COMBINED TEAM BEAT TARANAKI.

Shannon News, 20 August 1926, Page 3

COMBINED TEAM BEAT TARANAKI.

eight to six at eltham. JACOB RESPONSIBLE' I’OR DESERVED VICTORY. NEW PLYMOUTH. Last Night. Tlie combined Munawatu-HorO-wlienua 'team defated the Taranaki representatives .at Eli ham by eight ° The scorers for the combined were Akuira . and Mailii, Jacob converting this try, by what is considered to be one ©f the finest kicks at goal evei seen in Taranaki. Lack of snappincss ar.d decision among the Taranaki backs, and their repeated failures to bring promising movements to a succevhA conclusion, robbed the game ef much of ns interest, and for the most part it was a silent crowd that watched, the utes ticking away lost opportunit.es There were scvtraL- veak points in the Taranaki back line, but'the clue disappointment was Roberts, who persisted in rushing into trouble instead of giving' Johnson the chance's be was obviously expecting. As an attacking unit, the Taranaki backs were only once seen to act with decision and handle with precision. The crowd heaved a sigh of relief when at the end of the game, Bourke on the wing actually retained hi '■ pass, and was able to go on and score. Petty and Johnson alone retained any brilliancy, the former playing a magnificent game at full back, and saving liis team time after time.

Although considerably hampered by the operations of Jacob, the visitors wonderful rover, and often swamped by the fast breaking up tactics of their supports, Julian nevertheless took the ball away In good style, but sometimes lie let an easy one slip between his legs’. _ Individualism among the visitors’ backs was subordinated <o the promotion of a fine team spirit. They all worked together, and every movement was .consistently backed up. Law, Hunt, and Akuira. had the most to do, and did it well. There was not a finer man on the field than Jacob, and his versatility in combining in back movements ,as well as doing outstanding work in the pack, made him a prominent and popular figure vei'y early in the game.

A feature of the combined pack, la y in the fact that they had developed the art of dribbling to a fine point, and Mailii, Galpin, and Gothard were frequently to be seen racing down the field with the ball passing from toe to toe.

The game can be summed up into the triumph of team work, speed, and accuracy, over individual effort, and the failure to make the most of opportunities.