A MEETING OF GIANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 58, 28 August 1911, Page 8

A MEETING OF GIANTS.

A DRY GROUND AND FINE DAY. ' A RECORD DEFEAT FOR WELLINGTON. (Special to News.) Wellington, Saturday Night. It was an unenthusiastic and saddened crowd that wended themselves homeward from Athletic Park today after the match between two acknowledged giants of the provinces this season. They felt very confident as to t'.ie result before the match, going as fay as to give their own men a five points victory, but it became apparent that in Taranaki their representatives had met the toughest! proposition they had encountered for many years. As the game wore on thai fact became more and more apparent. "Wait til! the Latter part of the game," said Wellington supporters. "Our men will then pull themselves together and score rapidly. See what they did with the Maoris. They only scored eleven points or so till within twenty minutes of time, and then they piled on the points to the extent of almost a try a minute." But their expectations were not realised. Instead of improving their position, they did the opposite, sustaining a defeat never previously experienced in the whole history of Wellington representative football.

The weather, contrary to expectations, turned out ideal. On the previous night it looked for all the world as if it would be a dirty wet day. Instead, the rain lifted at early morn, and the day was fine. The condition of the ground suited Taranaki, though the wind somewhat hardened it. "We don't want a wet day." said the Taranaki manager, but. after the way the Tminaki forwards shaped I have no doubt ait all that Taranaki would have triumphed, though not to the same extent, even had the ground lieen heavy and the weather unfavorable.

Stohr was tho hero of the match.' Within five minutes of the commencement he showed his ability as a kicker. piloting the leather from a somewhat difficult angle through the uprights. He had four shots in the first spell, two being successful, and the other two missed by a narrow margin of space. One was kicked from ten yards the far side of tke half-way line," and just foil an inch or two short. The deadly kicking, combined with the slashing forward work of Taranaki, demoralised Wellington. Their backs seemed to be afraid to let go in their own half, because of marking and giving Stohr an opportunity of distinguishing himself. The two tries scored in the'fir*t spell were the result of excellent play on the part of both sides. The first'was gained by Wellington, Cook executing a fin" run. outpacing the Taranaki Ibacks, and getting over near the touch-in-goal. The other try was Taranaki's. Brown picked up smartly from the ruck, and whipped it out, and the ball travelled with lightning rapidity through the hands of most of Taranaki's backs, ending in Cameron getting over. The first spell ended: Taranaki 12, Wellington 3. The Taranaki backs were plaving splendidly together, McLeod feeding them well, and all kicking and passing with great judgment. The forwards had the blacks beaten half-way through the spell, and though they did not get the ball invariably they always upset the work of their opponents in the ruck, and in dribbling stood out on their own. Oolman, on the wing, Cain, Smith and Young, were ever prominent, and among the forwards there were no shirkers. They wero out to win, and they did their bit whether it was in the scrum (they pushed Wellington about a good deal in • tho scrums), line-out, or dribbling, or close play. In the commencement of the second spell play was not brilliant, being confined mostly to line play, and each side having the advantage in turn. The kicks' kicking, however, was of first-class order, all the backs of Taranaki doing well in this respect. Taranaki were not long in seeing Wellington get on a good passing movement, but the speedy Cameron came along at hurricane force, snapped up the leather, and streaked for the line and victory. Hotly pursued, he touched down, and would have got under the goal, but he could not see his way clear lit the pace he was going. Stohr's kVV -as splendid. Just afterwards, Oolman was knocked out, and Taylor took his place. Wellington were continually offending, and from a free kick Stohr once again did the necessary. For some time after this Taranaki kept Wellington hard at it defending their line, a free 'kick relieving. Later Tamnaki returned to the attack, and from a good deal of play on the line, Smith fell over, Stohr" goaling. The remainder of the spell was marked by some good passing and forward rushes, Taranaki having the advantage, though once or twice Wellington got within striking distance, but the yellows'l defence was impenetrable, and the scores stood: Taranaki 23, Wellington 3. , All the players on the winning side were at their best. Hill, at 'full, was a success. He made a mistake or two in waiting for the ball, but ampllv retrieved with lus subsequent work, "his finding of the line being a splendid feature. Cameron and Stohr were too many for their vis-a-vis, doing all their work cleanly and successfully.. Probably neither has played a better game. Stohr's kicking performance has never been equalled on tho Wellington ground before, and probably in no previous interprovineial mateh. Roberts was more alert and skilful than in the match' against the Country reps, at New Ply.] mouth. He was very .safe on defence.' ifynott's play was a revelation to the spectators, who looked upon the old war horse ins a past number. He soon dissipated this idea, being prominent in nearIv every movement, initiating them for the most part, and working his team capitally. Time after time he outgcneralled his opponents. McLeod and Brown were not leas successful. The latter made one or two mistakes, but for which the play might liave resulted in two more triesj but on tho whole his play was equal to the best provincial standard. Oolman, as 'Stated before, was in great form, playing with much dash, vim, and resource, and being a thorn in the side Of the other aide right up to his accident. Taylor, who took his place, was equail to what was expected of him. AH the forwards "played splendidly. There was little to pick and choose between them. There was a good number of Taranaki supporters present, i Of the sixteen matches plaved between j Wellington and Taranaki, Taranaki has

von 8 and Wellington 8. One lias been drawn, and the other abandoned.

The team naturally arc in great heart, and are leaving to-night for south. The exemplary (behaviour of the team off the field is the subject of favorable comment in the city, the landlady of the hotel stating that no one could believe there was a football team in the house.

The Taranaki team were the guests of the Wellington team after the match.