Taranaki Defeated

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 80, 24 August 1914, Page 7

Taranaki Defeated

AUCKLAND SCORE 13 TO TATLWAKI'S «. A FAST AX P. INTKUKSTISG GAME. !>,• le!cj:.:;i';. -cial Reporter. A'l.-xhutd, Saturday. ' *<! 's a —vary hard—and "dry Riound. tue m:.ich between Taranaki ami Aueklui;•■! proved very fast and interesting. Tiie'.; was an attendance of a!rout 70ih> people, who were kept throughout on Ule tip-toe of expectation. Though the result was against themj Taranaki were not disgraced, and never let up right till the end. Indeed, it was not until the closing stages of the game that they showed anything like true form. l-.i the first and part of the second spell both the Taranaki backs and forwards were very sluggish, evidently showing the effects of the hard game on Thursday. Auckland, scored tkirieea before Taranaki got properly going, and then it proved too late, as in the time at their disposal they aonld only score eight points. Auckland's backs wero superior in attack throughout, passing cleanly land smartly, in contradistinction to TaTanaki's slow method of transferring the ball, and it » to tnis that they owe their victo^. The Tarana i team, which had been weakened by owing to the w*r, was further weakened by the absence of Wells. Two wing forwards were played at the start, viy.., Taylor and Whittington, but later the latter was moved to wing three-4{uarter, Eerntsen taking his place in the front Throughout the game thore ware rameroua sensational incidents, one of the tries scored by each team being of a sensational J nature. The game was strenuous and contested in ft very friendly spirit, and though there were several temporary ! disablements on either side —and, in fact, two of the Aueklandera had to leave the field, owing to slight injuries—yet these were all due to the hard nature of the turf. Auckland' deserved their win on the day, as their backs were superior, and played a fine game. The teams were:—

Auckland.—-Moffitt, Stewart, Maeky, I Weston, Geddes. Ross, Stewart, Seilars, i Casey, French, Brnee, Btiireitt, Avery and Bilkey. I Taranaki—George, Stolir, Roberts, j Whittington, Cameron, Colman, Brown, 1 Taylor, Cain, Bern teen, Kissick, Young, Robertson, Patterson and IPaul. The game was played in four spells of twenty minutes. Auckland winning the tosa, they opened with the advantage of a fair breeze, but with the sun in their eyes. At once the backs gave a taste of their q»ality. Macky and McGregor were collared just in time, and the Taranaki vanguard, aided by kicks by Stohr and Brown, carried play to Auckland's twenty-five. Weston'drove them back with a'long kick. Stewart, following up, secur;*!, but hung on too long, and a chance went. Taylor, breaking through, compelled Mollitt to speculate. Stohr dashed for the hall with an open field, but was beaten by the bounce. Bruce, Seilars and Co.. IwiHi.a traditional northern forward rush, swept the field until cheeked by Taylor and Brown. Then Whittington, Paul. Cain and Kissick set np a counter rush right to the end of the field. Like ;i flash, the Auckland forwards had it back, and their backs opening out, Weston passed to ilacky, who set out for the posts, but was well collared oy Roberts. The ball was sent, out across to the other wing, where McGregor was collared when dangerous. Stohr was away like a flash and passed to Colman. who was unsupported. The visitors soon set up an irresistible forward rush, hut too hard a kick allowed Weston to line. Taranaki tried to pass, but, the movcmcr.„ was too slow, and Geddes, intercepting, carried play to midfield. where for an infringement Weston hud a resultless shot, Roberts hickilc running out and lining. There wen; stoppages for iujuries to Bruce and Whittington, the former being replaced by Hanseh.

