TARANAKI’S FIRST DEFEAT

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1926, Page 5

TARANAKI’S FIRST DEFEAT

VISITORS’ FINE SHOWING. HOME BACKS DISAPPOINTING. A MARGIN OF TWO POINTS. Two thousand five hundred spectators saw Taranaki defeated for the first time this season in the match at Eltham again the combined Manawatu-Horowhenua team. The scores 8 to 6 left a margin of only two iu favour of the visitors, but on the day’s play they were by far the better team. Taranaki was fortunate in that more points were not scored against them in the earlier portion of the game. Taranaki’s form was far from impressive, especially in the back division, where mistake after mistake spelled disappointment to the hopes of their supporters. On the other hand the combined team played a vigorous and aggressive game, seizing every opportunity and handling well in attack. The veteran Jacob was a tower of strength to his forwards and hacks alike.

COMBINATION TRIUMPHS.

VISITORS’ TEAM SPIRIT. Taranaki lacks precision. The total lack of snappiness and decision among the Taranaki backs and their repeated failures to bring promising movements to a successful conclusion robbed the game of much of its interest, and. for the most part, it was a silent crowd that watched the minutes ticking away lost opportunities. There were several weak points in the back line, but the chief disappointment was Roberts, who persisted iu rushing into trouble instead of giving Johnson the chances be was so obviously expecting. As an attacking unit the Taranaki backs were only once seen to act with decision and handle with precision. The crowd heaved a sigh of relief when at the end of the game Bourke, on the wing, actually retained his pass and was able to go on and score. Petty and Johnson alone retained any brilliancy, the former playing a magnificent game at full-back and saving his team time after time. Although considerably hampered by the operations of Jacob, the visitors’ wonderful rover, and often swamped by the fast breaking up tactics of their supports. Julian nevertheless got the ball away in good style, but sometimes lie let an easy one slit> between his legs. Guy. Paterson and Walter were the pick of a hard working pack. Individualism among the visitors' backs was subordinated to the promotion of a fine team spirit. They all worked together, and every movement was consistently backed up. Law, Hunt and Akuira had the most to do and did it well. There was not a finer man on the field than Jacob, and his versatility in combining in back movements as well as doing outstanding work in the pack -made him a prominent and popular figure very early in the game. A feature of the combined pack lay in the fact that they had developed the art of dribbling to a fine point, and Maihi, Galpin and Gothard were frequently to be seen racing down the field with the ball passing from toe to too. The game can be summed up into tiie triumph of team work, speed and accuracy over individual effort and failure to make the most of opportunities. The teams were played to the ground by the Eltham Pipe Band under DrumMajor D. Clement. The gate takings amounted to £227. The teams were:—TARANAKI. Amber and Black. Petty. Bourke McAuliffe W. Hohaia Johnston Roberts Julian Guy Young Robinson Walter Patterson Wills Dean Graham MANAWATU HOROWHENUA Green and White - McLean Walker Hunt Roberts Law Akuira T. McDonald Jacob (captain) MaiJii Stewart Gleeson Bond Galpin Gothard Dalziel Combined kicked off and immediately Johnston initiated an ineffectual passing rush and play hovered in Combined territory. Then Julian sent the Taranaki backs away, but McAuliffe slipped and soon Gothard and Jacob headed, a Combined rush which carried play to Taranaki's twenty-five. Play followed at half -way until Julian scut Johnston ■ away to pass to McAuliffe, who sent Hohaia dashing up the line only to be well tackled by Walker. Headed by Maihi, the Combined forwards swept down to the Taranaki line, where Hunt cut in and passed to Law, who was brought down near the line by Petty. From a scrum in front of Taranaki’s goal, the Combined forwards got going, but Johnston neatly intercepted and after racing to half-way transferred to Bourke, who in-passed to Johnston. Patterson, following up fast, gathered in the ball but was held up. Kicking over the heads of the forwards, Johnston followed up fast and tackled the full-back. Hunt, however, was ready and sent his forwards away in a rush which was stemmed by Petty who, with a splendid kick, sent, them back to their own twenty-five.* EXCITING PASSAGES. Exciting play followed in midfield, Until Law kicked into touch well into Taranaki territory. Then Jacobs broke ■way and passed infield to Galpin, who, supported by Akuira, carried play into Taranaki’s twenty-five, where shortly afterwards Law marked, bpt his atttsmpt at goal failed. Petty fielded and

