THIRD IN THE DOMINION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 September 1926, Page 3

THIRD IN THE DOMINION.

TARANAKI RUGBY FIFTEEN. EULOGISTIC PRESS COMMENTS. Pleasing tributes to the prowess of the chosen of Taranaki in the Rugby field this season are paid by the Wellington press in recording TaranAki’s victory -on- Saturday, when l they defeated the representatives of Wellington by thirty points to twelve. The “New Zealand Times,” while advancing the- suggestion that the home side wAs practically a ‘colts” team, gives l the opinion that Taranaki would have extended—if not have beaten — Wellington’s best fifteen, and states that Taranaki ranks probably as the third, best provincial • side in the Dominion. Referring to Taranaki’s “versatile combination,” the report continues- :

“Possessing rugged and solidly-built forwards, supported by stockily set up and 1 fAst-moving backs, 1 they ail© versatile in their methods and dangerous at all times. In their game oni Saturday, after they had become accustomed to piaviug against a tricky wind, they dominated the- play forward' and ‘asserted their superiority in. all, departments of the game.” RETURN TO FRONT RANK. The “Dominion” records- that tliy■home side, wore outclassed,, and -intimates that Taranaki’s exhibition, together with the team’s record fori the season, indicates the return of Taranaki to the front rank in Rugby. “As a- result of the.fine record Taranaki, had put up this ,sea,son in winning seven out of the nine representative games played, increased interest attached to their appearance at Athletic Parle on Satux day afternoon” (states the Dominion report of the game. “The wearers of the yellow and black jerseys more than lived un to the good, reputation which had preceded them; they enhanced it. A team of fast, dashing forwards, who- knew now to use, their feet, were well’ supported by a set of most capable backs, including the two All Blacks, Brown and D. .Johnsbon, who were at their best. In Bourke and Hohaia, the -side possessed a couple of dangerous scoring wing three-quarters, who have, both pace and brains. The, Taranaki team also thought quicker than the local side, and whenever the ball went begging jt was invariably a yellow and b’ack man who got to- it first. The visitors- showed complete understanding, and were not afraid to pass, as a means of defence, even righton their own line. The . Wellington team, while playing well individually, sadly lacked combination. They, however', did as well as any side which has been placed in the field this -season, and gave the impression -that, if persevered with, they would develop into quite a creditable fighting force.” FORWARD HONOURS TO GUY. The Evening Post states: —“Taranaki at one time looked like putting up; a Hawke’s Bay score-, but when Petty retired they slackened off. The final score was 30 to 12 in favour of the visitors, which about represents the

relative merits of the teams. Taranaki -showed better combination arid greater resource among the backs, hut, individually did not shine 60 much forward.” Dealing with individual performances, the report continues: “The best forward on the field, for footwork wa-s Guy, the Taranaki winger, -a -son, of Arthur Guy, wing forward for Taranaki in the days of the H-unter-Myriott combination -and the drawn game against Be del 1-S iev wr i glit’ s- team. Guy, junior, ikes a sLyle- of play remarkably like that of his father, who used to bowl down the fie 1 d with thi© ball.at toe for great distances. Young Guy did this feat several times in -to-day’s (Saturday’-s) match, but was not- adequately backed up. “Brown, the ex-All Black, played a very brainy game, and somi© of his -kicks to touch were worthy of a Wallace. “Hohaia, the Maori wing three-quar-ter of the visiting -side, proved A strong and dangerous runner in attack, but appeared to wa-ndte-n over the field. He was seen in the second--spell coming right across from his own wing to land in touch on the other.” INDIVIDUAL RECORDS.

The individual record- of the tour, which concluded, with the "Wellington match, gives pride of place to Brown with 17 points, comprising one try, four conversions, and two -penalty goals. Other scorers who -contributed to the fifty-five points -registered were : W. Hohaia. 12 points (4 tries), Guy 6 (2 tries), Bourke 5 (a- try -and a- conversion), And Walter, Robinson,, Jeffries, Young and Johnston, a- try each.