FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 112, 19 August 1910, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. WAIMATE WINS THE CUP. The thoroughly soaked football ground at Taumata Park yesterday the appearance of a quagmire in imany places at the conclusion of the match which decided the 1910 contest for the Taranaki championship and the possession of the Taranaki cup for the year. The contesting teams were Stratford (winners in the northern division) and Waimate (winners in the southern oivision, and holders of the cup for two seasons past). Despite the terrific downpour of rain prior to the match, there was a good attendance of the public, the gate producing £4O, which, besides showing the keenness of the interest in football, also indicated that Eltham was a good centre at which to play such matches. With a fine day there must have been a very large attendance, for the crowd included enthusiasts Iran nearly every town in the province. vVaiimate's win was 'generally expeeted, ex\cept, of course, by the staunch supporters of the Red and Black club. On the day they were decidedly the better team, and the general opinion was expressed that they would have prevailed on a dry ground. They were superior on the line-out, had the better of an indifferent exhibition of scrum-work, and were sounder on defence, their tackling being a bit of an eye-opener to some who had seen only the northern division games this year, and something of a surprise, we should judge, to some members of the opposing team. Waimate played without the services of Burke, the. hooker of the team, and Stratford had Dixon and Tocker Jut of the rear division. Tamu, who gave the finest exhibition amongst the forwards, was suffering in the early stages from sciatica, but in the second spell,— what? Mr. F. Spurdle was the referee, and handled the game well, not overloading, it with whistle, but keeping the players well under control. For such a "willing," exciting, and important fixture there was.a pleasing absence of rough play. Waimate kicked off, and Franklin marked the return, Tamu finding touch close to Stratford's twenty-five. The Blues attacked hotly, but kicking too hard, gave Cameron a chance to boot up the line. After an exchange of kicks, the Waimate forwards swept through, Smith saving. Another mark was «e----cured by Waimate, and the kick going over the line a race ensued, Collins getting there first. Then the Reds took a turn at attack, Smith and Murphy heading a rush into Waimate's twenty-five. Keeping up the pressure, Ryan was glad of an opportunity to force.' M>ming jagaiir), (the Stratford :backs got fnto motion, Cameron and Abbott initiating a fine movement. .But Franklin up-end-ed Abbott, and the Blues rattled downfield, where a Stratford back was penalised for not ridding hrmself 01 the ball. Franklin's kick raised cheers from the Blue barrackers—then it B«rucis the post. Abbott mulled the return, and the ball went out in Stratford's twentfyfive. The Waimate men were keeping the ball down, and endeavouring to make the game close, —tactics in which they were successful, for at this stage they had the upper hand. Christie suddenly changed the scene, passing to Prince from behind a scrum, and the latter just failed to score. A minute later the movement was repeated, and this time it was successful, Prince getting over at the corner. A scene of wild excitement followed. Pini essayed the impossible, and the score stood Waimate 3 •Stratford 0 Stratford came down merrily with the ball \at toe, but Christie lined. For some minutes the attacking backs pumped long kicks to Ryan, but he made no mistakes, his returns always finding the line. The Reds seemed now to pierce the first line of Waimate defence fairly frequently, Abbott, then James, anil then Burgess making lone-handed dashes for the line. McLeod was usually | the stumbling-block, this player hand-| ling and kicking as though there had been no rain for a month. A serum near the line should have given the Reds a score, but the ball came out at the side very awkwardly. Christie missed it, and Bonner, Cameron, Abbo,tt, and Burgess handled the ball, but made no' progress. Another scrum, and a Red forward was penalised for. lifting his foot a bit too soon, the kick giving Waimate relief. The Stratford backs, essayed passing movements, but piclring up the ball was no easy matter, and their opponents were following up with such deadly earnestness that Reds often stood on their heads to see the last of the movement. Anderson was playing the best back game for the Reds, gathering in and kicking with good judgment, and following smartly. Bonner, Cameron, Abbott, and Burgess again tried a passing movement, but I Christie intercepted, sending on to Mc-I Leod, who kicked to the line just as Anderson threw him into a pond; A kick from a mark by Abbott under the bar s and Waimate forced. A scrum in Waimate's twenty-<five as an offside penalty let the Stratford forwards away, and Boon looked like scoring. Cameron, who was playing below lorm, waited too long before passing to i>urgess, who promptly turned » earner-: sault; then Abbott was blocked. A! scrum ensued on the line. Stratford shoved over, and Waimate forced. There was no further score at half time. Cameron set the ball in motion again, j McLeod returning to Burgess, and Stratford assumed the aggressive. From a long throw-in—the straight throwing-in was a feature of the match—Cameron had the softest chance of the match, but the ball slipped from his fingers. From a scrum Bonner sent the ball out to his backs about five yards from the goal line, and about five had handled it before Burgess slipped in at the cor-, ner. Abbott's kick fell short. The' scores were now even. [ Waimate 3 Stratford 3 Retaliating the Waimate forwards! just swarmed over their opponents, and

