FORWARDS WIN THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1935, Page 10

FORWARDS WIN THE DAY

TUKAPA PACK’S SUCCESS OLD BOYS VANGUARD BEATEN. DIFFERENCE OF 15 POINTS. After having had a five-point lead I in the first spell the New Flymouth Old Boys forwards were, beaten at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, on Saturday under the tigerish attacks of the Tukapa pack, Tukapa rattling up 29 points (seven tries one converted, and two penalty goals) to Old Boys’ 14 (two tries one converted, and two penalty goals). In the final stages the game proved a triumph for the Tukapa wingers and the promoted junior Courtney, who filled the vacancy caused by C. Browns engagement at Wanganui. The game was exciting but marred by many errors. Packing tightly and making every effort to set their backs going, both sets of forwards toiled unceasingly throughotlt the first fip&ll. backs failed to produce the goods and the play was only mediocre in that spell. Tukapa held the advantage in the set scrums but Ola Boys saw more of the ball from the loose scrums. All but 20 minutes of the second spell had elapsed before the superiority of the Tukapa pack told its tale. With exciting suddenness Tukapa then took control of play and in 14 minutes ran up as many points. The Old Boys pack never let up, with the result that six points were added in the second spell. Evans, Whittington and Somerton were a hard-working trio but they hardly overshadowed the honest toiling Of Pittser and the remainder of the pack. S. Fookes played well at times but-was not up to his usual form. For Tukapa d’DoWda played well as usual but it Was doubtful whether he bettered R. Knott. Thomson and Swenson were always to the fore and McNeill showed improving form. Ironically it Was the Old Boys rearguard that WaS responsible for the finest movement. From the loose Luxton set the backs going, the' ball flashing along the line to Ford who, with only Papps to beat, did not risk the full-back’s sound te elding, and short punted to run rourfd and score. Boswell gave an indifferent display' early in the game but towards the end he was at his best.- Hoskin, was rather SIOW With his passes but was invaluable on defence. H. Fookes’ defence was particularly sound but during the second half, as Was to be expected, he was unable to stand the pace.

Set an extremely, difficult task, Courtney ended the day with colours flying. Nervous at first, he settled down to solid football and well merited his inclusion in the team, Wallace was sound, whereas his opponent, Galbraith, shone on attack but r failed to convince on defence, his .neck-high tackles being ineffective against a man of Wallace’s calibre. Sullivan played good club football but did not produce his usual game. On the other hand Gardiner, with five tries to his credit, has rarely had more success. He showed determination and made the best of the opportunities given him by the centre. Webster played Well, his penetration and handling being much improved. Papps was sound but was overshadowed by Cliff ord-Jones, who made but two mistakes, one of which cost hifl team points. Thomson was the weak link in the Old Boys rearguard, the centre failing to take passes. Given but few .opportunities, Ford showed that he is one of the best wingers in Taranaki? Quick off the mark, he made the best of, every advantage. He used his head. ■ '

Old Boys: S. Clifford-Jones; Ford, H. Thomson, Richardson; Galbraith, H. Fookes; Hoskin; J. Mace; S._ FoOk.es, Evans, Luxton, Purser; • Whittington, Ulenberg, Somerton.

Tukapa: Papps; Webster, J. Sullivan, Gardiner; Wallace, Courtney; Boswell-, Thomson, Voullaire; O’Dowda, Sorenson, McNeill; .R. Knott, Kenny, T. Sullivan. The crowd was brought to its feet when Wallace short-punted and Sullivan raced, round and gathered in the ball to hand to Webster, who dashed along the side-line. H. Fookes came across quickly and with a flying tackle brought Webster down within a yard of the line. After 20 minutes of indifferent play Boswell missed with a penalty kick. Gardiner electrified’ the spectators when, dashing up the field he kicked through, but when clear of the field he’ over-ran the balL An unreasonably long bout of line-kicking ended in favour of Old Boys., Old Boys pressed and S. Fookes was inches short with a Jive ifor the line. Hoskin passed to H. Fookes, who beat his man with a deceptive run. Turning round Fookes passed' straight back to Galbraith, who shot off behind him and flung a long pass to S. Fookes, who charged over the. line. Hoskin converted. , Playing With greater determination- the Tukapa pack carried play into Old Boys territory. Twice Boswell ran round the s' .’urn but was unsupported. With play underneath Old Boys’ goal posts Tukapa had its backs Well strung across the field. The ball flashed along the line to, Wallace, who drew two men before passing to Sullivan. The latter transferred, to'Gardiner, who scored in the corner. Boswell failed with the kick. Old Boys forwards penned Tukapa in; the corner. The ball came out to Galbraith, Who took a tow pass, sold a, dummy beautifully, and passed to Whittington, who was Collared a yard from the line.. A penalty kick enabled Hoskin, to record three more points before half-; time.'/ • .

Tukapa scored early in the secondhalf 4, 0 m a forward movement. -Kenny; gathered in the ball and gave it to O’Dowda, who after a spirited dash passed to McNeill for a try. Knott missed with a long kick. After a series of unsuccessful blindside movements in which Webster showed determination, Boswell kicked a goal from a penalty, placing Tukapa in the lead. From half-way Courtney kicked for the corner,' Sullivan caught Ford in possession and Webster kicked the ball over the line. He raced Clifford-Jones for the ball and was given a try, though there was some doubt whether correct contact had been made. The kick, failed. Clifford-Jones prevented the ball from going out neat' the twenty-five yard line and Gardiner, galloping up, was successful with a vigorous speculator, and raced 20 yards to gain possession and score. Boswell converted. The Tukapa forwards were dominating play and the backs began to throw the ball about freely. At quarter-way Wallace attempted a field goal but the ball screwed to the right and went over the line. Gardiner and Sullivan raced for it, the former scoring. The kick failed. Fookes and Galbraith combined in a dazzling piece of back play which terminated when Ford dropped a pass. Following, a fine . forward . rush by Knott, Thomson and McNeill, Boswell scored three more points with a fine kick from a penalty. With the ball at toe Knott made for the line. . O’Dowda, McNeill, Thomson and Kenny, coming up from behind, carried on the good work. Clif-ford-Jones checked the attack but Gardiner snapped up the ball smartly and shot past the opposition to score under the posts. Old Boys retaliated and from a penalty Hoskin kicked a goal. Luxton secured the ball from the loose at half-way and initiated the finest back movement of the day. The ball sped from Luxton to S. Fookes, to Galbraith, to Thomson and then to Ford, who with but the full-back to beat, short punted and ran round to score easily. The kick failed. Kenny received an injury and was re-

placed by F. Knott. Clever variation in the play by Boswell was responsible for Tukapa’s next points. Receiving a long pass from Boswell, Sullivan, who was unmarked, drew Richardson and passed to Gardiner. Racing 20 yards along the line Gardiner brushed Clifford-Jones aside as he sped over the line to score. The kick failed. Tukapa - 29 Old BoyS 14 Mr. K. Nodder refereed.