WIN FOR WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 126, 29 May 1944, Page 6

WIN FOR WANGANUI

EXCITING MATCH WITH TAIHAPE WINNING TRY SCORED ON TIME. Football, open and spectacular and in good quality, was played on Spriggens Park on Saturday afternoon when Wanganui beat Taihape in an exciting game by 16 points to 14. Despite the wet day the attendance was very gratifying, and spectators had nothing to complain about in the way of entertainment as both the feature match and the curtain-raiser were full of interest. The early game between Wanganui B and Wanganui Maoris was won by Wanganui B by 16 points to 12. WON ON TIME MATCH AGAINST TAIHAPE. A converted try in the fleeting minutes of the fime enabled Wanganui to beat Ta nape by 16 points to 14. In the home fifteen R. Best replaced A. Duncan at full-back, and P. McGrath substituted for M. Hikara. There were two changes in the Taihape team. Cameron replaced Virtue and Morgan went in in place of Annear. The teams were:— Wanganui A. —R. Best; S. Andrews, R. Devoy, D. Downs; R. Bruce, P. McGrath; W. Matenga; forwards, J. Whale. G. Gerry, C. Dudley, R. Allan, R. Voullaire (captain), A. Northover, D. A. Almond, R. Cross. Taihape.—Burns: Simon, Obyrne. Postelwaite; Malcolm, McCarthy; Garnett; Morgan. Muir, Rolls, Cameron, Pull, McGuinn, T. Gray.

Fast raiding by the Wanganui forwards had Taihape in ‘a tangle, and a kick by McGrath to a gap ■r.w the ball > bounce away from the Taihape full- ■ back, Burns, and Bruce raced ahead but lost, the ball when a try looked a certainty. Success came Wanganui’s way when Whale scored following a melee on the Taihape line. The home fifteen were teaming well and in an all team effort the Wanganui forwards drove to Taihape country. From a scrum Matenga swung the ball to his backs and Bruce scored with a fine effort. McGrath converted. With the score against them 8-nil, Taihape began to play with more purpose and tenacity. They harried Wanganui with an attack cast on unorthodox lines and had Wanganui hard on the defensive. From a scrum in the Wanganui twenty-five, Taihape gained the ascendency and Garnett, the visitor’s half-back*, got the ball to Dixie McCarthy, the former Wanganui representative player who hurtled through a gap §ind threw himself at the line to score a great try. Best, the Wan-, ganui full-back, was shaken in his attempt to stop McCarthy. The try was converted by Bums and interval found the score favouring Wanganui B—s. With lively play and a fair distribution of the ball, both teams set a fast pace on resuming. Opening up a gap McGuinn and Cameron burst through with the ball at toe, and Wanganui had to fight desperately to clear their line. The respite was of (short duration, and in a purposeful thrust on the right flank. Simon scored to make the points 8 all. Taihape hacks were collaborating in deft moves which were taking a lot of stopping. Burns put the visitors in front when he goaled from an acute angle. The lead was short-lived for a penalty to Wanganui was put to good account by McGrath, and the teams were again on even terms. Although the Wanganui side was playing robust Rugby at this period, Taihape were shading their rivals. Taihape lost Muir, a forward, who was replaced by Berryman. From a set scrum on Wanganui’s side of half-way, Taihape raked the ball and out it came fast to Obyrne, who gathered pace quickly to out-distance the Wanganui threequarters and score a brilliant try. Robbed of the lead, the Wanganui forwards came through in massed formation and play swirled round the Taihape posts, but the defence matched the attack. Time was slipping by but within a few minutes of the end, there was jubilation on the part of the Wanganui supporters when, al the height of a storming attack. Gerrie crossed the Taihape line to score. McGrath hoisted the extra points and an exciting game ended— Wanganui A 16 Taihape 14 Mr. G. Thrush was referee. THREE-POINT MARGIN. WANGANUI B TEAM WINS. The curtain-raiser between Wanganui B and Wanganui Maoris was productive of a keen and rugged encounter in which open play was a feature. The honours of the game went to Wanganui B by 16 points to 12. The teams were:Wanganui B.—L. Walden. N. Wrigley, B. Howard, F. Hi la, P. Church, Hill. G. Williams, Harley. R. O'Keefe, P. Adams, K. Harrison, J. Lynch, V. Halford. M. Daley, J. Martin. Wanganui Maoris.—D. Smith, B. Larkins, B. Ruebens, T. Heremia, J. Ngatoa, B. Korowhiti, J. Ratana, P. Wait ere, T. Etna, J. Hunt, R. Hill, G. Negia, T. Hurunui, P. Heremia, B. Hakararala.

The game opened on a fast note, Lynch getting the opening point for Wanganui B. O’Keefe converted. Retaliation came swift for the Maoris attacker solidly, T. Heremia intercepted itnd hurst through a gap at top speed. On being challenged he got the ball to P. Heremia, who in turn passed infield to Hurunui who fended off two players and scored. Wanganui B raked the ball in two consecutive scrums, and G. Williams, who was playing soundly at half-back, sent his backs away. The forwards joined in and Adams scored for O’Keefe to goal. The score at half-time favoured Wanganui B 10 points to 3. After the second half, Wanganui Maoris reduced the points margin when Ngatoa goaled from a penalty. The Maoris were now going strong and throwing the ball about with abandon. Ngatoa goaled from another penalty and the score was 10—9. G. Williams scored for Wanganui B and Hunt returned the compliment shortly after for the Maoris, making the score 13—12. O’Keefe sealed the issue when he goaled from a penalty on time. The final score was— Wanganui B ifi Wanganui Maoris 12 Mr. J. Voltz was referee.