RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 May 1925, Page 10

RUGBY

THE ALL BLACKS. i TEAM FOR NEW -SOUTH WALES. ONE TARANAKI MAN. MEMBERS OF 1924 SIDE NOT " * CONSIDERED. WELLINGTON, May 17. The New Zealand Rugby team w> tour New South Wades ha& been fleeted- aft follow**: Fnil-hack —Harris (Cianterb my) . Three-quarters 7 —Eivev (Canteioury), J. Blithe (Hawke’s Bay), Wise (Otago), Law (Manawatu). Five-eights—YViatso-n ( A uck iimcl), Bell (Southland), 1.. Johnson (Wellington), G. Lawson (South Canterbury). Half-backs—-' Wright (Auckland), CorRill (Hawke’s Bay). . Wing for wan I —J. Donald (Wmraraipn). H.fiokors —-Lorn as (A .11 c*k Ia i u 1). *' pa trick (Hawke’s Bay). McCormack (Canterbury). Lock—Righton (Auckland). Side Bow —MnNib (Hawke’s Bay), Knight (Auckland), "Walter (Taranakf). Dickson (Otago). ,Tsaok Roav —«Ai t-Inn- (RouHilanm. ImnIn vs on (North Auckland). A. Thomas (Wellington). Ninety nominations were received, evcluisiva o* All Blacks who. toured England, who. were not considered. [ln the team as telegraphed, the word “captain” appears between the names of Corkhill and Donald. Tt seems much more likely that the Wairarapa player has been appointed skipper than that the honour has been given to a new international. Donald’si fierv top has been prominent beside former AH Black scrums, and his position as wing-forward is not an unusual one for captain. Corkhill is building up a great remitation, but it is most unlikely that the New Zealand selectors would appoint him captain on his first introduction to international football.]

MATCHES IN TARANAKI. RESULTS AT A GLANCE,. ' SENIOR (GROUP 1). Opunake 12 v. Old Boys 10 Kaponga, 14 v. Stratford 3 Star 8 v. Eltham 5. GROUP 11. Tukapa 15 v. Patea 0. OPUNAKE AND TUKAPA LEADING

The results of the matches on Saturday were awaited with keen anticipation, because two of the teams had been unbeaten to date, and enthusiasts were anxious to see how they would fare. ’ Opunake had done so well that their chances against Old Boys, even with the latter’s fine backs, were favoured. Tukapa have also shown great form, but it was expected that Patea would give them a good run. As a fact the reverse was the ease, /and the former had a comfortable win. Kaponga were tinped to put up a great contest against Stratford, but it was not anticipated that they would have such a margin. Actually the match was much closer than the scores would indicate. Opunake and Tukapa are now in the lead in their respective groups. I The points are as below: GROUP I. Pts. Pts. Ch. P. W. L. for. agst. pts. Opunake ... 3 3 0 31 22 6 Kaponga ... 3 2 1 38 19 4 Athletic ... 2 1 1 .25 21 2 Old Boys ... 3 1 2 33 31 2 Stratford ... 2 1 1 15 23 2 star 2 1 1 14 20 2 Eltham ..... 3 0 y 3 11 31 0 1 GROUP 11. Pts. Pts. Ch. P. YV. L. for. agst. pts. Tukapa ... 3 3 0 42 6 6 Patea ... 3 2 1 14 18 4 Okaiawa ... 2 1 1 12 14 2 Clifton ... 2 1 1 11 11 2 Hawera ... 2 0 2 3 22 0 Inglewood 2 0 2 6 1/ 0

OPUNAKE (12) v. OLD BOYS (10)

Played at Opunake in fine weather, eight minutes after the kick-off Old Boys set - up a nice back attack, resulting in Brown scoring and goaling. For some minutes Opunake were again on the defensive, but their forwards then asserted themselves, and from a dribbling rush Snow picked up and scored. The kick failed. Later on IV. Hohaia made a phenomenal run from his own 25, and scored a brilliant try. The kick at goal failed. ’The game became very fast,•Opunake forwards playing a specially fine game against a superior back combination. From open play Morey and Meuli put up a nice attack, and the latter scored for Old Boys. Brown kicked an exceptionally fine goal. In the last quarter of an hour Opunake attacked strenuously, and from a scrum on the line Mason got across and scored. The kick failed. The soell ended: Old Bovs 10. Opunake 9.

