WELLINGTON DEFEATS TARANAKI. HAWERA, August 29.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 50

WELLINGTON DEFEATS TARANAKI. HAWERA, August 29.

The football match Wellington, v. Taranaki was played to-day. The weather wap fine, and the ground in fair order, though rain during the night made the going aomcwhat heavy. Wellington were favourites, al- | beit mai.y pinned their faith to the home | team, the southerners being ac some disadvantage through having to -travel so closely prior to the match. The teams were: — "Wellington. — Howe, Bush, "Woods, Brodie, Kelly, Claridge, Gallagher, M'G-rath, M'Guirk, i Spencer, Calnan, M'Anally, O'Brien, Wyllie, ' Juclcl. | Taranaki. — Hardgraves, A. Hunter, C. i Young, Nicholas, Mynott, J. Hunler, Hamblyr, ' Wai she, Christie, Bayly, 31'Govem, DufTen, J Phillips, G-reig, and Essshu * Contrary to expectations, Taranaki gave Wellington a real good co, and in VtO initial stages of the game ii, looked as if victory might rest with the Amber and Black?. Their forwards worked well, while thp backs played with better combination. However, after Taranaki had registered a second try Wellington woke up with a vengeance, the backs showing a knowledge of c-ach other's tactics, and the forwards playing finely on line, in I serum, and open. The ilrst^half ended: Taranaki, 8 points ; Wellington, 6 points. In ' the second spell, although Wellington bad j the best or the game, Taranaki* occasionally' became very dangeroti%, narrowly e-'capirig* scoring. Wellington ~ had hard luck in - not getting in ofiener, Jhotigh it i 3 only fair to sa-v Taranaki's defence was on the whole excellent. Wellington won the to.-s, and ?i 'Govern ; kicked off, the ball being vetun-ed, and going i out. After line work Gallagher got away, carrying the play back past half way, and, following a loose scrum, Wellington put in a determined rally, and became dangerous. Taranaki relieved by a free kick, Hardgraves kicking well down. Bush returned, and shortly afterwards Kelly got away, but was stopped when in full caroer. Wellington was still on the attack, but a bit of wild passing by the Black backs gave Taranaki a, respite. Taking advantage of the let off, Taranaki pressed, and after some good work by the j Hunters, Mynott, Young, and Nicholas, the latter got over. Hardgraves failed with the kick. " Taranaki, 3 ; Wellington, 0. After the kick-off the Wellington forwards got on a grand rush, which was stopped by Young, and play centred. Then Wellington got on a passing rush, which was. spoilt by Brodio j mulling, and A. Hunter kicked out at tho Wellington's twenty-five. Mynott initiated a passing run. but Young failed to hold the leather, and Calnan and Spencer, availing themselves of this, Wellington went on to attack. A good passing bout between Brodie, Kelly, Claridge, and Woods ended in the latter 'being collared near +ho Taranaki corner flag. Hai-d^ravcs raised tho siego. Welling- j ton was r> warded a free kick, but Calnan \ failed. Shortly after a kick by the same ! player from a mark went very close, the ball falling under the bar. After feme give-and- < take play Taianaki got into Wellington's j quartern, and the Blacks wero eventually j conroclled to force. Aflrr the kick out the ! Wellington .forwards, wi*h fino. fa«t work,] look Ihe play on to the Taranaki line, but a | free kick gave the Ambci and Blacks relief, j and play was removed to Wellington's territory. From a scrum J. Hunter G,ot the ball, j and after neat passing between himself, Mynott, A. Hunter, and Young, n try was f cored in a good place. Hardgraves added the maior point. O:i their mottle, Wellington now commenced a vieorous Ps-tiult, the foiwards, particularly Calnan, O'Brien, Gallagher, and M'Anally, putting in good work. Kelly v:ao als-o doina- "famously, r.ncl was leaponsiblo for *otnc good passing, in which he was aided by Bu.sh, Woods, Brodie, and Claiidge. These efforts were not long Tesultless, Brodie getting over amid apylau&e. M'Anally failed to pilot the ball over the bar. Taranaki, 8 ; Wellington, 3. Stimulated by their success, Wellington &oon again besieged Taranaki, but the litter replied vigorously, and as the result of wood kicking-, and energetic forward play,, Wellington Iml to save. After an interchange of kicks and mtnh line work Woods from a rush got over cleverly. M'Analiy's kick was abortive. Half-time was shortly afterwards mounded. Calnan kicked off m the second half, and it was well returned. Hamblyn broko away, !<ut over ran the ball, and Wood. «ent it well Lack. I'ierce scrumming ensued, play eventually being carried on in Wellington's twenty -«l\e, and after some exciting rjlav Wellington forced. Taranaki continued to press, but Wellington's turn came, and by good work TColly went within an acp of scoring, beins; by the Taranaki full back. Wpllineton was not to be denied, however, and aflev some desperate ba'tling on the Taranaki lino Ciarid"p scored smartly. Brodie failed with an easy kick. Taranaki awoke with a start, and foi fomp timo after the resumption of play fought hard to score, very nearly succeeding : but Wellington's condition was too good, and time after time, when the north Pi'nerf- looked likely. a change of venue quickly followed, and they had to defend for all the3 r were worth. The no-side whistle sounded, loavinp; Wellington victorious by 9 points to 8 points. Tho victory was well deserved. Wellington, es-

pecially after Taranaki -cored, played grandly. Kelfy, Claridge, Woods, and Brodie were the Tsest of the back*, while' in tho forwards Calnan, Gallagher, M'Anally, and O'Brien were most prominent. HAWKE'S BAY v. POVERTY BAY. GISBORNE, September 1. Great interest centred, in the football match Hawke's Bay v. Poverty Bay, played here to-day. The weather was 'fine, and there was a record attendance. Up to the last eight minutes of play the local men had 3 points to the good, but from that time the visitors ran up 13 points, securing three tries, and converting two. The game ended in favour of Hawko's Bay by 13 points to 3. The local forwards were pqual to the visitors, but the backs were not so good. NEW SOUTH WALES v. QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE, September 2. In the football match Queensland v. New South Wales the former won by 8 points to nil.