FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 91, 12 September 1914, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THE PAST SEASON. SHIELD MATCHES. A review of the past season gives the following statistics: Against Wanganui, won by IT to 3. Against Horowheuua, won by 14 to 3. Against Wairarapa, won by' 22 to 3. Against Canterbury, won by 0 to 5. Against Southland' won by 6 to nil. Against Wellington, lost by 12 to fi. Played «. won 5, lost ); points for, 71; against, 2C. OTHER MATCHES. Against Wanganui, won by 0 to S. Against Wellington, won by 1-1 to 10. Against Manawatn, won by 11 (o 3. Against Auckland, lost by 13 to B.' Won three matches, lost'one; points for, 42; against, 34. , In all, Taranaki played ten matches, winning eight and losing two; total points scored for, 113; against, til)..

THE B. TEAM. Against Wairoa, won by 8 to nil. Against Auckland, won by !) to 5. Played two matches, won two, lost none; points for, 17; against, 5. Taranaki's score of 113 points was made up of 24 tries, seven of wn:di were converted and nine goals from pen- ; alties or marks. Their opponents scor- j ed thirteen tries (seven converted), onj j penalty goal and one potted goal. Taranaki's most prolific scorer was Stohr, whose boot was responsible for tile nine penalty goals and live converted tries, a total of 37 points; Taylor came next with 15 points (tiyj> tries), and then came C. Young, 12 joints (four tries); C. Whittington, 9 points (three tries); j H. Roberts, 8 points (two tries, one con- ' verted); Robertson and Patterson. (> j points (two tries); Smith, Colman, Kis-j sick, Bertrand, O. Young, liirchall, U. I Cameron, each 3 points ('one try), and G. George, 2 points (converted try). i "The B. team's score consisted of three I tries, one of which was converted, ami | two penalty goals, whilst the score put I up against them was a converted try. I George scored eight points (two goals j and a eonverted'try). and Ward. Me- • Allum and Whitaker' three points (a try I each).

I In all, thirty players earned representative honors, and of these' twenty eight took part iii Shield games. Brown, S. Cameron, If. Whittington, Patterson, 0. Young and Ri 'Parlor played in every match. Stohr and' C. Whittington did not miss a Shield match, but the former missed one other match, and the latter three other matches. Robertson, Colman and Kissick played on seven occasions (five Shield matches), Dewar seven (four Shield matches), C. Young, Cain and Roberts six (three Shield matches), Paul and liirchall four (two Shield matches), Sniith iynd Lovcridge three (one Shield matclij anil Bertrand two (one Shield .match). Don. Cameron played in two Shield matches, and Mouli, Ryan, Rowlands, McCook and Abbott represented the province in Shield matches on one occasion, George (3), Mc Allum, Berntsen and Ward did not play for trie. Shield, the former coming on as emergency onee.

FAREWELL THE RANTCRLY SHIELD ~ There have been some stirring strug- . glos for the possession of the Ranfurly Shield, which iias only changed hands four times in the tw. Ivc years of its existence, and it is safe tu say that the struggles Which saw its advent to and departure from Taratiaki will go down to posterity when the history of the. Shield comes tu he written. Bv their great victory' on Thursday, Wellington will hold the Shield safely at least till next year, when they can rely on receiving numerous challenge*, I including one from Taranaki, who will j not rest satislied until the .Shield is once' again sojourning under the lee of Ml;.! Eginont. Its sojourn here has been a j short one, just about thirteen months, about as long- as Auckland allowed it to remain in Wellington on the previous i occasion. Taranaki lias a brilliant f team of individuali-ts, and it was hoped i that they would be able to buhl the j Shield this year against a'l comers, once they gained combination, but mifoi'ttr.iateiy though tliev have played several matches together,'they do not seem able j to act on any concerted plan. It wa» j Taranahi's teiilh match for (he season, and though the men conic from far and I wide over Taranaki, one would have, j expected some degree of combination in the team by 'this. The feeble displays put up by the lo«»l. fifteen against »omc of the weaker unions caused some of the pessimists to dol-fuKy shake their I heads and to assert that Taranaki I would lose the Shield to the first one of | the big unioiH that, asked fur it. the big unions meaning Wellington or Auckland. Tho.se, however, who have followed Taranaki football knew that the local team could lie relied upon for a special effort, when it n alised that it was up against it, an.l that it was on these occasions that it put up its biggest fight. However, on Thursday. Wellington proved more than a match for Taranaki, which was represented by the. strongest available team, and individually the team played, well, but WoUing- (. n', which comprised several young phiy-

