INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 202, 27 August 1896, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND V. TARAWA XI,

VICTOP.Y FOR THE

VISITORS,

The good stand the Auckland representative footballers made against the picked fifteen of the Wellington province lasb Saturday resulbed in the infcenseab interest being taken in athletic Circles in the meeting of the Auckland and Taranaki footballers. The match eventuated ab Potter's Paddock yesterday, tha afternoon being beautifully fine with & lighb eou'-wesb breeze blowing, and the interest felb by the public in the contesb was evidenced by the very large attendance. From early in the afternoon Kill the Bbarb of play a conabanb ebream of vehicles passed along the Epsom road bound to the foobball ground. In town the afternoon was practically recognised as a public holiday, the Exchange being closed, and all bbo business premises which usually keep open on Wednesday added their quota to the attendance, as many hands as possible being given a half-holiday. In most of the schools where a whole halfholiday was nob allowed what is known ac a two o'clock day was given. The number of spectators who witnessed the game was variously estimated ab between five and six thousand, and close on £270 must have been taken in gate money. Although there was a large number of ladies present, bho men as usual were greably in the majority. The feeling which prevailed that Auckland would make a really good stand was somewhat erroneous, the Taranaki players proving themselves the superior exponents of football in almost every department of the game, and bhe score, which waß 16 poinbs bo nil in favour of bhe visitors, is a pretty fair guide as to the relative merits of the teams as they appeared at Potter's Paddock yesterday.

Tho play of the local team was, on the whole, disappointing. Several of the backs played good games, particularly Absolum and Smith, but bho play of none was froe troin blunders, which bonofited bhe obher side nob a libble. Clayton as full kicked well as a rule, bub his play was patcby, while once, by mulling, he allowed Taranaki to geb a try righb beside tho posbs. Absolum played perhapß the boat game of the backs. He was again good in defence, and wub, as usual, smart in attack. Smith's game would have been well nigh faultless bub for his mulling in bhe second spell, which ended in Watson scoring. With tbab exception, his play was really brilliant. Wynyard kicked splendidly, and on bhe whole did well, bub Surman as fiveeiKhbbs seemed to play wibhoub any dash or go, and to be quite oub of form. He was in facb very dieappoinbing. C. Hay played a fair game as half back, tackling and passing well, but frequently ho waa too slow in getting the ball away from the scrum for the opposing wings. Tho forwards, however, repeated their dashing play of Saturday and all did well against their heavier opponeube. Swindley, McKenzie and Laing were aboub bho'besb. The same faulb, noticeable on Saburday, of bhe bwo wings failing to protect their half waß again conspicioua. Hay had great difficulty in getting the ball away from the scrum, owing to the Taranaki wings, wboreas Humphries never seemed to have any difficulty ab all. With regard bo the visibora there can be only one opinion, and that is thab they are a much superior beam to the lpcal men. In almoab,every dopartmenb of fcho game they showed more proficiency. Besidea being an unusually heavy team (thoy avorage 12sb 101b against Auckland's llsb 121b) they know the game thoroughly, and undoubtedly play ib aa it should be played!: "AfteY*their game of yesterday they may fairly claim to be one of the best teams thab over represented a Now Zealand province.

Taranaki (colours amber and black): Full-back, C. Young ; threo-quortor, L. Allen, H. Good, A. Good ; fiva-eighths, A. Bayly ; half-back, A. Humphries; forwards, Foarßon and H. Mills (wings), W. Watson, B, O'Dowda, Welle, Hawkon, O'Carroll, H. Shaw, and W. Lambie. Auckland (colours blue and white) : Full back, D. Clayton ; throequartors, H. Absolum, G. Smith, nnd W. Wyuyard ; tive-eightha, F. Surman ; halfback, C. Hay; forwards, Laing and Mills (wing»), C. Brady, J. Svrindley, McLean, McMillaD, McKenzie, Hancock, and Gallagher. Mr W. G. Garrard, of Christchurch, acted as referee, and again performed the duties to the satisfaction of both players and spectators.

