TARANAKI BEATS AUCKLAND

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1928, Page 4

TARANAKI BEATS AUCKLAND

GREAT STRUGGLE ON SODDEN FIELD DESERVED VICTORY BY SIX TO THREE MAGNIFICENT WORK BY FORWARDS (By Wire —Special to News.) Auckland, Sept. 22. Taranaki set the seal to a successful season by defeating Auckland to-day by 6 (a penalty goal and a try’) to 3 (a try), thus winning the third game of the tour and concluding the season with a record of ten wins and two losses. Heavy rain since the morning and practically throughout the match made the conditions unpleasant for players and spectators, and interfered greatly 7 with the attendance. Anything like spectacular back play 7 was out of the question. The ground was very greasy. There were occasional stoppages to remove mud from the players’ eyes. Nevertheless the game was fairly fast and interesting, especially in the second spell, there being some magnificent forward rushes on both sides.

Taranaki deserved, their victory. They played a game suited to the day, keeping the ball among the forwards, whereas the Auckland tracks tried to open out. Faulty passing, combined with difficulty in handling, let Taranaki not only clear but turn defence into counter-attack. The speed with which the play was transferred from one end of the field to the other frequently roused the spectators, whilst the meteoric manner in which Taranaki turned the tables in the last couple of minutes, ensuring their victory, provided a fitting climax. Ike was the pick of the Taranaki forwards, Kivell, Bond, Robinson, Wills and Walter also showing up well. Guy was all there as rover, though he was occasionally penalised for his speed in coming round the scrum. Taranaki did not get much of the ball from the scrum and on the day they did not want it. Court was sound in defence, whilst Johnston and Carter were solid, using their speed to turn defence into attack. Brown was there on defence at critical moments, though at times he was not inclined to tackle. His linekicking was a treat. Watson and Crawford used their pace to the best advantage and tackled well. Collins, at fullback, was sound, making few mistakes. The teams were as published, save that Fell replaced A. Knight for Auckland. Taranaki won the toss. At once the backs opened out, but Hook’s pass went wide, enabling Watson to kick through. Following up fast Taranaki took play to Auckland’s territory. The Taranaki backs opened out nicely, Carter cutting through and sending the backs away, but the movement terminated in a scrum on the line. Auckland infringed and Ike notched three points. Taranaki 3 Auckland 0 Auckland pressed, but Linton got offside. A fine forward rush by Bond, Waiter and Ike was spoilt by offside play. There was some delay when Murphy was injured. Taranaki pushed the opposition in the mud, but Auckland’s long kicking gained ground till Brown from a penalty found touch in the Auckland twenty-five. Carter flashed through beautifully, but the backs could not handle the wet ball. Hook and Minns reached Taranaki territory, where Wills momentarily cleared. Linton, however, led them back and in the ensuing rush Collins had to run behind to save. Brown cleared with a great kick. Stoupe dummied, making a nice opening, but Crawford intercepted and though he was smothered Auckland were stepped. Collins earned applause for two fine line-kicks. TARANAKI PACK WORKS WELL. Play hung in neutral territory, the Taranaki pack, led by Bond and Robinson, doing great work. A rebound put Taranaki in a bad position as the Auckland forwards charged down the line, but Collins saved. A high kick by Brown was quickly followed by Watson, and Taranaki were attacking. Minns failed to field and Walter broke through, being held up on the line. After a series of scrums Taranaki were penalised, Auckland clearing. Batty and Knight led a great rush that reached within yards of the line before being held up by a penalty. A moment later Collins speculated and missed, but Carter got there just in time. Auckland pressed, but a penalty enabled Brown to gain over fifty yards. When Butler eent out a low pass that Berridge gathered up beautifully, Auckland again had the upper hand. Johnston and Kjvell returned play to neutral territory, where it hung. Collins drove Auckland back by line kicks. A forward infringement gave Ike another shot near halfway which fell short. Taranaki maintained the advantage. From a penalty Brown attempted to drop-kick. Play swung to Crawford’s wing, but the ground was too greasy for him to get going. The visiting pack kept Auckland defending hard till a penalty gave relief, and the Auckland forwards, following the advantage, reached the Taranaki twenty-five before Collins grub-kicked to touch. Carter cleverly cleared, taking play to the Auckland twenty-five, where, a back overrunning the bail, Linton broke through. Watson, catching the Auckland pack offside, gained a lot of ground. The Taranaki forwards and backs charged down the field, overwhelming the opposition. Auckland infringed, but Ike failed to goal. Carter made a neat opening, Crawford carrying on. but Auckland set up a solid counterattack that saw Stoupe gallop, but he was overhauled by Watson. Play swung to the other wing, where Crawford, following up fast, beat Butler and kicked infield. Minns was able to race round to avert a score on the corner. Taranaki were penalised and Auckland cleared The Taranaki backs were fielding the wet ball brilliantly. The Auckland forwards, keeping the ball at toe, swept over the opposition, but infringed v.' <n a “■ore was in sight. The Tara-

