FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO DEFEAT TARANAKI. ELEVEN POINTS TO SIX. VISITING PACK TOO GOOD. Otago beat Taranaki at New Plymouth on Saturday by 11 points to 6. The match marked the eighth occasion in which these two provinces had met on the football field and till Saturday honors were even. Otago’s victory was mainly due to its forwards being superior to Taranaki, particularly in the loose. The rough weather affected the attendance which totalled about 2000. The ground, after the heavy rain of the previous night, was in fair condition at the start, the wind halving dried it up considerably, but rain which fell prior to the match and during play made the ball greasy and difficult to handle. The game was confined mostly to the forwards, though at times there were flashes of back play on both sides. The Otago forwards were superior in the loose, showing more dash and better combination, also lasting better than the Taranaki pack, who tired towards the finish. The teams were as chosen, save that in Taranaki, Hart replaced Courts at wing three-quarter.

THE FIRST SPELL. The advantage of a fairly strong wind was Otago’s at the outset, but the game opened somewhat sensationally. Taranaki kicked off and rushed down field, and the full-back’s kick rebounding, Whittington, by following up fast, scored near the corner, and Robertson failed to goal.

Taranaki .....«»• -• • • 3 Otago . ....■ 0

Otago forwards then set up an attack and tight work ensued in Taranaki territory, Perry being temporarily injured. Campbell and Fryday ted Taranaki tp neutral territory, where Berg, who was securing from the scrum, set his backs moving on a couple of occasions, but Otago were able to intercept. The visitors attacked for awhile, and from a scrum on the line Taranaki infringed and Owlflß equalised the score with a good kick. Otago 3 Taranaki .................. 3 After a brief spell in mid-field, Otago again attacked, and smart following up by Owles saw the ball go into touch in goal. Twice in succession Taranaki were forced, once as the outcome, of a forward move by Highley and again from ,an unsuccessful shot at goal by Patterson from a mark. Otago kept moving, and though Taranaki got relief from a penalty, McNaughton shot the ball out to Thomas, who handed on to Ward. The latten, when booked, transferred infield to Perry, enabling the latter to score. Owles goaled. Otago 8 ' Taranaki 3 After a spell of kicking, good play by Patterson and Sonntag had Otago again attacking, but Lusk neatly saved. Masters, Campbell, Kivell, Allen and McAllum. carried Taranaki to Otago’s twenty-five, but Owles returned past half-way. Perrj T and Ward were associated in a nice movement, but Hart upended the latter. Then the ball came, across to the other side, but Hickey secured and passed forward. Again Otago failed to goal from a mark by Patterson. Taranaki roused their supporters’ enthusiasm with a great passing bout. Oliver secured from the line-out, and Hooker, Robertson and Hickey handled in great style, the latter’s pass infield to Robertson close to the line being forward. Oliver then made a good opening for Hickey, who was collared by Owles. Taranaki, both backs and forwards, attacked hotly, but Watson and Perry proved safe. Finally off-side play tet Otago through, and they took a turn at attack. Patterson tried to “pot” and Wilson, following up fast, lost the ball near the line. Here Taranaki infringed, and Owles had another shot at goal, which failed. McAlluia headed a rush to the other end of the field that saw Berg get over, but he was called back. Perry relieved the pressure with a long kick, and Knox and company carried the ball down field, where McNaughton cleverly beat several men and passed to Owles, who was taken by Lusk. Again Taranaki forwards, ted by Campbell, Whittington, Allen and Masters, carried play right to Otago s line, where a. knock-on spoilt. Taranaki tried to pass, but Robertson was held up, and for the next few minutes play travelled fast up and down field, but there was no further score, the spell ending:—.

■Otago 8 Taranaki 3 THE SECOND SPELL. With the wind behind them Taranaki were expected to do much better, but their play proved disappointing, the forwards appearing to tire. Soon after Ahe start an infringement let Robertson kick down field, and then Berg started a passing rush, but Hawke intercepted. Again a penalty gave Otago relief, and Patterson, breaking through, Thomas, Hawke and Perry were associated in a dangerous bout that ended in the latter dropping the ball. Otago ( tried liard to score, but Perry and Ward were smartly upended. McAllum was temporarily injured checking a strong Otago rush. Clever openings by McNaughton kept play in Taranaki territory, and the blues pressed until Lusk and again Hart relieved by lining, the ball ultimately being forced. Then Taranaki took a turn. Hickey kicked high, and Watson failing to take the leather, Taranaki forwards swept down, but overran the ball. Hawke speculated to touch. A moment later Hickey tried to pot, and the ball was forced. Taranaki were attacking hotly, and the ball came across to Hickey, who was itaken by Owles. Again Taranaki could not pick up the ball, but Robertson gathered up the leather, being collared by Hawke. Taranaki kept pressing hotly without result, and finally a free kick let Otago through. Then fast following up by Knox, Wilson and Patterson carried play to mid-field, where Taranaki started passing, but though the leather passed through all the backs, little ground was gained. Hooker was then slightly injured stemming a. solid Otago rush. Taranaki had the better of the next few minutes’ play. Then from ■a free kick Hart failed to pick up the ball, and McNaughton, following

smartly, picked up, and, beating Lusk, scored. Sonntag failed to goal.

