FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12337, 20 August 1903, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

\ FINAL MATCH. iN-EiW ZEALAND (32) V. COMBINED i COUNTRY (0). . Dnited Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright. Sydney, August ID. llhere was line weather a'nH a failattendance at the last lnat&h of the eQur, New Zealand verKjusi GcMnbinec! Country, the New Zealantlers carryingtheir recently presented banner. The Victors, captained by Wood, won tihe toss. Kiernan got an easy mark in the first few minutes, a«d Wallace made a beautil'ul kick, tjie ball juyt shajving 1 the post on the outside, l^lay them went back to the centre, but the badks i^ushecl into the Country's 25' s, and frtom a rush on the line, in which Kieofoan, Wootl, and As'her were prominent, the latter scored . Wallace, howeiVor, failed, the angle loci ng difficult. New Zealand 3 C'oulntry (j . Play continued in tlie local ground, but a mark "temporarily relieved. Dangar antl Moir iheatleil a grand rush right down on the visitors' line, the latter playing- all they knew to prevent scoring, and avent'ually the tensio<n was slackened by olf-side play on tho part of a local player, which gave tihe visitors a free "kiick. The local men wore almost continuouistly o,n the defensive, b.ut their g-ood tackling- preveiitcji t»he visitors from g-etting- in. A free kidv to i-ho Coju,litry team remiOjvejcl [play to the centre, bwt the .Visitors started a fine rusih, Woocl linally picjking- up and passiuig) to Aster, who sr>corecl, Wallace placing- a fine g-oal. New Zealand ... 8 Country .• ... 0 On reHlujming- (.he visitors were again agigrcssilve, .and a imping- rusih, in wli i ich Gal 1 agrher , Woojcl , McGregor . anfcl D. M«Grcg-or took part enabled the last named to cross the line, but Wallace missed the sihot at goal. New Zealand ' .„ 11 Country * * ... •... 0 M]oir rdisihed the ball cTowm into Zeala!n,tl's grcxurnd, and Wallace ret'utineU, loait play promptly returned, antl the visitors were forced. The locals secjured a' mark, and Kennabaxi had a try at goal, . the ball falling slhprt. Tihe couaitry tea,m at tnis tilme were playitog a Ime game, aiucl again coippelle.pl ihe visitors to, force. Shortly after half time was called, the score beiiig: — New Zealand : 11 Country „.. 0 i Sfhortly after resuming, Wood woufntl u\i a fine run with a pas«- to Gallag^her, wh,o got over, but Wallace failed to irucireasG the points. New Zealand l 4 Cojwi'try 0 iWjhem the ball was in ;play again. New Zealand. attacked their opponents line, b(ut the s.ituation was reli&ved by a free [kidk. After give and take play in the centre of the field, a free 'kidk sent tiie leather down into the locals territory, anil Given made a desperate offbrt to score, being 'u^set jlist in the niplk of tijne. From the line o!ut Gallagjher whi)p^)ed the ball on to "Wood, tih'caiee it went to Stead and D. . McGregor, who carried it dowm .to the local line, wihen Gnaliagtier, . .who was plaj'ing a fine . game, gaye Aslher a very . fastt pnss, bjut the AaijcSdatatler iiinockdd. on anjd spoiled what looked like a certain score. The struggle \vas maiititainod in the local-25's, and from a 15 yarfds sfirxim Kiornan secured tihe leather amd passejd to* Wood, who in MsuYn gajve it to D. McGregor, who potted at goal but misseM- From , a penalty kick given agakisft the local men for lifting in a spr/uni, Wallace made an attempt -at goal. From the line out Kiernan. „ passejii .. H to R. Mc(Jreg'or, ami the ball went in quick Succession to Wood, Stead, and D. McCrregor, the latter getting ' across between the po&ts, and Wallace augmented the score. New Zealand 19 Country 0* On resntming. McMilnn charged clown, but lost the ball. Tyler, however, was handy, and snapping il'-ufp' wni>p,ped rtver the line. • The >kiak at goal, though an easy qnc, , was missed by Wallace. New Zealand 22 Country , 0 Play was soon again in the local grouiiH, anH a fine i'usjh, in which Stead passed to Wood, then to 'D. McGregor, allowed tho latter to get <Vver, and Wallace scored tho major points. New Zealand 27 Cduntry : g 0 The ball immediately went back into the local quarters, whon. McMinn m'aile a great effort to get o,ver, but once more he lost the ball 1 . Fito'm a prrum, Kiernan, D. MoGregior, Wiood, Stead, aaicl Asher wore instrumental in woi'king- Lhe game towards tiheir opponents line, when A.shcii, with a fine feinting r,ii>n, g»ot over, arid Wallace kicfeed a line goal. Now Zealand 32 CoSuntry 0 Shortly after Dix got - a marjv_, and Keauna hajtl a shot at goal, Dut Gafllagiher intercespteld. From tihe lino dut Walsh rfasihed down on the visitors, bint As'her threw him oiut. From the line o|ut Wood and Stead removed play down the fielld, anil there it was when tilmc was called. Now Zealand 32 Coiuinlry 0

