THE RUN OF THE PLAY

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 17 September 1934, Page 7

THE RUN OF THE PLAY

4LTARANAKI DOMINATES MATCH FORWARDS TRUE TO TYPE THE ISSUE SELDOM IN DOUBT. The teams lined out as follow : TARANAKI. (Alimer and Black). Collins Kiusella Townsend Sullivan Sangster Brown Gudgeon Fastier Clarke Murphy Blakeney Young Preston Fowler Armstrong AUCKLAND. (Blue and White). Heazlewood Hamilton Caughey Kedgley Murdock Hedge Corner i Finlayson Bush Rlass Knight McLean Pepper Hadley Pearce

•• Taranaki ra<ed the sun, a scrum ensuing after Miss Jean Batten, the New Zealand aviatrix, had kicked off. Taranaki gained possession and were quickly into the Auckland twenty-five. A scrum eventuated, Biown making a valiant attempt to cross the line after play had been in progress for Jess than, five minutes, but • offside play returning the game to the safety margin' on the Auckland twenty-five. A Continuance of the pressure on the part of the Taranaki forwards had the home team again on defence, Kinsella being thrown out of touch within two yards of the Auckland goal line. The Auckland backs commenced a passing rush, but Townsend intercepted and was making for the line when he was recalled for a forward pass. The home team now gained possession, and for the first time Auckland were able to get clear of their territory. A free kick for handling in the scrum gave Me axle wood a difficult chance at goal, but tbe kick went wide. A series of scrums took place in midfield and 'Gudgeon passed to Fastier, when carried the ball to the twenty-five and handed on to Kinsella, who made a run along the line and when in easy distance passed to Townsend, who crossed in the coriler. Collins converted, after the ball hit the upright. Taranaki 5 Auckland 0

Play had been in progress for about 15 minutes. A passing movement in Taranaki territory was broken up well by Sangster, and the Taranaki backs carried the play again to the Auckland a free kick again bringing relief to the blues. By sheer force tbe Auckland forwards carried the game to the Taranaki quarter, a free kick sending them back nearer to their own territory-. Handling in a .scrum ■ gave' Meazlewood another chance, but once more lie failed to find the cross bar. Play of a more or less scrambling nature took place in midfield, and eventually Tarpnaki broke away and once more had the home team on defence, line kicks by Heazlewobd being responsible for sending the visitors to the corner flag on their goal line*, from where Hedge crossed in a handy position. TToajslowood converted easily. Auckland '. 5 Taranaki 5

Busli marked from the kick off. but the kick gained very little ground, a series of line-outs resulting. A knockon by. Collins was responsible for aj scrum, and from the formation the visitors again broke away, play quickly going from one one! of the field to the other. An interchange of kicks on the Taranaki side of half-way resulted in Murdoch gaining possession. Tie : made for the- line, handing on to Cutigliey who scored between the uprights for Heasdewood to convert. Auckland lb Taranaki 5 Shortly afterwards Taranaki were again penalised for handling in the serum and from the free kick Gudgeon made a solo run to near the goal line. A. scrum took place from a scramble after Gudgeon's short punt and Clarke gained possession to force his way over well out. Collins’ kick missed by inches; > Taranaki 8 Auckland 10

• Auckland attacked, strongly from the half-way kick and were down on the Taranaki line almost instantly, Collins • getting his side out of a nasty position with a. judicious line kick. Ihe closing stages of the spell saw Taranaki, attacking strongly, followed by •f similar movement in retaliation by Auckland. No further score resulted and tile spell ended : .■ Auckland :...< H> Taranaki 8. On the resumption Auckland 'attacked from the kick-off and repeated what Taranaki did in the opening of the game, having the visitors hemmed in for some minutes until a free kick for a scrum infringement brought relief. Auckland quickly returned to the attack, hoAvever, and matters looked serious for Taranaki. Offside play by; ani Auckland forward repulsed the at-: tacking movement eventually. but Taranaki, being penalised, returned the, play to their twenty-five. The yellow forwards broke away, and charg-j ing doAvn the field were on the point' of scoring when a short punt gave the home team possesion. Auckland came back and. following;'a series of rushes, j Hedge crossed the Taranaki line Heazlewood to convert. j Taranaki 8 I

Taranaki were attacking strongly from the half-way kick when the game was temporarily held up by an injury to a Taranaki forward. On the resumption, Auckland commenced an offensive, the play not being stopped until the ball reached the Taranaki twenty-five. The home team then set about another passing rush, Kedgley being almost over before lie was grassed by Townsend. The Taranaki forwards, led by Clarke, then dominated the game, carrying play to the Auckland twenty-five. A free kick gave Collins a difficult chance at goal, but the bnfi went wide. From a scrum Gudgeon and Brown were associated in a movement which was almost successful, but the attackers were sent back with a free kick. Collins had another free kick, but this time lie punted high and the Auckland backs were enabled to start a passing rush which went to half-way before being stopped. Auckland continued the pressure to the Taranaki twenty- fi vo, but at tliis point the visiting forwards gained possession and their turn came for an offensive which they carried out bv.a dribbling rush. Following a spell of play in the Auckland twenty-five, the' home forwards broke away with the ball at toe and were not stopped until half-way was reached. Taranaki, however, were determined in their attack and after the forwards had returned the play to the Auckland twenty-five. Sullivan scored between flje posts for Collins to convert.

Taranaki Iff Auckland To Again Taranaki made in the direction of the Auckland goal line and for some .minutes they had the home team thinking. Their tactics met with success for, assisted .by the forwards. Sangster scored between the posts. Collins converted again. ■ Taranaki 18

•Auckland U Taranaki again dominated the play, and forced the home team to their goal I line, where a scrum eventuated. Gudgeon got the ball and handed on to Brown, who scored near the corner. Collins took the kick and the line umpires flagged it as not over, but the, referee overruled the decision and whistled for a goal. The goal was allowed although the board was reading as though no goal was scored. Taranaki 23 Auckland I*l Auckland supporters had their hopes momentarily raised by a strenuous attack by the home vanguard, but Taranaki were playing like a machine, and quickly repulsed the attack. Auckland came on again and the backs endeavoured to open the game up, but to no purpose. hi the closing stages Taranaki scored another try, Townsend. Kinsella and Fastier were associated in a movement which resulted in the latter scoring between the posts ,Vnr Collins to convert. > Taranaki 28 Auckland to

The game ended shortly afterwards with Auckland being again under pressure in their twenty-live, hut no further score resulted. Taranaki 2^ Auckland 15 Mj* J. -Malcolm was the referee.