Gtago Tara naki » 3

Again the Otago pack swarmed down, but Berg checked by lining. Davidson was here slightly injured. Robertson, stopped another Otago rush, and then Hawke was collared by Hickey very close to the line. Taranaki broke away but Perry took the ball smartly and drove them, back, as did Hawke a moment later. Then Taranaki, ted by R. Oliver, Fryday, McAllum and Campbell, swept dQwn field, but Ward and again Perry cut in and lined. Failure by Robertson to mark a free kick ended in Knox and Owles rushing the ball over the dead-ball. line. Otago kept up the pressure, for some time, and then Taranaki forwards carried play to near midfield, when from a line-out the ball came to R. Oliver, who made an opening and passed to Hooker. The latter transferred to Robertson, thence to Hickey, who raced over the line amidst applause. Hooker’s shot struck the bar. OtagO . . 11 Taranaki 9

Good play by Owles and Hawken soon had Otago swarming round Taranaki’s goal, but an infringement gave temporary relief, and Lusk kicking well down field, Taranaki rushed down, Davidson being slightly hurt. Hickey roused Taranaki’s hopes with a fine dash, but was collared, Thomas receiving slight concussion and being replaced by Mackie. Otago broke away, but Hickey drove them back. Taranaki again became aggressive, and as the result of a high kick by Berg and good taking and following up by Allen, McAllum and Fryday, the leather crossed Otago’s line and just beat Allen to the dead-ball line. Otago, both backs and forwards, took a hand in attack, and Sonntag was nearly over, but a moment later time sounded with the score:— Otago .. 11' Taranaki 3 Mr. F. Julian refereed.

THIRD GRADE FINAL. WON BY N.P. BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL. As a curtain-raiser to the Otago—Taranaki match, the final for the third grade championship was fpught out between the first fifteen of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School and Stratford, the former winning by 20 points to 6, after an interesting display. High School made the first spell open, 1 the backs swinging into action and com- ( bining in fine style. An opening made by I Brodie resulted in Foden crossing the line ' and scoring a try, which Brown converted. Shortly after Brodie ‘'dummied” through the opposition and transferred to Foden, • who again scored. Brown’s kick failed. Foden was almost over again, and passed to Christie, who lost the ball just as he was grounding it, and a force down resulted. From a line-out the ball came to Alexander, who cut in and scored. Foden failed to convert. Another 1 fine back movement saw Brown pass to Meuli on '

the wing and run round and again get possession, as a result of which he gained . a pretty try. Brown’s kick failed, and the ‘ spell ended: High School 15, Stratford nil. i Stratford showed to better advantage in ; the second spell, though their backs lacked the cohesion displayed by their opponents. The school backs, however, did not play with as much dash as they had done in the first spell. Brown added two more tries, both of which were unconverted. Then Stratford rallied, and from a penalty , kick in front of the goal posts Papps placed a goal. Towards the end of the game Collins, who had played a good game at fiveeighths, scored an unconverted try, and the final score read: High School 20 Stratford 6 Mr. F. Webb refereed. SOUTHLAND (12) v. CANTERBURY (3). By Telegraph. —Press Association Christchurch, Sept. 17. 'Southland defeated Canterbury by 12 points to three. Rain fell throughout the game, which was mostly confined to the forwurds. The visitors handled the greasy ball very effectively and, on the whole, had much the better of the game, though Canterbury, in the early stages, should have scored, several times, their inability to handle the ball proving their downfall. S.‘ CANTERBURY (3) v. N. OTAGO (0). Timaru, Sept. 17.

The match between North Otago and South Canterbury was played under unfavorable conditions. Heavy rain fell all morning and during the progress of the match. The final score was: South Canterbury 3, North Otago nil. AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. Auckland, Last Night. Grafton won the final of the Rugby senior club championship, beating Grammar by 13 points to 8. THE LEAGUE GAME. AUSTRALASIANS AT HOME. .VICTORY IN FIRST MATCH. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Sept. 18, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 17. The Australasian League football team played Salford to-day, the Australasians winning by 48 to 3.

