FOOTBALL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXII, Issue 3147, 23 July 1894, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

TAURANGA Y. AUCKLAND. ! [FROM OUU SPJiCIAL REPORTER J The great annual contest between the represehtativei of the Tauranga Club and fhe Auckland R'igby Union took'place on Saturday afternoon in /paddock at Epsom beforo a fashtonfble audience, about 2000 being present, SOD of whom having} paid for admission to lhe Grand Stand. At 4 minutes past throe the Auckland team lined out followed by tlie Tauranga Reps. The following were the places fided by the respective players. AUCKLAND. Full Back, R. Masefield. Three Quarters, Roberts, Kissling and McGill. Halves, Elliott, Edmunds and Ronayne. Forwards, Anderson, Donald, Hullamore, Mills, Oliphant, Rhodes, Speight and Stone. TAURANGA. ,Full Back, W. Darragh. / Thr^equ arters, F. Burt, J. Warbrick a^id C. Laird /\ / Halves, S. Tanneij and 0. Clarke. Wij^rGS, H. Tanneif and I. Vercoe. Forwards, Armil/age, T. ("larkin, W. Jxusden, J. Haua, D. Brown, Cole antffOtway. The/ two last having tak£n the places of S. Darragh and A. 1 Haiia who got disabled in the Thames match on Thursday last. Tauranga won the toss, Stone kicked , off with the sun in his eyes and against a strong wind blowing right down the . field. The ball went into touch past j the centre. From the throw in the ball was passed back to Edmonds, who ( mulled, but Kissling picked up and ; sent down to Burt who returned well up the line and into touch. Line play . followed for some time, neither side ' having much advantage ; for offside . by Auckland, Warbrick got a free i kick and sent the oval out well up the ; field. ; From the throw in Edmonds passed > back to Kissling who dashed across the field, S. Tanner throwing him into ■ touch. Tauranga had the best of the [ line play which followed. A forward rush getting past the halves was well ' stopped by Kissling who sent the ball into touch near the centre. Flay hovered for some time between centre [ and Auckland's 25. A poor return of , Laird's gave Ronayne an oponing which was gamely responded to jday being taken back to centre where open j scrums followed, Tauranga having the • best of the play, but a good run and ■ kick by Roberts reversed the order, the ball going out near the Tauranga 25. ■ From the throw in the Tauranga 1 forwards sw r ept down the field wellinto their opponent's territory but Elliot stopped, cleverly kicking in' o touch. ' Line play and scrums followed, neither side having much advantage until Burt picked up and amid applause took play dangerously near the Auckland goal line. For offside by Tauranga Auckland get a free kick which Warb'ick marked. The visiting forwards following np fast a score looked imminent but Rhodes saved by kicking into touch, Fierce line play followed on Auckland's line where the visitor-* had a splendid chance of scoring had the forwards heeled out. Auckland at length cleared their lines; Roberts making a splendid run kicked past tho 25 flag, The visitors returned to the attack and penned the 7 ooal team in 1 tlieir 25. Rhodes, in attempting to pass to Elliot, threw forward and from the scrum which followed Auckland ' got a free kick right on their goal line 1 which Warbrick marked sending the oval a few feet wide of the post amid ■ prolonged applause from the Grand , Stand. Laird made a poor return from the '. kick out sending the oval against the players. Fortunately some of the Auckland men were off side which gave Tauranga the advantage; H. Tanner spoilt Kissling's return but Masefield returned to Burt who marked. The ball went wide of the post and Auckland saved by forcing. The visitors responded to the kick out by dribbling down the field, Ronayne returned; for offside Tauranga got a free kick. Warbrick kicked a poster and again forced Auckland. Warbrick marked the kick out, Roberts mulled and the visitors immediately rushed the oval up the line where it rolled into touch. The local team got the bost of the throw in, Mills sending the ball over the line at the centre flag. Tough scrums and fierce line play in Auckland's side of centre were indulged in for some time, the visitors having a decided advantage until a, beautif ul passing run between Kissling, McGill, Ronayne and Roberts took play to Tauianga's 25 flag fqr the first time. The forwards again oarried thp play past the centre where a fierce scrum was formed, the visitors going right through to Masefield who stopped their progress returning well down the tjeld a#d out. A scrum followed the throw in, Iniiess ypjtfoo gating past EdinomU dribbled wbll ddwif the field wheii offside by Auckland gaye Taiu ranga a free kick. Burt was intrusted with the place ancl amid tremendous applause irom. all quarters sent the oval between the posts, but unfortunately in its flight it touched tho fingers qf §pejght and was thus nullified. < Flay was still confined in Auckland's 25 after the kick out, eventually Ronayne took a pass from Edmonds ' and sent the oval wit at centre. J. 1 "Haua and Clark in broke; through tho lino oiit but Roberts marked, the ball ; struck one ol his own men and play • was taken back to neutral ground. ] Open rushes followed, Tauranga : breaking through swept down the 3 field, but a yetura yush by the &pme *

