TARANAKI v. CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH, September 2.

Otago Witness, Issue 2375, 7 September 1899, Page 43

TARANAKI v. CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH, September 2.

Allen marked Dansey's kick in a good position, but the ball fell under the bar. After the kick out the ball was badly mulled by Carroll, and play centred. Allen made a fine opening and passed to o' Carroll, who nrwde a good run to the line, but lost the ball, and Canterbury saved by kicking into touch. After the kick out two Taranaki men tried to take the ball, and Driscoll following up well, took it on. to the visitors' twenty-five, where play hung for some time, till Dansey missed a pass from a scrum, and the Reds were in difficulties. They were relieved by a free kick. A throw forward spoilt a good Yellow rush, and from a free kick to the Reds, Balch sent the ball out at Taranaki's corner flag. Here the Reds were given a free kick for handling in the scrum, and Dansey kicked a fine goal, making the scores — Taranaki 5, Canterbury 3. The Yellow forwards renewed the attack, and Balch was tackled under his own goal, but relieved directly by a good kick, and the ball went out at the halfway flag.. Humphries stopped a Red rueh, and" Allen soon after stopped a passing rush. With only a few minutes to go Canterbury played hard to score. Orr intercepted a pass, and after a short run passed to Evans, who was not backed up, and play centred. Balch next made a good run to Taranaki's twenty-five, but hesitated to run straight. Burrell returned the ball after a Yellow rush to their twenty-five, and the Reds made a strong attack on the visitors' line, Farquhar being prominent. Allen and his wings averted a, score, and- the game ended in Taranaki's favour by 5 points to 3. Mr G. Fache, of Wellington, was referee.

MANIOTOTO v. YJNCENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ALEXANDRA, September 2. The football match Maniototo v. Vincent was won by the Vincent team by 4 points to 3 (a potted goal to a try).

The football match Taranaki v. Canterbury was played to-day in beautiful weather before about 3000 spectators, who were very impartial. The ground was in fine order, and there were no serious accidents.. The Taranaki team were favourites, but at the end of the firtt spell Canterbury supporters were confident of winning. In this spell Canterbury were continually on the attack, and Taranaki were never dangerous, being outplayed in every part of the gamo. In the second spell matters were reversed, Taranakd playing a J splendid game. Their forwards worked grandly, none of them being conspicuous above the others, though Pearson was perhaps the pick. The backs kicked and tackled in fine style, Alien being the life of the team. Humphries was clever at half, getting the ball neatly from the scrums behind his men, and passing and kicking with judgment. A large number of free kicks were given against Taranaki, but Canterbury was almost as bad in this respect. For Canterbury Burrell up- I held his reputation at full back, making some splendid hicks, but he was not called on to tackle. Balch as centre- three-quarter played a fine game, giving^his wings good chances. He was well supported by Menzies and Orr, the later of whom took Orchard's place on the wing. Orr continually made openings for himself, and was loudly applauded when he came over from his own wing backing up a passing rush, which was nearly successful. Dansey showed good form, being less inclined to hold the ball than usual. Brunsden was the pick of the forwards, Farquhar also being prominent in loose rushes. Besides Orr, the only changes in the Canterbury team from that which played Otago, were Wooler in Cowper's place as wing forward, while Moller replaced Bush in the Ecruui. Taranaki (Yellow).- -Full back, Holdsworth : three-quarters — O' Carroll, Mync-tt, Carroll; five-eighths, Allen; half, Humphries; forwards — Pearson, George Bayly, Lambie, Ball, Greig, O'Dowda, Phillips, Brown. Canterbury were slightly the heavier team. Losing the toss, they kicked off with the sun and a little wind in their favour. In the first spell the ball was scarcely out of Taranaki's end, and they were forced six times. After the kick off pity hung about the centre on the touch line, till passing between Orr and Daueay took the ball to the Yellows' twenty-five, ivhere Dansey had a shot at goal from a free kick, and forced Taranaki. After more touch line work Humphries, Allen, and Mynott got on a passing rush, saved by Balch, and Bmusden dribbled down the field. Carroll spoilt a good run by a pass forward. Balch kicked far down field, and Holdsworth sent out at Taranaki twenty-five. A strong attack on Taranaki line followed, Brunsden being shoved out just at the corner. After scrums, a free kick to Taranaki centred play, but a fine rush between Forbes, Balch, Menzies, and Orr, who came right across the field, ended in Orr being collared on the line. Hard scrambling and serums ended in the Yellows being again forced. Immediately after Taranaki was again forced. Play then hung about the centre in scrums, in which Canterbury got the ball. By touch line work Taranaki gradually worked past the centre, Humphries gaining ground by a good hick ; but Canter-" bury came again, Dansey kicking into the YelloAvs' twenty-five. Forbes marked a kick by Mynott, and Balch's shot dropped outside the post, again forcing Tara-naki. Long kicks followed the kick out, till Dansey got the ball from a scrum, beat Humphries and Allen, and passed to Forbes, who made a dash, but was collared on the line. A free kick for off-side play relieved the Yellows, but the same offence on Taranaki's side gave j Balch another attempt from near the halfway, and Taranaki again forced. The Yellows' line was again attacked, but scrums on the line and fine tackling juet averted a score. Taranaki forwards centred the play, and the ball was now kept out of their twentyfive. Just as the bell rang for half-time Burrell made a pot at goal, but, the ball striking a man, fell just under the bar, and Taranaki forced, the spell ending with no score. In the second spell the visitors were aggressive almost from the ptart till within a few minutes of the finish, when Canterbury made strong efforts to score. From a mark near the centre Balch tried at goal, but the ball fell short, and was sent out in Yellows' twenty-five, where it stayed for some time, till a mark relieved, and a fine forward rush reached the Reds' twenty-five, where Canterbury was awarded a free kick. Carroll mulled the ball, and the visitors' end was temporarily invaded, but they easily relieved by fine rushes. One was stopped by Burrell, and another immediately after by Orr. Play was now in the local half, and very fast. The scrums were keenly contested, but the Yellows generally secured the ball, and fine tackling prevented the local backs gaining any ground. A free kick to Taranaki pressed the Reds still further, Humphries playing beautifully, but the other backs were clumsy in taking his passes. The attack on the local line was relieved by a fine kick by Balch, , but good passing among the visiting backs ended in the ball proing out in the Canterbury twenty-five. The Yellows maintained a strong attack, which was stayed <^ff for a little by Wooler intercepting a pass, but directly after Brown forced his way through, scoring beside the post. . Lambie converted, and Taranaki was now 5 points to the good. After the kick off the Yellows renewed the attack. The forwards, playing well together, got the ball from every scrum, and Humphries gained ground by judicious kicks .into touch. Burrell and Balch did good work stopping rushes, and an exchange of marks' took place, ending in Canterbury being forced from a long kick. Play was removed to the Reds' quarters.