FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 81, 31 August 1914, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

■ WELLINGTON v. MARLBOROUGH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Blenheim, Saturday Night. Wellington played Marlborough today. Wellington won by 12 to 11. The visitors showed a tendency to play bright football, whereas the play of the locals lacked cohesion, although the forwards prevailed in the loose. In the first spell Marlborough had the advantage of ■a, high wind, and in most of the at- ; tacking. Wellington's defence was equal to tho demands. In the second spell the locals improved considerably.

INTER-HIGH .SCHOOL TOURNAMENT, NEW (PLYMOUTH WIN THE SHIELD.

NEW (PLYMOUTH (6) v. NAPIER (0)

The match between the New Plymouth and Napier boys attracted a good attendance to the Recreation Grounds on Saturday, and as a result the sura of £7 19s will be available for the Taranaki Infantrymen's Fund. The game was not so attractive as that of Thursday, due primarily to the fact that the forwards of the teams were evenly matched, and did not give the backs many chances. TheTe were several good bouts of passing on both sides, but the locals did not handle the ball so cleanly, whilst the visitors did not run straight enough, and crowded tlieir wings too much. The game was keenly contested. The tackling on both sides was very good. In flhe first spell, the visitors had a slight advantage, but the local team more than held their own in the second half, and fully merited their win by two trice to nil. The day was a good one for football, there being very little wind, and tlhe sun generally obscured. Napier kicked off with a slight glare against them. After a little even play in midfield Court broke through, but •ver-eagerness gave the visitors several free-kicks, from one of which Franklin lined at the corner, and the visitors attacked. Franklin had a shot at goal from a mark, the ball going wide and being forced. The visitors kept moving, and Bruce dropping a pass, Findlay again lined at the corner. Jackson and Holland were nearly over from a forward rush. After a period of defence, Jenkinson, Stoddart and Co. rushed play to neutral territory, and judicious use of the line put them in an attacking position, until off-side play allowed Franklin to line half-way. Napier opened out. and Jackson nearly scored. A great rally at kicking between both sci-; i of backs, in which all fielded well, ended in touch at midfield. Give-and-take play ! finally ended with a scrum in Napier's i twenty-five, where from a passing rush i Sykes got away, but was up-ended by i Digliton. The local hacks were passing I well, and had the visitors defending until Court was caught infringing, and i Franklin lined. A high kick was smartI ly followed up, and only the dead ball j lino robbed Jackson of a try. High School rushed, and a scramble ensued under tho visitors' goal, but infringements gave the. visitors relief again and again. Suddenly Mills intercepted a |mss in his ow ntwenty-five, and was pass in his own twenty-five, and was collared. Dean essayed to pot, but the ball did not rise. The visitors were passing well, and kept the locals defending, one fine bout being spoilt by •Dean knocking on. and a speculator by Sinclair found touch at the twenty-five, and both sides made matters interesting, up to half-time no score resulted. The second spell opened lustily. Fumbling bv a Napier boy allowed the ball to reach touch at the twenty-five, and from the throw-in Patterson was nearly over. Keeping up the pressure. a New Plymouth passing bout ended in Sykes streaking over in the first three | minutes. Sinclair failed to goal. INew Plymouth 3 Napier 0

This roused the visitors, and Gregory set sail from a passing bout, but was well collared. Play raged! furiously about midfield. Both sides were attempting to pass, but as fast as a man got the l>all be was grassed. The local forwards were then prominent, but by lining the visitors held them in check. Sykes next executed a movement tb.at terminated in a force. Ultimately the blues gained the advantage, and Sinflair, after a beady piece of work, was just bcriten for :i try by a force. A little later, from his own mark. Sinclair hail a shot at goal, which went wide. Kranklin's kick 'rebounded, and Sykes was unlucky in not being able to gather up the ball, thus missing a good chance. The local forwards were playing with great dash, but were too fond of attempting to pick up instead of keeping the ball at their feet, and were penalised again and again. From a high kick the visitors followed up fast, and Oliver hurriedly bad to line. Jackson here retired, his place being taken by H'.irgess. Using the line, the JUucs worked plav downfield, and a free-kick found touch at midfield. Several times Findlay got the Napier backs moving, but the defence was good. The local backs retaliated, but Vnocks-011 spoilt the effort. With time nearly up. the visiting forwards made a great effort to cuTialise the. scores, and their backs th'rew the ball about. The locals, however, not only staved them oil', but with a couple of minutes to go *ct up a comi-ter-iusli. that terminated in a- mtiiiii near the visitors' goal-line. Here the locals obtained the ball, and Sinclair \va> nearly over from a passing rush. Close to the line, he lost the ball, but linice gathered it up ;ind dived over. Sinclair failed badly witli tin- kick. Xew Plymouth " "N'apier " -• " Time sounded almost immediately after. Mr W. P.oeli referced capably.