Wairarapa's Disappointing Display

NZ Truth, Issue 1031, 29 August 1925, Page 13

Wairarapa's Disappointing Display

TaranaKi Triumphant } Those who saw Wairarapa defeat Canterbury and draw with Southland, were bitterly disappointed with the locals' showing against Taranaki. They could and should have won but they deserved to lose, for if ever a football team stood convicted of committing every crime m the football calendar, that team was the Wairarapa combination that went under to the Taranaki representatives by 8 points to 3.

The green forwards played like a disorganised rabble m the first half. They seemed to suffer from the want of a leader — or perhajjs it would be more correct to say that they were practically all leaders, looking for a chance to shine m the loose! and leaving the tight stuff, to "the other fellow." Only the fact that the Taranaki backs were pretty useless as an attacking combination saved the points from piling up. As it was Wairarapa started the second session with the score. B—o8 — 0 against them. '• The Taranaki forwards were a fairly hefty and . active pack, and m the first half, they took absolute charge. They showed every indication of being able to repeat the dose m the second, but during the interval someone, had apparently whispered a- few hard words m the green "forwards' ears, i'cr they. • commenced to play as a combination, and with the assistance of their backs, completely turned the tables. ; Seldom has a team had more scoring chances than Wairarapa had m the second' spell, but they threw them away as if they didn't want them. They beat themselves. Once only did Wairarapa drive an attack home, when the whole back chain took part m a movement that Guy Booth splendidly finished off. After that their play was a dreary succession of fumbles, knocks-on, and dropped passes. On two separate occasions three Wairarapa players, with the ball m their possession, had- only one opponent to beat— and then they didn't get there. With two exceptions the Taranaki backs provided a striking illustration of how the standard, of back play has fallen m the cow country. The two exceptions were Lynskey (half) and .(Joulton (wing throequarter). The /former played a clever nnd resourceful game, and. was equally good m attack and defence. Coulton handled well and ran .with determination, while his tackling was of the deadly variety.. It was fortunate for Wairarapa that Randal Booth again proved equal to • the occasion. .At full-back, Penniall played like a champion m the first- half when Taranaki was doing all the attacking, but he went to pieces under the pressure of the secojid session. Hohaia (wing) and Loveridge (centre) were -good " m patches, but the five- eighths, Fryday and Roberts, were not impressive at any stage.

Of a g-ood pack of forwards, Baldwin stood out as one of the best on the ground, and was ably seconded by Ward and Kivell. The wing-forward, O'Rorke, confined himself to the scrum, find when Taranaki screwed, as ttiey frequently did, led the rush with the ball at his toe. In the various rep. games this season, Randal Booth Has bumped up against All Blacks and other big fish, but he struck probably his hardest proposition so far m Coulton. It was about an even break, and the tw.j wingers were very successful m keeping each other quiet. Stringfellow has a genius for getting through a bunch of opponents, but, curiously enough, it is after he has done the hardest part, and finds himself practically m the open that he generally does the wrong thing — or the right thing the wrong way. He is only a youngster yet,' however, and experience is bound to set him right. The failure of the Wairarapa forwards to hold the visitors m the first hnlf, let Neighbours and F. Booth m for a hard time. They had more time and room to operate m the second session, and probably made fewer mistakes than any of the others. As a winger, Cundy was no more successful than he was on the first occasion he was tried there, and it was not until he moved m to his familiar club position of five-eighths that he. commenced to play football He showed initiative m attack, but is no rush -stopper. Though a bit on the small side, Guy, the youngest member of the Booth quartette, is every inch a trier, and generally shows method m everything he does. His try could not have been improved upon, and he nlso showed good judgment m his kicking. Donald's handling was a little below par, but otherwise the versatile Jimmy was a tower of strength to his side. Whether leading the forwards, joining m a passing rush, or dropping back to. assist m stopping an attack, Jim has the happy knack of bobbing up whore he is most required. The absence of , Desmond and O'Dowd, due to slight injuries, no doubt upset the Wairarapa pack to some extent. Moncrieff made his first appearance m rep. football this season, and did as well as any of the Wairarapa forwards. Bambry, another new member of the pack, showed up better m the second half than m the first. Fairbrother went well through both spells.