TARANAKI’S TRIUMPH

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 4 June 1926, Page 5

TARANAKI’S TRIUMPH

RUGBY TEAM’S SUCCESS. WANGANUI OUTCLASSED. 36 POINTS TO 6. In. the presence of approximately 5000 spectators who assembled at Spigge.ns’ Park, Wanganui, yesterday afternoon, the- Taranaki Rugby representatives completely outclassed the home fifteen and secured a runaway victory by 35 points (9 tries, 4 converted) to 6 points (two tries). The occasion was favoured with l beautiful weather, mild and windless, and th 0 firm, dry ground gave, players the opportunity to present the code at its swiftest and best. As is evidenced by the -scores, the conditions were fully exploited by Taranaki, which played with remarkable vim, and delighted their own and the -home team’s supporters alike with a- series of splendidly combined attacks against which Wanganui’s reputedly formidable rear division was powerless. Last Saturday’s trial indicated that- Taranaki would be able to field a good fifteen, but even the most optimistic followers would not have- believed the chosen side capable of inflicting such a- crushing defeat- on the Stalwarts of Wanganui. The latter’s vanguard was regarded as the strongest seven the- union had placed in the field for several years, and in the- backs a great deal was expected l of the Iviugi, Peina, Potalca, Hartley combination but in almost every department of play they failed dismally to equal the standard shown bv their dashing opponents. The best that may be said of-Wanganui is that in forward play they made a favourable, comparison in line-out work. It is doubtful; however, whether they had a forward t-o equal Kive I ], Walter or Graham, all of whom played rattling Rugby throughout. Robinson 1 and R. Paterson were also much in evidence in the Taranaki vanguard. McOready, who received a- bad knock early in the game, was the only member of the winning pack who was not up to form. Lynskey, behind the Taranaki scrum, and Guy, the rover, repeatedly started the backs moving in action, which thrilled the crowd. Stevens and Johnston made repeated and brilliant openings, while Brown, at centre, was the outstanding player on the field. Fal-wa-ssei- and C. Paterson, the right and left wing respectively, proved a constant menace to' the Wanganui line, and on defence were well able to grapple with their respective opponents, Collier and Hartley. Playing behind such, a side Pet tv did not have- a difficult role, bub on the few occasions he was called upon, proved thoroughly reliable. Johnston, Cox and Stewart were perhaps the pick of the home forwards, while amongst the backs, whatever honours there were may be given to Rlytli. The two wings, both regarded as dangerous scoring men, were given but few chances, owing to the failure of the middle backs. Narby, the full-back, was given a lion’s share of work, but played steadily and usually got his man. The teams took the field as follow: — Taranaki. Petty, Falwasser, H. Brown, C. Paterson, I>. Johnston (capt)., Stevens, M. Lynskey, Guy (rover), Graham, McCreadv, Kivell. R. Paterson, J. Walter, Robinson. J. Young. Wanganui. L. Narby, G. Hartley, P, Potaka, R. Collier (capt.), P. Piena, H. Blyth, H. Kingi, H. Cox (rover), J. Johnston, L. Stewart, F. Leahy, E. Young, F. Buckley, It. Murie, C. Healey.

