FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 August 1924, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

INTER-COLLEGE MATCH. GREAT STRUGGLE AT NEW PLYMOUTH. Auckland Grammar brought a strong side to New Plymouth and defeated the Boys’ High School team, at Pukekura Park on Saturday, by 9 points to 6 (three tries to two), after one of the toughest struggles that one cop Id imagine in secondary school Rugby. The game was played on a fast, dry ground, beneath a blazing sun that had a touch of summer heat in its rays. The game was not rough, but so hard did the lads play that there were an unusually large number of delays to recover injured players from knocksout. At one stage of the game play had been so fierce that the referee called a momentary breather, which was welcomed. The teams took the field as under:

Auckland Grammar. —Edmonds, Minns, Matheson, Hutchinson, Stewart, Horsley. Meredith. Wells, Winstone, Watkin, Colyan (captain), McCarthy, Thompson, Bailey, Orr. New Plymouth Boys’ High School. — Petty, Mackay, Loveridge, Crawford, Revell, K. Fookes, Mason, Paterson (captain), Tiplady, Bellringer, S. Fookes, Bleakley, Read, Ennis, Gibson. Playing with the sun in their faces in the first quarter, Grammar commenced to pass immediately, Hutchinson over-running on the wing. In the next instant Loveridge (High School’s centre) got a very bad smack on the head and was out for some time. He ultimately played on, but was very groggy. * Two penalties against High School followed, and from the second Hutchinson went near goaling. Sending the ball back quickly, Petty returned play to half-way. Obtaining possession from the scrummages and the line-outs Grammar attacked and passed nicely, but the ball went awry in the three-quarter line and Loveridge headed an exciting rush to Gram, mar’s line, but the defence held. Horsley and Matheson were next seen racing away down the right wing, but Mackay marked when the latter centred, and Petty later found touch at half-way with a great kick from almost under the bar. Grammar’s tall forwards had an easy task in the lineouts, and Hutchison and Matheson flashed away on the left wing, hut with a brilliant tackle Loveridge cut the movement short. Grammar’s fast hefty forwards played havoc among the school backs, smothering Mason, the half, who seldom had possession in the early stages of the game, the backs consequently lacking their usual swift passing rushes. The Grammar rearguard, well served with the ball from its doughty . pack, Meredith showed great dash and speed, compelling School to defend hard. Petty at fullback was magnificent with bis linekicking and fast following up. which time and again turned the attack. Just before the first quarter closed, Minns, receiving the ball from bis inside men, made a great run down the left wing, being thrust into touch by Petty just as he was about to score.

High School attacked on changing over, but their passing seemed to lack its usual cris.p'hess, and by the time the ball readied the wingers there was always three Grammar men to deal with him. Mackey went near goaling from a penally, but Hutchinson recovered a lot of ground with his kick, and at ball'-wav Matheson, a dangerous man, cut through-beautifully. His pass wa.s overrun, and Grammar losl a fine- chance to open the scoring. Tt was apparent, however, that they could not. be kept out for long, and almost immediately Grammar swept downficld,. Hutchinson running with great dash on the. wing. Just in front of the line Petty took him and lie passed hack into the ruck. Matheson got across, but was recalled. After several scrums right on the line, McCarthy dived for a good iry, which Hutchinson failed to improve." Grammar 3 High School 0 .School played hard with the forwards attacking. Grammar were penalised at quarter-way, and from an angle Mackey kicked a. poster. Soon after Grammar registered a second try when Loveridge, when defending, misjudged and kicked infield. Horsley fielded the ball and in a flash sent au ay a fast line of backs, Hutchinson scoring as he was felled by Petfy. Hells’ kicked grazed outside of the post. Grammar q High School 0 School retaliated with a dashing rush into Grammar’s territory, where Loveiidge, beating his inside opponents nicely, passed wide to Paterson, who sent Mackey racing down touch for the corner, where he scor d aftei a fine run. Mackey failed to improve his try, and half-time sounded, the scores being : Grammar 6 High School 3

In making the opening which culminated in school scoring, Loveridge got another knock and haxl to be assisted off the- field. He was unable to continue and the, school team was rearranged, Q’Halloran going into the pack, Read playing rover and Paterson taking the centre of the Threequarter line.

On resuming School showed improved form. The forwards battled hard against their bigger opponents and commenced to feed their backs, who passed better. Grammar got into tumble through Edmonds fumbling a long kick from Petty, who tackled over the line, but Edmonds saved the situation for his side by holding the ball tight. Grammar stalled off a number of attacks by stalwart defence. Revell tried to rut in under the bar, and Grammar later touched down to reliove c ' hr. ;; l were not to be denied, and tic forwards swept in under the bar, where Pend, picking up m the loose, dived to score, near the post. Mackey, rhougli awarded no charge, faded to kick an easy goaf, the ball veering outside the upright. Grammar 0 Thigh School G Excileincn, on the terraces became intense. School continued to show better form in the backs on the attack', but Grammar always appeared dangerous. the visiting five-eighths .showing more inili.’.tive ami cleverness: than the local pair. School were hard pul to it dc-fendiug when Hutchinson found the line in their quarters with a grand penalty kick - , but Hutchinson and Muiheson had no justification in attcunnting to drop-kick after making splendid openings. They were both poor attempts and allowed their opponents to clear to midfield. Grammar's attack became hotter. Colgan made a splendid run from half-way and then sent Matheson and Hutchinson sailing abreast down the left wing

