TARANAKI V. WANGANUI.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12585, 15 August 1910, Page 3

TARANAKI V. WANGANUI.

(Special Correspondent's Report.)

The return match between the above teams was played at the Show Grounds lat Hawera on Saturday, in the presence iof about .i thousand spectators. The weather was hue for the match, but the rain in the morning made the turf very slippery in places. The game was very fast and exciting at times, the Taranaki backs executing some fine passing lx>uts. Their forwards were much heavier than the local team and brought off some good dribbling rushes, though they appeared to play offside on many occasions and received no check from the referee. The Wanganui team were by no means at their strongest. Several who were originally selected were unable to make the trip. The play of the local tearti was not disappointing, everyone playing well and doing his best, but they wero beaten by a superior combination, though the tall scoring or tho Taranaki team does not indicate the run of the play. They were undoubtedly the better team* on the day, but they scored a couple of lucky tries, and Wanganui wero unlucky not to score on two occasions. Tho teams took the field as follows:—

WANGANUI. Full-back: Kilpatrick. ■Threequarters: Meuli, Southcombe, Signal. Five-eighths: Campion and Takarangi. Half: Atkinson. Wing forward : —Prideaux. Forwards : G. Stratford, Ei Stratford, Brown. Cummins. Schmidt, Dustin, McDonald

TARANAKI. Full-back : Stohr. Threequarters: Roberts. Rive. Cameron. Five-eighths: McLebcl. Mynott. Half: ' Brown. Win^, forward: —Moir. Forwards: Abbott. Osborne Smith, Fawn, Pine,

Cain, Young. Simon Mynott captained the Taranaki team, and Alex. Takarangi the ~V\ranganui team.

Mr L. J. Furri-o accompanied the Wanganui tsam as manager. THE PLAY.

Wanganui won tho toss and had the advantage of a slight wind. Pine kicked off for Taranaki, Southcombe receiving and putting in a good line kick. From the ensuing line-out. Fawn broke away and was stopped when looking dangerous. Takarangi secured and kicked high to Mynott. who made a ripping run and found touch. Wanganui were pressing very determinedly, and Atkinson obtaining possession, was all but over, being nulled down a few yards off th-a line. Taranaki now came away with a dribbling rush, which Meuli frustrated with a long line kick. Give and take play followed, and Southcombe v.-.as here prominent with a.'good screw line-kick. Brown obtained possession from scrum and kicked high, Meuli marking. Southcombe failed with a difficult kick, Taranaki forcing. On resuming, Meuli made a good run. <iown the line, but slipped at the critical moment. Wanganui were still having the best of matters, and G. Stratford picking up in the loose, passed to Campion, who beat a couple of men and scored. Southcombe failed to convert. Taranaki 0, Wanganui 3. On resuming, a scrum was ordered in midfield, and Signal made a .good attempt to pot a goal, the ball just grazing the uprights. Wanganui kept attacking strongly, a timely mark by Brown saving. From a line-out Signal secured and kicked' to Stohr, who was grassed before getting in his return kick. Off-side play by Taranaki gave Wanganui a chance, which Takarangi failed to accept. From a line-out Tamil secured and beat several men badly, and at the right time passed to Mynott, who outpaced all opposition and scored, Stohr failed to improve. Taranaki 3, Wanganui 3. A scrum followed the kick-out, Cameron securing, cross-kicked to Meuli, who took well but nearly let the amber and blacks in by miskicking, Cameron crossing but losing the ball. Takarangi headed a rush into Taranaki territory, a mark by Brown saving. A free for ofr'-skle play by Osbqrne gained some ground for Wanganui, but Mynott and Brown sent them back with well-judged line-kicks. Smith then broke clean away and spoiled a good chance by holding on too long. An exchange or kicks between Meuli and Cameron saw Wanganui penalised for off-side, Mynott finding touch. Taranaki came away with a combined dribbling rush, and Tamil picking up, scored. Dive failed to convert. Taranaki 6, Wangantii 3. On resuming, Dive secured and passed to Roberts, who failed to take, a. scrum being ordered. Atkinson found touch. Wanganui forwards came away with the ball at their toes, and Brown, in attempting to frustrate received a nasty kick, which stopped PJay for a fe^y minutes. On resuming the Taranaki backs started a passing bout, Brown and Mynott, who beat a couple of men beautifully, and passed to Cameron, who when blocked re-passed to Mynott, who knocked on, spoiling a good chance. From the ensuing scrum, Southcombe found touch with a brilliant kick. From, tho line out a Wanganui forward kicked to Roberts, who centred. Milne securing, passed to Moir, to Pine, who scored. Stohr failed to .convert. Taranaki 9, Wanganui 3. From the kickout Taranaki continued to press, starting a passing rush. Southcombe intercepting a pass from Mynott, found touch well down the line. Off-side play by Milne gave Southcombe a, chance, but ho failed to pilot the ball over tfco bar, Taranaki forcing. In play again, Cummins and McDonald started a rush McLfOod saving by marking and finding touch. From the line-out, Mynott pass ed to Cameron, who centred, Soulhcombe marking. From a scrum in the locals' 20, Brown passed to Dive, to Roberts, to McLeod, who ran in unopposed, Cameron converting. Taranaki 14, AVanganui 3. Half time v. as called shortly after. Takarangi kicked off, McDonald following up, spoiled the return, and Wanganui began to invade tlio Taranaki territory, and were awarded a free kick, Southcombe kicking a goal. Taranaki 14, Wanganui G. On resuming, Pino kicked to Kilpatrick, who forced, and from the kick out a scrum in midfield ensued, Brown securing, passed to Mynott, to Roberts, whr> failed to gather and lost a good opportunity. Atkinson was here prominent, marking smartly. Another mark by Atkinson brought relief to the local team who were being hard pressed by the amber and blacks. A likely looking dash by ileuli was spoiled by Campion obstructing, and Atkinson again nnrkivl, saving nicely, Takarangi finding touch. Give and take play followed, Campion kicking to Stohr, who made a short run and kicked to touch. Exciting play

