TARANAKI FOOTBALL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 60, 17 September 1891, Page 8

TARANAKI FOOTBALL GOSSIP.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) New Plymouth, Sept. 12. Representative football matches have been the topic of the day for the last three weeks in this district. First the Taranaki men met Wanganui on Saturday last and beat them by 4 points (2 tries) to nil, after a fair game from a spectator’s standpoint. On the Tuesday following the Taranaki boys met at Hawera, a team of mediocre strength from Manawatu, and had no trouble in disposing of them by 6 points to 1 point. These two victories naturally put the supporters of Taranaki in good heart, and it was considered by all that our boys would make a good stand against Auckland on the Friday. The Auckland team came down this coast bn Tuesday last, flushed with an easy victory over the Thames men, and met Wanganui on Wednesday last. The result of this game was never in doubt, for every person who knew anything of the game was of opinion that Auckland would win, but no one ever anticipated that the Wanganui men would go under to the tune of 22 to nil. When this piece of intelligence was wired up here the supporters of Taranaki became a bit despondent, and after comparing the Taranaki victory over Wanganui with the Auckland victory over Wanganui, they came to the conclusion—or at any rate the majority did—that Taranaki must surely be beaten by Auckland. However, there were some who had greater faith in the Taranaki men, and they predicted that the team would play a much better game against Auckland than they did against either Wanganui or Manawatu, because they .would meet “ foemen worthy of their steel,” and thus be put on their mettle. It was also pointed out that the team « would have more combination and better condition. The fact that A. Bayly and'A. Good were lame was, however, a great disappointment, as these two men are a tower of strength in the Taranaki back division. On Friday a great number of football enthusiasts travelled down from here to Hawera, and when the teams filed out there must have been fully 700 or 800 persons on the ground. Both teams put in their best men, the respective teams being.as follows:— Auckland (blue and white). —Full-back; Kissling'j three-quarters, Masefield, Jbrvis, Tanfield-; half-backs, Elliot, Braund, and Herrold'; forwards, Poland, Stone, McKenzie, Murray, Mills, Bruce, Penalligan, and Smith. Taranaki (amber and' black). — E; Bayly; three-quarters, A. Bayly, Hempton, and Ai Good; half-backs, Tate, Coutts, and and W. Bayly; forwards, Sangster, Lambie,

Livingston, Mumby, Davis, Hawkin, F. Bayly and Hugh Good. Mr. R. Cameron umpired for Taranaki, Mr. Dickson for Auckland, while Mr. H. Coutts acted as referee. The game started at about 3.30 o’clock, Taranaki kicking off against the wind, which went down after a few minutes. From the start it was apparent that a tough game would be witnessed, as the Taranaki forwards played splendidly, and were too much in the scrums for the Auckland men, who were carried away almost every time. Sangster, Lambie, and Mumby were the best of the Taranaki forwards, heading every rush and keeping well on the ball. The Auckland men were very clever in passing, and once they got this game started the local men were completely at sea for the time. E. Bayly had a pot shot at goal just after the start, but a poster was the only result. The first spell ended with no score on either side, and the excitement ran high among the spectators. The second spell was entered into with great determination by both sides, and about a quarter of an hour after the start W. Bayly made a short run, fended off Kissling, the Auckland full-back, and touched down at the back of the goal. E. Bayly took the shot, and footed a neat goal. Taranaki 3 points to nil, and great was the excitement among barrackers and others. Auckland soon went to work, however, and nine minutes afterwards Jervis, by one of his dodgy runs, eluded the Taranaki full-back, and ran in just behind the goal. Pennaligan took the shot, and placed an unmistakeable goal to the credit of his team. The game was now three all, and both sides bucked in with a will. Once Elliott got in, but was called back, for, I think, going inside the scratch line. Mumby also missed a chance to score for Taranaki, and E. Bayly subsequently had a grand chance to score, but passed to A. Good, who was called back for a forward pass. There was a good deal of wrangling at this stage with the referee, which in my opinion was quite unjustifiable. The game ended without further score, and thus a well-contested game resulted in a draw. The Auckland team were banquetted after the match, and this morning they came up to town and proceeded home in the “ Gairloch-” The game was voted by all who saw it to be the best ever played in the province. lam sorry that time does not admit of my giving a more extended notice of the game. Sangster, one of the Taranaki forwards, played in the rep. match last Saturday with a broken nose, which he w?s unfortunate enough to receive in the early part of the game. F. Bayly, not E. Bayly as stated in my report, was the player who messed a seemingly easy score for Taranaki in the rep. match.