FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 20 August 1925, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI V. WAIRARAPA

A FORAY ARID GAME. HARD AND FAST PLAY. By Telegraph—Special to Star. CARTER,TON, Aug. 19. In a hard and fast game the Tiaranaki touring Rugby representative team defeated Wairarapa, «here to-day by 8 points (two tries, one converted) to 3 (an unconverted try). Taranaki’s superiority of play with the forwards, who played a brilliant game, completely dominated play in the first spell, in which honours went, entirely to the visiting team. Wairarapa showed better form in the 1 atter half, but though they frequently went close to scoring, they were unable to penetrate the defence, which except for weakness in tho centre-three-quarter’s position, was sound. AA ladravuapa had a strong team in tho field, ,and defeat came as a surprise to many of their supporters, especially alter the splendid showing they had made in the previous week against Canterbury and Southland. Taranaki forwards were a, fine lot and are doing better every match. They should put up a splendid light against Haiwke’s Bay, especially it they are helped with a few changes in the backs. The weather waw perfect for the game, which was watched by a fair gathering of spectators. The teams were: Taranaki. —Fullback, Pen mail; threequaittens, Coni ton, Love ridge and Hohaia; five-eighths, Fry day and Roberts ; half, Lynskey; forwards, O’Rorke (wing), Robinson, Johnston, AVard, Patterson, Kivell (capt.), Walter, Baldwin.

AYairarapa.—Fullback, Hood ; threequarters, Gundy, Stringfellow and R. Booth; five-eighths, F. Booth and G. Booth; half, Neighbours; forwards, Donald (wing), AVyber, Aloncrieff, Bambry, Fairibmther, Rleside, Turei and Chapman. AAmiiiaiiapa looked like scoring soon after the start, but Hohaia antercepteu Sprnigtellow’is pass to Gundy on the wing and be, Fryday and Lovfe-ridge returned play to \V airaraipa’s twentyfive. 'lianananL had an opening when the forwards heeled to Lynskey, but Roberts! missed the ball and when Fryday restarted the rush, Loveudge fumbled and played the ball on tlie ground. W airuruipai did liQtt* gain mucii with, the free-kick, and AA' and and Walter charged down on the line, but failed to get through with the ball. Gefod line kicking slaved AA'airarapa when Taranaki were threatening, principally through the forwards efforts and the sound defensive play of Penniall. Taranaki spent most of the early part of the spell on Wairarapa is side o-l the half-way line, and their pesi stent efforts were rewarded when AA airanaipa was penalised at touch on the twentyfive line. Kivell punted high towards midfield into a gaip in AVairarapa’s backs, and Walter, coining through and fielding the ball off a high bounce, was across under the posts in a flash. Fryday converted the try. Attacking on the left wing, AA airarapa looked dangerous, but Taranaki’s back ling was solid and effective and held them at bay. By a series of loose rushes the amber forwards were soon back on the attack. A force gave Wairarapa relief, but Taranaki got the best of the exchange of kicks between the backs, and following up a line-out from the left wing, Baldwin secured in the loose and dived in uiider the posts. Fryday’s kick hit the post and -bounced inside. —Taranaki S, AY airaarapa 0. Taranaki forwards to a man, were playing a wonderful game, beating Warrarapa in all departments, and breaking up tho home blacks’ attempts to attack. The green backs could not stop their powerful looise rushes, laud Roberts excited the crowd by a fine dash from the 25 nearly to the line, but hits pass unfortunately hit- a Wairarapa player and went astray. Taranaki attacked strenuously and Wairapa relieved after a long attack by touching down. Soon after Taranaki forwards and] backs started a paralysing rush, following Go u l ton Vs break away down the centre and carried play to their opponents’ Mine, but nobody was able to pick up at an opportune moment to cross. Bracing up, raraipa made some bright rallies, but Taranald’is forwards hail thfc ball under perfect control and continued to walk over the home team. Several fine runs were made by Roberto -and Lynskey, the -latter going very close to scoring. Taranaki -had again established themselves in AVairarapa’is quarters when half-time arrived.

