TARANAKI'S DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 148, 26 June 1939, Page 13

TARANAKI'S DAY.

DEFEAT OF NORTHLAND. The first League trial to help the selectors choose the side for England, between Taranaki and Northland, provided a rugged exhibition of the code with an occasional glimpse of concerted action. Territorially honours rested with Taranaki. and they finally ran out the winners by 29 points to l'i. Only one point separated the teams at the Interval, when Taranaki led by six points to five. Following the change-over Northland played with more dash than they had shown at any stage in the match and took the lead by eight points to six. Thereafter, however, Taranaki were usually on top, and they went on to win convincingly. For the winners G. Oronin gave a splendid exhibition at full-back, while others who were impressive were W. Lewis and S. Mcßoberts (three-quarters), T. Fenton and J. Matuku (five-eighths) and D. Keenan (half-back). Fenton was resource? ful throughout and exhibited fine understanding with his supports. The pick of

the Northland backs were F. Bradley (halfback). W. Murray (five-eighth) and W Flesher and B. Pickrell (three-quarter). The Tarangaki forwards were superior to the sextet from the north, grafting hard in tight and loose, and generally being up with play to assist their backs in passing bouts. R. Hiekland, L. Clarke, and A Mitchell were the pick of the bunch. P. Pickrang, the former I'onsonhy and Manukau forward, was one of the best forwards on the ground, and from first to last he was going great guns for Northland. His best' support came from Crump and V Payne.

Scorers for the winners were W, Lewis Hiekland. Mcßoberts, Yeates, Keenan (2)\ and Clarke, while Clarke converted four tries. Try-getters for Northland were Pickrank, R. Hamilton and Flesher, while S. Hamilton converted on two occasions.