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Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1933, Page 3

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TARANAKI BEATS WAIKATO PATCHY BUT EXCITING RUGBY VISITING PACK DOMINATES TARANAKI BACKS BRIGHT Playing behind a beaten pack, _ the.. Taranaki backs won out against Waikato in tire representative Rugby match at Eltham yesterday, the final score being 19 points to 18. A fair attendance saw one of the best back lines fielded by the province for many years starved, the rugged Waikato forwards maintaining insistent pressure and winning set scrums and line-outs with almost monotonous regularity. This seemed chiefly due to Waikato’s big advantage in weight, the Taranaki forwards being pushed off the ball on almost every occasion. Whenever the Taranaki forwards did get the ball away—mostly from the ruck—the backs went away in delightful fashion for the speedy Rutherford to spurt through and open the way for a try. Rutherford, though his defence was not always faultless, was the “find” of the match, and made some brilliant runs that placed him on a par with Handley Brown at his best. From the beginning it was apparent that the Taranaki scrum was finding difficulty in settling down, and apart from an early passing bout among the Taranaki backs the game was dull and scrappy for the first twenty minutes, with the Waikato forwards holding play in Taranaki’s twenty-five. Not only were the scrums badly formed, but the tackling of the majority of Taranaki’s forwards was wretched. The little halfback Dymond was the only man to show up really well during that period. Waikato was rewarded with a try from the , consistent Aitken before Taranaki showed up at all. GOOD BACK MOVEMENTS. Suddenly from midfield Dymond sent his backs away. Mace and K. Fookes ran straight and hard, transferring almost immediately for Rutherford to dash straight in. S. Fookes, always handy, was up to take his infield pass and score. The scores came in turn and, although the match was patchy, there were exciting movements and spectacular breaks by both backs and forwards, the issue .being in doubt until the very last. Taranaki’s second score in the first half was also the result of the combination of Dymond, Mace and K. Fookes, and the penetration of Rutherford, Sullivan being up to finish it off. Although Mace made one or two mistakes he went well for his first time out with Dymond. K. Fookes and Rutherford were certainly the better for his quick work inside' them. Early in the second spell he gave a taste of his best when he received from Dymond to cut clean through and throw a long pass to K. Fookes. Rutherford came up fast and Edwards was speedy enough to cap the movement with a determined break. The fast Waikato forwards screwed many of their scrums, and both Mace and Dymond experienced some hard handling. - ’ INSIDE BACKS DUEL'.

With them forwards raking so regularly it was only to be expected that the Waikato backs would break through on occasions, and that was-what happened. Story and Aitken were the most dangerous men, but in spite of a plentiful supply of ball neither of the Waikato wings received at the end of a passing bout in which the ball travelled right from the scrum. Story beat Mace now and again and Aitken tricked Rutherford on several occasions. All Taranaki’s tries came from back movements in which both Mace and Rutherford had their revenge. K. Fookes played a sound all-round game, and his generalship was evident in many of the back movements. His tackling was always good. A great thing about his play is his ability to come back and find touch with a timely kick when the opposition has broken through. Sullivan and Edwards both played well, displaying determination and dash. Collins, although a trifle shaky in his fielding early in the match, improved as the game proceeded and saved his forwards time and again. For the third match in succession Dymond served his backs swiftly and well when he did get the ball. Game as a pebble, he went down to all the Waikato forwards 'that broke through the line-outs and loose scrums, and his .tackling was solid. In addition, he made a number of smart breaks round the edges of the scrum, from one of which S. Fookes carried on and Edwards went through hard and fast for a great try. FAILURE AS A PACK. In the forwards it was a different tale. Clarke was not conspicuous for the greater part of the first spell; nor was he the only one in this category. The solid Waikato pack pushed Taranaki all over the paddock. Lacking the weight, it was impossible for either Davison or Murfitt to hook, but Davison was not particularly impressive in any department of his play except for short dashes from the sides of loose scrums. Hinton, S. Fookes, McLeod and C. Wills were the best forwards on the day, Fookes especially proving himself a really valuable acquisition to the province. R. Young toiled hard but apart from the line-outs he was not as prominent as usual.

It was a great pity that the forwards failed as a pack, for when they showed improvement for a short period in the second spell the backs went away nicely. Clarke came to light and his weight seemed to make a world of difference. The game proved, however, that if the selectors can field an improved pack capable of gaining possession of the ball and feeding the half, the province has litle need to worry as far as its backs are concerned, if they continue to play up to yesterday's form. WAIKATO’S GREAT FORWARDS. For Waikato, W. Cameron was an excellent full-back and his expert fielding and long kicks sent Hinton, S. Fookes and McLeod back on many occasions. Although Carroll was by no means weak at second five-eighths, he was not the equal of Story (first) and Aitken (centre), both of whom impressed. Denz. performed well behind the scrum. But it was a pity to see two such good wings as J. Wilson and Jackson proved themselves to be in the Prince of Wales Cup match on Saturday receive so little of the ball. Hedley, Lewer, Ensor and Leeson were the best of a very even and hard-working pack. The Waikato forwards varied their play, and with the ball stuck in the back row they would sometimes screw the scrum and break away in devastating foot rushes. To the forwards must go the credit of holding Taranaki to a one point win.