When the teams returned W airara-pa had changed Gundy mid G. Booth (wing three-quarter and -first fiveeighths) .around, and two minutes from the stia:t, Wairarapa got the ball out. C-undy was tackled and dropped the ball, but restarted the rush and Stringfellow, who hopelessly' -boat Lov-endge, who was ■apparently waiting to intercept, sent Guy Booth racing -across at the coiner wiv?re he scored -a.s ho wa,s tackled by Penniall. Gundy failed to convert. 'Taranaki retaliated by charging down, into Wuii-rarapals quarters, whore the greens touched down. Taranaki. pressed hard, but the amber forwards wore caught oil-side -and Hood -eturned. play to half-way. IVairarapa were adopting dillorent i-actios, a-nci deep kicking by the home backs had (lwifenmi.l4 .in- idiliVjn:b'i.cisi.. Wmiirarapa rushed Penniall a-rnl ca.rried the ball over the line, hut in a furious scramble a Taranaki man wais first to force the ball. W-airarapa, in fact was mi hit unlucky not to iscore, as two -green men had just failed to reach the ball. Wai-ra-raipa continued to play with greater dash, mid weie doing the attacking. A. \vitio pusi.si iicon Ouiuly ito "tlio gave G. Booth tv great chance, -butjthe wiiii,ger wars well tackled by Gcwi-liton and the ball, finally went into touch. Phasing better than they had done in the first spell, Wairarapa, backs threatened to score on numerous o-ccasicins, -and might have done so but- for the -splendid defensive rushes of -the Taranaki pack, which kept the ball tight or heeled ,it jui-Jb as they' wished. Their packing was perfect, and the manner in which they .controlled the ball and dribbled lit through the opposing backs was remarkable. Once Walter, accompanied by Frydia-y, took the ball from Tairamiak-i ’s half to within ten yardis of the line, where it went out, but whp-n the forwards had W-aina.rap-a hemmed and Kive-11 passed back, Roberts missed the ball and let the defenders through to half-way. From there Fai-rbrother, 'Bannlbry -and Momcrieff went right to the line, where a green infringement brought fortunate relief to Taranaki. Mulls by Loveridge, whose play

tlirougliout was weak, lii.s fielding anti tackling leading looip-holes in the defence time and again, nearly let Wairarapa through again, hut oncer more the forwards came to the rescue, Baldwin coining away from a scramble on the goial-line and dniibMiing into touch past half-way. Penniall was 'S* little uncertain once or twice in the second spell, lairid there were many anxious moments for Taranaki when Wairarapa hacks cut through the defence with 'some pretty reverse passing, a knock--011 near the line, rafter 'at learst half a dozen handled, robbing them of a certain try. The forwards packed tight on the lino and held the ball until O’Jforke took it away at his toe. Then Strigfellow kicked another Whirarapa chance into touch in goal. W adrarapa hammered at the detenco but coni Id not break through. Hohaia played for safety when he let a- long kick roll across and touched down, drawing sarcastic remarks from the spectators. Then he won back their favour by tackling Sitringfollow beautifully as the Wal.ruirapa man was on the verge of diving 'across after a fine run. Their own infringement s lost Wai rarapa. two more 'chances, when they had only to handle the hall to score, and after repelling >ai Taranaki forward attack they came again, attacking as the bell sounded. The scores were unaltered: Taranaki 8, Wairarapa 3.

RANFURLY SHIELD. TARANAKI TEAM. RESERVES SENT OVER. In view of the number of Taranaki men affected, by injuries, it lias been found necessary to send over to Hastings reserves to take their places for die Ranfurly Shield match on Saturday. Brown (three-quarter) and Morey half) will go over to-day. MATCH AGAINST MAORIS. A Taranaki team has been chosen to >ay against the Taranaki Maoris at New Plymouth on Saturday. It is as follows: — „ , Backs: Friar (Tukapa), J. McCarty Tvaponga), Cameron (Kapoaga), Hook>l- (Tukapa), Deem (Old Boys). Ennis 'Tukapa), S. Lay (Athletic), Jeffries Tukapa). Forwards : Tiplady (Lltham). Brewster (Old Boys), Evans (Tukapa). Young (Stratford), McGuire (Clifton). Penniall (Eltham), Stroud (Star), T Keefe (Stratford). Luslc (Opunake). Players will assemble at New Plymouth at 2 p.m. on Saturday. If unable to play, the secretary of the Rugby Union should be notified at once. The team to represent Taranaki Maoris wil 1 be: Ike, Williams, Soflo, Wake, Taikninako. Dick, Ngaia, P. Martin, Malcolm, Piro, Crowe, Falwasscr. But’er, T. Holiaia, C. Holia.ia, Robinson, Pa rata. W. Skelton, T. Rei, rl. Wakarua. All those not available should notify Mr IT. Bailey, Waitara. THIRD GR ADE^SEMT-FINAL. The third grade semi-final between Stratford and Eltham will he played at Eltham on Thursday (August 27).

