ROWLANDS’ KICKING

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1935, Page 10

ROWLANDS’ KICKING

FINE DISPLAY AT PATEA STAR FIFTEEN DEFEATED. CLIFF WILLS BACK TO FORM. A magnificent display of place kicking was one of the features of the PateaStai* match at Patea, won by the home side by 20 points to 5. Rowlands, the ex-New Plymouth High School player, gave a fine display by converting all Patea’s tries, three of them from- the sideline, and tome of hi? kicking was up to. the highest Standard in Taranaki to-day. Patea, playing with a weakened team, and -sadly missing the inspiration of Gudgeon, Edwards and Zimmerman;-had to work hard for the victory, and Stars performance was creditable. The tttargin of superiority was far striall&r than suggested by the scores, and it was only a second spell burst that definitely placed the side on top. Prior to that and after it the fierce rucking of the Patea pack was met by equally fierce rucking from the lighter Star pack, and the game, mostly a forward struggle, saw some exceptionally good dribbling by the forwards of .both sides. The Patea forwards, used to giving Gudgeon as much of the ball as possible, were nonplussed at' the start when good heeling only resulted in the breakaway Star forwards easily beating Tayler, moved from full-back to half. Later, Bourke took ever and Tayler Went to second five-eighth. Bourke emulated Gudgeon with some fine runs from the base df the scrum, and-he scored one splendid try through such a move. -He was,-however, inclined to starve ,the men outside him, though when opportunities did come the five-eighths could do little. Rowlands, When given chances, did his work well, and his kicking was, of course, invaluable. D. Hunt did some splendid tackling, going ill low and hard, and he destroyed much of the effectiveness of the Star back line by always getting his man. . , , , In Patea forwards, Cliff Wills played an outstanding ganie arid his form) was something like that of two or three years ago. Some -of his runs from line-outs and scrums were splendid, and altogether he could do nothing wrong. Baldwin also showed OUt well artd McTaggart was keen. Quite the finest display in the Star back line was given by Adlam, whose form was really promising. In his quickness in extricating his side from, unpleasant situations he was the best back on the ground, and his faultless handling was a pleasure. Much of the effectiveness ,bf his-work. however,Was spoilt by McKay, whose sole aim during the game seemed to be to cut through. Even when his first half-dozen attempts at hurdling and barging, failed, he Still kept on, and his glorious do or die tactics riot Only reSul ted. in Nielson not once getting the ball in the chain, but also in the dangerous Aubrey having a lazy day. The full-back, Simpson, gave a polished exhibition of handling and kicking, and some of his work Was brilliant, but he twice failed .on defence and harder pressed his.performance might have been less satisfactory. Nevertheless he shows fine promise/' ’ - » / Handicapped though they were by lack of weight; the Star forwards held their own most of the time, arid they relentlessly harried the Patea backs ..with good foot rushes. Sampson worked finely and J. ■ Mac Lean and Hammond were also hard' toilers. The teams were:— Patea: Roberts; HOriare, D. Hunt, Rowlands; C. Hunt, Bourke;, Taylet; P. Crawford* Wills,' Baldwin;. Couch, Richards; Walker, .Woodford, McTaggart. ■ / /"/ Star: Simpson, Broughton, Nielson, Aubrey; McKay, Adlam; Kinsella; Willcocks, , Eya;-Sampson, C. J. Mac Lean, Whittaker,'Hammond, Hunt, Signal. A couple of poor passes by Tayler let the.Star.forwards through and. Patea had an anxious period in , the. goal mouth be-fore-relieving, Signal almost scoring when 1 Bourke -misfielded on the line. Bourke retrieved his mistake by a good clearing kick’, and even play ranged in midfield for some time.- Hunt (Star) went off, J. Mac Lean replacing him. Wills shone out with a great solo -run of 40 yards from his own goal line, his pass to D. Hunt being misfielded. From the movement Patea gradually took play to the goal line, and when Tayler worked the blind Henare crashed over for a good try. Rowlands converted with a magnificent kick from the sideline. Star was not long in equalising. Adlam was there to take a pass when McKay crashed through and he easily beat Roberts to score under the posts. Simpson converted. From five yards, inside half-way Rowlands had a penalty kick, the ball sailing just under the bar. Wills secured and ran over, only to be recalled for stepping into touch. Richards broke away with Wills in support, Simpson brilliantly saving.' Just before half-time Star nearly scored, when Nielson was tackled just short of the corner. Patea reopened play with a rush, and two. movements, including one initiated on the blind side by Bourke, went close to scoring. Star’s ‘defence stood the test well on many attacks. Then from the twenty-five Bourke, playing at half, slipped round the blind side and, beating Kinsella arid Simpson, went over for a fine; try.: Rowlands converted, with another fine kick. Star immediately attacked and, rushed play to the line,'where it made strenuous efforts to cross. . Headed by Wills, who made a great, solo dash .of. twentyfive yards from a scrufn, Patea took play back. From a kick in Star’s twentyfive, the ball went to Henare in the open, and the winger tore across for a good try as he was tackled. From a 'yard inside the touchline RowlandS converted. Patea had really come into its own and almost immediately, when Bourke opened up, Rowlands went - across after a good chain of passing. The goal was no trouble to him.

Star forwards, led by Adlam, clustered on the ball near the Pa tea line and only the bounce of the ball beat several players. Whittaker was wide with a penalty attempt from the sideline and the Patea forwards headed play back -to Star territory, A solo dribbling rush by Walker narrowly missed being a try. Just on time Rowlands and Henare both went close to scoring. Patea 20 Star 5 Mr. G. Hurley refereed.