Taranaki Beaten

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 72, 15 September 1911, Page 3

Taranaki Beaten

i THE BIG FOOTBALL MATCH. j ) GAME PLAYED IN HEAVY RAIN. A MISERABLE EXHIBITION. About three thousand people asscmb- ■ led at the Recreation Grounds yesterday to watch the football contest between Auckland and Taranaki. It was expected to 'be a, titanic struggle. Consider-' able interest was taken in it not only in Taranaki but also throughout the whole Dominion, as the winners would • lie considered the champion llugby team of New Zealand. Both teams had just returned from triumphal visits to the South, where they had met and defeated their rivals in the provinces of Wellington, Otago and Canterbury. The play of the local men had received such high encomiums from football critics throughout New Zealand, and the prowess of i the redoubtable Aucklanders was also so great, that a very interesting game , was expected. i ] Jupiter Pluvius, however, had not . been considered, and, with his usual per- , versitv. when there is any function in , New Plymouth for which fine weather is ' specially desired, chose to send along a ( tremendous and persistent supply of s moisture, which considerably militated 1 against the attendance, and, Try making 1 both ground and ball very greasy, put i any spectacular exposition of the game ' out of the question. , ? The early morning broke fine, and a ] considerable number came in from all f over the province, both trains being ' crowded, whilst coastal settlers jour- r neyed in by motor-car, motor-waggon and .? traip. During almost the whole of the i time the ball was in motion, rain fell. f

It was generally expected that Taranaki would win, though there were many who, under the prevailing weather conditions, considered l the margin between the teams would not be great, as the heavy going would suit the Northerners. They were right. Auckland won by six points (two tries) to a goal from a penalty, after a game which was mostly confined to the forwards.. On the day's play there is no question that the better team won. The Auckland forwards were far superior in every department. They were heavier, speedier, and cleverer than the local vanguard. They were able to secure the ball in nearly every scrum. Thus the local backs did not get mucli opportunity of showing any of the brilliant passing rushes that so paralysed their opponents on tour and electrified the spectators. Tn fact, any passing that was indulged in was practically confined to the visitors. The Northern vanguard were down on the local backs when the ball did go their way, ■with great suddenness. The Auckland backs were remarkably safe on defence, taking the greasy ball cleanly, and finding the line with deadening regularity, thus saving their forwards much toil, an marked contrast to the local backs, whose line-kicking was very faulty, even Stohr not finding touch with his usual accuracy. The visitors' scoring capabilities were not so marked; otherwise Taranaki must have had a bigger total registered against them. The first spell was all in Auckland's favor, and Taranaki were on the defensive almost the whole time. Auckland crossed Taranaki's line twice, whilst the locals were forced on several occasions. Only once in this spell did Taranaki look like scoring. This was when Stohr, kicking high and following up well, got to within fifteen yards of the line. Not once did Taranaki even kick the ball over Auckland's line. The Northerners' first try was a rather clever one. from a scrum near the line. Thomas obtained the 1011, and parsed on the blind side to Ceddos, who nearly got over. From the resultant =erum he repealed the performance, and Stewart I got over. Cameron presented the visitors with the second try by speculating at n ball which McGregor picked up. and ran in unopposed just as the first spoil concluded. (Matters were more even in the =ccond spell. Taranaki attacked from the jump and raised their supporters' hopes, Auckland being compelled to force on two or three occasions, and once the dead ball line robbed Prince of a try. Stohr had only three shots at goal, and from one in a good position notched Taranaki's only score. Auckland had all the better of the concluding stages and on several occasions were nearlj over. O'Leary, too, on several occasion? just missed increasing the score witl: lu's kicks at goal, of which he had several. Taking the game right through Taranaki were fortunate in escaping with such a moderate drubbing. Mr. E. McKcnzie. of Carterton, enn trolled the game in a most satWaoton m inner. The teams were as picked, save that Thomas replaced Otterson as centrehalf for the visitors, and during the second Taylor took the place of Whittington, who sustained a slight nijurv. AUCKLAND (blue and whiteL Full-back. J. O'Brien; throe-quarters. D. Stewart.'T). McGregor, G. Murray: fiveeighths. J. O'Leary, W. Geddos; half, Thomas: wing forward. .T. Hall: forwards, ,T. Barrett, If. Hflyward. A. Bruce, A. C. Wilson. W. Cunningham, G. A. Trior. F. Herring. TABANAKI (amber and black).—Fullback, Hill; throe-quarters. Prince. Ptohr, Cameron; five-eighths. MeLood. Mynott; half, Brown; wing forward, Col man; forwards. Downr, Whiitington, Tamil, Young, Hawkins. Cain. Osborne. TIIF PLAY.

