FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 78, 19 August 1912, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

I I I I AUCKLAND (G) v. TARANAKI (5). | A MAGNIFICENT GAME. j TARANAKI HAD WORST OF THE j LUCK. j (By Telegraph.—Special Reporter). j Auckland, Last Nig'ht. That Rugby football lias not yet lost its powers to attract was shown by the interest taken in the Taranaki-Auckland contest yesterday by the vast concourse of over ten thousand people that assembled to witness the struggle. They were well rewarded, as Taranaki's determined effort to wrest the Ranfurly Shield from Auckland, who have held this emblem of the Rugby championship ever since it was first presented by Lord Ranfurly, in 1902, save for a brief interval from 1904-5, when Wellington 'held it, failed -by the narrowest of margins. Auckland scored a try and a ponalty goal in the lirst ten minutes, whereas Taranaki scored a converted try in the second half, and though the Auckland forwards secured the ball oftener from fchej scrum they were not so .much stronger than the Taranaki hoys- in this department. It was, however, the magnificent line-kicking and solid defensive play of O'Leary, Auckland's full-back, that was the principal contributor to the defeat. The Taranaki forwards broke

away again and again, only to kick too hard and to be driven ,baek by one; of O'Leary's powerful kicks-. Taranaki's backs, too, could not get .moving. First of all they could not get the ball from the scrum, and when they did S. Cameron was not playing up to his usual form at five-eighths, and many openings were spoilt. Don Cameron, at vring threequarter, had very little opportunity of showing his calibre, as the ball very seldom came his way. Colman, at fullback, retired during the first spell owing to an injuiry, and Franklin, who took his place, went up to five-eighths during the latter part of the game. He played, a good game. McLeod's try was a beauty. Cutting in, he went through his opponents like mowing hay. The day was beautifully fine, the eun being hidden, whilst the ground was in good order. There was a fairly strong easterly wind blowing, of which Auckland, who won the toss, were given the advantage in the first spell. Cuningham set the ball rolling. At once Taranaki were in trouble, as Carroll, following up fast, smothered the return. S; Cameron, however, came to the rescue, but O'Leary with one of his long kicks drove play back to Taranaki's territory. Roberts and« Stohr were responsible for its removal to neutral ground, but Auckland came back, and Colman sought refuge by kicking to touch. From the line-out Mackay got over, but was called back, as Stewart had passed forward. Immediately, however, from the scrum Webb secured and the ball passing successively through the hands of Ifwerson, Stewart, and Mackay, the latter was successful in drawing first blood. Ifwerson failed to convert. Auckland 3 Taranaki ;■ 0 Four minutes had now elapsed. Brown's kick-off saw a scrum, which Auckland screwed, Tresize and Sellars coming away, ball at toe. Weston obtained the leather from Webb, but was neatly grasped by Stohr. A high kick well, followed up by Roberts, however, found O'Leary all there, the leather finding touch at Taranaki's twenty-five. From the line-out Webb, Weston, and Ifwerson were troublesome, and a breach by Taranaki saw the latter add three more points to Auckland's score.. Auckland 6 Taranaki 0 Auckland's prospects were now looking rosy. The resumption saw Auckland still in the ascendency, though Cain, Dewar, Hawkins, Whittington, and Kissick were showing some dash, only to be met by counter-attacks by Bruce, Sellars, Tresize and Barrett, or by long line kicks from O'Leary. Taranaki were penalised on several occasions for obstruction. Ifwerson had some unsuccessful shots at goal. Stohr and Don Cameron essayed a passing movement, which was intercepted by Weston, and with a strong dash he looked dangerous, Colman saving. Taranaki now hooked the ball, but S. Cameron could not handle it, and Carroll picking up shot across to Mackay, who was well up-ended by Stohr. A little later Weston spoilt a nice opening by knocking on, and a breezy Auckland attack was terminated by McLeod collaring Ifwerson. Stohr's kick—a good one—was returned by O'Leary to the corner, and from the throw-in Weston secured and dashed over, but lost the ball, a force resulting. McOrogor next intercepted a pass from McLeod, and cutting in gained much ground before being up-ended by Roberts near the line, and the ensuing play saw Taranaki forced three times in successsion. Dewar and Hawkins carried play to O'Leary. who coolly beat several opponents and lined away down the field. Hawkins, Whittington, and Cain, for the first time, carried play to Aucklandls twenty-five, where Weston and Stewart saved.