kicked to half-way, followed up fast and caught Jacob in possession, but was not supported. Again Jacob broke away and passed to Gleeson, who looked like scoring, when Petty intervened, gained possession, and kicked into touch in goal. The Combined forwards then carried play to the Taranaki line, where Johnston relieved an awkward position bv finding touch. With a mark Julian sent the Taranaki forwards to half-way, whence, headed by Guy and Roberts, play was carried to -the Combined line. Julian, following up fast, kicked over the line, but his kick went too far. From a line-out Akuira gained possession and flung the ball out to Walker, who passed iu to Akuira again, enabling I him to dash over to score near the side line. Jacob's kick went wide. Combined 3 Taranaki 0 The Taranaki forwards then assume,! the offensive and Hohaia made an attempt to gcal with a penalty kick I which fell short. Bourke fielded the rcIturn kick after McAuliffe had essaved J to “pot” and kicked over the line, Combined forcing. Petty effectively stemmed a Combined forward rush and headed by Guy, the Taranaki pack broke through, ‘Jacob just managing to find touch. A quick throw in found Combined taken unawares, and McAuliffe dashed across to score. Hohaia failed to convert. Combined 3 Taranaki 3 Law finalised an interchange of kicks in Taranaki territory by a good attempt to pot. In a characteristic Taranaki forward rush from half-way Robinson and Walter handled in good style, but Combined cleared and sent play to half-way. A promising Taranaki back movement broke down when McAuliffe foolishly cut in to the ruck, and shortly afterwards Walker - cleared with a fine sprint up the line. Headed by Robinson, the Taranaki forwards carried play across the Combined line, McLean being compelled to force. A high kick by Petty resulted in a bright movement in which McAuliffe and Hohaia were associated, carrying play to the Combined line, where offside play enabled them to clear, and the spell ended with the score: Combined 3 Taranaki 3 Failure to kick after he had fielded a high ball resulted in Roberts being caught in possession, and it was not long before Taranaki Were compelled to force. A Combined passing rush in which Walker, Hunt aud Law were prominent carried play to the Taranaki I line, Walker being effectively tackled by Hohaia, and. a little later Petty cleared with a penalty kick. A free kick for obstruction sent play into Combined territory for the first time in the second spell, but Combined were soon back and Maihi scored near the posts after a bright rush. Jacob converted. Combined. 8 Taranaki 3 The Taranaki forwards carried, play to the other end, but off-side play enabled them to clear. Again off-side play by Jacob in a line-out resulted, in McAuliffe kicking into touch in the Combined twenty-five, where a knock on by Hohaia stopped a promising Taranaki back movement. Then the Taranaki forwards had their turn and broke through, only to be held up when McLean marked, but nothing daunted they came back and off-side play by Jacob gave Bourke a difficult chance to goal, his kick going just wide of the posts. Petty misfielded a high kick and Roberts broke through, carrying play to the Taranaki line, where the ball went into touch. With a long kick Petty sent them back and Dean caught McLean in possession. Taranaki then made great but ineffective efforts to score.

Obstruction by Jacob again put Taranaki on the attack, but a Combined passing bout relieved the pressure. Offside play by the Combined backs saw Johnston make a good attempt at goal, but the kick went wide. Petty, fielding well, sent play downfield, where Walter gained possession and kicked across the line, following up fast, but the ball crossed the dead ball line. A return from an attempt to pot by McAuliffe was fielded by Jacob, who kicked downfield. Hohaia made a spirited dash up the line, only to be brought down by Walker. From a line-out at half-way Jacob came through in fine style and Combined attacked strongly until Johnston and McAuliffe came through in a good passing rush. Soon Law broke away but was well tackled by Petty and play followed on the Taranaki line until Young broke through in good style with the ball at toe, carrying play into Combined territory. Again Law came through, but Julian intercepted and kicked past half-way, McLean marking. A DESPERATE EFFORT. Within a few minutes of time the Taranaki backs got going, the ball passing right out to Hohaia, who made a good attempt to score. When blocked

