REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 July 1928, Page 6

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

TARANAKI v.. WELLINGTON. TARANAKI TURN THE TABLES WIN BY NINE TO (SIX. The representative Rugby match 'between Taranaki and Wellington, on the Jlawera showgrounds yesterday, drew an attendance of between 4000 and 5000 spectators, who were treated to a .fairly open exposition of the code. It was generally understood that Wellington was represented by a comparatively weak team all-round, and the same may ,be sa'id, with reason, of the side fielded .by Taranaki, for, of the •selected back team ;G. Morris (fullback), W. Hohaia and iC. Hunt (wing three-quarters) were absentees and wore replaced by A. .Collins, K. Hookes and Rutherford respectively. The defection of brilliant .scoring men of the stamp of Ilohaia and Hunt was a scrir.us matter. Their substitutes, though making no palpable errors, were clearly not of the same standard.

With a wind and sun advantage throughout the first half and aided by superior handling and combination in the back division the visitors held the upper hand and compiled their only scores—a penalty goal by Honan and a try to the credit, of Wilson. The first spell ended in favour of Wellington by six point's to nil. With the change over and assistance of the breeze the homo team put on nine points—two tries and a penalty goal, eventually running out winners with a margin of three points. The game may be said to have been a battle between Taranaki forwards (of whom Walter, Baldwin, .Robinson and Guy, rover, were most conspicuous), and the visitors’ backs. Riley was easily the best back in the home combination and received most support from Johnston and Fookes.

Brown, Cohan and Chaney were possibly the most prominent in Wellington 's rear division, which collectively handled, kicked and ran in better style than did their opponents. The Black forwards were beaten in scrum work, but held their own in line-outs. On the side of 'the scrum 'the 1924 All Black captain (O. G. Porter) gave a good, though modified, demonstration of Ms capabilities when included in a top--notch team. The teams were: — Taranaki (Yell'ow and Black). —A. Collins (full-back); K. Foakes, HI. W. .Brown,. Rutherford; D. Johns ton, E. Owen; S. F. Riley; J. Walter, W. Baldwin; R. Williams, Ike (lock), A. Kivell; O. Murphy, W. Robinson (hookers); A. Guy (rover). Wellington (.Black). —Lang (fullback); Brown, Chaney, Murray; E. Foley, M'acKenzie; Conan; Wilson, Jessup; Piekrang, Thomas (lock), McNaugh't; McLean, Williams (hookers), •C. G. Porter (rover).

THE GAME DESCRIBED. Taranaki kicked off against the sun alnd wind, gaining mo ground with the kick. For five minutes play centred, neither team, handling well. The home forwards showed a taste of their quality and held their (ground despite adverse conditions, until RobinsOn, kicking Mgh, gave Wellington an opportunity to gain ground. Johnston; however, retrieved the 'error with a smatrit run to 'the visitors’ iside of centre. Wellington folrwairds came back and were awarded a penalty kick alt the 25. Conan converted with a. .perfect kick, the score reading: . Wellington ?, Taranaki Q

Following the kick out the visitors’ (progress was stayed by McLean off-side. The advantage gained was negligible and play swung across field, where Baldwin was prominent in a good dribble. A succession of penalties, to either side held the game at midfield, the Wellington backs making strenuous endeavours to open up play their efforts always breaking down before good tackling by the Yellow forwards. As a direct result of/an interception and break away by Walter, Wellington were forced down. -'Rutherford and B'aldwin wore associated in a nippy (piece of handling, which gained a temporary advantage. Porter kicked well down to Fookes, who effected a beautiful catch and returned to half-way. Immediate, ly after Fookes again retrieved ’a dangerous position. Conan attempted a goal from a penalty a <few feet inside the centre line, the ball dropping short. Then Thomas attempted a field goal which forced the home team. Keeping 'up the attack Wellington were almost over through the medium of MacKenzio and Chaney, whose passing das'll carried play to the home line. (Scrambling forward play in the - Taran'aki twenty-five enabled Wilson to reach the line with a dribble and the easiest of tries. Conan’s kick failed.

