TARANAKI DEFEATS WELLINGTON

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7890, 28 August 1911, Page 4

TARANAKI DEFEATS WELLINGTON

BY TWENTY POINTS FINE GOAL-KICKING BY STOHR The "Wellington Rugby representatives were beaten by a Taranakji touring team at Athletic Park on Saturday by twentythreo points to three. The weather was fine and the ground hard, so that the game could scarce be otherwise than fast. .As a game of football the affair was not specially interesting, for even the winners were brilliant only at rare intervals. Wellington made one good showing only in the game, in a bout oi passing which gave Cook his try, but this was the only occasion on which they looked the least bit like a provincial team. The feature of the match was the goal kicking of Stohr for Taranaki. He kicked five goals, none of thom from very easj- distance, scoring in all 11 points for his side. It was the best display of kicking that has been seen on the park for many years. Following wero the teains— TAKANAKI (Amber and Black). Pull-back: Hill. Three-quarters: Cameron, Roberts, Stohr. Five-eighths: McLeod, Mynott. Half-back: Brown. Wing-forward: Colman. Forwards: Whittington, Dewar, Young. Smith, Hawkins, Cain, Osb"*'ue. "WELLINGTON (Black). Full-back: Evenson. Three-quarters: Daly, Mitchinson, Cook. Five-eighths: J. Ryan, Kinvjg. Half-back: Tilyard. "Wing-forward: A. Wilson. Forwards: Hills, Elliott, I>. Sullivan, . Moffitt, Porry, C. King, Bell. Sir E. McKonzie (Wairarapa) was referee. Taranaki defended the southern goal, and Wellington kicked off against a light breeze. Mynott returned tho kick-off to touch on the tw r erity-five line. The visitors worked their way up to tho halfway line, whero a free-kick was awarded Wellington for off-side play. The ball went to Stohr, who put in a brilliant run, much ■ to tli'o surprise of everybody, most of all -to the Wellington players, and getting in a strong *kick, sent tho ball into touch at tho corner. In a subsequent scramble a Taranaki man mark-: ed in fair position, and Stohr shot his first goal- '

Taranaki 3 , Wellington o The half-way kick gave Wellington an attacking position, sustained by a couple of good returns by Bronson and Daly. A free-kick for foot-up let the yellows up, but foolish throwing back put them in trouble again for a minute until Stohr took a mark and sent the blacks about. The Wellington hookers scarcely even touched the ball in the scrum, so hopelessly were they beaten, but the yellows Merc not now making much of their opportunities. Stohr, by a couple of strong kicks in quick succession, found the lino at length, at the corner, but the visitors backs* dashes weife all well stopped. A free-kick against Ranji Wilson for off-side play on the side of the scrum gave Stohr another opportunity which he turned to account.

Taranaki 6 Wellington 0 The Wellington forwards got the ball in a scrum for once in a way a little on the right side of half-way, and the ball went as if by machinery through the hands of Tilyard, Ryan, Kinvig, Mifcclunson to Cook. The St. James wing, who had t not previously handled the ball, set off at express speed for the line, and touched down at the corner. Mitchinson failed with the kick. ,

Taranaki 0 Wellington 3 Soon after "the kick out Stohr tried another shot from a penalty, the ball being placed for him seven or eight yards behind the half-way line. All eyes were on the ball as jt flew straight and .true to the- posts, but it dropped a few* feet under the bar. A minute or two later Brown, securing the ball more or less luckily, threw it to Roberts, to Cameron. The latter made a brilliant,though short run, and scored* a splendid try. Stohr failed with the kick.

Taranaki 9 -Wellington 3 A run by Mynott, followed by a kick, caused a line out to be formed three yards from the Wellington line, but Stohr tried an impossible snapshot, and the blacks forced. Another free-kick to the visitors for an infringement in the scrum gave Stohr still another long range shot, and he landed a beauty—his third.

Taranaki 1. 12 Wellington , 3 Taranaki wore ■ soon on "the offensive again, mostly by forward play and. line kicks, and Wilson getting off-side again, Stohr took another shot. Tho angle was difficult and the range long, | and ho missed. Tho blacks rallied for a spell, and their forwards worked heroically, but the defence of Mynott and Roberts was perfect. Cook ■ mad© a good dash for twenty yards, and lloffitt followed with a shorter run, hut they were too close to tho side-line to be dangerous. The yellows were soon, on tho offensive again, and perfect handling and safe kicking kept them up- A good centre by Roberts sent his forwards away, and Colman looked a certainty to score, when ho was tackled and weft by Evensen. A couple of good black rushes led by Wilson took the ball up to midfield, where Cain cut looso with the ball 1 at toe. He was arrested outside of tho danger zone and Evensen returned well up to the half-way flag. The bladk forwards, aided by a dashy run by Mitchinson, took the ball up to the line, where Hill made a mistake,and loft his side in difficulties. Tho visitors heeled from the scrum, however, and a force resulted. Tho blacks were now playing up well, and their forwards kept tho ball up near tho visitors’ line. Mitchinson made a fine dodgy run and appeared to get over, but ho was hold tip, and a free kick gave the yellows tho assistance they needed. Tho bell rang leaving tho visitors with a nine points advantage. When tho teams changed over tho wind had dropped, and there was practically a dead calm. After a few minutes of uninteresting piny Tilyard found the lino near the visitors' corner flog, but tho advantage was only held for seconds, for

Mynott cleared easily as soon as the ball came his way. A mistake by Hill let tho blacks down to the lino again, but a free kick saved them, and another gave them an attacking position. Evensen stopped a forward rush with a clover mark, however, and the leather came up to mid-field. From there a useful-look-ing passing rush broke down through Daly overrunning his pass, and Cameron, nipping up tho ball in a flash, streaked for tho lino. No one could get within yards of him, and he scored a sensational try. Stohr failed with tho kick. Taranaki 15 Wellington 3 Very soon after resuming Colman ‘ hurl himself painfully diving at Cook, breaking Jii-s nose on tho hard ground. He had to leave the field and his place was taken by Taylor. Presently Stohr took a shot at goal from a free kick, and lancled the ball, against the wind, fairly over the middle of tho bar.

Taranaki 18 Wellington 3 The ball was scarcely in play again before McLeod broke away from the ruck at half-way. Ho was unsupported and he kicked, but Cook was caught with tho ball in front of his own goal. Mynott dashed over tho lino after the ball in corner, but it ran into touch-in-goal. A failure to return by 'Tilyard let the yellow' forwards away, and a scrum was formed under the bar again until a free kick gave the home team timely assistance. The relief was only momentary, however, for Hill found touch near the corner flag, and a hot scramble on the lino followed. The end of it was that Smith, tho big lock of Taranaki pack, fell over with the ball .and scored. Stohr landed a beauty.

Taranaki 23 Wellington „ 3 Wellington were now apparently demoralised, only one or two of tho backs playing anything liko a decent game. Jim Ryan centred well from half-way, and a good forward rush, in ■which he joined later, took the ball up to tho visitors* line, but Hill gathered in the ball brilliantly, and sent a good kick away. Fortunes varied for a spell, and then the blacks attacked in a haphazard way, but McLeod saved with a force. Wellington were forced in their turn, and then the blacks attacked again. So it went on until tho end, which came a few minutes later. Taranaki refused now to take the game seriously, and Wellington did hot seem able to take it seriously. Tho homo team had had a drubbing, as well deserved ps it was unexpected.