FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 September 1924, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

AVAIRAIiAPA V. TARANAKI. VISITORS WIN EASILY. Playing., a-t Stratford yesterday under ideij weather conditioins, before appicsimalely 2000 spectators, the AVai-. rarapa llauring fifteen defeated Taranalu by 20 points (five tries —one converted and a penalty goal) to 8 (two tries, one being converted). AA’afrarapa’s victory was due to the superiority of theiir rear division, who outclassed' the Taranaki backs in combination, initiative and speed, though in forward play the home pack, led by Kissick .and ‘Walters, more than held their own. The teams lined out as follows, Donald leading AVairarapa and Ennis Taranaki:— * AVAIRARAPA. . Colours : Dark green. Full back: AV. Yates. Three-quarters: Randal Booth, E. B. (Bob) Booth and T. Vangioni. Five-eighths :. R. Cundy, F. -Booth. Half-back: A’. Flaws. AVing forward; J. Donald. Forwards: A. Desmond, R. McKenzie,- J. AA r yber, K. Pairbro.ther, H. AVooffenden, E. Mulcahv, and M. AVilloughby. TARANAKI. Colours: Amber and Black. Full-back: Penniall. Three-quarters: N. Ross and Lpveridge. 4 "* Five-eighths: Ennis, Jeffries. Half-back: Julian. AVing forward: Fryday. Forwards : Hunt, Robinson, Kivell, Walters, Kissick, Patterson and Baldwin. Taranaki elected to play with the advantage of a diagonal light breeze, and F. Booth set the ball in motion. AA’ith the return the green backs showed in their first passing movement, the ball going from Frank Booth to Cundy to vangioni, who ran up and centred. AA’ith a penalty, Cundy essayed a long kick, which fell short, and Ennis lined. AA’airarapa’s next move was stopped when Donald got in front, hut immediately after a yellow player infringed. Cundy converted with a fine kick, and after four minutes of play the score read: AVairarapa 3, Taranaki nil.

Taranaki replied with a determined forward rush, headed by Kissick, which put Wairarapa on the defence, F. Booth and Gundy stemming the attack. From half-way Ennis followed his own kick to collar Yates, and the hall went across the home middle backs, but Gundy intercepted and gained ground, the same player smothering a counter by the yellow back. In the greeii’s quarter Randle and Bob Booth exchanged passes, and moved to midfield, where Jeffries cut in *>vd the home forivards again pressed. Vangioni worked the blind and started Willoughby, Mulcaliy and Fairbrother on a dribble .which took play to the home, quarter, AA'here Cundy mads another unsuccessful attempt to goal. Gundy shoAved in a dangerous dribble, which J. Ross checked Avith a mark, but with Bert Booth’s punt the Wairarapa forwards returned to the attack, and in a loose rush penetrated the defence, Desmond scoring a try, which F. Booth failed to •convert. Wairarapa 6, Taranaki nil. After an exchange of marks between Flaws and Jeffries, the former opened the bout, but Cundy dropped and allowed Paterson to head a counter Yusli. Another dash after Bob Booth’s return was started by Kissick, who was stopped by Cundy. At half-way Randal Booth made an opening, resulting in a concerted move by Gundy, F. Booth, and Donald, and Desmond, with a final dash, alloAved Willoughby to go over by the post. F. Booth converted. Wairarapa 11, Taranaki nil. Taranaki’s rearguard became more Avarv, and in some good tackling foiled moves attempted by the green backs. Spoiling FIaAAS, Kissick and Walters led the home pack close to the greens’ line, but Yates found touch at the 25. From the throAA--in FlaAvs punted high, allowing a mark at midfield to Ennis, who attempted a long kick, which looked a winner till the hall struck the post just beloAV the bar. Wairarapa again invaded, sustaining the attack until Kissick broke through *a line-out and transferred action to the other

