FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 July 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI V. WANGANUI, WIN FOR TARANAKI. NINE POINTS TO SIX. The return match between Taranaki and Wanganui was played at Scratford yesterday in tho presence of about 2000 spectators, resulting in a win for Taranaki by the narrow margin of 9 points (two tries and a penalty) to six points (one try and a penalty). On the whole it was a disappointing display, particularly on the part of the Taranaki team. One would not have recognised Taranaki as the same team which played against tie Springboks on Saturday week, for neither forwards nor backs enforced the same vigor into their play, nor played up to representative form. The forwards did not 1 follow up, and the majority of thdir rushes were lone-hand-ed, though there wore occasions when the whole pack got moving. The hall was kept in tie scrum, and when the backs did get it their work was nullified by faulty handling. This was in striking contrast to the nippy work of the Wanganui backs, whose handling and sparkling play, particularly on the part of Poina and Totaka, was much appreciated by the crowd. Taranaki’s tackling was not nearly so effective as against the South Africans. The ground was in good order, and the weather fine. The Taranaki team played as published, save that Malone replaced West, who had sustained an injury to his leg. The Wanganui team was considerably .altered, only two of the backs and three or four of the forwards originally picked making tho trip, the team was:— Full-back: L. Head. Three-quarters: W. Collier, Poiaka. A. Brown. Five-eighths: Peina. S. Jackson. Half: McKay. , Forwards; Bellis (captain), Stewart. Collerton, Murphy, Iligglun, George, Sinclair. THE FIRST SPELL, Wanganui opened with the advantage of a slight wind, aijd from the start Taranaki attacked. Failure by Bellis to take a high ■ kick from B. Roberts had Wanganui in diffi- j cultles, Coutts being temporarily injured.

Taranaki kept up the pressure till the Wanganui forwards, headed by George and Sinclair, carried play past half-way, where Coutts cleverly checked. Taranaki continued to attack for some time, and then play cen-; tred at mid-field, Collier being prominent for. the blues. Fogarty set his pack going, and j they rushed right to Wanganui's line, where • Hickey secured, and going right through the ruck in good style, handed 6n to Malone, who touched down. Roberts failed to goal, and tho score after twenty minutes’ play was:— Taranaki 3 Wanganui 0 On resuming ar. interchange x>£ kicks ended in Brown making a great opening roi Peina., who attempted to hurdle and was promptly I upended. Cain and Kivell were then in the . front of another good local rush, but Jack- | son, and again McKay, drove them back. I Coutts Was responsible for putting Taranaki I in ar. attacking position, and off-s’do play I by Wanganui gave Coutts a shot at goal, . which was successful. ' Taranaki 6 Wanganui 0 When play started again Kingston secured, and running well down field, passed to Courts, who handed on to Sykes, and tho latter kicking when blocked, smothered Brown in the corner. Taranaki kept up tho pressure, and Sykes had an attempt to pot, but the ball went wide. Then Cox and Murphy started a Wanganui rush past half-way, where McAllum got off-side, and Kingston lined the resultant kick at tho twenty-five. From another free kick inside half-way, Collier made a great attempt to goal, missing by inches. Wa- < nganui forwards again pressed; and Brown ’ secured, but Sykes was able to check, and th© I locals made another dash, which culminated In Atkins marking in a good position, but his shot at goal failed. Peina then cut in, mtt was collared. Again the visiting forwards started a rush that wont past half-way, where Taranaki infringed, and frnm nearly half-way Collier landed a beautiful goal. Taranaki i> I Wanganui 3 I Jackson, Potaka and Bellis, by some pretty j work, carried play past half-way, but Sykes i returned to touch, and in another rousing rush 1 Cain picked up and headed for the line, but Fogarty failed to take the pass and a force resulted. From a penalty Coutts just failed to goal. At half-time the score was:— Taranaki 6 Wanganui 3 THE SECOND SPELL. Wanganui set out to make the game open, and McKay got his backs moving, but Sykes brought down Brown, and a moment later Peina made a great opening to Collier on the other wing. Hickey taking him in fine style. Wanganui kept attacking, and Beilis was nearly over, but threw forward, and Hickey was able to line. Knocks-on spoilt promising Wanganui movements on two occasions, and then Tarapaki took a hand, but a knock-on checked them. Coults made a good opening and passed to Hickey. Collier, however, accounted for the latter, and after a bout of fast play, Coutts had a slot from a free

