TARANAKI RUGBY WIN

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 5 September 1932, Page 6

TARANAKI RUGBY WIN

HAWKE’S BAY DEFEATED BACKS SLOW TO ACTION TWENTY-THJREEi TO 18 POINTS Taranaki predominated in the early stages of the inter-provincial Rng' y gam© at Pukekura Park in xse\v *lymonth on Saturday, but left a good deal to chance, the visiting Hawke s Bay fifteen making a brilliant recovery in the second spell and losing only by five points—lß to 23. The ground was slightly holding after heavy ram during the morning, but the match was played in bright sunshine in the afteinoon, a large crowd being seated on the terraces which form a natural ampi-theatre. . Each team had ample opportunity of displaying its capabilities, but the exhibition of the code was somewhat disappointing- The hacks in particular were slow to move and on rare occasions did the ball pass from one to the other without being hopelessly fumbled. Kinsella and McCallum, the fast Taranaki wing-three-quarters, were! given. few chances of demonstrating their worth, Gudgeon and Haughton (five>-eighths) taking the lion’s share of the work. Arthur Collins, All - Black fullback, did not come up to expectations although in the second ispell he showed improved form. The Hawke’s Bay fullback, Varton, was outstanding in all his work while Howell, the clever wing tliree-quarter and Hawke’s Bay representative last year, was a veritable live wire both on attack and defence. The Taranaki half-back, Edwards, had his equal among the visitors in Gamble. In the forwards Taranaki had a. much superior combination both in set scrums and in the loose. Wills afid fill© Stratford man, Walter, were the most prominent. . , Tries were scored for Taranaki oy Walter (2), Haughton, Kinsella and Gudgeon, with two conversions and a field goal by Collins, and for Hawke’s Bay by Howell (2), Evans and Wilson with two conversions by Grant and Satherly. The teams lined out as follow: Taranaki (amber and black). —Collins; Kinsella, Petty, McCallum; Haughton, Gudgeon; Edwards (half); Fowler, Gargan, J. Young; Clarke, B. Murphy, Wills; Walter, D. Murphy. Hawdce’s Bay (black and white). — Vart-on ; Howell, Grant, Smith; Evans, Bradley; Lambic, captain (half) - Satherly, Smith, Bolls; Wilson, Beck, Hawera; Ireland, Drummond. At the drop out Taranaki, with the sun at their backs, rushed the hall into their opponents ’territory. Petty thrust well down to the line, but Young missed a pass and Varton, who cut in nicely, eased the pressure with a “line finder” at halfway. From the line-out Taranaki infringed and Howell took a penalty kick, the distance gained being nullified when Satherly knocked on. A succession of scrums in amber territory saw a change of venue until Hawera was forced out. Lining out at halfway Taranaki initiated another passing rush, Kinsella cutting in to secure possession of the ball and travelling a good 20 yards before being tackled by Howell. A neat opening by Gudgeon, who dribbled down to the Hawke's Bay twenty-five, raised hopes of an early score, but lack of support and an off-side infringement -stopped the movement. Play reverted to the other end, where Varton picked up smartly in a loose scramble and delivered a fast ball to Howell when threatened by Fowler. The latter' centred and another infringement by Hawke’s Bay gave Collins a chance to kick a penalty. The ball fell short of its mark and Hawke’s Bay attacked solidly. The effort was short-lived, however, and Taranaki held its line intact. In a counter movement the ambers carried the ball back to the visitor’s quarter, but £he effort was not convincing and Haughton faltered with an easy kick at goal. Varton cleared to halfway and from the line-out Gudgeon, Haughton and Petty handled in that order. It was the first piece of really sparkling play, hut the whistle sounded all too soon for a knock on. Scrumming in midfield D. Murphv heeled out to Edwards,

who clashed away with good .support >* from Kinsella, Gudgeon and 1 Petty. Petty was brought down in possession of the hall, hut managed to give a long pass to Kinsella. The latter was tackled solidly. Twice Varton found the line with splendid kicking, hut in spite of good following up the visitors were seldom out of their own quarter. Young secured from a line-out and disposed of it quickly to Kinsella. Evans intercepted and the hall sailed down the centre of the field from his hoot. Collins, however, returned' well down the line in Hawke’s Bay territory. Lam'bie secured and worked his way through solid opposition to within five vards of the line. A good tackle by Petty brought him down. Howell was in close attendance and carried the ball over to score. Grant converted with an easy kick. Hawke’s 1 Bay s —Taranaki 0.

