TARANAKI DEFEATED

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1927, Page 9

TARANAKI DEFEATED

MANAWHENUA HOLD SHIELD GAME PLAYED LN THUNDERSTORM GROUND CONVERTED INTO LAKE touring team beaten in the mud (By Wire —Special to News.) Palmerston N., Last Night. It is doubtful if a football match has ever been played under worse conditions than the Taranaki-Manawhenua match in which the shield-holders defended successfully against the first challenge by 9 points (two tries and a penalty) to 3 (one try). Prospects in the morning looked bright and after rain the night before, followed by warm sunshine, it was anticipated that the ground would be in perfect condition. Indeed, anticipating that the ground would be on the hard side, the Taranaki team altered their sprigs accordingly. The weather at the time of starting was hot, with a thunderstorm coming. Taranaki opened up brightly, the backs throwing the ball about well, but they had just got into their stride when the storm broke, and after a heavy hailstorm, torrential rain fell, continuing throughout the match, punctuated by heavy thunder peals and dazzling flashes of forked lightning that caused the spectators to involuntarily shudder and frequently baffled the backs in taking the ball.

Very soon the ground became a veritable lake in which the players floundered over their boot tops. Frequently it was impossible to see the ball, desperate kicks raising waves of water without disturbing the leather. The players found it difficult to keep their feet, while the ball was naturally found very elusive. Under the conditions spectacular play was impossible, and it turned into a struggle between the forwards. Occasionally the backs on either side attempted to get going but dropped their passes and let the opposing forwards through. On the day the fielding of the backs, particularly of Owen and Collins, the latter justifying his inclusion as fullback, and Mullins (Manawhenua) was good. MANAWHENUA MORE AT HOME. Manawhenua won because they adapted themselves better to the conditions. Their weight enabled them to kick through better. However, on the day, there was very little in it, though the local team were slightly better. It was one of the days when anything might happen, and it happened in the local team’s favour. It looked as though with fine weather and a dry ball Taranaki might have secured the verdict. In the scrums Manawhenua beat the visitors who, however, screwed beautifully on occasions. Ward again shone, but Kivell, Walter, Robinson, Young and all did their share. Taranaki’s wing three-quarters did not seem able to cope with the elusive ball in checking the forward rushes. Jacob played a great game for Manawhenua. The Taranaki team played as published and the Manawhenua team comprised: Brophy, Roberts, Hunt, McDonald, Goldfinch, Mullins, Parata, Jacob, Tremewan, Anderson, Galpin, Crawford, Payne, Healley, Miles. Following Taranaki’s kick off the visitors reached the local twenty-five, where Johnston punted and Hohaia, following up fast, smothered Roberts, but Parata lined. A mis-kick by Owen let Jacob through to the twenty-five, where their backs swung into line, but Mullins hung on and was smothered. Fast play saw Hohaia make a great dash and centre in front of the posts, but McDonald saved by marking. A good kick by Collins saw Robins smothered by the backs and Owen got away. Taranaki was pressing hotly, but two successive penalties assisted Manawhenua to clear. It now rained heavily. For a while the holders pressed hotly, Morey, Owen and Collins saving in turn. Fast following up by Taranaki, led by Walter, saw the local full-back fumble near the posts. From a scrum Morey shot the ball to Johnston, who centred. Dinniss, fielding the return, sprinted to be well collared at the twenty-five. Fast following up by Collins smothered Brophy and the Taranaki forwards pressed, but they kicked too hard and Manawhenua forced. PADDLING IN THE POOLS.] Heady play by Tremewan and Jacob saw Collins called on to defend, but he snapped up, kicked and followed up fast, taking play to. neutral territory. Goldfinch was prominent for Manawhenua till Walter broke through with the ball at toe to within ten yards of the line, where the ball was knocked from Morey’s hands. The holders charged down the field, Hohaia just stemming by lining at the corner. Two scrums on the Taranaki line ensued, but a penalty let Ward past the twenty-five. Pools of water on the field made the handling difficult, but the Taranaki backs were fielding well, while Collins was very solid when Manawhenua again attacked. Robinson and Ward broke through and smothered Brophy at half-way, where play was hung up for a while till a penalty let Ward clear to the twentyfive. Dogged play by the Manawhenua pack saw Taranaki again defending, especially when Jacob got his forwards moving. Johnston, however, intercepted. Then Morey sent the ball perfectly along the chain to Hohaia, who galloped and, when blocked by the full-back, passed to Owen. Play swept to the local inc, where Roberts marked. Taranaki ushed down again. Robinson received md dashed over, but was recalled as he was just off-side. Manawhenua shook themselves up and Jacob, kicking over the full-back, was obstructed by Collins and front the resultant penalty Jacob goaled. Taranaki pressed and Brown essayed a penalty, but the ball would not rise, laranaki, however, swarmed down fol-' lowing a kick by Ward, but Hunt was safe. The next moment Brophy hurriedly lined. Dinniss made a dart but was collared by McDonald. Taranaki had the better of the remainder of the spell which ended:— Manawhenua 3 Taranaki 0

