TARANAKI BEATEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 3, 4 July 1938, Page 17

TARANAKI BEATEN

MATCH WITH AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

•^AUCKLAND, July 2.

Although TaranaM, in a Rugby match against Auckland today, led at the interval by 6 to 5, mainly through the efforts of its back line, the Auckland forwards were the deciding factor in the second spell, and the home side won 16-9. Auckland was without the services of its regular three-quarter lime, Prentice having contracted measles and the wing men, D. Martin and the All Black J. Dick, being absent with influenza. The side gave a surprisingly good display under the circumstances. The new line comprised Killeen at centre and Flett and Ramsay on the wings. The attendance at Eden Park was the largest this season. Taranaki opened the scoring two minutes after the kick-off, Meuli kicking a beautiful penalty goal from a difficult position. Eight minutes later Auckland took the lead when A. Brown broke awlay after Cooney had received from the scrum. McLean converted. Auckland 5, Taranaki 3.

Auckland looked like scoring on one or two occasions, but good defensive work on the part of the Taranaki1 backskept the opposition at bay. After Taranaki had turned defence to attack C. McLean, a visiting forward, scored well out: There was no further score when half-time came, Taranaki leading by one point. The game up to this stage was fast and open, but after the recommencement play was confined mostly to the forwards. Sullivan,, the All tiiack fiveeighth, shone for the first time in the match when, two minutes after the interval, he made a brilliant dash from midway and touched down in the corner. The kick failed. Taranaki 9, Auckland 5.

Less than five minutes later Pearman short-kicked from the scrum and Brady carried on the movement to cross the line with the ball at his feet and score near the posts. McLean easily converted. Auckland 10, Taranaki 9. With Auckland hooking consistently, the home side held territorial sway. McLean then kicked a penalty goal for Auckland, making' the score 13-9 in favour of the home side. Taranaki looked dangerous, but Auckland's defence, thanks to the accurate kicking of Solomon at full-back* was sound. There was no additional score until five minutes before the final- whistle, when Carson broke from the ruck and scored, making the total 16-9. Shortly afterwards Johns, the Taranaki fullback, missed a penalty shot at goal, and the game ended with the score unchanged. Auckland's back line was not seen in action as much as it might have been, on account of faulty passing from the base of the scrum by Cooney. Pearman, however, at five-eighth, was brilliantly incisive, while Brady gave good support. Killeen mishandled on occasions. McLean, Hull, Pepper, and A. Brown were the best of the Auckland forwards. Arnold played a good game at halfback for Taranaki, and' Meuli, on the wing, was very safe, his kicking and tackling being sure. Johns, as the last line of defence, played well. The best of the Taranaki forwards were Richards, C. McLean, Benton, Coull, and Fowler.