FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 35, 1 July 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

the first shield match. The first challenge match has come and gone, and the Ranfurly Shield still remains in Taranaki, the local _£cam having no difficulty whatever in holding it against the first challengers, Wanga®ui. The team from the river city lad the honor of being the first challengers, although many of the New Zealand papers credit the Wellington match on " cJnesday with being ■ a challenge match, which it was not. Wellington will be up after the Shield on September 10, if it still abides here. To those who are familiar with Taranaki and 1 their reputation for inconsistency, the result of the match was a foregone conI elusion. On June 3rd, Taranaki had given a miserable exhibition against the same team and had greatly the worse of the mix-up. Therefore it was onh to be expected that they would on this occasion play a game "out of the box." And so it proved, for from the jump Taranaki forwards made the pace very warm and set up some rushes, in which every player took part, that kept the challengers busy defending, and demoralised them considerably, particularly as they were relying on their forwards to give them victory. Taranaki forwards played a great game, and some of their rushes proved almost unstoppable, as the whole pack came away together. Both in scrum work and in the loose they proved superior, and the defence of the visitors was sorely tested. It speaks volumes for the soundness that only one try was scored in the first spell, in which Wanganui were hardly ever past half way, and only got into Taranaki's quarters on two occasions. ' Early in tile spell Wanganui had the ■ bad luck to loose their centre tfrrceI quarter. F. Menli. who was injured in 1 stopping a rush. The second spell proved particular!;' fast and interesting. "Wlanganui forwards surprised all by opening up with some electric bursts, and within two minutes Taranaki were forced, and a moment later from a loose forward rush, the Wanganui rearguard commenced passing, and Smith scored. It then looked as if Taranaki would have their work cut out to hold the challengers, but after a further strenuous period of defence, the holders pulled themselves together and again assumed the mastery. Their forwards swept the field with almost irresistible rushes and their backs slung the ball about with some purpose, delighting the spectators with the crispnesis of their passim*. and the issue was n.ever in doubt. Wanganui did not let up, lint fougtit the issue to the 'bitter e«fc and the locals wore only able to see® two more tries and a penalty, thou A they forced AVanganui on numerous occasions. Indeed, at times they fcunter attacked, and on one occasionMailure by R. Collier to take a pass froiSa nice opening, made bv Smith after m loose rush, saved an almost certain tre. The game was very strenuous, and (in two occasions the referee bad to caution players. Wanganui were the main offenders. i

Tlio result of the match proved ratlier gratifying to local supporters, as Tavanaki were minus the services of their Dominion representatives, Roberts, Loveridge and M. Cain, who will not be available in "he matches against ManaWiitu/ Wainuaoa and Canterbury, hut witf do battle for t'hoir province against Southland, Wellington and Auckland. Taranaki's ahances of retaining the trophy for the season look bright. All" the Taranaki forwards figured prominently. Young (Waimnte) mine uway at the head of numerous rushes, anil so did Smith. Rwbert>-on. Puttwwon, Taylor, and t':e other forwards in tarn. A feature of the play was ihai. wiiim one forward broke away lie was in almost every .nsfence supported by the others, and the local forwards, like a wedge, were enabled to cleave their way through the opposition. An occa-siona; tendency to kick too hard was noticeable, this g'vimg the oppobang fiacks a ahance to secur; the line down field. When this is overcome they will prove, a thorn in the side of any c-haJk'nging tolJTl.

Taylor and Olinan, on the wings, played superb games; (ho former was always on the ball, and scored one try, whilst on at least two other occasions Jie was unlucky not to score.

Colmnn. at wing-forward, and also at live-eights, proved equally successful. AYhenllie went tack' the play of the !o«il \racka bright cued up perceptibly. His try was a apiece of work. and completely beat hi? opponents Tlv is going to be a pr«it kelp to the local team. Brown, at 1-alf, played his usuaJ good ?ame. lie got the bn.'l away well to his l>:K<ks, and at times showed a great burst of speed. Some of his line kicks were verv fine.