IWAiETURE OF NEW ZEAUANDERS.

T,he Murni^oa sailed at 8. 80 p.to. for Aiux&ihmft, having as passengers the New Zealand team, excepting Wallace aJnid Stalker. Thoy received an entihiiKfaMie s«n'd of! from a very large H'«,tiherinpf of Ruff'beiaiia, including Union crffilcials ancl New ZealanJders. T!ho public loudly cheoro'cl, alfd the Jnesbn t-atidn banner was .strolriply ' in dvinVnco. Tiho Heteniion of Wallace alnd Stalker is d\ie to an accident to Wallace, wKo, early in the seodnid half of

the la»t game was bounpeid, but apparently not seriously. He took no notice, and played on to i/he finish. After play ceased, he cliacQverod his left jaw was fractured. A idoc'tor set it, but as Wallace is a poor sailor, it wias Uecldecl he should rest a few days before returning home, afl'd at the request of the team Stalker remained behind to look after Wallace, w3io ma|kes 'light of the injury. MATCHES PLAYEDi New Zealand have won all the miatchfts play«d. The recqrd is as follows :—: — July 18.— New South Wales Reps at Sydney, 12 to 0. July 22.— Western Districts at Bathur»t, 47 to 7. July 25. — New South Wjales Reps., at Sydney, 3 to 0. July 29. — Metropolitan Union at Syd*»y, 33 to 3. i\u I gu&t 1. — Queensland Reps, at Brisbane, 17 to 0. 'August 5. — Western Districts of Queensland at Brisbane, 29 to 0. j August 8. — Return Queenslaaxd at ! Brisbane, 28 to 0. I Atagnurfc 12. — Narcr, South Wjales Northern Districts at West MaitlanjcJ, 53 to 0. August 15. — Combined New South Wales a«cd Quewuilanid at Sydney, 22 to 3, Ajugjust 19. — Combined Country, "at Syeltney, 32 to 0. Total points, 256 v. 13. TARANAKI DEFEAT WELLBDGTON. Per Press Assrbiat^oia. •Wellinp''^. JjUfatsfc 19. ' Tlie annual Rugl- ' foot&alf match between Taranaki i '& reliresentatives was jVt.eH toflay, the visitors winning by five points to three. The game was uninteresting,; and the play mqdiocre at all stages. The home team played without .combination or energy, and there is no tloubt that the worst teajm lost, principally by reason of 'the ■ wit-legs tacticg pursued by the backs. (Special to Herald) Wellington,. Auigjust 19. There was a fairly large attendance to wituicss the match Taranaki V. Wellington. There was harfdly a breath of wind, b.ut the ground was very soft' after the recent heavy rain. Wellington won the toss, and the visitors ha<l"^o play with the sun in their eyes. •„•' \>] Locally the matcih was looked oil as a fairly easy 'thing/ for W'eljington,, ,bjit as soon as the teams got going>^ jjt was seen that the Taran.al.ti. 'forwapis 1 were a fine dashing set that wcrajfci take a lot of beating. The TaranaTu forwards played a great game in the loose in the first part 6f the- gaifce,. afnxi in We middle of tlie second half qjjiite over running tjie "Wellington bacdes, wiuo did not warm u!p until ~flhe second half when tney pjut in fine defensive work. Wellington hail slightly the best of tJhe beginning qf the game at first. Taranaiki by the efforts of a forward j ifui^h in wjiich Pihatna, Glasgow, anfcT Phillips were prominent relieved the presssusre. Taranaki forwards, shortly, after again took charge, carrying all before them, and, after several scrum's on the Wellington line, tihe Taranaki badks initiated a passdng l.un from which Clanke got over, blut tihe ball was callkid back in front where Ire took the