FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 28 August 1913, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

. WAIRARAPA v. TARANAKI. HUME TEAM'S GREAT WIN. ' The representative game between Wairarapa, and Taranaki was expected 'to' produce something "out* of the ordinary run of local Rugb>, but few anticipated that the of the green" would* prove equal to defeating tho redoubtable Ranfurly Shield holders. Taranaki took the field with' a stronger team than that which was defeated by Wellington last Saturday, and the yellow and blacks were all out for a victory over the team which defeated them last .year. The game proved beyond all doubt that Wairarapa has one of, if not the best, forward packs in -New Zealand to-day. The local backs played well, but the honours of the victory must go to the green forwards, who, to say tho least of it, played magnificently. The game , created the greatest interest, and d record crowd witnessed the match. r

Wairarapa won the toss and Taranaki kicked off and immediately set up an attack. The local backs seemed nervous and could hot get into their' stride, with the result that the I visiting forwards ran ovfr everything and earTy in the game looked like scoring. The. local men, brightened tip ' after the first" ten minutes' play, and invaded the visitors' 25}' Loveridge ►returned Well into Wairarapa's 25, where Roberts scooped up the oval /and, after a clever, dodgy run, transferred to Lqveridge, who scored near the corner after twelve minutes' play. .Ttajj latter player failed ■ « with" tfiej • kirik at gpai-^Taranaki^; 3 r Wairara|a j 0. 'Roberts put his side on tho often-1 »rwFTfitir f wliieh resulted in Meuli getting over ' at the corner. Loveridge, with a great k;ick, converted'. Taranaki, 8; Wairarapa 0. Matters; looked very blacjc for tho home team, and not a 'Word was heard. The greenff Were, , however, by no means a defeated, team and from the kick-off set up a strong attack, Hodge, D. Ross and Desmond showing out in a determined forward rush, carrying play to the yellow's 25. Groube shortly after saved his side with a "good line' kick, taking play to half Way. A free kick to greens saw Hodge "break" "away and transfer play to the yellows' 25, a scnim resulting. ( i Wairarapa were beating their opponents for the ball/but the local backs had little confidence in- themselves,, and the good work done by the forwards often went for, nothing. Se^ visitors' foi* off-side play helped to lieve the pressure on the arena's line,':from one fcf which McKenzie kicked a fine "goal. . Taranaki B; : Wairarapa 3.; The greens now played up with greater dash, and Hodge and Brough led two solid rushes to the yellows' lino, but Cameron was equal to all situations, audi effected some splendid .saves. The green backs were now plav- * ing with greater confidence, and throwing the ball about in good style, From a scrum in the yellow 25 the ball came out to Ball, ®io slung 'it out to ißoss. The latter played made a nice run and transferred to Strang, who centred. Hodge, Johnson, aiid Desmond following up ,well rushed play, to the yellow 25, where a great forward scramble ensued. Cameron mis-kicked and Ball booted up the line Clark following up andi scoring near the corner. McKenzie failed with the taranaki 8; Wairarapa 6. , A 1 J 0 yellow forwards now tpok a hand and by fast following up play was carried to Wairarapa's 25. Here ! Brough and Hodge were responsible s for a good run, Strang finding the! Jma with ailusty kick. The yellows ! were soon asacfcing again, their for- ■ wards setting up a determined rueh. With play near lino S. Cameron scrambled over .after several unsuccessful attenfpte Wairarapa players to forfie., Loveridge failed to ' convert. Taranaki II ; Wairarapa'6. Loyeridge returned McKenzie's kick Tait forcing. Wairarapa^\M-e now called upon, to defend; 'ifte? yellows playing. With great dash. The Wairarapa backs were saving, well, and going for their men low kept play near ; half way. The yellow backs were. gaining much ground by good line kicking Loveridge being particularly ! brilliant in this respect. Near the j half time call Roberts broke away ! from the half-line and after a good ■ run transferred to Loveridge. The • latter player was * well collared by j Strang, saving a dangerous Situation. Wairarapa now set up an attack and ; penetrated to their opponents' 25, i where Loveridge saved with a fine f line-kick. Half-time was called wijth the scbre Taranaki ll j Wairaraaa .6. The: first .spfll; v, .wwr,. unddpbteiUy T6ran#i's; to the second Was as undoubtedly Wairarapa's. From the kick-off the giteen forwards set jup a fine rueh which did not stop till play was earried tp Taranaki's line. Here D. Ross toot afote mark, and McKen-: zie b«ing allowed a free charge, put the ball oyer the "bar with a fine ef- j, fort. Taranaki 11; Wairarapa 9. The | green forwards now -took the aggres-l' sive on every'occasion %nd:, aided by fine line-kicking by McKenzte: r ,were able to confine play to Taranaki's 25.

