ELEVEN TO FOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1930, Page 4

ELEVEN TO FOUR

TARANAKI TEAM BEATEN HARD GAME AT WELLINGTON LITTLE BETWEEN THE SIDES FORWARDS HOLD THEIR OWN ... I (By Wire—Special Reporter.) Wellington, Sept. 27. After one oi the hardest struggles seen in the city this season the Wellington representative Rugby team maintained its unbeaten record, defeating Taranaki by 11 (two tries, one eonvarted. and a penalty) to four (a potted goal). On the play there was not that margin between the teams. Taranaki, particularly in the second spell, -had the territorial advantage and were unlucky not to score on several occasions. The issue was in doubt till the last few minutes, when the Taranaki men were tiring as a result of the great fight against the wind in the first spell and Wellington scoied a, tiy ? .thus putting the- issue bej ond doubt. The game was clean but strenuously contested, and on the hard ground there were several casualties, McLean re tiring in the first spell with an injured leg and Cooke with slight concussion. Julian injured an ankle in. the second spell. Mostly play 'vas tight, the forwards on both sides having a s*reat struggle in which the laVaaiaki men more than held their own. They prevented the dangerous Wellington backs from securing either from the scrum or line-out and set up some loose rushes that were difficult to stop. The luck, however, was against TaraThe Wellington backs had plenty of speed and more finish than the Taianaki' backs, but the visitors tackled o-amely and at times showed initiative hi attack. Owen has never played better. Galbraith’s dazzling runs at times electrified the crowd. The three-quarter line all did their part and did it Well, though in the second spell they did not. make quite enough use of the men. Collins at full-back gave one of the best exhibitions in that' position seen at Wellington' this season, ffis line-kick-in'*, especially against the wind in the first spell, was a revelation. Gudgeon at half was solid in defence and made some <*ood openings and some splendid solo runs. All the forwards carried their full share of the load, none probably showing up better than Walter, who was playing at the to P °* his form. Though opposed by the All Black Porter, who was playing his last game, Guy was well in the picture. The game was fought at a fast pace throughout. The manner in which the Taranaki men held the Wellington backs was surprising to local supporters, who were decidedly uneasy during the' second spell. WELLINGTON SOON SCORES. With the sun and wind against Taranaki Walter kicked off. Wellington, aided by a useful kick by Cooke, at once invaded but Owen- circumvented Porter and lined at half-way. Petty intertepted a Wellington pass, ground before he was collared, whilst a dashing run by Watson saw play in, Wellington’s twenty-five. Useful work by Baldwin in a line-out, assieted by Walter, saw Taranaki attack, Galbraith cutting through cleverly but being unsuppdrted. Wellington was penalised and Clarke just failed to goal. Like a flash the scene changed. The Taranaki forwards were pressing when Porter kicked down. Cooke, following up fast, secured and cut through, sending the ball via Julian and Page to Mackay, who shook off Petty and scored. He also converted the try. Galbraith marked and checked Wellington just short of half-way and the .visiting forwards, keeping play tight, reached the twenty-five, where Waiter ■ was offside and Cooke brilliantly lined at the Taranaki corner flag. Ihe VVe'llington pack tried hard to score, but an infringement Jet, .Taranaki cleai\ From the scrum Gudgeon set his men <*oin<* but Crawford’s pass to Petty wns wide. Tara*ii3*ki,. however, hep running. Petty secured and shortpunted. The ball rebounded from a Wellington forward. Clarke snapped it up, cut through and with Wills and Baldwin handling well went close to the goal before being checked. Taranaki kept going for Walter to kick over the line, but Cooke forced. , /■ The Wellington backs, aldo were handling well. Galbraith cut through brilliantly but Cooke collared him. The Wellington pack, led by McLean and Porter, attacked, but the defence was sound. Taranaki’s tackling prevented the Wellington backs from moving, whilst Collins, though the ball was difficult to field, lined well. Walter, Robinson and Guy were prominent in a forward rush, but Porter’s clever shepherding let the ball clear. Fielding and lining well Galbraith gained ground for Taranaki. Following up a penalty, Richards started a rush in which all ' the pack joined in sweeping to the fine. Aftei* a series of scrums Walter and Richards appeared to dive over with a swarm of Wellington players, but the referee ordered a five-yards scrum. Hooking the .ball Julian shot it out to Page, who lined at half-way. A little later Collins was caught out of position but he recovered and lined brilliantly. Then Oliver dashed down the field with Julian in support and only Collins to beat. He failed to pass and was well tackled. Wellington pressed hotly. Jessup just missed in diving over the line and Mackay and Cooke had resultless “pots.” Then Taranaki worked to Wellington territory, where Galbraith snapped up and dummied and side-stepped his way to tho Wellington twenty-five in characteristic style. Petty carried on. Cooke, however, cleared. GALBRAITH JUST FAILS. . The Taranaki forwards were playing ■ with great dash. They, pressed but Mackay cleared with long kicks. Galbraith badly fooled the opposition but slipped when a try Was in sight uid Julian ran 50 yards down the field, sendin** the ball Out with a great pass when blocked, but it went astray. Wellington continued to attack. Porter was nearly over. Taranaki infringer front of the goal, Cooke with an easy shot raising the total to eight aS half-time sounded. McLean retired previously, Deidi’ich filling his place. Widi the wind and sun in its favour on resuming Taranaki attacked, Owen breaking through, but no-one was there to take his pass. Then the Wellington forwards rushed up the field. Cooke **alloping after the ball, but Collins just saved. Again the Wellington backs passed beautifully and attacked, but Balls pass went forward. Collins with a great kick lined at half-way. Owen roke through to tjie'full-back and the laianaki pack swept over the line, where Walter dived but lost the ball and Barrett forced. Collins forced BaiTett out at the corner flag. Taranaki pressed, Galbraith beating three, men and running into position for a snap pot which iust -.missed the goal. Tctfaijaki kftrit

