PROVINCIAL RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 August 1928, Page 3

PROVINCIAL RUGBY

TARANAKI’S FOURTH WIN.

BACKS DECIDE IT. FINE STAND BY MARLBOROUGH. Rrildaut sunshine and a firm turf, with only a slight breeze occasionally raising tne touc-n rrags were the ideal combination of circumstances •which prevailed for the Taranaki Rugby team s fourth fixture of the season yesterday, -when the side anet the Marlborough fifteen on the Hawera showgrounds. A crowd of about 2000 representative of various portions of tire province was. in attendance when the teams lined out. The Marlborough fifteen made a fine stand against the reputedly stronger Taranaki combination, the visitors .having to accept defeat by a margin of five points only, Taranaki compiling 22 points from five tiles (two converted) and a penalty goal to Marlborough’s 17. points, from three tales (one converted) and two penalty goals. Marlborough fielded a bustling vanguard, which, led by IV. Satherly, G. Washington and k. Devine, proved superior to Taranaki in the tight play, owing to an inclination by the home side to spread, though the packed scrums gave Taranaki a greater share of tlie ball. In the loose the Taranaki forwards, who included three North Island nominees in A. KiveJll, J. Walter and J. Baldwin, held a slight advantage.

Back play showed decidedly in favour of Taranaki, with D. Johnston a.t second five-eighth as the pivot. Johnston, who is another North Island nominee, was the star back on the ground. He registered the most sensational try of the game, besides playing a prominent part in at least two others unci showed great .resource in defence. Behind the home scram S. F. Riley was also noted for a fine exhibition. J. McDonald, who filled the centre threequarter position in the visiting team, was its most useful exponent and in rear division play ranked second only to Johnston.

The teams were as follow: TARANAKI. (Amber and Black.) Full-back: Collins. Three-quarters.—W. Hohaia, H. W. Brown, Iv. Foekes. Five-eighths: D l . Johnston, E. Owen. Half: S. F. Riley. Rover: A. Guy. Back Row: O. Wills, J. Walter. Middle Row: A. Kivell (captain), lice. J. Baldwin. Hookers: Smith, W. Robinson. Emergencies: 0 1 . Murphy, It. Williams, O. Hohaia-

MARLBOROUGH. (Red.) Full-back: S. Aston. Three-quarters : N. Hodigtm, J. McDonald, H. Cameron. Five-eighths: J .Crump, L. Hounsell. Half: Iv. Roberts. Rover: R. Dobson. Back row: V. Glennie, E. Gill. Middle now: L. Devine, H. Woolley, G. Washington. Hookers: J. Balthom, W. Satherly (captain). Emergencies: Hadfield, Isherwood, Boyce, BarclayPlaying with the breeze, but, against the sun, Taranaki opened in sensational manner, results coming within a minute of Marlborough’s kick-off. Well in the 25 zone Riley shot a pass to Owen and Johnston received in turn to send the right-wing, Hohaia, across in the corner. Ike made a but unsuccessful attempt, from the difficult angle. Taranaki 3 Marlborough 0 A following attempt by Ike with a penalty was Unsuccessful and play waged evenly for a few moments till the Red forwards took charge, Gill, Devine and Washington handling smartly for a try between 'tlie posts by Washington. Hodson, who had .just previously failed with a. penalty kick was successful with the attempt at goal and after seven minutes’ play the scores were: Marlborough 5 Taranaki 3 During Taranaki’s next invasion Collins was unsuccessful with a penalty kick. For a period the Red forwards made the play, Riley, Owen and Johnston being called on for sound defensive work. Taranaki, however, were next to score. Owen made a, dash and left the ball with bis forward-s when it went to Brown and the Alii Black’s spurt was capped with a try near touch by the left wing, Fbokes. Collins failed with the kick. Taranaki 6 Marlborough 5 Taranaki’s bustling pack was now coming iiito> its own, loose forward rushes being repeatedly exploited by Walter, Kivell and Baldwin. A lightning burst by Brown and Fookes made , a try look certain till Hodson intercepted close to the cornier. Fluctuating exchanges showed a fair division of territorial honours' in attack and Counter. Tlie efforts' proved unsuccessful till Collin® took a penality five yards inside half-way and notched three pointy with a cheer-raising kick, the bald striking tlie bar and bouncing over. Taranaki 9' Marlborough 5 Marlborough’s retaliation came almost immediately, McDonald making an opening from which the ball went to Hoc!son, who raced down the line to bie stopped in the corner by a group of ladders. The Red forwards massed, however, and in the mix-up Satherly struggled across for a try. _ Hod son made a. fine attempt which, failed by a small margin. Taranaki 9 Marlborough 8 During the remaining ten minutes before half-time the Amber forwards, held sway in a series qf loose rushes, which were well .supported by the rear division. Ail exchange between . Riiiley and Owen gained ground and Johnston j carved a. passage through tlie defence to send Brown over in a. good position. Co-Wins converted. Almost 'immediatelyJ the home backs opened another assault ; and Brown found touch in the corner, the line-out. giving Guy the opportunity to charge over. Cbllins missed the extra points and half-time sounded shortly after with the scores: Taranaki 17 Marlborough 8 A break by Baldwin was the first feature of the second spell, but Dtobison returned for a, scrum in ’ the home twenty-live. _ A heiady punt by Owen i put Taranaki on the attack. Just outside the twenty-five zone Riley handed i to Owen who transferred to Johnston swerve by the Okaiawa player sent him f

over in a good position for Collins to convent. Taranaki, 22 MamlboroiUgh 8 Leading a forward rally Washington, Woolley and Devine put action in Taranaki’s quarter and a penalty allowed Washington to. register three points. Taranaki 22 Marlborough 11 With Taranaki’s following sortie Walter was almost over and the home side held the advantage till tlie Red forwards came away again. McDonald and Oi-ump followed the opportunity and with action dose to Taranaki’s line the defenders were again penalised and Washington landed his second goal. Taranaki 22 Marlborough 14 Rattling hard the Red forwards were dangerous thrusters in close order play. Satherly was incapacitated but resumed play within the requisite two minutes and showed the benefit received from ■ the breather almost immediately, when he kept with a charge by Washington and received the ball to score near the touch line. Washington failed to goal. Taranaki 22 Marlborough 17

A series of scrums gave possession to Riley, who promptly set the home black machine in motion, the ball going in turn to. both wings, but Fookes and Hohaia were marked surely by Cameron and Hodson, while infield Hounsell, Crump, and McDonald -were responsible for sure tackling. Counters to moves by Johnston and his supports were made frequently by the Red forwards, mainly led by Dobson and Devine, but infringements of the offside rale meant the break down of promising movements. With play in the Marlborough twenty-five a succession of quick transfers from the base of the scram by Bliley did not find Oiwen in position, ■ with tlio result that the ball failed to travel; to the left wing, Fookes, and give Mm an opportunity to use his pace though tlie' five-eighth showed eoanmendalble resource in covering up failures to get cleanly to Riley’s passes. Hohaia, making a hectic bid after- receiving the ball through the chain, was neatly grassed by Aston when in good position and play swung back to Taranaki’s territory-. Just before time Hounsell claimed a mairk straight out from the goal. He appeared to have a certain three points with ft short range place kick, hut the ball veered wide of the upright and when no side was signalled the score® still showed : Taranaki 22 Marlborough 17 Mr H. 0. Johnson was the referee.