half, where from a throw-in Julian and Jeffries sent Ennis away. The latter, when within three yards of the line was held up by Bob BooHi and Yates, and Flaws lined out of the danger zone. At midfield Ennis secured a dropped pass, and with a sensational dash was almost clear of Yates when he stumbled. Jeffries picked up, and with Ross pressed the advantage, but an attempted pot by Ennis allowed Yates to clear. A resultant scrum sent the hall to Loveridge, who was collared by Randal Booth, Bob Booth checking a following assault. Again faranaki got within striking distance, but a punt by Ennis was a little too strong, and Y'ates forced. The dropout was followed by a throw-in near the visitors’ line. Kissick benefited, and Fryday was unlucky in failing to secure ,and Donald relieved. AVith a splendid kick a moment later Donald lined in the home territory, where Randal Booth made a pretty dash., which Loveridge and J. Ross were unable to stop, and passed to Cundy, with the result that Booth got across out lost possession, and Hunt forced. Almost immediately after went through, to be collared by Pen-'' nial, and following an attempted pot by F. Booth half-time sounded AVairarapa being still 11 up. The second ispell opened with an exchange of kicks, which ended when Penmal lined at half-way. AVilloughby broke through, but Julian checked. At half-way Kissick got under a punt by Ennis and rushed play to AA railarapa’s twenty-five. Bob Booth and Yates attempted to smother, but the attack was continued by Patterson, \Valters and Fryday, who got- through the defence, the last-named registering. Ennis converted. & AVairarapa 11 Taranaki 5

From midfield Desmond made a geat dash which ended with a scrum in front of Taranaki’s goal. N. Ross and Kivell cleared temporarily, but Flaws came back to start an exciting interchange of passes close to the Taranaki line, relief being eventually given when Loveridge found touch. Handling well, the home, pack got close, but were defeated by a clever solo dribble by -Desmond, who covered half the field before Loveridge stopped him. The serurii sent a swift ball to Haws, from whom it travelled with machine like precision through the chain of hacks to Tjoveridge, who raced ill to culminate the day’s prettiest piece of combination with a merited try. Cundy’,s kick, failed. AVairarap a 14 Taranaki 5

Almost immediately McKenzie and Desmond, headed another assault, and itnnis, hemmed in by four green players, retrieved cleverly. Shortlv after he started J. Ross and N. Ross ma. swift bout. Bob Booth collared and returned to midfield. A kick by Jeffries sent the ball out at the visitors’ twenty-five. Here F. Booth made effective usie of the dummy. He was joined by Willoughby and Cundy m. a swift-. series of exchanges, and Donald threatened, but within a few yards of his objective was downed by L ryda.y, who cleared. At this stage Jeffries retired injured. • Meuli came on and Loveridge moved in to second five-eighths, Emus going up £0 first. Yates tried a pot, F. Booth also being unsuccessful. Play see-sawed without definite advatnage till Kissick headed a fine dash. Kivell and Patterson supported strongly, and the attack ended m a try by Walters ten yards Lorn the touch hue. Ehiii.s’ attempt, though a good one, failed to convert. AVairarapa 34 Taranaki g Mulcahy retired, being replaced by Moncrieff. From half-way Kissick,. \\altqrs and Fryday gained ground, but Hob Booth whipped up, and after drawing the defence gave F. Booth a clear run in. No goal resulted. Wairarapa 47 Taranaki 8 Another AA r airarapa, score seemed imminent when Bob Booth transferred to the, fast-moving ALmgioni, who, after a twenty yards’ dash, was forced into touch m goal by Pennial. The Taranaki forwards made great endeavours to assume the offensive, but their movements were promptly smothered G A airarapa s rear-guard, whose counters were consistently dangerous. Just on full time Desmond started the gieen forwards in a combined movement which was well supported A yard from the goal line Randal Booth picked up and dived across to secure the final try. Candy’s kick failed, “ d . th ?bel sounded two moments latei with the scores: AVairarapa.' 20 Taranaki !....! g Mr. H. G. A\ r hittington was referee.

AUCKLAND TOURING TEAM. (by TELEGRAPH —PREKg ASSOCIATION. 1 -■pi t. i, AUCKLAND, Sept. 3. ilie Rugby team, which , leaves tomorrow and plays Wellington on Saturday, Wanganui on September 10, and laranaki on September 13, is as follows: Euli-back: Goodaere. Three-quarters: Tonkin, K. Ifwerson, Kirwan. ’ Five-eighths: Maxwell, Foster. Half: A. McManus. Rover: Anderson. Forwards: Palmer, McCullough, N. McLean, Webber, Keene, Keary, Bat Emergencies Forwards: A A Knight, K. McDonald. Backs: Charters, Loft. Players unable to make the trip are: Wright, Sheen, N. Ifwerson (backs), hogarty, Peters, Lomas, Righton L. Knight, McWilliams (forwards). THE ASSOCIATION GAME. CHINESE DRAW WITH OTAGO. DUNEDIN. Sept. 3. Hie Chinese footballers met the Otago representatives in a “Soccer” match to-day in glorious weather, a fine game resulting in a draw, one goal each. The visitors were more clever wifh! head and foot work than the home team, but the hitter played more vigorously. The Chinese were rather unlucky not to win.