The Australasian team was as follow’s: Fraser (captain), Horder, Blinkhorn, Craig, Vest, Caples, Thompson, Watkins, Pearce, Gray, Burge, Ryan, Schultz. The weather was fine and the attendance ten thousand. Bardsley, the cricketer, kicked off against a diagonal wind. After a period of fluctuating play, a brilliant passing rush in Salford’s twenty-five resulted in Vest securing a try, which was not converted. The Salford tackling was good. Craig then sent Burge over after thirteen minutes’ play, and Thompson kicked a goal. Craig, taking the ball from Vest, made a,fine run, but Thompson failed. The visitors’ weight and speed minifested their superiority. In a brilliant run from his own half Blinkhorn headed off two Salford players and scored under the posts amidst great applause. Gray increased the score from rapid passing rushes. The Australasians continued to secure the greatest advantage, but

there were disappointing infringements, five in number, in scrums against the visitors in the first half, and a section of the crowd objected to the off-side tactics. At half-time the score was: —

Australasia Salford

Four minutes after resuming Horder ran from his own half and scored brilliantly under the posts. This was likewise converted. Horder received an ovation for his effort. 'Craig, by a dodgy run, sent Blinkhorn over, and Burge kicked a goal. Horder was well tackled and gave Ryan a try, Burge hitting the post. Burge followed with a try and a goal. After a period of one-sided play Salford livened up, Thomas scoring. After a great bout of short passing Blinkhorn secured a try, which was converted. Horder, by a dodgy run, obtained a try, which he failed to convert. Vest, on time, ran over tfhe line, and Horder failed with the kick. By their passing, speed and general excellence the team ran over Salford, and they created a great impression. The final score was:— ;,,. r

Australasia 48 Salford 3

WOMEN AT PLAY. FIRST MATCH IN SYDNEY. Received Sept. 18, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Sept. 18. In the first women’s Rugby League football match, Metropolitan defeated Sydney by 21 points to 11. AUCKLAND BEAT S. AUCKLAND. Auckland, Last Night. Auckland defeated South Auckland in a representative League football match by 35 points to 13. ASSOCIATION GAME. NORTH ISLAND v. SOUTH. A DRAWN MATCH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, Sept. 17. The annual inter-island Association football match was played this afternoon in delightful weather, and the attendance was about 3500. The ground was in excellent order. The terras were: North Island.—Goal, Hyder; backs, Braithwaite, O’Neil; halves, Mitchell, Roots (captain), McArthur; forwards, Ballard, Hearsey, Campbell, Thomas, Cusack. South Island. —Goal, Swift; backs, Hogg, Hood; halves, Dryden, Linley, Simpson; forwards, Blundell, Bissett, Balk, Norman (captain), Shaw. Referee: Mr. W. G. Herd. The toss was won by North, who played with the wind and sun at their backs. Early in the oame Norman and Balk combined in a pretty movement, the latter goaling. North then took a hand, Braithwaite kicking from well back into the goal mouth, and Campbell putting the ball into the net. The score was now one all. North went into the lead by a high kick from Roots, which the keeper could not reach. From a corner coneeded by North Bissett. secured from a weak kick and goaled, making the score two all after eight minutes’ play. The ball travelled fast without any further score up to half-time. . North ....wv.2 goals. s South 2 goals. The pace was not so fast in the second spell, which was evenly contested. After a period of even play Hearsey put North to advantage from a fine centre by Ballard, but Blundell put in a good run to score for South, and the score was three all. The next goal came from Norman, who sent the ball home hard and high from thirty yards out. It looked as if South would retain supremacy, until a few minutes before, time. Hearsey goaled with a splendid shot. The final scord was:—

North . 4 goals. South 4 goals. The game was of an even nature. There was a chapter of accidents, four South Island players being hurt, and for the last half-hour South played with ten men. The referee was injured about the same time, and was replaced by Mr. B. Salmond. The game was played in a splendid spirit, and provided a good exhibition. M ... NEW PLYMOUTH (3) v. HAWERA (1) The New Plymouth Club played a return match against Hawera at the Stratford ground on Saturday. Rain fell continually during the game, and consequently prevented either side from showing its true form. Fitzgerald was again in great form and scored 3 splendid goals. New Plymouth, after a wellcontested game, won by 3 goals to 1. THE OTAGO VISITORS. WEEK END PROGRAMME. , In the evening the visitors, together with several members of the Taranaki team and officials of the Taranaki Rugby Union, dined together at the Criterion Hotel. Yesterday the visitors were taken for a trip down the coast, and an enjoyable time was spent. To-day the Otago team leave by the mail train, en route for Hastings, where they meet Hawke’s Bay on Wednesday. On Saturday they play Wellington, the match to be for the Ranfurly Shield, provided Auckland does not lift the shield on Wednesday.