TARANAKI'S WIN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 24, 21 September 1931, Page 3

TARANAKI'S WIN

australians beaten by single point in bright game COLLINS' GOOD KICKING NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. In the second to last mateh of their 1 tour, the Australian Rugby team was to-day defeated by a single point by Taranaki. The even scoring sustained interest throughout the game, and it was not until the final minutes of the match that Taranaki won by 11-10. Accurate goal kicking on the part of Collins contributed eight of the eleven points scored by the home side. The match was played under ideal football conditions and before a large crowd. Collins opened Taranalci's account almost from the opening whistle, when the visitors were penalised for an infringement in the scrum and he piloted a fine lcick over the bar. Taranaki 3, Australia nil. Australia very nearly retaliated a couple of minutes later when Taranaki was penalised near their 25 and Ross went very close to adding three points with his kiclc. Taranaki forced and a period of up and down play followed. The visitors were losing opportunities through offside infringements. They presently recovered, however, and the forwards combining in a pretty open handling movement with the backs, had Taranaki on the defensive. The home side eventually raised the seige and in some vigorous play Malcolm was injured and had to be replaced by Bennett. A free kick to Taranaki gave the home side the advantage again and Cudgeon was nearly over when he battled through a scrummage. A free kick brought relief to the hard-pressed Australians and play assumed a more open character. Taranaki came back aga:n, however, and a opportune clearance by Ross enabled them to relieve the pressure. ' The home backs brolce away from a scrum and in a sparkling open movement carried the ball through to the 25, where from a free kick Collins added a further three points. Taranaki 6 Australia nil. Austral'ans Open Clarke nearly got across from another vigorous Taranaki offensive. The Australians, however, turned the tables with dramatic suddenness, Bennett sending out a transfer to ClaNce who cut through the oppos;t'.on to send Cerrutti over. Ross added the extra points. Taranaki 6, Australia 5. Collins came very close to adding a couple more penalties to his tally in the ensuing play but he could not raise the fiags and half time found the score unaltered. B right passing on the part of the Wailaby backs, marked the opening of the second spell. Collins had another unsuccessful attempt from a penalty and the Taranaki forwards had the Australians penned on their line. A succession of scrums fonnd the visitors hard-pressed, but in spite of a penalty to Taranaki, Collins again failed to add further points. Spectacular Try. Taranaki continued to press until Ross brought temporary relief with a good clearance. Hi'gh kicking up and down field ■gave th'e Australians an advantage, but this was minimised by further off-side play. Their backs opened up with a bright passing movement which gained ground but a further infringement put them back again. Another scrum was set down and Guy cut round to send Wa';son over for a spectacular try. Collins added the points. Taranaki 11, Australia 5. The home side was penalised near half way, but Ross could not get sufficient distance with his kick. Vigorous work on the part of the Taranaki vanguard had the Australians on the i'un, but suddenly the visitors came to life and play fluctuated speetacularly between the goals. Hemingway put in a good run and backed up by his forwards gave a transfer to Towers who scored a brilliant try under the posts. Ross converted. Taranaki 11, Australia 10. Sparkling passing on the part of the visitors had Taranaki bustled during the concluding stages, but the visitors could not penetrate. and the gamo ended without further score.