FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9140, 16 July 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI DEFEATS BRITAIN,

A FAST GAME,

BY TELEGEAI'H—PRESS ASSOCIATION,

NEW PLYMOUTH, July 5,

After the hardest game contested in New Plymouth for a long time Taranaki to-day pulled off the victory against the Britishers by 5 points to nil. Harding, with the best possible forward team in the field, was confident of beating Taranaki's vanguard, but the result belied expectations, and the forwards were so evenly matched that open play to a large extent was rendered impossib'e. The game was very fast, as may be judged from the fact that there was only one force down during the whole of the play. Taranaki's score was made within live minutes of time, and was the result of a long throw in by Coleman to Hunter, the latter passing to Dive, who galloped right round the English backs. Coleman kicked off against the sun, Dyke finding the line near the centre. The Britishers carried the first scrum, Hardins? landing the ball in the Taranaki 25. O'Sullivan and Mynott headed a rush to Dyke, who returned to the centre. An exchange of kicks ended in Hardgreaves finding the line in the Britishers' quarters, where Coleman got away, and was well ,collareJ by Davey, who kicked to Cameron, the latter finding the line elnsi to the visitors' goal-lrae. Harding's forwards re plied with a fine rush, Vassal improving ' matters with a good kick, which Hardgreaves nullified. Morgan secured the ball, and set off with McEvedy, Vassall and Chapman, the latter being well taken by Sheehan in Taranaki territory. Here the local forwards secured the' ball, and good snappy passing took the ball right back. Hard play continued on the British Bide of half-way, till a mis-kick let Down away into the local quarters. Securing the ball from the scrum Morgan passed out, but Mynott intercepted in a clear field, but was called back for a knock-on. Mynott smothered from the next scrum, and securing the, ■ ball toak play to the British end, where from a mark Dive made a fine, but ineffectual shot at goal. Play continued in the vishors' territory, and from a high centreing kick by Coleman O'Sullivan secured the ball, and dashed across, but was called back. Keeping up the attack, Dyke was bard pressed, but was equal to emergencies, ana eventually Harding chared the line from a penalty. The fo.-wards following up fast penned plav in the local end, but an infringement lost them an advantage. Coleman centreing high let Mynott away, but Crowley held the ball tuo long under the British goal, and the visitors cleared the line. E. Morgan and Smith headed a rush, which beat the local backs, but Hardgreaves pulled off a brilliant save. Light play followed till half-time.

On reiUir.ing Myr.ott broke away with th ball from W. Morgan, Hardgreaves i...d Dive taking it into the visitors' 20. Play waxed very lively, and was mainly confined to the visitors' territory, through Hardgreaves' lin° kicks. Eventually the British backs got going, but the effort was spoiled hy a bad pass to Williams. The forwards took up the running, Cameron being galled on to exert himself to save. Desperate play fol lowed, neither team being able to cross the others 25, till Coleman let Dive and Cameron away, Tu-zi Jones being collared near the British goal, but an infringement brought relief. Dive shortly after had an unsuccessful shot at goal, Britain registering the only force of the match. Hunter and Mynott replied to the kick-out with a good run, from which Harding secured the ball and dribbled through splendidly, Tuah Jones, Vassall and Williams carrying it on with a fast passing rush. The latter was collared from behind by Cameron when looking dangerous. Dive, intercepting, broke away and kicked past Dyke, but the latter reached the ball first, and found the line. Davey, Edgar Morgan and Harding dribbled back, and Britain pressed hard for a time till a penalty brought T<3ranaki relief. From Taranaki's 25 Mynott got away, and with Tauni and v Rothery took play to the visitors' 25 flag. Coleman threw into the centre of the field, Hunter shooting the ball to Dive, who swerved round the three backs and scored near the corner. Cameron kicked a fine goal.

Taranaki 5 Britain • 0 It wanted five minute? to the call of timy'. Taranaki backs were now getting the. ball from the scrum, and kept up a battering attack, but the defence was too solid to penetrate. The game, though desperately hard, was stated by the Englishmen ti be the fastest yet contested in New Zealand. Mr Wylie was referee.

AUCKLAND v. BRITAIN MATCH

MR CHARTERS APPOINTED

REFEREE,

(By Telegraph—Special to Age). GREYTOvVN, July 15. Mr A. B. Charters has been appointed referee in the British Auckland match on Saturday, July 18th, and has accepted the position.

BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, July 15. The Wellington Wednesday football representatives defeated the Wairarapa Thursday fifteen, at Athletic Park, this afternoon, by 15 points to 3. The weather conditions and the state of the ground prevented anything like good play. For Wellington tries were obtained by Whittaker (2), Browne, Gosling and McKay.. Wairarapa's score was a try obtained by Fairbrother. The third round of the Thira-class Championship fixtures of the Wairarapa Rugby Union will commence on Saturday, when the Red Star and Masterton teams will meet. The following will represent Red Star 111 : —Full back, A. Hoar; three-quar I ters, Messenger, Coyle, Edwards; five-eighth, Boyd; half back, Mason; forwards, Hogg, O'Dowd, de Lisle, Gallpy, Welch, Smith, Treen, Harris, Billington; emergencies, Dixon and Riddle. The following will represent Masterton 111 :—H. Simonson, Yates, E. Simonson, Osman, Johns, Hanley, Wellington, Fly, Billington, Iggul-

den, Munn, Dean, McHattie, Rayner, Dixon. The following team will represent Red Star 11. against Maryborough on Saturday next, at Greytown:-Full-back, Flaws; three-quarters, Chamberlain, Williams, G. Ross; five-eighth, Sowman; half back, Ball; wings, Welch, Faulkner; forwards, Golder, Easthope, Fulton, D Ross, Stewart, McHattie, Allen. The drag will leave at 1.15 p.m. sharp. The latest advices from Invercargill state that the suspended players of the Britannia and Pirates Clubs have decided to form a club under the Northern Union rules. The players render themselves to life disquf li • fication by the Southland Unio:) should they play as separate clubs. The following will represent Knox Young Men's Bible Class in a match against the Methodist Class on Saturday next, at i 1.45 p.m.:—J. Gordon, M. Gordon, R. Milne, A. Miller, A. Ibbetson, A. Dixon, A. Ross, W. E. Chamberlain, G. Miller, L. Pearce, R. Miller, R. McGregor, S. McNab, A. Billington, and O. Ibbetson. Emergencies—Low, P. Gordon, Sutton and Kemp. The Greytown "Standard" states that Martinborough has forfeited their match with the Red Star Juniors.