RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Franklin Times, Volume XXV, Issue 58, 22 May 1935, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

A DRAWN GAME. PATUMAHOE AND TE KOHANGA. \ (Continued from page 5). As was anticipated, the meeting between the Patumahoe and Te Kohanga senior fifteens at Te Kohanga provided excellent football. From the kickoff to the final whistle the game was chocked full of exciting incidents, and at times one was liable to be swept off one’s feet'as the crowd surged up and down the line. In the early stages it appeared as though Te Kohanga would come out the winner so well did its team perform. At half-time the home men were three points in the lead. P'atumalioe staged a wonderful recovery in the second period, and notched six points (two tries) ajs against Te Kohanga’s penalty five minutes before time. The game thus ended in a draw —nine points each. Splendid Combination. The feature of the match' was the excellent combination among the home side’s backs and the solid work on the part of Patumahoe’s forwards. The sharp thrusts by Mahima, Rata and Grey and the manner in which they threw the ball about in the first halt were a treat to watch. However, they did not get far, due principally to the stubborn defence put up by the visitors. The Patumahoe inside backs, Howe and Sheppard, together with the next link in the chain, Cossey, went well, but they were slow compared with their three opponents in similar positions. Further they did not see much of the ball from McClune. Without doubt the man behind the scrum should have been Sheppard. The tactics employed in the second period induced Mahima to take his place as half, Rata going up to first five-eighth. The advisability of following up and exploiting every possible advantage was strikingly demonstrated on two occasions, tries going to Priestly and Howe as the result. The first blood went to Patumahoe, McAlpine landing a beautiful goal from a kick taken near the touch line on the eastern side of the field, notwithstanding the high wind blowing. A try by Weti equalised the score, and a few minutes later Grey put Kohanga three points in the lead from a penalty kick. Then came tries by Priestly and Howard, and finally Rata equalised once more from a penalty. Patumahoe fielded several juniors, and Te Kohanga was without the services of >its “skipper,” the veteran Taua, and .T. Karaka. Neither of the home team’s wingers gave a very good account of themselves. .T. Moore was suffering from an injury and Killi was well below the standard or a Kohanga hack. H. Moore was very sound on defence, as also was his vis-a-vis, Brady. The most prominent of the forwards were Weti and Duncan, the latter getting the ball regularly in the set scrums. Patumahoe’s best forwards were Priestly, Havard and McAlpine. The teams lined out: — Te Kohanga (black and white): H. Moore, J. Moore, Grey, Kihi, Rata, Mahima, Thompson, Weti, Duncan, Ewe, Thompson, P. Karaka, G. Whiskey, J. Whiskey, Watferhouse. The Teams. Patumahoe (blue and black) : Brady, Goldsworthy, Cossey, Reynolds, Sheppard, Howe, McClune, L. Carter, C. Carter, Priestly, Havard, Marusich, McMurtrie, McAlpine (capt.), Mclsaacs. Having the wind in their favour, the visitors attacked early, and on reaching the opposition citadel they were repelled by J. Moore. Play hovered about midfield until McClune fed Goldsworthy, who cross-kicked, but Grey took and running round gave to H. Moore. He knocked on, and as Kohanga was working clear a penalty was awarded Patumahoe. McAlpine put the ball over from a difficult angle. Patumahoe, 3; Te Kohanga, 0. Good work by Thompson, Mahima, Rata and Kihi resulted in the visitors’ area being reached, and in a melee Weti crossed the line. Rata could not convert. * Te 1 Kohanga, 3; Patumahoe, 3. Encouraged, the black and white rearguard threw the ball about in spectacular fashion. Karaka and Mahima led their colleagues away on the attack, and offside play gave Grey the opportunity to put his side in the lead. Te Kohanga, G; Patumahoe, 3. The opening* of the second period saw the visiting forwards forcing the pace, although playing against the sun. A series of thrusts culminated in Priestly following up a jab kick and touching down. Howe could not net the minor points. Patumahoe, 6; Te Kohanga, G. Another sally was made by the blue and blacks, but Rata was responsible fdr a temporary relief. A loose sortie by Patumahoe saw Howe dive over to ground the ball. McAlpine was not. able to raise the flags. Patumahoe, 9: Te Kohanga, 6. •Both teams slackened up slightly, the previous pace apparently taking its toll. Te Kohanga later took a hand in an offensive action against which Patumahoe had to work hard to stave off. When play resumed after a field casualty, Rata from a penalty equalised the score once more, Te Kohanga, 9: Patumahoe, 9. For the remaining five minutes Pat- j umahoe played a defensive action. Mr Wes. Pleydell of Pukekohe, was referee.