The second spell opened with fast, clean play, the Opunake hacks. Mason, Bonnington and Hohaia brothers fielding and taking the ball better than at any previous part of the game. Old Boys were making every effort to make the game open, but the green backs collared remarkably well. The next score was made by Opunake from a line-out in, the whites’ 25. The ball was sent out to O’RorJve. who scored, in a good position. No goal resulted. The same fast, open play continued, the.white backs showing superior combination and the green forwards a little better in the loose and line-out. In the last 10 minutes onunake had Old Boys hard on the defensive, but a break away by the white backs resulted in Opunake being forced back to their own line. Opunake cleared well, and the match, which was the best display of the season in Opunake, ended without further score. Opunake 12. Old Boys TO. Mr j. Kilev was ’ referee.

v K A PONG A (14) v. STR ATFORD (3)

FINE FORWARD CONTEST

In an interesting content at Kaponga, the home fifteen defeated Saratford by 14 points (three tries, one converted, and a penalty goal) to 3 fa penalty goal). The game was remarkable for the diaisili displayed by both packs of forwards, as the result of which neither set of back's was permitted to develop the usual mode of attack in their respective departments, and play showed as a sterling forward

battle which, in iswifb attacks and counters, traversed the field rapidly from end to end and left honours more evenly divided than the scores indicate. While, however, the Stratford forwards were notable in many startling solo efforts and occasionally in attempts at short hand passing hoivtis, the home pack maintained, combination more consistently and endeavoured to keep the ball at their feet.. The latter’s victory may be ascribed to their adherence to that recognised code, together with the sure defence of their rear • division. Had the visiting vanguard maintained similar tactics throughout, they would have allowed the defence fewer ohaineefe of checking their assaults, air.t such would probably have been clowned wiuh (-access on more than one occasion. In the opening .stages, J. Walter id Stratford into borne territory, where a succession of line-outs took place. Eventually G. Paterson cleared with a long punt and Whalen iollowed last, but" Allen, the Stratford full-back, effected a. heady save. From a scrum in Stratford's twenty-five. Fspiu broke away at the head of the home pack. Malone and 'Thnomine in • ><> reach, their/ objective, but a defenuer claimed a force. After the drop out,. Lyuslcey put Kaponga' in good position and McCook appeared to score, though disputed possession as ne touched down resulted in a live yards’ scrum. A- further scrum followed immediately, and the black pack broke quickly, allowing, the hooker Kspin to tla>*h over and ha nd to Ala lone, who opened Kaponga’s score with a try five vards from the corner. C. Paterson's kick Jell in front of the bar. Stratford ' retaliated with a rapid counter. G. Paterson, the home full back, being twice called upon to relieve awkward positions. An infringement bv a. home player in his own"" twenty-five gave J. Sangster an opportunity, his kick narrowly failing. From an ensuing line-out J. Walter went over the home line only to be beaten bv Guy, who toicecl smartly. A fine dribble bv J. Paterson from midfield opened Kaponga’s next invasion. Dow sett checked temporarily, but was overwhelmed by the. rapidly advancing pack, and Ernie Scptt with Thoumine pierced the defence, the latter securing Kaponga’s second try. 0. Paterson’s attempt to convert failed. Fast exchanges followed in which Dowsett was noted in* consistently stemming Kaponga’s forward rushes, and Stratford kept play in the home end until a. powerful punt by Malone gave a line-out near the red’s defending line. Kivell sent the invaders hack, but in. following play Lynskey raced up to field cleverly, ana skied a punt which allowed Malone to make a. dash which was checked when within two yards of the goal line by J. Sangster. who found touch. From the throw in, J. Walter made a sensational break away, travelling threeparts of the field length, but was overtaken by the speedy Whalen Then a half-way line-out. gave possession to McCook, who made >a powerful charge, leaving a string of attempting tacklers in his wake until /brought low by three of them. The same player led a dribbling rush after the scrum. .Dowsett checked gamely, but was penal--1 ised for lying on the hall, and a well judged plate kick by O. Paterson sent ' the ball between the uprights, making the score at half-time, which 1 sounded a few moments later, Kaponga ; 9, Stratford nil. ' Stratford commenced the second spell with two rapid onslaughts 1 initiated in succession by Jans on the I left wing, and Ooulton on the right. ' The defence was severely tested for ’ several minutes, but proved sound, 1 and Guy transferred action to mid--1 field, where Ekpin started the home pack in a determined onslaught. Close to the goal McCook accepted a. 1 bound and passed to Martin who, however, held too long and Dowsett cleared. Dashes by J. Walter, Fryday and Kivell threatened the Kaponga citadel and, defending desperately, a home player was penalised , right on the goal line. J. Snagster’s 1 attempt failed to reach the goal, but a ; moment later he converted another ; penalty with a. fine kick taken from ; ben yards inside half-way, and. the ■ scores read Kaponga. 9, Stratford 5. ' En-suing , play entailed anxious moments for Stratford, wlm showed- in a sturdy defence, and eventually oh- , taiued relief with a-penalty, following , which G. Pinter,soft .was. called on to i cover fumbling by his- middle backs , and effect a- spectacular «ave Sun- ! porting Kaponga’s next- aback C ! Paterson, Lynskey, Hammers ley and I Guy handled smartly, the last-named I being grassed by Allen when a few yards from the goal. A scrum was ordered, and with .the ball in their possession the home players had a good opportunity, but once again the effort was (Spoiled by a man offside. Playing against time, Stratford essayed a series of attacks which kept play in the lwme end. A. great run rbv J. Walter from, half-way ended five yards from the scoring line when Whalen tackled him low, and after the wnirn G. Paterson was compelled to force. Again Walter fought his way 1 into ;i good position only to- find G. Paterson Waiting,' following which Cmilton was thrown ■ across the corner flag by C. Paterson, and from fir.' line-out Kajxfnga were again forced. Another force rawed the- home side when Hinton a.nd Kivell went ove r . The reds’ final effort was stemmed when Malone’s punt sent- play to Stratford’s end. Here G Paterson raced up to field a ball. Following Ins own kick, which , was fielded by Allen right in front of the goal. G. Patereon smothered the return and kicked across by the post, where J. Paterson clashed in for blu final points, and full time sounded \V-ith the (scores- Kaponga 14, Stratford 3. Mr. A. F. Nielson was referee,

