RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 8 June 1933, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SUB DIVISION NOTES. The monthly meeting of delegates was held at Moaua on Friday, there being a full attendance. The President, Mr. N. L. Field, was in the chair. Applications for transfers from E. Ord (Kotuku) and J. Abbott (Te Kinga) to the Ru Ru Club were refused. Mr. F. De Lore’s resignation as treasurer was accepted with regret. It was unanimously resolved to make application to the West Coast Rugby Union asking that the Lake Brunner Sub-division representatives be sent to Christchurch in the event of a team being required to play a curtain raiser to the Ranfurly Shield game between Canterbury and West Coast. All efforts to fill the vacancies of secretary and treasurer failed, and it is to be hoped that these positions will be filled before next meeting. RURU DEFEAT KOPARA. Ruru defeated Kopara at Kopara, on Sunday by 17 points to eight. The ground was very heavy and rain fell during the early stages of the game. Ruru were two men short when Kopara kicked off. Rapley 7 s kick failing to go over the 10 yard line. Ruru took a scrum on the half way lino hooking cleanly for R. Birchfield to send J. Taaffe away who ran straight across I the field to be well tackled without gaining much ground. The same player being penalised for handling the ball on the ground, Lang lining for Kopara at the Ruru 25. From the line out the Kopara. forwards i charged down to Ruru line, where Taaffe fumbled and Rochfort picked up to go over near the posts. Bell converted, making the score Kopara 5, Ruru nil. After a few minutes play Bell fielded the kick off and lined midway between half and 25. Ruru territory. Southern was caught offside and Bell lined past the 25, Kennedy sending Kopara back when he snapped up from a loose rush and lined near half way, where the forwards had a great struggle for about ten minutes until a hard speculator to S. Tuck changed the scene to Kopara 7 s territory, Bell being; penalised for obstruction. R. Birchfield lined ten yards from the comer -flag. From the line out Ruru forwards worked play to the Kopara line where from a scrum C. Birchfield secured and went over. R. Birchfield kicked a poster. Kopara 5, Ruru 3. A long kick from the kick off went down to Reddington who kicked back to S. Tuck, who lined at the Ruru 25. Kopara* forwards kicked through to ‘Reddington, who was easily, bustled. Both sets of forwards packed round where a Kopara forward tried tapping the ball back with his hand ami was caught. R. Birchfield lining past the 25. From

the line out R. Birchfield put Kopara on defence with a good kick, lining well down the field. Taaffe improved the position with a dodgy run, Bell and Rapley taking play back to half way with a nice piece of play. Kennedy immediately broke away aud put Ruru on attack again. The Kopara forwards playing all over Ruru, came away with a good rush, but appeared to lose control by kicking too hard. Kennedy, Taaffe and Roddington fumbled in turn, enabling Long to go over in a handy position. The I scorer failed to improve with the kick. Kopara, S, Ruru 3. B. Birchfield came on at this period to bring the Ruru team up to 11 men. Kopara were endeavouring to keep the game close. A penalty to Ruru and a good run by •Taaffe saw the ball go out at the Kopara 25 line. Taaffe broke away again evading several tackles, but was pushed into touch when a try appeared likely. Bell, Rapley, Cowan and Davidson Kopara’s fine quartette of forwards, broke away with the ball at toe, Reddington making a feeble attempt to stop them, and only the wet state of the ground prevented a try. Ruru were penalised for offside play by Chamberlain, Bell kicking high. R. Birchfield fielded and lined at the 25. Ruru were again penalised, Bell lining near the corner flag. Kopara kept Ruru penned on their line for some time. Ruru eventually clearing by short line kicks. Kopara were penalised on the Ruru 25, R. Birchfield kicked high, Bell fielding and lining well in Ruru territory. Ruru were penalised and Bell failed with a shot from a difficult angle, Ruru forcing. From a scrum in midfield Kopara houked and E. Taaffe slipped past the fast breaking Ruru forwards and lined Hi yards from the Ruru goal line. From the line out Kopara set up ;i strong attack and Long waiting for a pass received and dived over, but was yards offside and was penalised. R. Birchfield found touch and the whistle went for half time, with the scores; Kopara S, Ruru 3. I>el| tickled the kick off. and lined al the Ruru 25, "with a fine kick. From

the line out Kopara forwards worked play to the Ruru line, where R. Birchfield sent on to Kennedy, Taafo to Kennedy, who lined in Kopara territory. S. Clij.no came on at this stage Io bring the Ruru team up to full strength. E. Taaffe was doing good work behind the Kopara pack. Time and again he sent Ruru back with short. kicks to the line, eventually working play to half way until Snell sent Kopara back with a good line kick gaining 30 yards. After a period of scrappy forward play, R. Birchfield sent out J. Taaffe to Kennedy yvho outstripped the Kopara backs to score at the corner. B. Birchfield failed to convert. Kopara 8, Ruru 6. Ruru were now definitely on top, their forwards broke, away, but/ Southern spoiled a promising rush by getting offside. From ihe line out Long snapped up from the loose and lined near half way. KopSra forwards worked play into Ruru territory. Ruru forwards eventually driving them back with determined rushes. From a scrum on the Kopara 25, R. Birchfield broke away from the base of the scrum and sent his backs away. Taaffe, Kennedy and Snell handling in turn. J. Taaffe ran round on the outside of

Snell to receive the ball and went over for a splendid try. Tho kick at goal failed. Ruru 9, Kopara 8. The Kop ara forwards set up a desperate attack in an endeavour to regain the lead, and Rapley was unfortunate when he put his fool in touch a few yards short of the line and no one to stop him. This was Kopara's last serious ef-

fort, their forwards had kept up the pace well, but they had been asked to do too much in backing up a weak set of backs. Scrambling play followed until a Kopara back kicked in field, 'rhe Ruru backs were away in a flash, J. Taaffe when blocked in the corner kicked across the goal mouth and ('. Birchfield strolled over for his second try. R. Birchfield converted. Ruru 14, Kopara 8. Shortly after Dunstan broke away from a scramble and scored at the corner. B. Birchfield failed to convert. Ruru 17, Kopara 8. Kopara were lucky to force down a minute later, when the game ended. Ruru 17, Kopara 8.

E. Taaffe. Long and S. Tuck were the best of Kopara backs, while R. Abbott tackled well in the early stages of the game. All the forwards played well, Rapley and Bell being particularly outstanding.

Ruru played six backs throughout, all playing well. Reddington’s line kicking, although not lengthy, was particularly accurate. However, ho shows a distinct weakness when bustled. R. Birchfield manages to set his backs going when the opportunity offers. Dunstan in the Ruru pack, played his best game to date, particularly in the line outs. Birchfield surprised the Ruru fans. He is not hopeless yet. Ivan Willis should join the boy scouts. Seddon Chamberlain threw his weight about ami is quite a useful forward. Some of the younger players should follow his example in heeling back from the loose scrums. TE KINGA DEFEATS STILLWATER TO Kinga. defeated Stillwater by lpoints to nil. No particulars of the match have been received. Rapahoe- juniors v. Clobden A at Cobden: —Baird, Doyle, Thornton. LaJor, Nesbitt, Hinton, Russell, Wylde, Page, Mount t, McGill, Corcoran. Tomasi, Hardie. Ala Icolmson. Forbes, lladcroft.