FOOTBALL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8047, 29 July 1904, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI v. WAIRARAPA. At New Plymouth on Thursday the representatives of the Wairarapa and Taranak* provinces met. The ground was as usual in a muddy condition at 'one end., There was a large attendance. Th'a following were the teams : — Taranaki (amber and black) : Ridland, Abbott, Hunter, Burke, Mynott, Frewin, Guy, Duthie, Wilson; Glasgow, Bourke, Glenn, Thomas, Douglas, O'Sullivan. Wairarapa (green): McKenzie, Fairbrother, O'Leary, Wrigley, Rogers, Logan, Gray, Jackson, Beard, Spacknian, Saundars, Johnson, Ward, Udy, Cadwallader. . v Taranaki won the toss, and elected to play with the wind and the, sun behind them. Wairarapa kicked off, and from the outset the game was played in a most willing fashion. Taranaki, with the aid of the elements,- had the advantage, and Wairarapa forced several times in the first part of the game. From a forward rush puy was seen to come forward with the ball in his hands. A pass to O'Sullivan enabled the latter to jump over the line. Glasgow did not improve the score. Wairarapa were then penalised right in front of the goal, but Glasgow's kick was again ineffective. Wairarapa^ backs played with excellent combination, and resumed tho game by taking the ball right up the field. Abbott saved in fine style, and with the ball at. his foot removed play half the length of the field, his pace showing to considerable advantage. Taranaki forwards were playing their best game, and time after time came down tb« field at a ' great rate, passing the ball among themselves. O'Sullivan gob the ball and passed tp Guy, who - when he had made an excellent opening passed to Thomas, a score resulting from this fine bit of combined work. Glasgow, again failed with the kick, and the score' at the end of the first spell stood at • Taranaki 6 Wairarapa *. Nil When the second spell began it was very hard to say which team was going to win. Taranaki had had the best ot the game, but with the wind against them it was thought that the ' heavier vanguard of the visitor's would take some holding back. However, Taranaki rall'ed up, and played the best game that' has been playt^i in the province for many years. The local backs were conspicuous by a fine rush, but deadly tackling prevented it being effective. Guy snapped up the. ball and passed to Mynott., who ran right round the. posts, leaving the Wairarapa men standing otill. Hunter added the major points. Tvo other score.? were registered before the whistle sounded at the conclusion of the game. Frewin let the ball out to Mynott, and from him it passed to Abbott and Duthie, and th'en back again to Abbott, who scored, one of the Dest tries of the day. Soon after resuming play & general rush of the team took play right up the field. The forwards passed well among themselves, and then Glasgow passed it ovei the heads of several players to Mynott, who was following on the outside. Mynott ran right in. Abbott failed with the kick. Taranaki. 17 •Wairarapa • Nil Mr Pitts, of Auckland, was a most capabta and careful referee. NOTES. The gome was the fastest and most brilliant that luw been played in Tavanaki for many years, and from spectacular point of view was a treat. The improvement in the Taranaki team was surpr'sing, the forwards especially coming in for a great deal of praise. _ The game was a forward one, but not in tire usual sense of all scrums and linework. The chief attraction of the game was Hie overwhelming forward passing rushes instituted by the vanguard. 'Xhe Wairarapa team in the second spell w%s paralysed The men, however, did not disgrace themselves. On several • occasions they attacked with considerable vigor, and only hard luck, or pernaps the \yant of a scoring man, prevented them register .'ng tries. Several times four of their men came down with only one man to pass, and yet they failed to score. -In th« scrums the visitors were usually victorious, the difference in weight having considerable effect. The Taranaki men packed well. Glasgow, Thomas, O'Sulhvan, Wilson and Guy were conspicuously brilliant. Of tho backs Mynott, Erewin, and Abbott all played well. Ridland and Duthie will probably be put out of the team to play against the Wellington men. At a meeting of the Management Con. mittee the Herald reports that it was decided to play a practice match Taranaki against the Southern Division at Hawera on Wednesday next ; and the TaranakiManawtu match on Thursday, September Bth, at New Plymouth. , The third match between Tukapa and Waimate for the second gt&ie championship will be played at Manaia on Thursday, August 4. Mrs W. A. Quinn's offer to entertain the teams at a concert at Hawera on the occasion of tho Wellington' Taranaki match was accepted with thanks. The Union could not guarantee special train from P»tt>a on the occasion of the Britiah-Taranaki match. A letter from James Mayne to complaint about his conduct at the Waimate-Patea cup match was deferred till next meeting for consideration. . i