BRITISH TEAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 122, 26 May 1930, Page 13

BRITISH TEAM.

_— 0 TARANAKI DEFEATED. DEBACLE IN SECOND SPELL. TWENTY-THREE TO SEVEN. (By Telegraph.—Special Reporter.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. A crowd of 15,000 people packed the terraces of the Pukekura Park, a natural amphitheatre, for the match between Britain and Taranaki this afternoon. The wind of the morning Jhad dropped and the weather, though cold, was fine. The ground was in fair order. P. E. Ward captained Taranaki and C. B. Aarvold led the Britishers. In the British team Welsh replaced Ivor Jones, who is suffering from a leg injury.

Taranaki's forwards took command in the first few minutes and had Britain defending desperately, only the fine kicking of the British inside backs driving the determined Taranaki forwards away from the goal line. Ten minutes had gone before the Britishers were inside Taranaki's twenty-five, this being achieved,by a series of fine line kicks by the backs.

Now the British forwards combined in a devastating rush, which ended with Taranaki fomng. With quick, brisk passes the British backs opened out in a fast attack, but tackling was magnificent, all the visitors' movements being quickly smashed. A penalty for off-side play came to Britain, Parker just missing the goal. From the twenty-five back went the Taranaki forwards, led by Ward and Clarke. Relentlessly Taranaki hammered away inside Britain's twenty-five line. A kick by Owen gave Taranaki a golden opportunity, the ball rolling out at the corner. Grim and determined moments followed, and then the ball came out along the line of backs to Brown, who potted a beautiful goal from the twenty-live line, and, after 26 minutes' play, Taranaki had lour points up. Home Forwards Dominate. The British forwards could not stand up to the brilliant work of the Taranaki pack. Then came a change. They made the game open, now heeling the ball out to the backs at every opportunity. They opened out in many a bright attack, DUI always the Taranaki defence was sound, all the British attacks .being met _ with relentless defence. Up till half-time Taranaki had controlled the game with their splendid forwards. These were well supported by the backs, who exploited line kicks cleverly. . In the early stages the British back* were hampered by the fact that they were playing behind a beaten pack, and also by the fact that Poole was most erratic, his passes to Spong being wild and misdirected. Territorially, in the first half, Taianaki had all the better of the play, Britain being badly harassed by the fierce attacks of the local forwards Half-time came with Taranaki still attacking.

Brilliant British Backs. Mulling by Aarvold at the start of the second spell let the Taranaki forwards sweep to the Bntaslv lute, but the blue backs never falteredin the face of the flerco attack. With two line kicks Britain had retrieved themselves. Away went the British backs in a movement which went straight across the field to Reeve. Aarvold backed up, and beating two men. sent the forwards away. When Wilkinson got possession he showed a great turn of speed to shoot through the defence and score Britain s first points. Black converted with a great kick from wide out. '" At every opportunity Britain opened the game up. The British forwards were beating Taranaki badly in the loose. Britain's backs were seen in many a fast attack, the elusive Morley being a frequent puzzle to the Taranaki backs. From a -line out near the British twenty-five the ball was thrown far out across the field to Aarvold, who sent to Murray, to Morley, who beat his man and kicked in-field to his forwards, Black snapping up cleverly and racing in between the posts for a try that had the hallmark of polish. The scorer converted. - Again and again the British backs got going. The ball went alone the chain to Reeve, who made a great run when he was tackled. Murray carried on by beating the full-back. He scored and Black goaled. When the Taranaki's forwards set about the task of recover}' it took all the defensive powers of Britain to keep them out. For minutes they stormed the British line, then, with a quick chance of tactics, the British backs started passing movements in their own-twenty-five. The forwards then swept with the ball at feet to the Taranaki I twenty-five . where Parker picked up and Wilkinson raced through for a try. Black goaled. Three minutes later Britain opened out in a sensational passing movement, ten men handling the ball before Wilkinson again went over the line. Black's kick hit the post. Away went the Brtiish backs from the kick off, but Guy turned the tide Try intercepting. He raced for the line, was tackled, and a melee followed from which Wills shot over. Brown missed the kick. Taranaki made one last effort, but it was all over now, and the final score was:— Britain 23 Taranaki ..... 7