Taranaki’s Downfall

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 981, 26 May 1930, Page 15

Taranaki’s Downfall

BRITISH BACKS TOO GOOD Twenty-Three Points to Seven “DEVESTATING PACE AND CLEVERNESS” WITH a remarkable display of devastating pace and clever tactics, the British backs overwhelmed Taranaki’s defence in the match at New Plymouth on Saturday, and the visitors won by 23 points to 7. (SUN Special Representative — Copyright)

NEW PLY MOUTH, Saturday. Today in fine weather, and before a crowd of about IG,OOO, Taranaki’s traditional supremacy over overseas teams was rudely shattered. For practically the whole of the first half, Taranaki was definitely in the ascendant, and its shattering forward | rushes had the British team in trouble throughout. Brown’s potted goal was a very clever effort, and though Taranaki’s score was only four points at half-time, the great crowd was on good terms with itself when the teams changed over. The second half, however, saw a complete and dramatic reversal. The Britons began to take all conceivable risks to set their speedy backs in i motion, and clean and tricky handling . led to a remarkable display of devas- i fating pace and clever tactics, these i being aided by some truly remarkable I place-kicking, and the score mounted i rapidly. For a long time it seemed that Tara- j naki was bewildered by the speed and ! skilful handling of the visitors, and j play became a veritable debacle. The ; British forward play also improved, j and "Wilkinson particularly was al- i ways in the picture. Play was bril- ; liantly fast and spectacular, and the ; spectators wero afforded a feast of Rugby which one fears they hardly ap- • preciate. Taranaki was badly handi- ; capped by want of pace in the wing positions, and for a long period the j tackling degenerated sadly. Toward I the end, the Taranaki forwards regained the uppper hand, and it was a fine rally which led to ’the last score. It is apparent that the visitors are a very fine side, and capable of downing the best of the provincial sides. Their great speed enables them to take most incredible risks, and some of their passing rushes started on the very goal line. It will take a very strong All Black side to beat them, and it is very doubtful if we can field a side of backs with anything like the scoring ability of their opponents. The British forwards are not nearly so impressive, but for all that they are a force to be reckoned with. Toward the end of the game they shone out with pretty and effective dribbling. A pronounced weakness at second five- j eighths had a lot to do with the home side’s poor showing, but all-round lack of pace outside was the cause of the downfall. Taranaki won the toss and Hodgson kicked off into the sun. Taranaki rushed things from the start, badly bustling the British backs and Owen tried hard to start his backs, a penalty saving the British. A nice kick by Murray took play past the half-way and the British backs tried passing. Hunter stopping the final transfer. The Taranaki pack were definitely superior in the close work and burst through time and again. Penalties came to Britain’s aid at critical moments and the terraces waxed impatient. A great break by Robinson and Clark took play right to the line, Jennings having to lino in a hurry. Another penalty saved Britain, hut the Taranaki pack were soon busy again. Another unexplained penalty was mulled by the Taranaki fullback and the home side , forced. Britain tried hard to open up, hut Taranaki broke quickly and smothered all attempts to set the flying wings going. From play in the British twenty-five, their backs passed freely and a big kick saw the home side in trouble. Still another penalty kick within easy range was taken by Parker, but he missed. BRITAIN SPEEDS UP Britain was now making the pace and Taranaki forced again. Big kicking by Borwn and Hunt had Britain in trouble and the Taranaki backs tried passing, but Johnston ran into the ruck. Hunt made a great attempt to pot a goal, narrowly missing. The Taranaki forwards continued to hold the upper hand, bursting through repeatedly to bustle the British backs. Poole took great risks in trying to open play in his own twenty-five, sound tackling smothering the attempt. A great kick by Owen had play on the British line and when play veered over to midfield Brown snapped the chance to drop a beautiful goal from outside the twentyfive. Taranaki 4, Britain 0. VISITING FORWARDS WEAK The weakness of the British forwards in some phases of the forward play was. very apparent, and the backs were continually in trouble. Spong mad© a great burst to beyond half-way, where he ran into trouble and Taranaki was back on the attack immediately. A good attempt at goal by Brown was followed by a great burst by the British backs, all handling well, to send Morley fast down the line so that he raced over to be recalled for stepping into touch. The Blue backs were taking every j opportunity to fling the ball about, and only solid tackling stopped them, J Hunt saved well in the face of a fast i rush and a we 11-placed centre by j Aarvold looked dangerous, offside play stopping the movement. Play was at midfield when the half-time came with the score: Taranaki 4 Britain .. .. 0 The British team had a bright sun behind it to start the second half, but the home team soon got to work and rushed play to the line, where Brown tried at goal from a penalty. The kick missed and Britain cleared by very risky passing. Hunt kept them penned down with fine line kicking till a great burst of passing among the British backs saw Wilkinson chip in to race over for a great try. Black converted from a very difficult angle. Britain 5, Taranaki 4. Hunt was caught in possession following a nice kick by Spong, but a penalty saved the home side. Nice passing gave Morley a run down the • line and his "well-placed centre was well gathered by Black, who crossed under the bar for a good try. Black hoisted the flags and the score stoodBritain 10, Taranaki 4. Taranaki was apparently feeling the strain and the British backs were continually in possession and continually dangerous. A great line kick by Brown put the home side on the attack, and Clark had an abortive shot from a penalty. Another burst of pasing saw Morley beat three or four men to send the ball in to his forwards, and Hodgson was brought down on the line. Another great passing rush went from Poole through the backs to Reeve, whose in-pass went to Murray, who crossed well out. Black hoisted the extra points with a great kick. Britain 15, Taranaki 4. Taranaki had slowed a lot, but rallied to force play to Britain’s line, where Owen went on his own on the

