GOLTS' UNBEATEN RECORD

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1934, Page 10

GOLTS' UNBEATEN RECORD

TARANAKI WINS THIRD GAME MATCH AGAINST THAMES VALLEY TOURISTS DOMINATE THE PLAY. (By Wire—Special Reporter.) Paeroa, Sept. 8. The Taranaki Rugby colts team concluded its tour, maintaining its unbeaten record by defeating Thames Valley by 14 points (foui- tries, one converted) to nine (three penalties). Taranaki, once the forwards awoke after fifteen minutes’ play, dominated the game, and with the least luck should have considerably increased the score. The game was hard fought and fast. The visiting forwards were superior in every department. Burke’s playing in the front row appeared to make all the difference, Taranaki securing a greater share of the ball. Taranaki was, however, penalised on numerous occasions for lifting in the scrum and Thames Valley had several shots at goal, Burgess notching nine points, and narrowly missing three more points, from penalties. Early in the match Thames Valley notched three points, but for the remainder of the spell, though playing against the sun, Taranaki considerably more than held its own and in the second spell had Thames penned in practically until the last few minutes. Not only in the scrum but also in the line-outs and in rucking the Taranaki pack was superior. The forward rushes were reminiscent of Taranaki’s best days, taking a tremendous lot of stopping and showing that Taranaki has some great young forwards coming on. They collared in great style, too, and at times handled like backs. O'Byrne, Bocock, Burke, Heath and Baldwin were great leaders, but the others were seldom far behind. Three tries came from forward rushes. The Thames Valley pack provided no mean opposition but had to give way to superior force. The main fault of the Thames pack was a tendency to collar high.

The Taranaki backs showed more initiative and pace. Arnold sent the ball away smartly. Dowdle, the first fiveeighth, was the best back on the ground. He ran straight, beating his opponents, who were tackling high, and sent out great passes. He also accounted for his man solidly on defence. On his play to-day, which reports state is characteristic of his showing throughout the tour, he will be the Taranaki representative five-eighths. Marter, the second five-eighths, playing in an unaccustomed position, went well, though occasionally his passes were erratic. Cuff, the centre threequarter, did much good work, feeding both Hunt and Malcolm, who gave everything a go, but were well looked after by Manders and Burgess respectively. Hunt's try was a result of his determination and only on a rare occasion did he let a char.ce go. Papps, the full-back, created an impression, anticipating and lining well and never making a mistake. Thames Valley’s inside backs were inclined to tackle high, Fulton, the second five-eighths, and Manders, a wing threequarter, being the best. Williams, Radford and Pollard were the best forwards.

The weather was fine, the ground being on the hard side. This, with the solid pace set, resulted in several stoppages. Malcolm injured his ankle and was replaced by Collins, while Mijler, a Thames forward, was replaced by Sinnett.

The Taranaki team was: Papps, Hunt, Cuff, Malcolm, Marter, Dowdle, Arnold, Garvey, O’Byrne, Baldwin, Bocock, Gardner, Burke, Young, Heath. The Taranaki forwards early demonstrated scrum superiority and the backs were handling well when Thames forwards charged down. Taranaki was penalised, Burgess landing a goal three minutes after the start. Papps next saved an awkward position from a rebound and then Baldwin, Bocock and Burke swept down with a devastating rush. Baldwin broke clear with several supporters but was called back. Fulton roused the crowd with an electric cut through until Dowdle tackled him twice in quick succession. Burgess missed chances at goal from two handy penalties, but from a third he added three points. Showing their true quality, the Taranaki forwards swept to the attack and forced Thames over- the line. From an ensuing scrum Arnold sent the ball smartly to Dowdle and Hunt, who dived over. Cuff made a poor attempt at goal. Dowdle next fooled two opponents, making a great opening for Malcolm, who was well taken by Burgess. Attacks on each side were met by solid tackling until the Taranaki forwards, led by Burke, Garvey and O’Byrne, swept half the length of the field for Bocock to score brilliantly. Burke goaled. For the next ten’ minutes Taranaki held control. The forwards were working like Trojans, and the backs, particularly Dowdle and Hunt, were handling well and just failed to score. Then Baldwin, snapping up the ball, beat several men and sent Burke over. Burke failed to goal. The score at half-time was: Taranaki 11, Thames Valley six. _ Dowdle ran through nearly half his opponents and the Taranaki pack, going great guns, kept Thames penned in. The Taranaki backs were handling well and so were the forwards. Burke was recalled when streaking clear for the line, and Hunt and Malcolm were nearly over from anout of machine-like passing. Thames was compelled to force several times, free-kicks also relieving, but Papps’ well-judged line-kicking drove them back time and again. Taranaki charged, being repulsed by solid tackling. With 30 minutes gone, Thames reached Taranaki territory, where from a penalty ten yards inside halfway Burgess added three points. The Taranaki backs set out again in a pretty movement but the opposition tackling was now deadly. Burgess narrowly missed with another penalty. Play was now very hard, Taranaki going solidly for another score. Finally Malcolm kicked high, followed up and smothered the full-back, and Burke scored, but failed to goal. Taranaki continued to be aggressive, but there was no further score. Taranaki 14 Thames Valley 9