Both backs and forwards handled the hall during the next five minutes aucl neither side predominated until the amber hacks rushed away in one of their all too few concerted movements. Headed by Hanehton and supported bv Gudgeon, Kinsella and MeOalluim the quartette handled nicely. Then Walter cut in and, warding off his opponents, crossed over to touch down l>ehind the posts. Collins converted with an easy kick. Hawke’s Bay s—Taranaki5 —Taranaki 5.

Desultory play ensued for a period and was relieved by a snappy passing rush among the Taranaki backs. Kinsella reaching within 10 yards of the far corner and kicking the ball across the field in front of the posts to the other side. He and Haughtnn followed it across and Haughtnn fell over af the corner to score, displacing the corner flag. Collins failed to convert, the spell ending with the scores: Taranaki B—Hawke’s8 —Hawke’s Bay 5.

Taranaki opened the second spell with a greater show of initiative and more attention to l combination, rushing away to the line in fine style for Petty to reach within striking distance of the goal. His attempt to place the ball over the cross-bar was without result, but the effort seemed to be infectious, for Collins, placing well up, took the hall on the full as it was dropped out by Varton and sent it sailing between the uprights for an additional four points. Collins, who previously had not been playing up to representative form, regained much of his former prestige for this effort. Taranaki 12 —Hawke’s Bay 5. Hawke’s Bay had the sun at their hacks, but took some time to settle down to their game. Fully three minutes’ delay occurred when Collins suffered a wrist injury, and then, from a scrum in mid-field. Haughtnn passed the ball out to Petty. Wills rushed

through to take a pass, but in delivering it to McCallum lie went forward and the rush was halted. A pretty passing movement eventuated when Gudgeon secured and handed on to Haughton, who in turn passed to Kinsella. Gudgeon cut in again and finally handed on to B. Murphy, who was forced out. The visitors had their opponents penned dangerously near the goal line and successive attempts were made by Lambie and Howell to work the blind side. AAulls suddenly sprang a surprise when he took possession and forced his way through. A difficult pass was taken by Walter, who had a clear field in front of him. A timely pass to Kinsella, however, allowed the latter to demonstrate a great turn of speed. The two rae?d neck and neck until Kinsella vas out of danger, the latter having no difficulty in running around behind the posL and touching down. Collins converted.

Taranaki 17 —Hawke’s Bay 5

Bad passing, on the part of the Taranaki backs gave the visitors two chances of adding to their score, but these were lost. Evans was penalised for standing offside but the kick, taken by Collins, was without result. Bradley rushed away anil passed to Evans, the ball being dropped. Bradley cut in anil with Beck worked the ball down to the corner. For reasons unknown to the crowd, judging by the number of protests, the referee ordered a five-yards’ scrum. The amber hookers proved equal to the occasion and heeled the ball out to Edwards who let the backs away to tlie other end. In a melee in the visitors' quaiter McCallum secured and passed to Haughton who handed on to Gudgeon. Gudgeon raced his opponent to the line and touched down. Collins failed with the kick, the ball striking the upright well below the crossbar. Taranaki 20 —Hawke’s Bay 5. In a series of small rallies Hawke’s Bay worked the ball to within striking distance of the line. Evans fooled the opposition and touched down without difficulty, Satherly converting. Taranaki 20 —Hawke’s Bay 10. Wills and AValter were associated in a spectacular run and because the Hawke’s Bay backs played too far forward A\ T alter had no difficulty in finding the line. Clarke took the kick but failed to convert. ■ * Taranaki 23 —Hawke’s Bay 10.

At the drop out Walter rushed away again, his easy stride carrying him fully 25 yards before he was stopped. Edwards, Fowler, Young and Wills all handled the hall until the latter gave the backs a chance. First McCallum, then Petty and Kinsella gave difficult passes and the ball went out on the line. Hawke’s Bay in turn workeel downfield and the - ambers were given temporary respite when Evans knocked on. Ireland and Drummond heeled out for Hawke’s Bay and Howell took a clever pass to cross oyer and touch clown. Satherly missed with the kick.

Taranaki 23—Hawke’s Bay .13. Taranaki faded towards the close of the game in the last 10 minutes it seemed as though Hawke’s Bay might graSp victory at the last moment. Smith put in a great run and leaving nothing to chance handed on to his namesake who, in turn, passed to Wilson. The latter scored rather easily and Satherly converted, the game l ending: Taranaki 23 —Hawke’s Bay IS. Mr. S. J. Eggleton was referee.