FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8683, 28 September 1891, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

TAURANGA BEATS AUCKLAND.

On Friday evening last the Second " Reps' 1 Fifteen of Auckland footballers left by the s.s. Clansman for Tauranga, to play the annual match against the local team, which had been postponed from a fortnight previous on account of the weather. Before the steamer left the wharf it was found that one of tho fifteen, W. C. Rhodes, had uot put in an appearance, so A. Taulicld, who was present, was pressed into the service. The trip down was a fine-weather one, and the players, as well as the several friends who accompanied them, enjoyed themselves well. Captain Farquhar, Mr. Ross (the chief steward), and the other officers of the Clansman, helping much to make things pleasant. Tilt* steamer reached the Narrows at about seven a.m. on Saturday, and the s.s. Ivatikati took up the passengers to the wharf. All speedily betook themselves to the Tauranga Hotel, where Mr. Asher had prepared a tempting breakfast, to which all did prompt justice. Afterwards the Tauranga Domain, where the football pitch is situated, was visited, and the Aucklanders had a good hour's punt-about. Shortly before the time appointed > for : the match Tauranga" was quite lively, a large number of visitors, European and Maori, having come in from the outlying districts, and by the time that the band passed up the streets and arrived at the ground there were fully 500 persons present. The teams came into the field punctually to the time appointed, Tauranga (amber and blue) being lea by H. Tanner, while Auckland (blue and white) was captained by J. Breen. Mr. J. A. Warbrick was chosen referee, and Messrs. W. George and Armstrong field umpires. Tauranga won the toss and started with a fresh breeze in their favour, which dropped to a calm in the second spell. Auckland kicked off, ; and J. Tanner returned to the 23 flag. Loose play and a fast rush by Tauranga . had work in the centre, where it remained for a while till the ambers by a quick dash took it to Auckland's 25 flag. J. Breen punted back, and Airey, picking up, got as far as Tauranga's 25, when he was collared, and theball punted down field. Cole took it, and fending well, made a long run to Tauratwa's quarters. A little loose play and the Tauranga forwards got on another of -their fast loose rushes, but Peace dodged through and sent down field, W. Robinson returning well to centre. A tough scrum followed, and a bit of passing by Pearce, Tantield, and Cole gained ground for Auckland, but a long flying kick by F. Robinson sent the leather out near Auckland's corner Hag. From the scrums resulting, Tauranga got a free kick, and an attempt was made at goal, but it went wide, and Stichbury relieved the centre. The game was now loose and fast, Tauranga making fast forward dashes, and the Auckland-backs relieving by punts and running. Cole made another splendid rush, and got. well into Tauranga's" quarters, where Auckland got a free kick. Peace making a fine shot at the bars. Clark, the fullback returned well, and Home, W. Robinson, and 11. Tanner, after some passes, gained ground by a long punt which had play at Auckland's 23. After loose work Peace sent to . midfield, but W. Robinson was again good in returning, and the ball dropped near Auckland's line. Stichbury mulled the take, being hampered by three or four Tauranga players who were waiting offside. A loose scramble ensued, and Tauranga rushed the ball over, and A. Plana secured it, the referee awarding a try. H. Tanner's attempt at goal was poor : Tauranga, 1 ; Auckland, 0. Auckland rallied briskly after the kick out, and a short dash by Cole was well seconded by a fine kick by Peace, which took play into Tauranga's quarters. A line up followed, and Marshall, Gordon, and J. Poland headed a strong rush, which ended in the latter getting across and scoring. The angle was a wide one, but Peace made a good shot, just missing :" Tauranga, 1; Auckland, 1. The kick out was returned into touch, and from the throw in H. Tanner intercepted a pass from a line up, and got away nicely till J. Breen overhauled him. Fast loose work in Auckland's quarters followed, Peace finally relieving by a fine kick to neutral. A scrum or two caused play to work across, and Burt made a long high punt down to Auckland's quarters. Stichbury and Peace spoilt one another by both attempting the take, and - all the Tauranga forwards following fast had play on Auckland's line, where a scramble ended in J. Haua securing a try. Swaiuson was given the place, but failed: Tauranga, '2; Auckland, 1. From this point out the game was fast till the end of the spell, both sides doing good work, Home,, Tanner, Rawiri, and Haua for Tauranga, and Breen, TanfieUl, Airey,-Marshall, and Brady for Auckland. The former team kept up their tactics of high punting and quick following, with occasional runs, while Auckland did some decent dribbling, but rather patchy. Starting the second spell, tile Auckland : men worked J better together, and Pearce started some fine passing, in which Peace, Breen, Brady, and Tantield all took share in turn. The play was for a good while about Tauranga's quarter line, and Cole made several attempts to get over, but the backs defended steadily. From a scrum in centre Pearce sent to Breen. and'he to Peace, who ran and sent out at Tauranga's 25 flag. From the line-iip Williams passed back, and Tanfield taking nicely dodged a couple and ran in under the posts. Peace took the place, and landed a fine goal : Auckland, 4 ; Tauranga, 2. After the kick out Auckland did some clever open work, . and the ball was kept in Tauranga's quarters, where J. Breen, after a smart pick up and dodge, sent the ball cleverly over the bars. It touched a Tauranga man, and did not score._ Marshall followed fast, and securing it behind claimed a try; but through some bungling about appealing no notice was taken of it. Their success in this spell now seemed to have a bad effect on Auckland's team, while Tauranga made fiercer and more frequent charges. H. Tanner got away a couple of times and looked very dangerous, but was stopped by Pearce and Tanfield respectively, while Joe Tanner and F. Robinson each made a clean dash. Cole and Peace changed • the scene of operations to centre, where W. Robinson punted down again, but a fine charge by Williamson, Leathart, and Airey ended in the latter punting out at midfield. A scrum took place, and was followed by a line up. A wild scoop back by one of the Auckland forwards gave Tauranga an advantage, and the forwards broke through. *A hard kick sent the ball to Stichbury, and he mulled his return. A fast scramble ensued, ' and the ball was punted high and across the line. It bumped high, and a couple threw themselves at it and failed to steady it, and Leathart.'then fell on the ball and rolled over, with it under him, but J. Darragh finally secured it, and Tauranga were awarded a try. The kick was given to Burt, and lie placed it neatly between the bars : Tauranga, 5 ; Auckland, 4.- The play was fast and determined, the Auckland forwards especially trying hard to retrieve the fortunes of the day. They were without success, however, and a fast follow by H. Tanner was only prevented "from being a score by Tanfield kicking out of bounds be- 1 hind. 'Some good work took place, and Peace showed up in a run. The ball was sent out at centre, and time was called, leaving Tauranga the victors after a fast, hard, but rather straggling sort of a game; to the delight of the majority of the spectators. In the evening both teairjs and several visitors sat down to a very tastefully arranged banquet, provided by Mr. Asher, where the healths of the teams were toasted and replied to. Several of those present contributed songs and recitations, the item meeting with most appreciation, however, being a haka dance by five Maoris. After an enjoyable evening, the visitors got on board the s.s. Clansman, which left at 2 a.m. The trip up was bright and pleasant, and all dispersed on arrival at the Wharf at I p.m. yesterday. ' ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. Notwithstanding the heavy downpour the players were all at their posts and eager for practice. Although the afternoon remained fine the ground was in a sloppy state, and prevented any. brilliant play. The Probables were too powerful for the Possibles, and scored many goals. As a team they showed fair combination. The forward play, of the Possibles was : fairly good, W. Heather, Hughes, and Dacre being prominent, but- the back division - were decidedly weak. The team chosen by the. Match Committee to represent Auckland against Wellington on the 10th October at Potter's Paddock is Goalkeeper, Mathie; backs, H. Heather and Chamberlain; half-backs. Hough, Smith, and C. Heather; forwards, Thomas, Blair, Cantley, Evans, and W. Heather. Emergencies, Goulstone, a Rowe, and Hughes; umpire, C. Gould; colours, blue and white. The players are instructed to get themselves as fit as possible, as the struggle is expected to be a severe one, the Wellington team having a great advantage in having played the game all the season, and all striving their utmost to prove the victors.