all Collins could do to save his side was to kick to the dead-ball line. J.he Stratford attacks were met by a wellarranged defence, the Blues backing U p well, whilst several of them "speculated" with consistent success. Frajikliu turned the defence into attack, and presently the inexperienced Stratford lull back was badly bustled. Anderson showed a fine turn of speed when he upset Prince, the defending three-quarter, wiu cleverly passed back to the full back. C. Burke made a splendid run to within striking distance, but Cameron was too speedy. Prince dashed in, gathered up the ball, and got to the line, but his side was penalised. Taylor, who was playing brilliantly at wing-forward, dribbled through, but Bonner cut in and returned to touch. Bonner was having a very busy time, and emerging from the struggle with distinct credit. Burgess was forced back over the tine, and a scrum was given under the goal. Christie was penalised for picking out of the scrum, and then Stratford had a man in front, giving another scrum 25 yards out, whence the Red pack broke away. Franklin stemmed the tide. Cameron failed to field the ball at the head of a loose rush, and the Blue forwards got across, Stratford forcing. The Blues were now attacking strongly. Tamu had recovered his normal pace and strength, and shot out from the pack in great style, completely bothering the opposing backs, and booting the leather into touch every time. Abbott seized an opening, and was making a promising dash when an infringement of the offside rule pulled him up. The next minute Stratford forced again, just in the nick of time. Fast and exciting play followed, and eventually a chance came to McKay. He was, offside, but the referee was on the other side of the field. Birchall came in where "Soot" knocked off, and scored Waimate's second try. McLeod's kick was a good one, but it went outside the posts. Waimate 6 Stratford 3 ~ Stratford forced twice in quick succession. The southerners were still keeping up the attack. Collins, hard pressed, booted across the field to Prince, who promptly accepted the invitation, and streaked for the line. Jumping over the full back's head, he crossed the line and grounded the ball, but then his foot touched the corner flag, and the try was disallowed. The reieree had no chance of seeing the actual occurrence, but gave a decision on what appeared to him to be the facts. Stratford was forced again as the whistle went, leaving the Waimate Club winners 'or' iihe championship series. The winners had much the better of the game. Their best back was McLeod, but ail played well, and evidently ac-i cording to a preconceived plan. It was, however, principally a forward game. Of the forwards,' Tamu and Pini shone out, and Taylor was good as wing-for-ward. He has an offside tendency, as well as a habit of tripping, both of which he will need to check if he rs to take the place that his heady play >nd pace entitle him to. Franklin and McI Leod earned frequent applause for their jsure tackling. On the" Stratford side, j Anderson was undoubtedly the pick of [the backs, tackling, catching, kicking, land running well, and played with excellent judgment. Burgess was sound, j tart Cameron has been seen to greater i advantage. He. was inclined to cramp I his half, who was having a new experience in playing behind a pack which had met more than its match, but lie : did well. Of the forwards, Smith, Mar- ! chant, Boon, and James were the most prominent.

TARANAKI REP. TEAM.

The following team Has "oeen cliosen to represent Taranaki in its match against Wellington next Thursday at New Plymouth:—Full back, McLeod (Waimate); three-quarters, Roberts j (Okaiawa), Stqhr (Tukapa), Cameron ; (Stratford): five-eighths, Mynott (Tuikapa), and Dive (Eltham); half, Brown I (Star); wing forward, Taylor (Waimate); forwards, Cain (Clifton), Os- : borne (Eltham), Tamu (Waimate), J. |Martin (Opunake), Smith (Stratford), IPini (Waimate), and Whittington (Ha:w'era). Emergencies: Milne (Okaiawa), and Franklin. Our Wellington friends are going to meet a much more difficult side than that which heaped up points against Manawatu and W""ganui. It is possible :that the back division has not been excelled in recent years. Thranaki lias some splendid backs this year, and they are a versatile lot. The only difficulty I lies in allotting them their best positions. McLeod is a good five-eighth*, a good centre three-quarter, and a iine half. He is to be played at full back, because the other backs, are a more cohesive lot without than wa., :iim. That he will make a splendid full 'back there is no question. He can catch, kick, and collar, and use his head; besides being a past master at using the line. Cameron. Stohr, atfu Roberts in the three-quart'."' J line are a clever trio, Roberts i* mg a sound tackier and probably as fast as the others in a sprint. Caimeiwa -rf always an uncertain customer vaen there's a big rush on, and it is only lately that Stohr has been ready for any sort of defence; but with Roberts there and McLeod a few paces behind there is little to fear, especiaiiy-as tney jare. protected by such tacklers as Brown, Mynott, and Dive. Dive and : Mynott should work well together, and 'both think out openings at lightning speed. Brown cam hold his w «vn against most half-backs. He might improve himself by practising the picking up of a rolling ball and throwing it out in the one motion without straightenhis back. The half who hesitatea is lost. K. Abbott has had his chance in 1 the forwards, and has been replaced as not knowing enough. Milne goes out for knowing too much, principally for knowing when there's a chance to ease off. J. Martin, of Opuaake, is the same old "Joe," a sterling forward, and a member of the recent touring Maori team. Cain is to be tried again in the front row with Osborne, for the Taranaki hookers have been terribly remiss in late matches. Smith, though slow, is a fine lock, and valuable in line play. Tamu and Pini are indispensable in a Taranaki pack just now, and Whitting-

ton and Osborne are consistent forwards. Taylor replaces Moir as wingfonvard. On yesterday's play ne certainly deserves the distinction, but lie must get over his habit of tripping if he is to retain his amber and black jersey. Now, the pack should be got together and "schooled" in scrum tactics for a couple of days, if this is possible, ihey re a lot, several of them with some pace, and if Tamu can only be prevailed upon to give them a call when.' he breaks away, they will follow, and give the Wellington men something to do to win. Prince, the Waimate wing tltreequarter strikes one as deserving of a place in the emergencies, for he is an excellent all-round man. So is Franklin of course, a fine kicker and deadly tackier. ' "Off-Side Mac," who is reckoned to I be an authority on New Zealand football, expressed the opinion yesterday to a News reporter that the team which beats Taranaki may safely be called the champion team of New Zealand. He goes further, and expresses a doubt whether such a team exists in the Dominion to-day. THE AMATEUR DEFINITION. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Sydney, August 18. At a meeting of the Metropolitan Rugby Union a motion to adopt the new amateur definition was carried with only three dissentients.