternoon on the Recreation SporU (jround. To sav that strch a result was unexpected hy"a great majority of people is to .say it mildly, althougli there was a certain num'ber of people -who declined to take last week's form as any criterion and predicted victory for 'the wearers of the amfber anil black. This confidence b the -marvellous recuperative power of the Taranaki forward wag not misplaced'

The ground was dry. On the previous afternoon it was 'heavy with moisture, and there were some who considered it unfit for play. But the strong southerly wind which swept over it all night and all yesterday, aiding the work of the sunny made a drv play-ing-field of it.

The crowd was a big one. of probabiv four thousand people." and' this despite the fact that the day nad broken in such a threatening manner, preventing many people coming from a distance. Nevertheless, the incoming trains were well loaded. The gate takings were a/bout £lls.

The game was one of the finest of the many great struggles which have tak n place between these two provincial team-, which outsiders arc prone to look upon as the giants of Rugby. It had been openly stated that Taranaki footballers were giants of other days, but their performance of yesterday stamped that combination as one of the finest the province has had the honor of putting in the field against her most powerful adversary. The match was won because the local men were the better in concentrated effort. Of individually brilliant footballers eaten team had its share, and possfbly each province sent on its "best fifteen. But in concentrated effort Taranaki had the advantage. Where she failed wv- in the scrum play. The "hookers" were doing their part right manfully, but the ;jack failed to heel the bail" out properly. On only three or four occasions during the match did the ball tome out of the scrum as Thurston had the right to expect that it should; it shot generally nut at the side, and the half was handicapped. Had the Taranaki serum show-: cd the same improvement in heeling out as it did in the matter of its packing, and the promptness of formation, the northerners could hardly have got out so lightly. The vanguards, on the whole, 'were very evenly matched, though the visitors were better on the line-put work, and more skilled in handling the ball. The Taranaki backs, taken on the day's play, were better than the visitors', for they were sound both in attack and defence, whilst the visiting vanguards attack was n nt a strong point. "Fancy our backs behind that naek." said an enthusiastic Taranaki football veteran. "Why, they'd sweep the ■world." The game was fast and full of incident, hard and ■willing r oufc played in the best of spirit. There was only one delay of a few seconds for a "knock-out," ft was unfortunate for lar.innki that O'Sullivan managed to strain himself in the first few minutes of the game, and had to retire at halftime, for he was plavins a great <*amc right through the firs' spell. " Xfr. Evans, of Feilding. refereed conscientiously, but the game was rather beyond him.

The following were the teams:— AUCKLAND: (Blue and White). Full-back: Miller. Three-quarters: Wilson, Murray, McGregor. Five-eighths: Winder and Renwick. Half: Webb. Wing forward: Nicholson. Forwards: Herring, Scllars, Francs. M'.Cuire. Seeling. Waddell, Williams. ' TARANAKI. (Amber and' Black). Full-back: Dixon. Three-quarters: Dive, Cameron and C. Sheahan. Five-eighths: J. .Stohr and Mynott. Half: Tlmrston. Wing forward: T. Sheahan. Forwards: I'iui, Crowlev, Taiiii. Smith, O'Sullivan, (Ja'in and Osborne.

