AUCKLAND BEATS TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 125, 5 September 1910, Page 8

AUCKLAND BEATS TARANAKI

EAKFURLY SHIELD MATCH. A GAME FULL OF INCIDENT. TARANAKI SHAPE SPLENDIDLY. By Ti'iegrttpij.—Press Association.

Auckland, Last Xiglit. lhe third Ranfurly Shield matcli of the season was played here to-day between the Auckland and Taranaki Rugby representatives in glorious j weather and before an attendance 01 about 8000. The match was willing from the start, but was played in the best of spirit. Auckland's team was not so strong as that -which played against Wellington Cunningham and Morse being ill, while Murray played throughOut with a crippled leg. In the early stages the forward play was about equal, but towards the latter stages the Taranaki pack assorted, itself and aided by good back play, had the best of the concluding stages of the game, which ended, Auckland 16, Taranaki 9. iPlaying with th- wind and sun in the first spell Auckland scored 11 points to 3, chiefly by good goal kicking, O'Leary kicking two penalties, while Magee converted a try scored by Harrison. Stohr kicked a goal for Taranaki. In the second spell Stohr kicked another goal, but Auckland's forwards, bv grand play, allowed Tyler to score n, splendid try, which O'Learv converted aii'di put the game beyond doubt. Just on' the call of time Hill scored a try for Taranaki. Two players were prominent on the Auckland side, O'Leary (full-j back) and Tyler (forward) both play-! ing great games. O'Leary's line kicking was almost perfect, his kicks on many occasions gaining 50 yards of ground. Stohr was about the pick of the Taranaki backs, while of the forwards. Osborne, Sheahan, Tamu and Boon were the pick. Auckland won the toss, and decided to play with a light southwest wind and the sun behind them. Tamu kicked off, and Taranaki forwards at once showed dash. Auckland got the ball in the first scrum. A Taranaki forward dash was stopped by a speculator kick by O'Leary, and play went to midfield. A dash by Cameron was stopped, and Auckland forwards set up a rush led by Wylie, in which Hayward and Sellars were also prominent. Obstruction by Taranaki was penalised, and O'Leary kicked a grand goal from 40 yards out and near the touch line. Auckland 3 Taranaki 0

Taranaki came with a groat dash otil resumption, and Auckland backs, wait-1 ing for each other to take the ball,' nearly let the amber and black pack j over. Offside plav by Sheahan a yard; out irom the line gave' O'Leary a chance to find the line 40 yards down■field. Taranaki kept up the pressure,' and Harrison did some good defensive I work. Sheahan dashed through, and a penalty against Auckland gave Stohr a! chance, and he placed a fine goal. Auckland 3 Taranaki 3 Play had hardly resumed when Auck-, land forwards swept downfield, and Dive, throwing the ball forward deliberately, O'Leary had another shot 40 yards out, and again found the posts —three kicks, three goals, and a point a minute. Auckland ; 6 j Taranaki 3 i

An incident after the kick-off was a fine run by Walker, who passed infield to Murray, who sent forward to Power. A penalty kick resulted. Auckland kept play in Taranaki's half, a fine take and kick by Walker resulting in Stohr receiving, and, after a good run, finding the line at midfield. The Taranaki backs were weak in line kicking at' this stage, and much ground was lost. l Hayward led an attack to near the goal line, where Boon, Sheahan, and Osborne > broke through. Harrison marked, but O'Leary's kick was touched, and a! force resulted. A forward rush by Tara-' naki's vanguard was temporarily checked by Maguire, and from the plav-on, Harrison fielded well and found the line. The amber and black forwards kept up i the attack, but O'Leary fielded beautifully, and found touch near midfield. I Shortly after O'Leary g,in:ed applause' by a beautifully judged lin; ; kick, which gained over 50 yards. Auckland kept up the attack, but some chances to score were lost by Auckland forwards failing to pick up. In this play Tyler came fast and spoilt Stohx's take. His pass to Walker was and a certain score was lost. Shortly after Murray's failure to give Walker a pass spoilt an-' other chance. A free kick by Taranaki gave them relief. Tyler was prominent in the play out,, and then Taranaki| worked back into Auckland's 25, where I Power held on too long, and matters 1 looked dangerous. A scrum ensued, and Mynott made a fine overhead mark. ! Stohr's kick at goal rebounded off the outstretched arms of Francis, and Auckland was again on the attack, Francis. Tyler, Hayward, and Maguire all being in the van. The Taranaki forwards, I with Tamu at the head, came -back to midfield, where a run of close play re-! suited, the visitors eventually getting, the best of the bout. O'Leary fielded, a long forward kick well, and found the] line a long way downfield. From the line-out, Francis secured and made a fine opening, but Auckland's backs did not respond. Taranaki worked back to Auckland's 25, where Power stopped a dangerous rush. His kick found the line and Maguire securing, passed to Wilkes. Harrison came fast, and, taking a pass nicely, ran down the side-line at a great puce. The Taranaki full back waited on the line, but, although he tackled Harrison, the latter fell across the line, and scored. R. Magee took the kick from near touch, and placed a beautiful goal, which just dropped over the bar. i Auckland '••• 11 j Taranaki 3 From the plav-out Harrison, running sideway, missed the take, and Anderson, | coming fast, kicked hard, and the ball, was allowed to roll over the line by) O'Leary, who forced just in time. Fol-