ball. „ „ '„ 'Wellilngtron at le^gtfc relieved, but, Tananaki caane again, a force fesjulting.; A mwll by the visiting backs g-alve Welliington a chance which led 'i/O, a fruitless? free kick. A fine run by Hardlhtenn put Taranaki on the defensive, amid this wasi fpllofwejci by a passino- riuii by the bacfk», Clarke tackling Wflsoln a yara from the line. Just before half time Claiike again saved, hie siTde. Half time was called witJh no score. . O!n renaming oven play was the order 'until a vigorous attack was mofde by Wellington who nearly got oiVer. Wellingiton 'were rewarae'd y &t last 'by Wilson getting ewer at ' the doimer from a passing rush, although tadkley on the line. No goal was kic'kejd frtfln the try. -j Wellington — ]\ Taranialki ° Taraaiaiki rallied after tJiis reVjgrs4 4.|4 .| airl& spirited play by the forwarWs saw them forcing Wellington harfl. Olarjke mankcß within raniro but no goal reMaintaining the attache- Taranaki were at last rew.ufcletf "by Phillil>sgettimg OA'er from a sti-onjr forwaw itiss», anjcl Glasgow con<vcrtt4l with an easjj 1 kicik. ' Taranttiki » | Wellington 3 | The Taranaki forwards swe^t from Ono cfnjcl «f the field to the other, after this, but a breach of the rules* when, near }'he Wellington line lost j them a certain score. The Taranaki forwards came again and another free j kidk was awarded Taranaki, but Glas<row faileH to increase the score. " Allen was within an ace bf scoring soon after, the ball Jusit going into toiidh in goal. JSust at the close of the game MteIntyre for Wellington pfut in a gooil run and placed Taranaki on the defensive, tout time was shortly after saufftde&i with the score:— Taranaki 5 Wellington 3 The win of the visitors was most popular one, and it was generally ajclinittod that they were the better team. The Taranaki bactks played a fiiie defensvvo pranne in the seconld half, especially TJlunAcr, Myn,ott, Bly'the, Clarke, an 9 Allen; anld B,ur?ce was alsfo safe. Of forwards Grey on the, ! wing playotl a great game: as also idi'd" Pihama, Wilson, Phillips, and. Glasgow. j The Rev Harper was referee. | The teams dineil together after the matclh, ancl visited the Ojpcra House in the evening.

The Taranaki re.p. team play Wairai'apa at Masterton on Saturday, ancl on the following Weidneslday they meet Manawai/u at Palrwerston Norfjh. It is notorious in football circles thai the football writers in Well:njrton as a rule cannot fairly report a football match wfcsn tl.o Wellington

team is *defeat3 r L The latest 'evftcrice of this is ihe Press Association's re-; port (?) of the TaxaJifaM-Welliiigton. match. It 1 is surprising 1 -that the writers are nbt abo^ve such petty feeling:- . . " \ - . / . • ■ Presislent rca,>rts are currerif that there wasr.a row among-, some iuembers. of ihe Ne\jr Z^alantl "team after | one of^ the matches 1 in Australia, and that "Uie ra&tter Will be enquired i£to by ilie New Zealanid lluion when the team reifcujng Ij^me. it is /*pege3. \\iit ' the' &isagreem©nt> was oaused through one player alleging " ifce-.t ne. was. not '<fea" by ihe.o'ther baclis. Star 11. journeyed, to Wanganiui yesterii'ay anbl played a juinior team there this aftern,oon. ( » ■ . . A match' beeween teams! represeinting; fcjie two local volunteer corps, nas been arranged to take place a^.an early 'date. -■ ■■■; " ' . „_; . ,