up the pressure and Walter punted across the field. Watson secured on the full, racing down the field io send Walter away. The ball was forced over the line but Barrett forced. Playing like tigers the Taranaki men kept Wellington defending, Guy, Gudgeon and Owen being prominent. Guy compelled the full-back to hurriedlyline. Wellington with short passes cleared and play swung to midfield, where Galbraith, notched four points with a great drop-kick. This roused Wellington. Mackay ran across and Sent the ball to Page, who dummied one man but was well collared. Kicking high and following up, Taranaki bustled Barrett and Robinson just failing to reach Oliver’s kick when there was no-one to beat. The Taranaki forwards kept going solidly. Clarke and Wills were, held up in turn, whilst Watson was smothered when making a dash. The Wellington backs worked hard and cleared, Mackay making a dash to be collared by Petty, and in the ensuing play Cooke was temporarily hurt. Plaj* hung for a while in neutral ground till Clarke, Gargan, Robinson, Guy and Wills took it to the twenty-five, where Gudgeon cut through cleverly. He was within five yards of the line when his pass went astray. hot Attacks by taranakt. Taranaki was pressing hotly when Cooke again cleverly saved. Back came Taranaki. Gudgeon cut through .nd Barrett carried back to save. From the scrum Wellington forced. The Wellington forwards reached past half-way but Petty, side-stepping neatly, short-punt-ed and had Taranaki attacking. Solid tackling checked the movement. Galbraith attempted another drop-kick. Taranaki continued to press Wellington till Porter snapped up the ball, lining near half-way. Cooke was again injured. Galbraith cut through but Iqst the bal/. Like a flash Ball snapped up and sailed for the line with Oliver in support, but Watson brought him down. Both back and forward Wellington charged down, Mackay being held up ten yards from the line. After a scrum Mackay just failed with a penalty shot. Julian, who had been defending well, retired injured, Foley replacing him. Taranaki again invaded .the twenty-live When Page dummied through and lined at half-way. A high kick was well fielded by Ball, who sent Mackay away. Mackay centred but Collins marked in the face of the oncoming pack. Handling the Wellington backs sent Oliver away. He grub-kicked and Crawford failed to field the ball. Watson saved. • - Taranaki was tiring and the Wellington team was in the ascendancy. It looked almost certain that either Ball or Mackay would score, but Petty snapped up the ball, beat the pair and lined. Wellington swept up the field for Barry to complete the movement with a try. Foley failed to goal. Lively play followed for the remaining two or three minutes, but no further score was registered, Collins trying a resultless penalty shot from over half-way. The game ended with the scores: — Wellington 11 Taranaki 4 Mr. J. Moffitt refereed. RETIREMENT OF C. G. PORTER. PRESENTATION AT .WELLINGTON. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 27. Fifty friends and admirers of Mr. C. G. Porter met to-da,y to make him a presentation in recognition of the part he had played in New Zealand football and to mark their sense of regret at his retirement from representative Rugby.. The gathering was unofficial. ‘ 1 The memento took the form of a framed sketch and photographs of incidents' in last international game, inscribed and autographed. Testimony was borne to Porter’s leadership, Sportsmanship and courage. MANAWBENUA DEFEATED. WELLINGTON SIDE’S VICTORY. Palmerston N., Sept. 27. A Wellington Rugby team defeated Manawhenua by 19 points to six. It was a forward game played for the most part in pouring rain.