WELLINGTON BEAT TARANAKI

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 239, 4 July 1940, Page 15

WELLINGTON BEAT TARANAKI

Rugby Match At Hawcra CLOSE AND EXCITING SCORING Dominion Special Service. HAWERA, July 3. Wellington bear. Taranaki by 23 points to 21 in a Rugby match at Hawcra today, scoring the winning try almost on the call of time. The last few minutes were the most hectic of any match seen in Hawera for several years. The crowd was at fever heat. Each side scored three tries, Taranaki converting all to Wellington's one. Tile visitors', however, kicked lour penalty goals to Taranaki’s two. which.was the deciding factor. Taranaki led 16-9 at half-time, increasing this with a try converted, to 21-9 in the first few minutes of the second spell, but thereafter the home team never scored, while Wellington scored two tries and two penalty goals. The match for the'most part was dominated by the forwards, the efforts of the backs being mainly individual. The Wellington rearguard would have been more effective bad they run straight instead of across. Credit must be given to Taranaki, however, for forcing the play in this manner, Sullivan and Hayman being always equal to Veitch and Taylor in speed and strategy. No fault could be found with the Wellington forwards, who, though outhooked, adopted tactics in the loose that regained possession. McNicol, Ongley and Todd were always outstanding.

The ball seldom travelled to the wings, consequently the spectators were not given a chance to see Wright in action. The other winger. Sanson, received similar treatment. Some idea of the run of play as far as Wellington was concerned is given by the fact that all tries were scored by the forwards. McNicol, Ongley, Kirshherg and Taylor doing all the kicking. It was not till the Taranaki forwards showed signs of being tired that Wellington could be said to have a definite advantage, this being midway through the second spell. From then till near the elose Taranaki staged a recovery and at times were unlucky not to score, though they could not be excused for dropped passes during the match. Sanson and OTlalloran were injured, being replaced by Randall and Baird.