naki forwards determinedly took play to neutral-territory and half-time came with the scores unchanged: Taranaki 3 Auckland 0 Following Brown’s kick, Taranaki pressed hotly. From a scrum on the line the ball was kicked to Brown, who made an opening for Crawford, the latter being tackled. Guy and Robinson burst through, but both missed the ball over the line. From a penalty Collins had a shot which struck the bar. Carter made a great cut-in and with Crawford and Brown rushed play to Auckland’s line, where Minns forced as Robinson dived for the ball. The Auckland pack then took a fresh lease of life and carried all before them in an irresistible rush to the Taranaki line where, after a series of scrums, the Auckland backs got moving. Minns made a dash to be thrown out in the corner by Crawford and Collins. Auckland kept going hard, Minns making another dash and going over with several men on him. From a scrum Linton dropped a pass. Johnston kicked through and with Carter carried play to Auckland’s line, but the home forwards dashed down, another great rush keeping Taranaki busy. A penalty gave relief. Knight, Batty and Wanoa swept down, Taranaki forcing. PLAY FLUCTUATES RAPIDLY.

Auckland hooked the ball and sent the backs away. Jenkins punted, but Crawford marked in face of a rush. Robinson, Ike, Walter, Kivell and Guy kept the ball at their feet, reaching the Auckland twenty-five, where Court shot the ball to Watson, who was cheeked within five yards of the line. Taranaki pressed hotly till another infringement let Auckland clear. Another Taranaki attack saw L. Knight break through. Taranaki came again, Kivell, Carter and Guy dribbling to the Auckland twenty-five before being stopped. Taranaki were playing safety by marking, causing the people in the stand to make ironical remarks. Minns gained ground for Auckland. Johnston, intercepting a passing rush, kicked to ths twenty-five, where the Auckland backs were hauled down one after another, Taranaki reached within yards of the line, where the burly Okaiawa forward tried to force his way over. The Taranaki backs were nearly over, but Auckland forced.

Cathcart and Wanoa led another great rush that had Taranaki defending desperately. The Auckland backs opened out in a good passing movement, Johnston kicked through again, the ball flashing out to Watson, who reached the twenty-five before being held. The Taranaki forwards held up the pressure, but Auckland, with a passing bout were hotly attacking. Taranaki were penalised in a handy position and Berridge had a ehance of equalising the scores, but failed.

Auckland, both forwards and backs, were trying to score, Wanoa and Knight battling hard, but infringements and faulty passing spoilt the chances. However, Auckland were not to be denied. Hook cross-kicked to Knight and Cathcart; Batty and company swept on, dived on the ball and Berridge failed to goal. Taranaki .... 3 Auckland 3 This roused Taranaki, who attacked, smothering Berridge, who was unable to pick up the greasy ball. Auckland cleared. Butler slipped when Taranaki kicked through. Crawford was follow- ! ing up fast. From a line-out near the Auckland goal Carter was unable to hold a pass and let Auckland through again. The fast-following forwards swept right to the line, where Taranaki were penned while Stoupe made a dash. He was held up and then 'McManus eent the ball speedily along ;tbe chain for Minns to gallop, but Watson upended him. Flay swung to midfield, where McManus tried a pot that went wide.

Fast play followed, each side keeping the ball at toe. Auckland held an advantage which was improved when a passing bout saw Hook kick through, his fast-following pack hammering at the line. Johnston nearly saved, but Butler swung his backs into line and Taranaki had a solid turn of defence. Johnston and Caster were prominent. The visitors set up a counter-attack that put the seal on the game. Bond kicked through. Following fast, Ike and Kivell led the pack to the Auckland line, where Hook and Butler both fumbled. Robinson, ever on the alert, dived o.i the ball, putting Taranaki ahead. Collins failed to goal and the game ended: Taranaki 6 Auckland 3 Mr. Sutherland was the referee. WAIKATO BEAT THAMES VALLEY. Hamilton, Sept. 22. Waikato Rugby footballers to-day defeated Thames Valley by 25 points to

TARANAKI TEAM RETURNS. SEASON’S CREDITABLE RECORD. The Taranaki team returned last night. Leaving Auckland at 7-30 a.m. they reached New Plymouth at about 8.30 p.m., stops being made at Rangiriri for morning tea and at Te Kuiti for luncheon. After having tea at New Plymouth the southern members left for their homes by car. The trip, though a long one, proved most enjoyable, fine weather being experienced on leaving Auckland until Mokau was reached. Rain more or less heavy made visibility at times bad thereafter. The party was most hospitably entertained and, besides proving very successful from the viewpoint of the game, the tour should prove of educational value to those who participated in it. Messrs. R. Masters and J. Paterson, the managers, are most enthusiastic regarding the treatment received from the unions they visited. Additional pleasure was lent to the trip by the fact that the team won all three matches plsyed, defeating Waikato by 8 points to 6, Thames Valley by 38 points to 3, and Auckland by 6 points to 3. Taranaki’s complete representative record this season is:—

