Another Great Win

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 62, 4 September 1911, Page 8

Another Great Win

—*— TAIUXAKi: O VEll WHELiLSS OTAGO. hai'id scoiuxg. AX INTERESTING GAME. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, Saturday Night. U is many years ago since Oiugo received such a severe drubbing on the football field us tliev received to-day, when Taranaki improved on their tine performance against Wellington last week, leaving the field victors by 27 points to 3. The game was witnessed by fully 5000 people, and the day was nearly 'as hot us the middle of summer. The wind blew in fitful gusts across the ground, but did not appear to favor either side unduly. There is only one excuse which can with any reason be put forward for Otago's severe defeat, and that is the way the team had to be altered in the last few days owing to the members picked being injured and unable to play. The Otago forwards had little combination in the loose rushes, while their back play was sadly hampered bv Coleman, Taranaki's wing forward, getting into Sutherland, the Otago half-back before lie could get the ball away. Young proved himself a veritable Trojan in the Ta ra na ki van gua rd. The first spell proved rather uninteresting, ami though Taranaki had slightly the better of the game, the local men made such a good showing that the Blue supporters were quite justified in thinking the game might end in a win for Otago. The Otago forwards generally managed to hook the ball in the serums, but the tall Yellow forwards

more than made lip Tor tins shortcoming by 'breaking aw'av from tire lineout, ami having the better of the exchanges in loose work. Stohr had several shots at goal from likely positions in the first spell, but failed every time, while Otago's attempts in this direction also came to naught. Only one try was scored in the lirst half, Roberts heading a dribbling rush and kicking past Otago's full-back and scoring. Taranaki 3 Otago (I Towards the close of the spell Taranaki attacked strongly, and MeLvod and Hawkins both lost a good chance of scoring tries by failing to take the ball and throwing forward. The full-back. Dutliie, retired at the end of the spell through an injury, his place being taken by Watson. The second half saw a complete change in the game. The collaring <.'f the local forwards and backs was very weak, while time and again the Yellows broke away from the line and began to securej the ball from (he serums. A few minutes after starting Otago I were forced. From the kick-out Mynott secured, and passed to Roberts,' who handed on to Cameron, the latter jilayer sending the hall in-field as he was brought down by Cuthill. Then Stohr knocked on and lost a good chance, but immediately after the same player completed a neat bit of parsing by cut ing m and scoring at the corner, lie failed to goal. Taranaki 0 Otago o Paterson headed a rush to Taranaki

territory, and then Eckliold had an unsuccessful shot from a penalty. Shortly after Eckliold secured the ball and passed to Black, who handed to Xorrie, but the latter dropped the ball at the color's and Cameron, picking up. put in a sensational jerky run down the line of a<) yards and threw in to Alynott, who had a clear run in under the posts. Cameron added the major points. Taranaki 11 Otago 0 The colors now commenced to open up the game, and gave the Blues plenty of running about. From a scrum in Taranaki's 2<3, Sutherland doubled back to the, blind side and passed to Black, and after some fumbling Watson scored at the corner. l'aton failed with the kick. Otago 3 Taranaki 11 Otago were now well holding their own, but McLeod secured the leather at half-way, hesitated, drew the attack, and then passed to Mynott. lie to Ro herts, and then Stohr completed the movement by cutting in beautifully and racing round behind the posts. Cameron again goalcd. Taranaki ]R Otago Young and Kissick led the 'Taranaki forwards back to the attack, and from louse play in Otago's 25. Mynott secured from Brown, and so on to McLeod, who. in turn, gave to Roberts, this player cutting through the opposition and scoring under the pasts. Cameron converted. Taranaki Otago :j Roberts hurt himself in his effort, and had to leave the field after half the spell had gone, and Prince took his place. Otugo worked the ball to the | Opposition's 20, but from the throw-in Mynott started a passing rush, which ended right on Otago's line. Mynott received the halt from the end of a long line-out, and threw out wide to Cameron, who scored an easy try. Stohr did not improve matters. Taranaki 24 Otago 0 After some loose scrambling rushes] at the centre. .Mynott, who was without" doubt, the king-pin of the attack, opened the play again, ami Prince scored. Stohr was once more found wanting. Shortly after the whistle went, with the scores — Taranaki 27 Otago ;s A COMPLETE UOliT. AX UNPRECEDENTED DISPLAY. A REVELATION TO OTAGO. (Special to "Daily News"). Dunedin. Saturday Night. Taranaki were in the ascendant today. and showed up Otago football in all its nakedness. Taranaki stripped Otago bare, revealing a hopeless band of incompetents. Never in the history of the game lnis the southern province received such an unholy beating as Taranaki hacks and forwards administered. It was a vase of eclipse first, Otago nowhere. THE STANDARD OE THE TARANAKI PLAY was degrees higher than that of the 'local team, who crumbled before the rushes of the Taranaki forwards and grovelled in front of the speeuy Taranaki backs, who simply ran through them like through a paper hoop. Every man on the Taranaki side was vards faster than any and every man oil the Otago side, while in resourcefulness, originality and dash they simply outplayed Otago at every point. FTNDrxr: their came. Taranaki did not find their game until the last twenty minutes of the lirst spell. In the earlier stages thev were beaten badly for the ball in the scrums. Taranaki played themselves sick for the sight of the ball. The backs were 1 standing around helpless, while the for-