Xo time was lost when tho trams took the field during a fairly heavy shower. Cheers were exchanged, a'id almost before the miblie was ready- the Auoklanders sot the ball in motion. Taranaki _ defending the northern goal. Mynntt roturnrd to half-way. and tho ball went out.. A forum followed the throw-in, and the visiting kookers tent the ball out clean, and Wilson and Tyier carried play into Taranaki territory. Hill fumbling and missing the line and giving O'Brien an opportunity to line just outside tho Blacks' twenty-five. Hawkins was the first home forward to show out. but his effort was ton close to the side line, and Brown was thrown out. A lino-out gave the visitors another advantage, and O'Leary from a mark bv Thorn is landed the hall inside Taranaiki's twenty-five. Again the Taranaki full-back was ovor-anxiou-. and failed to get his kick in. Murray snapped (lie ball from his and had a pot. which was unsuccessful, and Taranaki forced. It was now apparent that tho Amber

and Black brigade was up against a 'tiff

proposition. The kick-out was returned bv O'Brien io touch. A rebound off

Cunningham nullified Coleman's attempt

to get the Black forwards going from the line-out, and the Aucklanders swarmed into the corner, where, from a scrum right alongside the line, the homo team was lucky in forcing. Taranaki set the ball in motion once more, and Geddes got into his stride, but off-side play gave Tarnual;> i free-kick, which was badly handled by Oilman. Geddes returning into touch. From the linoout the Northern forwards got busy, but Young and Hawkins go! down to it. McGregor .kicked to Siohr. who lined in the Auckland half. A rattling run and kick by the same player let the Amber

land Black jerseys into their opponents' end for the first time, and the crowd became more enthusiastic as the forwards made a very solid rush. O'Leary re- ; received the ball from the line. He lined at centre, and Taranaki's attack was over for the nonce. Mynott was penalised for off-side play, and O'Leary's kick went out in the Taranaki end. There was some hot work in the corner,

and steadily the Taranaki men had to give way. Murray passed out to Stewart, who was grassed on the line. Another scrum, from which the visitors got the baill, and Stewart dived over at the corner, notching the first score of the match. O'Leary made a fine kick, but it was given as a poster. Auckland 3 Taranaki o When business was resumed, the home backs tried a bit of passing, .but it went way, Geddes intercepting and passing to McGregor, who put in a dodgy run that baffled four or five of the defenders. Mynott up-ended him in the Taranaki twenty-five, and off-side nlav «nniMo,i

