TUG-O’-WAR CONTEST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 November 1924, Page 6

TUG-O’-WAR CONTEST.

MANAIA TOURNEY

TIRIMOANA LEADING

The tug-o’-war tournament organised in support of the sports candidate contesting the Manaia Queen Carnival commenced in the Manaia Town Hall last evening, when some exciting encounters, arousing the audience to a keen pitch of enthusiasm, were witnessed. The boards, which were mounted on trestles placed across the stage, afforded ail in attendance the most favourable opportunity of viewing the pulls in their various stages. In order to ayoj.d the likelihood existing under the knock-out competition system of some of the stronger teams being disposed of during the early stages the management have arranged for all te.ams to meet once in a four-minutes’ pull, allowing two points for a win and one for a draw. Six teams nominated, their positions at the conclusion of the nine issues decided last evening being: Tirimoana 6 points, Kaponga 4, Riverdale 4, Maoris 2, Taungatara 2, and Kaupokonui 0. Prior. to the last pull the chairman, Mr E. Burke, expressed appreciation of the public support accorded and the help given by all who had contributed to the evening’s entertainment, and announced that the conclusion of the tournament would be staged to-morrow (Friday) evening. As hon. secretary Mr AV. J. Badley. capably supervised the committee’s arrangements, and Messrs J. Russell and J. McCarty officiated as judge and timekeeper respectively. Appreciated items of song which added to the evening’s attractions were rendered by Messrs B. Badland (“Drake’s Drum” and “Bachelor Gay”), G. P. Cottrell (“Asleep in the Deep” and “Shipmates o’ Mine”), and T. Coleman (“Irish Mother o’ Mine” and “Little Mother”), while two recitations in humorous vein (“One and a Penny a Day” and “Peter’’), interpreted by Mr J. Forrester, also proved very popular. A dainty supper was provided by the ladies’ committee, supervised by Mrs E. Vine. The teams in the order of their appearance were: Maoris —J. Adamson (skip), J. Minhinnick, W. Opai, S. Rei, E. Edwards and Ruru Sam. Ka/upokonui—J. W. McKain (skip), B. Morgan, D. Reardon, H. Stott, J. Reardon and D. Grey. Riverdale—F. AVillcocks (skip), H. Cochrane, M. Malone, W. Martin, W. McCook and O. Hunt. Taungatara—G. B. Bruce (skip), H. Hooker, R. Maindonald. B. Coupe. F. Maindonald and H, Gilshnan.

Tirimoana—AV. Davis (skip), H. Jordon, L. S. Pepperell, R. Phillips, 0. Gernhoefer and L. Peppered. Kaponga—B. Joyce (skip), J. Malone, F. Zimmerman, A. Mills, A. Zimmerman and C. Matthews. In the opening pull the Maori team proved too strong for the lighter Kaupokonui side, who, though they gave a determined display. ..had to cede vietory by two inches when full time sounded.

Riverdale beat Taungatara after' a good bout, in which the former were slightly superior ad through. Gaining half an inch with the first /strain, Riverdale held steadily, aiul had a. Hear inch ;ut the call of two minutes. With .10 seconds to go .’Taungatara made their serious effort, but could not recover, and full, time found tlie ribbon TV inches in Hive idale’s favour. The bout between Tirimoana and Kaponga, which the fanner won outright in 70 /seconds, afforded the sen--sation of the evening. As their rO-

C'eufc contest af Kaponga. Lad proved, so even, the Kgponga jive were ex-' pouted to iully extend the unbeaten I team, but the latter were evidently' taking no chances. The losers held a half ioah advantage after, a. sixty seconds’ strain when, seizing;'-a favourable opportunity as a Kaponga man essayed to alter Ills position, Davis gave his team the signal, in response to which Tirimoana with a magnificent effort set the rope travelling. Caught unawares, Kaponga. were unable to stem the movement, and within 10 seconds Tirimoana had secured the 18-inch advantage required to terminate the pull. Riverdale beat Kaupokonui, the former securing 4 inches at the outset and winning by the eighteen inches margin within 45 seconds. Tirimoana defeated Maoris, who were unable to maintain the tremendous strain when the real tussle commenced, and the bout finished in 63 seconds. ■ Kaponga defeated Taungatara in the most even contest of the evening. Breaking even, both teams hung tenaciously and the ribbon remained almost stationary, until after two minutes it showed an inch in Kanouga’s favour. At thyee minutes. Taurgats va had brought it to dead centre, but were half an. inch down as fall time sounded. Tirimoana beat Riverdale in an interesting bout which extended both teams. Prom an even- start Diverdale had made three inches after 90 seconds’ pulling, but at two minutes Tirimoana recovered, and during a ■ fierce minute and a half gained four inches, which had been increased to nine with 15 seconds to go. righting gamely, Riverdale decreased the lead, but full time found them five inches down. In the ' concluding pull‘of ihe evening Kaponga heat Maoris by a sixinch margin after a full rime bout in which the latter were unable to recover the inch obtained by Kaponga in the first 30 seconds. Taungatara won by default from Kaupokonui, the letter’s .defection being due to a sprained hand sustained by one of the team in their previous bout.