WELLINGTON V. TARANAKI.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 212, 7 September 1899, Page 3

WELLINGTON V. TARANAKI.

TARANAKI DEFEATED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON", Wednesday. Wellington met Taranaki this at'- ; ternoon at the Athletic Park before about 2500 people. The weather was line, but a strong wind was blowing across the ground and partly towards the. eastern goal. This put defenders of this goal at a disadvantage, and all the scoring was done at that end. Taranaki were favourites at 2 to 1, but the Wellington team exhibited great form, both front and back, and quite outplayed their opponents, winning by 9 points to 5. .Nor does this represent all the difference, because with good kicking two of the tries should have been made goals and in the second spell Pritchard obtained a try which was by some mistake disallowed. The decision came as a great surprise, but was accepted quietly. Bonar's try was the result of a brilliant run. This player, who had never been heard of till tins season, is rapidly approaching intercolonial form. The collaring on both sides was close and keen. Lhe laraT ,aki men did not show good eombma- | tion. Their passing, until just.at the ; end of the game, was (pule >f m. c for and had they gone in more lreel.v tor it from the start of the second spell they would probably have done better. On Ihe other hand, their kicking was j iirst-class. The visitors made prodigious efforts to score when playing with the wind, but they only sue- , cecded In obtaining one try. irom which a goal was kicked. Their forwards railed at the pinch, though the backs did some good work Hodsworth, who was to have acted as lullback for them, hurt his knee at practice, and A. ISayly took his place. Kelly having won the toss Tanannki, wearing yellow and black kicked on against the wind. For a few minutes play was near the Wellington black goal, bill lofty kicking -sent the ball down to Bayly, who ran away to the side. Prenntly the Wellington forwards made n dashing charge ami the ball flying loose hit Bayly and went over the line, followed by ni dozen black-. Kelly secured it. Wallace failed with aii easy chance fit goal: Wellington. 3 to nil. The yellows responded with a great rush, and !'• Bayly ran well forward. All such efforts, however, only needed good kicks to nullify them, and the Wellington backs took every advantage ol the wind. Bayly, at full-back, had plenty to do, and so had Hales, when his turn came. Wallace and Hales each had a pot shot at goal, the latter ooin-'- very '•lose. By this time the local" forwards had got into swing, and were playing a rare game, carryin"- the serums, collaring keenly and following splendidly. A momentary opening' for Taranaki was made by Lambie, who. Following up his own kick, collared his man. and got a free kick for offside. From the edge of the ground he made a splendid attempt at goal, the ball just shaving the post. Another lofty punt shifted the scene to the yellows' quarters, and from a line-out Pritchard, dodging several men. secured another try. Hales failed with the kick, also an easy one: Wellington 0 to nil. Nothing daunted, the visitors played up with effect, and helped by a number of free kicks penned Wellington to | their corner Hag. Allen put in some excellent kicks, which kept play there for some time, but when they did get , clear the blacks broke clean away. | Some rapid passing landed the ball in Eonar's hands, and that speedy back ran from half-way down to Bayly. The latter slipped'at the critical moment, and though he checked the sprinter's rush, he failed to prevent him getting over the line. The kickwas again a failure. The spectators were greatly pleased at Bonar's brilliant exhibition, and cheered him loudly. The spell then ended with Wellington 0 to nil. Notwithstanding the score against them, the Taranaki supporters were still confident. Welington began by making good progress against the wind, but developed a tendency for| constant off-side, which brought to nothing a greal deal of hard work. As fast as they got the ball away from their goal a penalty kick drove them back/ While trying to secure one of these Calnan and Roberts came into violent collision, and suffered some hard knocks. They lost the ball, Taranaki dashed in, and nothing but an inopportune throw-forward saved a try. Mynott secured a mark, and Lambie had another shot at goal without success. Twice the ball was driven across the Wellington line, but went on the bank. The blacks' charged up the ground once more, and somehow the ball was kicked through all the Taranaki men, and sailed away towards the goal, clear of everyone. Kelly and Pritchard gave headlong chase, and got possession, and the latter took it over the line. Humphries, who alone had followed them, seized Pritchard by the jersey, but could not stop him grounding the ball. To the surprise of everyone, the referee disallowed the try, and Pritehard's really fine piece of following went for nothing. After this the Taranaki men played up strongly, and made great efforts to score. Allen ran to the line, and was j there seized and lifted bodily back. After some tough work the blacks' I line was cleared once more, but they ! were kept steadily on the defence. • Taranaki could not break through, j and Wellington, hampered by the wind, could "not do more than defend. So the game went on till ten minutes . before time, when the ball flew towards Wellington goal. Pritchard failed to take a fair hold, and Lambie, i charging in, just managed to fall on j the ball in time. From this he kicked F a goal: Wellington 9, Taranaki 5. 1 Upon resuming Wellington had a free- i kick given them for the first time this spell, but though the yellow backs went in for a little more passing than they had done .hitherto, no further score was effected, and the game ended as above.