TARANAKI B JUST WIN

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1931, Page 4

TARANAKI B JUST WIN

'EVEN MATCH AT WANGANUI

PERIODS OF BRIGHT, FAST PLAY.

' TEAMS’ FORTUNES FLUCTUATE.

’ In a game remarkable for the fluctuating fortunes of both sides, Taranaki B jiujt won from Wanganui B at Wanganui on Saturday by 12 points (two-' penalties and two unconverted triers) to 11 (two penalties and one converted try). The game was patchy,'but for the njout part much brighter and more exciting than the June 3 game at New Plymouth. . Play varied' widely at different stages of the game. From the? start both teams settled dowri. to good bright footbath first Taranaki and then Wangaißii giving the large crowd tastes of their ability. as attacking machines. The first twenty were packed, with incident, the football being very fast and swinging from one end of the field to. the- other in the most exhilarating fashion. Then came a long period of drpb and imipteresting football, the , handling of both sides falling away Until the spectators sat back in boredom and thought of what had been. The straggling play was concluded only by the half-tirrie whistle. On the change-over it was evident that both teams were out to play ? football, and what was more, good bright football. Away went Taranaki, ; and Hamilton placed them three more - pointy in tiie lead. The Wanganui for- < . wa,rds displayed more life and dash this they hjid shown from the start, 'zf- held Taraqakj on their own line. Potaka’s successful penalty kick ■'/ the Wanganui team played like men in-f-i; spired rand Tarariaki faded out of the '■ picture. Time after time Peek would swjng .the attack and Taranaki were lucky on several occasions when Wangaiui men. were held up after crossing the ine. Then play ~rew lethargic until the farapaki'forwards got going and domhated .the game for the last fifteen aiinutes. TACTICS OF PLAYERS. ’ At the outset Taranaki received from most of the scrums, but the Waiiganui hookers raked xyith regularity at the latter end of the spelt "and for half of the second. Brown played a solid game but found the habit of Twist in falling back between him and T. Robinson disconcerting. Twist was a most useful man but for this. The uncertainty as to whether he w ou ld or would not be in. the five-eighth.- line in an. attack from ji set gcrum led to cqnfqsipp. and fumbling by T. Robinson and McCullum on several occasions. Twist, however, completely overshadowed his vis-a-vis, Wilson, 1 who was the weakest man on the ground. Hunt played a magnificent Sme.; Amongst the forwards it was rd to discriminate, Richards and McNeill being prominent in the loose and the hookers, the Murphys, and O’Dowda in the tight. Lynch, who replaced B. Murphy, showed the makings of a great forward. Peek: was the outstanding Wanganpi back. He combined excellently "with Potaka, whpse absence was felt in the last 20 minutes. Plank -was stipreme on defence and smashed thp Taranaki attack at : Mcpulium time after time. Dennis and the two wings were fast and played excellent football, and Lowe was rarely found wanting. Ennis, Firmin, Taiuru and Smith, were the best of the 1 forwards. Wilson was appallingly weak. ’ The’teams were:— TARANAKI. Hunt Hamilton J. Crawford Jopas NL. McCullum ' T. Robjnson “ C. Brown Twist O’Dowda Richards • B. Murphy D. Murphy C. McNeill I. Crawford L. Robinson ' WANGANUI. Lowe ' ■ Hoami Dennip Mete Kingi plank ■ Potaka Peek Wilson . Smith Firmin Whyte L Phillips Taiuru Eppis Friend DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAY. The Taranaki forwards swept into action and B. Murphy capped the attack by a strong effort to cross, but scrambling play on the Wanganui line followed and a penalty gave relief. Peek swung * difficult pass away to Potaka, Dermis spoiling the movement by a poor kick. The ‘Wanganui forwards carried on to the goal-line, where Firmin took a pass yards off-side to touch down, Taranaki clearing from 'the penalty. J. Crawford found a blank field with a high kick and Twist snapped up the bounce as' Lowe tackled him. From the scramble Jongs received and was almost over, losing the ball on the line. Richards started another Taranaki offensive by dribbling away on his own, B. Murphy Carrying on. Brown received and T. Robinson sent a long pass to Hamilton, who knocked on. Then Peek dashed down the touchline and . centred, McCullum finding the line. Peek set the Wanganui backs in motion but Dennis yvas robbed of the ball. An infringement by ». Wanganui forward gave I. Crawford a chance from directly in front but Mell out and the Okaiawa man made no mistake. Taranaki > ® Wanganui 0 PLAYERS BEGIN FUMBLING. kicked through and Twist was handy when Hoami retrieved the ball. Dennis was lucky to field his low pass and clear. Peek, Plank and Potaka sent Dennis away but Mete Kingi was well taken by Jonas and Hunt found touch. iT. Robinson ran into the scrum and the Taranaki forwards moved away, Dennis clearing from their feet. Both sides were fumbling. Brown, T. Robinson and J. Crawford tried a run, the last-named bursting through. Jonas took his pass but Dennis came across and collared him, the in-pass going astray. Indecision by Brown and Hunt over a high kick let the Wanganui forwards through. Richards went down on the ball and then L- Robinson picked up and cleared, extricating' Taranaki from a dangerous position. Peek, Potaka, Plank, Dennis and Mete handled in a ■parkling movement. Dennis ran rinind the wing and took his pass to dash. for the corner, but Richards got back m time to hurl him into touch. From a scrum Brown sent his backs away but the ' movement ended in a scramble ip the corner. The ball trickled out and McCullum dived over, T. Robinson failing with the 1 kick. Taranaki ® Wanganui Firmin went away and Taiuru took his pass with the other Wanganui forwards in support- Brown held them up, passing to T. Robinson. J. Crawford ranged up and Twist took a long in-held

