Taranaki Just Beats Waikato

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 461, 17 September 1928, Page 6

Taranaki Just Beats Waikato

TWO-POINT MARGIN BIG CROWD SEES GAME • (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, Saturday. In a scrappy game with only flashes of real representative Rugby, Taranaki had a two-point margin over Waikato at local headquarters on Saturday. The final score was 8-6. There was a record crowd for an endof- season game. In the first spell Taranaki were kept busy defending their citadel, Anderson finally touching down for a try which Kay was unable to convert. The second half, and particularly the last spell, saw the visitors livening the pace considerably, most of the play being staged in the home twentyfive. A LIVELY START There was a dramatic opening to the second session, when the* Waikato backs, led by Quin and Fitzgerald, exchanged passes, gradually working upheld. Courtney was the last to receive, and he dashed round easily behind the post. S. Thomas missed an easy goal-kick. Mishandling on the part of the Waikato rearguard was mainly responsible for Taranaki breaking through. Crawford sent a raking shot across the field enabling Watson to gather in and touch down. Brown goaled decisively. The remaining score in the game consisted Af a penalty goal kicked by Ike, a Taranaki forward. VISITORS* SOUND COMBINATION Reviewing the play of the winners, Carter, Crawford and Johnston were the most impressive backs, and the

Taranaki combination was undoubtedly superior to the opposition. A. Guy was satisfactory as rover, while the forwards had good men in Ike, Espin and Walter, who suffered through injury and had to retire twice.

In fact, the game was one long series of delays through Injuries sustained in the close, forward play. The visitoVs were signally unlucky in this respect.

S. Thomas, the Morrinsville fullback, failed only once, his clearances being consistently effective. Anderson, Fitzgerald and Tuck were all very useful backs individually, but as a combination their work was very weak. Buckingham beat the visiting half, Riley, for the ball in many scrums and line-outs, but both were excellent supports. Pat Courtney, the popular Hamilton player, was the best forward on the ground, and battled through the most formidable opposition. C. Cameron, Stubbs, D. Bourke and Holmes all shone out at times, the latter gaining a good deal of ground for his side in the last spell by solid forward pushing and punting. Mr. B. Chapman, of Morrinsville, ably controlled the game. The last representative fixture here will be played next Saturday, when Waikato is expected to meet Thames Valley.