Coleman to line at half-way. Tyler, Herring, Wilson and Cunningham were doing great work, repeatedly taking the ! ball from the toe of an opposing" forward, whilst Geddes and Hall were also doing a lot of spoiling work. At this early stage Hall had outplayed the Taranaki wing- forward. One' chance came to Cameron, but he. was quickly surrounded, and badj to kick to the side line. Thomas, who was playing neatly behind the scrum, passed out to O'Learv, who kicked again to Cameron. The Taranaki flier was too well marked by McGregor, and nothing startling happened. Line-out after line-out, and scrum after serum: it grew Monotonous. The visitors were having the best of it all round, but couldn't <jet over the (inc. McLeod. Mynott and Colman rarely missing their men. The Taranaki' threequarter line was getting little to do, but Hill was having a sultry time of it." Brown and Mynott were not plavin« as* sure a game as usual, the wet ball both-' ering them greatly, at which some marvelled, for Mynott has a name for safety with a greasy ball. Brown missed (in \ easv kick, but Prince came in time. A tackle sent his kick high, and from a mark Taranaki escaped—touch in jjoal, Bruce. Geddes and Stewart put \n a I nice passing run. Stewart being thrown out near the Taranaki line, and the locals forced again. Alwut twenty minutes had gone before the Amber and Blacks had a second chance of inspecting the Aucklanders' base, and Stohr was again responsible for the invasion. O'Leary sent a long kick to Hill, who misjudged his return" ami Murray's line-finder put Auckland out of danger. Then the home backs raised the hopes of their supporters Brown secured the ball from a scrum and passed to Mynott, from whom the ball travelled to Cameron, to McLeod but the latter lost the ball, and O'Learv l lined safely at half-way. Obstruction gave O'Leary another shot at goal, but the distance was too great. Thomas secured a . magnificent mark with the home forwards rushing down on him, and O'Leary again lined at the Taranaki flag, and then Stohr got in a beauty lining at half-way from just in front of the posts. A long dri,bblin» rush spelled trouble for Taranaki, but one ot the attackers got off-side, and Colman found safety. Then the whole Auckland team, or nearly the whole of it, took part in a splendid rush, the Taranaki men being taken aback and seemingly out of place. A score seemed a certainty, 'but a scrum for lying on the ball gave relief. The forwards «ot to business. "Take it with you," yelled Mynott, but the forwards had met'more than their match, and when the game opened a, little Stewart had an unsuccessful shot at goal, Taranaki forcing again. A dribbling rush iby Dewar was spoiled by a back being off-side, and the visitors set up a rush under their kick. ■McLeod secured the ball, and Tamu, I Young and Whittington put in a deter- j mined rush. But the visitors fell quick- I ly into their places, and O'Leary kicked to the corneT. Whittington was hurt at

t tins stage, and Taylor came on, Smith I l (the first emergency) not bavin-* stripped, Colman made a fighting run '■ through the pack, and the game" was opening out, but Cameron was given off-side, and a serum resulted. .Taranaki .pack fell, and Geddes sent a ; sharp kick to Stohr, who missed, but recovered the ball and just got in his kick. Geddes then broke clean through to Hill, who brought him down. Stohr i was again beaten by the ball, and the local men were penned down on the line. Cameron speculated at a rolling ball, and missed. McGregor came up like a flash, and dived across the line, . reiristerinor the second try, which , O'Leary was unable to convert, and the | whistle sounded immediately for half- . lime.. r j Auckland fi Taranaki 0

During the interval Taranaki's chances were weighed. Manv opined that they would "come to light" now, and argued I that they never did well in the first spell. Old players, however, honed | against hope. It seemed to them that Tarannki was getting off lightly sn far, and that thev would have great diffieulty in ma.king ut> the leeway. But thev started off with tremendous dash. Ptobr kioked to the corner. From a lineout the Auckland forwards made a. rush, hut Young changed the direction of the. | ball, and Stohr charged rapidlv, slipping, however, when close to the liti". An Aupklauder kicked hack over his I line, and Prince raced over after the jhall, but it reached the dead ball line I just More he touched it. The Taranaki tiictics were to open up the game. I but they were unsuccessful. Stohr had i a shot at goal 'from a mark near half- ! way, hut failed, and iMurrav forced. 'Cameron tried to catch the hall from I th» kick-out with one hand, and placed TTill in an awkward position, but he ! made good and lined. Tamil and Oilman ' came awav from the line-out. but were j untfortunate, losing the ball. The locals i had oppned the spell brilliantly, but now I made little headwav. Auckland met the 'attack with safe defence, marking and 'line-kicking, and taking no risks. Once I Thomas cut through the ruck and lost • the ball to Brown, from whom it went !to Cameron, Mynott and back to Cam- ' eron, hut the latter lost the ball. Play [settled again in Taranaki's twentv-fivc. 'the result of weak line-kicking. Ceddes again beat Mynott and Dewar, and ' again Stohr failed with his line-kirk. , Bruce broke right away on his own 'from the ruck, and Taranaki was again hard put to it to repel the attack which ! followed. Column's rash speculator near jhis own goal was marked by (leddes, and O'Lcary nearly landed a goal by a fine kick. The finest opening for the Taranaki men in this spell was now manoeuvred by Brown, but an appeal for an infringement by an Aucklander 'stopped his progress, and his side was thus penalised for the visitors' mistake. Stohr sent a long kick up into Auekp land's corner, whence it was passed to centre. Colman. with -a trv apparently safe, was obstructed in front of the goal, and Stohr landed a goal. So close was it that- the referee gave it only after consulting the line umpires. I Auckland fi