The teams were:— Taranaki: A. Collins; Edwards, W. Rutherford, G. Sullivan; K. Fookes, B. Mace; W. Dymond; C. Wills, R. McLeod (back row); S. Fookes, R. Clarke, R. Young; Murfitt. Davison. Hinton. Waikato: W. Cameron; R. R. Jackson, A. J. Aitken, Jim Wilson; W. Carroll, A.

Story; L. Denz; J. M. Taylor (back row); I. Lewer, J. Hedley, T. Thomson, A. Cameron; D. Bourke, H. Ensor, J. Leeson. RUN OF THE PLAY. The Taranaki backs had a try-out from the first line-out, the whole line handling till Cameron felled Sullivan. Cameron placed a free kick into touch near the Taranaki line and had a shot at goal when Davison lifted toe soon in the scrum. Collins was a little unsteady after his spell. Apart from that Waikato kept an advantage with the forwards, heaving long passes out to their solid backs. Dymond tricked the inside backs and had Mace alongside, the five-eighth coming to grief at the very safe Cameron. Finally Aitken roughed his way through a loose scrum and scored near the posts as K. Fookes lifted his feet off the ground. Cameron converted. Mace picked up an awkward pass and K. Fookes gave Cameron an awkward kick to take. Fookes and Mace arrived with the ball and Davison put in a heady little kick which took Taranaki very close, only for Carroll to clear. In a yellow and black rearguard move the ball reached Fookes, who turned back to Mace, the inside man being tackled long before he had the ball. The penalty kick was of no good to Taranaki. Hinton dribbled through only to be robbed Story, but then the ball came round the open side to K. Fookes. Rutherford received and shot between Jackson and Aitken. S. Fookes was inside and Rutherford, faced with the choice of a swerve or a pass, did both and gave Fookes the ball to score an excellent try. Collins converted and the scores were equal. In the course of a Taranaki offensive Edwards, Wills and Clarke descended on Cameron and worried him dangerously for Waikato, but Leeson, A. Cameron and Jackson burst through the Taranaki defence until Rutherford gave Edwards and Collins a little strengthening. The Taranaki forwards were penalised on their twenty-five and Cameron kicked a penalty goal. Dymond sent the backs away from the middle of the field, the ball going to Mace, Fookes and Rutherford. Rutherford tucked the ball under his arm and steamed straight through. Sullivan was the accessory coming up on the outside, and the two, Sullivan with the ball, reached the line with Jim Wilson and Cameron looking at them from, behind. Sullivan ran behind the posts to score and Collins converted. The half-time score was:—

Taranaki Waikato

Aitken was in the i.melight twice as the second spell began, but Rutherford felled him well after missing the big centre once. The Taranaki machine slid smoothly into action for another try. Mace ran easily past Wilson and Story with excellent dummies and shot the ball over the head of the next man to Fookes when a check seemed certain, u. he move beat Waikato. Rutherford drew his man to send Edwards speeding over to score in the corner Collins’ kick missed.

Sullivan survived a crashing tackle by Jim Wilson and handed on to Hinton and Roger Young. Leeson and McLeod tussled for a while and then Cameron forced. Play flickered back and forth with Wills, Edwards, Sullivan, Aitken and Jim Wilson providingMnost of the “ginger.”, Hedley, Bourke and Leeson led a Waikato challenge that met with fumbles from Hinton, Fookes and Collins, and Denz tried to bullock his way through a five-yard scrum when Collins “carried over.”' K. Fookes and McLeod cleared to beyond half-way. Lewer and Story found Collins as reliable as ever, but Thomson set the next Waikato try in train with a typical husky breakaway. Story ran away down midfield and punted over Collins’ head and Carroll had a simple task when the ball rolled out of a three-a-side melee in the goal mouth. Cameron goaled and the scores were even at 13-all.

Rutherford sailed away with another electrifying dash. He passed to S. Fookes, who had run up in anticipation, but the forward fell to a rear tackle by Aitken and threw forward. Leeson and Cameron' charged their way out again and Cameron stopped R. McLeod splendidly. The backs sped away again for another rousing try, each man doing his part no less than perfectly for Rutherford to draw Wilson and pass to Sullivan. The winger scored in the corner as he was tackled and Collins found the kick too difficult. Denz and Carroll had the Taranaki defence at a disadvantage in the home team’s half and the big Aitken came out <lear in mysterious fashion to score unopposed. Cameron converted to place Waikato in the lead. Scores were fast and furious and Dymond ran S. Fookes and Edwards into position for another pretty try in the comer. Collins missed with the kick and Taranaki led again.

The heavy Waikato men worked back to the Taranaki line. Carroll took a lightning pot that missed and Mace led. both teams streaming downfield to pass' to Rutherford as the centre met Aitken. The bell for time sounded with Waikato on a dangerous attack. The rush was stemmed and Taranaki breathed again. Taranaki 19 Waikato , 18 Mr. A. O’Sullivan was the referee.