Rugby. TARANAKI OF PAST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 188, 26 August 1937, Page 13

Rugby. TARANAKI OF PAST

"Omni.")

Teams and Players of Days Gone By THE TAUPO MATCH

(By

The representative season moves on apace and next Saturday Taranaki will be the visitors to provide Hawke's Bay with their eighth match of the season. Por those who do not take active part in the more important fixtures, playing interest will again be revived with the commencement on September 4 of the Lane Cup "knock-out" series, a competition t=at has never failed to provide stirring contests. Concerning the match with Taranaki, . it will be reealled that the meu from the cow province earlier in the season defeated Auckland and then gave the Springboks a hectic 80 minutes, although defeated by 1? to 3. Included in the visiting side is J. Sullivan, who filled the centre three-quarter position for New Zealand in the first Test, Collins, 1934 All Black full-back, and well-known forwards such as Fastier, O'Dowda, and Clarke, who has also worn the fernleaf. Taranaki has given many notable figures to Rugby, but none greater thau the late Alf. Bayly, who was to the province what Jiminy Duncan was to Otago. -As a player Alf. Bayly fiourished from 1890 to the commencement of the preseut century aud captained New Zealand in more than one season. In his time, too, were "Snip" Allen, "Skinny" Humphrios, the Good brothers, Lainbie, O'Dowda, and llughes, all -vveareih of the fernleaf, and they assisted in making Taranaki the champiou proviucial Rugby sido in the Domiuion for more tluiu' a year. Taranaki 's great years extcnded from 1890 to 1904, and then after a spell again in 1911-12-13. In the latter year they wrested from Auckland, the Ranfurly Shield aud started that much-coveted tropby on its travels up aud down both islands. Original All Blacks. Jimmy Hunter and Symon Mynott were two to adorn the original All Blacks with credit and with them wont two forwards in Frank Glasgow aud Rillv Glenn. The former is now vicschairinan of the New Zealand Rugby TTnion executive and the latter enjoyed for a good period the confidence of the constituency of Rangitikei as their Parliamentary representative. For years Hawke's Bay was a Rugby chopping block for Taranaki, but time works great changes, and since the war the pendulum has swung the other way. In 1920 Hawke's Bay mado history by twice defeating Taranaki and the latter in the following year held the Springbpks to a draw. As previously mentioned, up to 1909 Taranaki held a heavy balance of wins in their favour. Matches were resumed again in 1920, and from then until the present Hawke's Bay have won seven, Taranaki three, while one game has been drawn. Match at Taupo. The Napier-Hastings fifteen that visited Taupo la^t Saturday comprised mainly young players and -did very well to defeat the home side by 16 to 6 after a bright game. The home side, with one exception, was composed of Maoris and when Hawea Tomoana, the Gombined half-back, had scored after eluding almost the whole rearguard- tho hand-clapping from the opposing players was loudest of all. The native raco dearly love to see a player cut in with the ball. Prominent for the combined side were R. Keeble, H. Crawford-Smith, 11. Ashman and F. Armstrong in the forwards aud Pullen and H- Tomoana and Dowrick in the rearguard. Livingstone, the Taupo five-eiglith, was as good as any back in the game. A Superstition? L. Clothier, the Hawke's Bay captain, has. this representative season, put up w'liat just about amounts to a record. To date Hawke's Bay have played seven lirst-class representative games and Clothier has won. the toss on eaeli occasion and then led his teain to victory. Perhaps when lie loses ihe toss he may end the Bay run of vietories. No doubt those of superstitious perfeuasion will follow tho sequence closely. • Hawke's Bay depart by motor on their short northern tour early next Tuesday morning. Waikato will be met at Hamilton on Wednesday and the team will go on to Auckland on Thursday morning. The match with Auckland will take place on Saturday and the party will return home on Suuday. While the -representatives are battling at Eden Park the clubs at home will be busy playing the first elimiuation for the Lane Cup.