with only Petty between them a ini the line. Petty was equal to the occasion. All Matheson had to do was to pass to Hutc-hinson and a. try was a certainty,, but just when the latter expected the ball he saw Matheson. cleverly grabbed ball and all, drop like a stone. Hutchinson got moving again and shot in for the corner. Then all of a sudden he cleverly attempted to beat the defence by shooting a long pass infield, where half a dozen men waited to score. Unfortunately he threw the ball forward and play" was recalled after the ball had been forced. Grammar had mis-sed their chance, but continued to press, but School managed to keep them out until the final quarter. It was apparent that the possibility of a draw was not satisfactory to Grammar, who. up to this stage, had appeared cautious. Throwing caution to the winds, but keeping a watchful eve. the visitors began to chuck the ball about ami open up play in the hope of finding an opening. Their backs speeded up considerably inst before the close of the third quarter and showed flashes of brilliant combination and passing. ! 011 changing ends for the final Deriod School had to contend with the low sun in their faces which, had troubled Grammar in the previous sp-fil. The game became faster with School attacking, but they were confronted with a. solid defence which, at any moment, the Northerners seemed capable of turning to attack. After defending for a. time Grammar got into try-getting action. The backing up of one another was excellent, and running with great dash they made every tackier feel the weight of a runner. The visitors swept the field in a rush in which backs and forwards took part, seeming always to have two men to the defenders’ one. Crawford turned the rush by finding touch, and School kept them out for a while. Then, as -the result of one of the finest concerted passing movements ope could wish to watch came a brilliant try. From a scrum near half-way the ball flashed along the line to Hutchinson on the left wing. Blocked, he returned it infield where his inside backs and forwards swept down m a line towards the School goal line. For a moment the rush faltered, and then Watkin, the last of a-dozen to handle, foi* the try mid-wav between the flag and posts. Hutchinson failed at goal. Grammar 9 High' School g Even then Grammar by no means appeared safe. ■ Exciting" play followed, and enthusiasm ran high on the terraces a.s Crawford went racing for t-lio loft corner, where he was forced into touch at the flag. School threatened to score, but the defence was brilliant, every man getting bis opponent as the ball flashed out to School’s •wingers, who were well marked. In an instant the scene changed, play swooping to the opposite, end, where Minns and then Horslev were thrust out at the corner flag. " So fast and hard was the play that the referee gave a minute breather. The scrummages .of- both sides worked hard at 1.10 corner on School’s line, the players ugh ting for possession. School cleared to quarter-way, where Grammar hookers sent it back, but the wines got ahead of the ball. School worked up the hue into Grammar’s twenty-five and strove hard to find an opening, r 10111 the line-out the home backs atmcked, but Mackey overran and Hutchinson cut through, alone Petty tackled hts man beautifully and once again saved a- certain try. Both teams were showing the effects of a titanic struggle but School made one last despeuate bid to score, the hacks attacking in a fi„e run. Mackey mit possession and darted down the wiS lor the rignt corner to be cut down six feet short of the line just as the gong sounded time, the scores beinl • Grammar q High School 6 Mr. L. Goodacre was referee.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIP. to ß a e^ ing T>? tratford b -v 16 points West Fn? Ply , mou m t]l 011 Saturday, H est End won the Taranaki pi-imai-v tore wS a ?h P1 ° n?hip - At half -^ m e the seoie was thiee points each. HAWE^ A technical high SCHOOL TEAM Cr7 he i f ? 1I(win S is the Technical High School team to travel to Feildino- bv to-morrow morning’s mail train” F Owen C, Bailey, F. Ching, S. Yates' Alle ß n Sh p P ’ Rpk Phili P®> A/ Harris, C\ pi ’ Keegan G Surgenor p Coleman, V. Walshe, L. Walker T ? n C K » SkWterap. J. ch&m Ti>, Nicholas. C. Pilkinrrto;i’ The team will assemble the raiiwav toimwiH 1 ! 9 - 60 -! The aCtual P*avini am f epen , d 011 " e ather conditions and wdl be selected on the morning of the match The good wishes o? the Hawera, citizens will • go with th« bots who no doubt will worthily upS offkhTfiSd 0 ' thC tO ' V " toth »"

assocjation football. BENEFIT MATCH. (From Our Manaia Correspondent.) The benefit match between the Taranaki Peps. v. The Rest was played on -Saturday, and after a fnirlv evenly contested game ended in a draw, there being no score. Neither team was at full strength. The Rest had the sun in their eves in the first half, but had the most of the piny, and kept the representatives’ rearguard moving. The rep. forwards made one or two breakaways, but Budd in goal for the Rest was always there when wanted. 11. Pollard, the reps.’ Inside left, got away on his own, but was beaten by Budd when in the act of shooting for goal. In the second half the plav was very even, the ball travelling from end to end of the field. U. Freaklev, of the reps., had a long shot at goal, which Budd tipped over the uprights. The at ic-ndaiice was very poor, owing to the Rugby rep. match in Ilawera, but it is hoped that The tickets have sold well. Mr G. Mitchell was referee.