Colman, who was kicking well at this stage, was incapacitated through an injury to his knee, and a little later retired, Franklin taking his place. The Taranaki forwards now woke up, and put Auckland on the defensive for a brief spell, but Carroll cleared. Don Cameron put in an electric dash down the line, only to be collared" by McGregor. Dewar and Cain dashed desperately, but Webb went <town gamely and Carroll, Wilson, Mackay, and Tresize participated in a passing movement which Stohr terminated, just in the nick of time, by upsetting the last-named. Scrambling ,play followed, the backs on both sides mulling the ball, and the conclusion of the spell saw Taranaki forced twice more, i SECOXD SPELL. With the wind behind them Taranaki were expected to make things willing in the second spell, and so they did. From the kick-off, Webb broke across the halfway line, but back came the Ambers Hke tigers, and the Auckland citadel was the scene of a hot attack. Roberts broke through and passed to Dewar, who was collared, and a rebound saw O'Leary clear his line. Stohr and O'Leary had a kicking competition, from which Stohr emerged victorious, and a powerful kick by Stohr was marked by Stewart, in the face of a hefty Taranaki .rash. Taranaki now held the upper hand, and gradually gained ground. A free kick in a fair position caused Taranaki supporters to yell for Stohr, but that brilliant kick had an off day, and the kick failed, Auckland being forced for the first time. MeLeod marked from the kick-off, but

I with a weak kick lined. From the lineI out Brown, who was working like a itrojan, passed to lioberts, the latter jhanding to Stohr, who kicked when |blocked, hut the hall reached toiK-h-in-goa!. A heady kick by Brown saw the ball out at the corner, where GunningSham, Bruce, Barrett, «nd Wilson cleared, carrying play to neutral ground. Back loarue Taranaki per medium of Brown, iCameron and McLeod, the latter knockling on, and Barrett saved. Webb, Wesson and McOregoi- briefly, retaliated, but ithe Taranaki forwards rushed back, and :S. Cameron, passing badly, another ichance was lost. From clever marks bv .Roberts both Stohr and Franklin failed ; to goal, but Taranaki's peivsistence was jsoon rewarded, as from a high kick McjLeod lined at the comer, and from a resulting scrum Brown passed to Franklin, who smartly got the leather away to • McLeod, and this tricky customer cleared his way through his opponents, scoring near the posts. Franklin goaled amid much jubilation from Taranaki supporters, and they were many. . Auckland <j I Taranaki g

| Play then .became very fast. Tarahaki were throwing the'leather about,' but Auckland's tackling was good, and O'Leary's kicking was also a deciding factor. The visitors, however, were having matters all their own way, bar scoring. Cameron, Franklin, Roberts and 'Stohr were active, but a knock on

fobbed the latter at a critical time. From a scrum Brown passed to Franklin, who had come up to five-eighths, and the latter slipped when, the goal was in sight. Webb secured from a scrum, and his backs now took a ( part, play being transferred right to Taranaki's line, I where backs and forwards alike strained every nerve to increase Auckland's lead, but the ffaranaki men's defence was too sound, and, after an anxious few moments, not only did Taranaki clear their lines, but also set up a hot attack, Auckland being forced just as time was called.