followed, both sides having a temporary advantage. Dustin started a passing rush, but Schmidt spoiled by passing to space. Taranaki worked play in W anganui territory, and Cameron made one of his characteristic dashes, nearly getting over, the full relieving. FaSt and exciting play followed, Signal being prominent, but kicked too hard, Stohr running round and relieving. Off-sid-i play by Abbott put Wanganui on the offensive, Takarangi finding touch with a good kick. .Shortly after Abbott scored, the local men standing and looking on. Stohr failed to improve. Tara-1 naki 17, Wanganui G. Give and take play followed the kick-out, Signal getting hurt in tacking Stohr. On resuming Dive streaked away and kicked high, Meuli saving, but was penalised for obstruction. Cameron kicked the -goal. Taranaki 20, Wanganui 6. Atkinson marked the return kick, and Takarangi kicked high, a scrum being ordered in Taranaki 25, from which Dustin broke away nicely and scored a good try. Southoombe converted. Taranaki 20, Wanganui 11. Line-out woric followed, Brown marking, and Cameron had a, shot, but a scrum was ordered J for a man in front,' from which Brown cross-kicked to Roberts, who ran in unopposed. Dive failed with the kick. Taranaki 23. Wanganui 11. Stohr gathered the ball from, the drop out, and beating half the field, passed to Dive, to Cameron, who streaked like lightning down the line and scored .a fine try. Cameron goaled. Taranaki 28, Wanganui 11. Taranaki attacked right away, a mistake by Campion letting Roberts in with an easy try. Roberts failed. Taranaki 31, Wanganui 11. A mark by Brown opened play, and Tamu following up fast, nearly scored, and the full relieved the locals. Stohr securing, essayed a pot. which went very close. It was evident that the local team had lost all their dash, as Taranaki was pressing hard. From a mark by Dive Tamu make a fruitless attempt. Time was then called, leaving Taranaki easy winners by 31 to Jl. ' Mr F. Spurdle, of Inglewood, refereed impartially, but was too lenient witlj off-side play.

For the winners Stolir at full back was very safe. Mynott played a great game, being everywhere, and was ably supported by Cameron, Dive, Roberts and Brown. All the forwards played well, Tamu, Pine, and Milne being most prominent. Of tho local team Kilpatrick at full played well. Meuli, Southoombe and Atkinson Avere the pick of the other backs, the latter's rush-stopping being very good. The forwards were up against a heavier and faster pack, but played as well as could be expected, .Dustin, Cummins, and McDonald being most prominent.