Both teams were now throwing the leather about, and the game became fast and exciting, though there was a tendency to forward play. McGregor entring, the speeding Aueklandert, had Taranaki in difficulties, but George speculated to touch. Quarter-time sounded with no score. With the wind, Taranaki were expec-t- 1 ed to do things, -but they could not mils- ; ,ter sufficient dafih. Colman kicked nigh, j ibnt McGregor worked in the face of the i ! opposing forwards, and lined. Offside play by Sain taw the Blues attack, 'and. Stohr failing to -field the ball. McKay 'was away with a clear field. lie could Inofc gather up the nail, and a great ; chance was lost. Weston centred, but ; 'the Blues got in front, and Stohr lined at midli.-ld. Ilrown handled the ball and saw Weston k-ick high, and French, Sel,lavs -,i.nd Stewart set, up a movement [that, carried the ball right over the line, ! and Taranaki forced. From the kick-off, the Taranaki forwards rushed play to Auckland's 25. but a long kick by Moffatt, carried it back, the local vanguard gaining the upper hand. "Ross got his backs moving. Geddes lost the ball near the line, but Avery and Stewart carried it on an J the latter scored. Weston goaled. Auckland 5 Taranaki 0 , Taranaki now played one wing for- j ward, Whittington going to wing threequarter. -Play was now fa-:t and furious, rousing the spectators to out.hus-.. a-ini. Both sets of back.; were pasfing lircly, and the collaring was equaliy 'deadly. iStoh;- intercepted a puss and kicked down lield. but Weston marked, and liis fo'-uai'ds following up fast, cftii:iht S'o'.ir in possession, but (ieoig.saved. Citmoinn came through, ball at toe. bin MolVitt- checked him, and Ross throwing the ball out McUngor was over. After all the backs had handled, am! oftei- a period of hot. defence, Cain. Robertson, Taylor and Co. gained the upper hand, i'lay was right, on Auckland':! line, and here pe.ssed to Tli-own, to ("olman. to Roberts, to Cameron. Tile hitter's 'pass to Stohr was forward, and Taranaki's hopes were dashed down. Prom the scrum the bad ,-nme to who iu- t failed to not n goal. 'l'e'anaki kipt. up the pressure riL'ht up to i■::! f- limtheir forwards attacking and tin- ba--ks handling will; but the defence was too good. HiLiir.gton and were celV.ii'cd ri;;.lion tin* lira. Tito Min v,;th ob-oired for tie' third quarter, .iivi'j.ind were attacking, ihrougli a i-iit-iu by Weston, bu! lirowu marked ■ h ally at the feet •>! til'end Taranah; f--vv..ii-ii.; followed an ti'ii' rl'-ir. v. hcl. and K»--irk nl-ee-.l ',' i 1 ieM. !*>t \Y.-* o-i -.villi a l :e.' '-em the h.iU ur■*>■ ,■ till- 1. I: e'l hi-i ill!-!.s ves h ed ■ I', ':• : I- i,ln-line.!, m l bv it ,;,'.rio, .- ..v..J:i:i«ii< t!»;t 'e.,l' his >ll]-,-ovl ■ --. ell ien/,. . 'aee'-T-s deCe.-d e,i front (•' he ..»«? aiul lined A !'t-r K's~i:-k and llnl'ds,-!, led a fori.-:n-l rn-ii j-a-t midfe-ld, and Selh-rs took 'liarge and liropfiiit it Iwk; hut Stoiir evaded them, and ('er.red. A lieadv line-kick by Roberts luid the Blues defending, until Mollitt r.'gaiii lined beautifully. Cain

/getting offside, Wis*™ had another shot, the ball falling Roberts /again beat several jm-n, and found {ouch at midfield. A further bout of pa:between the backs, *•; tvmioualy opposed, found Weston unable to continue at five-eighths. Gedfi.s v.uk also slightly injured. Ross snappy! up a mark from the forwards' toe.-, and the kick, which George failed to fit iwent to touch in goal. Young. Pu! t. • r>. .11. Kissick and I'aul were promin • 'I in the movement that carried play half-way. but Stewart with a ! .i:-k smartly followed up and compelled (ieorge to hur- , riedly line at the nwt. I''r<fm a scrum®! Ross scored a simple !.y. The hull came out 011 the Taranaki side of the serum. Brown failed to get his kick in, and the nippy Auckland half picked up ninl dived over on the Klind side. 0. Stewart failed to convert. Auckland 3 Taranaki 0

