WEDNESDAY'S REP. MATCH.

Shannon News, 24 August 1923, Page 3

WEDNESDAY'S REP. MATCH.

EASY .WIN FOR HOME TEAM

On Wednesday a Item oon in perfect weather thej local rep. team met the Taranaki B touring team and alter a last open game defeated them hy 24 points (three converted' tries and three unconverted) to nil. The ground .was in splendid condition for open work, and the local team made the most of the strength of their hacks and threw the hall about in fine style, Jacob, Moses, Reid and Udy being conspicuous in a number of snappy passing rushes which proved more than tneir opponents could handle. Tiorowhenua had the advantage of weight in the pack, and used this, for all it was worth in the set uans, getting practically all the bail. Even when Taranaki got it, the solid weight of the loc-al men swept down on them before they could get going, and although they made valiant attempts, to break away, their offensives were of short duration. The, teams were, as follow: — TARANAKI. Full-back, ' Tuki; three-quarters, Priar. Walsh, Couiton; five-eighths, SturmCy, Sheehan; half, Court; rover, Taylor; hookers, Robinson, Sharrock; lock, McGuinnesS; supports, Graham, Morrison; backs, Ha-mersley. O’Rorke. HOROWHENUA. Full-back, T. Winiata; three-quar-ters, Johnson, Reid, Udy; fiveeighths, Jacob, Moses; half-back, Lenihaii; rover, R. Broughton; hookers, Be-van, George; lock, Tana; sides, Howell. Gardner; backs, Collier, Marsh.

Priar received an injury to his leg. early in the first spell, and Hooker took his place. Tiorowhenua won the toss and elected.to play with the sun at their backs. Taranaki kicked high and from a scrum which followed Jacob picked up and threw to Udy, who made a spectacular sprint down the line, but was run out by Sheehan, five yards lrom the objective. From the ■ throw-in Walsh relieved with a line kick at the 25 and a swift interchange of lacks followed with Taranaki hard put to it to defend against tlieir heavy opponents, who were smashing down, on them in close formation with Jacob working everywhere from forward to his place as five-eighths. Priar saved with a longkick tip-field which Winiata sent back and a momentary respite was granted by the ball going out at the 25. From a scrum which followed Lenihan whipped the ball to - Jacob who flung out to Udy but the movement failed. Next moment, however, Reed •picked ui> at the 25 and side-stepping a couple ol intervening Taranaki players, snapped it oyer to Jacob, who .hurled himself over and scored near the corner, adding the. remaining points a moment later. Horowhenua ... ... ... ••• 5 Taranaki ... ... , ... 0 Five minutes of hard play at hall way followed with Taranaki making a desperate effort to break through, but receiving no support from their backs, and then Jacob picked up out of the loose and shot it out to Reed. Reed raced for the line with the whole, Taranaki team closing on him, but Jacob was round in time and taking the bail slipped it to Moses, who sent it to Meta Johnson, who got. across after a perfect piece of passing. The kick failed. Horowhenua ... ... 8 Taranaki ..., ... ... ... ... ... 0 Horowhenua had now gpt the measure of their opponents and from the kick-off speedily returned play to the opposing 25 where Couiton kicked out,. A forward clash followed the throwin, and from a scrum Jacob sent the ball out to Udy who was brought down in front of the posts. George took the ball off-side and the resulting kick brought relief to Taranaki. For a spell Taranaki held their opponents at half way. but a strong forward rush in which Broughton, Howeii and Tana figured was only stopped at the posts by Tuki marking, and a fine kick shifted play to half way. Hard forward play enabled Taranaki to invade the Reds’ territory, but the advantage was short lived and at the half way Jacob, picked! up and with a magnificent run took the ball to within 10 j ards of the line before ho was downed by Court. Play went to the 25 with "a scrambling rush and then Tana shot the ball over o Turu Gardner, to George, who planted. i> across the line. The kick again failed. Horowhenua ... 11 Taranaki .... ... ... 0 Forward play with alternate rushes into the opposing 25’s fo.lowed until the bell went five minutes later. At the recommencement of play, Varan aki opened with a determined looking', rush and for five minutes kept things lively in Horowhenua’s 25. Vhe local men now had an almost level sun in their eyes and it was troubling them considerably. A free hick to Taranaki was taken by Winiuta who found the line at halfway arid play going down field among the the lorwards, the superior weight of (;]je Horowhenua pack gradually forcing the other side back. Udy and Gardner took the ball up to the posts where Gardner sent if through and beating Tuki in the race for possession scored behind the .uprights. Jacob's kick struck the bar. I Horowhenua ... ... ... 14 Taranaki .... ... 0

A forward rush by Horowhenua ,ended in a scrum five yards out and an infringement gave the Reds a shot at goal which just, failed. From the kick-off Read whipped the hall back to Winiata who kicked' high and following up fast collared. Starrock. who was taking it. Taranaki made a gallant attempt and for the first time put the hall over the opposite line. Winiata forcing.

From now on Horowhenua had all the best of the play, Taranaki putting up a plucky attempt to prevent the score mounting up', but were outclassed in all departments of the game. With Tana, Gardner, Broughton, Howell and George hurling their weight against them, and Jacob who played a really magnificent game roving anywhere there was work to do 1 , the weaker team seldom if ever got the’ ball to their backs. For a time Taranaki held the 1 Reds off and then, from a snappy W of play at the 25

Moses gathered uip the ball and sent it out to Reed to Jacob to Turu Gardnor wlio scored beneath, the posts the most spectacular try of the day. Jacob added the major points, Horowhenua 19 Taranaki ...••• A useful rush in which Udy was prominent was forced out near the line and from a scrum which followed Taranaki broke away and Sturmey, taking a, mark at the 25 right in front of' the posts, looked like making a certain score, but it was charged down. Just on time Moses picked up the ball at half way and carrying well down sent it out to l George who got over. Again Jacqb added the extra points. - Horowhenua , 24 Taranaki ... •? 0 Mr T. ■ Parata • referee.