Cameron played a inoiv open game at five-eighths, ;nd appeared to recognise that t'he men beDilml ]; : n were al'-o in the team.

Wliitiinglon, at centre three-quarter, uah playing his first ivp. frame. and acquitted himself well, lie lacked eoniidenci- at the .start, but in the second «<pell played veil and shapes as though lie will become a top notcher. Both wing three-quarter?, Meuli and Young, played sonndr'} and u ed their pare, and it was only the good collaring of tho visitors that prevented diem scoring nn more than one occasion. IStob r played full buck and was a, success. His long line kicks would dishearten any team, whilst his goal kicking is invaluable. \*o les-. than eight, point* came oil' his Unit, and -evcral other kicks narrowly missed. lie is undoubted'}- worth, a place in any team for this alone, whilst, his pace "is another aas<'t.

Of tile \\ angar.ui forwards t'm> ])]■•!< were lyeiiby brother*., Collier brothers, and 0 Dennell. Smith jji:t\ed ;i datthing ffimc on the win,", but was outWasKert fry his opponent. f

Swiinn. :it. hall. did n,,t have many opportunities' of h;ii](Jlin : N' the ball, Imt lua defence .ras alrigltt, Campion was the better of the live-eighths. ,l<\ Meuii was playing Mill till he ivas injured at centre thn'o-ip;,irtcrs). Temperton did not appear to like stopping rushes any too well. R. ColliiT played a (food i'/a.nie game and kid hard luck in dropping a pass when a seore looked imminent, nil, defence i-a, sound. and the wiinc applied to most of the other bae'ks. IAK-kett. at full .hack, and later at centre three-quarter, saved his side on numerous occasions.

The foiloniiif. teair.i 1,, n , to play for '1 nl£a pl lii'-l juniors atrainsl Siiatfoid iii i juniors to ninrr.iw, at S1 ratforil: 11. I'attf-rson, (Iraham. Wept. Stolir. L, W'hituker. V. i.overi,!■;■,• i; ■Lu\ sim lair, Sri.il h. o\;i»i.lv' Amaru. W. i'att.r-ai. I'„!ler. .luiia'm lloelnuk. 1.-ary Jhe folio vine tcfiTu will represent, the Su.rj.Miioi- team tn pl.iv Olifion 2nd. nun ,r- (.o-iuori-'iv: V Vull t il. (Josh. K. Hill, ilart. W. || ; , m . v I" Thrnssel. Tai,k. f: . <\ H„. u , r) in-.T A. (ileeson, Jtnilev, Iv.ans. Frevvin 11.Jlardtfieavvs Harden. Writrlit, J OIKM ' B. Curiae. }•;. j:„.;ke. I . (

The Star fhst 'junior team in ttieir match on tlw Recreation Grounds tomorrow will be: C. Ctrone, W. Qrone, A. James, I* James, Xmibridgo, Lcaland, Caitroll, Thwartes, Page, McGaliey* W. Hardgravesi, Whaka, Richards, Mussem, Mason, Her.-/, Johnston, Mack, L. Haragraves.

There should be a good attendance at the Recreation Ground (tomorrow afternoon to witness the match between the New Plymouth and Waitauia Maoris, and as both teams comprise several players engaged in the senior competition a good game should result 1 . A datfeo will be hold in tihe ForcsteTfc'" Hall as a wind-up to t/he day's amusement. The teams will be as foHo'ivs:—

2 New Plymouth.—Skipper, Jacob, M. Skipper, Waka, Tito (captain), Mana, Opai, O'Oarroll, Tumiati, Kuiranga, Koupu, Tiger, Ilairena anl Kaihu. jj Waitara.—Waka, Wilkaom, Kupi, f Brown, Thomas, Eangi, Manji, ilcDonaild, i Hunt, Meka, !Skelton, Preston, Taylor, \ Wira and Tartoko. j