FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1915, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

.AUCKLAND 15; TARANAKI 3,By Telegraph.—Special to Daily News, Auckland, Saturday. The match between. Auckland and Taranaki, which was played at Eden Park before about 4000 spectators, provided a very interesting display of Rugby, good play being shown by both sides. Though Taranaki were defeated by lo points to 11, there was not such a margin on the day's play between the teams, Taranaki being unlucky not to score on, at least, two occasions. The game was full of incident, and at times roused the spectators to enthusiasm, Taranaki, as usual, getting a good hearing. In serum work the local pack was superior to the visitors, who, however, held the advantage in the loose until .the closing ten minutes, when condition told its tale. In the backs, however, Auckland showed to advantage, for, whilst both teams were out to make the game as open as possible, the work of Auckland was cleaner and more finished, The game was played in four twenty minutes spells. FIRST SPELL, K) SCORE.

Winning the toss, Taranaki had the advantage of the sun in the first lulf, and Carey was Hie first lo shine out, he heading a rush into Auckland's twentyfive, which Moflitt stemmed, Nesbit, McHugli, and Campbell retaliated a moment later, and a free kick to Taranaki was smartly followed up by the visiting forwards. Skipper opening out, Roberts sidestepped several men, but Bruce intercepted and lined. A concerted move by Skipp'er and Lynskey compelled MoflHt to carry the ball over the line, Coming .smartly from the scrum, .the ball beat i%w»v SR* -i cm?. 'Mi < Roberts aooii ha'd his men to dlie. attack again, and a touch in goal resulted. Failure by Stewart to take a pass lot Barker and Barclay away, the latter dropping the ball with a score in sight. Dashing play by the visiting vanguard, j assisted by fine line kicking by Lynskey j and Tinney, kept the local team busy. Sellars and Bruce broke away to midfieid I before being cheeked by Roberts, and ' a fine bout of passing between the whole of the visiting backs saw Tate dash lor the line, only to be well collared by Moffitt. Taranaki had the better of the rest of the spell, which proved Scoreless. TWO TRIES FOR AUCKLAND. After attack and counter-attack by the forwards, Trussing intercepted a pass from Skipper and with ihree men in attendance sailed for the line, with only Tinney to beat. A pass forward spoilt the effort. Lang set-the Auckland backs moving, and, Eoborts being penalised for hanging on, Clark had a shot which fell short. Barker was nearly over from a passing rush, and a moment later Barclay, cutting in, gut to the line before being tackled. From the ensuing scrum, however, Lang dashed across, though well tackled by Tinney. Clark faiieil to goal, and Auckland was 3 up. Stewart next, passed lo Roberts, who beat several men and lined in a handy position. Gradually the Auek- . landers worked the ball back, hilt Taranaki executed a fine passing movement as the result of an opening hv Roberts. A penalty for obstruction enabled Barday to line at the twenty-five. Patterson, Ward, and Thomas headed a rush :o Auckland's line, but they overran the leather, and Casey, Sellars. and Nesbit turned the tables by rushing Hie bail to the other end of the field. In the following scramble Sellars scored. Barker failed to goal, and Auckland was •'! points to the good. Another Auckland rush ended in a touch in goal. Taranaki then roused the enthusiasm of the spectators by setting up a dashing rush to Auckland's territory, where Skipper set his backs moving, and Roberts, Pati.vson, Lynskey, Stewart, and Tale all handled the ball perfectly, but the latter was crowded to touch. Half time sounded with Taranaki attacking.

Auckland (1 Taranaki 0 ROBERTS KICKS A PENALTY

Soon after the first spell opened Roberts made a line dash and kick'd high. Moffitt marked well in the faee of the sun and forced, flie Auckland forwards, headed by Campbell, pressed down the field, sweeping the opposition out of their path, but Tate cheeked in

the nick of time by a clever screw kick. Play now became" very fast, both sides passing freely, the ball being carried up and down the field, Patterson had hard luck in not reaching a pass from Skipper when a score looked imminent. Taranaki made determined efforts to score, Patterson, Ryan, Word, and Carcv heading a rush light to the line, where they lost the ball. Infringements by the defenders gave Roberts two shots at goal, and lie made no mistake at the second attempt. Auckland f! Taranaki 3 SOME MERRY fiOlXfl.

Play now became exciting. Clark, from a passing rush, was thrown out bv Tate right on the line, anil the next moment the Taranaki forwards were hammering ut Auckland'* goal, but Moffitt, though nearlv smothered, just clear,ed. Skipper, failing to secure the ball from the scrum, let the Aucklanders l'u'pak away, and the ball came across to 'Barkd', who picked up smartly and mailo a sensational dash for the line. Tiniiey, hmvevfr, tackled him gamely, and Auckland were , attacking as tii" | bell went, just after Laing 11,' d failed to pot a goal. ' : TARANAKI TIRES. When the fourth spell opened it was anybody's game. Taranaki tried hard to equalise the score, and for a time looked like doing so. The forwards pressed, but could not pass Mnflitt (fill'.. back),'••who-was as safe as a house. He also accounted for Tate, who made a desperate dash at the end of a passing bout. The ball coming across, Roberts set sail, but was thrown out at the corner by Barclay. Next moment I.ynskey was also dangerous. Auckland gradually asserted themselves, and soni? exciting passing by both teams ended in Clark lining at half-way. From the throw-out Auckland secured, and Clark was just collared in time by Roberts. A little Liter Laing made a good opening. and. Barclay, Stewart, and ('lark handling well, the latter scored, and converted his try with a good kick. Auckland 11 Taranaki ii Roberts now went up to live-eighths, Patterson replacing Skipper. Tinney failed to stop a forward rush, but Roberts came to the rescue, and a passing rush by the visitors ended in a force. Taranaki forwards, who were now feeling the effects of the hard game, set up a brief rush. A cross kick by Skipper was intercepted by Laing, who passed to Prussing, and the ball went to Barclay, then to Stewart, the latter potting a neat goal. Auckland.. ................ lu Taranaki 3 Lynskey, by a dodgy run, set his backs moving, but Barclay checked them,

Ward and Ryan headed a hot rush, but Auckland cleared, and counter attacked just as the final bell rang. Mr. (J, Nicholson rcferccd to the satisfaction of both teams, WELLINGTON -MATI'U ICS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Welling lon, Last Night. University beat Wellington, 10 to I); Athletic beat I'oneke, 29 to 11; Sehvyn beat Oriental, 9 to nil; Pelone untl Trcntliam drew, 0 points each. OTAGO :!!>; SOUTHLAND 0. Duncdin, Saturday. The OUgo-Southland match was placed at Carisbrook today, in beautiful weather. There was au attendance of about IiOOO people, The back play of the Southland side was poor, and with the Otago forwards having just a hit the br»t of the exchanges with the Reds' vanguard, the Blues' backs, who are a very speedy lot, had ample opportunities to score. Otago won by i'l) points to nil, seven tries being registered, four of which were converted.