FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 83, 24 August 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

That Rugby has not yet loit it* hold upon the flport-loving public was evidenced by the vast concourse that a»»embled at Alexandra Park, Auckland, on Saturday last to witness the game attempt that Taranaki made to captura the Ranftirly Shield. A stranger not acquainted with the holding capacity of the ground estimated the attendance at 10,000, and was then easily 2000 under the mark. The game pleased the ipectators, who were most impartial, good play by the visitors, receiving unstinted and spontaneous applause equally so, if not more so, than that of the local team. The match proved extremely Intereiting tkroughout, and it is safe to say that under the same weather conditions that 12,000 and more- will roll up to see Welling attempt to lift the shield to-day. Auckland has maintained its grip on that blue ribbon of the Rugby field for «o many years now that it has almost become part of Auckland, and it would go hard for the wearers of the blue and white to be despoiled by the Rugby giants who will do battle in Wellington's sombre garb.

To revert to the struggle itself. 3t was a very keen fight, and Taranaki had hard luck to lose. Auckland did all its scoring in the first ten minutes of the game before the Taranaki boys had, as it were, found their feet. Withing four minutes, fast following-up by Carroll saw Taranaki penned near their own line, and Mackay got over, but a throw forward called him back. From the serum he got the ball and maae no mistake this time. About four minutes later Colman, being smothered, hung on to the ball and gave Ifweraon a free kick in a handy position, and Taranaki were six points in the rear. Auckland forwards were getting the ball from the scrum and Webb was feeding bis backs, but the Taranaki collaring throughout the piece was deadly, and Auckland could not score.

During most of the first spell Taranaki, playing against the wind, were penned in their own. twenfcy-fiya., When the amber-and-black forwarite did break away, ball at toe, someone would kick a bit hard, and O'Leary would get the ball. That ended it. Back came the ball to touch away down field. O'Leary played a marvellous game, reminiscent of Hargraves at his best, fielding every time and lining with beautiful, powerful kicks that ran the Taranaki forwards off their legs and brought their fine loose dashes to nought. It was marvellous that the Taranaki forwards kept moving as they did. Cain and Dewar, who played together for the first time, could not get the.ball from Sellars and Tresize. Consequently the Taranaki backs' opportuinties were limited, as they could only get moving when they fielded the ball or from the line-ont. They didn't do much- when they did. McLeod showed an inclination to hang on, and S. Cameron could not take a pass. He evidently realised the responsibility of his position too much. The team played much better when Franklin, who relieved Cameron, was played up there.

Don Cameron only got the ball about three times during the game. Consequently he had no chances to exercise his brilliant scoring dashes. Roberta played a great game, marking time and again in the face of burly local forwards. Stohr, too, did good' work. His placekicking was not the best he has produced, otherwise the. positions would have been reversed. Certainly the distances were lengthy in each case, but he has often placed the ball over the crossbar from equal distances. Indeed, fit practice the preceding day it was f.tatni that he could not go wrong.

Brown, at half, had a lot of defensive work to get through, and he did it in nroat style. When the ball- came his way lie got it out quickly. Col man. at full-back, against tlie wind played a good «ame. All the Taranaki nacks tackled gamely: in fact, it is doubtful if they ijave ever excelled ia this resPPet - .... . 1 Ino Taranaki forwards exceeded expectations. It was confidently expected that if they cordd hold Auckland Taranaki would emerge victorious. Well, they did hold' Auckland, and at times excelled in the loose, but the Taranaki optimists had not taken O'Learv into calculation. lie is undoubtedly an ideal full-back this year.

