FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 57, 29 August 1911, Page 8

FOOTBALL

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. I The senior Rugby football matches on ;, Saturday resulted:— Marist Bros. (8) i, beat University (03; Parnell (12) beat t Newton (0). I'onsonby and Grafton did f not play, neither side raising a team, j MarUt Bros, are now a point behind City for the championship. They play off v after the return of the southern team, j a SECONDARY SCHOOLS TOURNA- 1 MENT. NEW PLYMOUTH 32 v. NAPIER 8. There was again a good attendance at ) the Recreation Grounds yesterday when 1 the final match of the tournament was i palyed. New Plymouth beat Napier by ! 32 points to 8, and thus secured the : shield. The match was keenly contested, : and provided some attractive football. : There was not the difference between the teams that the scores indicate, as Napier were attacking on numerous occasions, and the rapidity with which the scene of operations was transferred from one end to the other kept the spectators always on the qui vive. Box's fine goal kicking materially increased the local score, as in addition to converting five tries out of six attempts, he also potted a fine field goal, making his contribution to the total 14. The Rev. Scott again ably controlled the game. Napier kicked off against the wind, and at once carried play to the local's 25. Bruce and Box with useful kicks removed it to neutral territory. Napier secured from the scrum, but gained no advantage, and a passing run between Huniter, Parker, McCarthy and Geddcs saw the latter collared by Bayly, who got winded in the attempt. From the resultant play Napier were awarded a fre kick, McLernon kicking well dowm the field. Crone, however, saved cleanly. Even play followed until Martin headed a forward rush and carried play to his opponents' goal line, where Reid with a ) clever mark saved. A little later Box had a shot at goal from a mark. Geddes fielded and returned out at the 25. From the throw-in Box cut in and gained considerable ground, but in attempting to pass he threw forward, and lost a possible chance. Bruce marked the ball cleanly. The referee, however, did not see it, and he was rushed down. Box and Martin initiated 1 a forward rush, which terminated, in a force, Napier pressed from the kick-off, and Parker kicked high. Crone misjudged the ball, and matters looked awkward for the local lads, as six Napier men were charging oh the .tall. One picked it up and was immediately up-ended by Little. Pott and Baton carried play right undei the visitors' goal, where a series of scrums ensued. Over-"'igerness gave . Napier a free kick, which McLernon made little use of. New Plymouth still attacked, .but the Napier lads saved by i forcing. A long kick by Box saw the i visitors again penned 1 , but Dean, Cullen , and Spear cleared. Bayly by trying to ■ pick up gave Napier a chance to clear. i Box waa nearly over, but when collared : threw forward. 'From the scrum Napier ■ cleared. Hannah kicked high and followed up. Crone failed badly, enabling Chcgwidden to get possession.. He passed to Geddes, who was thrown out by I Little. From the throw-in the ball ' travelled across to Hannah, who dashed ■ across. Parker failed to add the major • points. Now Plymouth immediately at- • tacked on resuming, and Grant securing r put in a useful run and centred. Hannah, • however, came round and relieved. Offside play nullified New Plymouth's advantage on two occasions, whilst good line kicks by Reid did likewise on other ' occasions. Passing runs by Bayly, Box and Grant and aagin AdJam, Martin and j Goss saw the latter equliso the points, ' Box, with a, nice kick, putting his team in thn lead. Bayly, Grant ana Bruce did some useful work iwhich carJ ried play into attacking distance. Geddes ' relieved, but not for long, as Box with 1 a fine effort poted a neat goal. Goss here retired. Colson taking his place. The Napier backs were passing well, bift • New Plymouth's tackling was deadly, ' and long kicks by Crone and Box placed > Napier again on defence. A nice mark by H nter staved them off temporarily, but the next try came rapidly, Martin scoring from forward rush, Box again converting. Heady play by McLerr-'"> saw ploy in New Plymouth's 25, when; it remained till half-time. Playing against the wind the second spell was opened by Bacon heading a lone-handed rush across the line, where Reid failed to hold the ball, enabling Bacon to score. Box again converted. New Plymouth again attacked, but like lightning the scene changed. Hunter • picked up in neutral territory, passed to ■ Parker, to McCarthy, and the latter ! ran and shot across to Hannah, who gathered in nicely and ran. He was well taken by Crone, who, however, let go too soon, and allowed him to continue his career to the goal line, where he scored, and Fawcett added the major points. This reverse livened up the local lads, and a passing ,run between Box, Grant and Bruce put New Plymouth i within striking' distance. Chcgwidden i cleared, but the local lads, like the cat, I came back, and Pott got across, but was » palled back. From the scrum Adlam I passed to Box, to Grant, the latter streaking across. Box converted once again. The Napier lads invaded the • enemy's country, and passing rushes participated in by five men on one occasion and four on another gave the local boys plenty of defensive work to do, and they did it. Bayly and Marnier headed I i a rush which carried play to neutral territory, where a free kick was awarded the visitors. The local boys came to ■ the attack again, and scrambling play followed closed to the Napier line, where ■ an infringement gave the visitors relief. A little later Grant intercepted a pass and dashed for the line only to be brought down by Reid when the goal was in sight. From the scrum the visitors threw- the ball about and long .kicks by Geddes and Fawcett well followed up compelled to New Plymouth to force twice in rapid succession. From the kick-off New Plymouth attacked and Box attempting to pot Napier forced. New Plymouth's next try came from a nice passing rush. Bayly passed to Box, to Grant, iwho transferred to Bruce and the latter running strongly beat several opponents and scored ait the corner. Box, with a beautiful kick, converted. Some brilliant passing among the visitors, together with a high kick by Hannah,! placed the local boys on the defence for a little while, until' Bacon intercepted a

