THE PLAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13994, 27 August 1909, Page 4

THE PLAY.

Taranaki kicked off against a fair breeze and quickly invaded the blues' territory, Wanganui forcing. From a line-out Signal got the ball and kicked high. Potter misfielded with the blue forwards sweeping down on him, but J. Stohr saved, On Taranaki's twentyfive line Wanganui was awarded a free kick. Signal, took the kick, but the Taranaki forwards charged prematurely, and "no charge" was awarded. The kick was a good one, but missed; Taranaki gained ground with a couple of sharp rushes. Then M'Leod tried to get through too much on his own, and enabled the yellows to press on a bit j further. A good run and kick by M'Leod brought play back to Taranaki 'a twenty-five, but offside play by, a blue forward stopped the invasion. Signal started a rush that gained a little ground and incidentally upset one of the line-umpires and lamed Abbott. Offside play by Pini gave Signal another shot at goal, the ball being placed exactly on the halfway line. The kick was blocked, but Campion intercepted a pass nicely, dashed right through the centre of the Taranaki rearguard, and when collared by Potier passed to Leahy, who scored. Takarangi's shot at goal was a poster. Wanganui ' 3 Taranaki .., 0 From tno drop-out the yellows attacked strongly. Mynott made a couple of ineffectual attempts to open ip the play, but Jago got jn a good k<ck that brought the play back into Taranaki's twenty-five. Rivell tried to start a counter rush with a high punt, that Jago marked excellently. Mynott intercepted a pass splendidly and kicked up field. M'Leod retaliated wiilr a good kick that C. Sheahan returnednicely, Roberto grassing Jago in excellent fashion before the latter could pet rid of the ball. Potier then came into prominence with a piece of neat play, that was followed by a fast scramble. Mynott then started a hot attack by punting high and then getting the ball again* But the Wanganui forwards broke away, on)y to be stopped by Aitkon getting offside. Potier took the kick from near halfway. It was a fine but unsuccessful shot, just missing the posts. A line-kick by Pini set Taranaki attacking again. Thurston put in a foolish kick to Abbott, who kicked down the line, but J. , Stohr took the ball splendidly and kicked into touch near Wanganui's line. Offside play by Mynott enabled the blues to relieve, and play came back to halfway. Dive then secured and passed to Potier, to Thurston, to C. Sheahan. Sheahan centred, but the yellows were too slow to follow up with the attack, and the blues were soon back in Taranaki territory. Good play by Mynott and a fine tackle by C, SJheaban gained thirty yards for the yellows. A free kick to Taranaki was taken by Mynott, who found touch at Wanganui's twenty-five line. A splendid kick by Potier brought the yellows back into Wanganui's twent.v-five, but the ball went into touch-in-goal a moment later. From near Taranaki 's twenty-five line T. Sheahan and Pini headed a sweeping rush that ended across Wanuanui's lino M'Leod just beating Pini, for the ball and forcing. Near halfway Mynott intercepted a pass and transferred to Dive, who made a great run down the touchline until he was thrown out well in Wanganui's twenty-five. On the line-out Growley got the ball and parsed to Stohr. whose great pace enabled him to outdistance Signal and Bcore a fine try in the corner. Potier made a poor attempt to convert. Taranaki «j Wanganui 3 Another piece of exciting play fol- j lowi-d immediately afterwards. Swain- 1 son brok# away in great style, and, closely attended by T. Sheahan, dribWed over half the length of the field to the blues' line. M'Leod, however, beat him for the ball, was bustled over the lino, and forced. Again Taranaki attacked, but again M'Leod saved the situation. A -quick rally brought the blues down near Taraaaki's twenty-five line. Then Wanganui scored a very "soft" try. Signal got the 1 ball a few yards from Taranaki's twonty-fiv© lino Two or three yellows made half-hearted attempts to collar" Signal. Signal then passed to Murray, who got across u«->t ns Stohr grassed him. Jago made a fruitless attempt to convert. Wangamit „„ r > Taranaki .-•■■■„„ 3 Taranaki opened the second rw]l in nrtt«-r style than heretofore had been shown by tli» yeliows. A «ood passing rush by My«ott, JStohr, Dive ami C. Sbeahau. however, wan 8i««lt by Sheaban KottinK off side. Yhen C. Sheahan started a sharp rush to inside \\an-twenty-five, where Swamson not the ball ami pawic-d back to Sheahan, but the latter knocked on at tlio < i iit-ial moment. I'lav ranie on to Wannau ill's line. I)ow<* relieving with a {.'nod luck. A moment later Wannanm forred. The next incident worthy of note 'od to Taranaki scoring. Smith nut the ball on a line out, and Pini und Swainson carried it 'on to WangaI'iil's tHvnty-five. Hero a blue man put in m foolish kick, which was taken by Mynott, wlio dashed otcr and scored l.is first try this si-ks-im, J'otier made a poor attempt to convert. Taranaki 6 Wangauui ' 6 Again t}lß .vl'ow* rtijckecl to no purpose, bniiK stopped »y infringements of the rules. A paafiiujj bout by the Taranaki bucks gained not an inch of Kiound. . Jn the tight play following the Hue-out M'Leod received & kick