The toss for ends gave the choice! to the Taranaki skipper, who elected to defend the northern goal, and sent Wanganui on to- face the sun. The initial iesult came from the home backs, Peina, Potaka and Hartley invading, but the latter’s cross punt, when threatened by C. Paterson, was fielded by Brown, who . found touch in the blues’ half. A penalty, allowed Wanga-. nui to again move forward till from a scrum Lynskey started Stevens and D. Johnston, but the bout broke down when the transfer to Brown was knocked on. The blue hookers heeled cleanly from the scrum, giving their backs an opportunity, which was frustrated by a swift -smother effected by Guy and Graham. Then, just inside the yellow’s half, Potaka made an opening and cross-kicked to Hartley, who raced) for possession, only to be beaten by C. Paterson, wbo found touch the twenty-five with a ground kick. TV alter sprang for the ball in the line-out -and passed to Lynskey, with the- result that D. Johnston) put play in the other half, where Brown, from five yards from inside half-way, made- a fine attempt to goal with a penalty, the ball falling beneath the bar. ~ After a further exchange. Walter and Guy led the Taranaki vanguard in a rattling charge, which Peina checked in the danger zone and passed to Potaka. Closely pressed, the latter punted blindly, allowing D. Johnston to field smartly and -send G. Paterson dashing down the touch-line, but the return pass was ruled forward. In three successive .scrums the Taranaki hookers claimed the ball. Lynskey’s passes came swift and sure, but his -supports -did not work effectively till, with the third endeavour the ball went through'the chain to C. Paterson, but again a pass forward spoilt a promising attack. At midfield Walter, R. Paterson. Robinson and Falwasser were associated in -a swift movement, checked in the blues’ twenty-five by Kingi. An exchange of long kicks gave place to' a scrum in the home end. The- ball, leaving the- side of the pack, was sent bv Guv to Falwasser, whose bid resulted in 'a throw-in almost on the scoring line. Blythe gave relief, and action returned to neutral territory. Several attempts by Kingi at the base- of the serum to set his rear division working failed to produce effective attacks, though twice in -as many minutes Falwassor was called on to stop determined bids by his speedy vis-a-vis- Colder. Attempts to work the other wing were also fruitless, and a startling counter came when Guy broke at midfield to make a spectacular-'dribble to the twenty-five. Here he gathered neatly and sent the ball to Walter, from whom it travelled via- two sd-ppcrter-s to tlx 1 : right wing, where Falwasser made a dash which allowed Kivell to cross in the corner for'the fi.rts.try of-the game. Setting the hall for the- kick, the placer let it roll, with- thp resu't that the kick was -disallowed, and after fifteen minutes’ play the score was: Taranaki 3 Wanganui 0 Though, until this -stage, the fluctuations of play gave promise of an even contest, the opening try signaled the, advent of Taranaki’s -supremacy. Further results followed rapidly. The next success came within a. minute of the kick-off. C. Paterson, fielding a punt from Blvthe at the twenty-five, and opened the way for D. Johnson, who swerved easily passed a last defender, and tuoched down close to the posts. Brown fai'ed to convert. Taranaki 6 Wanganui 0 The kick-off gave Stewart and J. Johnston a chance to assume an offensive, which resulted in the award

of a penalty to Wanganui ;in a good position, but Collier was unable to find the uprights. A' rush by R. Paterson turned the defence into , an aft-ack, which penetrated when Brown, racing up to smother Potaka-’s clearance, allowed Gay to improve and transfer to C. Paterson, who shot across near the corner. Again the kick failed. ’‘ . Taranaki 9 Wanganui 0 Then, on the other side of the field, Falwasser flashed down the line and. cross-punted to Brown.. The fatter lost, possession, but made a. clever recovery and handed to IX Johnston, whoso swerve brought applause as he raced round the full-back to' ground the baß -- between the posts. Brown’s kick;add§<L._„ the extra- points, making the score: Taranaki 14 Wanganui 0 Loose sorties by the Wanganui forward division characterised ensuing incidents. Cox, Leahy and Murie endeavouring to change the fortunes of play. ; Three successive attempts were turned by Lynskey, Brown and Petty, and from'a midfield line-out the northern backs again showed in dangerous formation, the ball travelling in well-timed ' passes to C. Paterson. Sending a- short punt over two opponents, the speedy winger regained possession and crosskicked to liis forwards, who swept towards the ohjetcive with a bustling rush, which culminated in, a- try by Graham well out from the goal. IX Johnstone failed, narrowly with a diffi- - cult kick. Taranaki I" Wanganui . 0 Taranaki’s battering assaults from both front and rear divisions were demoralising the home backs, but in the loose the forwards were holding their own. Taranaki’s defence, < however, was proving as sound as their attack was deadly. The line was in danger when Stewart appeared in front of the goal, hut Petty tackled surely, and Graham relieved with a splendid dribble to half-way. Good support was accorded, and finally Robinson, spoiling" Narby’s clearance, sent the hall- to Stevens, who sped round behind' the uprights. Brown’s kick siicceeded. Taranaki 22 Wanganui ...•. 0 The southerner ns made reprisal to Taranaki’s sixth try with an aggressive forward movement, '■ from which Cox broke clear and, drawing the- de- ' fence, handed to Murie, who had only to dive oyer in the corner. The kick proved too difficult for Leahy. Taranaki 22 Wanganui 3 The yellows’ answer came within- a minute, a half-way line-out giving possession to Stevens, who Sent the ball via D. Johnston to Brown. Reaching the twenty-five, Brown could not pass to C. Paterson, as Cox was between. With four men to pass the AIL Black’s chapoes seemed small, but with the trickiest run of the day he sidestepped and dummied Potkka.ahd' two others and carried- on- to ' dive-over Na-rby’s tackle for a: brilliant try, C. Paterson converted' from 12 yards illside touch, iust as the hell sounded' orange time, the scores then-showing Taranaki 27 Wang'anui 3 . - - SECOND SPELL. Opening the second session the yellow forwards forced the pace with a vigorous offensive,, which almost resulted in a- score by Walter, who- was stopped three yards from the line by 'Collier. The hall rolled into' touch, and from the throw-in Kivell forced his way over with a powerful thrust. Johnston failed to convert. Taranaki 30 Wanganui -.- 3 . Immediately on resuming Wanganui were again in difficulties, but J. John-,1, ston stemmed the attackers by fight> ing through a ruck and racing to midfield. Murie was handy, but -could not " gather the pass, and l Petty came up to clear. From an ensuing line-out Brown sent Taranaki to the assault again. Kivell and R. Paterson developed the attack with a rush, from which, Graham made a break for the goal. ... Robinson was in close attendance and, fielding a. timely pass, flung himself . over the line just as Narby sprang for ,;; a- tackle. Brown’s kick proved easy.-

