RUGBY TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 155, 4 July 1938, Page 16

RUGBY TEST.

TARANAKI BEATEN.

THRILLING GAME ON SODDEN GROUND. PEARMAN AiVD SOLOMAN EXCEL. A crowd of fully teu thousand went to Eden l'aik on Saturday to witness another Rugby game between Auckland and Taranaki, and considering the sodden slate of the ground it was good football. Auckland won by 16 points to 9. They did not get a real advantage until well on in the second spell, from which stage they were the better team. There were some desperate encounters among the forwards and both packs gave a fine exhibition, enlivening hard rucking play with some spectacular breakaways with the ball at foot.

The vital difference which turned the scale in Auckland's favour, after they commenced to dominate the scrums, was the play of the local five-eighths. Peatman played his best game of the season and he iiad no superior on the ground.

The crowd was keen to see Sullivan, the All Black, and he made several htilliant runs, one of which left the local hacks standing as the Taranaki man spoil for the line to score in the corner. But Sullivan did not get a great many opportunities afterwards.

Auckland was forced to field an entirely new three-quarter line in Ramsay, Killeen and Flett. The men originally selected- - I>. L. M. Martin. A. Prentice and the All Black. .1. Dick- were all out of action. Prentice hud contracted measles and Martin and Dick were down with influenza. Forward Play Outstanding. The outstanding feature of the game in its early stages was the rousing forward work on lioth sides. In stirring shock tactics the heavy Lrigade on both sides engaged in a duel in which no quarter was given, and in which the art of dribbling figured prouiiuently. With the ball on the ground Taranaki appeared somewhat to advantage, hut when it came to handling the ball the Aucklanders were distinctly superior.

Almost Inituedlately play opened Taranaki'si substitute wing-three-quarter. Meuli, a high school youth, made his presence felt l>y landing a 40-yard penalty goal. And from that moment incidents followed fast to keep the game packed with interest and thrill.

How the Tries Came. Taranaki led at the half-time spell by 6 points to 5, but Auckland had twice been distinctly unlucky. The visitor's points came from a penalty goal by the substitute Taranaki winger, J. Menli, who landed a spectacular kick from an angle well out in the- field, and a try from a forward scramble by the leader of tbe pack, J. McLean.

For Auckland, Alec Brown scored, showing the pace of a three-quarter, after taking the' ball from Cooney and racing from near the twenty-five line, with Killeen in support. Cooney's break through before passing to the forward was a clever piece of work that seemed to go unnoticed by the crowd. Auckland's luck was out when Pearman darted through a ruck on halfway and raced away on his own. Sullivan chased him, tackled from behind and was carried over on the five-eighth's back, the try being disallowed, as Sullivan apparently had his arms around the ball. Later Whillans was denied a try after a fine dribbling effort, in which he was supported by Bond, Hull and McLean. An Aucklander held back a Taranaki defender, and again the referee was forced to rule "no try." Sullivan's try. which came shortly after half-time, was the highlight of the match. He completely outpaced the Auckland defence. Taranaki did not score again, but McLean kicked a penalty for Auckland, and near the end Carson capped a clever stab kick effort of Brady's by snapping up on the twenty-five and racing past the Taranaki three-quarters to score in the corner. This made the final score Auckland 10, Taranaki 9. Leading the ruck play for Taranaki, C. McLean constantly caught the eye by hiR fast breakaway work, while he was matched on the other side by Carson. They were, however, little superior to their confreres on either side. Coull, Richards and Benton were constantly in support of McLean for Taranaki, and the quartet rather shaded Auckland in the line-outs. Hull, Pepper, H. T. McLean and A. Brown were equally prominent in the heavy work, and Brown's pace in scoring Auckland's opening try was that of a three-quarter.

Sullivan and Solomon. Throughout the spell only two backs showed up above the others, Sullivan, for Taranaki. in retrieving situations and in paving the way for an opportunist try from a cross kick, and D. Solomon in getting Auckland time and time again out of bad 3 lots. Cooney was often caught in posseson at the back of the scrum, but he made amends with the opening that brought Auckland's first try. Brady proved highly troublesome to Sullivan, and Pearman made some chances which should have left Auckland in front at half-time, but for ill-luck at the scoring point. On the whole Auckland seemed slightly the better team on the first spell's play. although a point behind Taranaki at halftime.

Sullivan's brilliance was demonstrated by a sensational try at the opening of the second spell. In this dash Sullivan certainly showed his pace and his dash as a scoring player. Auckland partisans, however, were thrilled chiefly by the workmanlike fashion in which the Auckland substitute three-quarter line swung into action, with Killeen the bright particular star in several movements leading to the try .which put the home team a point in front again. In defence he was inclined to be uncertain. -

Under, pressure the Taranaki full-back, H. Johns, did all that was asked of bim in fine style, and he was asked to do much more than his fair share when Auckland, back and forward, kept up a fast and brilliant attack over the first 20 minutes.

During this stage of tbe game Pearman did especially valuable work in picking up low passes and setting the backs off without delay. On tbe whole he came through a heavy day's testing with enhanced reputation. Tried Myaott's Tactics.

The thrills kept up as Taranaki forwards drove to the attack, and their first fiveeighth. Brown, recalled the feats of Mynott by his wild dashes deep Into the ruck to set his forwards away. Taranaki' attack, however, lacked the finish shown by the Auckland thrusts, and towards the close of the game Auckland's superiority was beyond doubt.

Although scrum Infringements cost Auckland a number of penalty kicks, from one of which a goal was kicked, the Auckland superiority in hooking was a big factor in helping them to get the winning points. On the run of the game Auckland's show log against an undoubtedly strong all-round team, and .in conditions which rather favoured the visitors, was better football than has been played by Auckland reps for several years. The honours of the day went to the forwards. Carson his brilliancy to the flni h and was The outstanding player on the field.