Wellington 6 Taranaki 0 Resuming, Taran'aki surged to the opposite end, where Fookes secured and short punted, Riley carried on the movement, .which, however, got no further than Lang. iSparkling incidents in succeeding play were a "smart mark by Riley in fact of a strong forward rush, and a dash for the line by the Yellow, which broke down by 11, Brown knocking on. Brown (Wellington) took a hand in attack, running strongly down the touchlinc and punting over Fookes to the dine. He was .beaten to the touch by his Taranaki namesake. Working upheld Walter, Johnston. ■Brown and Rutherford pressed on the line. Tlie home forwards surged back to the visitors’ territory, led by Baldwin ,'thcn progress being checked by offside tactics and Ike had an ineffectual shot at goal. The Wellington forwards, with Porter at the head, ibr'oko down the field, Guy sit opping a dangerous rush with a handy Icicle 'to touch. Half-time was called' directly after with no alteration to the score, which road:

Wellington 0 Taranaki o With the change over and wind advantage, everything seemed in favour of Taranaki, although the visitors had not, to contend with the sun, which had (by then clouded over. Wellington’s kick-off ball was returned with a sensational dribble from halfway by Walter and Guy; at the line Chaney, travelling fast, came up and kicked to the dead ball line. Maintaining the pressure, IT. Brown lost a sure score by mishandling. At the halfway Riley made an opening and shut the ball to Baldwin, the latter returning it to

Riley t-o cross for Taranaki’s -initial score. H. Brown made a .poor attempt to goal. Wellington 6 Taranaki 3

The game livened at this stage, Taranaki sweeping down, Owen, Brown and dto bins on /being (prominent. Lang cheeked the movement. Renewing hostilities, Brown attempted a field goal from an easy .position. The visitors were forced twice in rapid succession. In a fast and furious passage Rutherford dribbled over the line, but was beat.on to the touch by -Conan. Immediately after Wellington were .penalised and Ike. landing a beautiful goal, evened up the scores to: Taranaki G Wellington G Renewing the aggressive, the home team’s advance was splendidly Whopped by Porter marking. The game flashed back and forward in lightning -exchanges, Riley and Potter, for Taranaki and Wellington respectively, be ' ing always conspicuous for smart, ( heady work. Wellington forward‘S i broke to Taranaki ’is twenty-five, but Guy arid R’obins-on with a good dribble replied. Prom a scrum in the Visitors’ quarter Riley sent Owen, Johnston and Brown away, the latter winding up an irresistible attack by touching down j near the corner. Ike failed Ho increase the tally. Taranaki !> Wellington G The reverse -stung Wellington in't-i an attacking mood and led -by Porter,, they were stopped cleverly by Riley within his twenty-five. Play swept towards Wellington’s line where Porter in possession was nicely tackled by Guy. Alternative flashes, from end to end saw the visitors .penalised and Ike attempted a goal from thirty yards out. The home forwards were undoubtedly the dominant force, and holding the Blacks to their own territory, compelled a force. Baldwin marked the kick out, but his place kick -flew wide. At the centre the Wellington -backs engaged in a -fine passing -bout and transferred operations to Taranaki’s quarter and had to accept a force down. Following the kick out, Guy was temporarily disabled in effecting -a good clearance. For the remaining two minutes before no-side alternating territorial advantages prevailed, with no addition to cither score. On the call of -time play Was at the -centre flag. Mr 11. G. Whittington controlled the game. ' ,

CONTROL OF THE GAME!. RiANEURLY SHIELD MATCHES. WIILLINGTON, July 4. Regarding challengers lor the Raofurly Shield it was .stated at the meeting of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union last night that the union had to protect the holders, and were impartial as to who the holders were. The holders had the right to say Avhidhi should he shield matches and it was optional for the holders to take the shield with them when touring after they had held for tw 0 yearns. If Walrarapa Avon the shield from Canterbury’ the match betAveen Wairarapa and South Canterbury would not be for the shield. The Rush Union notified the cancellation of its northern tour excepting the match- with Wanganui. It would not now require the Rugby Union’s £25, but hoped it would- he utilised for the benefit of minor unions. The Horawhenua Union wrote accepting the North v. South Island minor unions match on August 4.

HIGH SCHOOL GAME. OAMARU, July 4. (By Telegraph—Ureas Association., The annual fixtures between tlie first and .second Rugby fifteens of the Waitaki and Otago Roys’ High Schools Avere played here this afternoon under ideal weather conditions. Waitaki juniors defeated Otago by 11 points to nil, tries being scored by Webb (2) and McCallum. The latter try was conA’erted by Evans. \ The senior game was won by Otago. After the bell bad rung for no-side Ibbotson diA’ed over in the corner amid great enthusiasm, giving Otago tlie victory by 9 points to 6. CANTERBURY GAMES. CHRISTCHURCH, July 5. In the annual onalfcoh, Boys ’ • High School beat Christ ’s College fby 31 to 9. In the/trial maifeh for Capteirihutty representatives', the Country side def eated the T-own iby 22 ito IS. As a, result four or iiA’C country players will probably be included in the team to defend the Ranlfunliy Shield.