FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 58, 26 July 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

A HOLLOW VICTORY.

TARANAKI (31) v. SOUTH ISLAND (3)

Played at Stratford yesterday in bitterly cold weatlipr, with rain threatening, but which fortunately held off till within a few minutes of the conclusion of play, the match between Taranaki and the South Island Country Team only attracted about 1200 spectators. The South Island team played as picked, spick end span in white. Osborne, Pini and Tioberts were absent from the Taranaki team,Bcmdsten played in the front row, Young was lock, and -McLeod went up to five-eighths, Stohr centre three- j quarter, and Hunt going in wing three- J quarter. The team looked a motley j crew as it entered the field in a variety of jerseys, nod less than three colors (yellow and black, red and black, and black) being represented. I

Taranaki lost the toss, and played against a strong wind in the first spell. Play was fairly even. The visitors appeared to get warmed up first, and opened the .scoring account, giving the impression that our men were going to be extended, but that was the only time they did score. Taranaki totted up 8 points in the first half, and 23 in the second, when they had all the best of the game. Some good play was witnessed,

the combination shown by Taranaki backs being very pleasing at times.

Cain set the leather in motion.. Fisher returning to touch at his opponents' twenty-five. From the line-out' Dewar passed to Brown, thence to Cameron, to Hunt and Stobr. who kicked. Nelson's return wp.s smothered, the ball going out near his own twenty-live. The White forwards rushed play down field, where Church put in a nice piece of play. The Taranaki forwards next took a hand, but were gamely cheeked by o'Ronrke. Taranaki gradually asserted themselves, but the ball being kicked too hard , Church secured and passed to Hale, who kicked well down t'he field. Coleman's kick found touch. A scrambling rush, well followed up, found Coleman want- ; ing. and Forbes scored after eight minutes' play. Church failed with the kick. South Tsland 3 ] Taranaki 0 i

On resuming, the Whites came to the attack again, hut Coleman secured and found the lino. Brown and Cameron were responsible for a pretty piece of play, but McEvoy, with a long "kick-to the line, drove them back," doing likewise a moment later. Don Cameron broke away and sailed for the line, but a pass forward when blocked neutralised the effect. Young and Cain were participators in a forward rush, which saw Taranaki in striking distance, but Best, Nolan, Hammond and Fisher came again and again, Coleman going down lively. From an infringement in a handy position Church made a good attempt to goal, the ball being forced. For the next few moments play was brilliant. • Twomey kicked across the field, the hall being well followed up. Coleman was in difficulties, but saved nicely. Stohr kicked across the field. Brown secured and passed to Cameron, who streaked down field. When blocked lie kicked, and from the resulting play Hawkins got over, but was called back for forward play. From the scrum, however, he repeated the performance and scored. Stohr's attempt was good, hut fruitless. South Island 3 Taranaki 3

On kicking ofT, MeLcod's return was blocked by Best. Exchanges of kicks ensued, the visitors having the advantage, and aided by powerful forward dashes they kept Taranaki busy. A free kick in front of goal gave Twomey another fruitless shot, Taranaki forcing. Loose play by the Taranaki forwards carried play beyond half-way, but a powerful kick by McEvoy, smartly followed, drove them back Hale had another shot from a free-kick, which y/as forced again, and later Taranaki were compelled to find the dead-ball line. Infringements by Taylor gave the visitors further free kicks, and dashing play by ITiur.iTiond and Best kept Tnranaki bury. Taranaki next scon d a brilliant try. Firm a serum his own side of half-way Brown passed to D. Cameron, who handed on to S. Cameron, to McLeod. who passed to Stohr, the latter outpacing the opposition and scoring under the posts. Stohr goaled. The score, :\fteT thirty-five minutes' play read: Taranaki 8 South Island ...? 3 A free kick to the Whites charged down gave the Taranaki forwards a chance, but Hale kicked well down the field to touch. From the line out McLeod secured and with a dodgy run beat several opponents. His pass was intercepted by Twomey. who got in a long line kick. Hunt and McLeod were next prominent. The latter centred, but his kick was well taken bv Nelson, who found the line. Taranaki were next within an are of scoring. Brown, obtaining possession, made a nice opening, but McLeod hung on too long, and was collared with the ball. Cameron secured, and passed to Stohr. who cut in. but was held up on the line. The •Southerners brought the bail back, but Don Cameron with a dodgy run gained twenty yards. It was only temporary, however, as the Whites were back again, hammering at Taranaki's citadel, which, however, they could not cross, and a smart mark by Stohr brought relief as half-time, sounded. Taranaki signalised the resumption by notching another five points. "Right from the kick-ofT Brown obtained possession, passed to S. Cameron, and the latter to D. Cameron, who streaked down the line and soered in the corner. Stohr kicked a fine goal from the touch line. Taranaki 13 South Island 3

From the kick-off Hawkins broke away unsupported. Aitchison marked liis kick. S. Cameron took tiie ball, but his pass to McLeod was intercepted by Twomey, and the Whites set up an attack which carried play well down to within reach of the goal line. Taranaki cleared, and play now became very fast, the visitors handling the ball well. A fine line kick by Coleman —his best effort so far—found the line near his opponents' goal, and from the line-out South Island forced. The kick-off saw Taranaki again pressing, Hawkins being prominent, but O'Rourke broke away. Taranaki could not be denied, and McLeod marking in a handy position, Stohr landed a fine goal from fifteen yards off half-way. TaranalH 10 •South Island 3