j Tavnnaki :... 3 i | Just after rcsumingr Stohr, from a y>onalty acninst the Awkliintlers for illosal wnvk. kicked to 'RpcMpp, wlin foiled to take the tall. The knock-on struck Mur-

I ray, who was just in front, and Stohr J had another shot at goal for off-side. 'The kick failed. Tamil set up a fine j rush, with Young in attendance. Myf nott and McLond chimed in, and, HayI ward mulling the ball, the Blacks once I more re-entered the Auckland end, only )to be sent to the right about again by a splendid line-kielc by Oeddes. In the next few minutes both Prince and Hill, were beaten by lock kicks, and Herring and O'Leary carried play up to the Taranaki Hag, whence the ball was centred to Geddes. A try looked possible, and a mark would have been good pol-, icy, but he tried to pot from close under the posts, and missed. O'Leary bad another shot from a mark near half-way, but the ball passed under the bar. Mynott received the ball from a line-out in the Blacks' end, but could do nothing with it, and presently the backs were assailing the home line again. Colman accounted for Murray, and then McGregor dived for the line, but he was thrown out, a score being narrowly averted. Hill saved splendidly from the head of a solid rush, and Tamu came to light with a nice dribble, but the ball lifted just a little bit, and O'Leary made a nice mark, the kick at goal failing again. Stohr put in a good run, and kicked, but of what use to kick to O'Brien? He was safe as a house. The return was mulled, and presently a Blue and Black forward fell on the ball just alongside Taranaki's goal post. A scrum was given, and Geddes secured the ball. Brown grassed him. but the Aucklanders got the ball out of touch. A high kick by Stohr, and the Black forwards followed hotly, but Wilson marked cleverly. The kick at goal went wide. Taranaki made another big effort to equalise matters, but the visitors were too strong, and the game ended without further score, with the positions:

Auckland <"' ] Taranaki 3 j The winners all played good football.; The forwards were a particularly even lot, and it is impassible to find a man who didn't do his share. The honors go, perhaps, to Tyler and Herring, the hookera, for the command of the scrum gave them the match. But Wilson, Bruce and Cunningham wcTe brilliant, too. and Tlall. as wing forward, played splendidly. Thomas was a success at half, but was better protected than his vis-a-vis. Geddes was the most prominent back mi the field, his fielding and line-kicking being almost faultless. McGregor and Stewart also proved danorerou= threequarters. On the Taranaki side there were few who stood out. The forwards were beaten by a. better pack in the scrum and in the loose, and seemed to lack cohesion. Whittin<iton had played a dashing game up to the time of his accident, and Tamu, Hawkins and Young nlaved prominently. Young the best of the forwards. Colman did not shine. Hall proving more than his' match. Brown played a srood .p-ame, but his forwards were beaten, and he hadn't many chances. He wasn't ■«* s'ire 'ti field as usual. Nor was Mvnott. Tt wasn't one of his srood (lavs. The three-ounrter line had little to do, and what little came their wav in the wc of line-kicking was, on the whole, indifferently done.