FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1919, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

OTAQO DEFEAT SOUTHLAND. , By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Invercargtll, Last Night. Otago met Southland to-day. There was fine weather and a large attendance. The ground was a bit heavy. After the first fifteen minutes. In which Southland wero unlucky In not scoring more than once, Otago had the upper hand, and the spell ended: Otago two tries (scored by Marks and Begg) 6, to nil. In the second half, the visitors backs, aided by flue combined work amongst the forwards, dominated play, and Holmes (2), Begg, and Sim scored tries, Campbell converting one. The final scores wore: Otago 20, Southland nil. STRATFORD T. CLIFTON. It was decided yesterday by tossing that the senior play-off between the Thursday and Saturday northern winners shall be played at New Plymouth on Saturday. The Clifton and Stratford seniors will therefore meet In Pukekur* Park and there will no doubt be a large attendance of spectators. STAB y. CLIFTON. The first junior competition In the Northern Division will be decided this afternoon in Pukekura Park, when the Clifton and Star teams meet, they having an equal number of points to their credit.

AUCKLAND v. TARANAKI. THE NEW CODE LARGELY CAUSE OF DEBACLE. The cricket scores put up In Saturday's game do not Indicate the difference In the play of the two teams, stated Mr T. Buchanan, manager of the Turannkl team, In an Interview with the News. The goal kicking of Auckland was a great factor in the tall score. It was very fine Indeed. In the forward division TarannKl quite held their own and did some fine work, especially In the loose play, where a good deal of spoiling was done by them, but once In the hands of Auckland backs their racehorse pace was too good for our boys, for though some of the backs are considered to he speedy, they had no chance of catching the fleet Auckland backs. The Aucklanders' back combination was equal to anything we hare seen, and the men's condition physically was superb. It must, of course, be remembered that in the city men have the opportunity of training together, whilst so far as Taranaki is concerned men are drawn from all over the province, and have not the same opportunities. We. were also unfortunate enough to lose the services of Sam Cameron, who strained a ligament below the ankle whilst practising on Friday afternoon. In addition, Coutts was very groggy from a severe kick received In tho Inglewood match on Thursday. A very great factor In favor of Auckland was that they have for the past three years played in club matches the amended rules, which makes for a much Improved and faster game. The gamo as now played In the northern city Is much brighter and more scientific than the old game, and once having seen It one would not care Jo return to the old style, and since the altered code has been In existence rugby football hi Auckland has taken a new lease fit life. There was no Inclination on the part of our opponents' backs to find the line, their method being to keep the ball in play, and by fast following up they were able to regain the oval and make the scores quickly. The heavy scrum work was not In evidence, and whilst our forwards were playing the ball well by short kicking, the Auckland backs were very nippy In getting It almost from our boys' feet, and the passing was of a lightning character. It was a most Interesting and instructive game, and could members of the New Zealand Rugby Union only have been present they would alter their, views considerably as to the benefits of the new rules. On Saturday Eden Park was crowded, the attendance, despite league and soccer matches of Interest to follower of those games, being one of the best the Auckland Union have had for years, and this was due in the main to the brighter game that Is now "played as the result of the men's experience in the newer code. Our boys will certainly benefit by the experience they gained in this match, and the public may safely looh forward to something particularly good when Auckland try conclusions again next month.