FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND BFAT TARANAKI. SPRINGBOKS WIN AGAIN. SOUTHLAND DOSE RANFURDY SHIELD. The results of the principal matches played, in New Zealand on Saturday are:— Auckland (19) v. Taranaki (9). South Africa (26) v. Nelson (3). Wellington (28) v. Southland (13). Canterbury (19) v. Otago (14). AUCKLAND BEAT TARANAKI. NINETEEN POINTS TO NINE, FAST AND OPEN GAME. AUCKLAND’S SUPERIOR BACKS. (By Wire—Special Reporter.) Auckland, September 10. The match between Taranaki and Auckland was played to-day in. the presence of about 5000 people, Auckland winning by 10 points to 9. The game was fast and open, there being plenty of incidents, and though Taranaki was beaten, there was plot the difference between the k teams that the scores indicate. On the day, however, there is no question that ■ Auckland were the better team. Their backs were faster and more nippy than Taranaki’s, whilst the Taranaki collaring was very poor, especially that of the five-eighths and Wilkinson. The passing of the Taranaki backs also lacked snap. The Auckland forwards were heavier than Taranaki, but in thi§ department the visitors held their own, save in. scrum work, where Auckland got the ball in the majority of cases.

Of the Taranaki backs Hickey was the best. Lusk also played very well at full-back until he had to retire. Rooker was very safe, whilst Berg shaped well at half. All the forwards played well.

AUCKLAND SCORE FIRST.

Auckland kicked off, and Taranaki forwards set up a rush, Birchall being prominent, but a free kick let Milliken line. Then Fryday was prominent in a loose dribbling rush that carried play to Auckland’s twenty-five, where another infringement let Milliken again line past half-way. Auckland forwards then took a hand and carried play to Taranaki’s twenty-five. where Earle set his backs moving. Badeley brothers and Lucas took a hand, and Wilkinson intercepted, but he was soon collared. Williams, the speedy Auckland winger, got going, but was upended. Then some bursts o,f passing kept Taranaki busy, as the Badeley brothers were beating our centre men, but Lusk, Hooker and Hickey were defending well, and cleared. Whittington and McCullough took the Taranaki pack down field, but back came the Aucklanders, and Wilkinson, fading to stem a rush, the ball travelled via Earle. V. Badeley and Lucas to Williams, who easily beat the opposition and scored. V. Badeley failed to goal.

Auckland wst.t. •. .vr.-rsv o Taranak i ........... t)

On resuming Berg smartly shot the ball out via Coutts, to Hooker, who was taken by Lucas. Taranaki forwards took play to the twenty-five. Then infringements let Auckland attack, and Milliken just failed to goal from a penalty. Auckland kept up the pressure, but Lusk marked cleverly and lined. He saved again on two other occasions, earning the applause of the crowd. Then the ball was passed out to Hickey, who lined at the corner. Taranaki now took

a hand at attack, and from a passing rush Wilkinson was nearly over. Auckland carried play back to mid-field, as quarter time sounded with the score: Auckland ........... ..y.... 3 Taranaki •.'*>.»■> 0 ANOTHER AUCKLAND TRY. The second twenty opened with Earle setting the Auckland backs moving, but a pass forward spoilt the movement. Coutts next centred, but Grierson secured and lined. Taranaki gained ground, but long kicks by Findlay drove them back. Loose play followed, m which Hickey was prominent. Then V. Badeley just failed to goal. Auckland kept moving, and a passing bout from Earle, Badeley brothers, Lucas, Williams and back to Earle, saw the latter thrown out in the corner by Hickey. A moment later Auckland used the other side, and the ball travelled to Grierson, who badly beat Wilkinson and scored. V. Badeley failed to goal.

