TARANAKI RUGBY IN 1897.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 June 1926, Page 4

TARANAKI RUGBY IN 1897.

DREAV AVITH AVAIRARAPA. “Grandstand” writes: In a review of early football in Taranaki, appearing in last Saturday’s Star Sports Edition, mention was made of -the fact that the Taranaki team was almost invincible in 1895-6-7, and that some of Hawera’s oldest observers cannot recall an instance of the Yellow and Blacks’ line having been crossed during that period. Their memories must be short, for in 1897 (when Taranaki was probably at its strongest), AVairarapa played a drawn game with Taranaki at Hawera —five points each. The late Alf Bayly scored a try which “Skinny” Humphries converted, while for Wairarapa Haigh scored and Emmett converted. The home team was exceptionally strong and included All Blacks Bayly, Humphries, A. and H. Good, L. Allen, Mills, Wills and Don Watson. AVairarapa boasted of only one All Black on that occasion—Body Gray, who wore the silver fern in 1893—but in those dqys Hawke’s Bay, or any other team, could not heat AVairarapa by 70 points.