FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8948, 4 August 1892, Page 6

FOOTBALL

THAMES V. TARANAKI. VICTORY FOR TARANAKI. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] . Thames, Wednesday. Splendid weather prevailed to-day for the football match {between Taranaki and Thames, and consequently there was a very large attendance of spectators, it bein| estimated that fully 2000 were present. A. Bayley captained the Taranaki team, and D. Stewart occupied a similar position for the local team. The following were the teams as they lined out on the field Thames : Fullback, R. McGregor; threequarter-backs, E. Besfcfe, Koefoed, and Gibbons ; halves, J. Laing, D. McWilliams, and G. Paul; forwards, E. Twohill, D. Stewart, H. Brownlee, J. O'Sullivan, Rota, W. Cullen, A. • Billings, and Mullins. Taranaki: Fullback, Thomas; threequarters, Kingsley, A. Bayley, and A. Good; halves, Humphreys, Coutts, and W. Bayley; forwards, Davis, Good. Lambie, Kivell, Pearson, Hughes, Bayley, and Mamby. A. Bayley won the toss and elected to defend the southern goal. > Stewart kicked off, and for a short time the visitors kept Thames penned in their 25, but the sterling forward work of Sullivan, Cullen, Stewart, and Twohill, assisted by Keofoed and Bestic, relieved the pressure, and play centred for a short time, until Gibbons kicked into touch, and from the throw in a scrum took place and Taranaki rushed the ball to the Thames 25. From a throw in Keofoed by a splendid punt centred the play once more. A penalty was here given to the visitors, and Kingsley taking the kick sent the oval down to McGregor, who, after a short dodgy run, kicked up to half way. Bayley here picked up, and made a short run, but was soon grassed, and D. Stewart then made a short dask to Taranaki's 25. Good smartly picked up and started for the Thames line, but was brought down by Bestic, and a series of scrums took place, the ball eventually going out at the 25. A penalty kick for offside play was given to Thames, and Stewart kicked up the field to Humphreys, who passed to A. Bayley, and the latter, taking the pass splendidly, made a strong run to the line, and was only prevented from scoring by the splendid tackling of Laing, who brought him down, amid applause. A scrum was formed, and then Twohill, Sullivan, and Mullins, starting a rush, carried the play once more to halfway, but Kingsley, by a good screw, kicked back to the 25 flag. From the throw-in the ball was passed out to Kingsley, who made a splendid, but unsuccessful, shot at goal, and Thames was compelled to force. From a kick-out a scrum was formed, and after a fine piece of play Kivell picked up and dashed across the line, scoring Taranaki's first try. Kingsley took the place, and, amidst applause, piloted the oval right between the posts : Taranaki. 5; Thames, 0. Stewart kicked off, and Billings, following up smartly, dribbled to Taranaki's side, but not for long, however, was it to remain here, for a i grand rush, headed by Good, Pearson, and ■ Davis, carried the play down to the .Thames' 25. Bestic, however, was equal to the emergency, and returned smartly to the 25. After a series of scrums and good line work, Thames were awarded a penalty for off-side play, and Paul taking a place made a grand, but unsuccessful, shot at bar Taranaki forced. From the kick out the Thames forwards played with great determination in the Taranaki territory, and eventually Brownlee picked up and made a short run, but was soon collared ; and Paul, cleverly getting hold of the leather, passed all the Taranaki backs but Thomas, but when approaching the latter he passed to Bestic, who succeeded in crossing amid great applause. Paul took the kick but failed to add the major points. Taranaki 5, Thames 2. Time was shortly afterwards called, and the scores stood as above. On resuming play some grand open work took place in central territory, when McWilliams, picking up from a rush, passed to Paul, who made a fine screw to Taranaki's 25; but a rush of the Taranaki forwards, with Kivell, Pearson, and Hughes, in the van, took the play to midfield. Here Thames were awarded a penalty. Paul took the kick, but the ball rebounded against Kivell, and the Taranakis taking the advantage rushed the play up to the Thames line. Here A. Bavley picked up and landed a beautiful goal. Taranaki 9, Thames 2. The Thames rallied again, and making a sweeping rush, headed by Laing, carried the play to Taranaki's 25, and Gibbons kicked behind. From the - kick-off Billings cleverly rushed up and passed to Paul, who made a grand shot at goal with his left foot, but the ball passed the left hand post, and Taranakis forced. Once more Taranaki kicked out, and again Paul showed how cunning he is with his feet, but, unfortunately, the desired effect was not produced. Taranaki once, more forced, and, after kicking out, play for a ' time centred, but some very pretty passing among the Thames backs was noticeable, and as a result Tarapaki assumed the defensive. Time after time did Thomas at full relieve side, and his coolness and splendid kicking were the admiration of all. The Thames were not to be denied, however, and McGregor, smartly picking up, once more kicked behind and Thomas forced. From the kick out Thames made another attack the visitors' line, this time with successful results, for Stewart secured the ball from a line out, and after getting his jersey torn from his back, almost reached Taranaki's line; but being collared he passed to Rota who threw himself across and scored the second try for the Thames. Paul once more assayed the kick at goal, but being at a difficult angle the major points were not added, although the attempt was a fine one. Taranaki 9, "Thames 4., From this up to the end no further score resulted, and one of the finest and hardest games ever fought at Parawai resulted in a victory for Taranaki by five points. The Thames players all played consistently, and well deserve to be commended for the gallant stand made against such formidable opponents. Indeed, in the second term they had undoubtedly the best' of it, and it was just sheer bad luck that so many attempts at goal should pass by posts instead of between. Of the visitors, it is quite unnecessary to state that their play was first-class, and there is not the slightest doubt that they will make matters interesting for Auckland, although it is believed here that they will be vanquished by the city kickists, who exhibit more combination than the Taranaki men. To Thomas must be accorded the title of the best man on the field, for it is undeniable that his powerful and legitimate play had the greatest influence upon the game all through. His coolness and kicking were admired by all, and he was well seconded by Kingsley, Coutts, A.Bayley, and Humphreys, while among the forwards, Davis, Pearson, Hughes, Kivell, Bayley, and Good were the most conspicuous. The visitors were entertained at a banquet in the evening, at the Royal Hotel. They return to Auckland per Ohinemuri to-night.