FOOTBALL.

Evening Star, Issue 12874, 25 July 1906, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI’S FIRST WIN. The match Taranaki v. Wanganui was rtayed at Wanganui yesterday i u fine weather. There was a large attendance of Spectators. _ The Taranaki team included the following “ All Blacks” :-Hunter, Mynott, O Sullivan, and Abbott. The game was very fast throughout, and the contest was most exciting. The Taranaki hacks brought off some magnificent combined play which was generally initiated by Hunter apd Mynott, and supplemented bv fast tricky work by Cameron (an University player), Abbott, and Dive. The U angamu forwards played a great game, and taken all round were superior to the Taranaki vanguard, who plaved to their hacks on every possible occasion. A few minutes after the start of the game Holland (one of the Wanganui five-eighths) broke a TAv ~n e m hls ankle ’ and had to retire, Mitchell replacing him. Later, Murray (one of their hookers) was injured, and also retired, being replaced by Wainwright. Ike Wanganui forwards became aggresdve from the (start, and, as they showed superiority to the visiting forwards, the match was mostly one between the Taranaki backs and the Wanganui forwards. The play of the Taranaki backs was very fast, and 'was remarkable for trickery and finesse, the Wanganui rear division being at times nonplused by the quick changes in the attack. The play was fairly even iu the opening stages. After some fast, even play on the Taranaki line, Meuli passed out to Pine, who sent a bad pass to Takarangi. Abbott, intercepting the ball, raced clown the field, and scored between the posts, Hargreaves converting. The Wanganui forwards again attacked, but Hargreaves shifted plav to the centre, where Hunter passed to Abbott, and the latter to Cameron, who dodged over. The try was not converted. The play was exceedingly fast in the second spell, the Wanganui forwards playmg with great dash, but their work was counterbalanced by the cleverness of the Taranaki backs. Cameron received the *j 01 ? ®* v e, and after making a fine fast, dodgy run scored at the corner no goal resulting. Hunter made several lightning dashes, 'but was always well collared. A exeat feature of the Taranaki play was the far-reaching line kicks made by Hargreaves. Hunter dodged through the ruck, and, opening up the play for the forwards, Crowley scored between the posts and Cameron converted. Another brilliant run was checked by Takarangi, who intercepted a pas?, and Hogan, Austin and Jones led the Wanganui forwards in a great dash to the centre. They spoiled Hargreaves’s return, but Hunter saved from under the posts. Wanganui continued to attack, and Meuli passed to Pine, who made an opening. Takarangi later on mhde a fine dash, and then transferred to Mac Donald, who reached the line, and passed to Meuli, who scored. Southeombe converted. On ramming, Hogan, Corby, and Anderson dribbled splendidly down the touch-line to Taranaki end, where Mitchell scored on the blind side. Southeombe failed to convert. The Wanganui forwards again assumed control, but the Taranaki backs caved repeatedly. Frewin made a nice opening for Mynott, who ran from the centra to the touch line, and then threw the ball across the field to Abbott, who had i clear run in. The not converted. On resuming play Corby dribbled through the Taranaki backs to the line, Hargreaves saving. The game shortly afterwards ended in Taranaki s favor by 19 points to 8. Mr L. Bassit refereed* satisfactorily.