Among the Taranaki pack, none shoveto greater advantage than Cain. the Clifton man. who was out or. Ms own. being able assisted by ihe Star,forwards. Hawkins and Dcwar. These three were prominent throughout. The others all worked well and at intervals were conspicuous. Taylor, at wing-forward. wii-* lvspou-ihie for -o;ne pretty foot work. In the second spell Taranaki. playing with the -wind. :-'iook thing* up to sonic purpose, and Auckland's grip on the shield was rapidly lessening. Taranaki's efforts culminated in McL'eod scoring a pretty try. Securing the ball about twenty yards, from the line, he sidestepped and wriggled through hi* opponents, scoring mar the goal, amidst deafening applause, which a Taranaki audience could not- have excelled. - When Franklin converted the. excitement was intense. Wanting only a point, the amhcr-and-blaeks strained every nerve to score, but the Auckland forwards rallied and carried play right down to Taranaki's line. Here it hung for a few moments, and Taranaki's defence was severely tested. With hut a few minutes to go the butler lads made a suiprenic effort, and a weak kick by Weston let the ball out right on the goal line. Now ensued an incident that might have caused trouble. The hell

sounded for time, but the referee, not 'hearing it gaye a throw in. Taranaki forwards carried it over the line, but a bliie-and-white jersey fell on it, and saved the situation. 'The crowd, not, eerie in whether a try had been obtained, ru-lied the ground, but on heaving that

if. was a force, subsided. Had llm l.rv been wov.-I. coii-iilcring the fact that tic !> il had already gone, it would nave I).'en .", very awkward ]>ti-iiion. and a. small rint mii;!!!" have developed. As ali-ra.lv Mated. J. O'Learv was. Hip saving factor for Auckland. " His was

a magnificent performance. Muekay. at win;.; three-quarter, showed a lot of

dash eariv in l!>" game, whilst Stewart and McCregor also'did a lot of tackling and saving, going down to forward rushes in fine .siyle. Considering Hint the Auckland forwards pot the ball so frequently, their backs did not make as much use of if as could' have been expected, and in their passing rushes did not gain Tery much ground. The five-eighth* are not

very brilliant, and Weston on one occasion almost let his side down. Webb, at half, was solid, but does not get the ball away fast enough. J. Hall played a fine, strenuous game; in fact, it wan over-strenuous, the referee having fo caution him. Carroll. liarrell. Sellars and Tresi/e were the pick of a line bunch of forwards. Cunningham as usual worked his pack in Magnificent style.

The referee (Mr. ]■]. McKcnzic. of Car(ert'iai came in for much praise for Ills hai.'Minjj of the game. He was absolutely correct and very quick in all his decisions.

j Tlie Wellington-Auckland match to-day .' should prove very exciting, and it is I quite possible that Taranaki enthusiasts

will after all have an opportunity of seeing the shield as it passes through New Plymouth en route to Wellington next week. Wellington should about prove again equal to the task of removing it from Auckland. The Wellington backs are much cleverer than the northerners, whilst their forwards are little, if any, inferior.

The bout between Taranaki and Wellington, on Thursday should be worth going miles to see. It should be close even if Wellington do defeat Auckland, Taranaki will doubtlessly realise that they are "up against it." For a powerful union like Auckland, the Press accommodation is absolutely shameful. For visiting pressmen last week seats, without tables, had boen provided on the stewards' stand, but.as the position of this was below the lower goal line it was impossible to gain anything like a correct idea of the game. Enquiry elicited the fact that there was a stand for local pressmen opposite the centre of the field. Taranaki pressmen were ultimately accommodated with a position on this. It merely consisted of a few 9in by 12in planks raised about 18 inches above the ground, and was ridiculously small. Only one form was provided, and this was inadequate. Surely it would be a simple matter for Auckland Rugby Union to show a little consideration to the scribes who have to report the matches. Taranaki pressmen who visit Auckland cannot speak too highly of the uniform courtesy and assistance extended 1 to them by the local scribes.