on the heaJ, and play was stopped for a minute or two, !i«t the Wanganui slv inner was able to resrme. Abbott stopped a promisia;; ri'sh between kivell. Swainson an.l Dive, inaugurated b> M.\nott. A little later Jago failed to get to a kick, and the ball went out a yard from Wansarui 8 line. The scramble that follow*! was chiefly noticcabh' for bad handling of the ball. .Vitki-u Mt Woi.^anui going on a rush t( midiield. In marking a kick by M\nott, just as Tini also tried to get the hall, MLcod was again disabled lor 0 lew mon.eiits nceiving a nasty liump. A pushing rush between Mynott, J. Sfolir, Dive a*i 1 C. Sheahan en- led m the last-iiain'-d ctntriitg nicely. Smitli, Dive and Sw.iiusou followed up tli«> ball, winch v.o-it c vei Wanganui's line, but were 'iwt 1 eaten ior it by i.caiiy. ulio forevd. TaiHnaki put a llasli'ol vigour into /s foiward rushes pom. Coe stopped a good rush with a neat mark. Then M'Leod, who played a gloat throughout, purc-e'l tho Taiauaki centre and passed to Cor, nho transferred to Abbt>tt. 'AbIw.tt srlistc|;|H'd Roberts and Potier and -cored. Coo tailed to cunrert. Waiignnui 9 l aranaki 6 Heartened by this success the blues attacked again, but wore (>onalised for lifting tlieir leet in :i .son m too soon. Another Wanganui rush penned the yellows in tlieir twenty- five until tho home forwards broke ruay in a spasmodic rush thai Do.vo stopi>ed witli a fine mark. Shortly afterwards Jago waited for the ball to bo i nee and was tackled finely by C. Sin r.iian, allowing Taranaki to invado ' '\v visitors' twentyfive H was a very brief invasion, .Aitken breaking away iv great style. A sweeping rush by the Taranaki forwards, who were stoypj i by Leahy, was followed up by Mjj.ott making all unsuccessful attempt to pot a goal. Hushes by both sidos wort brought to nought by oarolossiK-ss or accidental iniiingemonti of the niles. From a lineout Stohr got the ball, and a/tor a fine .vii }>a.v>ed it to C. Shcfdiau, who earned it on to Wnnga.itii's twenty-five, ilore Pini marked ni-tily. Potier made a good attempt to equalise tho scores, hut again just mnwl the uprights. Then M'Leod was again irjured. This time ho had to retire to tho touchiine. With only a mi; ute or two to play loft, Mynott started Stohr away on a dash lor tho lino. Stohr, however, had, just shown that he had a try in his grasp when he was whistled back through Mynott hi vmg knocked on. Time came a few minutes later. Mr. F. Spurdle referred well. He made a mistake in rutting tho ball into the jwrum right through the game, but his decisions were prompt and impartial.