A passing rush by South Island was ended by McEvoy failing to take the leather, and Coleman was able to save. Taranaki now commenced throwing the ball about in fine style, both backs and forwards taking a hand, Stohr ultimately scoring. His shot at goal failed. Taranaki 19 South Island 3 Hawkins and Young were responsible for Taranaki setting up a hot attack, and Stohr just failed to score from a pass by Cameron. A little later, however, 1). Cameron scored his second try, McLeod having made a nice opening. Stohr's shot again failed. Taranaki -II South Island , 3

!<)n resuming McLeod secured and streaked for the line, but w.is upendfd >by Nelson. His pass was intercepted. \ aand a little later a free kick gave the visitors a welcome spell. Coleman, with a nicely judged kick, found the line near the corner. Brown secured from the throw-in and handed to 'McLeod, who failed to get rid of the ball, and the visitors were awarded a free kick. From a mark -by McLeod Stohr had a shot, which did not increase the score. On resuming Coleman mis-kicked, but Mc- (■ Leod saved with a speculator. The Whites attacked for a spell, but Brown, McLeod, (Stohr, and Cameron came back again, off-side play giving the visitors a spell, but almost immediately Cameron obtained the leather and lifted it neatly between the post*.

Taranaki 20 [ South Island 3 ■ Hunt broke away on resuming, but oftside play neutralised it. Heady play by Stohr saw Taranaki again attack, but Aitcheson cleared nicely and kicked down the field. Don Cameron attempted to run round, but being collared allowed play to cross half-way. Cain, Kissick and Young were the medium by which play was transferred to the visitors' territory. Nice clashes by Hunt and McLeod were called back for infringements. The locals set up a strong attack, Cameron and Whittington almost scoring. After a shot by Stohr had failed, the local forwards set up a rush, from which Young scored and Cameron goaled. '

I Taranaki 31 South Island 3 The closing stages of the game saw the visitors attack, but Cameron cleared -. nicdy, and when time was called play was in neutral territory. Mr. F. Spurdle was referee, and Messrs. i Mynott and Bain line umpires. | .TUMOR GRADE. | STAR WINS DAN O'BRIEN SHIELD. The play-off for the Dan O'Brien Shield took place on the Recreation Grounds yesterday afternoon between Star and Tukapa first juniors. Star won by si:c points to nil, after a rather uninteresting and somewhat ragged display. Star established a lead of three points in the first half through a try scored by James. Shortly before half-time James had an unsuccessful but good attempt at goal from a penalty. The second half saw Mason score another try for Star, y making the score six.to nil.. It was a" good effort. Tukapa had a good chance of opening a scoring account when West : had a penalty shot at goal, but he made the mistake of taking the kick too far back. The game ended: Star 0, Tukapa 0, and this just about represents the difference between the two teams on the day's play. The game was largely a forward scramble, in which the Star pack predominated. Mr. W. Roch was referee. . . . '

Clifton seniors will be represented by the following team in the play-off against Okato, at New Plymouth, to-morrow afternoon, for the championship of the Northern Division:—Fuller, Eggleston, Bertram!, Goodwin, Kupe, Crowley. (Jain, Berndsten.-Loveridge, De Blois," Jones, Lash, Hicks, and two others.

TAKANAKI RUGBY UNION. A meeting of the management committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union was ' held at Stratford yesterday evening, J when there were present: Messrs. Mc- ' Leod (chairman). Glenn, Chalmers, Lees, Garcia, and Skoglund (secretary). The Wellington. Rugby Union notified j that, in the event of Taranaki being the j holders of the Ranfurly Shield, its visit" here on August 20 would be a challenge match for the shield.

The Southland Rugby Union notified that owing to many of its best players being injured it would have to abandon its proposed tour. It was decided to offer that date, August 22, to the Wairarapa Rugby Union.

The Manawatu match will be played at New Plymouth on August 8. It was decided to inform the Wanganui Rugby Union that Taranaki a B team to Wanganui, on August 17, if satisfactory.

Hunt, of Waimate, was suspended till the end of the first round of 1913.

Stratford juniors' protest against Eltham juniors was upheld, but their request to be allowed to play the match with Inglcwood juniors was not entertained.

Play-off fixtures were arranged as follows:

Third grade.—Manutahi v. Clifton, at Eltham, on Wednesday, July 31, at 12.30 p.m.

Second grade.—Clifton v. Waimate, at Stratford, on Thursday, August 1. Seniors.—Clifton v. Okato, at New Plymouth, on Saturday, July 27. Should Clifton win they will meet Waimate at ITawera on Saturday, August 3. Should Okato be successful on" Saturday the play-off will take place at Opunake on August 3.

The question of the re-adjustment of boundaries between Taranaki and Wanganui and the formation of another division to embrace Patea, Waverlev, etc., was held over till next meeting. ''