pass to be collared from behind by Low? When the field whs clear in front. Halftime sounded immediately.

TARANAKI QUICKLY SCORE.

Upon resumption Hamilton booted through and followed up' fast to receive again'and streak for the corner. Lowe tackled him on the line but the winger just touched down. The ball rblled out and O’Dowda dived on it to make sure, the referee giving the try to.Hamiltoq. T. Robinson failed wit]r the. kick.

Taranaki 9 Wangapui •• r ‘ i 0

Wanganui went to the attack, Peek, Potaka, Plank and Dennis drawing their men in great style for Mete Kingi to race for 'the line. Tips wjng lost the ball and a series of scrums followed close to Taranaki’s line. Tho forwards, led by the Murphys and McNeill, removed play. Potaka found the line well in Taranaki territory but play swung upfield again. Illegal scrum tactics gave Potaka a chance from well out and he notched Wanganui’s first points.

Taranaki ... fl Wanganui 3

Playing with considerably mare life, Wanganpi were put'in good attacking position by Hoami. I. Crawford held them lip until the : of thp. J-WfiaM forwards arrived. Thpn Wilson broke away alone put Hipit for Ipty with deadly Frqnj the ensuing pcrym Waiiganui hooked and Peek Wriggled Ips way over .. for’ t<? convert. Taranaki »• A Wanganui . 8 WANGANUI’S INSPIRED POXWangapui were playing with and Peek, receiving'plcjity the-ball, was giving his hack line every opportunity. Hoami raced down but orp.wfp.rd qniptjy booted into touch, .AW ngariiii oil the other side and Mete Jyjpgi was smothered. fey• Hamilton.'' Fpllpwi ll " a halt white Lpwp received attention • for injuries, Peek Slipped round W blind side and Mate Kingi was facing for the line. Hamilton cqlild not stop his inpaps to Ennis, whq was smotheredby T. Robinson. An infrijigepient in the epguing gerpjn S3-W. frqni an'easy position. i . . Wanganui 11 Tarftnaki . •«• •• •t•••• • ? • • ? ®