rUK.VPA (15) V. PATEA (0)

The game between the above teams was played at Werteni Park (New Plymouth) and resulted in a win bv the substantial margin of 15 points to nil for the home side. The score was made urp of four tries and a penalty goal. In the cady istages the honours were even. The visiting, forwards were quite a match for then opponents, and it was some time before the home backs gob .rto their stride and began, to develop the concerted movements which later succeeded in penetrating the defence of the Pa,tea team. The latter wetc unfortunate in losing the services of Hurley and Thompson through injuries in the-second half. Frank McKenna, came into the game- when Hurley went pff, and li.is appearance seemed to effect better combination among the blue hacks. They were, however, no match, for tleii opponents. who gave a nice display of sparkling football. There were times, however, when passes were poorly given and taken, the principal weaknesses in this department being Jeffries,, Sitohr and Hooker The latter made amends towards the end of the game by putting the finishing touches on two nippy movements by the home team’s gear division. Thornp-

son wass called upon to do a lot of work - in the full-back position for Patea-, and ho responded splendidly. His taking of the ball was very clean and he kicked well, while liis splendid tackling repeatedly checked the attacks of the Tukapa- backs _ when a score appeared imminent. The weakness in the visitors’ rear division seemed to be the centre three-quarters (Wills). The wingers showed, pace at times, but they were for. the most part starved. Fred McKenna played a hard game as rover, and several times dribbled well jtp the field, but be was not well supported. - Baldwin. Fitty-gibbon and Hunt were also conspicuous in the vanguard. Among the local forwards Taylor was always on the ball, and while the whole park wor-kef hard, it. Oliver. Johnston and H'aiimnerslev weie’-iu the limelight. When Tukapa gut the measure of their opponents they seemed to anticipate the direction of ptav hotter than the visitors The fin-t try came Loin a loose msh t" the line, anc Taylor heat the opposition for the touch down. The other three tries all came from movements initiated among the backs. Ennis made a number of fine openings for his scoring men. but) good tackling by die opposition repeatedly frustrated attractive and promising movements. I.ovei'idgo -scored once and Hooker Twice, while H. Oliver kicked a. fine goal from a, penalty as a. ,somewhat wide angle. The. .game throughout was a good one, a.nd though, the visitors were for the greater part on the defensive it should be said to their credit that bnit< for sterling work in this department of the .game the score would have been greater. Mr. L. Good acre was referee

STAR (8) \\ ELTHAM (5)

