TARANAKI DEFEATS COMBINED TEAM.

Shannon News, 28 August 1925, Page 3

TARANAKI DEFEATS COMBINED TEAM.

GREENS HAVE WORST OF LUCK. TWO POINT MARGIN AT PALMERSTON. (Palmerston Times.) . On the run of- the play yesterday Taranaki should not have won the interprovjncial rugby match against Manawhenua. The Taranaki-ites third try was "cruel" and when a bit of luck would have given the home-side compensation, and made the score 10— ( .J or 12—9, Law got excited and tried to" pick-up a rolling ball three yards from the line with nobody in front of him. Had he capped a great piece of individual work, one try would have beaten three (Mana= whenua's scores consisting of a potted and penalty goal). The exhibition of the three inside Manawhenua backs, however, was so painful that it would reallv have been a travesty of Rugby justice for them to have been on the winning side. Of the wo.rk of the forwards, especially the hookers, nothing but praise can be written except for the criticism that several of them were far too slow in getting back for defensive purposes. In this respect they were eclipsed by the Taranaki vanguard (led by two magnificent forwards in Kivell and Ward) the work of which in the loose was well up to the best Taranaki standard, which for . forwards has always been of the highest. Starting shakily, young Hunt, the Shannon custodian, covered himself with glory, and fate was unkind in ordaining that a wonderful potted goal should not have won the match for his side.

Manawhenua were going along nice ly when Taranaki suddenly turned attack into defence and Winston after a good run, short-punted, Hunt fumbled, and by the time he had recovered, Johnston was on him and knocked the bull out of his hands. Ward snapped up and planted the ball determinedly over the line for a try, which Fryd'ay did not improve. Taranaki 3, Manawhenua 0. Presently, from the ruck a fine bout of passing to Manawhenua's right wing, saw Bailey make a strong dash, but Pate'rson stopped him. The ball was kicked through from a short throw-in, and Hunt, with- a. magnificent left- foot drop 40 yards in, near touch.' landed a field-goal. Manawhenua 4, Taranaki 3. ! This bucked the Greens up and they were putting in some good long strides when Wilson gave Bailey a poor pass with a try on. Well sheltered by Jacob, the Feildingite flew away ion the blind, but was blocked, and here the yellows were penalised,

Jacob kicking a neat goal mid-way between the centre and twenty-five. Manawhenua 7,- Taranaki 3. On the play veering by passing back through the forwards, Moynihan (a tiger in the tight but very tired m the loose) and Tana appeared to have bustled their way across, but the referee ordered a five-yards scrummage. Just before half-time, a long succession of marks goit the crowd's rag out, and there was plenty of bite in the barrack Until the lemons arrived. In the second spell from a throw-m Kivell secured and after handing out dummies, passed to Robinson who reversed to Kivell for as good, though simple looking, a forward try as one could see anywhere. Johnston's shot was poor. Taranaki 6, Manawhenua 7. Manawatu was attacking when a pass from Williams to Wilson, was intercepted by Penniall. After a short run he kicked, and Hunt was beaten by the bounce. Taranaki swarmed down and though Hunt got the ball in his knees and held on, it was taken off him and Robinson scored what was destined to be the winning try:— Taranaki 9, Manawhenua 7. Mr E. Bevan (Levin) was referee, and was most convincing.