FOOTBALL TESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14458, 26 August 1910, Page 7

FOOTBALL TESTS.

WELLINGTON V. TARANAKI. WIN FOR THE SOUTHERNERS. ELEVEN POINTS TO SIX. [BY TELEGRAM.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. Wellington, *11 points; Taranaki, 6. This -was the result of the WellingtonTaranaki representative football match played here this afternoon in splendid weather. There was a big crowd of spectators, and the victory of the visitors was far greater than indicated by actual scores. The Taranaki team was far inferior to the yellow and blacks in the matter of condition, combination, tactic«, and knowledge of the game. The match, as indicated by the scoring, was not one-sided, and the 5000 or 6000 people on tfye terraces were treated to some exciting and solid play. The Taranaki forwards were too slow,' and were over-matched by their nimble opponents. Tlhe weakness of the home team is attributable directly to want of.- ?'wa,binjd training. They beat Wellington for the ball, but Avery and the back row men were generally round and down amongst t the home backs before they could get goI ing. When positions were reversed the Wellington backs were able to show brilliant passing. Taranaki's substitute fullback was surprisingly weak, and it was his failure to field the ball. that cost his side lat least one try.. Mynott, ..-Stohr, and McLeod were the mainstay of the home team. The visitors played with fine com- : bination. They were much faster than Taranaki, and their passing and " tackling were very clean. Taranaki was undoubtedly weakened by the absence of Taylor, .Roberts, and Pini, but it has to- be remembered that Wellington ' played without " Freddy" Roberts. There was a pleasing absence of rough play, but the pace-was willing. :

When Taranaki made such a sensational opening through Stohr placing a magnificent goal from half-way within four minutes of the kick-off, it Was hoped that they would maintain the ' lead, but v they were behind , at' half-time. Their next score was a goal from the field, scored- in the first few minutes of the second sjjellj. and they were extremely unlucky in losing several,goals by inches. V The following. were the teams: . ; . ."Wsllington.T-s'ullback: ,A. Evenson. Threequarters: Mitchinson, Ryan, Dawson. Mveeighths: Kinvig* and JtfcLeod. Half: K. llyberts. Wing-forward: H. Avery. Forwards : J. Moflfatt, A. Bruce, ,K. Leahy, T. Eapaon, E. Perry, Ji. Eliott, and B. Irvine.

' Taranaki.—Fullback: Franklin. Threequarters: Cameron, MoLeod, J. atohr. Mve- 1 eighths: Mynott and Dive. Half: Brown. Wing lorward: Moir. Forwards: Whittlington, Tamu, Martin, Smith, Milne, Osborne, and Cain. :J Mr. J. Williams of Auckland, was referee. ' . '" .;.. : .. v , ~ , THE: PLAY. . ; Wellington won the toss, "and defended the northern goal, with their : backs to the sun, and a slight wind in their favour. Tamu kicked off, and after a few forward •. rushes the Taranaki men■' invaded the visitors' territory, where off-side play gave Stohr a chance at goal. He put in a magnificent kick from the Half-way line, and in four minutes the score stood: .Taranaki ... . ... M „•. ... . 3 Wellington . ... : ... . ... ; 0

; The visiting forwards then shook matters up, and breaking . away C from the scrum, were soon > making. things ; merry. A scrum near the line gave the defenders the ball, but they were penalised,, and Kinvig had a disappointing shot afc goal, Dive forcing. A : combined Taranaki rush was then stemmed by H.. McLeod lining. A nice run :by Mitchinson placed Taranaki on the defence, and Mynott endeavoured to wriggle through, but was surrounded. Good work by Brown at the rear of the next scrum was spoiled by a couple of oiif-side forwards. Evenson's kick at goal proved futile. As the result of a long kick and follow by Stohr, the visitors were pressed back, but H- McLeod found Franklin's weakness by ia, high kick, and ; : he just managed to • punt , into touch'. Moir headed a rush; - arid-Brown, Mynott, Tamu and Smith were prominent in play which forced the visitors into difficulty at the corner, Perry relieving with a well-judged line kick. Off-side play by Wellington forwards nearly resulted in a second score against. them, Stohr just missing the posts. A solid Taranaki rush was spoiled by over-running the ball, but Cameron nipped in and raced down the line. He was unsupported,'' McLeod (Wellington) fumbled, and Cameron went ■at it again. Taranaki had a 'brief, period of defending,, and then McLeod smothered a return by Evensoh, and some tight • play 'ensued near, •'Wellington's corner - flag, - Avery relieving the pressure. . Avery was doing fine work round ; the • scrum, and Moir was ' being .beaten. A long kick bothered Franklin, whose threequarters : 'were i playing' iatheiclose • up.' • Irvine was • down ' after the : with" Mitchinsbn'handy,' and theiat-. 1 ter scooped it up, making for the corner. Pretty passing, in which Ryan, Roberts, and Irvine participated, give the latter a well-earned try," which ; Avery failed to convert. I.V. Taranaki ... ... s,i* ... 3. Wellington .... ... .... 3=.