Matches played twelve, won 10, lost 2. Points for 192; against 112. PIO PIO VISIT NEW PLYMOUTH. FRIENDLY MATCHES WITH STAR. SENIOR HOME TEAM'S EASY WIN. Senior and junior teams from Pio Pio travelled to New Plymouth on Saturday to play teams from the Star Club. Star were successful in both matches, winning the senior game by 21 points to 5 and the junior by 11 points to 3. In the senior match neither club could field its best team, but nevertheless, an interesting and bright display was provided for a small attendance of the public Star opened with a vigorous attack but a long kick by Kingi sent them back. A mark by Moorhead was charged down and Star forced. Mata missed the posts with a free-kick from near the side-line. Star forwards, headed by Clarke, broke through, Pio Pio forcing. The home team were doing most of the attacking until Mata cut in start a movement which ended in his having to retire hurt. Star were soon back in their opponents’ territory, scores being missed by bad handling until McDonald found a hole in Pio Pio’s defence and raced round to score under the posts. Thomas converted. Kendall, with a well-judged kick, made an opening for his backs which was completed by Harvey, who crossed in the corner. Thomas made a poor attempt to convert. The northerners took a turn on the offensive, and from a scrum near the line Wetere obtained possession and, fending off several tacklers, forced his way over near the posts. Ronaldson converted as half-time sounded with the score: Star 8 Pio Pio 5 Star were on the offensive during almost all the second spell, the visitors aetrating to their twenty-five only three times. Kingi, however, was a tower of strength as full-back. He had a sure pair of hands and did not once fail to take the bail. From a line-out Thomas handed the ball to the backs, but a fine opportunity was lost by Moorhead knocking on. Clarke broke through to sidestep his way past several opponents and cross under the posts. Thomas missed the easiest of kicks. The visitors made their first incursion into Star’s territory, compelling them to force. They came back however and Moorhead shot through and grounded the ball close to the posts, McDonald converting. Pio Pio, finding

the defence against their advance too solid, triid several fruitless drops at goal. During a Star attack Ronaldson miskicked the ball into the goal area, McDonald just failing to reach it as it went dead. Soon afterwards Pepperill touched down and McDonald converted as the bell went, the game ending: Star 21 Pio Pio 5 Mr. F. J. Eggleton refereed. STAR JUNIORS DEFEAT PIO PIO. POOR EXHIBITION OF FOOTBALL. In a curtain-raiser to the senior game at Pukekura Park, Star juniors defeated Pio Pio juniors by 11 points to 3 after a poor exhibition of the code. The game was ragged throughout, only occasional flashes of brilliancy illuminating a display which bore witness to the fact that the end of winter sports is close at hand. After an opening dash by Star in which Woodham and Harvey indulged in a pretty piece of reverse passing, only to be spoilt by a knock on, play resolved itself for the remainder of the first spell into a series of desultory struggles up and down the field. Star, if anything, had the better of the game and just before half-time Woodham capped off some initial good work by the forwards by scoring near the corner. Clegg failed to convert. The blacks succeeded in penetrating the visitors’ defence twice in the second spell. Hodge picked up in the loose to cross for Clegg to convert with a kick which hit the post and bounced over the bar. Soon after, good work by Blackmore enabled Clegg to touch down under the posts, though he failed to add the extra pointe. Pio Pio took a hand at the finish, Cookings scoring. Griffin missed the kick and the game ended: Star 11 Pio Pio 3 Mr. D. Haggerty refereed. FRIENDLY MATCH ABANDONED. The return Rugby football match between teams representing the New Plymouth insurance companies and the Stratford mercantile houses, which was to have been played at New Plymouth today, has been abandoned owing tp the inability of the Stratford team to travel.

Versus Wanganui, won by ... 14 to 6 Versus Wellington, won by .. 9 to 6 Versus Waikato, won by .... 24 to 11 Versus Marlborough, won by . 22 to 17 Versus Hawke’s Bay, won by 5 to 3 [Versus Wanganui, won by .. Manawhenua, lost . ■. 20 to 11 Versus 16 to 20 Versus Wellington, lost 17 to 20 Versus Manawhenua, won by . 13 to 12 Versus Waikato, won by .... 8 to 6 Versus Thames Valley, won by 38 to 3 Versus Auckland, won by .... 6 to 3