lowing the kick-out Auckland rushed the ball to Taranaki's 25. where from a passing rush, Harrison potted at goal. The ball never rose, and passed under the bar. and as, Taranaki forced the I bell rang for half-time with the scores unaltered.

THE VISITORS' SUPERIORITY. Hall kicked off for Auckland, and Hill' returned to Harrison, who found touch. From the line-out Auckland worked into the visitors' half, but the amber and blacks broke through. O'Learv fielded well, but his kick came off the side of: his foot, and Hill, securing, made a splendid line kick. From the line-out Tarnnaki came with a great dash, and Murray came back on O'Leary nd spoilt him. Mynott ws almost over from the I resulting play. Francis made a great | save, Auckland forcing. Auckland forwards came with a dash from the kickout. and later carrying the ball into Taranaki's half, Harrison failed to acjcept a pass from Hall, and a "food chance | to score was lost. Shortly after, from an : attack by Taranaki's backs. Harrison , secured, and. made, another oasTi down ;the line. He passed to Walker, uho went into touch. From the throw-in Mynott broke through, and, passing over the heads of several Aucklanders to Dive, set up a dangerous attack. The latter passed to Cameron, who seemed to have a certain try in sight, but Walker coming fast tackled him bv the shoulder and threw him into touch five vards from the goal line. The Auckland forwards removed play from the danger '/.a ■>. and then set up a passing run, which carried play to near Taranaki's line. Taranaki's defence was sound, and finally Stohr broke through, and found the line well downfield. There was a run of exciting play about mirtfield. the feature of which was several fine .line kicks by O'Leary. From a mark at Taranaki's:?o bv Murrnv. O'Learv took the kick, and found the line forty yards downfield. Francis secured from the throw-in. and after running several yards, passed to Hall, who when tnckled passed to Tvler. and the latter scored a try, which was only possible by a player of his ability. 'He was playing the greatest forward <rame on the ■ground. He grounded the ball about a f oot in from touch-in-goal. O'Lcarv's kick was a beauty, and sailed fair between the posts.

Auckland lo Taranaki 3 From the kick-out, Taranaki made a determined dash, and the ball getting among the backs, a rapid passing bout was set up, in which Brown, Dive, Mynott, Stohr, Cameron, and Dive again took part. Walker downed the latter a few yards from the line. From the lineout, another passing rush was set up, a fine tackle by Murray making an effectual stop. Taranaki kept up the attack, and Stohr, from his own mark, added to Taranaki's points. Auckland 16 Taranaki 6 ..The Taranaki forwards were now getting the best of Auckland, Osborne being particularly prominent. Crowley made a fine opening, but it was not availed of, and play was kept at centrt for some time. Murray, who started with a had leg, was very lame at this stage, but he did some good marking. The game, which had been fast, was telling its tale on the Auckland forwards, and the Taranaki pack was continually breaking through. Just when everybody was leaving for the cars, Dive secured in his own half, and, running straight, went clean through Auckland's pack. He passed to Cameron, who carried the ball on straight downfield, and then passed back to Dive. The latter passed again to Cameron, who, finding himself blocked in the corner, cross kicked. Tariiu secured just in front of Auckland goal posts. He was promptly collared, but passed to Hill, who had a clear run in, and scored. Stohr failed with the kick, and the bell rang with the scores: Auckland 16 Taranaki 9 SOME NOTES ON THE GAME. TARANAKI'S BAD LUCK.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondents Auckland, Last Night.

