TARANAKI READY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 927, 21 March 1930, Page 9

TARANAKI READY

FOR VISIT OF BRITISH TEAM WATERLOOS OF PAST From Our Own Correspondent NEW PLYMOUTH Thursday. As was the case during the visit of the South African team in 1921, the Wanganui and Taranaki Unions have the honour of opening the campaign of the British touring team in New Zealand this season. Wanganui will lead off against the visitors on May 21, and Taranaki takes the field three days later. This is, of course, much earlier than is customary for the assembling of a representative team, and means a correspondingly early start. Most of the clubs have already h.eld their meetings, and the annual matches between the Star and Tukapa Clubs for the Dan O’Brien and Carbine Shields, usually played at the end of the season. will this year probably take place on April 12. The Kaponga seven-aside tournament will be held on Easter Saturday, and the Rugby Union’s Dewar Shield tourney, for teams of 10 aside, will.be played off on Easter Monday. The regular competition matches will stare on the following Saturday. Taranaki has always done particulcirly well against overseas teams. In fact, no overseas team has ever defeated Taranaki on the New Plymouth ground. Away back in 1888, Stoddait s famous team was beaten in New Plymouth by a try to nil. A later game was played at Hawera, when the Englishmen turned the tables to win by j seven points to one, but no selfrespecting descendant of the Amelia. Thompson's pioneers takes much notice of a match played outside New Plymouth. Since then Sivwrighr's I team has played a draw, Harding s team was defeated, the famous Springboks were held to a pointless draw, und assorted Australian sides have all gone through it” on the picturesque Pukekura Park ground. With the idea of securing some uniformity in styles of play—an import- ! ant factor in securing combination in the rep. team—the union contemplates ! calling the coaches of teams together at Stratford at an early date. Should this meeting eventuate it is possible that Cliff Porter, the All Black skipper, may attend to give coaches the ; benefit of bis experience of team work ! and coaching. That, however, is in | the air at present. It is hard to believe, but though the Taranaki Union is of quite a respectable age. and has been »v« i; supported all its days, it is still without a ground of its owr in any centre of the province. At last, however, this state of affairs is to be remedied. An area o T ' ! 4 acres, ideally situated at Westowp, New Plymouth, has been secured for £1,500. together with a section giving access from the tramlines. As far as playing strength is concerned. the province is as stre ng a-< ever. Durin? the last few years th~ selection of Taranaki sides has beer, far from satisfactory, bu: it is hoped that a change in methods, if not in men. will effect an improvement in this \ direction.