Rugby Football.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 79, 24 July 1914, Page 5

Rugby Football.

GAME AT NEW PLYMOUTH. i ,■"■' 11TARANAKI VI, MANAWATU 3. , The above match took place at New Plymouth yesterday before a crowd of about ,1500 spectators, the sum of £SO being taken at the gates. Contrary to expectations, the game did not result in a runaway, victory for Taranaki. The Manawatu players, for the greater part of the game, more than held their own, and it was only owing to lack of finish that-prevented their score from being larger. There was not much to choose between the backs of either side, neither rearguard showing much concerted work. It was mostly a forward game, and up to within twenty minutes of the call of time the advantage was with the visiting pack. The Taranaki forwards then seemed to wake up, and undoubtedly asserted their superiority, their irresistible rushes being mainly responsible for the two triejs scored in the second spell. The game started at 3.15 p.m./ and those who looked forward to a fast open game Were greviously disappointed. The game resolved itself into a succession of interchanges of kicks between the backs of either side, scrambling forward play, and loose scnfms, relieved occasionally by flashes of individual effort. After twenty minutes of uninteresting play, the ball went to Cameron from a scrum in the Manawatu twenty-five, and with one of his old-time dashes he flashed through the opposing team to the full-back, then passed the ball to Kissick, who dashed over the line and scored. Stohr's kick at goal failed.—(3—o).

This reverse seemed to rouse tka Manawatu forwards, and they made a series of assaults on the Taranaki line, only good tackling and line-kicking keeping them out of the coveted "in goal." Eventually, one of the backs secured the ball from a scVum in front of the Taranaki goal posts and made a dash for the line. He lost the ball, but the forwards carried on the movement and were rewarded with a meritorious try. The kick at goal failed, and the scores were equal. (3 —3). Even now the game did not rise above mediocre, the Ranfurly Shield holders showing very poor form. Taylor and Kissick in the forwards were doing well, and Whittington, Cameron and Young were showing flashes of individual brilliance, but all the others seemed to be having a day off. For the remainder of the spell, the Manawatu forwards were superior to their opponents, and any chances that Taranaki may have had were nullified by the excellent play of the visiting fullback, who was playing a very sound game The second spell opened with a vigorous rush on the part of the Yellow forwards, and Taranaki supporters grunted with satisfaction and promised themselves that at laM« their I ' t&ira. had wakened up. The effort did not 'last long. It seemed as if Manawatu were only a little slower in getting into their, stride, for after repelling successfully the local men's attempts to score, they took a turn in attack, and Taranaki had hard work to keep their end up. With attack and coun-ter-attack, the game proceeded on its wearisome course, good fielding and kicking on the part of fche visitors' full back, and the same by Young, Whittington and Cameron of the local backs, keeping the game in neutral territory. With twenty minutes to go, it looked as if the game would result in a draw, but the Taranaki forwards at last pulled themselves together and put some "ginger" into their work. Qld-time Taranaki rushes were now the order of the day; time and again the forwards rushed down the field carrying all before them, and presently their strenuous efforts were rewarded. Brown picked the ball up, shot it out to Cameron, thence it went on to Bertrand, and the Clifton /threequarter shot over the line at the corner and scored Taranaki's second tryStohr failed to convert. (6 —3). Manawatu were, however, not yet finished with, and strenuous work on the part of the forwards, aided by the judicious kicking of their backs, resulted in an invasion of Taranaki'a territory, Stohr raising the siege eventually with one of his big kicks. Once more the Taranaki forwards asserted themselves, and with Taylor, Kissick and Robertson in the van made things lively for the visitors. Young was prominent presently with a fine dash down the side line and was nearly over, being well tackled . The effort put hia side in a good attacking position. After some very exciting play in Manawatu's twenty-five, the Yellow vanguard went forward with an overwhelming rush, Robertson securing the ball, and warding off all opposition, scored Taranaki's third try, which Stohr succeeded in converting. (11 —3) Play remained in the visitors' territory until the whistle blew for "no side," leaving Taranaki with its fourth interprovincial victory this season, and the Ranfurly Shield still in safa keeping. The result of the game i» only a repetition of past history. How often one has seen Taranaki playeri

j fail to produce their true form against •i what is admittedly a,weaker side, and l! then a little later cover themselves i with glory against a team which lookjed an "odds on" chance. Taranaki : should easily beat Horowhenua, who 11 ai-e the next challengers for th» i Shield, but they will have to be up and > doing if they wish to stall off the chal- >! lenges of Wairarapa, Canterbury and > Southland. Wairarapa have had two i successive wins over the local team, • and it is up to the Amber and Blacks - to take their revenge this season. .Cani terbury and Southland have never ; beaten Taranaki, but there is no doubt - they will come this year determined I to wrest the coveted Shield from tk« j Butter Province.