After a spell at defending, Tarankai forwards came hotly to the attack, but Macky with a short dash cleared, and, passing to Geddes, Taranaki's goal was in danger. Brown' picked up outside lus own 25 and handed to Colman, to Roberts, who passed high to Stohr, but the latter could not reach it. McGregor intercepted and was away, but Roberts sailed after and brought liim down. A rough melee followed in midfield, in which Afoditi got injured, Weston also retiring. McDonald tilled the vacancy. The Auckland backs were now in the ascendant, and were doing things, when a bad pass from Stewart "spoiled Geddes' opportunity, and a little later Ross scooped the hall out to Maeky, who, with a brilliant run from past half-way, eluded his opponents and, 'badly fooling George and AVhittington. ' scored Auckland's third, try, which .Stewart- converted. Auckland 13 Taranaki 0 From now to the end of this quarter the spectators were exhilarated uy the passing of both sides, but nothing eventuated.

Taranaki started the last quarter 13 points in arrear, and the Auc-klandeis were expecting a 25' points' victory, but did not know the butter men, who made a great finish, the game Kcing fast and completely exhausting both ten dicious use of the lino by Tara. ried play to the 25, where a passing bout by Brown, Colmav Roberts saw the la.tter : hired by Ross, and a . usti was-cleared by offside play. But their backs were soon back on the attack. The Yellow forwards ,took a hand, and were getting dangerous when Stewart stemmed by lining. Brown secured the ball from a scrum, but was slow in getting it away to Rooerts, who again baffled his opponents l)y side-stepping. lie kicked high. and the Ambers charged down, ~ut Seilars marked. Stewart set his backs to the attack, but the defence wr ;ood, and tnev could not press home the advantage, and after a period of 1 t play on their dr.e Taranaki cleared. «A rebound saw Roberts £et right away from the. lield, and with ojil." the full-back to pass a try looked likely, 'but lie was called bac'K I for offside play—erroneously, it appearled, to those on the stand. 'However, after another period of fast and exciting play. Stohr broke a hot Auckland attack by intercepting a pass. His pace beat two or three men, and when blocked by the full-back he shot the ball to lioberts. who beat Motfitt and sidestepped McDonald, scoring in a good position. He converted the try himself, amidst great applause. Auckland .< 13 Taranaki 5 Taranaki kept up the pressure, both backs and forwards playing well, and, though Auckland sometimes broke through, thev were sobn penned hack, Cameron passing to Roberts and the latter to Stohr, which gave the Tukapa flier a dash for the line, but McDonald brought him down. A little later, from a free kick. Stohr landed a nice goal, and the score read: Auckland 13 I Taranaki U

During iho closing few minutes Taranaki tried hard to score the try that that would have given them a chance , to even the totals, and, save for a brief rally by Auckland, were attacking liotly the whole time Though they made the pace hot they could not pierce Auck- ( land's defence, and the game endeil in Taranaki's first defeat this season by j live points. Mr George Nicholson re'ereed very satisfactorily. In the evening the teams were the guests of the Auckland Union at dinner, to-day at Takapuna, and 011 Friday at " The School for Scandal.'' SOUTHLAND v. TAIiANAKf. The Southland football team arrives in New Plymouth to-night from Wellington, and will be quartered at the Imperial Hotel. On Thursday the Southlanders meet Taranaki 011 the Recreation Sports Ground at 3 p.m., in a lianfurly Shield challenge matcn. A brilliant exhibition of Rugby football will precede the big match, when the College Tournament, opening match will be ! played between Xew Plymouth and l'almerston North, commencing at 1.15 p.m. This tournament will be continued on Saturday, when New Plymouth plays Napier, and on Monday i'Umerston plays Napier. buller defeat west-pout. •Westport, August 22 A match for the -Seddou Shield be tween Bnlh r (holders) anil West Coast (challengers) took place this afternoon in the presence of a large gathering, and resulted in a win for Buller hy 2d points to 8. The Coast were a bit slower than Bnllcr. Colviv. (Hullev) was the. outstanding hack on the lield. SOUTH AUCKLAND DEFIJAT WAIRARAT'A. Masterton. August 22. South Auckland representative Rugby footballers defeated Wairarapa in a very one-sided game plaved to-da\ fouttecn points to nil.