SOUTHLAND SIDE SUFFERS FIRST DEFEAT

Southland Times, Issue 23922, 14 September 1939, Page 8

SOUTHLAND SIDE SUFFERS FIRST DEFEAT

Taranaki Wins Hard Game By

Three Points To Nil

WINNING TEAM HAS TERRITORIAL ADVANTAGE IN BOTH HALVES

(From Our Own Reporter) STRATFORD, September 13.

Southland’s run of successes in inter-provincial games was stopped by Taranaki this afternoon. In a hard-fought game, in which two great packs battled strenuously for practically the full 80 minutes of play, Taranaki scored the only try and thus gained the honour o f being the first team to beat Southland..

There was no score at half-time. Taranaki had a territorial advantage in both halves and on the trend of play fully deserved its win.

The conditions in which the game was played robbed the game of much of the spectacular play expected of the two champion teams, but the fierceness of the forward exchanges and the odd breaks by the backs of both teams kept the crowd of about 4000 on the tiptoe of excitement right to the last whistle.

The ground was very heavy after overnight and morning rain, and in many breaks the backs slipped or fumbled. The weather was fine, only a minute of light rain in the first half and a steady wind spoiling otherwise ideal overhead conditions.