j So ended a very interesting game. Mr. McKenzie's refereeing was most impartial. Messrs. Gallagher and Oram were line umpires, | The flags at the grounds were half mast out of respect to the secretary, Mr. C. V. Langaford, whose mother died on Saturday morning. | The Taranaki ■ team were entertained at dinner by the Auckland Union in the evening. > OTAGO (12) v. WEST COAST (3). By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night, Otago and the West Coast tried conclusions here yesterday afternoon, in j the presence of about four thousand spectators. The game -was played in quarters, West Coast having the wind, which was fairly strong in the j first quarter. Nelson registered the j first score for the visitors from a mark jhy Casey. Otago evened up a few ruinlutes later, when MacDougall dived over I from a scramble ensuing after a, passing Iboufc The try was unconverted'. Ohilds, .the Otago half-back, went oh his own I from a scrum near the line and scored. |Cockroft failed with the kick. In the last quarter Alexander scored two more .tries, both, being unconverted, each being 'the result of spirited passing between Hhe rearguard. The giame on the whole twas not very interesting. A feature I'was the splendid tackling of the visiting forwards. The final scores were: Otago 12, West Coast 3. BUSH TEAM (11) v. NELSON (0). Pahiatua, Last Night. The representative match, Bush Team .v. Nelson, wa» played here on Saturday, and resulted in a win for the Bush team by 11 points to nil. The Bush played with a favorable wind in the first spell and scored three tries, Bateman, Pilkington and Morris crossing the line. Morris converted one. In the second spell play was in favor of the visitors, .who pressed the Bush team on several !occasions. A feature of the game was the excellent line-kicking by the Nelson [backs. A fine day and dry ground I suited the visiting team. j As a curtain raiser, the Masterton District High School team defeated the i Bush schools team by 8 points to 3. , SOUTH CANTERBURY (9) v. SOUTHLAND (6). I Timkru, Last Night. I The football match South Canterbury jv. Southland was played yesterday afternoon, in fine weather, on the Caledonian Ground, which was in good order, before 'a large attendance. It was won by ;the .home team by. 9 points to 6. The ,first spell was even, aild the second was all in favor of the 'home team, who did inot make the most of their opportunities. It was chiefly a forward game. So.utMand did not attempt' much passing iplay. The home team did more in that way. but erratically. WELLINGTON GAMES.-. Wellington, Last Night. Perfect weather prevailed yesterday ! for outdoor sports. Special interest |centred in the Rugby senior match l>e'tween Oriental and Athletic, owing to jthe bearing of the result on the season's championship. Athletic bent j Oriental by 6 points to 3. This puts I the latter out of reckoning, and leaves 'Petone and Athletic to. play-off for the ] championship. In the other two matches played yesterday Petone beat I Victoria College by 27 'to 0. and St. James beat Wellington by 20 to 17. REPRESENTATIVE SCHOOL MATCH. Palmerston N., Saturday. A se-hool representative football match .Wellington v. Manawatu was played I this morning, and resulted in a. win'for j Manawatu by 17 points to 3.

TARANAKI B (14) v. MAORIS (11). The show grounds, Hawera, were the scene of an interesting game between the Taranaki B team and the Maori touring representatives on Saturday 'afternoon. The weather was perfect. I but the attendance "was not large, mim.bering scarcely !500. The contest was Ivory keenly fought out, and the native ,team had hard luck in not equalising, if not actually passing, their opponents' ! score. Taranaki were superior in the backs, while tho Maoris were on the [other hand more at homo among the .forwards. At times they completely ! romped over their opponents' pack. The combination and genera] bearing of the Taranaki backs was highly creditable for I? representatives. The Maoris were I rather weak in line-kicking, and Whakarua, who showed up to so much

advantage in the Clifton-Waimate clash

>J anus, had an off day. All things con- ' sidercd, the nathes, who were slightly ' out of form, should give a good account of themselves on their tour. It is often said that Maoris play good Rugby until their opponents get in the lead, and that after that I hey get disheartened. Saturday's exhibition, however, was a flat contradiction of this theory. The dry turf gave both sets of hacks an opportunity to handle the leather, and prevented the game from degenerating into a mere forward display. There was practically no wind, and Taranaki commenced to be aggressive right from the jump. Offside-. play by Reid relieved the Maoris, Tamu finding the line. Tinney (at full-back), who played a splendid gam-e throughout, the whole match, transferred' play to the natives' line and a touch-in-goal shortly afterwards occurred. Taranaki's first real opportunity came when Beamish passed to Bertrand, who spoilt by hanging on too long and not giving Meuli a chance, with the result that the latter was pushed out of touch. Then Winter had a penalty kick at goal for Taranaki, which did not rise. Bertrand, who did a lot of splendid work but also made a few mistakes, nearly let his side down, but Tinney saved by running right round and finding the line well. A good run was witnessed when Bertrand intercepted and streaked for the line, but, being collared from behind, passed to Meuli. Had Clifton's lleet three-quarter U.t himself go and played a "lone hand" a score would probably have resulted. Taranaki'-s first try was a pretty piece of work. From Crowley the hall went to Beamish, who passed ,to Dud Cameron, and the latter deftly side-stepped his opponents and scored, Reid failed with the kick.—Taranaki 3, Maoris O.—A few minutes later Cameron nearly landed a penalty. It was a good kick, but the direction was- at fault. Crowley initiated a promising rush, in which Bertrand did some, clever feinting and dodging. The Maoris now took a hand in the game, ajid had Taranaki repeatedly on the defence for fully fifteen minutes at a streteli. Koro, who continually tried to open a scoring account, led an invasion, which was all but successful. Whakarua had an unsuccessful shot at goal ffom a penalty kick. The Maori forwards forced the opposing pack' to the.''line, and Koro dashed over, a toueh-in-goal resulting. Kipa,. (the Fitzroy half) was boring through, when Cameron saved well. Then for Taranaki McAllum broke away with the ball in his arms, punted over the full-back's head, and had anyone been with him he must have annexed three points. Koro, who used his immense bulk and weight to considerable advantage, made bold bids at scoring, but Whitaker and Reid shepherded him too closely. Once Bertrand sped away and had only the full-back to dodge, but prompted by un-' selfish, though unwise, motives passed, *ml a touch-down resulted- Reid took a penalty kick, but, to use plain AngloSaxon, "made a mess of it." On behalf of the natives De Blois, Tamu, and Toro nearly grounded successfully, being just held-up over the line. Half-time was called'* with Taranaki in the lead to the tune of eight points, Reid kicking ,up the field and enabling Meuli, who followed tip well, to score. Ward converted.

