FOOTBALL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1908, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI DEFEATS WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGBAPH. — I'BKSS ASSOCIATION.] NEW PLYMOUTH, 20th August. The Taranaki-Wellington representative match was played to-day under somewhat adverse weather conditions. The ground was a triflo heavy, and occasional showers fell during tho first spell. The game ended in victory for Taranaki by 15 points to nil. Throughout Taranaki had the upper hand, due to a great extent to the accurate fielding, line and centre-kicking of tho local backs, who, despite tho wet ball, never failed to field or misplaced a kick. In this -respect the Wellington backs were inferior. Thay much missed the services of Roberts, who was incapacitated. The Taranaki forwards played a superior game in the loose, dribbling and following in fine stvlr.. although in Ihe close and line-out play Wellington had tho advantage. The local line, however, was never, after the fust five minutes, seriously endangered, and the full-back was novor called on to take a man. In the first spell Mynott j scored and Cameron converted, the spell ending sto nil. In the second half Wellington was almost continually on' tho defence. Tries were scored by O'Sullivan and Cameron, and Dive potted a goal. Mr. Bassett, Wanganui, was referee. The fielding of the Wellington backs, with the exception of Mitchinson and Magec, was not too sure, and the kicking all round was inferior to the exhibition given by l the locals. J. Ryan and M'Leod were also prominent. Green was too light for the heavy going, but played pluckily. "Ranji" Wilson was head and shoulders above his confreres, ■■ his dnshing play evoking much applause. Hardham, Dewar, Hamilton, and O'Brien wero prominent in an untiring pack. For the winners, Hardgraves gave one of his best exhibitions of line-kicking, but was never called on to collar. Cameron was Hie cleverest back, but Dive, Hunter, and Mynott wero also in form. The local forwards shewed great improvement. O'Sullivan, Tamu, (Jrowlej, and Rothery were probably tho best,.