Auckland 0 Taranaki ...........w^.... 0

A beautiful mark by Fryday checked an Auckland -forward rush. McCullough was prominent for Taranaki, until Williams cut in, but was collared by Hickey. Auckland backs then executed some clever movements, Lucas kicking and following up, but Lusk was able to line. Malone, with a high kick, had the Taranaki team charging down, but Findlay cheeked cleverly, and a moment later Lusk was not found wanting in driving back the northerners. Half-time was called with the score:— Auckland 6 Taranaki ... ....... .. 0 TARANAKI AGGRESSIVE. The third twenty again opened with the northerners attacking. V. Badeley lined near the corner, where Cameron cut through and lined at half-way. A miss-kick by Grierson was taken by Hooker. Allen then shot the ball out to the backs, whose passing was intercepted by Lucas. Lusk earned the plaudits of the crowd by lining beautifully though tackled by Badeley. Then Cameron got moving, and Auckland infringing Hooker landed a pretty goal. , Auckland 0 Taranaki .-. • •..3 Berg was getting the ball away nicely, hut Coutts hung on too long. Then ensued alternate rushes by the opposing forwards, the full-backs lining well. From another penalty Hooker just failed to equalise the scores. Wilkinson then centred to Hickey, who was offside.' Taranaki were now making matters interesting, and Cameron gained considerable ground. Wilkinson was next collared by Badeley. Berg and McCullough were prominent in a Taranaki move, hut Suddenly the scene changed. Findlay lined near half-way and C. Badeley shot the ball to Grierson, who passed to Helander. and the latter scored, Wilkinson making a poor attempt to collar him. Badeley failed to goal. Auckland v ? 9 Taranaki .... 3 Taranaki again returned to the attack, and after a great forward rush their backs opened out the ball travelling via Berg, Cameron. Coutts, Hooker ■to Wilkinson, vvho dropped the pass. Auckland now broke away, being checked by Lusk. Williams then made a. dash down the side line, being well collared by Hickey. A little later Lusk had to retire, being slightly hurt. Malone dropped back to full-back, and o’Rorke went on. Play was now very fast and open, both sides essaying passing rushes, but there was no score, and the third quarter ended: Auckland v.-sv.-s. 9 Taranaki 3 The final quarter opened with Auckland attacking. Malone beat a couple of men, but weakly lined. Then, after loose play in his own territory, Hickey secured and cut down field, and kicking high he again received. When blocked he passed .to Birchall. Again securing the ball Hickey passed to McCullough, who was collared, but Hickey gathered up the leather and pushed his way in the corner amidst great applause. Hooker failed to goal. Auckland .. ............. 9 Taranaki 6 Taranaki again attacked, * but Earle lined. The Auckland backs got moving, the ball finally going to touch in goal. The Auckland backs were throwing the ball about well, their five-eighths beating our pair badly. The Taranaki backs set up a counter move past half-way, but at once Milliken started a move that ended in C. Badeley racing over under the posts. McCullough goated.

Auckland 14 Taranaki . r ,-....... (i

Taranaki livened up and attacked. Hickey essayed a pot, but the ball went wide and was forced. Berg was getting the ball out frequently, and it travelled via all the backs to Hickey, who was taken by Lucas aft-r a good run. Another parsing bout saw Coutts kick over his opponents’ heads and Vaee over tlig line after the ball, but he was just beaten by the bounce, and Auckland forced. Taranaki kept up the pressure, but could not score. The Badeley brothers got moving to such purpose that Taranaki were forced. Eucas next, cut in nicely and beat several men until taken by Hooker. Allen, Birchall and Fryday headed a rush past half-way. where V. Badeley made a great opening and passed to Lucas, to Wilson, who raced over and scored, outpacing Hickey. McCullough goaled. Auckland .. v . v ,rw. 19 Taranaki 6 Taranaki attacked on resuming. From a penalty Hooker landed a goal. Time was called soon after with the score:—• Auckland .-.w.t.-*v...■» .« 19 Taranaki ••••• { * z THE ASSOCIATION GAME. SOUTH ISLAND TEAM. Dunedin, September 10. The following have been selected to represent the .South Island in the inter Island match at Wanganui next Saturday:— Backs.—Swift (Canterbury), Hogg (West Coast), Flood (Canterbury), Dryden (Otago), Sharp (West Coast), Simpson (Canterbury). Forwards.—Brundell (Otago). Bissett (Canterbury), Munsie (Otago), Norton (Canterbury), Robson (West

SPRINGBOKS DEFEAT NELSON. TWENTY-SIX TO THREE. BRILLIANT PASSING BY VISITORS. Nelson, September 10. The Springboks v. combined Nelson, Marlborough and Golden Bay match was fairly even in the first spell, but the Springboks gave evidence of the possession of magnificent passing machinery, which, however, was little used until the second spell. Apart from flashes oi brilliancy, which piled up scores, the game was fairly even.

