WANGANUI BEATEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 187, 11 August 1941, Page 7

WANGANUI BEATEN

TARANAKI’S WIN AT NEW PLYMOUTH

RUGBY PLAYED IN HEAVY RAIN AND MUD

SCORES DID NOT INDICATE MERITS OF TEAMS

i Played in heavy rain showers, I the representative Rugby match I between Wanganui and Taranaki j resulted in a win for Taranaki by ! 11 points (three tries and a con- ] version) to 3(a penalty kick) on I Rugby Park, New Plymouth, on i Saturday. This score was not a I true indication of the game. A draw, three-all, would have been a good finish to the match, for there was a certain amount of luck attached to Taranaki’s two tries during the closing stages, and Wanganui was unlucky not being awarded a try when Whale crossed the line. Regular Downpour of Rain. Rain set in just after mid-day and by 2 o’clock had developed into a regular downpour. A curtain-raiser hart cut the ground up considerably. Play on the heavy ground was much faster and more open in the first spell than might have been expected, and held the interest of a fair crowd, but in the second half the ball and ground was almost unplayable. From Wanganui's opening score, a penalty kick by Auld, play swayed snappily either way, with Wanganui slightly holding the upper hand but unable to push the advantage right home. Taranaki partisans were in full cry in the second spell as thrust after thrust by backs and forwards broke down under the resolute defence just when success seemed certain. Wanganui made close efforts to score during the last quarter of an hour. Actually the Taranaki defence was rattled when Whale crossed the line for what seemed a certain try, and there was an element of luck in the situation being saved. Naturally partisans had a deal to say about that decision. Seen after (he match Whale stated his conviction that he had touched down the ball before an opponent. A satisfactory feature for Wanganui was the manner in which Auld tackled and kicked, especially during the second spell. Martin and McCashin went well in the few opportunities offered, but Mcßrearty was disappointing. Bruce and Dickie played sound games, but suffered through | James not getting the ball to them quick enough, especially in the first spell when Wanganui were winning the scrums by two to one. It was the ground conditions that worried James, however, he being unable to keep his feet, and the yellow forwards were down on him like a shot. All the forwards went well but seemed to do nothing right, the bounce of the ball beating them on every occasion. The Taranaki players who had most to do with foiling the Wanganui attacks were Broughton, at full-back, Cartwright, Murray, Patterson and Spence. Broughton’s line-kicking was good, but he was seldom bustled. Cartwright was always dangerous whenever in possession of the ball, and Murray showed enough to prove that on a dry ground he would be worth his place. The teams were:— Wanganui (blue).—W. E. N. Auld; A. Martin. K. Mcßrearty, T. McCashin; R. Bruce, M. Dickie; W. James; E. V. Beiliss; E. Barry, J. Whale, R. Rouxel, W. Firmin, W. Lucy, T. Cairncross, B. Goldsbury. Taranaki (yellow and black).—W. J. Broughton; H. J. Hayman, D. Cartwright, C. Sullivan; L. Murray, C. Brown; P. McCallum; J. Burke; A. O'Byrne, Patterson, C. Crowley; A. Trask, R. Spence, Syme, A. Fahey. Wanganui kicked off putting play at the outset in Taranaki territory, but when the blue backs endeavoured to get going they met stiff opposition. Cartwright cut in smartly but was downed before he got far. Patterson took advantage of a wild pass by Auld, kicked through and set out for the blue line with Martin in hot pursuit. The latter bustled Pattew-on on the line, a force down relieving. In open order the Wanganui forwards set up a vigorous, bustling attack and the yellows, were penalised 40 yards out, Auld finding the posts with a good kick.—Wanganui 3, Taranaki 0.

