FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI ON TOUR. DEFEATED BY OTAGO. SUPERIORITY OF BACKS. (By Wire—Special Reporter.) Dunedin. Last Night. Once again the superiority of the opposing rear division proved Taranaki’s downfall, for there can be no question that Otago owes their win against Taranaki here to-day by 17 points to 3 to their rearguard, whose combination, particularly in the. second spell, was much too good. Taranaki’s attack lacked cohesion, whilst the defence was also on the whole weak. The Taranaki pack again demonstrated that the province need not fear the best teams in New Zealand in this department. In loose and tight, work they proved quite equal to their

opponents, excelling in line-out work. The Otago forwards, however, invariably secured ■the ball from the scrum, thus enabling the backs to get going. Otago made the game as open as possible, setting the backs going at every opportunity. With the exception of Marks, who was looking for interceptions, the Taranaki backs tackled well in the first spell, Vaughan (full-back) making good saves. Towards the close of the second spell they appeared to go off, though Hickey, who had been slow to get his kicks away, tackled in great style, sometimes getting a couple of men In passing rushes. The game was of an interesting character, the issue being in doubt until well into the second spell. The last 15 minutes saw Otago gain the upper hand, their backs beating Taranaki’s defence and scoring three tries. The weather was fine and the attendance was 8000. The ground had improved considerably, but was still heavy, though the ball was not greasy.

Otago won the cos. Taranaki kicking off against the sun. Johnson and Hickej’ tackled well and spoilt a dangerous rush. Taranaki attacked, and then a passing bout by the lo-

cals saw Murray centre, when West and Fogarty broke through again. Lynskey checked n solid Otago rush, but Taranaki was penalised, Bell failing to goal. The Taranaki pack, working hard, attacked, but Bell drove them back with long kicks. Fogarty made a nice opening for Lynskey, whose pass was intercepted by Sontag, and MacKereth streaked for the line. When blocked he sent on to Bell, who was collared by Coutts. Again all the Otago backs handled nicely, but they were well tackled, Vaughan bringing Dickinson dotyn close to the line. Immediately Townsend cut inand sent a wide pass to Murray, who enabled MacKereth to score near the corner. Bell failed to goal. Otago 3: Taranaki 0. Again Hickey upended MacKereth, who securd the ball on the blind, and good play by the visiting forwards took play to midfield, where Fogarty, Taylor and Wilkinson participated, but the move broke down near Otago’s line. An Otago passing bout saw Mathieson well taken by Hickey, whilst Vaughan pushed Owles out when very dangerous. The locals forced Taranaki twice in succession, while Bell had a shot, which was charged dwon. Then Mathieson, cutting In, beat several opponents, the move culminating in a scrum tinder Taranaki’s goal. Here West broke away, and aided by a penalty, play was removed to midfield. Here play remained until the Otago forwards rushed into the Taranaki quarter, where Mathieson set his backs going, and Owles was just pushed out at the corner by Vaughan. Again Hickey brought down MacKereth, and Taranaki forced. Otago had the better of the remainder of the first spell, but did not increase the score. Taranaki had several anxious moments, owing to the failure of the inside backs to check. The spell ended: Otago 3 Taranaki - .. 0 On resuming, Otago pressed, but Hickey and Johnson gamely checked. Otago were then awarded a couple of free kicks, and from one Dickinson landed a nice goal. Otago 6; Taranaki 0. , Mathieson set his backs going, but the attacks broke down on several occasions, owing to spoiling by the Taranaki forwards. Then Masters broke away at midfield and raced down field. He handed to Malone, who sent the hall back to Masters, who was collared within a yard of the line. Otago wore here penalised, Coutts landing a goal. Otago 6; Taranaki 3. Taranaki now shook things up and looked like equalising, keeping play in Otago’s half, where Hammersiey, following up fast, compelled Bell to hurriedly line. The Otago backs then kept the visitors busy. After Dickinson had failed; to - goal from a, free kick, Vaughan failed to field a high kick, and the Otago forwards rushed the ball over. Owles scoring. Dickinson failed to goal. Otago 9; Taranaki 3.

Play continued fast up and down field, several local back moves breaking down, whilst the Taranaki pack was working hard and kent the local pack at bay. Presently the Otago forwards charged .down. Vaughfin just saving, »nd again from a free kick Bell failed to goal. Coutts made a fine run. beating several men, and carried play to Otago’s twenty-five, where it remained for a few minutes. Then Comnbes .and Howell headed a forward rush that caught Hickey with the ball close to Taranaki’s line Malone, Fogarty. Hunt and West headed play black to midfield, but only temporarily. as from a scramble Sontag made an opening for Mathieson and the ball travelled via all the backs to MacKereth. who was taken by Hickey. Again the local backs sent the ball along the line to Dickinson, who shot in-field to Murray, who scored, Owles goaling. Otago 14: Taranaki 3. Otago, both backs and forwards, again attacked. but West headed the Taranaki pack to half-way. whilst Hickey onllared MacKereth twice when dangerous. Then Dickenson intercepted a Taranaki pass mid the local forwards carried the ball over the line, where McMeeking scored. Owles failed to goal. The game ended soon afterwards with the score; Otago .17 T«rai»M 3 Mr. Eckhold was referee. OTHER REP. MATCHES. WEST COAST BEAT WELLINGTON. Creymnutli, Last Night. West Coast (15) beat Wellington (R)„ to-day in perfect weather. The game was largely a forward one. the weight’- Coasters prevailing. The visiting backs individually wer-> fair, especially Carmody, McCabe and McCleary, but the Coast backs showed' better combination. Russell, Rvan and Nelson being particularly nippy. The host forwards were Hall nnfl Hagan for Coast and King and Wylie for Wellington. The first spell ended: Wellington ft (Murphy kicking two penalties) and Coast 3 (a try by Bannister). In the second spell Egan scored frown a forward rush. Nelson converting. Then Russell scored from a passing movement, and later he potted a coal. -Coast had the better of the game throughout, except in the latter half of the first spell, when the visitors livened up. The locals were attacking most of the second spell. HOROWHENUA BEAT GOLDEN BAY. Otaki. Last Night. Horowhenua beat Golden Bar by 24 nnints to 5 after a fair game. Fry drew first blood, scorin'- for the visitors. Then Broughton and Wakefig’d scored in succession for Horowhenua. one being converted. Horowhenua were leading 8 to 5 at the end of the first spell. In the second snell Tana. Moynihan and Meta (2) scored tries, Jacob kicking goals, bringing the totals to 24 to 5. WANGANUI BEATEN AT BLENHEIM. Blenheim, Last. Night. ■Rfarlborough beat Wanganui by 20 to 16 tn-day. after a fast, open and exciting game. The visiting backs were Immeasurably superior and handled the ball faultlessly, but the Marlborough forwards' tackling was very deadly. and easily brought Wanganui’s efforts to nought. The local forwards excelled in loose rushes, which Wanganui was powerless to stem. Marlborough’s saera aomjtfWsd

