FOOTBALL

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 85, 5 July 1928, Page 3

FOOTBALL

HEP. 'GAME AT HiUVEIIA. TARANAKI VICTORIOUS. The Wellington representatives were beaten by 9 to 6 in a tense game at Hawera yesterday in the presence of ah attendance of about 4000. Wellington won the toss and Taranaki kicked off against a stiff northerly breeze. Wellington drew first blood, Coman goaling with an accurate free kick after ten minutes’ play. Wellington 3 Taranaki 0 Wellington’s backs raced on the right wing, but Brown’s transfer to Pickrang was forward, Collins upending him. Baldwin charged Foley and led the Taranaki pack to ■fi& twenty-fivb, whore McNought dribbled through, but the Wellington hacks were checked at Chaney. Guy twice put the ball into the scrum tvrongly, Coman’s free kick falling shorty ;‘Thomas followed wltfr a fesultless pot. Coman scut his backs racing and Foley cut in between Johnston and Brown like a flash, but a scrum on tiro line resulted from which Robinson and Murphy cleared!. Riley cleared cleverly ’in front of following forwards hear tire line. Chaney dropped a pass and fumbled, but recovered it and raced for the line, which fie reached on his nose. From the sfci'imr Johnson lined. \ Wilson scored the firsit try in a 1 Simple ' fashion aljtfljr dribbling up the lino, picking up and running round. Coman’s kick missed, and the score was: — ‘ Wellington 6 Taranaki ............... 0 This was the score when the first spell ended. ' ! : A minute from the kick off Guy and Baldwin raced to the line with the ball at toe, beat Lang and were over, but Chaney came from nowhere and kicked' the ball dead amidst great excitement. Taranaki hooked and the backs were off, Brown, plunging straight through, but he .was S TasS " ed short of the line. Coman carried the ball to half-way, where Johnston lined. Then came a great piece of work by Riley, who fooled Brown on the wing and passed inside to Baldwin, who with Guy raced for the lino. Roley completed great work by divipg for a score midway between the posts' and tne touch line. Brown’s kick was wide. ■Wellington 6 Taranaki ...... ■ 3 Wellington attacked after a free kick, but Collins was safe. Owen turned defence into attack by a long kick, Brown and Robinson grassing, Lang in the corner where, from tlie line- out, Taranaki nearly scored. After a passing rush Brown’s* pot failed'to rise; Taranaki held an undoubted advantage. Brown received Porter’s blearing kick and crosskicked to Fookes, who gathered with a clear' run in, but off-side was ruled amidst “boos” from the crowd. ! Rutherford pounced on the bail a moment later inches from a try, while Baldwin, Robinson, and Kivell made attacks close to success. Porter was caught red-handed off-side in the twenty-five when Taranaki hooked, and Ike equalised amidst great enthusiasm. Taranaki G Wellington 6

Taranaki fore and aft pressed 'Wei-' lington hotly and" were twice checked by marks by Porter. Porter received from a scrum and gave to McKenzie, who gave a dummy and pass- j ed inside, but Riley intercepted and | changed the scene to attack, Lang 1 teing forced to line hurriedly in ox- j citing play. Robinson returned a i Wellington forward invasion, the first, for a long period, to saftey with , a solo dribble. Riley gained 30 I yards with a heady grubber. Pick- 1 rang and Thomas caught Riley by | the scuff of the neck and, with the hall, carried him 50 yards up the line until Baldwin carried all before him to clear, Guy and Robinson had a dear run in, hut again Chaney came from behind with great speed and lined. A sensational finish by Brown, receiving from his inside men, saw him hurtle across at the cornier. Ike’s kick; was short, Taranaki 9 Wellington G Goman made an opening from Walter’s centre and Porter ran and dribbled over the line, hut Riley ran round and saved cleverly. The handling by the Wellington backs saw Brown grassed by Collins at the twenty-five, while Walter broke away from the scrum and carried on to half-way. Exchanges of kicks were resultless until H. Brown lined at the twenty-five from a free kick. Thomas picked from a scrum, but Ike’s kick from near half-way went outside. Porter tackled Owen round the ears, and missed for Owen to kick and hustle Lang in exciting moments. 11. Brown had another

wide pot. Baldwin; marked and had a close shot. Play now lacked sting and both packs wore obviously tired. Wellington woke up, Porter featuring in great passing amongst the backs and forwards, which took play ro the line, but a free kick relieved to halfway. Williams ' led a Wellington forward attack wihch Guy checked by lining at ( half-way. The game ended with the Wellington forwards attacking—too late, and the score; Talranaki 9 Wellington ......•■ 6 Mr H. O. Whittington refereed. SCHOOL GAME. WIN FOR NORTH TARANAKI. The North v. South Taranaki Primary School game resulted in a win for North by 19 points (five unconverted tries and a potted goal) to seven points (a potted goal and a try). The first half was very even, the South team with the advantage of the sun and wind having a little the better of the play and leading by seven - points to nil. The second essay was in favor of North, who were almost continually on the attack.