Taranaki 35 Wanganui ■ , 3 Nothing daunted by the continual reverses, the battling blue forwards made strenuous endeavours to tuffi the tide. An impressive attack ■ .by J - Johnston, Leahy, Stewart and Murieput the northern team on thei defensive. After an exciting three miilutes in’ Taranaki’s quarter relief came when Collier, kicking too hard, allowed Petty to force. With the drop-out the -yellow forwards again swept to the attack, and fumbling by iffingT let Graham gain ground till forced out by Narhy just short of the scoring line. Play veered to the opposite side, where Narby forced just ahead of R. Paterson, this action being repeated a little- later when 'C. Paterson sent' the ball across. A scrum in the blues’ half allowed Blyth, who had exchanged) places with Kingi, to set the home) backs moving smartly, but Collier was surely tackled by Falwasser. Twice C. Paterson and Brown, came .into the limelight with score-seeking dashes, ~ necessitating deadly tackling by Hartley. Developing a ■ following- movement, C. Paterson innassed to Stevens, who went across, but . was recalled through a prior infringement. -Play remained in home territory, and an infringement resulted in another • unsuccessful attempt at goal by Brown. Collier fielded ivT goal, and sent up a punt which was accepted by Falwasser, who cut out four defenders with a corkscrew run, but was . stopped, in front of the goal h'y- Nar.by. From the ensuing scrummage .the ball shot- across to C. Paterson, who struck the corner flag in diving for an attempted score. The home defence became surer at this stage, and the Wanganui forwards made further excursions into Taranaki’s ground. First-Stevens and. then ’Petty had to give ) relief; from. critical positions. Shortly after Taranaki’s-full-back was faced . witk three attackers in line, hut prevented.' yrhat had appeared a- certain score by securing Collier an cl the hall t ogether . Several times the Taranaki rear division essayed the attack, hut the sting;. of the earlier, stages' was and what had previously been a weak defence proved equal to all tests. The dying stages found Wanganui striving desperately to reduce the margin. Just on full time Leahy and J. Johnston made a burst from midfield. Nearing the line Johnston was collared, by Petty, hut the hall came loose., and gave Cox the opportunity to race round between the posts. The scorer’s kick failed, and no-side sounded with the score: Taranaki 35 Wanganui 6. Dr. F. C. Hutchison/ was the referee.