The game was brimful of incident. Taranaki, though beaten by 10 points to 9, were by no means disgraced. Whatever luck there was, was not in Taranaki's favour, and while u great game was played by the Auckland pack, and the saving of O'Leary at full back cannot be discounted, there was no great differp'vo between the two teams. Throughout Auckland played to keep the ball from the Taranaki backs, and their succeeding in doing this, won them the game. Tries that would have evened the game up were lost by Cameron, after a sensational run from half-way, and lat"r by Tamu falling after passing the full back. Stohr's kicking, though fine, was not lucky. Ootherwise there might have been a different tale to tell.

The game opened sensationally, Auckland kicking two goals and Taranaki one within ten minutes of the opening of the mntch. Thereafter, Auckland had considerably more opportunities to score from kicks than the visitors, although most of the free kicks were given against Auckland, but unfortunately, in every case thev were beyond kicking distance.

The Taranaki forwards played a great game; in fact, it was the best they have put up against Auckland since 1904. In scrum and line-out play they theld their own. but in the fast, hard rushes the Auckland pack were superior. Osborne, Tamu, and Whittington were in great form. Their efforts were well seconded by all the others. The backs did not get the chance they wanted, but played soundly. Hill, at full back, distinguished himself, although he made, a mistake in the first spell in waitingi.to tackle Harrison on the line, but the error was pardonable, as the goal line was not chalked. His try at the end of the game was well timed and put the finishing touch on the freest passing exhibition of the match. Mynott was everywhere, and never made a mistake.

As indicated, there was no great difference between the teams. The game was very fast, the teams being well con-

ditioned. In a word, the game was in (j very way worthy of a Ranfurly Shield contest, wliich with luck, might have resulted the other way. Auckland took every opportunity tliey got, however, and their win was well deserved.

SOUTH AFRICA HEATS BRITAIN. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received September 5, 12.30 a.m. Capetown, September 4. South Africa defeated Britain by 21 points to 5.

WANG AX UI v. MANAWATU.

By Telegraph.—Pre=« Association. Feilding, Saturday. The return match, Wanganui v, ManawatUj was played at Foi.ld.ing this afternoon. The game was a forward, one, in which Manawatu's weight told. First blood was drawn by Wanganui's half, Atkinson, but an easy chance for the major points was lost bv Southcombe. Five minutes later Ramsden equalised the score by getting in at the corner, lTtt<*n" e ? fajling to convert. The second spoil was mainly a mud scramble. Southcombe got- Jn alongside the posts - . An other easy k? R k was missed by Stewart. Briscoe later i.?.' v Csl oyer the line. The kick by Ward failed. tfivG ■minifies later a passing rush by Mali' awatu enabled Webb to get in again. The whistle finally sounded with Manawatu still strongly attacking, and victory rested with them by 9 points to 6.

DANNEVIRKE v. BUSH DISTRICT. Woodville. Saturday Night. A friendly game of football played here to-day between the Dannevirke sub-Union and Bush Districts' Union, resulted in favour of the former by Vi points to 6.

WELLINGTON v. SOUTHLAND. Wellington, Saturday Night. The football match, Wellington v. Southland, was played in fine weather. The visitors were completely outclassed, and proved "good tilings" for the local crack backs, who practically had thirsts all their own way from the commencement of the play. Wellington scored 13 points against the wind in the first spell and 47 points in the second. The scorers for Wellington were: Dawson (4), E. Roberts (4), Hills, Avery. Bruce. McKellar. F. Roberts, Kinvig. E. Roberts, Dawson, Averv. and Kinvig each converted a try, and McLeod potted a goal.

