PORTER'S GAME

NZ Truth, Issue 1188, 6 September 1928, Page 14

PORTER'S GAME

Leads His Rep. Team To Victory JfFrom "N.Z. Truth's"' Wellington Rep.) The Wellington Rugby representatives had the satisfaction of accounting for Taranaki at Athletic . Park last Saturday. Earlier m the season at Hawera, the men of the butter-fat province trounced those from the capital, so now honors are even. SATURDAY'S game m the city seldom rose to true rep. standard,- though it was - fast and • keenly contested throughout both spells. Wellington lost the .toss and played into a stiff northerly that swept down field. Taranaki early demonstrated " their capabilities; and had the local men hemmed m their own twenty-fiye. Up7to' a certain point the local reps, fwere able to hold .their own, but m .the^fbrward division they were outshone by the visiting vanguard. . The scrum ; work of both packs was; pal-pably-iweak and m direct contrast with the Auckiaridv-Wellingtbn match .played on the same ground some weeks previously.! ' In the opening spell Taranaki 7 forwards held the advantage m the 7 loose, frequently breaking, through the opposition and harassing the Wellington backs. "« In the back division, the local men held a slight advantage over the visitors, though at times indifferent tackling spoilt their display. With six points advantage at halftime Taranaki-. had by no means placed themselves on a sound footing, for with the 'change-over they had to battle against the -wind and local supporters were of t-he opinion that they would not be able'7-to maintain their lead.' ,-'•-, .■.'•'?. -■-'■ Wellington cam§; away with ,a rush, Chancy scoring hear ' the posts for Ramson to convert. Taranaki, not one whit /dismayed, retaliated with a vengeance, scoring two tries m quick succession. '.■■.'.' There, however, their efforts ended, and after a period of dogged defence Wellington broke through, eventually .finishing up with three points' to the gQod, the final score being 20 points to 17. ■ : Penalties were all too frequent during the earlier stages of play, and those, given, against Wellington and the points the opposition scored thereby might easily have cost the homesters the match. To the sterling display of Cliff. Porter, their captain, do • Wellington owe their victory. Always m the forefront of the attack and possessing an uncanny sense, of anticipation, Cliff, was always to be found supporting the Weakest link . m the chain when the opposition threatened to break through. . Coman, at half, failed dismally m this match. In club' matches through•but the he showed great versatility, v but as Athe representative fearries progress r .he is .. obviously slipping. T "-'' ." • ''" '-'7-' 'v: Chancy '..arid M'ackenzie^ m .the ..' fivereighths ljne,\yere at.times inclined to stand up too cldse to their. -V half. Mackenzie, however, played •'• a, sterling "game throughout and frequently, nonplussed the opposi- ,> tion with his 'tricky play. " Chancy did not show up to advantage as he did m ,the match against Auckland, nevertheless he was good on defence. He. received a nasty knock near the end bf 7 play arid had to leave the field:- ;'.' ■■'"■' -<--,- :^-; ; : •; rTßarhson was m fine form with his kicking and converted two tries. His >ybrk m Tattack was not all it should have been. His handling at times was Weak. '..Mackay, on the other wing, played one bf his best games to date. Always clever on attack, on Saturday last he 'showed his defensive abilities. His opening try for Wellington was a. fine effort.- ;.".'•.-.''•' ■ t Heazelwbod, . who replaced Cuming at full-back, kicked with judgment, but at' times was inclined to get out of position. His defence, though, was sound until he made the bloomer, of running into play and kicking instead of forcing down.' Wilson^ was always m the: forefront of the. attack until injured, When he had to retire. He was replaced tby Edgar- ' Shearer and Sly are a pair bf battlers and .were always with ' the ball. Trhe latter's. ability at place-kicking is not on a, pair* with his confrere. O'Regari, Jtjssup, Coulston and Blacker' all showed Tuflyoh occasions m the loose, but the vanguard as a whole were not up to the form shown m previous ' displays : and. were frequently beaten m the line-outs. ' .W. H. Brown, the old All Black, went well at centre and was a source of worry, to Ramson, besides looking after Mackenzie. • g :.' : y; Crawford, on the wing, was nippy, iind _took a lot of watching.'., 'Hoh'aia, on the other wing, was not at his usual form. He made the "mistake once of trying to outpace TjVTackay'and Ramsdn. : Johnston; \in the five-eighths line, lost a golden opportunity on one occasion through; inability to ■take a pass. ' As ' a. whole the; back division were more soiid: on 'defence than on attack, their solid tackling being a feature. * A. Guy, the rover, played a splendid gamely His try was a fine effort. .-'" ■''.'■'.< i Walter, Tafanaki's captain, gave ;a display, well up to representative standard.' He ».was' directly r responsible for one try. Ike was m good kicking form and iadded, eight points with his boot. ■The others all toiled wellin the lineouts and had the van as a. whole maintained the pressure they showed at the start they.; might easily have held tlie •winning advantage. "Taranaki were minus three of 'their regular, players In the vanguard, bul In. spite of thiST their forwards easily held- the heavier Wellington scrummagers. . , ■',"'■