TO-DAYS REPRESENTATIVE MATCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1921, Page 3

TO-DAYS REPRESENTATIVE MATCH.

TARANAKI v. WELLINGTON. ; Considerable interest is being taken in today’s match at Now Plymouth between Taranaki and Wellington, and there should be a large attendance. In the absence of special train facilities, the match has been timed to start at 2.15 p.m, sharp, so as to enable visitors to catch the afternoon train, and also to allow country people to get back home early. The ground is in first-class order, and with the prospects of fine weather a fast and open game should be witnessed, as both teams possess speedy backs. It is just nine years since the Wellington team was seen on the New Plymouth ground, and on that occasion Taranaki won by 6 points to 5. With tho exception of one specialmatch at Hawera that is the only occasionon which Wellington has since been defeated by Taranaki. However, the local team is confident of thoroughly extending the visitors to-day though the latter’s form against Wanganui show that they possess comhioation. The teams are as follows; — WELLINGTON. Full-back: Brooks. Three-quarters: Algar, Siddella, Jackson. Five-eighths: Markham and Hutchinson (captain). Half: Mathieson. Wing-forward: E. King. Forwards: Scott, Shearer, Bruce, Duncan, Byan, Parker, De Clifton. Emergencies: Back, Tunnington; forward, J. G. King, TARANAKI Fullback: Dunford. Tliree-quarters: Wilkinson, Robertson, Hickey. Five-eighths; R. Roberts and Coutts, Half: Brown. Wing-forward: McAllum. Forwards: Campbell, Whittington, Allen, Hunt, Kivell, Fryday, Malone. Emergencies: Baeks. Cameron (five-eighth ), Hooker (centre), Sykes (wing): forwards, Bircha’l and McCullough, PROSPECTS OF THE GAME. Once again there have been considerable changes in the personnel of tho Taranaki team, and it i 9 a vastly different combination to that which met the Springbok?. Of that fifteen, Hickey, R. Roberts, Coutts ;backs), McAllum, Campbell and Kivell (forwards), are the only ones to retain their places. As far as the backs are concerned, the team is a good one. With Kingston away repffeaenting New Zealand, the selector tad to look elsewhere for a full-back, and his choice has fallen on Dunford. Of the cluh full-backs, Dunford is undoubtedly the best. He is cool, takes and kicks well, and though rather young, there is no reason why he should not give a good account of hiimself. The only alternative was to try a man not used to the position. The three-quarter line is the best Taranaki has put In the field this season, being sound in defence and really good in attack. Wilkinson’s inclusion in place of Sykes was quite expected, as the Hawera winger has been showing brilliant ’ form, ana has only to repeat it to-day to keep the opposition busy. The other two three-quarters are well known to followers of the game. The flve-eigths pair, R. Roberts and Coutts are good on attack, and can be relied on to make good openings for their backs. Brown is again half, and the All Black soldier skipper should open up the game more than has been the case this season, provided the ball comes to him from the puck. Taken right through the backs are a good set. Forward there have been considerable changes, due mainly to the selection of West and Fogarty for the All Blade team. M. Cain and Masters have gone to Auckland to see the test match. For the former there is some excuse, as he had retired, and only camo out this year with the expressed object of assisting his club in Its championship engagements, and also represented Taranaki under pressure against the Springboks, when he played a great game. Masters is holding an important place in the team as lock—a difficult position to replace, and one In • which he had every prospect of gaining for New Zealand. Though cognisant of the fact that his province required its best in the abs-nce of the All Black men, he has gone to view the test. However, his absence gives another man an opportunity. Hunt, who plays in that position for Tlawera, is a solid forward, who holds the scrum together well, and is also good in the loose. Cain’s place has been taken by Whittington, who has represented Taranaki for many years. He is hooking well and Is in great form, being one of the leaders in every rush last Saturday. Allen, Malone and Fryday replace West, Fogarty and Spratt. S*pratt was unable to come to New Plymouth. Allen and Fryday are new to tte representative team, but they are dashing forwards, the former being particularly go<yi on the line-out, but is too apt to kick. Campbell and Kivell are in great form, as may be said also of McAllum, on the wing. The Wellington team is vastly different to i that which met the Springboks. Of the backs, Siddells and Markham, and of the forwards King, Bruce, Parker and Shearer are the only ones that played against the South Africans. The backs, as a whole, are very nippy and fast, while they possess rare combination. The forwards are a solid lot.

PREVIOUS RESULTS. Wellington and Taranaki have met on 27 occasions. Of these matches, Wellington has won 16 and Taranaki 11, whilst one has been drawn and another .abandoned at half-time, when Wellington were leading by 3 to nil. Exclusive of that match, Wellington has scor. ed 218 points and Taranaki 197. Of the seven (matches played In New Plymouth, Taranaki has won 6 and lost 1. Detailed results to date are:—

1894 At Hawera, won 6 to nil. 1895 At Wellington., drawn, no score. 1896 At New Plymouth, won 6 to nil. 1897 -At Wellington, lost 3 to nil. 1898— At Hawera. won 6 to nil. 189 S—At Wellington, lost 9 to 5 1900— At Hawera, lost 8 to 6. 1901— At Wellington, lost 20 to 3. 19G2—At New Plymouth, won. 6 to 3. 1903 Al Wellington, won 5 to 3. 1904 -At New Plymouth, won 11 to 3. 1905 At Wellington, lost 6 to nil. 1906 At New Plymouth, won II to 3. 1907 Wellington, match abandoned. 1908— At New Plymouth, won 15 to nil. 1 1908— At Wellington (special -match), lost 13 to 8. 1909 -At Wellington, lost 15 to 6. 1910— At New Plymouth, lost 11 to 6. 1911— -At Wellington, won 23 to 3. 1912. —At Hawera (special match), lost 12 to 10. 1912 At New Plymouth', won 6 to 5. 1913 At Wellington, lost 8 to nil. 1913 At Hawera (special match), lost 13 to 9. 1914 -At Hawera (special match), won 14 to io. 1914—At Stratford (shield match), lost 12 to 6. 1919—At Hawera (special match), lost 8 to 5. 1919 At Wellington, lost 18 to 10. 1920 At Hawera, lost 20 to 9. 1920—At Wellington, lost 16 to 5.

WELLINGTON V. WANGANUI. Wellington had a runaway win over Wanganui on Wednesday. Referring to it the local Chronicle says:—To say that the Wellington team bad the better of the- play would be a mild way of expressing what ; occurred. They certainly did. But at timeu they were held, and their defence was not impregnable. But when they struck it was with—as a rule—a collected nip, dash and finish which proved singularly effective. They threw the ball about with a nonchalant breeziness, there was often an abandon about it, but there was a method behind it. In brief their slogan was “Make it open,” and they did. Thus the game had a spectacular feature and, at times brilliant individualism made it Bugby worth watching. Not that Wanganui did badly. Theirs is the saG« fic.tloc that ttey did their best,