THE I'LAY. l'ini set the ball ki motion, and the exchange of kicks ended in a line-out in Taranaki territory, immediately on the ball coming into play, Mynott got it from Thurston and made an opening for the forwards, who rusiied into Auckland's end. Over-eagerness on the part of the attacking forwards gave a free kick to Auckland, and Francis sent a long one to .Stohr, who returned too hard, and the visiturs forced. The pace grew fast and furious,.and the excitement was intense as the Taranaki men came, with another rush and threatened the city team's goal. Some tight work among the forwards let the ball out to Mynott, who lost it, but Stohr cut in and kicked to Murray. O'Sullivan followed close and carried operations well within the 2~>, where the ball went out. From a serum the blues gave the ball to Webb, wiio was overturned, and the yellow forwards charged down on Miller, who, however, got in a pretty return to the line. Au attempt by .Mynott to screw-punt the ball to his next line failed, and Herring started a rush, Nicholson and Francis carrying on u j til Mynott cut in amongst them and saved, the ball going' out about half-way. Mynott s'hot a short kick over the neails of his men, and Dive chased and caught the ball, the forwards again invading the Auckland territory. O'Sullivan and Tamu were breaking through repeatedly, but the visiting forwards handled the ball like a team of backs. Dixon made the yellow supporters quake when he persisted in running with the ball right in amongst the pack, lie was lucky in getting in a kick. O'Sullivan cut in at the head of a nice little movement that Nicholson headed, and lie got the ball out to Dive, who made a strong run up the line, fending oil' several opponents before getting rid of the ball, which travelled across tiie Held per medium of Stohr, Cameron and Nkcahaii, who took his pass on tile wing and seemed to have a score certain. His luck was out, and lie fell with an Auckland?!' over him just. sl:ort of the line, the collaring by liic defenders being very sound. From a serum .\iaguire took the ball at toe, but Thurston grabbed it up and got the ball over the line, where iKtiregor forced. Eight minutes had gone, and the home team had had all tinbest of it, so that the crowd grew hopeful. The pace was a cracker. Almost immediately on resinning play there was another promising rush i,f the local men. ■ but again the forwards' broke the oIT-side rule, and l-'raneis' penalty kick let the Aucklamleis into the home team's :>.-). They attacked strongly, and the local men were kept busy. ' (Jon Sheahan made a. couple of silly high punts, and the inevitable happened. Murray marked. Winder took the kick and matters looked bright, for the northerners, but tile kick was blocked by Crowley, the ball going out. Auckland continued to attack, ami the forwards beat the referee completely with a whole series of undeniable offside tactics. Tamil relieved the pressure, but Miller sent the ball back, again for his' forwards, Herring, l-'rancis and Nicholson licing associated in the line rush. A number of serums followed, in which the opposing hookers shared the honors, but the ball seemed to bang in the back of the Auckland scrum. Thurston, at half, was generally successful in getting the leather when it came his way, but the ball came nvt. badly. Con' Slieahan, Cameron. Thurston and Tamil put in a good passing run, and cleared their goal, the ball going into touch near mid-weld. Mvnott put in a nippv run, but lost the ball. Then the Auckland vanguard took charge, and bustleo Dixon. Wilson, evidently intending to centre, kicked over the line, and Taranaki was glad of a force to ease the pressure. Taranaki set off again with a nice passing run, but Jack Htohr's throw was a forward one, and from the free kick Francis' landed the ball on the cross-bar. It bounced on the right side