[xis.-i and with Pott put « dilVei-ouL aspect on all'.wrs, heading a rush which only ended when Bayly fell on the ball across th« line. Box did not convert. New Plymouth had the holier of 'the game to the end and hud 'hard luck in not. scoring again. Grant smothered the J'ullhaek, and Bayly picked uji <and passed to Bruce, who got aoross but had unfortunately stepped out of bounds. Thia terminated the game. 'i'he first competition for the shield was hold in 190!), when Napier annexed it. In 1910 it was won 'by Palmerston, and this year New Plymouth will be the holders.

THE TEAMS EN'I.iRTAJNED. i The members of the Napier and \ Pafonerston North 'High Schools football 1 beams were entertained by the old girls I and old boys of the New Plymouth High 1 School »t a ball held in the Theatre i Royal. There was a very large attend- 1 ance of former pupils of the school, their | parents and friends, and the principal oi i the school and memlbers of the Board of l Governors were present. The hall had been decorated with flags, and the front ' of the stage was prettily arranged as a i drawing-room. The supper-room was tastefully arranged, too, the supper being laid on small tallea, and the provision for 'the creature comforts of the guests nv«s excellent in every way. The floor was in capital order, and dancing was carried on with all the zest characteristic of the young folk, the only drawback 'being the preponderance of the members of the fair sex. During the evening, Mr. Vernon, principal of the Palmersiton North High School, in handing over the Poison Shield to the New Plymouth High School, said he parted with it with united feelings—regret tnat his school had lost it, but pleasure that it had been so fairly won by a hotter team. Mrs. Woods' orchestra supplied capital music. Mr. L. B. Webster was M.C., and Mrs. L. B. Webster and' Messrs A. MacDiarmid and Truby King were the hon. secretaries to a large and energetic committee. The visitors leave 'by this morning's express for their homes. THE NORTHERN UNION GAME. AUCKLAND DEFEAT NELSON. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, August 27. The Northern Union football repre- ■ sentative match for the English League's Challenge Cup, which was played on Saturday between Auckland and Nelson, . attracted an attendance of fullv 5000. ! The ground was slippery as a result of the heavy rains of the morning, but, in ■ spite of this, play was very fast, and . the first spell, which ended in Auckland's favor by 13 points to 12, was \ery exciting. ! Auckland ran over the visitors in the i second spell, and eventually won by 3H ■ points to \t>. Rukutai (3), Oriffen" (2), 'I Morse, Sprague, Flicker, Waters and 11 Harrison scored tries for Auckland, three i of which Dunning converted. Cederman > scored two tries for Nelson, and con- . verted both, while Mason kicked a goal. NELSON v. TARANAKI. ' The Nelson v. Taranaki match, which 1 will take place, at Eltham on Thursday, ' is creating a lot of interest in South Taranaki, it being the first game to be! ' played in that part of the province. The following is the Nelson teani: Full-back, ' I{. Berkley,- three-quarters, C. Nixon, P. ' Page, D. Fouchellc; five-eighths, C. Sede- . man, J. James; half, G. Stapp (capt.); • forwards, Feary (2), Hannigan, Sparrow, ' Mason, Manson.