FOOTBALL

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 8563, 18 August 1904, Page 4

FOOTBALL

BRITAIN v. TARANAKI.

By Telegraph. Xcw Plymouth, August 17. Rain fell during the match in which great interest was token, more than 9000 persons being present The ground was sloppy and the game mostly a forward one, though it was most interesting. Taranaki had a great advantage throughout, and ought to have won by several points. The forwards were more than a match for the Britishers, and the backs also did good •work, handling the ball wonderfully and instituting several passing rushes nearly ending in scores. A goal was missed right in front of the posts. Had the game been played on a fine ground it was generally conceded that Taranaki must have won substantially. Harding kicked off for the British team. Mynott sent the ball out of touch. From the line-out Wilson broke away, but play returned to the centre where a scrum was formed. Glenn and O'Sullivan walked tlirough with the ball and sent it out of j touch in Britain's territory, bub I/lewellyn by a smart run and kick transferred operations to the other end of the field, Taranaki being on the defensive for a time. The Yellow forwards made a dash, being stopped by Bash speculating at a rolling ball. Al'Mma was given off-side, and from the penalty kick the ball was again sent out of play. The . visitors; were attacking vigorously, the ball remaining near the home team's 25. Bush ran round the scrum as the ball shot out at the side, and lifted the ball to Fookes, the latter punting out of touch. From the throw-in the Yellow i-angnard hroke away with the,

