FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1924, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI DEFEAT WELLINGTON. FOURTEEN POINTS TO NINE. A FAST. OPEN GAME. After a fast, open game at Hawera yester* day, Taranaki defeated Wellington by 14 points (three tries, one converted, and a penalty goal) to 9 pointe (three penalty goals). Conditions were favourable for good football, the weather being fine and the ground in good order. The breeze, which was blowing down the field, while of advantage to the side that was playing with it did not unduly interfere with the play. Both teams set out to make the game open and, as a result, there were some spectacular back movements that roused the enthusiasm of the public. Though there was a good deal of faulty handling, it was only good tackling that prevented the score from being larger than It was. There were also some sparkling forward rushes. On the day, Taranaki was the better team, and thoroughly deserved to win. There was a bigger difference between the teams than the scores indicate, for while Wellington were perhaps unlucky in not crossing Taranaki’s line, Taranaki was equally unfortunate in this respect. THE FIRST SPELL. Wellington won the toss and Taranaki kicked off against the wind. After a penalty to Taranaki the Wellington backs jumped intp 1 their stride, and Gibson, giving the “dummy” pass, beat a couple of men, but Dnnis intercepted his pass, and the Taranaki pack carried play to Wellington’s twenty-five. Jeffries secured from the line-out, and sent the ball out to Alexander and Ennis. The latter cut in and gave the ball to McGregor, who streaked for the line, but was well taken by Hawkens, a force resulting. Taranaki kept up the pressure, but Ennis was unable to goal against the wind from a penalty. Taranaki was having all the better of the play, and Priar. by good kicking, put the Taranaki forwards in a good attacking position, but Wogan was able to save. Alexander set his backs going beautifully, gaining .a lot of ground. A good move by the Taranaki backs, initiated by Alexander, saw Ross galloping for the line, only to be up-ended by Hall, and Sullivan lined. From an infringement Ennis had another shot, which went wide. A great passing bout by all the Taranaki backs followed, Ross being collared right on the line by Malcolm. He tried to get the ball in to Ennis, but was smothered. A high kick by Priar, followed up by West, Kissick and Taylor, saw Smith smartly mark. A mark by Pringle a little later put Wellington in a good position, where from an infringement in front of the posts Malcolm landed a pretty goal. After 20 minutes’ play the score read: — Wellington 3 Taranaki 0 The Wellington backs and forwards gave an exhilarating bout of short passing which tried the defence. West was off-side and Malcolm had another shot, which went wide. A move by Taylor was checked by Brltland. and Alexander set his backs going. A Wellington man was off-side, and Ennis had another shot, which just missed. West later had a shot, which kept low. Play was close to Wellington’s line, where Johnston was collared in an attempt to cut through. Then Brown. Hum and Pope headed an irresistible Wellington rush that not checked by Priar until dangerously close to the line. Another free kick by Priar removed the danger, and Robinson and Kissick carried play well down field, but the former over-ran the ball. A high kick hy Sullivan, which was well followed up. saw Priar miss-kick. West picked up the ball when off-side and Malcolm landed another good goal, the score after 25 minutes’ play being:— Wellington 6 Taranaki 0 A long line-kick by Hawkins carried Wellington past half-way, where Alexander marked. Alexander sent the ball out smartly,

end Johnson, Ennis and Ross handled well, the latter streaking for the line, where he was well ..taken. In the resultant scramble Wellington were penalised. JohlTston’s kick at goal fell in front of the posts, where a Wellington man got off-side arfd Ennis goaled. Wellington g Taranaki * 3 Taranaki was now playing well, and a sparkling bout by Alexander, Ennis and Ross was only checked by determined tackling. Kissick and Klvell were dangerous in an associated movement and Wellington forwards then took a turn, but Alexander cleverly turned defence into attack and, with half-a-dozen Taranaki men handy, a try looked certain, but Thomas snapped up and cleared. Smith and Wogan were associated in a pretty passing bout that ended in Walters collaring the latter. Half-time ended soon after, the score being:— Wellington G Taranaki * .*.*.*.****’*’!* 3 THE SECOND SPELL. Play opened , uletly 1B the secon(j . with Interchanges of kicks. The game sooh livened up, and the Wellington backs, making the play open, attaeHed, hut were well tackled. Boss initiated a Taranaki attack, which was carried on by Enols, Klvel and Kissick right oier the line, the ball being forced as the )»« named dived for it. Wogan sent the ball out to Hawkins, who was well taken bv Priar at hail-way. The Taranaki backs tried to get moving, but were 100 crowded. Again Hawtons broke away and, fending off the fullI back, passed to Haddock, the latter being 1 pushed out at the corner by Kissick. Keen mg up the pressure, Hawkins was again nearly 1 w'ni Iter 1 wrlod ° r strenuous defence, | Wellington got the ball, but Gibson cut in instead of passing, and Alexander snapped up I smartly, setting his backs going, but .lohnsoA I got off-side In taking a bad pass from West. Klvell broke through and passed to Walters, who gained a lot of ground, but his pass was smothered, and in the resultant play the ball was forced, going again a moment later to the dead ball line. Hardly was the ball kicked out when Johnson sent it to Ennis who, with a charactertistlc run went through the wholp team from the twenty-five line, and falling over the fullback, scored a beautiful tn, which he failed to convert, the score after 15 minutes’ play being: Wellington 6 Taranaki \ ..**?**.* * 6 Taking beautifully, Ross carried play to half-way, where a penalty enabled West to line near the twenty-flve flag. Trying to cut through the scrum, Hall lost the ball, which Jeffries whipped out to Alexander, who cut in and sent Johnson over to score a beautiful try under the posts. Ennis goaled, putting Taranaki ffve points ahead:— Taranaki 11 Wellington t . An infringement let Wellington line near the twenty-five line, where the Wellington backs got moving and the ball travelled smartly via Gibson, Britland and Wogan to Hawkins, who, running strongly, fended off Alexander and McGregor, but was held up over the line by Priar and Walters, and the ball rolled into touch in goal. Again the Wellington backs raced away, but Gibson missed a pass, which Johnson snapped up. and with a great dash threw himself over the line just as he was tackled by Malcolm. Ennis failed to goal. Taranaki Wellington g After a period of close play, Alexander sent the hall via Johnson to Ennis, whose kick was forced. Smith, weM supported by the forwards, carried play to Taranaki’s territory, where Malcolm failed to goal from a penalty. The Wellington backs were playing with great dash, but the tackling was sound and Taranaki kept their line intact. An infringement, however, let Malcolm increase the total with a beautiful goal, and after about half-an-hcur the score read:— Taranaki j 4 Wellington 9 Wellington tried hard to equalise the score, but after strenuous efforts the game ended without further score, the final result being:— Taranaki 44 Wellington 9 Mr. H. G. Whittington refereed.

