FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 13, 31 August 1911, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

THE HUG by GAME. TARANAKI (12) v. SOUTHLAND (11). (Per Press Association.) Invercargill, August 30. The Taranaki-Southland football match was played to-day in line but windy weatner, in the pres-, mo of about 2500 spectators. The game was fast and exciting throughout, and ended in a lucky win for Taranaki hy 12 points (a goal from a try, an unconverted try, and a potted goal), to .11 (a goal from a try and two unconverted trios), Tho Southland forwards were superior all round, hut the Taranaki hacks were far ahead of the local hacks, and their splendid linokicking against a strong win, in the second spell, saved the game. Mynott showed the poorest form of the visiting backs, whose play all round was admirable,.and who seized every available opening. They arc a lino collection of backs, and when under way invariably look dangerous. The play of tbo Southland forwards confirms the opinions of exports that it is the finest pack which has represented the province for many years. The first notanle incident was a Southland forward rush into the visitors’ twenty-five, Mynott relieving by finding the line at half-way. East play ensued, the ball travelling up ai d down the field at a great; rate, and Taranaki making use of the favourable strong wind. Tne rod forwards gradually "worked the ball to the visitois’ line.*, and after a fierce rally Force made a dash, but lost the ball. Ividland. however, was handy, and snapped it up and scored. Martin failed to

Southland ... ... 3 Taranaki ... ••• 0 Within live minutes after resuming,’ Kissick secured at half-way, an<J, runiy, neat several opponents and passed to Hawkins, who scored. Stohr gof.led beautifully! ! Taranaki ,< s.. 5 Loutnland ... ... 3 Taranaki, making good use of the wind, for a time kept Southland busy, but eventually the local forwards cleared with a line rush, McNcece further improving matteis with a good run. Ivemey made a dasli for the line, but lost the ball. McNcece, who was backing him up, secured the ball and scored. Martin converted with a brilliant kick from a difficult angle against a strong wind. Southland 3 Taranaki 5 Play was fairly even .for a while, until 'Stohr secured and made*a dashing run, passed to Cameron, who scored handily. No goal. Southland ... ... 8 Taranaki ... ... ... 8

The remainder of the spoil was hard fought, hut neither side could claim much advantage, and no further addition was made to the score. With the wind' in their favour in the second spell it was expected that Southland would more than hold their own without'trouble,’ and''although they did not do as well as'anticipated from a scoring point of view they had decidedly the hotter of the game. From the commencement they pressed the’ visitors hard, the ' splendid line-kicking nullifying their efforts. They were not to be denied, howavor, and persistently attacked, and from a loose rush Biggar scored, uo goal resulting. k Southland 11 Taranaki: ... 8 Play hovered in neutral territory for a time, but Taranaki then took a hand *and . pressed. Martin■ relieved by a high kick, which Plill secured, and, from outside tno twenty-live, potted a lovely goal. Taranaki 12 Southland H The locaTmon now strove to regain the lead,. but the deadly line-kicking of the visitors proved their undoing. Several times, too, Taranaki were dangerous, Taylor, Osborne, Kissick, and (3ain, for the forworcls, playing finely, and Roberts, Stohr, Prince, and Cameron, in tiic backs, kicking well and making lino dashes. Cameron on one occasion was unfortunate in not scoring. On the whole, however, Southland had the best of the spell, and only the failure of the backs to take advantages prevented a considerable addition to the score. The game ended— _ Taranaki ... ... 12 Southland ... ... H

Of the local men, Fordo (half), Smith (wing), and Martin (full) were the best backs, the latter playing a particularly fine game. All the forwards played well, Biggar and Ridland securing the ball in tne scrums, and Ivemey, Mitchell, and Aarons being very prominent in the line-out and in the'loose. All played a most dashing game. Although Taranaki forwards were beaten to-day, still they are a fine hard-working pack, and only the fact that Southland this year is abnormally strong caused them to take second place. The general opinion is that laranaki will hold their own with the other South Island teams.