ball, -and picking up sent it out to Mynott, who was recalled far handbill. From I a free kick by Vile Taranuki were forced-. From the kick-cS the ball went to Bush, and was transferred quick as a, flash to M'Evedy, tltence back for Bush to make one of his darting rushes for the lice, but Abbott intercepted and ran. to the halfway, where he kicked out. When the bill oinie out again it went smartly to Stalker, thence to Mynott, who passed to Hunter, who punted high into the official I stand. The Eeda now had all their work cut out in defending their line, and after some rapid work off-side play gave the Yellows a free kick in a dangerous position, and it was thought that a score was certain Once again, however, Glasgow shewed that goal-kicking was a thing of other days and the ball fell short. The Reds backs shifted play down the field, but the attack was again staved off by Bush, who by a free kick sent the ball to the home 25. The Tarauaki backs resisted the onslaught of the British forwards who were playing hard for a score, but a slip by one of the local three-quarters let the ball away to Fookes, and the next minute the ball sailed away to the touchline, making good ground all the way. The attack was staved off and the speedy Taranaki forwards shifted the scene of operations to their opponents' territory. In returning a Ion" kick of Bush's, Feokes found the line near Britain's fortress, and a lively attack was kept up until Harding lifted the oval hioh, landing it near the twenty-five flag. Bush, Llewel'vn, and M'Evedy instituted a passing rush, kicked over the line, and Taranaki was forced again. In these few mumtes the British team looked more dangerous than at any other portion of the game. After kicking out, Taranaki played up vigorously. Guy got away with the ball, and passed to Abbott who whipped it on to Stalker, from whom it was being returned to Abbott when Bush intercepted, and saved his side from what appeared to be a sure score, the crowd applauding A vigorous exchange of kicks f olfewed, and Mynott over-reaching Fookes was called om again. Eluding the nimble Red forwards who charged down, on him, he made a strong run up the field, and the forwards then took up the game, M'Minn and TUraias breaking"away, but were.called back for a knockon. They were determined, however, and. with" tho assistance of Hunter, who was playing really brilliant football, compelled tho British full back to force. Britain kicked out, but the Taranaki men came again and the Beds were foiced again. Resuming, Taranaki were penalised" for off-side play, and as a result of a Teat forward rush, headed by Thomas and 6'Sullivan, with M'Kay, Glasgow, and Glenn supporting, the last-named player got possession, kicked high and bore down on tho full-back, who was forced to- kick over the dead line. Three forces ini a few minutes made the British chances look anything but promising, but this success evidently had a rousing"effect on the Taranaki men. From a line-out in the visitors' territory the ball was sent to Fookes, who kicked high across the line. Britain) was forced again. Now the great concourse of people grew frantically excited. Mynott ctopped a long dribbling rush initiated by O'Brien, and Thompson, following up with a fine run, again put the visitors at work defending their line, play being at the twenty-five line for a while until Britain were awarded a free kick and relieved the pressure. Guy renewed the attack, bursting his way through the visitors' vanguard with a seemingly irresistible rush, but was beautifully collared by Vile. Scrum succeeded scrum, M'Minn hooking the ball with almost motonous regularity, but there was no open play. Llewellyn pub a different complexion on affairs by kicking out of bounds. Mynott, on one side, and Bush, on the other, now loomed large in the X>ublic eye, showing out as the most brilliant, the former frustrating the attempts at back play of the visitors by appearing at the most inopportune moments for them. Play centred, and forward tactics were employed for some time, till Bush screwed a lack well over the half-way mark. Hunter kicking well, once more took play into the visitors' ground and the full-back just had time to get in his kick, when the Yellows appeared above him. He was down, but iiad saved his side. Hard play followed; it was nearing half-time, and tho Yellows meant to score. Presently there wit- an opportunity, Mynott got the leather fr.,m Hu;iter and kicked softly to beat his man. A try seemed the simplest thing in the world, but Stalker, playing off-side, cut in and Taranaki lost the advantage they -i had so justly earned. Just then the bell soimded half-time without either side having scored. The commencement of the second spell was marked by even more vigorous play on the part of the- local forwards, who immediately placed their opponents on the defensive. From a loose rush Guy, hugging the ball, made for the coveted line with only one man to beat, but the whistle sounded for a knock-on. Britain then gained an advantage, or at any rate the lino was cleared for a while as a result of a smart piece of work by Bush and Vile, the latter punting to Taranaki's full-back, who chased up the field, dodging in and out until he had to kick. Shortly afterwards a free kick manipulated by Bush enabled the Britishers to transfer the scene of operations to Taranaki's twenty-jive. Sterling play by the attacking forwards kept tlie local men busy, bub Guy and M'Kay coming away, the latter kicking high, put the Reds once more on the defensive. Guy took the ball dangerously near the line, but Stanger-Leathes relieved -with a well-judged kick. Once more the same players attacked, and excitement was intense as the ball went out near the corner flag, Guy having missed it in endeavoring to pick it up from the mud. From a scrum near the line Douglas made for the goal, but was grassed. The defence of the reds was unquestionably sound and they used the line with much benefit to themselves, though they were unable to get out of their own territory. Hunter took the ball as it came out of a 6crum, and passed to Mynott, who sent it to Abbott, and the latter reached the line, but was thrown out at the corner flag. This resulted in Britain being forced. Llewellyn next showed ur> prominently, and speculating on a rolling ball succeeded in gaining ground. Gabe then put in. a fine line kick, Bush dropped a long one, and Thomson put in about the best line kick of the day. Guy broke away, but was grassed. Taranaki renewed the attack, and the next incident was a passing rush. The Reds were relieved by Bush, and play wa3 centred. The same player checked a big forward rush immediately afterwards. On one occasion Stranger-Leathes was penalised for deliberately lying on on the ball in front of the posts. The penalty kick failed, though the angle was simple. Britain made one more inroad into the Taranaki 25, But it was of short duration, and the game ended with no score. M'Minn had retired about 15 minutes before the end, having hurt his knee. It is hard to individualise players, but itis safe to say that no better pack of forwards was ever seen here, whilst Guy as •wing is certainly a marvellous player. The back play was good on the local side, and outclassed, the visitors, and it was hard luck the game ended with no score. It is" estimated that over 9000 were present.

The British team were entertained tonight, and left for Auckland by the Takapuna. Mr Sivright, on being interviewed, considered that Taranaki "was the best team they had yet met, pnd the manner in which tho bocks handled the ball was superior to that of the New Zealand backs.