FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 80, 25 August 1914, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE AIX'KLAND-TAI! ANAKI .MATCH. (From .the. "Auckland Star.") To nay it was a great gaum docs not mean to imply that there were not mistakes, but taken on (lie whole, it was as lino an exhibition of the Rugby game as 0110 would wish, to see. Throughout the SO minutes' play incident followed incident, and there was not a dull moment. The spell eff dry weather made the ground somewhat on the hard side, and tliere were a number of stoppages for minor knocks, which for the most pari, however, were not serious. Bruce got a nasty cut oil the leg. which necessitated live stitches, while Weston wrenched his knee, both players having to leave the field, being replaced bv llansch and -McDonald Casey also >*ot a cut over the eye, lint continued on, while several of the Taranaki players had to be attended to. Jt was a fast an open game, and both sides are to be congratulated on the spirit in which it was played. The Auckland forwards, if anything, showed more dash than their opponents, their loose, work having more vim in it than was displayed by Taranaki, tho latter's play being more of the lone-handed effort, In the heavy work there was nothing to choose, but neitb :r pack scrummed well, the play in this department being ragged, for very rarely the ball came from the pack cleanly. Several opportunities to score were wasted by both teams through this defect, for the opposing backs bad plenty of time to get round oil eacli other before they got properly going. As a combination, the A'ickland rear division was better than the yellow and black, who seemed to rely too much on their captain (Roberts). The Auckland attack was considerably strengthened by the inclusion of Weston, who, up to the time of bis mishap, had done a lot of good work. The weak spot in Taranaki's play was in the half, Brown being a long way below the form he displayed in Auckland last year when the Southerners removed the Shield. However, the game was worthy to go down in history, bracketed with the best light recorded between the provinces. Of the individual players, Moffitt, at full-back for Auckland, gave n much improved showing 011 his previous year's display. His defence, was sound and his kicking first-class. In the three-quarter line, Macky was the pick, and his try was a brilliant effort. ITe made .one mistake, trying to pick up when, with a clear field in front of him, lie had the ball to himself. However, one mistake in a game of this description was a very slight debit. Stewart, in the centre, did not handle, as cleanly as he might have done, but did a lot of good defensive work, and his score was the result of a neat dash. McGregor was fair. Weston played a fine game, opening up play in great style. fieddes combined much better with him than McDonald, although his handling was faulty. Ross was the idol of the. crowd, and the midget player! a tip-top game. ITe showed a tremendous amount of pa:e for his size, and got off several fine corkscrew runs, his try being a clever ; bit of work. ' 0 Stewart gave an improved display on the wing, while the whole of the furwards played up to their best form. Casey, French, Sellars, Avery and Barrett all had their turns in the limelight. Ou the Taranaki side, (ieorge gave a fair exhibition at full-ban';, although his defence was not as sound as it might have been. Roberts, fresh from flu Australian tour, was the pick of the three-quarte;'?. and his swerving runs were brought oil' in first-class* style. There was a tendency at times to try and do too much on his own. Stohr gave the best exhibition lie has yet given in Auckland, and was responsibh for the opening that led to Roberts' try. AYhitlington, who came back to three-quarter soon after the start, although out of his place, was not at all bad. Tho dash of the regular three-quarter was missing. Coleman did a lot of work at five-eigtlis, but neither Cameron, his partner, nor lirown at half, pleased. The forwards were an even lot, working hard from bell to ball, and it was no fault of theirs that the game went against them.