TARANAKI B WINS

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 June 1948, Page 6

TARANAKI B WINS

FORWARDS OUTPLAYED THE WANGANUI PACK SHERLOCK, FULL-BACK, FLAYED WELL. (0.C.) New Plymouth, June 7. Taranaki B defeated Wanganui B by 22 points to 9 in a representative Rugby match at New Plymouth today. It was an inspiring game, and the score, which flattered Taranaki, was more an indication of ability to capitalise on the opposition’s mistakes than of territorial advantage. Taranaki’s superiority lay in the forwards, who definitely outclassed the visiting pack in the scrums and lineouts. The Taranaki forwards won a far greater share of the ball, hooking cleanly from three of every fourset scrums, and heeling smartly when the ball went to the ground in the lineouts. Given this feast of the ball, however, the Taranaki backs were singularly impotent in orthodox movements. Sinclair, Head and Rodgers, the Wanganui inside backs, stood up close and most of the Taranaki passing rushes moved merely from one side of the field to the other. The Wanganui backs, on the few occasions they had the ball, looked as if they had more penetration, but mishandling spoiled a number of movements. Head was the best of the backline, which was rearranged halfway through the first half, when Rodgers moved in to first five-eighth, and Sinclair went out to centre. Three of Taranaki’s four tries came not from orthodox rearguard actions, but from good work by the forwards, who worked as a pack and frequentlyswept through the defence. The Wanganui forwards played less as a pack than as individuals, among whom Stevens was the most prominent for tireless following up. Also notable were Goldsbury and Heagney. Cashell and Grant did best in the lineouts. A fine exhibition was given for Wanganui by Sherlock, at fullback. His positional play and handling were excellent, and ill's linekicking was generally long and accurate. He completely overshadowed Taranaki's Broughton, whose only redeeming feature was his place kicking. Tara- ' naki owed 10 points to Broughton, who kicked two penalty I goals and two conversions. The only major blot on Sherlock's otherwise good display, was his inex- 1 plicable failure to tackle Muller in the • closing stages. He allowed Muller, I who had no speed up, to get past him 1 and score Taranaki’s last try. Wanganui: Sherlock, Webby, Rodgers, Hickling; Head, Sinclair; Dixon; Okane; Heagney, Grant, Cashell, McCulloc*n; Stevens, Waterhouse, Goldsbury.

Hickling was injured midwaj through the second spell and was replaced by Taunton.

Taranaki: Broughton; Gardner, Muller, Adamson; S’. Murphy, Rowlands; Brophy; Waswo; Jackson, Burns, Cook, Burke; B. Murphy, Strawbridge, Nickel. There was nothing between the teams territorially in the first half. Taranaki opened its score when Broughton kicked a penalty from well out. After a period of loose play Brophy fed Rowlands, who went round the blind side and passed to Adamson, after a strong run, passed in to Rowland’s who centred. Burke, following up fast, gained possession and passed to Rowlands, who dribbled over the line and scored. Broughton converted.

Webby goaled for Wanganui from a penalty and soon afterwards the Wanganui forwards took play to the Taranaki line, where Stevens dived over a try. Webby’s kick missed. Rowlands again worked the blind side to Adamson, who centred to his forwards, from whom Burns cleared to score in a corner.

Wanganui livened in the second half, but Taranaki scored first. Rowlands kicked and the forwards went forward en masse. They heeled quickly and Murphy went round the blind side to send Garner over. Broughton converted, and shortly afterwards kicked a penalty goal. Webby kicked a penalty and the final try came from a back movement, the ball travelling out to the wing, Muller, w>i had exchanged places with the Taranaki centre, Adamson Muller crashed over in a corner with two men clinging to him after he had eluded Sherlock.