AN IMPROVED TEAM

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 291, 4 September 1933, Page 11

AN IMPROVED TEAM

Taranaki’s Good Forwards LAMBOURN IN FORM Dazzling Try by Kilby

(By

“Poster.”)

Wellington disappointed their admirers in failing to produce against Taranaki the sweeping open rushes with crisp handling and spear-like _ penetration which were features of their earlier displays this season. In saying that they were prevented from doing so more by ■ the excellence of the visitors’ defence than through their own mistakes deserving tribute is paid to a vastly improved Taranaki side. v -In their first meeting this season, at Hawera, Wellington, once they switched on the power, completely outclassed the Taranaki forwards. There was never any suggestion of a similar happening on Saturday. The reorganised Taranaki pack gave Wellington much more than they anticipated getting. They waged a ceaseless forward battle with the home pack, and came through with the honours slightly in their favour, .. Combination Affected. Wellington were handicapped through the absence of regular players in vital positions. In the first place Peck, Wellington’s outstanding lineout forward, was unavailable through injury, and his absence soon became painfully apparent, while fifteen. minutes after _ the start Barry, who pairs with Peck in the lineout, left the field with an injured ankle. The loss of these two players severely restricted Wellington’s activities in a system of attack which *they have developed this year to a high state of efficiency, The other vital absentee was Killeen, the spearhead, of the three-quarter attack. His place was filled by Robins, who early in the game received concussion which seriously affected his play, and was responsible'for him dropping most of his passes. The difficulty under which Robins was labouring was not brought under Kilby’s notice till late in the game, when he effected a change in positions between Robins and Macdonald, with beneficial results. It was anticipated that Wellington would adopt similar tactics to their previous games, and would open, the game out on Taranaki in the second spell. Perhaps the players took a Irttle too much for granted; at all events they did not succeed. and with play being kept tight, some of Wellington’s forwards, who play essentially the loose game, looked at times like fish out of water. ’ •. • Taranaki's Bock-like Defence. Wellington have not had to face such rugged defence and solid tackling this season as they met on Saturday, and progress by the orthodox means of chainpassing through the backs was very restricted. Early in the game good ground was won several times by the five-eighths sending the ball, back across the forwards as they broke from the scrums and lineouts, a system of attack which Wellington have done well with this winter, and it was not until this scheme was again exploited late l in the game that they were able to manoeuvre Taranaki out of position. , Kilby, the Wellington captain, produced the highlight of the game. Though continually harassed by the Taranaki forwards, he succeeded in snapping the ball away from them, and opened up play to Page with some delightful passes. Two minutes before time Kilby secured from a scrum about forty yards out, cut round the blind side, then changed direction to the open, and with a swift diagonal run outwitted the defending backs and scored by the posts. It was a snapshot of Kilby at his best, and had the mark of class on it. Kilby was opposed by Dymond, whose try for Taranaki at Hawera was one of the best scored against Wellington this season. Dymond’s work behind set scrums and rucks was patchy, and his passing erratic, but in the open he was extremely tricky, and used a sidestep which beat the Wellington forwards consistently, Each time he ran with the ball from the scrum he made ground, and on several occasions gave Wellington a sharp reminder that their forward tackling is far from what it should be. Busy Day for Page. Page, the Wellington first five-eighth, was the busiest man on the field. His task, and that of Kilby also, was made difficult through the ball coming slowly from the Wellington scrum, which gave the Taranaki breakaways and inside backs, time to get up on him, and he was well marked, usually by two men, all day. He gave as much in return, however, for his tackling was one of the features of the game. The return of Griffiths speeded up the inside back attack, but an occasional break past Edwards was as much as Griffiths was allowed to do. Dike Page, he was very effectively bottled up. The failure of Robins to produce his usual form had a restraining effect on the wings. Macdonald saw little of the play, and did not show the speed he had last season. Fuller had more to do. and scored a try which Pollock and McLean made fairly sure for him. A sound display at full-back, with attack introduced at the opportune moments, kept Pollock in the limelight. He gave his play a much more spectacularturn than Collins, his All Black vis-a-vis. The incident which led to Fuller’s try was cleverly achieved. Racing across field on his own twenty-five to defend, he skilfully gathered the ball on the run and sped away to place McLean in position to carry on. The All Black forward did his part just as well, keeping well infield to draw Collins before sending Fuller away with a clear field. Fuller added the frills by kicking across wind from the touchline to land a goal. Lambourn’s Splendid Game. The type of forward game demanded by the visitors was not suited to all the Wellington forwards, blit Lambourn. Reid, Butler, and Bydder were thoroughly at home, particularly Lambourn, whose hooking, rucking, and tackling were of a high standard. The consistent- form of Lambourn, supported by his proficiency in hooking in set scrums, should bring him into line for higher honours this season. If Taranaki make the improvement in combination which a tour usually brings, they will have a successful time in the South Island. Usually packing the 3-3-2 formation, they played 3-4-1 on Saturday, and are likely to adopt this scrum in view of their success against Wellington. Fowler, the rake, was unable to get more than a light share of the ball from Lambourn, but in all other respects the pack shaded Wellington. ■ Clarke, the All Blacky is right back to form, while Gargan, Young, Wills, and Fookes (the latter particularly in the loose) are the foundation of a real old-time Taranaki pack. With a faster and more enterprising first five-eighth, Taranaki might have done better, for Edwards showed promise in many bright pieces of play at second fiveeighth. Crawford, at. first five-eighth, was too deliberate in his passing, which took the speed l off the back attacks, while his tackling lacked the ferocity of his colleagues. Rutherford, who has starred in recent games, showed great speed, but was deprived of any real opportunity. Robins had him safely marked, and he usually was well smothered. The wingers, Ross and Hill, received only occasional chances. Safety with confidence marked the play of Collins at full-back. His fielding was sure, his tackling sound, nnd his touchfinding consistently accurate.