With play in this quarter G. Ross was responsible for a nice run, passing to Hodge who all but got over. Meulj was then prominent in a good rush, play being taken right to Wairarapa's line. Here Strang ran round Vmd found tho line with a kick at half-way. McKenzie here made another good kick at goal, the ball going wide. Loveridge carried play to the centre line, where the green forwards, headed by Hodge, D. Ross, and Desmond carried play to Tarannki's line, whore a free kick to the yellows saved the situation. The green forwards kept up the pressure until from a scrum near the yellowline the ball went from Ball to Darvill, who ran up and transferred to Clarke, tlie latter getting over near the corner. McKenzie's kick at goal failed. Wairarapa 12; Taranaki 11. With cries of "Come on now,, yellows" the visitors played up with great vim, but the, greens wero now 1 ahead and meant to stop there. Roberts was shortly after penalised for off-side play, and -McKenzie kicked a splendid goal, amidst ; the greatest enthusiasm, Wairarapa 1 15, Taranaki 11, Strang returned f Tamil's kick, tie ball going out at half-way. Here the opposing forwards engaged in a great battle, from, which the greens emerged victorious, '.heading a strong rush to thfe yellows' line. Taranalci were soon away again, carrying play to their opponents' twenty-five. From a scrum in the local team's territory the ball came out to Brown, who sent it to Roberta. The fatter made a "fine ruh,andib<>ating several green back s transferred to Meuli, who dashed for tlio line with only the full-back to pass. , But that full-back was Tait, and he got IjjSs rnattj jsafe and . ¥4s ' [ great vim* ifato their- play,, and the [ forwards carried all before them. The 'green backs, however, were on the ■alert, and safe tackling and good line finding kept the invaders away. ..The green forwards carried 'play right down the field,- where a free-kick j given against Roberts saw McKenzie land another splendid goal. Wairarapa< 18, Taranaki 11. • The enthtosi- . . asm was now intense, Ss with a fine line-kick found the line at halfway. Taranaki were now up against it, and realising this,_played as. they must have done against Auckland. The yellow forwards attacked vigorously, cjarxying play to the green i twenty-five. Froin a scru-n near the ) latter'a line, the ball came out to Brown 1 , who passed to Cameron. The lattej' latter, made » fine run and Bent ' ttie leather out to Meiili, who, after a splendid dash, sailed , over the line. il^vend|&' failed w^ : the icick, wb icJi an *easy" .on©;. J} Taranaki. 14. Wairarapa J atiaclrinff again, and' good-play bv the forwartls Jcept'the ball in Taranaki's. territory until time was called with, the scores unaltered, and tho' game,. Wairarapa 18, Taranaki 14. It is needless to state that tho winners were aiccsorded a great reception, . and .thexjrell deserved their win. 'itft could no't be said thai there was the least semblance of a fluke about the •re»tilt. local, backs-played well, but tho game was won by the forwards, of any fonvarxl pack in tiie Dominioii. It is unfair to ; iridividualise, ]>iit the play of' Hodge, McKenzie,-<f).' ,Ross, Desmond and Clarke deserves special mention, these players being at tlje head of every rush. In the backs, Tait played well at full ,his tackling being very sound. , Strang; Darvill , aud Siever,a\ did not always play the ' best football, but all round they addwl their, qiipta to their succms. I Ball,::©. Ross' aaid G'tbube jprbveioK:# • good combination, in the j second spell. j" So "much has been written of the j visitors'thaf'little is left to be said. ■ In the out by himself.- He is a'really great player. Roberts, in the first spell, looked like proving Wairarapa's Tindoing, but he went off in the. second spell. Brown • v and Meuli played high standard f<iotball, while D. Cfeimeroirtt' full-bick: proved himself the great player he is. In the forwards Whittington, Taniu and Cain were the pick'. Pini was ioo often dff-side, otherwise he sihowed himself a fine forward. . > ' . Mr E. McKenzie was referee.

THE LEAGUE GAME. (By '£tkgrai>h—Press Association.) HAWERA, Last Night. At Hawera ; to-day the New South Wales Leagae team defeated Taranaki by 16 points to J5. The game was well contested, but the passing of the visitors, was too good for the local playera. The Now South Wales backs and forwards' were vejry fast, and' gave a fine exhibitibn of the League gdrine.• ' - -,r