THE AFTERMATH. The mighty have fallen, and with characteristic fickleness of opinion many of the 6porting public have regretfully choked down their optimism and are ruefully predicting defeat against Wellington next Thursday. Prior to last Thursday, small wagers with points thrown in were freely made on the Wellington match by 'backers of Taranaki, but all is changed now. Those who reflect for a moment or so, and take a retrospective glance at Taranaki's record will readily realise, however, that history is only repeating itself, that the ambeT and golds are quaintly inconsistent; that they will one week defeat or very near to it, the flower of New' Zealand's footballers, and the very next. week cave under to a second-rate representative fifteen. To lend color to this suggestion it is only necessary to go back to las,t season's. tour, when Taranaki were defeated by an insignificant, team from the West Coast, after having annihilated Wellington, and carried formidable strongholds. Always, at least in most cases, an inglorious drubbing has had a healthy effect on the I men from "cow country." Fresh from a sound'licking at the, hands of Wairarapa there is every reason to suppose |.hat Taranaki will take the field on ThursI day with good chances of success. One or two changes will, however, have to be made if this end is to be. accom-'! plished. The team has not yet'been picked, but it must be certain that of the' seventeen "possibles" DewaT- ; ifin&' McLeod will be placed in the fifteen chosen. Both these players were' unable tp take part in the Wairarapa game,' and undoubtedly their, inclusion 'wilT.'considerably reinforce the team. . Dewar, for instance, more than any other member of the pack, is an exponent of the lineout tactics which were so successfully employed on Thursday by the .all-star McKenzic, of Wairarapa. It is ,to'be hoped that Smith will not.be .given a further opportunity of earning the unenviable distinction of being the "loafer" of the pack. On Thursday, and, he was not .without company—Did someone 1 whisper Young and the Kissieks?—he displayed an extraordinary...interest inleisurely surveying the backs of his more energetic confreres. Incidentally, one must congratulate the selectors on l having dropped' James K.iss,iek. in fhi' light of his performance against Wairarapa. Stewart is alfo missing, and

the question now is. who will play full 1 ' back? In the Auckland match they finished up »v playing S. Canuujon full-' back, Franklin taking his place at five- t eighths.' Under the circumstances, it is perhaps not drawing too long a bow to' hazard a guess that S. Cameron .will | again fill- that position on Thursday. Boiled down, it is. or should be. his only alternative to not playing at all. ''oming to the Wairarapa conflict, .it. is.j worthy of note that the attendance-was not in'keeping with the state of the weather, and the, --int.erest.ing contest- th;ijt,, •eventuated.' For the'• next" match it wou'd ,hc well for the union _Ui make more' provision for country visitors. One < word for the l'res,--i little better accommodation than two young butcher's, block's and a cricki t scoring board would be much appreciated. As regards tho ! match itself, all praise is due to Brown, [who played the hardest, game on the J field, stopping rush after ru-di. and doling a power of good work. Ta.ior was, alwavs more or less on the hall. and.

with' Cain, was one of the bright exceptions of the day among the local forwards. Hawkins was also often prominent, and. perhaps. Burke did not entirely go to sleep. Hon Cameron was Don Cameron, though not quite as tricky as of vore. Boberts scored a clever try. and did other good work, much of which was nullified, however, through his tendency to hang on to the leather too long. StohrV, kicking—placing and punting alike—often stood Taranaki in good

j stead, and he put in one or two good runs, but be was not at his best. For one thing he often played out of place, venturing at times too far amongst the • forwards. Stewart was overshadowed by his vis-a-vi.', and his kicking did not inspire confidence, while he mulled once or twice. In a word, he is hardly up to representative form. Vrankhn and ; Cameron, largely througtuthe poor stip-p-.'-t of their forwards, did not slime to anv great advantage. The Wairarapa backs' were a fairly young crew, gifted with splendid combination. They Kent,

their assigned positions, and marked their men" well. Malsnn. F. firoube. Tate and Severs perhaps caught the eye 'most, but it is difficult to individualise. The same remark applies to the forwards, but particular mention must be made of McKcn/.ie. Desmond. Speekman, Colder and Henderson. The seventeen players from which the team to play Wellington will be picked are required to he in town by Wednes--1 dav.