he passed in to McAuliffe, who nearly scored, a five-yard scrum resulting. Several scrums followed near the line until Julian sent Hohaia away. He came round the inside and passed in to Johnston, who handed bn to McAuliffe. Then Bourke gained possession and in a determined run in which he beat several men, scored near the corner flag. He made a good but unsuccessful attempt to convert. Combined 8 Taranaki G With about a minute to go Taranaki made another great effort, which, despite good work by Young, was unsuccessful and the game ended without further score. Combined 8 Taranaki G Mr. F. J. Egglcton refereed. VISITORS ENTERTAINED. In the morning the members of the visiting team were taken for a motor tour of the district, and they expressed themselves as delighted with the country passed through. Subsequent to the match the teams dined together at the Central Hotel when, after full justice had been done to the good fare provided by Host Casey, a short toast list was discussed. Mr. W. A. Guy, president of the Taranaki Rugby Union, presided, and there were also present the majority of the members of the Taranaki Rugby Union as well as Mr. Ira J. Bridger (Mayor of Eltham), Mr. Gower, president and officials of the Eltham Club. After the loyal toast had been enthusiastically honoured, the president welcomed. the visitors, remarking that it was twenty-five years since Manawatu had played in Eltham. He congratulated the winners on the game they had played, remarking that the best team had won on the day, though there was not much between the teams.

Mr. Jas. McLeod, in proposing the health of the visitors, congratulated them on the fine game they had played, remarking that he had always advocated. the amalgamation of the smaller unions, and the success achieved by Manawatu-Horowhenua since they amalgamated showed that they were on the right lines. The game had been a clean and keenly contested one. He paid a tribute to the efficient arrangements made by the Eltham Club in connection with the match and the Eltham public in entertaining- the team. In reply the manager (Mr. Robinson), gn old Eltham boy, thanked the Eltham Club for the splendid way they had been entertained since their arrival. Referring to the amalgamation of the' two unions, he stated that it had been their aim to endeavour to place football in their district on the map, and though they had only been amalgamated for a year and a half he tjiought they had succeeded.

Mr. Gothard, the vice-captain, also The Taranaki team and Rugby Union was proposed by Mr. Robinson and responded to by Messrs, McAuliffe, vicecaptain of the Taranaki team, and Jas. Garcia.. The toast of the host and hostess was proposed by Mr. Bridger, who expressed the hope that now that Eltham had established its claims to run a representative match successfully, they would not have to wait 25 years for another.

Mr. A. O. Casey suitably replied, paying a tribute to all the officials of the Eltham Club for the way in which they had worked to ensure the success of the match.

Mr. A. R. Gower, president of the Eltham Club, also thanked the Taranaki Rugby Union for giving Eltham a representative match and also the junior play-off. During the evening Mr. W. Robinson expressed the thanks of his team to Drs. Grey and Sanders, who had voluntarily and gratuitously attended their injured players. The teams were later the guests of the Taranaki Rugby Union at the Eltham Football Club’s ball, where they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The visitors will leave this morning for Wanganui, where they play on Saturday. EAST COAST v. DANNEVIRKE. By telegraph.-—Press Association. Dannevirke, Last Night. The East Coast Rugby representatives played Dannevirke Sub-Union on a greasy and heavy ground, and defeated them by 28 points to 6. At half-time the score was 6 all. In the second half East Coast had it all their own way. PLAYERS IN SUVA. Bx Telegraph—Preu lien.—Copyright. Suva, Aug. 18. The New Zealand players will play' their first test match on Saturday. THE STRATFORD CLUB. The following will represent the Stratford seniors versus Star seniors at Western Park at 3 p.m. on Saturday: Collins, Coulton, Gasson, Meuli, Bonner, Brooking, Fraser, Fryday, Smith, Bond, Walter, Coleman, Penniall, Hinton and Young. THE SARGENT CCr. At the Hawera showgrounds yesterday the Stratford Technical High School met and defeated the Hawera Technical High School by 17 points to 8 in a Rugby match for the Sargent Cup. SCHOOL FOOTBALL. The representative primary school football match, which was to have been played at Stratford on Saturday next, has been postponed until the schools re-open after the holidays. Broken weather interfered with the organisation of the southern team, and is the cause of the postponement. The northern representatives had a trial game against a High School team on Wednesday afternoon, showing good form with the inevitable lacK O’f combination among the backs. The boys cannot learn too soon that each player Is only a cog in the machinery. The team to represent North Taranaki is as follows: Page, Roberts, Ewens, Moffitt, Hook, Early, Shaw, Spence, Carr, Plumtree, McClune, Simpson, White, Kopu, Robb. Emergencies: Back, Ible; forwards, Lyneh and McLeod. The midget competition reached, the semi-final stage on the racecourse on Wednesday afternoon], when Fitzroy heat Westown by o—6. On Saturday, between the spells of the two games on Pukekura Park, Fitzroy play Convent for a tiny cup donated by two local sportsmen.