TARANAKI REPS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XVI, 19 October 1895, Page 474

TARANAKI REPS.

NO football team in the Australasian Colonies can boast of better physique or a finer set of young fellows than the now famous Rugby representatives of Taranaki. The majority of the team follow the occupation of farmers, and are a hardy and athletic company. The Taranaki footballers were the first team to check the victorious career of the English football team which visited this colony in 1888, Taranaki winning by one point to nil. Last year Taranaki proved themselves the champion team of this colony, for they defeated Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury, gaining easy victories over each. Although they did not win all their matches this season, Taranaki did not suffer a reverse, but the Wellington and Auckland teams played drawn battles with them. Taranaki defeated Wanganui on August 14th by 29 points to nil ; on August 21st, Hawke’s Bay were beaten by 27 points to 3; while on August 24th, their match against Wellington was drawn. A heavy northerly gale which raged during the progressof the match, greatly interfered with the play. Taranaki’s last match of this season was against Auckland on September sth, and this, too, resulted in a draw, there being no score. Mr Alf. Bayly, the captain of the Taranaki footballers, is one of the best three-quarter backs in this colony, and captained the New Zealand team last year. He is a most popular player, both off and on the field.