THE PLAY.

FIRST SPELL.

The visiting capbain won the toss and elected to defend the western goal, which gave his team during the first spell the advantage of the Rim at) their backs and the light breeze which was blowing down the ground. Swindloy Bet tho ball in innbion and A. Bayly returned. Pearson following up offside, a scrum took placo on the yellow and blacks side of the half way. When the ball came clear, a mull on the part of I. Mills save A. Good an opening, and ho made a fine run, transferring to A. Bayly close on Auckland's 25, and he passed to Allen who was just brought down in time by Clayton to stop him falling over the line. A scrum close to the line followed, and the Taranaki men heeling out, a run was started by the half-back, who, however, lout the ball, and Auckland forced. Within two minutes, a long kick by A. Bayly again forced Auckland. When the ball had been put in play by Wynyard, a Ion? kick by Surman was marked by Lambie ineide the half-way, and H, Good made an excellent shot at goal, the ball, however, going some yards wide, and Auckland touched down. For some time the local team was kept busy stopping shorb dangerous runa between Humphries, A. Bayly and the Goods, till a judicious kick by Absolum sent the oval out at half way. From the line oub Absolum made an opening and passed to Wynyard, who in turn transferred to Smith the latter was given a j clean run in, bub was called back for a throw-on. A ecrum ensued. From open play which followed Hancock passed to Brady, who made an opening and senb on to McMillan. The latter instead of transferring to either Surman or Absolum on his left, either of whom would only have had to pass tho full back to score, passed forward on his right hand, and a good chance of scoring was lost. Some open play followed and a long punfc by Allen again forced Auckland. Wynyard set the ball it) motion and a rush by the yellow and black forwards, in which O'Dowd and Lambie were prominenb pub Auckland again on the defensive A smarb run by A. Good looked like resulting in a score, bub he pasßed forward and a free kick was awarded Auckland jusb afterwards. Clayton by a nice kick into touch on the half way eide of bhe 25 flag relieved the pressure. A poor attempt! at) a pob by H. Good resulted in Smith forcing. Clayton's kick oub put the ball into touch close to the halfway flag, where two scrums ensued. From theee Surmau passed out the ball to Wynyard, bub neither ot the short dashes he made gained much ground. Watson by good line play was instrumental in removing bhe scene of action to the local team's 25, where Clayton secured and kicked down the field. The ball was caught by A. Good, who by an injudicious long punt again forced Auckland. A forward rush headed by O'Dowda again pub the wearers of fcbe blue and white jersey on the defensive,.and although Smith relieved somewhat by a smart) run, the Taranakitea re-

