REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 16 September 1926, Page 5

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

TARANAKI ON TOUR.

WAIKATO DEFEATED. BY TWELVE POINTS TO NIL.

(By Telegraph —Special to The Star.) HAMILTON, Sept. 10. Taranaki had little difficulty in defeating the Waikato representatives at Rugby Park, Hamilton, to-day, by 12 points (three tries and a penalty goal) to nil. The home side fielding was good' and there are some fine individual players, especially the- wing threequarters, who are very fast and played with great dash. The weakness was the insicLe hacks, who failed 1 to run straight and made very few openings for the scoring men. The forwards were good' without being resourceful, and as a whole the local team was outclassed in the finer points of the game. Heavy rain began to fall 1 at midday and continued' up to the-time of the" match, and there were a few showers during the game. The ground is a poor one under the best conditions, and' to-day outside the territorial boundaries was under water. The visiting backs, who combined! well, handled solendidly, and threw the ball about in good style. The forwards also initiated "some snappy, short passing bouts, which the Ideals found difficulty in checking. The heavy, greasy ball made accurate kicking difficult, and of the tries scored none were converted. The teams were as telegraphed, except that Cameron replaced l Anderson-in the local forwards.

THE PLAY

Waikato kicked off with a. slight advantage of wind. The game swung across from the western side, and Paterson whipped l np the ,baill and passed to Owen ,to Johnston, but the pass to Bourke went astray, and 1 Buckingham, dashing up, got in a good' kick, which went over- the dead ball line. A scrum followed l the drop-out and, the Ambers hooked, the backs being sent away nicely, but Campbell smothered Bourke. Montgomery broke awav from a- line-out, but was brought down by Courts. A high penalty kick by Brown transferred play to the home quarter, where fast following up saw Walter nearly over. A penalty relieved the pressure, but Waikato had to force. The home side came again with a . loose rush, which Coutts stemmed. Dare next checked a dangerous move by the visiting backs, in which Brown, " Johnston and Bourke were conspicuous. Offside play by Graham gave further relief to the home side, which broke away from; a line-out with Kemp and Howard in the van, and a kick by Kemp compelled the visitors to force. Prom the drop-out a pass from Dare was smartly intercepted by Johnston, who passed to Wills, but a promising movement was spoiled' by the slippery ground, and! play was transferred to Taranaki territory, where a free kick relieved, touch 'being found past ihalif-way. The visiting pack, led by Paterson, again invaded the Waikato quarter, where Wills and Will aims were conspicuous. Kemp relieved with a good kick down the field, which Johnston got back, and play again hung on the dirty portion of "the ground. Robinson broke through to the home side’s twenty-five yards line, where Quin cleared with a good kick to touch. Waikato secured from the throw-in, and the backs started ai promising move, which Bourke and Brown checked. The locals kept up the pressure, and Coutts was called on to save twice in succession. A free kick to Waikato gave Dare ai chance, but .he ■ was unsuccessful. Coutts sent the ball well down the field, but Buckingham, fielding well, sent the home backs away in a smart move, in which there was! some pretty in and out short passing, the final being forward. Had the ball been passed out instead of in a try must have been scored. .A free kick brought welcome relief to the visitors at a time when the home side was putting a lot of dash into their gpme. Another free kick to the home side gave Dare a chance, but he again failed and Jeffries forced. Play was then quickly transferred to the other end. where, after a couple. of attempts. Robinson scored from a move initiated .byßrown, who failed to convert. Taranaki 3 Waikato —. 0

A fine rush bv the home backs l was nipped only just in time, when Kemp and Thomas looked likely to go over. Dare had another unsuccessful penalty shot, 1 and then the visiting side tore downfield. where Holiaiai rian into the home full-back and winded him temporarily. From the throw-in the foa 1 ] came out to the visiting backs, ' and Brown got in a good kick, which Quin failed to field, and/ matters looked dangerous for Waikato for a moment: The next instant Waikato were just as dangerous. Anderson, Kemp and Buckingham took the 'ball down till the bitter were overtaken by Hohftia. Just on half-time Dare had. another shot from nearly half-way, but- the ball fell a little short, and the bell sounded! its Brown kicked into touch. Prior to this Brown’ had gon c to his usual place, arid Bourke was! out, on the wing.

Johnston set the ball in motion for the second bout, and the visitors early penetrated the home quarter, where several hursts sftw them, (nearly over. A penalty temporarily relieved, hut the visitors were soon back, ;and> a! forcedown resulted. From the drop out the game, swung to the other end, where Bourke kicked the ball dead to save. The visitors cleared, and a. mark by Williams proved adavntageous. Good following up saw Hohaia make a great run. and from his kick Waikato had to force. Owen opened up the game, and transferred to Johnston, who short-punted, and Brown and Bourke, following up fast, overran the hall.' Play returned to half-way, where Walter and Young figured an a loose breakaway, the ball going out at the corner. The home side was pinned: in ’its) territory, where the visitors kept up the pressure, and made several dangerous thrusts towards the line. A fine opening was made by Kemp, who sent Campbell away, hut Brown came across with a great burst of speed and/ brought off a, fine saving tackle. The visitors then swept down to the Waikato line, where they were awarded: a penalty, but Brown’s kick went just outside the post. A dash by the home: side brought them right into' the visitors’ territory, where an infringement) saved the positron. From following play the line was crossed, but a forward 1 pass spoiled it. Following this, a nice opening was made by Johnston and Brown and. Bourke were associated in a dash which ended’, in "the former scoring, hut lie was mot able to add the extra points. Taranaki 6 Waikato 0 Play hung at- the centre line for a time, 'till Dan Bourke broke away for Waikato, but Owen checked him. Then the Ambers came’ bffck, and: a free Lick for playing the ball on the ground

by Quin gave Brown a shot, with which' he made no mistake. Taranaki i 9 Waikato 0 Taranaki now definitely had. the upper hand, and play was for. some time - on the Waikato side of half-way, tilt" ' Chapman and Courtney broke away to the visitors’, territory, where. Dare had! another penalty shot-, but. failed, and play came back to neutral territory. Walter and Williams then! -burst away to the home side’s quarter, dm *a short, snappy passing bout, .which Quin checked, and from the line-out Waikato cleared. The visitors were soon back again, and in loose forward rushes and: sharp thrusts by the backs they pressed the home side until Hohaia scored, softer receiving the ball from Blown, - who made a beautiful cut-in. The kick failed. ’ ‘. .r Taranaki 12 Waikato ! v. 0 The home side made a valiant attempt in the concluding. ‘ stages, but they were - soon repulsed, and Bourke was forced out to touch at the corner. Again continuous pressure kept v the home side sternly defending till time was called, the score -remaining;, un-. . changed. ~ Air Chapman was referee.