The Taranaki forwards enappedof a long tone's amf rtished. dpwq-fltda J» loose formation. Potaka and Lpwq med the rush. M f>qth wqre injured, Pqtaka retjfipg; hi§ place being takfi? Mutimer. . A .moment later B. Mprppy retired, Lynch going into /the Tafanaki scruml Brpwn sent T. Robinson and ,M Gullum off but the latter missed Ing pass and IJapmi received . to rj.ee twenty-five .to twenty-five, where Huqt tackled him • ; r xT -Taranaki worked’back,, McN.eqi and Lypcb'' carrying: play, ’ hqck for., an mfringemejit to permifi' Defipis to lipe.we" down. ' Himt . whs caught . ip ppppessiop and hot forward' work' followed 01080/0 the Taranaki line. T. Robinson sidled round a scrum, Hamilton missing hjs pass and oply a pressure. Brown sent out a pass and ,i. Robjnson ran 'Hapiikfln ipti? pl^ c b *o r the wing td dask for the corner. ' Lowe got across just in tjme. Wangamn mt fringed in the scramble add Urawford, goaled with‘a good kick, Taranaki ~....• I? Wanganui". 11 L. Robinson pnd Lynch rah through half the Wanganui team and - Hgmityon ranged up ■ to kick high and’ follow fhstj’' the ball rolling, into touch. Hunt pleared neatly, tricking twa men; but was temporarily injured a moment later. Play, although'willing enough,- tailed- off again ip thei.'lftah i naki holding a territorial advantage until the epd, The Rev. Leonard was the referee. JUNIOR RUGBY GAMES. NORTHERN DIVISION. The following are; the results of the lower grade matches played in the Northern Division on Saturday : —; Second Grade. Star A 33 v. Okato 3. Star B 13 v. Old Boys 3. Urfenui 6 v. Clifton 3. Third School B 8 v. Clifton 7. Star. 14 v. Urenui nil. Tiikapa 9 v. Old Boys 3. Okato 8 v. School A 8. Fourth Grade. Star 6 v. School A 3Tukapa 3 v. School B nil. Fifth Grade. School A 17 y. Star nil. : Tukapa 8 v. School B nil. Second Grade.

Tpkapa 8 ‘3 2 4 34 '2.8 6 School 0 7 2— 5 25 99 4 SOUTHERN DIVISION. Second Grade. Okaiawa 12 v. Hawera 3. Athletic o v. Palea o. Kaponga 8 v. Opunake 0. Third Grade. Patea 14 v. Athletic 0. Opunake 4 v. Hawera 3. Okaiawa beat High School by default; • Fourth GradeHawera 6 v. High School'o. Okaiawa beat Eltham by default. Opunake narrowly beat Hawera in the western division third grade play-off. The winners scored a field goal in the first few minutes before the bpll became heavy and Hawera were able to score only one try.

■g IS to £ d Q g. 8 S CO s £ © J CU cu CJ Star A .. 9 7 1 1 135 34 15 Tukapa .. 8 6 I 1 91 39 13 Urenui ... 9 6 0 3 73 58 12 Okato ... 8 2 2 4 39 71 6 Clifton .. ■ 0 2 1 6* 57 57 5 Old Boys 9 2 1 5 47 107 5 Star B ... 8 2* 0 6 20 Sti . 4 *Star B won from Clifton by default Third Grade Star ..... 9 9 O' 0 182 8 18 School B 8 5 1 2 49 GU 11 Urenui . 9 4 1 7 53 64 9 Tukapa . 9 4 1 4 44 57 9 Clifton r . ...... 9 2 1 6 35 66 Okato .. 8 2 0 6 78 4 Old Boys § 2 0 6 32 81 4 High School A. have played eh rhi; matches, winning six arid drawing w it.h Star (no score) and Okato (8 all . They have scored 84 points rind had 17 scored against them. Their points'do not count for the championship.' Fourth Graefe. Tukapa . 8 8 0 0 1?5 5 16 Star .... 7 a 0 2 95 24 10 School A 7 3 0 4 100 42 6 School B 7 1 1 5 'll 79 3 School C 7 0 1 6 8 196 1 Fifth Grade School A 7 6 1 - 104 6 13 Star •.... 7 3 1 3 29 51 7 School B 7 2 2 3 32 49 6