NORTHERN UNION GAME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 244, 12 October 1908, Page 6

NORTHERN UNION GAME.

■ —' - ■ ■ ■—— ATJCKLAND V. TARANAKI. The second interprovincial match of the season under Northern Union rules took place "at Victoria Park on Satur«!_y. The weather was line; in fact too fine, and more adapted to cricket than football. There was a fair attendance, it heing estimated that 2000 were present. With the exception that Walsh replaced Poiier in the Taranaki team, the fchirteens -were as published. THE PLAT. < Taranaki woa the toss, and chose the 1 ______ goal, having the advantage of i the sun and wind, Trevarihen kicking off i for Auckland at 8 minutes past three, t Play was even for some time, till Asher I created some excitement -with a hurdling { act, which took play to Taranaki's 25, i Sv-here the visitors were kept busy de- i fending for a few minutes, Frewin giving __em relief by a high kick, and the scene I _t operations went to Auckland's terri- ; tory, till a passing run, Houghton to 1 tAsher, took play-back .again, and Tyler ] _a.il a shot from a mark, which fell i short. Hooker relieved, and McLean fol- i lowing up fast, a score seemed imminent, ] but a faulty pa_s lost the chance, and ( Asher, with a characteristic run, gat to . Taranaki's 25. The yellow and blacks ] relieved, and set up a strong attack on ( 'Auckland's goal, till Rowe picked up and, ; making a splendid opening, cent across ] .to Tyler, who outpaced Hardgreave and . scored by the post. He took the kick _ ihimself, sending the ball between the j .yosts: — ] Auckland , 5 - I Taranaki ~,,,,,.... ..... nil. Taranaki livened up from the kick-off, , land Buckland, snapping tip, with a beau- j tif_l dedgy ruin, got over Auckland's * _ne. Hardgreave converted — , Auckland ~ 5 ( i Taranaki _ 5 The reverse woke Auckland up, and, working the leather to the visitors' terri- ' itory, Cholly spoilt a good chance by fail- ' ing to take a pass from W. Wynyard. ■ and Taranaki removed the danger, and itook play back to Auckland's line, where . _3ardgreave_ and McLean, by combined ! work, took the ball over, but Auckland got relief in forcing. Keeping up the at- ' itack Taranaki carried the leather over egain, but a scrum out -was ordered, and [Auckland getting possession, a passing ' ran, W. Wynyard to Asher, transferred ' play to the visitors' half, Asher being well stopped by Hardgreave, and a certain score averted. Auckland made great efforts to score, and Asher crossed, but. rwas knocked into touch-in-goal. Immediately afterwards Stanaway crossed, but iwas called back for going out of bounds. Eventually their efforts were rewarded, McDonald securing from a scrum and -ustlmg over. Tyler failed at goal: — Auckland S ] Taranaki 5 The game was very fast for some time, __, from a mark by W. McLean, Hard- i greave had a shot at goal, send ing the Shall over the bar: — Auckland ~..<■-,......., 8 Tarainaki _~-......» ■ 7 The spell ended shortly after, with the Scores unaltered. SECOND SPELL. Stroud kicked off for Taranaki in the second spell. Auckland were first to get going, a passing run, Houghton to R. Wynyard to Cholly, being spoilt by a faulty pass by the latter to Rowe, but, keeping up the pressure, S. Hough- , ton picked up and sent on to Rowe, ; -who ran round o"Driscoll and Hardgreave. and scored under the posts. Tyler failed, at goal— Auckland 11 Taranaki •. ■_.._.__ ...... ». 7 ' Taranaki worked play to Auckland's , 25, but the local team were not long on the defensive, and, after a spell of even play, R. Wynyard got possession, . and, dodging through the opposing ! backs, scored.. Asher failed at goal— _ Auckland , _ 14 Taranaki „...._„_.»... 7 i Taranaki now livened up, and W. Mc- ■ Lean, picking up from the feet of the Auckland forwards, swerved past all the 'Auckland rear division, and scored. Hardgreave converted— . ___•_£___ ._ ..._ ._„ 14 'f_.T--na.tri ........ __—__,_ . 12 Play was very fast, the leather traTe__tg from end to end of the ground at a great rate, first one side and then the other having a turn at defending, till eventually T. Houghton had a shot at goal from a penalty, and succeeded Sn placing a beautiful goal— .. __cklai_t 16 j Taranaki „.. „ 12 Ta___aki now took a hand in attack, and Buckland got over, after a short passing run — Auckland , „.. 16 Taranaki ._.....,._ 15 Tazanaki were now having the best of the play, and Auckland were busy defending for some time, but Taranaki < were not to be denied, and W. McLean picking up, sent to C. McLean, to Hooker, who outpaced Asher, and scored— . Taranaki , , 13 Auckland , 1q Taranaki were not yet satisfied with their total, and several passing runs iwere only stopped in the nick of time, Auckland eventually being forced by a shot at goal by Hardgreave from a mark by C. McLean. Taranaki were _ti_ attacking strongly, but B. Wynyard, nipping in, made a splendid opening, and sent to Tyler, to Rowe. to Marshall, who scored. He took the kick himself, and added the major points— A_____l 21 Taranaki -.... . 18 -The score gave Auckland a fresh lease of life, and Taranaki were forced three times in quick succession. From now till call of time, Auckland were on the attack, a close and exciting game ending in a victory for Auckland by 3 points. ; I