A thrill came as McCallum sent Brown away. The-latter cut through smartly and sent on to Murray when tackled by Auld. Murray sprinted a dozen yards and let Cartwright away, the latter outpacing the opposition to score near the posts Broughton's kick missed.—Taranaki 3, Wanganui

Wanganui were dominating the set scrums, but Taranaki were getting away with some doubtful tactics in the line-outs. From the kick-off Taranaki sc-t up a series of assaults, Murray and Sullivan combining in one instance to carry the ball to the corner before being forced out. From a scrum, following the line-out, a yellow man went over, but was recalled for an infringement. Relief came to the blues when Cairncross secured and found the line at the twenty-live. Back at the centre the Taranaki backs went away after a series of scrums, Hayman being caught a few yards from his objective. The yellow backs applied thrust after thrust, but Martin cleared with a speculator, and play was taken to Taranaki's twentylive. Not a thing went right for Wanganui, and a long kick saw them defending again. Twice the yellows were almost over, James finally bringing respite by a good line-kick. The Wanganui forwards now took a hand in things when Whale, Firmin and Cairncross combined in a passing rush to the opposition twenty-live. Barry was penalised for off-side, and r. series of kicks finished up in neutral territory. Whale and Mcßrearty then made a dash down field but the yellow defence was too good. Auld saved brilliantly on a couple of occasions, and the game held in midfield until Barry found the line at the yellow twenty-five. Three serums in succession resulted in blues' favour, but no material advantage resulted. Wanganui’s backs were then seen in action but Mcßrearty’s work was lacking sting. Barry and Martin combined in a nice movement and only failed by 10 yards to reach their objective. The blues seemed to have settled down at this stage and seemed to be having slightly the better of (he game. A number of runs by Wanganui wore well stopped, and a penalty shot at

goal by Auld just fell short. Play shifted fast with Wanganui mostly on attack and just before half-time Rouxel was away, but was ruled offside. Wanganui started the second spell with a change in the back division, Mcßrearty going out to the wing and McCashin taking the centre position. The home side was soon on attack and the backs combined well in a passing bout, only to break down when Cartwright knocked on. Bruce then made a dash down field but lost the ball, and play continued in midfield for a spell. A regular downpour had now set in and ground conditions were very bad, the grandstand side of the field being a mass of mud. Taranaki gained considerable ground with a free kick by Broughton, but the blue forwards rallied to clear to half-way. Taranaki forwards staged a rousing attack and were only kept out by Auld, who saved brilliantly on three occasions. With the ball at toe Firmin, Beiliss, Whale and Barry reversed the position and set up a siege on the yellow goal. In a flash Taranaki retaliated and with a determined rush the forwards surged on to the blue lin_, but once again Auld brought relief, going down at the feet of the yellow pack, securing and finding the line. Dickie retired injured anil was replaced by J. Ngatoa. A number of runs by the Taranaki backs were well slopped. The blues now had a turn at attack, due to the efforts of Goldsbury and Barry, the yellow defence being hard pressed for a while. Hayman, the yellow winger, brought relief with a pretty dash down the line, only to fall a victim to Auld. A Taranaki forward, Burke, was injured at this stage, being replaced by R. O'Byrne. Heavy rain was still falling and the game had developed into a forward scramble on the blue line. Eventually the blue forwards, led by Beiliss, took play to half-way. Bruce secured, cut in splendidly, and dashed downfield. Reaching the full-back lie elected to punt, not realising that Whale and McCashin were backing him up. and the defence rallied. Taranaki were back in the blue twentyfive again, the defence holding until Auld slipped when attempting to pick up. Bruce also failed to gather in, and Pattersen securing, passed on to I O’Byrne, who scored by the posts. Broughton missed.—Taranaki S, Wanganui 3. Taranaki Forces Pace. Taranaki continued to force the pace, Spence continually breaking through. Ngatoa was almost over when he kicked through and followed up. Reaching the line he slipped in the mud when throwing himself forward for the try, and the yellows forced. In a flash the Wanganui forwards were back again. From a scrum live yards out James secured, passed to Ngatoa. back to James, who sent on to Whale, the latter getting over to score, but the referee ruled different. Taranaki were hammering at the blue line again in a mud

scramble. Goldsbury carried the leather over his own line and was tackled by Syme. The Wanganui , man seemed to have forced, but a try was awarded to Syme. Broughton converted.---Taranaki 11, Wanganui , With only two minutes to go Wanganui launched a final effort, but . full-time sounded, with the blues on , the yellow line. Taranaki . 11 ■ Wanganui 3 Mr. P. Rang! was the referee. j