team was only stopped on the Tau- \ '. raaga line. The visitor's forwards cleared their lines when Masefield mulled but McGrill stopped their progress. The battle raged for a short time in Tuuranga's *25 but a grand rush by the visitors was ouly stopped on the Auckland line by Edmonds kicking I into touch. Line play vras followed I by a serum right in front of Auckland's g'O'il whore the homo team got a free I kick; Warbriek potted from the jroinvn but the ball went wide and Auckland was compelled to force. From the kick out i>lay was taken past the centre the ball going past the J, Darragh sending into touch. From tiio throw in Wurbriek secured the oval and made a great run down they field beiug collared by McGill/ Roberts picked up and sent down tfc Laird who mulled the take. Wai\ brick coming to the rescue in time to save a score. From the scrum which followed J, Haua broke through and passing the halves, punted, sending down to Masefield the ball returning to centre. A forward rush by the visitors was backed up by a pot by Warbrick but only a force resulted. From the kick out Warbrick again potted but the ball went wide. The home team were more fortunate with their next kick out play being taken past the centre. They now invaded their opponents' territory where a scrum followed a line but. Tauranga heeled out the ball, and Mills coming round the scrum got away with the oval. The second kick took the bail past the |-,- Darragh ran for it but instead of kicking attempted to pick up and made a bad mess, overrunning the ball. Oliphant having followed up Mills, dashed for the ball and like a flash of lightning was over the line ; he took the kick himself and landed an unmistakeable goal, the referee's whistle sounding half time with the scores Auckland, 5 j Tauranga, nil. During the first half the play was almost confined to Auckland's territory but with the wind and sun behind them in the second, the visitors had more defending to "' do. Warbriok kioked off, Elliot returned, open .play followed Donald eventually kicking into touohi Warbriek cleverly stopped an Auckland rush, but for off side by Laird Stone took a place kick but nothing resulted i Fierce scrums and line play were indulged in for some time, Tauranga forwards at length breaking through, Edwards stopping the rush and play centered. Auckland was now having the best of the play, the passing by the backs being a sort of revelation to the visitors, and only for the grand collaring of S. and H. Tanner, C. Clark and Warbrick, with Burt's useful runs, the scoring would have been tall. * > From a scrum Edmonds kicked over the forwards and Ronayne picking up evaded Laird and Darragh registering a try Oliphant was unsuccessful in adding the additional points, the scores being Auckland, 8 ; Tauranga, nil. Aft r th.c kick out Auckland got a free kick for off side, but Oliphant was again unsuccessful in his goal kicking. Warbrick kicked out, Masefield returned, and Burt sent the oval into touch near the centre flag. From the throw in Auckland got on a beautiful passing run, Oliphant picking u/p passed to Elliott, he to Jlonayne, he to Kissling, and he to McGrill, the latter scoring a fine try. Oliphant added the two points, the scores standing Auckland, 13 ; Tauranga, nil. This tall scoring was too much for Warbrick so he moved Laird forwa-d and brought Cole back to f-. The change was a happy one as no further scoring took place until a few minutes before the end of the game when Donald got a try which Darragh says he got after he had touched down. / Elliott returned Warbriok'skick outs for off side; Tauranga got a free kiol^ but Burt's ball rebounded and plas was still near the centre. Return! rushes were now the order of the day! Tauranga being on the aggressive/ Edmonds marked of a knock on which brought play back to the centre of the: field, Fierce line play followed in whioh CJarkin and J. Hana shone. ■ For some time play hovered near the centre but Tauranga gradually worked* it back to near Auckland's 25 from which a fine rush by the blue and whites took the scene of action down + o Darragh who kicked out at Tauranga's 25 flag. Tauranga was here awarded a free kick. Masefield returned, but a forward rush gave Auckland's full back another opportunity of showing his prowess and the oval was returned to Tauranga territory. Burt picked it up and made a slashing run and w l ! en about to be collared kicked to Kissling who