The Maoris attacked strongly in the second half, and a hefty rush ended in Koro being pushed out near the corner flag. A promising passing rush took place between Kipa, Toxo, and Tito, the latter being grassed in front of the posts. Again and again the Maori vanguard rushed the opposing line, and Tinney was repeatedly called upon to save. A scramble ensued in front of the line, and the Maori barrackers, whose numbers were legion, went wild with excitement when Koro was seen to emerge with the ball in his arms. He failed to convert. —Taranaki 8, Maoris 3. —Not long after a nice passing rush ended in Toro getting over with a fine run. Koro, converting from a difficult position, equalised matters. Scoring then proceeded apace. Pini, with a swift turn of speed, gathered the leather in Ms. arms and was grounded 'by Meuli. Nothing daunted, he regained Ms legs and the .ball and scored. Koro failed to convert—Maoris 11, Taranaki B.—The next try was Taxanaki's, and was secured by Meuli cutting in from a pass from Beamish. Ward failed with the kick.—Taranaki 11, Maoris 11.—The last try came when Bertrand made a nice opening and passed to Meuli, who scored, field was again unsuccessful in adding the major points. The Maoris, in return, pressed hard, but could not score.

THE LEAGUE GAME. SYDNEY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP. Received 19, 12.20 a.m. Sydney, August 18. East Sydney won the Rugby League premiership. WANGANUI 14 v. WELLINGTON 14. Wanganui, Last Night. Glorious weather prevailed on Saturday, when the Wanganui and Wellington representatives m'et under Northern League rules, and an exciting game resulted in a draw, both sides scoring 14 points. It was the best League match seen here this year. Wanganui commenced with a vigorous attack. Hogan and Buekland scored tries for Wanganui, neither try being coverted. Then Irvine scored by the posts and converted the try for Wellington. Almost immediately afterwards Gilmour got in a great run and scored, though collared ; by Smith on the line. He toolc the kick, but failed, and the score was 8 to 0 at half-time. As a result of a good passing bout hy Wilson, Hartnet, and Bradley, the last-named got over near the corner. The try was 1 not converted. A little later B. King ended a good forward rush by scoring, making the game stand at 14 points to G. Wanganui were in no way down-hearted, but kept up a strong attack. From tight play in the Wellington corner the ball shot across the Wanganui rearguard to Robinson, who dived through behind the posts, and Hogan converted. The next score resulted in a similar manner. Just as time was called Robinson again scored amid applause, making the game a draw, for his kick missed.

THE AUSTRALIAN GAME. NEW SOUTH WALES 136 v. QUEENS LAND 81. Received 18, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, August 18. Playing under Australian rules New South Wales 'defeated Queensland by 131 points to 81. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. NEW SOUTH WALKS 3 v. QUEENSLAND 0. Received 18, 5.5 p.m. Brisbane, August 17. In tbe Association game, New South Wales defeated Queensland by three goals to nil. WELLINGTON 8 v. ITAWKE'S BAY 2. Napier, Last Night. The Association football match, Wellington v. Ilawke's Bay. played yesterday afternoon as one of lln attractions of Carnival week, resulted: Wellington 8, Hawke's Bay 2. The ground was very slippery after the recent rain, and the game was an uninteresting display. ' &Hf Kmfalisa Eeague team left Sydney for New Zealand on Saturday night by the Maunganui.