BRIGHT RUGBY LEAGUE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1932, Page 3

BRIGHT RUGBY LEAGUE

MATCH AT NEW PLYMOUTH

TARANAKI WIN BY 25 TO HL

DEFEAT QF AUCKLAND

In a bright game of Rugby League football the Taranaki team made its debut by defeating Marist (Auckland) at Western Park, New Plymouth, on Saturday by 25 points to 17. The match was played in fine weather 'before an attendance of about 1200.

The League officials staged the match well. Considerable trouble had been gone to in order to make a good playing field, the area being mown and neatly marked out. Accommodation was provided for spectators on the usually seatless eastern side of the ground, the Regimental-Citizens Band discoursed music when play was not actually in progress, and the progressive scores were displayed on a result board. Broadly speaking, the Taranaki team played, much better than most people expected, and the Marist team not as well as was anticipated. The visitors were obviously affected by the long and tiring journey from Auckland, and in the first spell Taranaki had easily the better of the game. List, for instance, the wing three-quarter who shone in the New Zealand League team against the English team on the latter’s recent tour, was right out of form, and could neither handle nor run. In the second spell, however, Marist made a strong attempt to retrieve their reputation, and quickly ran up 17 points. Brisbane, the captain of the New Zealand team, who is not yet 30 years of age though his baldness gave him a much more mellow appearance, was starved for opportunities in the first spell, but gave clear indications of his football greatness. He ran strongly, and was a splendid tactician with keen judgment of openings. He and Hassan, the New Zealand half-back who played full-back on Saturday, were the most impressive of the visitors, though List made some good runs in the second spell and Cornthwaite was frequently in the picture. TARANAKI PLAYS WELL. A glanco at the personnel of the Taranaki team showed that as a Rugby Union team it would be hard to beat if pitted against any of the best club teams playing this season in Taranaki under the Union. There were several spectators who, like the people in Goldsmith’s Deserted Village, came inclined to scoff but remained to praise. The game started somewhat inauspiciously, and with both teams making many mistakes the audience treated the exhibition rather light-heartedly. Taranaki goon showed, however, that they were more than a haphazard combination, and after they had given a few sparkling glimpses of their capabilities the jocularity on the terraces gave way to genuine interest and appreciation. It has to be remembered nevertheless, that the Marist opposition in the first spell was not very formidable, and Taranaki's .display was rather a Rugby Union one than a League one. In addition the referee seemed inclined to 'be more lenient than otherwise: with both sides. Where Taranaki has most to learn is the strategy that should be employed from the scrum, and particularly when a player is tackled in possession. The tackled players on the Marist side were much more adept than Taranaki in getting the ball snappily out to their backs and swinging away in an apparently pre-conceived movement

The fact remains that the Taranaki team made a creditable start for a team making its first appearance in a new code. The two AlcLeods, particularly Jack McLeod, played a rattling game in the forwards, and the backs went quite well, Aloorhead giving a good exhibition. Bedford's goal-kicking in the first spell was magnificent. A more suitable position in the combination than five-eighths could probably be found for Guy. In the second spell Taranaki tired, and Marist showed a decided improvement, though at no stage did they reach the standard of a first-class Auckland team. The teams were:—

MARIST BROS. OLD BOYS. W. Hassan C. List- 'S. Cornthwaite B. Schuetz H. (Brisbane (capt.) C. Dunn 'P. Young Al. 'Flannagan A. Clarke H. Carter F. Webley Campbell J. Laird TARANAKI. C. Bedford VV. Priar C. Hunt Eaves G. Aloorhead A. Guy Wallace. Jas. McLeod Coles Jack AfcLeod R. Penniall H. Davidson Heatley THE SCORING MOVEMENTS. Th© game had hardly started when Marist were penalised for an infringement, and Bedford landed a nice goal. Taranaki 2 Alarist 0 Shortly afterwards Alarist were again penalised for offside play, and Bedford landed a magnificent goal from near half way. Taranaki 4 Alarist ............... 0 Taranaki attacked hard, and Wallace made a good run for Jack McLeod to score after a scramble near the line. Bedford converted. Taranaki 9 'Marist 0 H. Davidson made a neat side-step-ping run to beat several players down touch, and Wallace topped off the movement with a try in the corner. Bedford converted from right on the side line with a magnificent kick. Taranaki 14 Marist —• • 0 Priar earned applause for a heady line kick, and Jack AlcLeod, who was playing a great game, made a splendid solo dribbling rush down touch. Marist were penalised and from almost halfway Bedford just missed. He was kicking magnificently. The first spell ended with Taranaki leading by 14 points to nil. Indecision by the Taranaki players let Marist through at the commencement of the second spell, and Brisbane made a strong run to hand on to List, who scored near the corner. Clarke made a poor attempt to convert. Taranaki 14 Marist 3 Brisbane made a sharp stab near the Taranaki posts, but Hunt felled him. From a strenuous defence Aloorhead broke through, and the ball shot out to Eaves, who made a fine run, being overhauled a few yards short of the line. Alarist hooked from a scrum and though Taranaki were amongst them quickly they managed to get the ball out to Brisbane, who again gave List a clear run to score in a good position. Cornthwaite’s kick knocked the flag off

the top of one of the posts, but a goal was not allowed. Taranaki . r.-, Marist ...♦ ® Taranaki raced to the other end where Priar and Hunt in a spectacular race for the hall over the goal line were just beaten by a Marist player. . # . -L. From midfield Eaves put a nice kick across field to Guy, who shot the ball out and after a spectacular run Priar cut in sweetly to score a spectacular try. He failed to convert his own try.

Taranaki ~L t ...v. 17 Marist • Taranaki were soon at it again, and from the ruck Jas. McLeod mgde & brilliant breakaway to score the finest try of the day near the posts. Thd crowd roared with excitement. Hunt cobverted. Taranaki »• 2t Marist .....- * In a moment the Taranaki team seat Priar flying over in the corner. Bedford could not goal. • Taranaki 26 Marist 6 Marist swept down and nearly scored. But fumbling threw away the opportunity. Cornthwaite fielded the ball spectacularly on the full and raced round to send the ball to Brisbane, to' Schaeti, who turned neatly in to score under th* bar. Cornthwaite converted. Taranaki 23 Marist 11 . Marist had another turn soon, 'List making a good run down touch to hand to Webley, who scored in a handy portion. The kick failed. Taranaki 2S Marist 14 In a moment Marist were.over agais, Clarke having an easy run in. The kidt failed. Taranaki 25 - -Marist 17Moorhead retired hurt, but soon cam# back, as replacements in the second spell are not allowed in League. The gam* ended shortly afterwards with the scor*; Taranaki 25 Marist 17 Mr. L. Bull (Auckland) refereeA