blind to be stopped on the line. Fookes had a hard try for the line, but was forced to touch from a momentary break by Britain. The Taranaki forwards surged over with Robinson in possession, but he was unable to ground and a five-yard scrum resulted. Clark had another sh*ot from a penalty, but it went astray, i Taranaki was now playing desperately and another sweeping rush saw Robinson over again, but again a fiveyard scrum resulted. A dramatic change took place when Morley was sent off down the line and first Murray and then Morley tried abortive pot shots. Hard, slogging forward play relieved Taranaki, and bursts by Owen and Johnston carried play on. A humorous interlude took place when three or four British forwards raced away, heedless of the whistle, to go through 1 the motions of scoring, j Immediately afterward, the British • forwards went away again, and Wil--1 kinson went through a riddled defence ; to score under the bar. Black con- | verted. Britain 20 Taranaki 4 Play had hardly started again when i Aarvold sent Morley off, and again | Wilkinson raced over in the corner, j Black hit the post with a great kick. Britain 23 Taranaki 4 i Taranaki took play to twentyfive, where Guy intercepted a pass and j ran to the line, when in desperate play | Wills dropped over to score. Brown’s 1 kick went wide. Britain 23 Taranaki 7 Hodgson was hurt in the melee, but he did not leave the field. The great pace of the British backs enabled them to take great risks and get away with them. A burst by Owen, Johnston and Brown looked promising, but Brown was hauled down when looking dangerous, and the game ended in the British twenty-five. Britain 23 Taranaki 7 Mr. W. If. Rowe (Wanganui) refereed. WING-FORWARD ASSAILED “DELIBERATE CHEAT*” SAYS BRITISH MANAGER DISPUTE ABOUT HALF-TIME Special to THE SUN NEW PLYMOUTH, Today. Before the match against Taranaki, the British manager, Mr. James Baxter, had intimated that according to the international rules. the teams would not leave the field at half-time. Just before the start, however, Mr. J. McLeod, chairman of the Taranaki Union, insisted that this should not be done. Ho pointed out that the custom of leaving the field'prevailed here. After some discussion, Mr. Baxter | agreed to defer his wishes. The teams j accordingly left the field. At the subsequent dinner, however, Mr. Baxter announced that this would be done no more. He said that whether the rule was wise or foolish, they must abide by it. He had deferred to Taranaki’s wishes, but now' he would abide by the international ruling. Mr. Baxter also denounced the wingforward, asserting that while an occasional genius might arise, the ordinary man who tried to play wingforward was nothing more or less than a cheat. “The New” Zealand Union has pronounced against wing-forward play,” said Mr. Baxter, “but has thrown the onus of correcting his malpractices on the referee. With all due deference to the controlling body, it has thrown a tremendous responsibility on the referee. No referee can control a wingforward who is out to beat him. The referee has too much to do at the pace the game is played today. “The onus of correcting the malpractices of wing-forward play is on the clubs. Every -club lias a committee which picks its players, .and if this committee sees any player guilty of malpractice it should be perfectly frank. The wing-forward is deliberately trying to beat the referee by unfair tactics. The club can say it will not play a man who is deliberately outwitting the referee.” Th 9 Taranaki Union entertained the visitors at Mount Egmont yesterday, snowballing being a feature of the occasion. Sobey, the injured halfback, leaves for Wellington today for treatment.