THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1904, 18 May 1888, Page 22

THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS.

A WIN FOR TARANAKI. New Plymouth, May 16. The match between tbe English football team and Taranaki eventuated on Wednesday., The Englishmen were met at the breakwater and driven to town. The rival teams, headed by a band,- were taken to the racecourse, where the game was played. Seddon captained the English, aud A. Bayley the home team. The weather was glorious, and the attendance reached 3000. The visiting skipper won the toss, and took tbe northern end, with the wind and sun in bis team's favour. At 3 o'clock Jail kicked off for Kew Plymouth, and the ball was quickly returned by Paul. A scrum was formed, in which the English showed to better advantage than New Plymouth men. . The Eed, White, and Blue at once adopted screwing tactics, which were successful for a time, but the Amber andj Black forwards, by combined play, took the ball into their oppon-nt's twenty-five, where some fast, play ensued, and Eaton got the ball trom a pass aud made a grand attempt to relieve his goal line, but' Paul grassed him. The screwing .tactics r>f the, English team worked well at times, and the ball was soon worked into the local team's twenty-five. A. Bavley took a neat^pass (rum his brother Charlie, and relieved his goal by running a short distance and kicking out of touch. Cognill drove ■it once, more out ot play. Immediately afterwards Brooks;' obtained a mark and kicked down the field, but'AJ Bayley and' Major by neafc runs carried the ball' back! to central territory. ■ Anderton was there, however, and with, a dodgy run took the ball down in the' Taranaki preserves. Some off side play caused the game to be stopped for a little time at this juncture. On resuming, O. Bayley got the ball and passed to his brother, who on being collared passed to Coghill. The latter made a decent run, but was finally collared by Bumby. , The Englishmen took the oval back by a brilliant seHes of passes, in which Eagles, Anderfcon, Nolan, and Haslam showed conspicuousiy. And*>rton being especially prominent. For some time the Taranaki line was in danger, but Taite passed neatly to A. Bayley, who made a run. Au exchange 'of long kicks ended with Speakman making a run, but he was brought to earth by Whitehead, iind play wan in neutral ground. The English, more brilliant in passing, took the ball back again, but Bivell (the Taranaki full back) »ent it high down the field again, where it was marked by Dr Brookes, whokicked it back amongst the Taranaki backs, and the kick being followed up play was again in Taranaki territory. Speakman here made a good run, and more good passing ensued, the Taranaki backs having all their work cut out to keep the visitors from scoring.' ttivell collared splendidly, as also did A. and O. Bayley and A. Good. Within 10 yards of the Taranaki line;, Hiine, the Taranaki wing, got the leather and ran a considerable distance dov/n the field, but was called back on the ground of off side. Another smart piece of passing among the English backs took place, and after a lot of- hard work Taranaki was forced down. Shortly afterwards a hard kick by one of the English forw'arda sent the ball over the Amber and Blacks' lines aud Eivell forced down, again. After the kick-out the game varied for some .time, no one side having the advantage. Majorand Veale both distinguished themselves, at this stage, the former getting away .well twice. A lot of scrummaging in the centre of the field then took place, but finally the English backs got the ball, and more excellent passing took place,— Apderton, who was playing a magnificent game, nearly getting over the line several times, but Taite and Rivcll -aved their side on each occasion. A rally on the part of Taranaki took the leather back to the half distance, where Hine made a decent run, being well backed up by Bayley and Good. Mora scrummages, in which Eagles, B inks, Seddon, and Bennett, for the visitors, showed most prominently; and then the backa had another turn, Anderton, Bumby, Hawkea, Haslam, aad Nolan doing real good work for their side ; while A. Bayley, A. Good, Taite, and H. Good worked like bricks for Taranaki. Pearcegot well away, but was called back. A lot of play in front of the Taranaki goal followed, and made things look 'dismal for Tarauaki ; but her representatives played'a splendid defensive game, and by a powerful rally,' in which Snook, Cheyne, Peirce, Veale, and Major showed to advantage, the ball was worked out of danger, and a powerful kick by Coghill landed it out of boundß in the Eed, White, aud Blues' twenty-five. At this stage Haslam hurt his shoulder and retired. A few minutes' more give-and-take play saw the ball in the middle of the field, when half time was called. In the second spell the Taranaki men seemed to have got into the style of play of the Englishmen and repeatedly spoilt their passing. Auderton, Haslam, and Nolan did some rare work, bu*> the New Plymouth wings (Taite and Good) were always there or thereabouts. The former is very fast. Not many packed scrums were indulged in. Good made a pretty run, and being collared he passed the ball to his brother, who traversed a considerable distance of the field before being brought down. Shortly afterwards Taite got away and succeeded in getting dangerously close to the English line. Another series of scrums ensued, and the Englishmen worked the ball past half-way flag. The Taranaki men responded gamely and dribbled down to the English twenty-five , where Bumby stopped the rush by falling on the ball. Again were Taranaki's onslaughts repulsed and the ball "taken back to mid-field. Here A. Bayley secured the ball and, making the best run of the" day, got to within eight or ten yards of the visitors' hne. The ball was worked backa distance and got Into the hinds of H. Good, who madn a brilliant run, whioh landed him over the Hne. Coghill t 'ok the kick, an easy one, but failed. The score was now Taranaki 1 point, England nil. . The excitement was very great at this stage, and it was soon apparent tbat the Englishmen were determined to do or die. They worked splendidly, but could not .score, although Speakman made an excellent attempts at a pot. Gradually time went on, until only a minute was left in which to turn the' tables. The Red, White, and B'ue rushed the ball up to the Taranaki line continually, but the local men held their own at every point, finally the ball was kicked out oF play within a ynrd of the Taranaki corner flag, and one of the Englishmen scrambled over the goal line. The visitors were jubilant as testified by taeir cry of, " Atry, a try,'' bub the New Plymouth umpire and referee held that there was no score as the Englishman had nob dropped the ball into play before he went ov6r the line ; they therefore disallowed the try much to the disappointment of the Englishmen, who maintain that the ball was dropped into play. However, tbe referee's decision was final, aad the Englishmen abided by it, although some suggested taking a kick for goal under protest. The match thus ended in a win for Tara aki over the visitors The game was the hardest they have yet played in the colony. The Ta-a^aki team was weakened considerably through the loss of Hemptou and Rogers, who were both, disabled in a county match, last week. For the visitors Penketh, Banks, Eagles. Seddon. Anderton. Bumbv, and Haslam were most' prominent, while A. and C. Bayley, A. and H. Good, Major, mid Wale were to the fore for Taranaki. Toe game was played in a frie dly spirit. Dr Smith umpired for the visitors, and Mr G. T. Bavley for Taraoaki Mr F. Bayley na> referee. > The Englishmen's strong point wns their passing, but the two wings did much to nulify that The visitors were entertained at a banquet in the evening. ■ ' ' ' "