for him, and Auckland registered first score just as the spell was exactly halfway through. Auckland .. .. <3 Taranaki .. .. 0 After a bit of passing amongst the home backs Xiaguire, playing offside again, initiated a solid forward rush, and the Taranaki line was closte when the ball went out. Taranaki got its first free kick, for offside play at this juncture, and the pressure was relieved. Line-outs were frequent, and Francis and Nicholson were making the most of it, Thurston being quite outdone at half. l!,v degrees the Taranaki men were again put on the defensive. Webb placed a neat little line kick in tlw home 25. From the, throw-in Francis passed to Remviek, who passed just in front of the goal towards Nicholson, but Cameron intercepted at the critical moment and kicked to Miller, Auckland's full-back, who made a good but unsuccessful attempt to pot, and Taranaki forced. The home team now took a turn at attack, and took- a scrum for offside play at Auckland's 25. Scrum followed scrum in quick succession, both sides offending by lifting the feet before the ball was put in. Auckland got a free kick for this, and Francis' sent one of the finest kicks of the day down to Taranaki's end, where the ball went out. Play came to within a few feet of the line, when Mynott secured and cut through the ruck like a Hash, getting the ball in among his forwards, who carried on to nearly half-way, where Smith picked up anu passed to Jack Stohr. Even " with his lame leg Stohr made great pace up the Held. Sheahun backed him up and was in time to take the pass. Then Cameron came up on the outside like a flaan, and, taking the pass from Shea'luin at full s'need, cut I along the side and just reached the line as Renwicfe reached him. There was some doubt expressed as to whether he grounded the ball, but it was a fair try, the result of splendid backing up. Cameron took the kick, but failed to increase the score. This was said to be the finest try stored by the Taranaki representatives this season. The score was even. Taranaki 3 Auckland .. .. 3 Elesuming, the yellow vanguard nssumed the upper hand, but once more their effort was spoiled by over-eager-ness, and from a free kick Francis, kicked back to half-way. The long kicks sent down to the Taranaki full back "were now being handled much better, Dixon getting over the effects of a bump received in the early stages of the game. It was now apparent that the home forwards were endeavoring to carry tire ball with them through the scrum, for they seemed not to try and heel out. Being unmarked on a line-out, Winder got going, and the Auckland forwards followed. Xiaguire was penalised for off side when well down in tile home team's ground, the free kick taking play to midfield. From a scrum there the blues got the ball, and Renwick got away, passing to Nicholson, who strode down the line until Dixon threw him out. Things were looking black for Taranaki when the bell sounded, and Dixon got the ball out of touch. Half-time sounded with the scores' 3—3.

When the teams again took the field it was seen that O'Sullivan had disappeared from the ranks of the home team, he having been ordered by the doctor to desist owing to injuries. Stohr was observed to lie limping badly as he took his place on the wing, Dive going to five-eighths. Swainson replaced O'Sullivan. From the kick-oil Auckland set lip an attack, but Mynott was responsible for a change, and the Taranaki forwards' came on until offside piny by Osborne gave the Aucklnnders a free kick. A splendid kick by Maguire found Dixon wanting, and the ball went out in Taranaki's 25. A serum sue ceeded a faulty throw-in, and Mynott speculated at the ball as it came out at the side. His forwards followed closely, but McGuirc marked near midfield. A long kick was nicely caught by Cameron, who sent a long-one back to the other end, and found the line. From the line-out the big northern pack seemed to sweep everything before them, the Taranaki men being completely nonplussed. Mynott anil (.'. Sheahnn got them out of the hole, however, and centred play. Hoth teams were now taking matter*' along at a less lively pace than had been set in the first half, but the play was still hard and strenuous and interesting. Mid-lield play occurred for some time, Mynott on the one side and Nicholson and Miller on the other doing some fine individual work. From a scramble Mynott got possession, and initiated a pretty passing movement with Stohr and Dive, the forwards ehiin- | ing in, when the Elthain llier was' compelled to get rid of the ball. A freekick increased their advantage, but McGregor followed up his return and bustled Shea'lran, who ru-.de three luckless attempts to hob! the bull before he managed to pick up and punt to the line. Pini initiated a fine rush, Mynott, Cameron, and Dive handling after him, and taking the ball up to the mouth of the goal. Instead of pressing home the advantage, Cameron made a limitless attempt to pot, and in a few seconds the ball had again been booted by Herring liaick to Dixon, who found the line. Another penalty kick by Auckland for offside play, and the amber and black team had to look closely to their defence. Cameron intercepted an Aucklauder'a pass, and lined well up in his' opponents' 25, a beautifully .judged effort. Tile referee penalised the visitors I'.:- iifLing the foot in the si-rum, and I'ini made a poor place-kick .at goal, Auckland being forced. The home team continued to aggress, but the defence of j the visitors was sound. Hard play amongst the forwards followed, but there was little gain to either side Until Thurston opened a clever movement from the feet of the visitor.-,'' forwards, and Sheahan brought the ball on well into blues' territory. Hard luck attended the efforts of the home players at this stage, an apparently certain score being lost by over-eagerness, Seeling saving. The Taranaki backs were handling the ball and were pressing home the attack, when offside play gave Auckland a welcome relief. A kick from Renwick to Dixon, followed hotly by the kicker and Herring, looked a bit epiick for Dixon, but Mynott took no risks and punted to the line. Auckland forwards now ass'crted themselves and worked their way into the home territory, where they were given a free kick, and Francis made a splendid kick at goal, the ball going just outside the posts. Give-and-take play i,i mid-field ensued, and the line-nnts became very willing. Then Thurston w.'iipped the hall from the scrum to .Mynott. from whom it went to Cameron, Dive and stohr, the latter centring the ball in among the forwards. The fielding of the opposing side was too sure, however—a--it had been all through tile match—and Winder forced. Taranaki was not in be denied. Thul'-ton again p.issed from a scramble to Mynult. who cut in and passed to Stohr. who narrowly miss ed scoring. The next essay was more successful. Mynott picked 'up in front of the goal. There was a big chance for the veteran to score, but he unselfishly "played the game,"' passing over the heads of Cameron and liis forwards to C. Slruhan. Sheahan made a few yards, when lie was joined on the outside by Cameron, who received t> ball just as Sheahan was blocked, and fell over the line with it, notching the winning points. Stuiir took the kick, but the recelU llljlllty to his leg made a goal impossible, the bull failing to rise. Taranaki (i Auckland .. .. 3