A DULL MATCH

Star defeated Eltham at Eltham on Saturday bv eight nnints to- five. The game cannot be called a sparkling exposition of Rugby, but it was keenly contested from beginning to end. Nor could one say that the play was of a high standard, but at the same time it was not lacking in individual cleverness. The Star backs were in themse’ves undoubtedly smart and on the alert to snap up opportunities, but combined movements were rare, not, however,, as rare as m the Eltham rear division. Their passing rushes were move or less hopeless, the ball seldom passing beyond the centre- three-quar-ter, and rarelv reaching the wings. Both packs of forwards played sound, strenuous games, but the Star pack, although somewhat lighter than their opponents, were more schoo'ed in scrum work and line-outs, and knew exactly what to do with the ball in dribbling rushes. The number of times that the Eltham naek took the ball to their opponents’ line cand then through bad judgment kicked it over and enabled Star to force down were too numerous to do otherwise than suggest that they knew litt’e of the art of dribbling. A peculiarity about the game was the rapid manner in which play changed from one twenty-five to the other. One moment Eltham were in imminent danger and the nOxt they were battling to score in the Star territory. Had anything come of these alternate assaults, the match must nave proved highly interesting, but as it was the scoring did not commence until the second half. . • Eltham kicked off, and carried play into the Star 25. They were just as quickly driven back on the defensive, and were ven some anxious moments in repelling a Star back-line attack. Hoffman received the ball after it had passed thiough the hands of the Star backs and made a fine bid to score. He lacked once and was tackled by Eltham’s full-back. Cooper, who was playing a good game. Hoffman later was given other opportunities, and although he accepted them with a will, his lack of pace deprived him of the chance to score. Clark was praying a steiling game in the Star pack, hut his efforts were not exceptional, as both packs never let up for a moment. Alter Hoffman’s attempt to score Star were driven back to their 25, and so the pendulum swung one moment in favour of the Blacks and the next in favour of Eltham. Jenkins’ plav at full-back was almost fan tless. lie brought Star through many ugly situations with his usual cleverness, and his kicking was alwavs sure. In the ofay of the first half there were no movements ol interest, and there- were no scores. Each side had its trials of defence and both their hopes of scoring. The opening ten minutes of the second half were but n repetition of the ragged olav of tiie first spe’l. At length the Star forwards, after a senes of scrummages and dribbling rushes, worked their way into the Eltham 25. A line-out gave Cole an opportunity 7 to secure the hall. lie broke through, and supported by the rest of the pack, took the ball to the line where he transferred to C arlc, who found little difficulty in scoring. Bruce added the extra two points. Star 5. Eltham 0. Excitement subsided, and the old order of putv returned. Not for long, however, for Wolfe, who had been playing a moderately good game, suddenly oecaine brilliant. vie was given possess.on oi the ba l near hall-way. in the ordinary course of- events lie would uave ran up to Ins man and passed. Nor this time, however. He was quieklv off the mark, and in a flash uad cleaved his wav through the erstwhile sound defence ol the Lithane bucks. The score was not converted. Star 8. Eltham 'O. 't his seemed to rouse Eltham to greater action, lor the forwards made a fos nndable attack and drove Star into cheir last area of defence. Tiplad’y. t wing forward, had been placing magnificent y, arm at last, as the .result of an opening made by Coleman near the line, Tipladv was given the opportunity to register LLtham’s on v .-core. The kick failed, -.1a,. 8. Eltham 3. There were now not more than ten minutes’ play 7 to go. i'he spectators’ excitement was given vent to vociferously, nut they might just as wol- have reserved their feel--11 s, lor. although Star had to • lav hard up to the last minute, the..' a ere given no serious occasion to lent defeat. y|r S. Julian releroed.

FJRST JUNIORS Northern Division. Trend B v. Star B 5. Titkapa, 7 v. Lepperton 3.’ Clifton a- bye. We stern Division. Slar A 19 v. Rahctu 3. (V IR- v'-s 9v. Ok a,to 3. High School a, bye. Southern Division. No matches were -played. SECOND JI’NIORS. - Old Bovs 23 v. OKatO' 3. Il'ich School 40 v. Urciiui 0. Clifton 19 v. Star 0. Tukapa. a bye. No matches were played in southern competition. THIRD JUNIORS. Old Boys 11 v. School B 3. Star 24 v. High School A 1-!. (,’4 if ton 6 v. Tukapa 6. Technical Coilleoc a bye. No matches were played in southern competition.