turned the attack, and Humphries; passing out from a ecrum to A. Bayly, fche ball passed through several hands, 'and Wells eventually got over near the corner flagV'drawing first; blood. Watson's attempt at goal failed to add the major points, and the score stood; Taranaki ... ... ... ~-•• 3 Auckland... V* Through a free kick awarded Taranaki for hand ball in the scrum, and which Watson essayed to turn to account by kicking a goal, Auckland were once more forced. Clayton kicked 6ut, and return kicks between Absoluin and Lttmbie resulted its the ball going out on the Tara- ! naki side of the halfway Hag. From the ! throw in, a dribble between Swindley, McMillan, and Handeock took bhe ball to insida the 25, bub the Taranaki full-back stopped the rush by throwing the ball oat of bounds. Exciting paoked play close to the visitors' lino ensued, but Auckland being penalised, a froe kick relieved Taranaki. Hay marked, and Abaomm made a good shot at goal, the ball falling beside the posts, and Taranaki wore forced. The oval waa gradually worked op to Auckland's end of the field, Ond the Taranaki forwards breaking through a scrum in the 25, Clayton mulled the ball and Shaw fell beside the posts, scoring Taranaki's second try. Humphries improved the opportunity by kicking a neat goal, and the spell ending in a few minutes left the score Taranaki ... ... ... ... 8 Auckland... ••• 0 SECOND SPEtt. With the advantage of the wind and sun Auckland were e*f>ected to do much better in the second spell Smith returned the kick off, and Hay gained further ground by a smart kick from behind the scrum. On the throw in the local forwards beat their opponents in come loose play and reached the 25, Where Absolum and Smith made a good attempt to score by a passing run. Humphries kicked to Clayton who replied with a long kick out of touch. The local forwarda again got away on a dribbling rush, and a score seemsd inevitable when A. Good saved hff a lucky kiok at a rolling ball. Surman was now laid out and Mills (Auckland) broke one of his little fingers. The latter left the field, but returned shortly afterwards with hia finger bandaged. By fin 6 forward play Auckland again got dangerously close to their opponent's line, where they succeeded in remaining for some timo Auckland being awarded a free kick. Absolum essayed at the posts from a good position but failed. Allen returned without forcing and Gallagher marked near centre. Humphriea marked the latbor's kick and kicked out of touch. Play still continued for BOmo time in Taran'uki territory; but eventually a fine passing run by Allen and H. Good brought the visitors up to Auckland's 25. Swindley broke through in fine stylo, and a rush by Taranaki was replied to by a forward rush by Aucklandand a passing run by Surman and Absolum, the* latter of whom was brought . d%wn by Bayly near centre, Taranaki sido. At centre a return passing run waa started by Humphries, and after a fine run he passed to A. Good, who was collared by Hay a few yards from the line, and pushed out of touch. On the throw Bayly passed out to H. Good, and the latter, outpacing the Auckland backs, including Absolum, streaked round to the opposite corner and scored near the flag. Watson essayed at goal but without success. . ' Taranaki 11 Auckland ... ... ... 0 j H. Good returned the kick-off, but a rush by the local forwards carried everything before it a3 far as the 25, where Borne very exciting play took place. A free kick was givon to Auckland, and Swindley punted high along the touch-line. The Auckland forwnrda followed up -and reached thespob as the ball came down, and Laing secured and dafihnd over the line ah the .corner flag. The referee, however, decided that it waa a touch in goat, though the general opinion was that a try had been fairly obtained. As Laing foil over th* line, the flag was observed bo be knocked down, and the referee, believing Laing haci struck the flag, gave the benefit of (the doubt to the defending side. Subsequently ib was ascertained that bho flag was knocked down by Huinphrios and not Laing. After the kick-oft' Auckland continued to keep Taranaki very hard pressed. A fine passing run by Purman, Absolum, and Wynyard, carried the ball well into the visitors' 25, and O'Dowda getting offside, Auckland 'received a free kick in front of the poebs. Absolum took the kick, bub made a miserablo failuro of an excellent chance. The ensuing play waa fast and exciting. By a hard kick by Clayton Taranaki were forced. Centre play followed the kick-off, but several passing runs by the Auckland backs at last gob the bail down to tho Taranaki's 25 again. Young gained temporary relief for the visitors by along kick to centre, bub another capibal run by Absolum returned the oval to the 25, where Humphries marked and kicked out of touch. Near centre, A. Good secured and made a fine run round to tho corner flag, Smith proving the stumbling block. Play followed in front of Auckland's posts and Auckland were forced. Shortly after the kick off, Smith mulled in hie own 25, and Watson securing the oval, bustled over near the posts, Humphries converted. Taranaki... ... 16 j Auckland ■ ... 0 From this stage till the end, the play was somewhat uninteresting. Auckland Woke up slightly and invaded thoir opponents' 25 on several occasion*, but wore never dangerous. No further score being registered, Taranaki won by 16 to nil.

The Taranaki men left for home from Onehunga this afternoon. A large number of footballers assembled ab the Railway Station ab noon to witness their departure. The Wellington team lefb in. bhe Te Anau. They play HawkeB1 Bay ab Napier on Saturday before returning home. A large crowd of enthusiasts assembled on the wharf to bid them good-bye.