FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 95, 7 September 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

RKPI!ESEX T A TIV E FIXTURES. September 12—v. Canterbury, at Stratford. September 19—v. Manawatu, at New Plymouth. RESULTS TO DATE. June 3—v, Wanganui, won by 1G points to 3. June 12—v. Wellington, lost by 12 points to 10. June 15—v. Wanganui, won by 6 points to nil. July 25—v. South Island country team, won by 31 points to 3. August 17—v. Auckland, lost by 6 points to 5. August 22—v. Wairarapa, lost by 17 points to 13. August 29—v. Wellington, won by 6 points to f. Sept. 4—v. Otago, lost by 18 points to 11. THURSDAY'S MATCH. Rugby is a game of ins and out. and last Wednesday Taranaki were outed I by Otago after having beaten Wellington ■ —a much more formidable team on paper—the previous week. A feature of the match was the magnificent goal-kick-ing on the part of Coekroft, of Otago. and Stohr, of Taranaki, particularly the former. The visitor kicked two beautiful goals from marks and another brace from penalties. Stohr's kicking, which has been of old the last two matches, was also brilliant. From a mark he goaled from a step or so inside the halfway line. Next, lie converted S. Cameron's try, while near the close of the match he kicked a good penalty. Con sidering the greasy nature of the ball both the line-kicking and place-kicking | were highly commendable. Taranaki had the misfortune in the first half to be pitted against a strong wind. The Otago men kicked high and followed up quickly and in this way wore down their opponents. In consequence, when Taranaki's turn came with the wind they were lacking sufficient energy to take that advantage of it which was offering. But this Was no excuse for the entire lack of cohesion among the amber and gold backs. In this particular their opponents were vastly superior. The Otago forwards] also outclassed the opposing pack. The j honors in line-kicking should likewise, on the day's play, go to Otago. The trouble with the Taranaki backs commenced with the half, quickly extended to the five-eighths (Franklin) and then affected the whole of the division. Coming off the ground at the conclusion of the game the writer over-heard a prominent sport give vent to the opinion that ''what Taranaki wants is a now half." Granted that Brown did not feed his backs, but that was not his fault. He did not get the chance. Again and again the Otago forwards swept on the luckless Brown, whose own forwards did not afford him half enough protection. Wingt forward Taylor, especially, seemed to tire in the second half. Not only did he fail to guard Brown but he also let Dryden, the diminutive opposition half, get round on him repeatedly. The little man was very slick in getting the ball away from the scrum, and whenever Taranaki hooked it he flew round to smother Brown. None of the home backs played up to form, Franklin being very off-color. Don Cameron was not on the ball, but his line-kicking was at times very poor, the line often being missed McLeod played a fair game, while Bertram! had very little to do, and in view of the wretched combination of his side and the bad company he was in it would be unfair to criticise his play. In ihe second half S. Cameron was relieved at full-back by Tinney, and he went up to five-eighths. There lie played perhaps a belter game than any of his confreres, putting plenty of vim into his work. Stripped of his place-kicking Stohr was no better than the rest of what was undoubtedly a poor back division. The man they needed to pull I hem 1 together was Roberts, but he was unable to participate in the game. Together with Dewar. Young led the forwards until lie had to retire hurt. Cain was also fairly well to the fore at times, but he has played better games. G. Ryan (nn emergency man) is perhaps worth another trial. The best back in the Otago team was ('nihil!, a plaver with fine physique and a fast turn of speed., Next in order of merit was the clever little half (Dryden) while the full-back (Watson) and Coekroft (the goal-getter) played reliable and useful games, easily up to representative form, and this is more than could be said of some of the fill I-backs who have done battle for Taranaki this season. As regards the forwards, it would be a difficult matter to individualise. There was no mistaking the fact, however, that Casey cave a good account of himself. TARANAKI' v. CANTERBURY. Next Thursday Taranaki meet the Canterbury representatives at Stratford, and having lost last week can almost, with certainty, be depended upon to win, although Otago suffered defeat a few days ago at the bands of the men from the city of the plains. At all events, a very interesting match can be expected to eventuate, as the local team will be anxious to once again redeem their reputation, whilst, Cantermury will be equally desirous of avenging tlie defeat which Taranaki inflicted upon them at Christchurch last year. Suitable train arrangements, with excursion fares, have been made, so that, given fine weather, there should be quite a crowd of enthusiasts from New Plymouth, more particularly as the season is drawing to a close, the concluding match so far arranged being that against Manawatu at New Plymouth on Thursday. September 19.