SUPERIOR COMBINATION.

Wairarapa Age, 3 August 1936, Page 4

SUPERIOR COMBINATION.

TARANAKI BEAT WAIRARAPA VISITORS OVERSHADOWED IN ALL. DEPARTMENTS. FITZGERALD PLAYS FINE GAME NEW PLYMOUTH, August 2. Taranaki defeated the touring Wairarapa Rugby team by 37 pts. i to 16 in a representative match on a heavy ground. Showers fell during the game and the ball was greasy but handling by Taranaki was surprisingly good and most of its eight tries were scored from spectacular back movements.

Taranaki had much the better of the game in all departments but when it led 34/6 it allowed its defence to slacken and the Wairarapa individualists improved its score. Wairarapa lacked the combination of Taranaki and was outpaced and outplayed. Fitzgerald, the Wairarapa captain, vzas the team’s best back and Hume and Denbee played fair games. Laing was Wairarapa's outstanding forward and Hart, Grantham and McGregor played tirelessly. ;J. Sullivan, on attack and defence, ■ played a spectacular game as the Taranaki centre-three-quarter and led the scoring. All the- backs plhyed well, backed by Collins who gave an impeccable display of full-back play. His long, well directed line-kicks and goal kicking left his international record unblemished. The forwards played exceedingly well as a pack and always dominated play. Tries were scored for Wairarapa by Hart, Grantham and Holland, Fitzgerald' con verting two and kicking a penalty goal. For Taranaki, Sullivan scored three tries and Ford, Fowler, Smith, Ruakere and O’Dowda one each. Cofflhs converted five tries and kicked a penalty goal.—(P.A.) RUGBY REPS.

INTER-ISLAND MATCH. NORTH' TEAM SELECTED. WELLINGTON, August 2. The North Island Rugby team to play the South Island at Christchurch on August IS is as folows: Full-back: Bollock (Wellington); three-quarters, Dick (Auckland), Sullivan (Taranaki), Edwards (Wellington); five-eighths, Killeen (Auckland), Griffiths (Wellington); half-back, Russell (Waikato). Forwards: McNeile (Taranaki), Lockington (Auckland), Smith (Weßtasf. ton), Reid- (Hawke’s Bay), Wells (Wellington), Dalton (Hawke’s Bay), Hadley (Auckland), Jackson (Hawke’s Bay). Emergencies: Backs, Sadler (Wellington), Le Quesne (Hawke’s Bay); forwards, O’Dowds (Taranaki), LambouTn (Wellington).—(P.A.)