~,'s who will make their huiva, played belter. Man to man. probably the 'J aranaki loam would easily defeat Welbngton, lii'.t the men from the City put more finish into their work, possessed more initiative, and were never M a loss what to do next. Their back movements were a treat to witness, h. Huberts plaved brilliantly. His versatility and triekiness were surprising lie never doing the same thing twice. 'I lie celerity with which he got the hall away

to his backs, using either Fide <>,f_ the scrum was an eye-opener. Tin: visiting b-vks all passed smartly. Thry did not have to look round to -ce where to place the ball, but the receiver was there in his place, able and willing to do his share This was in marked contrast to the passing of the local backs, which was .slow and ragged and very easy to intercept and who were very otten out. of position. The wonder is that the dilTcrence in the scores was not wider, and it speaks volumes for the soundness of the local defence that their line was only crossed twice. The forward play was strenuous, but (he ?anie combination was noticeable i:, the ,i,Hor,s. wno would come awav in a solid mass (hat oroved almost, irresistible and took a , 0 „.,. r of stopping. The Taranriki van-o-nard. on the other hand, vouhl break awav in some powciiul lcisucs, lc.it when the leaders Were checked, there was sol,lom anvonc to enrry on the etl'ort. The „ame was very fast and strenuous, Mil never at any time was there anv suspicion of unfair tactics laranak. eeiainlv bad the worse of the, luck in i«ganl to bard knocks, losmg A!. V.obcits (the All-lUaek captain) during teefusl sncll and 0. Young, tne lock, doling the Si "Jell. Brown and Wbittington also received severe knocks, but not sufficient to cause them to retire. Both these retirements were a wnous I*B as Goorge. who went on at

I whilst (he absence cf Young, who , had played a line game at lock, disorI ganised the scrum. Had there been no ' mishaps, Wellington would probably have won, but not by such a margin, as the last try would not have been scored. J There was an element of doubt about j'Wellington's first try, as it looked as tliongh Fisher .had struct the corner Hag before grounding the ball, but the I referee ruled otherwise.

Despite the fact that Taranaki had lost the Shield, spectators went home thoroughly satisfied and delighted with the. exhibition submitted, and so tliev should hare been, as it was a fine, exhil- ' crating' game, brimful of 'incident and very spectacular. Stohr, at full-back and also at centre three-quarter, played a fine game. On one occasion lie put in a good run lialf the length of the field before being collared.

Cameron and Whittington, on the wings, were not given many chances, but did what came their way "well. Cameron'only had an opportuity of showing one electric dash for- which he nearly scored.

Colman and Cameron combined well at live-eights. Both were solid on defence, whilst Column's line kicking was a treat.

Brown played his usual solid defensive game, but was not so nippy as usual, and when he got the ball was slow to get it away.

Taylor, at wing-forward, played a dashing game, and scored a line try. Kissick, Patterson and Young were the pick of the forwards, and the first named easily stood out for Taranaki. Dewar, who, came up specially from camp for the match, did not show his usual dash.

R. Roberts was playing well until he hau to retii e, and Oorge, who filled the vacancy, going full back, though he lined well, was too slow for the position. The best of the Wellington backs was K. Roberts, whose attack was brilliant. His fielding and line kicking wort good, but be is too fond of the forward rushes.

I Tilyard and Evonson. at five-eighths, were good. Both tackled deadly and lined solidly. The latter made two attempts to pot. The three-quarter line was fast, Aigar at centre, made some great dashes, and he thoroughly deserved his try. His potted goal was a smart piece of work. It is the only one that has been scored for or against Taranaki this year. Shearer, at wing- forward, was always among the backs. Of the forwards, Dent, Rangi Wilson, Molfatt, Ryan' and Francis, were the pick of a good bunch. This match practically ends the football season in Taranaki, as the Allele-iand-Taranaki match next week was tentative on Taranaki still holding the, Shield. As this has now been annexed by Wellington, the northerners will probably abandon the trip this season, but will go in quest of the Shield' next rear,

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. By cable. —Press Association.—Copyright London, Sopi. 10. In the League matches the results are :-i\ r ewcastle United v. Sheffield Wednesday drawn,'no score; Bradford City v. Chelsea drawn, 2—2,