| Stohr had a "shot at goal from near half- [ way and just failed to increase the score. Several forwards carried operations into Wellington territory, but the Wellington scrummers changed . the £actig.s.. and screwed. Their opponents'were nonplussed', but a chance was spoiled by offside play.' McLeod and Dive'each got in excellent runs, but the visitors' defence was sound and Dive was thrown out by Everison near the corner. Strenuous play followed. The home forwards were having the advantage, but Roberts picked up and presently Franklin was worried again, McLeod whipping in just in time to prevent disaster. - Brown, Mynott, and Dive essayed a, passing run,,-hut Perry Was too sudden in tackling Dive, -who failed to find Cameron with his pass. Avery{ and Leahy were responsible" for. Taranaki a next anxious moments, and x Stohr was just in* time to retrieve a mistake by'. Franklin. Avery had a good shot at goal from, a ! penalty. The Wellington forwards again invaded the yellows' 25, where Franklin had to. speculate. y In returning Dawson's kick Kinvig should have marked, but attempted to pot, and Taronaki came through in -a body. Roberts, however, snapped up the ball, side-stepped, and made a fine opening. He passed to Mitchinson, who sent it along smartly to Ryan,.who ra,ced in and Mitchinson failed with Hi© kick, • *• v.'""\ Wellington ... • ... " '6 ' j Taranaki ... ... ... ...\3 * From the kick-out the yellows. were soon put on the defensive, the blacks' making every endeavour to open up the gaine. A passing ; run by Roberts, McLeod, Kinvig, Ryan, and Mitchinson resulted in the latter being thrown into touch. Half-time was called without further score. ■■ • 4 ■ ; Early in the second spell McLeod dodged through the visitors in splendid style, but, no one followed him. Cameron was also uri- ; fortunate. Stohr made a fine - run from an opening made by McLeod, but was hemmed into the touch-line.', • At this ; sfeage r the crowd was frantic with excitement. ? From a scrum on the Wellington line- Brown secured a mark, : and the . tension was great as Mynott placed the ball for Stohr. ' SupEorters of the - local t<>am yelled themselves oaise when Stohr brought the scores even. : Wellington ; >S ... -6'v,,: ; •f-;-:.' Taranaki ... : - ... ... /*.v. C6'- ; -;Vi

Wellington then . attacked hotly and Evenson tried a shot at goal from a penalty, but the ball fell shuVt. "Retaliating Mynott kicked into .touch at half-way, and ;a t ,few minutes later a determined, rush' Cameron and McLeod was stayed jusfcin time; set out on a lonehanded' rash,: but -Ryan was 129 <iuick. Up and down- the battle

— ' " nriffn waged, the ; victors having ntueh the of 'the , play us nearly every Now';^and^a^in»;C^m;;."Whitti|j.^^| : or " Tamu would be prominent," but tne'ra;waß.&§ no £ cohesive effort, and forced, twice.' Brown then set his moving, passing out from the scram' mk Mynott; the latter transferred to" « There was no chanced to ; centre again; and the ball went out 'at half-way.'. i Mynofcb . came through repeatedly, doing 'work smart forwards should have done'; but men were unable to keep up. with ftie» > veteran, -who played with all the •youth. Avery -got on to Franklin twice, and the latter just managed to kick down; w the centre. , The Wellington backs should if have marked a couple , of .these kicks. After some strenuous . play between ; Taranaki forwards and Wellington backs, 'l : j? Cameron made a. nice run down the linSv M Wellington had a warm few minutes, and | from a pass from Mynott Cameron at-. tempted to pot. Wellington' forced. Moir, . Tamu, • Martin, and Whittingtom ; v;f| each cut through the opposing forwards,, -d; but lost the ball, and Stohr, . by' racing '.is across from his own to the opposite : cor<' ner averted an almost inevitable Welling-" & ton score; but the visitors kept up .xtheVfsg attack, and their winning score-'--. looked : ,'£ simplicity itself. The Taranaki forwards stood by or aimed foolishly high, whilst j'S Moffatt; Mitchinson, Perry, and Bruoe : ; passed the ball from hand •to hand near /: • the comer, and Perry scored. Avery, -'•••• placed a fine goal. The •• remaining few '0. minutes did not afFect the result, and JS;f; the whistle went the scores were : t " Wellington ... ... ... ll , 'v'jSjil Taranaki ..» ... 6 c WMm ■ - , ••.. _■ v . _. mm