"If Taranaki has fit find fast forwards thev will beat Aueklar" I"—*■ 1 "—*■ remark made by the veteran Jimmy Duncan the rlnv in a train, and overheard bv a tviveller from Taranaki. The forwards were not fast enough".

THE NORTHERN UNION GAME. Auckland, Last Night The southern tour of the Auckland Northern Union footballers, is now taking concrete form. The League has selected 21 players for final selection on Tuesday, and it is proposed that the team shall leave Auckland on September 14, and play matches at New Plymouth, Bluff, Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch, and probably Nelson, Feilding, Wanganui. and Taumarunui.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. JACK TARS WTN STATE CHAMPIOXPIONSHIP. By Cable.—Prp*= Association. —Copyright Received September 4, 5.30 p.m. Sydney, September 4. The warship Powerful's team won the Association football State championship. OTAGO V. CANTERBURY. By Telegraph. —Press Association. Dunedin, Saturday Night. The Association football match, Otago v. Canterbury, played here to-day in bad weather, was won by the former by 4 goals to 3. For the winners, goals were scored by Barlow (3), and Forbes, and for Canterbury by Ritchie, Ward, and Mitchell."

NEW PLYMOUTH v. AUROA. By "Half-Back.") In beautiful weather, and before a, fair number of spectators, this longlooked for Julian Cup final was played at Eltham on Saturday, New Plymouth being victorious by 5 goals to nil. The scorers were: Eggleston (3), Goddard and Gwillim. I The ground was in 'good condition I for a fast game, and the spectators were treated to a splendid display of pretty footwork and neat combination. New Plymouth won the toss and played with the sun in their eyes. From the very commencement it could be seen that the combination of the New Plymouth men would hold them in good stead against the heavier tactics and lack of understanding ibetween the Auroa men. Eggleston was the first to score after five minutes play, from a combined run by Smart, Goddard, and Gwillim. Auroa retaliated by getting within shooting distance of the New IPlymouth goal, when Bullock cleared well up field to Smart, who ran up the wing and centred to Goddard, who scored the second goal from a melee in front of the Auroa goal. Auroa, getting away from the kick off, worked desperately to lower the score, but met with a great defence" from the New Plymouth backs. Gwillim, receiving the ball from Hedley on the half way line, put in an individual run, taking the ball nearly up to the corner and finishing with a fine shot, which O'Dea failed to get near, bringing the score up to 3 to nil in favour of New Plymouth. From this up to half time the play was of a give and take order. On the resumption of play the game slackened a lot, and in reply to an attack on their goal, the New Plymouth combination made a rush for the Auroa line, and notched another goal from the boot of Eggleston. The "Auroa men, by this time, were getting somewhat disheartened by the heavy score against them, and only on rare occasions did they seem to put any vim into their play. Arthur, the New Plymouth's right, took the ball down the field, and placed to Gwillim right in the Auroa goal, who failed to score, having misjudged the flight of the ball with the sun striking ritflit across the ground. Fsrarleston notched another goal ten minutes from the end of the game from a solo run. beating four of the Auroa I men one after the other. No more scoring took place, and the game ended ! in a win for New Plymouth by 5 goals | to nil.

The credit of the win is mainly due to the excellent combination of the New Plymouth forwards—clean and clever in their work that fairly outclassed their less experienced opponents—coupled with the srood feeding of the halves and full backs. Of the New Plymouth forwards, EgTleston played the best game on the field. He was up with the

game all the time, and was well supported by Goddard, Gwillim and Smart. Malcolm, Elliott and Reid were very sound at half, being a'bly backed by Bullock and Iledicy at full. Church was unable to show his real mettle in goal, the Auroa men not troubling him with, any difficult shots, although once or twice he was called upon to save his charge. Of the Auroa men, Watson, at centre* half, was easily the pick. If he bad had his opponents' forwards to work behind he would have shone to better advantage. O'Dea, in goal, could not be blamed for the tall scoring, being well beaten by every goal. A remark was made on the ground by a prominent official that it was a pity the visitors could not be sent to Wellington to do duty for Taranaki for the Brown Shield Tournament. This makes the third time New Plymouth have been victorious in the championship, having won in 1904, and 1907. The Cup will be on view in Mr. W. Lints' window during the week.