HAWKE’S BAY v. TARANAKI. The following team will represent Hawke’s- Bay in the Ranfurly Shield match at Hastings on Saturday: Fullback, Nepia; three-quarters, Greenside, Blake, Fahvasser; five-eighths, Corkill, Paewai; half, Mill; back row, Craven, Gemmell; sides, M. Brownlie, C. Brownlie; lock, Maliony; front row, Kirkpatrick, Irvine; wing forward, Walker. Reserves: Backs, Yates and Kivell; forwards, Swain and Tolley. AUCKLAND v. KING COUNTRY. (by TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.! AUCKLAN, Aug. 19. In a. Rugby match to-day Auckland beat King Country by 24 points, to 3. BUSH BEATS DANNEVIRKE. DANNEVIRKE, Aug. 19. In a Rugby, match to-day between Bush and Dannevirke, the former Avon by 19 points to 9. Danue\drke led at half-time by 6 to 3.

SOUTHLAND Y. CANTERBURY BURY.

TIMARU, Aug. 19. An interprovincial football match between Southland and South Canterbury was played to-day in fine weather on a slightly heavy ground in the presence of "a 'arge number of spectators. Southland had the advantage of weight and dominated play m the tight work. The final score was: Southland 27, South Canterbury 11, but this is not a true indication of the play, though Southland were undoubtedly the superior team. Southland had the best combination, resulting n finished movements, win e boutli Canterbury's efforts lacked liuisli. Tmic after time the latter were on the point of scoring, but only crossed the line three times, while Southland got over on nine occasions. None M t “ 0 Southland tries was converted. Southland’s tackling was very good, and most of their scoring movements started in their o.wn twenty-five. South Canterbury’s defence was weak, and the home team failed to score in the hrst half, in which Southland got lo pojnts, but Canterbury improved later. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ TOURNEY WANGANUI, Aug. 19. Mail awa tu to-day won the annual primary schools’ tourney by defeating Wairarapa by 17 points to nil. V anganui were runners-up after beating Wellington by 9 to 3. Manawatu won all three games and Wanganui two, while Wellington and Wairarapa had one draw each. The winning team was much better all round than its opponents. INTER-COLLEGIATE MATCH. AUCKLAND, Aug. 19. An inter-collegiate Rugby match between Wanganui Collegiate School and King’s College was played' here to-day, Wanganui winning by? 19 to 6.

MAORIS'AT PLAY.' WELLINGTON, Aug. 19. The southern Maori team won the Te Morei rose borvl match by 14 points to 11 at Athletic Park to-day after an exhibition of fast, clean Rugby, in Avhieh a- disappointing feature. Avas the bad passing. Jacob, the southern cap : tain, played magnificently, and) Kingi excelled himself behind the scrum. Gemmell Avas the best serum forward on the field, and Jury, Barclay and' FalAvasser Avere prominent among the backs. South scored first, PaeAvai receiving from Phillips and; diving over. Love goaled. Shortly after Kingi got 1;lie ball from the scrum and nipped' round the blind side. South retaliated quickly. Falwasser Avas grassed on the line, and a penalty for off-side gave Gemmell a goal. Barclay, Falwasser and Gemmell Avere responsible for a good try by Gemmell. Half-time came, shortly after. On resumption the north forwards dribbled down under the goal, where Kingi marked and goaled. North made the pace, and a. back moA 7 ement sent Karena o\ r er at the corner, from which FaLvasser goaled, making the score II all. Over-eagerness 'by both sides made plaA 7 scrappy, and finally off-side play enabled Jacob to goal and- win-the match. Sir Maui Pomare presented Jacob with the trophy and the players Avith caps. They responded Avdth the koniate haka for the benefit of thousands of spectators. In a curtain-raiser the Victoria Uuiversity fifteen (under 21) defeated Te Aiite College by 11 points to 9.