X ercoe, the combined team full-back, played a splendid game, taking tlie ball on the full excellently, kicking with great judgment and certainty, and collaring with deadly effect. The'first spell ended three all—a penalty goal for the combined team, and an unconverted try for the Springboks. The Africans opened the second spell vigorously. Phillips, accepting from Barclay, found the line well in the Africans’ twenty-five. The Africans, attacKing strongly, transferred play Into combined territory. A fine tackle by Snodgrass averted danger. An African i kicking too hard, enabled Nelson to force. A fine parsing rush by Towns-, end, Morkel, De Koch. Strauss and -Teyer was foiled by Phillips with a splendid tackle. Morkel setting his backs in motion again, fired out to Zeller, who looked dangerous until well tackled by Vercoc right on the line. The Nelson forwards, working well together, relieved the situation. Strauss broke away, hut was collared. From a loose scrum Michau took a good pass and dashed over, but Morkel failed to convert. A brilliant passing rush by Morkel, Strauss and De Koch ended in the last man cutting in cleverly and passing out to Zeller, who scored between the posts. Morkel converted. Brilliant passing work by the Springboks enabled them to bring the score to 26.

A feature of the game was the rapidity with which the African halfhacks start their three-quarter line in motion.

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH. SOUTHLAND LOSE TROPHY. BEATEN BY WELLINGTON. Wellington, September 10. Southland, the holders of the Ranfurly Shield, were defeated by Wellington this afternoon by 2B points to 13. The attendance numbered over 10,000, amongst whom were Lord and Lady Jellicoe. Southland were prominent early, and Diack scored a try, converted by Agnew. Play was open and fast, but an indifferent exhibition of Rugby was shown. The first spell ended: Southland 8, Wellington 6. In the second half Wellington added 22 points and Southland 5. CANTERBURY (19) v. OTAGO (14).

Christchurch, September 10. Canterbury beat Otago at Lancaster Park by 19 points to J-I. The game was interesting, and a draw would have indicated the merits of the teams. Canterbury had the better of the play in the first half, and Otago in the second. MATCH AT NEW PLYMOUTH. RAILXVAY (5) v. KING’S, LTD. (3). A match between teams picked from the staff of the railway department and from Newton King, Ltd.’s employees.' took place at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, on Saturday. The tussle between the rival fifteens was responsible for a good deal of amusement among the spectators. The railway representatives showed some fair speed and gained the victory by five points to three. The opposition, who were distinguished by a label from a well-known ‘“sterling” article retailed by the firm, made it a willing game all the way. The match was played in four twen-ty-minute spells, and all the scoring occurred before the • first “change over.” Securing from a loose rush, C. Stewart opened the scoring by notching a. try for King’s. The kick at goal failed. Railways replied with a strong attack, and McMeekan got over, Betts converting. Thereafter the play did not resultin any further scoring. Proceeds from the gate receipts amounted to about £l4, and after payment of small expenses, the net amount, vv-ill be handed over to the sports ground fund.

THIRD TEST MATCH. THE SPECIAL TRAIN. Intending patrons of the special train for the third test match are asked to note that tlie train will leave New Plymouth at 8.30 p.m. on Friday evening, and will stop to pick up passengers at the following stations only: Lepperton, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera and Patea. Special holiday excursion fares will be issued from all the foregoing stations, and tickets will, it, is understood, be available tor return by the special leaving Wellington after the match on Saturday evening, or by Monday’s and Tuesday’s mail trains. Reserved seats for the match to the number of 200 will be available on the train at 5s each-These tickets are available only for special train passengers, unless the total number is not required by these passengers. LEAGUE TEAM AT HOME. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright London, September 9. The Australasian footballers have commenced practice at the Harrowgate Association Club’s grounds, where they will give an exhibition display to-mor-row.