With eleven minutes In go, and two heavy and fast teams uf forwards engaged, the remainder of the game was expected to be strenuous, and so it was. Mynott made eonsideralile ground by a couple of well-placed line 'kicks. Then Nicholson and Francis came down with a solid rush, Smith saving, lint Herring came along with a dribbling run and put the hall out. Th™. as the result of some clever work liv Seeling, Con Sheahan was beaten, •■'riicv're oil." the crowd yelled, as the big blue and white forwards swept down the field right in front of Taranaki"s 2>. Dive and Stohr got in amongst them, anil stanmed the tide, and Mynott sent a nice kick to the line. The Ancklanders came again, but the defence of the Taraimki backs baffled them again, Dixon cleverly beating them. Webb, Herring and Nicholson brought play once again down to the front of the goal, where Con Siicahan marked.

They swooped down again, and Cameron lined. Then came a fine exchange of kicks, of which Taranaki got the advantage. With only a couple ofminutcs to go Auckland got a free Irak near half-way, and the ball was sent out in Taranaki's 25. Swainson, Tamu and Pini 'brought them back to midficld. A line-out favored the blues, but Crowley came through, and Swamson followed, putting the ball out again. Continuing to press', the northerners '. again invaded the locals' end, whcie • Thurston marked. Cameron sent a long kick down the field, where Murray lined. Remviek tried a dash on his'own, but he got no support, and the ba'l came out of touch in neutral territory. | Then the bell went, and the whistle sounded "no side," with Taranaki vie- ' tors by (i to 3.

t Singling out individual players, proliably Xliller, Wilson, and Winder were' the best of the visiting ba'cks,, and 'Nicholson, Francis and Herring most prominent forward. 'Coming to the local men, Mynott shone out by himself aa the most resourceml and reliable man i;i the team and on the field. Cameron, Dive and Stohr all played fine ganus, the latter despite his injury. Tamu, O'Sullivan, Pini and Smith were about the most, prominent forwards. O'Sullivan. who was suffering from severe head-pains prior to tiie match, suffered an abdominal injury during the match and had perforce to retire at halftime. The players are greatlv indebted to Drs. Walker and Blacklcy, who attended to some of them prior to the match and were assiduous in their attention at half-time. On the advice of Dr. Walker, J. O'Sullivan was withdrawn at halftime, Swainson taking his plaec. The local players' are grateful to the captain of the Auckland team for allowing the last-named player to take the field.