sent the oval out in Auckland's 25. Burt's play was heartily applauded. The* visitors were now forcing the | play and got two free kicks in succession but the wind was too strong to get much advantage.,- From some rattling play by Clarke MeG-ill returned short and Burt marked. There was now tremendous excitement, tho ball being kept right on Auckland's line. J. Haua eventually getting in at the corner but haying put his foot out the ball was scrummed at five yards. Unfortunately Tauranga got off side and the free kick relieved the danger and play was in midfield. • Through •■- I line play the visitors worked tli b. :J down to Auckland's ■ 25 where so.vlo very determined rushes J took place. A free kick to Auckland was marked by S. Tanner ; the forwards following up fast spoiled ijdraonds but Ron ay no stopped the : rush, the oval going out in Auckland's « 25. The homo team were now sorely i pressed, the visitors being on the * aggressive, Burt sent down to_ Xigg. - (

ling but H. Tanner smothered him ; from the scrum which followed Tauranga rushed the oval over the line but Masefi eld saved by forcing. Following up their kick out a passing i run by Auckland backs brought play to centre, where Tauranga got a free kick which Eoberts marked. The wind took the oval well into Tauranga-'s 25 where fierce line play and scrums took pteee. The home team made great efforts to score and the visitors used all their strength to clear their linos, the ball eventually being forced over the. line, Darragh protesting that he touched down, but if so he was so slow that theEeferee did not see it, and Donald all alive to the chance* touched down, the try Seeing allowed. Oliphant failed to increase the score. Auckland, 16; Tauranga, nil. Give an take play followed the kiejr "and until Warbrick picking up made the finest run of the day going through most of the opposing team taking play well up to Auckland's' 25 amidst tremendous cheering. The home backs returned, the compliment by a passing run which brought play past the centre flag where it remained until the bell sounded no time leaving Auckland the victors by 16 to nil. /^fhere/^can be ijo) doubt whatever out the; cleverest team won ; yet the play oi the visitors was rather surprising. Had 0. Laird and W, Darragh shown even schoolboy form it is questionable if Auckland would have scored. Masefield, for Auckland, was safe at full-back ; Kissling at centre £ was sure but painfully slow ; McGill was clean and filled his place well r but Roberts, we fancy, has played his last Eep. match this season; he can be trusted to get rid of the ball at all hazards. Edmonds at centre half was a real plum, Elliot filled his place with satisfaction, but Eonayne was really brilliant. Among the forwards Anderson, Hullampre and Donald were perhaps the most conspicuous. Stone * grafted well ; Ehodes was not up to expectation s, and Speight did not play up to his reputation j Mills uses Ms head well, but does not believe in hard graft, while Oliphant is only a gallery player at best. As for Tauranga the less Baid about "WYDarragh*at full and Laird at £ the better. After having all the best of the first spell, the way Darragh gave Ms side away was a disgrace, and as for Laird he could neither take a ball nor kick it. Undoubtedly these two players gave the game to Auckland. Burt, the other wing £, was not nearly so clever as usual, his great fault lay in kicking rolling balls, yet he filled bis place satisfactorily, and had Warbrick given him a place kick oftener doubtless the scores would have been different. Warbrick as usual was the admiration of the Grand Stand ; his defence was something to be proud of, yet he should have played with a centre half when he had Auckland penned so long in their own 25. Clarke and S. Tanner did their work well, the "^"ay they smothered the Auokland passing was splendid. H. Tanner and lunes Yercoe were a regular menace to Edmonds ; all the passing he got off was harmless. All the forwards played a rattling game and had hard luck several times. Olarkin get over the line but us unable to touch down, and J. Haua should have had his try at the corner flag. Otway was a real tower of strength in the scrums, and Cole was good all round Eusden was ever on the ball, along with Armitage and Brown, Too much praise cannot be given to Mr Parker for his excellent ref ereeing, and Messrs Keef c and Eobinson gave everysatisfaction as line umpires. /The impartiality of the Auckland public was a feature which/ Tauranga supporter*' should remember with pleasure, and the courtsey/of Mr Eansdm, the Manager of the\Morthern S.S. Company, in detaining the Waiotahi for the fbotbaJj^rs' convenience from Friday till Saturday made the trip one to be long remembered by all as a pleasant outing, and a nreans of uniting footballers and the public in one common bond of mutual esteem.