kick, the ball going wide. Atkins failed Io mark the return, and McKay, Peina and Potaka were associated in a great bout that gained considerable ground. \|.ho latter slipping when dangerous. Then Malone headed a forward move. Spratt made a dash for the lino, and for a. per’•. Taranaki pressed hara, until Head cleverly cleared, as he did n mo- ■ ment later when a pretty cut in and short kick by Coutts looker] dangerous Fast play ensued, mostly on the Wanganui side of halfway, Higglun and Murphy were prominent, in a forward move that carried play to halfway, where tho Wanganui backs roused the enthusiasm of the crowd with a great bout, Bellis passing to Peina, who cut in and passed to Potaka, the latter handing hack io Peina, but the latter passed forward, and the rush was checked by Fogarty dose to the goal line, and Kingston, with a well judged kick, lined at half-way. Play was now fast and interesting, being up and down field. Obtaining from ti e scrum Atkin?, set Coutts, B. Roberts and 11. Roberts in motion, the latter being well taken. Then Bellis got. going again, and beautiful handling and running by McKay. Jackson and Brown was spoilt, by latter being off-side. A good kick by Kingston reached touch nt half-way, hut tho Wanganui backs came again. The hall came via all the backs to Collier on the other wing, and ho streaked for Iho line, where he lost the ball, But in the resultant play felt on u over the line, equallslnig the scores. Collier failed io goal. Wanganui 6 Taranaki 6 Then play hovered about mid-field, the work of the local forwards being off-set by the kicking of the visiting backs. Gradually ib R Taranaki pack gained ground, but Jackson was solid and drove, them back with line kicks. The Wanganui forwards, with Collerton and Murphy in tho van, worked play down where Bellis essayed to open out, but an infringement spoilt, and then Hickey cut in and lined past half way. A pretty cut in and a line kick by Atkins put Taranaki in an attacking position, where Atkins passed to Coutts, but the latter knocked on. Taranaki forwards then came ball at toe and carried play to Wanganui’s twenty-five, where Coutts picked up, and cutting in, shot the ball to R. Roberts, who took it beautifully and flashed over the line, falling on the hall just as ho was collared. Coutts failed to goal. The game ended soon after:—Tafanaki Wanganui 6 Mr. F. Roberts refereed. His decisions were fair, but the perpetual whistle had not a little to do with whftt '>n tho whole was u 4isappointlns «»rae-

TEAMS FOR TO-MORROW. TUKAPA CLUB. Seniors against Clifton, at Waitara: —J. Priar, G. Hart, G. Hooker, H Oliver, G. Ennis, R. Oliver, L. Whitaker, C MeAllum, P. Atkinson, N. Mclntyre, T. Crone, F. Wilson, P. Allen, R. McLean, R, Quickfail. Cars leave at 2 p.m. sharp. OLD BOYS’ CLUB. Seniors v. High School, Sports Ground, 3 p.m.:—Valentine, C. Stewart, Sykes, N. Little, J. Whittle, B. Boon, L. Sole, M. James, Williams, Lovegrove, McGregor, Ridge, Brokenshire, D Doile, H. Smith. Emergencies! Bellringer and Brookes. Third juniors v. Star, at Racecourse, 1.30: Taylor, Falwassar, Medway-, Hawkins, Newell, Bayly, McHardy, Wsght, Olson, Mackay, Rawlinson, Moore, Luxton. Mace, Coleman. Emergencies: Linn and Hughes. The first junior team will not travel to Clifton. STAR CLUB. Second grade v. Lepperton, at Lepperton, 1.30 p.m.:—Gray, Hoffmann, Hurley, Jones, Betts, Sturmey, Sims, Hurley, Clarke, Thomas, Broughton, Hoffmann, Fetch, Owens, Courtney. Cars leave Snelling and Andrews at 12.45. Fourth grade :—Morris, Maxwell, Parker, O’Callaghan, Hoffmann, Loveridge, Smith, Kinlock, Nodder, Berge, Stroud, Freethey, McKenzie, ’McFarlane, Gillespie. Emergencies; Cruickshauk and Peek.