Owen kicked off. Hohaia secured and kicked through, but Hunt returned to half-way and a high kick saw Taranaki forced. Owen cut through and removed tno venue to half-way, but the local lea in, with a long kick, drove them back. Morey sent the leather via Owen io Hohaia, who slipped and the local

pack swept down the field till a penalty cheeked them in the Taranaki twentyfive.

THE SCORES EQUALISED. Keeping play tight, the holders had Taranaki defending till Kivell and O’Keefe, in a great rush, swept the length of the field and Manawhenua bad a turn at defence, but Tremewan broke away to half-way. Taranaki smothered the local backs, but the forwards reached the Taranaki line, where Brown marked and Dean and company following up, Taranaki prevailed till a penalty let the local team line near half-way. Again the Taranaki forwards worked hard and a penalty saw Ward kick high, but Mullins marked beautifully in front of the goal. Taranaki were again swarming down to the Manawhenua goal, where over-eagerness gave a penalty. Back came Taranaki and O’Keefe, kicking high, followed up fast and touched down near the dead line. Johnston’s kick failed to rise. With eighteen minutes gone the scores were: — Manawhenua 3 Taranaki 3 Manawhenua pressed and forced Taranaki. Hohaia smothered Roberts and kept play in neutral territory till a miskick by Owen let Manawhenua invade, but Morey checked them. Concerted work by Dinniss, Brown and Johnston carried play to the holders’ territory, but their forwards kicked through, smothering Collins, but Brown cleared. Again charged the local pack, but Taranaki were able to force. The next moment they were back again, but Collins lined beautifully. Manawhenua still pressed hotly till Dinniss came through ball at toe and Taranaki were held up till right on the line where, from a line-out Owen kicked over, but missed the ball in his dive. Fast forward play'ensued, first Manawhenua and then the visitors attacking. Jacob shot the ball through but he stepped out and though the umpire held his flag up, play swung to the other side and right on to the Taranaki line, where a solid struggle ensued. Wills at last broke through.. Manawhenua were soon back again, but Hohaia kicked to touch. Scrum after scrum ensued on the Taranaki line till a welcome penalty brought relief. Manawhenua centred and Taranaki secured, but eould not handle the elusive ball, the home team keeping play in the Taranaki half, where the forwards charged down for Tremewan to snap up and dive over. Jacob failed to goal. Manawhenua 0 Taranaki 3 There was now only five minutes left and Taranaki at first looked promising, but Manawhenua bustled through, taking play right to the Taranaki line, where it hung till the forwards cleared and set up a determined offensive that looked dangerous till Jacob snapped up, starting a counter-offensive that saw Collins beaten by the ball, which was swept over the line, but Taranaki forced Manawhenua immediately came back and a few yards from the line Anderson snapped up to score as time sounded. Jacob failed to goal and the final score was:— Manawhenua 9 Taranaki 3 Mr. Sutherland (Auckland) was the referee.