tries, one converted, while Wanganui scored four tries, two converted. WAIRARAPA BEAT AUCKLAND. Masterton. Last Night. Wairarapa defeate'd Auckland to-day by 15 (three convened tries) to 3 (a penalty goal). The ground- was good and the weather perfect. Auckland tried to keep the game fairly tight In. the first spell, but Wairarapa managed to open' li up a little, and only deadly tackling saved a big score. There was no very spectacular play, with the exception of the last try. This movement was started by F. Booth working the blind side in the visitors' twenty-five, and he beat his men to half-way, where he transferred to Carson. The latter, with a wonderful burst of speed, evaded three or four men, running round to score between the posts. The Wairarapa pack had a slight advantage in weight, but their opponents managed to get an equal share of the ball hi the scrum. In the first half the home backs showed the most sparkle, bur. after the interval the visitors seemed to have the advantage in this respect. HOCKEY r THE MOASCAR CUP. AUCKLAND GRAMMAR BEAT TE AUTE. A SPARKLING GAME. Palmerston North, Last Night. A crowd of 4000 watched the semi-final game of the North Island competition for the Moascar Cup,, between Te Ante College and Auckland Grammar School. The weather and the ground were all that could be desired, and a slashing game resulted. Grammar won by 11 to 6. Auckland Grammar owe their win to a fast and clever set of backs. The tackling on both sides was low and deadly, and from the start to finish the game was played at a cracking pace. During the second half the Maoris had hard luck in not scoring, for they were within an ace of it on several occasions. After a series of splendid back efforts the Auckland boys carried the ball almost to the line, and from a scrum Cashmore got possession and slid through all hands and scored a clever try. The kick failed. The presence of Rangi Akuira in the Te Aute five-eighths’ line put a stiffening assurance into the backs, and his capital work was responsible for an opening that gave Sparks an opportunity to dive across. The kick at goal struck the post, and the scores were even. McLean capped a Grammar assault with a great Individual effort and scored. The kick missed. In the second half McLean made a great run from half-way and flew past all opposition and scored under the posts, converting himself. Immediately the Maoris broke away "knd a great passing rush ended In Ruru scoring at the corner. Akuira’s kick failed. When the final whistle sounded Akuira ran instantly to the Auckland skipper and shook hands. College tournament. CHRIST’S BEAT WELLINGTON. Wellington. Last Night. The final of the college Rugby tournament was played to-day, before 6000 spectators, in-

cluding the Governor-General. Christ’s College beat Wellington College by seven points to three. Sheen (Christchurch) potted a goal and scored a try from a brilliant opening made by Talbot. Tait scored for Wellington from an opening made by Du Lateau. SOUTH ISLAND HIGH SCHOOLS. CONCLUSION OF TOURNAMENT. Invercargill, Last Night. The South Island High Schools football tournament concluded to-day. Southland won the final, ‘beating Timaru 8 to 3. Tries were scored for Southland by Harrington and Hanna, Ottrey converting one. Boys kicked, a goal for Timaru. Christchurch beat Otago 6 to nil, tries by Kipworth and Kemp. PRIMARY SCHOOL MATCHES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston N., August 30. The primary schools’ Rugby tournament concluded to-day. The results were: Wairarapa 9, Manawatu 0; Wanganui 4, Wellington .3. The tournament was won by Wairarapa with 3 w.ins and no losses. 'Wanganui were - the runnership with 2 wins and 1 loss.

A WEST COAST PROTEST Greymouth, August 30. The action of Mr. Perry, manager of the Wellington touring Rugby team, in demanding the appointment of Mr. A. A. Adams as referee in to-day’s match with the West Coast has caused feeling in local football circles. Mr. Adams is not a member of the Coast Referees’ Association and not an active referee. The West Coast. Union has protested against the action, and is laying 'the whole matter before the Wellington Rugby Union. MATCH AT HAWERA. WIN FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. A team of footballers from various New Plymouth clubs played a match against a southern team at Hawera yesterday, when the N"v Plymouth team won by 24 points to 12. The match was in return for the one Hawera played against Tukapa during the recent campaign in aid of the New Plymouth unemployment fund, and the proceeds of yesterday’s match were for the Hawera unemployment funds. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. The following will play for Now Plymouth against Stratford, on the Stratford show ground on Saturday, at 2 o’clock sharp: Lawrence. Grundy, Belchin. Jones, Barker. Soller. Woodhead, Katz, Macquire, Shepard and Johnston.