FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 88, 30 August 1912, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. TARANAKI (0) v. WELLINGTON (5). ft was not by any means an ideal day for football yesterday, as the rain of the .light and morning had made the ground very greasy. Fortunately, however, save for a slight shower or two the weather was kind during the match. There was an attendance of 3000 at the Recreation Grounds, which, considering the weather, must be counted as distinctly good, and that they thoroughly appreciated the match was evidenced by the numerous outbursts of applause. Wellington had a goodly number of supporters among the spectators, though it was essentially a Taranaki audience. The game itself was very interesting and there was much to excite. For such a greasy ground and ball it was a good exhibition, though, not to be compared with the previous game between these teams at Hawera, on a dry ground, a few weeks ago. Taranaki forwards played a magnificent game and quite exceeded expectations, though, as at Auckland, they did not get going early in the game. Taranaki won the toss and had the benefit of a slight breeze in the first spell, but despite this Wellington .early set up an attack and Young repeated Macky's performance at Auckland by getting over the line from a pass on the blind side of the scrum within five minutes of the start. McFarlane goaled with a magnificent effort. Taranaki then asserted themselves, and for the balance of the spell more than held their own, having hard luck in not scoring on more than one occasion. The second spell was very fast. The Wellington backs handled the ball with more precision than did the local team, but the latter's defence was very sound, McLeod doing yeoman service, and they could not score. Taranaki's forwards, too, were holding their own in the loose, and the visitors also had their turns at defence. It was very interesting and exciting, the aspect of the game constantly changing, but the only scores were two magnificent goals kicked by Stohr, who was in fine form. In fact, similar kicking in Auckland would havo landed the shield in New Plymouth. On the whole Taranaki were ! slightly the better team on the day's | play, and deserved their win. Mr. E. McKenzie, of Wairarapa, refereed in his usual impartial manner. There was a slight alteration in the Taranaki team, Franklin not being available. Roberts' came up to five-eighths, Stohr went j to centre three-quartor, and Bertrand playing on the wing. The latter came' through the ordeal of his first representative game in good style. The teams lined out as follows: WELLINGTON. Full-back: Evenson. Three-quarters: Ryan, Murray, Youig. ! Five-eighths: Ramsden, McKenzie. * } Half: E. Roberts. Wing-forward: Skinner. Forwards: Ready, Elliott, Wilson, Gillespie. Moffatt, H. Paton, McFarlane. TARANAKI. Full-back: S. Cameron. Three-quarters: D. Cameron, Stohr, Bertrand. Five-eighths: McLeod, Roberta. Half: Brown. Wing-forward: Taylor. Forwards: Cain, Dewar, Hawkins, Smith, Young, J. Kissick, Whittington. At 3.15 p.m., McFarlane set the leather rolling, Bertrand returning to the 25. From the throw-in Hawkins and Taylor carried play downfield, where Murray, with a long kick, drove them back, and a little later Bertrand failing to ma-rk a kick by McKenzie let the ball out near his own line. Taranaki, however, cleared, Cain and Dewar being the principal factors. Back came the leather by means of a long kick from Evenson, and Moffatt, following up fast, dived for the line, but was held up. The scrum saw Roberts hand on to Young, who was thrown out just on the corner by Bertrand, but almost immediately after Young got over from another pass by Roberts to Murray, McFarlane goaling nicely, and within four Minutes the score was: * Wellington 5 Taranaki 0 Roberts secured from the kick-off, cut m and passed to McLeod, who ran strongly, but was downed in the corner. S. Cameron failed to field Evenson's kick and the hall went into touch near Taranaki's 25. The Taranaki backs moved, Brown, Roberts, McLeod and Stohr taking a hand. The latter was called back for a pass forward, and from the scrum the local forwards pressed. Dewar opened up the game by shooting the ball across to Brown, who handed to Stohr. The latter essayed a pot, and from the rebound Cameron chased the ball and almost scored, Young just kicking to the dead-ball li ne in time. Resumption saw the Ambers still pressing, and a froe kick from half-way enabled Stohr to line down the field. There was now a slight delay through Stohr receiving a bad knock on the knee. It, however, did not seriously affect him, as on resuming he found the line again in good stvle. Stohr, Dewar, and McLeod carried play under Wellington's goal, .but the visiting forwards cleared. Evenson beat Stohr for the kail and kicked down the line, and a mark by E. Roberts saw Murray line over half-way. Offside play by Skinner gave the Ambers a free kick, but Moffatt, Gillespie and Paton earned play back. McKenzie here failed to take a pass, but speculated luckily in the face of a hot forward rally, and found toueh-m-goal. Moffatt returned the kick-off, which D. Cameron marked in front of a powerful rush. Brown's kick failed to find the line, and failure on the part of the same player to take the return saw Taranaki again defending. A knock-on by Skinner relieved the situation. A high kick by Stohr, well followed up by Bertrand, saw Evenson line at the 25. E. Roberts secured from the throw-in, but kicked instead of passing. D. Cameron obtnined the oval and dashed down Cho line, only to be thrown into touch. S. Cameron earned applause by cleverly evading the opposing vanguard' and kicking well down the field, but a long kick by Evenson neutralised matters. A | clever mark by Dewar enabled 1 Stohr to line well down the field, but Wellington secured from the throw-in, Ramsden kicking high. s. Cameron took the ball, but was forced out of bounds by the impetus. Wellington threw the leather m smartly, and Wilson nearly scored. i Fast play then ensued, the local bovs j handling the leather nicely, and a knockon robbed Bertrand of an almost, certain wore. McKenzie and Young were next prominent in a movement which looked dangerous for Taranaki, but Stohr came to the rescue by lining at half-way. A breach by Taranaki saw Murray find touch at the 25, from where D. Cameron put in a nice dribble, the ball rapidly travelling across the field. A promising local forward movement participated in by Cam, Dewar, Hawkins, Whittington, ami Young, was nullified by off-sido T»»y- An interchange of kicks between the oppo M ;!g backs close to the Wellington goal saw Taranaki have the advantage, and a scramble ensued in front of tin'goal, from which the visitors cleared, xobertfl (Taranaki) essayed a dash for the line, but was pulled down. The local team was playing strenuously and a free kick to them saw Stohr make a fine but ineffectual shot at goal, a force ensuin" marked the kick-off nicely, but livenson returned down the field' well and Wilson, Moffatt and Co., following (Continued on page 7.)