wards made desperate efforts to hook the, hall from Otago, whoso principal front-l'ankcr, Casey, the All-]'lack, was honking from almost every serum. Otago backs could do nothing with (lie ball, Taranaki swarming in ami crippling the. passing rushes ere they were scarce ' begun . Tin; latter end of the first half was all in Taranaki's favor, the forwards breaking away from the linoout and dribbling through Utago in a body in the loose. SEVERAL CHANCES IjOST. Several chances of scoring were lost bv the Taranaki lmeks, who were overanxious, passing forward and knocking on. Onlv the free kicks from these infringements saved the Otago line. The first spell was a scramble, with the merits of the teams level. Taranaki had got Otago's measure, and ill the second half gave such ail exhibition ol fast rushes by the forwards and elevei jinking and running by the backs that long before the end OTAfIO WAS THROWN* TXTO CONFUSION*, disorganised beyond telling, «ind com- ; pletely routed. Taranaki appeared to , have played a waiting game in the first ■ half, and reserved all their energies for • the second. It was a revelation to see . Taranaki backs with their rare .pace, r swift passing and accurate handling, - sweeping through the Otago defence, r dashing it aside and splitting it clean in two right to the final line. Taranaki had complete command of the ball and - of the game, the forwards combining 1 well in the serums and breaking away | with the ball at toe in the loose. They r gave the backs every opportunity, of i which the rear division availed themii selves fully, and i- GOR(iEI) THEMSELVES WITH c TlifES s to repletion. Otago were made to look

like a team in the first primer of Rugby when the Taranaki backs were racing through them with Hashes of passing ami running such as the Blues, with their • lumbering gait ami wicked defence, were hopeless to repel. Taranaki had Otago so thoroughly thrashed and demoralised that they were at a loss to know where the attack was coining : from ' next. H was such a complete rout as Otago never knew. When Taranaki found their game there was only one team in it, and (he wide mari gin of the scores in Taranaki's favor . of a truth represents the marked su- , perioritv of Taranaki. I COMMENTS ON' THE PLAYERS. Hill played a fine game at, full-back ! for Taranaki, taking .the ball well, kick- • ing powerfully, and always accounting for his man. Stohr was clean off in place-kicking, ' of which he had several chances, but his • general play was sound, and his second • try, scored by a dashing run from ' half-way. out-distancing in sheer pace Otago's defence, was a fine effort., the result of a splendid passing rush. Mynott, Roberts and Stohr handling the ball in turn. Roberts made a good centre, fielding well and running strongly. llis try in the second spell was a great individual bit of play, in which he cut through the " whole of the Otago defence. J Roberts had the misfortune to eol- ' lide with a goal-post, injuring his knee, and having to leave, the field. Prince, who replaced him, also played •well. j Cameron was always dangerous, and

