TARANARI V. HAWKE'S BAY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5915, 21 August 1890, Page 3

TARANARI V. HAWKE'S BAY.

To witness the above game an unusually largo gathering of spectators was present. By their decisive victory over tho native team Taraoaki found plenty of supporters, and tho odds which n week iiiro were three to one on the bcal pliivers fell to even money. A stiff westerly wind prevailed during the day, and as .-. consequence tho game as a display of football suffered materially, rendering the contest an almost. uninterrupted series of scrums near thu touch line, or at least until towaras tho close of tho game, when the wind moderated, and then it was that tho superior tactics of the visitors was made apparent. With the wind in their favor Taranaki kept the bull in tho local team s territory (luring tho greater part of the hret spoil, bur. with the exception ot a try secured by Livingstone, nothing more serious than several forces down resulted. By a magnificent drop kick A. Bay ley wc.s within an ace of securing n goal. Ihis was tho only incident (excepting the try already noted) which ocom-red in tho first half of the game. With only one point against thorn, and with trie wind in their favor, Hawke's Bay's chances of victory looked particularly rosy. Iho visitor*., however, proved to be as goo-i on the defence as our own players, n'.id all efforts of tho Hiwke's Bayites to score proved futile. When tho spell was about half finished the wind dropped considerably, and Taranaki's backs put. iv some lino work, which culminated iv A. Bayley making one of his spirited rims well up to Hawko's Bay's goal-line, where he passed to Hemptoii, who was over like a flash, thereby rendering the score TaranuKi 2, Hawke's Buy nil. Tho g:imo concluded with the score unaltered, nnd the visitors left tho field victorious for tho second time this week. That the best team won j can hardly bo questioned, and our players will no doubt l&itrn a salutary lesson trom thoir defeat. Tho It-won to bo leaned is this—that the present haphazard stylo of individual play must b» abandoned, and a concerted system of pas-ing and backing up adopted. Generally speaking there was little to chow* between the opposing forward teams, neither of whom put on good footwork; indeed, tho rushes which in tho •past our players used to prido themselves upon wero conspicuous by their nbeeno". It is very hard to individualine n vicitmg team of forwards, and we will merely cay that thov "ire a hardworking fairly fast combination, whose strongest points are in drumming and particularly in heeling out to their halves. Dribbling eeeme to be their weakness. Of the bucks A. Bayley stood out in bold relief, and it is generally eoneiaered that no better three-yiarter hftß been eoen in any internrovrociHl contest played in Napier. Good also plays an excellent gumo, nnd Iβ v most Sangerons customer on account of us a-reat speed, and W. B*yley ably seconded the efforts of the backs already mentioned by their excellent passing. Henipton « a Btrouir fast runner, and au extremely likely scorer. His collaring capabilities were hardly tested. On one or two occasions, indecision seemed to be his failing. B.ibbage is an excellent little full-back, nnd in the two games played here cannot be credited with a mistake. Of the local 'forwards Swan played better than of late, and in intercepting opposing passes was invaluable. In the same respect Morrison ■was successful, but his usual little passes were not evident. On tho line and in treueral play the brothers Fleming rendered a good account of themselves. On account of tba packed or tight nature of tho garuo tho remaining players had little show of becoming prominent; but still they are to be congratulated on their defence, particularly during the first spell. Aa before stated, | combined rushes were almost t-uhrelv absent. Neither of tho hakes fulfilled expectations, inasmuch as they failed to iudiciously feed those behind them, tnMtinir instead to (short bullocky runs. In tho first spell these tactics were well enough, but m the second ?p?U ft little, well judged passing might have brought about a different termination of affairs. In defensive play boh Friday and Goldsmith were very effective. Of the three-quarters Wi Hapi brousrht much applause upon himself by frequent smart apurta, but ho also tailed to avail his side of opportunities by neglect to wish. Taku certainly played well in every respect, and could have done better h«d the opportunities come in his direction M-lvay Sept in mining B,yley) did his little well Opportunities, however, seldom came In hi. direction At fall-back LeQ.iexr.e estauHehcd his reputation, particular),-bj-tho generalship he displayed in the first spell/ Umpires, Messrs Hempton and Whittington ; referee, Mr Logan. During their stay in Napier the visitors express themselves very well pleased with ♦.heir treatment-and tho courtesies extended to them. Ou Saturday they meet the Wiiirarapa " reps." at l'almerstou lSorth. Trom thence they return to their respective homes.