TECHNICAL COLLEGES MEET. i HAWERA DEFEATS NEW PLYMOUTH. I , i The match between Hawera and New' PlyI mouth Technical Colleges, which was played : as a curtain raiser to yesterday’s representative match, at Hawera. resulted in a runaway victory for the Hawera team, which proved superior to the visitors in every department, and won by 45 points to 0. For the winners tries were scored by Skjellerup (4), Church (3), Yates (2), Owen (2), am! Ke gan and Bailey (one each). Baitay also converted three tries. TARANAKI RUGBY UNION. DELEGATE TO BRITAIN. MR. J. McLEOD NOMINATED. A meeting of the management committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union was held at Hawera yesterday Present: Messrs Jas. McLeod (chairman), B. Saunders, A. O. Casey, A. R. Davis, L. J. Furrie, A. F. Neilson, ■las. Garcia, W. A. Guy, F. Whyte, A. J. Papps. W. B. Fearon and S. Nielson (secretary). It was decided to nominate Mr. Jas. McLeod as a delegate to represent New Zealand at the conference which is to be held in England during the forthcoming tour flf the All Blacks Mr. McLeod said that he understood that the delegate would have to leave New Zealand 1 with the team. This he could not do, as It i would be at least two months later before he would be able to leave. It was decided, in the event of It being essential that the delegate should leave with the team and Mr. McLeod thus not being available, to support the nomination of Mr. V. Meredith, of Auckland. The chairman considered that a conference should be held before the delegates left lor England to consider the remits from the various unions, and instruct the delegates on vital matters. This was absolutely necessary, he said, unless it was intended to take >he decisions arrived at during the conferences held in Sydney during the visit of the South African team as a basis. It was very necessary to decide whether the game should be controlled by an Imperial Board or an International Board. Personally he favoured .in Imperial Board, as football was essentially 1 British game and, while outside nations migl> ! I be invited to affiliate, they shohld have ? ■ voice in the control of the game. On the motion of Messrs Neilson and Whyic it was decided to forward a resolution to th New Zealand Union to that effect. AN OPUNAKE PROTEST. The Opunake Football Club protested against, the game on June 21 being awarded to Kaponga on the following grounds:—(l) That the free kick awarded Kaponga, from which a penalty goal was kicked, was wrongly given for obstruction, an Opunake player having gone down to stop a rush; (2) that the ball was deliberately thrown out by Kaponga players and, although a free kick was claimed by Opunake, the appeal was ignored by ihe 1 referee: (3) on the ground of the Incompetence of the referee. The club therefore asked that the match he replayed. 1 A ruling was also sought on the following I point: A side was awarded a tfree kick. I the kicker making a hole with his boot to i | place the ball for a shot at goal. The 1 kicker did not place the ball on the pre- ■ pared site, but kicked out to the wings. Was that legal? The protest was dismissed, as the first two grounds were questions of fact, on which the referee was the sole judge. The Opunake Club will be informed that the union nas every confidence in ithe appointments boardThe case cited by the club is to be referred to the Referees’ Association for a ruling. During the discussion Mr. Davis considered that the club should be informed that the union was of opinion that the referee was competent. Mr. L. J. Furrie pointed out that the Ap-

pointments Board satisfied itself as to she competency of a man before appointing him to any match. It was, he said, unfortunate that these protests were being ’ raised. It seemed to be a case of "win, tie or wrangle." CENTRAL DIVISION GAMES. To-day’s match between Toko and Cardiff is to be played at Toko at 2.30 p.m., and not at Cardiff as stated in yesterday's issue. Toko thirds also meet Eltham thirds at Toko, play commencing at 1.30 p.m. TEAM FOR SATURDAY '"Uk ato V 6;d B jys, at Okato—JonesTWEeTta are, Thomas, Tuku, Goodwin (3), Julian (3), Corbett, Taylor, Roebuck (2), Roberts, Shotter.