Taihape-Wanganui Match One Of Lost Opportunities

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 May 1949, Page 6

Taihape-Wanganui Match One Of Lost Opportunities

The match between Possibles and Taihape featured much scrappy football. It was also a game of missed opportunities. The score on both sides should have been higher. Possibles owed their win to the individual brilliance of Hunter and to the backing up of their forwards. Taihape lost because they failed to tackle hard against the Possibles backs. The Taihape backs also failed to stand up on their opposites, who were allowed too much latitude. As in the main game, the country forwards held their own in the rucks Dallison, the representative hooker, won the scrums by 20 to 16. In the second spell, however, he was outhooked 12 to 9. Excellent line-out work by Cashell saw the country team win the lineouts 18 to 14. Cashell, the Taihape lock forward, plaved a grand game. His line-out play was first class, and he shone in the loose. At the same time he nevershirked in the tight play. McCullough and Baker gave him good support. Tupaea, the former Wanganui representative, appears to have slowed up considerably. Oulsnan was not as prominent as usual. Grant played a solid game for Possibles, coming to light in the second spell when the majority of the forwards were tiring. His duel with Cashell in the line-outs was one of the features of the game. Dallison impressed with a vigorous display. Brown, Lash, and Jones shone in the loose and were very adept at backing

up. Possibles were vastly superior in the backs. Hunter, who was a class in himself, was the pivot of the back line. Aubrey and Taunton were not a happy combination, their erratic handling ruining a number of promising movements. After Smith, of Rangitikei, Dixon was the most impressive half-back of the day. Smith, the bulky Possibles winger, scored two tries with his typical determined running. However, good tackling would have kept him in check. Anderson made some brilliant runs. The Taihape backs had speed but their faulty handling and positional play let them down. Wheeler played soundly but suffered from lack of support. Sinclair was the speediest centre on the ground. However, he does not impress as a representative centre. The teams were: — Wanganui Possibles: P. Bosher, N. Anderson, J. Taunton, G. Smith, D. Aubrey, M. Hunter. M. Dixon. M. Pettis, J. Heagney, D. Grant, B. Pedley, N. Brown, N, Lash, R Dallison, B. Jones. P. Barron replaced Smith during the second spell; Barron went to centre, and Taunton went tb the wing.

Taihape: Wheeler, Pearce. S. Sinclair. A. Mortland, C. Mortland, D. McCarthy, A. Brown, McCullough, S.

Cashell, McKenzie, G. Baker, Oulsnan, Tupaea, A. McCarthy, Horton, Wheeler changed places with A. Mortland during the first spell. Referee: Mr. L. Le Compte. Possibles were first to score, after five minutes of play. From a scrum on the Taihape twenty-five Hunter gained possession and completely beat the defence The ball went out to Smith, who crashed through a tackle by Wheeler to score 10 yards in from the comer flag. Smith failed to convert his own try.—Possibles 3, Taihape 0. A period of scrappy play followed, with neither side having the advantage. A number of good individual runs took place but combination was lacking. Possibles went further into the lead with a try by Smith. From a scrum inside the Taihape half the ball was sent out to Smith, who bumped off A. Mortland and ran 30 yards infield to score by the posts. He knocked off the would-be tacklers with ease. He converted his own try—Possibles 8 Taihape 0. Anderson, the Possibles winger, was prominent in determined runs down the side line but the Taihape defence held. The country team went on attack and narrowly missed scoring from two combined forward movements. Possibles nearly scored before half-time, out Hunter surprisingly went on his own instead of nassing to the unmarked players outside him. The Taihape forwards showed more vim in the second spell and A. McCarthv in the scrums, and Cashell in the line-outs, were giving their backs a feast of the ball. Gradually the Possibles team gained the upper hand through good work bv Hunter. Sound backing up gained the town team a further three points. Jones made a break after Hunter came away from a scrum Pettis received the ball, sold a dummy on the twenty-five, and raced towards the goal line. He then passed to Grant, who scored near the posts. Taunton missed the kick—Possibles 11, Taihane 0. Soon after Possibles scored again. Hunter onened up play inside the Taihape half and linked up with Anderson, who kicked the ball downfield. The Taihane full-back fumbled and the Possibles forwards raced through with the ball at their feet. The ball went over the line for Brown to score near the post. The kick missed—Possibles 14, Taihape 0.

Taihape attacked strongly. From loose play Cashell caught the defence out of position and ran to the twentyfive, where he passed out to McCullough. then to C. Mortland, who scored Possibles 14, Taihape 3. Taihape had the better of the game in the closing stages, in which time Cashell goaled from a penalty to make the final score: Possibles 14, Taihape 6.