FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14012, 17 September 1909, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

THE NORTHERN UNION GAME.

WICK I AND (27) v. TARANAKI (11)

On the fcpq^ttCJround yesterday aluw»«»oii in tfpifftditF^veather and on a dry ground, the iirst match of tho •ea on vi Taranaki under Northern I nion rules was played by teams reprei.mng the Autkland and Taranaki l.i agues. The novelty of the game was .iiihoiunt io draxv a crowd of about liJuvii huudiud Tho game proved last .md open, but the crowd generally -unied to treat it rather lightly. o*l oiiiM', Noilheru League teams in New /.'aland us yet stiifer Irom the draw'Ki- .c ot comparative inexperience ol the game, fo that it is too early to pass * l'nal verdict on the merits ol the -j.-iine ol the Sorlhvrn code. ilio Auckland team was much htrongor thun the opposing side. It had gie.uer combination, more cleverness. and much better condition. The loc.il ni.n were tired at the finish, while the im.-t homers seemed to have plenty in ifoixe. The teams were as> iollow: — Taranaki (amber and black).—Fullback, A. llardgrave; three-quarters, E. iiucklaud, C. Moir, and C. Maclean ; five-eighths. W. M'Lean : halves, U. Fiewin and AY. Morey ; forwards, L. Walsh, W. Morris, S. Stroud, E. Has»ell, T. Sn.iMi, and J. Allen. Auckland (blue and white). — Fullback, Neighbour; three-quarters, Asher, Wnodivard, Carlaxv, pmcl Smith; fiveeighths, Jackson; half, H. Wynyard ; forwards, Mackrell, Tyler, Wells," Seagar, Griffin, and Bradburn. Auckland kicked off against tho breeze. Within two minutes of the start Moir had scored, the bounce of the ball having beaten Neighbour, llardgrave landed a line goal. Taranaki 5 Auckland o A raljy in Taranaki's end finished with Cjriftin chasing tho ball over Taranaki's line, a shade in advance of lianlgravo. The ball, however, rolled over the dead-bail line. The next few minutes produced a great run by Asher, A little later T. Smith failed to field tho ball. Mackrell, who had been offside till now, got in and looked like scoring, but Hard grave pulled him down from behind, and a free Jock brought relict to the yellows. Taranaki attacked again led by Morris. C. M'Lean had a fine chance of scoring when ho was obstructed just as he was chasing tho ball over Auckland's Hue. Apparently the referee did not see tho obstruction, and so Taranaki lost a try. A burl pass by Morey lost Taranaki aunt her some. Two minutes later an oxer-hard kicking by Allen lost au- , other line chance for tho yellows. Ta- i ranuki attacked still, but the left wing, ' to which most of the scoring chances ) were going, was weak in attack. Asher soon jittorwards made n run in which he gave an exhibition of the methods that have made him notorious. He bumped Bucklaml out of his way and ! hurdled Moir, but Bucklaml got him again and grassed him. A pretty pussing i nsh by the Auckland backs gave (he noilborners a chance of scoring, but Ihudgraxe's tackling broke up the attack and a fnio line-kick by tho T.irainiki lull-buck sent the blues back into thoii oxvn territory. Huckland stemmed another strong attack right on fhe !>ne M length thf attack succeeded, Cirl.ixv dashing over. Neighbour I ailed to convert.

Tarannki 5 Auckland 8 A i;.un Auckland ut tacked, but a free kick ielu-x(d the jiiessure. The blues n't in ned to tho attack and Taranaki Ind to gialt to koej) the enemy out. '1 ben Woodward scored a good try in a splendid position. Biadburn kicked an e.isx goal. Auckland . . . . S Tarjnaki . . 5

Tlumi the yellows look a turn a( al1 t'-K ni^. but Moir sjxnlt a line « li.iitce w 1 1 ) ) a bad pa.ss. ILiidgraxe stinted jiii atl.it k ami Wiiksh ciossed the line iind louched (Idxvii, but was brought back. Another tush, however, ended in W.

M Lean !■ coring in the corner, llardgr.ixe made a fine attempt to conxeit but just missed. Auckland 8 Taianaki 8

Hall tine was iininediatclv called. Sbmtly alter resuming Stroud go) ollsuli* .md gax o Auckland a t-lmt at goal in an excellent position. J^radbiun landed a goal. Auckland 10 ' Tarannki . . . S

A jiashing rush, which nearly every P-iss wn'i a forward one. linished in Tmaurtki's twenty-live, where Mackit II inis^ed a ]»uss Tho yellows were nnxv ileiendint; <i great deal, Asher took a nod niHik n Taiannki's twenty-five due, and Li -Obiui) landed a goal.

Auckland 1U Taranaki . . . .8 Taranaki got into Auckland's twentylive, ami T .Smith d.e-hed oxoi in a corner, llardgnixo lailid wit Ii a good kick. Auckland . 12 'i.iianalvi 11 A mll\ lick In Kienin bi might trouble to Tsi'sin.dt i'ut T. Smith broke •IXVay ill g'< it ■••xle. and beat Nelgh!>(>ur, I) I \X is o-i; 1 'ildid l)\ Asher. All oilier pis-iug ru-b b\ the blues ended hi iJrilini scoi.ng. Bi.idbiim conveiling.

Auckland 17 Taranaki 11 Auckland (on' 'lined to attack, bat bad to loice at b/n,j,th. \\x:i.>.ird made a gootl epoi'ing ioi So.iijn. bill the Vaianaki del. o< o xx.is too sound. Anfiihi'i .iir;i(A ')/ (lie blues I'uocd Taranaki. At length Wvnyard scored a great try dodcinu; right through the ambers. Bradburn conxerted. nd 2-2 Tarsi n.iki 11 J.ickson made ;« .v"d run but was er-tnwli i '„ Hai l,,i.ive a lew yalds horn Tjinm.iki'^ line .M;uKie)l got the ball oxer Ibe line ai.d touched down siinuU.tncoUsJv vxith the iiltH'O blowing his xxhi^tle lor the obstiurlion. In the circumstances the lefej-ce rightly awarded a try Io Auckland. Bradburu converted and then the line bell rang.

Auckland 27 Taranaki .. ... 11 Mr. Ii 'I?. Todd lTlcrc-d. His reloreeing xvas capable ol improvement. Prior to the commencement of tho s i\mi', and dm ing the half time internal, the Turanaki (Unison Baud, under Conductor C\ 11. Anderson, played •■•I'veral fine selections.