. his jinky runs were a constant source of • anxiety. Tt was always time to run . up the danger signal when Cameron had the. ball. i In the first spell McLeod and Mynott , were helpless, but with the forwards f securing in the second half the pair /combined well, and made a lot of play , for the backs. Brown, behind the scrum, was very solid, stopping rushes determinedly and opening up the play. All the forwards played well and with great dash. Kissick was the pick of a good lot, and was well supported by Young, Osborne and Whittington. Coleman, at wing forward, was in a class by himself, and proved an extra back to the. Taranaki team. Nothing can be said concerning Otago; simply that they were outclassed and demoralised. When the news of Taranaki's victory r was announced to a crowd on Saturday, t nobody cheered. A great, hearty laugh • went up. That was all. ! WELLINGTON SENIOR CIIAMPION--1 SHIP. i WON BY ATHLETTC. By Telegraph—Press Association, i Wellington, Last Night, i The senior Rugby championship for I the season was decided yesterday, when . Athletic defeated Oriental by 1(1 points • to :i. St. .lames got into third place - by defeating Melrose (."> to 31. AUCKLAND BEATS CANTERBURY. Christchurch, Last Night, [ The Auckland representatives defeat- . Ed Canterbury yesterday bv (i points to , WELLINGTON v. lIOROWHENUA. Wellington, Last Night. The junior rep. match. Wellington v. . llorowhenua, was won by the former by ■ I) to nil. WELLINGTON REP. TEAM. J Wellington, Last Night. • The following have been selected to represent Wellington against Auckland at. Wellington next Saturday .-—Fullback. Evenson (Athletic); three-quar-ters. Kinvig (Oriental). Mitchinson (l'oneke) and Grace (Old Boys); fiveeighths, P. J. Ryan (Victoria College), .1, Ryan (Petonc); half. F. Roberts (Oriental); wing, A. Wilson (Athletic); forwards, hookers, W. Ready (Athletic). Elliott (Ponekc) ; lock, D. Sullivan (Mel rose); supports, Mollitt (St. .lames). Perry (Oriental); back row, King (St. James), Bell (Athletic). Emergencies, McFarlaue (Petonc). Sotlieran (Ponekc), F. Roberts (St. James). MeKcnzie (Petonc). i WANGANTI DEFEATS MANAWATU. ! Wanganui, Last Night. The Rugby match between Wanganui ami Manawatu was won by the former > by lo to 13. Manawatu had the better ; of the game. ( The Wellington Times' football writer j characterises Stohr and Cameron, the , Taranaki livers, "a pair of brilliant wings, probably flic best pair in New t Zealand 'this season." , At the "smoke-oh" after the Welling- , ton match, Mr. Cameron, sen., of Stratford, who responded, in conjunction with Mr. Hine, M.P., to the toast of "Old Players," mentioned that lie was the ' only ex-Taranaki rep. who had produced a Taranaki rep. All power to him! J, NORTHERN UNION GAME. ] AUCKLAND BEATS TARANAKI. ! Auckland. Saturday Night,, J The Northern Cnion football match between Auckland and Taranaki was played in line weather, and was won by : Auckland by 20> points to L>. The ( game attracted a record attendance for '

iuterprovincial matches, the attendance being Ii(HM). T!ie game was not no good as previous displays of the season, both sides showing want of combination, while the attack of Auckland hacks was very bad. Asher (2), Trieker (2), Mitchell and Hnkntai scored tries for Auck- . land, four of which were converted by Dunning. Twohill, Kyle and Moir scored tries for Taranaki, llardgraves converting all three. WAXGANUI 15KATS NLLSON". Wanganui, Last Night. The third Northern Cnion football match was played here on Saturday before seven or eight hundred spectators. Wanganui defeated Nelson by 40 to nil. Despite the score, the game was a splendid exhibition to watch. It was fast and open. Wanganui backs played brilliantly.