RAKAIA TUG-OF-WAR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10158, 11 July 1924, Page 8

RAKAIA TUG-OF-WAR.

CONTESTS LAST EVENING.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) RAKAIA, This Day. The capacity of the Rakaia Hall was taxed to the utmost on Thursday night, when the Rakaia tug-of-war contests were held. The last function of this kind in Rakaia was on August 24, 1921, when six heavy-weight and seven light-weight teams comr>eted. On the present occasion the members were eight heavy-weight, 12 lightweight, and five youths' teams. A special feature on this occasion was the very interesting and highly efficient electrical device constructed by Mr G. Cromie by which the advantage of either team pulling was indicated by coloured electric lights. Undoubtedly the feature added considerably to the pleasure of the evening. One result of the device is that it tends to equalise the value, from a spectator's point of view, of all the seats in the kail. „ . The advent of a Maori contingent from Temuka, under the benign smile of Mr J. Leonard, proved a most popular variation in the programme. Their hakas and Scotch songs met with a rousing reception, and the men proved themselves good sportsmen. Their heavy-weight team carried off the first prize in that class. The men from Woolston had the most strenuous time of all the contestants. They pulled no loss than nine times, and carried off premier honours "in the light-weights and came second in the heavy-weight class. The section for youths brought out a very superior team from the Mead. The officials were: Chairman, Mr B. McNamara; starter, Mr E. Fox; judge, Mr A. J. Magson; timekeeper, Mr W. Black; referees, Messrs W. Cromie and W. Laraman; blackboard steward. Mr A. A. Oliver; secretary, Mr L. Cordner. Results:

HEAVY-WEIGHTS. (Three-minute pulls in heats and five minutes in the final.) First Round. G. Tatterson's team v. Mead.—The former won, Mead only once having a slight advantage. Lauriston v. Woolston.—There were many changes in this pull. In the last half-minute both lights were burning. Woolston won. Maoris v. Stewart's.—The • Maoris soon got the advantage, and kept it steadily. Dunstan's v. Wire-busters.—The latter won fairly easily. Second Round. G. Tatterson's v. Woolston.—This was the most even pull of the whole evening. For most of the three minutes both lights were burning steadily, showing no advantage. In the last half-minute Woolston gained, and kept a very slight advantage. Maoris v. Wire-busters.—The Maoris kept their light burning throughout.

Final. Maoris v. Woolston.—The Maoris early got a slight advantage. Woolston spurted and regained, but could not hold on, the Maoris winning.

LIGHT-WEIGHTS

First Round. G. Tatterson's v. J. Cronin's.—Tatterson's pull throughout. Woolston v. Mead.—Woolston's light burning continuously. Hooper Bros. v. Lauriston.—The Hooner Brothers had tho advantage throughout. Maoris v. Dunstan's Bantams.—The Maoris had the best of the pull all through. Lyndhurst v, Roy Tatterson's Footballers. —An easy win for Lyndhurst. Dunstan's No". 2 v. Banks Bros.' — The latter team gained the advantage at the beginning and won easily. | Second Rotmd. G. Tatterson's v. Woolston.—For the first minute there was a persistent seesaw, but thereafter the Woolston team pulled right away from their opponents. Hotsper Bros. v. Maoris. —This was an oven go. There were many changes for. a minute; then Hooper • Bros, gained S slight advantage and held it. Lyndirtttst V. Banks Bros. —The' latter team? won, but .by only a slight margin.

Semi-final. Woolston V, Hooper Bros.—Woolsfem had the'advantage throughout. Final. Woolston v. Banks Bros. —This was a good pull. Both teams were content to hold steadily? for most of the five minutes, with Banks Bros.' light burning, they having!: a slight advantage. In the latter partf Woolston gained the advantage, and &ept it. YOUTHS 1 ' CLASS. W. Tatterson's team v. Mitcham. — The former team worn a very good pull. Lyndhurst v. Mead..—This was a walk-over for Mead. ' F. McNamara's v. W. Tatterson's.— iMcNamara's team held the advantage throughout. FinaU McNamara's v. Mead. —Mead pulled right away in the lasik. half-Eiinute. The winning teams-were:— Maori team (winners of heavy-weight class) —C, Manning,, J. Davis, A. Wixon, J. Solomon, P. Manning. Mr J. Leonard was' coacli... Banks Bros.' team* (second in lightweights)—Sylvia, Walter, Ernie, Willie and Arthur Banksu. Mead Boys (first iii their class) —W. Rains, R. Rains, W. Shellock, L. Hood, and R. Watte; Mr P. Cornelius, coach. F. McNamara's* Boys (second prize) —Jim O'Rielly, W. Shannon, S. Moore, P. Basher, and JX. McCoy.