TARANAKI RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 157, 8 July 1935, Page 3

TARANAKI RUGBY

STR All - ORD'S LEAD FOUR MORE ROUNDS YET SATURDAY’S WET WE/xTHER PLAY. Although ruin fell cunUnuoush piacticaily throughout ’luranuKi on ■Saturday, no games were postponed on account of weal her conditions. Grounds were heavy and before any length of play were seas oi mud, while the ball was slippery to an extent ol being al must unmanageable. There were .several unexpected results of the senior matches, notably Clifton's decisive de teat of Opunake, and I'atea’s victory over the runners-up on the ladder, Tukaj»«i The Kapouga Athletic game was post poned in respect of Air. Gardiner, whose death on Thursday was mourned by a large circle of friends and sup porters of the Kapouga Football ( Inn Next Saturday’s matches have been positioned to August 10 owing to the representative game between Taranaki ami Wanganui at New Pljniou.h next Saturday. \ Following are the results of Satur day’s games:: Clifton 13, v. Opunake 6. Patea 6, v. Tukapa 3. Stratford 15, v. Old Boys 0. llawera 14, v. Wannate 6. United 21, v. Inglewood 5. Eltham 24 v. Okaiawa 3. These results bring the championship lad'ler to date as follows:

CLOSE, EVEN GAME. TUKAPA - PA TEA AJ ATCH. Playing in pouring rain on a rainsodden field, it would have been expected that the match between Tukapa and Patea. last Saturday at Patea would have been just a forward struggle with out any real play But to the surprise of the large crowd of supporters present the game was exciting from start to finish with the forwards keeping play fairly well open and with the backs handling wonderfully under the conditions. There were numerous hum orous incidents, while the players were indistinguishable, being covered with mud. Patea had territorial advantage in the first half, while honours in this respect were more even in the second

spell, but Patea gained supremacy in the backs, although J. Sullivan was an outstanding figure on the day’s game, in spite of ono glaring fault. Tukapa hooked in the scrums, giving C. Hunt, Patea’s hooker, no share of the ball. But the breakaway forwards for Patea were not allowing this advantage to be of great use to Tukapa, and the majority of movements among the Tukapa backs started from set scrums resulted in the Patea forwards breaking through. Both full backs played great games, although Hunt appeared to be looking for distance too much and often thus missing the line. Edwarfds was marked by two men the whole game and this effectually stopped many

of aPtea’s back movements, but he showed his worth in defence, tune and time again running round to back up either of his wingers. Boswell and Gudgeon, the rival half-backs for rep. honours, could do little, but, although Boswell was getting the ball more frequently, Gudgeon outshone him on the day’s play. Brown and Bourke, another two players who have worn rep. jerseys, played sound games at first live-eighths, although Brown’s weakness was his slowness, and Bourkc’s that he was kicking instead of handing to his backs. Of the two sets of forwards, Patea were the superior, although not by a great deal. They were better at dribbling, but not so good in the scrums, while the louse play suited Richards, Wills and Woodford, who played sterling games. AlcTaggart played one of his best games, always right up with the ball. O’Dowda and Voullaire were the outstanding Tukapa forwards, with Thomson and AlcNeill doing good work. The teams Fined out as follows:: I’atca (dark blue). —D. Hunt; Hen are, Edwards, Maule; Zimmerman, Bourke; Gudgeon; P. Crawford; Baid win, Bremer, Richards, Wills; AlcTaggart, C. Hunt, Woodford. Tukapa (blue and white). —Papps; G. Sullivan, J. Sullivan, Gardiner; Wai lace, Brown; Boswell; Thomson; Voullaire, O’Dowda Sanger; Ale Neil. Kenny, Carter, T. Sullivan. From the kick-out, the Patea backs handled, until a pass from Henare was intercepted by C. Sullivan, who kicked to Bourke, who found touch. 1 atea attacked and had Tukapa hemmed in their own twenty-five, where halrd rucking play right in front of the posts saw the ball come out to Zimmerman, Edwards, and Alaule, but Papps secured and sent the blues back ro halfway with a beautiful kick. From a scrum, Bos well »ent out to his backs, but C. Wills caught G. Sullivan in possession. Following a forward dribbling movement by Patea, I'apps went down to them, and the northern forwards re taliated. I). Hunt attempted to stop them but Zimmerman came round and relieved. Ensuing play saw a long kick from D. Hunt fielded by J. Sullivan, whom Hunt tackled and another long

kick was followed up hard by Woodford and play centred on Tukapa’s twenty-live. Gudgeon broke through and punted, but i’apps fielded and kicked to touch. Tukapa forwards went down field, until Richards broke through with the ball at toe, and J. Sullivan sent back to halfway, and hard rucking play followed up and down field. A movea ent by Maule and Edwards saw Patea attacking. Following a long kick which he fielded, Alaule set off down the line but was forced out close to the corner. From ensuing rucking play, Papps secured and kicked to touch at; half-way, and the Tukapa forwards, following up, saw play centre on I’atea’s twenty five. Edwards and Maule, again figured in a dash w’hieh turned defence into attack. From a scrum in midfield in Patea’s territory, Boswell sent out to his backs, ami J. Sullivan gained ground to pass on to G. Sullivan, who eluded Edwards’ tackle and scored well out, Boswell’s kick failing. A few mintuos later Patea had the chance of gaining points from a freekick for obstruction, but Bourke’s kick just missed the uprights, ami halftime was called soon after. Tukapa attacked from the kick out. but D. Hunt kept them hack with good kicks to touch. Pati'a opened up play ami Gmlgcon. Zimmerman and Edwardstarted a passing ru h. bringing in <’ Wills clo.-<‘ to the line, and his pass to Maule saw the latter pushed out. Patea kept up the attack and Tukapa had to force. From the kick out J. Sullivan broke away anil eluded tackles to gain half wav, where play centred. Again Patea came on the attack, but Tukapa forwards broke away with Voullaire [and O’Dowda in the van, and Patea were on the defence. A free kick to the blues relieved for them, and ensuing play saw the blues again keeping Tukapa liar.! at work defending. From a kick b-. I’apps, Alaule fielded ami kicked to Gardiner, who passed to I’apps, whose kick (('Hired, where Wills was in a handy po.-ition to catch the l>all (>ii the bounce ami score. Bourkc’s Tukapa attacked but the blue forwards held them and made au opening for their backs to break away, and play wen I down to Tukapa territory. Play was open and both backs and fom-ird.s were combining well, when a long pass

Stratford . .. 11 W. D. 1 o 1 L. Pls — 21 Hawera .. .. 10 8 1 1 1 1 Clifton .. .. 10 8 1 | L7 Tukapa .. .. x - 3 16 Opunake . .. 10 h ” •i 1 1 Patea 10 5 1 4 1 1 Eltham .. . 11 5 1 5 1 1 Okaiawa . .. 10 4 — 6 x Wai mate . .. 10 4 _ 6 x United O.B. . 10 ?> •’ 5 X Kaponga . .. 9 3 — b () Old Boys . .. 10 — Y Star 10 3 — 7 6 Inglewood .. 10 1 1 8 Athletic .. .. 10 — — 10 0 —