THE RUGBY GAME.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1833, 21 August 1913, Page 9

THE RUGBY GAME.

TARANAKI'S TOUR.

CLOSE MATCH AT PALMERSTON. (By Telegraph.—Presa Association.) Palmerston North, August 20. Manawatu met Taranaki on the Showgrounds to-day, and Taranaki won by the narrow margin of 9 points to a. The game was in doubt tho whole way. The attendant was very large. After the match the Taranaki manager stated that Manawatu certainly had some very fine players, and he was as woll pleased as anyone when the gramo was concluded, for, lie said,, they had had a very anxious time. Tho Manawatu vanguard was coual if not better than any previous loajt combination, and better than the visitors. Taranaki Scores First. Taranaki was quickly on the aggressive. Whittington nearly got over, but relief oamo by Ford kicking through and M'Farlane following up raced tho ball well over tho half-way, but M'Lcod, picking up neatly, returned the ball near the Manawatu corner. After good work on both sides Dewar bustled through the scrum, and, ably backed up by Whittington and Cain, carried the game to within a fewfeet of the Greens' line. Here Manawatu wero awarded a free-kick, which brought play Track to the half-way. Manawatu ovontuall.v got the upner hand, and engineered a number of fast forward Tushes, m -»;hich, at times, nearly every forward tcik part. Theso rushes greatly disconcerted the Taranaki backs, who had no sooner got hold of the ball than 1 they wero "dumped." At this stage Manawatu wero the equals of TaTanaki in the piny, and more Ihnn their actuals in the looso. Tho Taninaloi back 9, however, stopped rush after rus'lu and presently both Gameiron and M'Leod wiMvt through, Barker jusi stopping the former in the nick of time. Eventually Brown, M'Lcod, and Lovoridgo o'aidedi the opposition, and the last-named scored near toe,corner. Taranaki,' 3—o. / The Scoies Squared. • •

Manaxatu now set up a "hot attack, and, chaining LovcrH(, r e, were right on to Taranaki's goil-liuc. jWhittiiigton, Tamu and .Winter, however, relieved with a fo c t rash to halfway. JJughes sent the ball back, a'nd tlion Alanawatn, with a capital forward movoma'it. went right through tlie Taxanaki back.-', and Johnston scored. Three all. Play in Second Spoil. Soon after half-time liana vatu suffered a severe low. Troveua had been playing a brilliant fame, but through injuries received was uaablo to take the field, and WaMh. went out. Taranaki 'opened liot and strong, both" back and forward, and Manawatu for five minutes were in a very bad way, until Ford and Barker by good kicking, got thein out of trouble. Pegden presently made an opening for M.uiawatu, but Eglimgbon failed to receive when in a certain sewing position, and Taranaki wcto forced., l-'rom tihe kick-out Jlanawatu were again "hot on the scene," and Barker, gaining possession, rail well into tho twenty-five, and passed to Pegden, \ who carried play up to tho line. Elliott, tho diminutive Msmawatu half, was then in a. good position, and (received the ball, but liad not the weight to orce him salf across. Mannwatu vwo now awarded a freo-kick, but Phillips sent tho toll just a bit wide. Things were looking serious for Taranaki, but Brown and M'Leod relieved, and then Bardie (equal to any forward on the ground) toolc cfaarge, mid making a. line run, punted out. near tho Taranaki goal-lino. Desultory play ' was the resullt for a little while, neither sido gaining any advantage. L l 'ro\\ a line-out Jdhnston dribbled through the Taranaki men, and one of the finest forward rushes took place up to the Taranaki gcalline, and the visitors narrowly escaped by' forcing. Manawatu still kept up tho attack. but a good .oross Jfiyk .by Loveridge let tho TaraiiAki meiraway-, .and three of tbio home backs missing in .faun, \Yhittington scrambled across. Tmvmaki, G—3. Fior'ce play now took plaoe near the locals' line, and after a great deal of liard play M'Leod scored Taranaki's third try. The game thus ended in favour of Taranaki by 5 jioints to 3. ' '