RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 29 June 1925, Page 3

RUGBY

AN EASY WIN. ALL BLACKS AT NEWCASTLE. BY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COVYRIGHT SYDNEY, June 28. After the l«x)se of many years a New Zealand Rugby Union team was again seen in action at Newcastle, when they playecl a-, New South .Wales fifteen which, contained several local stars. The- game was witnessed by 7000 enthusiasts, and resulted in a. win for the AIL Blacks by 20 points to 13. The general piny of the New Zealanders showed a decided improvement over their previous matches. They were quite up to New Zealand’s best standards. Doubtless the beautiful weather had much to do with thie, though the ground l was bumpy and rough in places, with slush in some parts. New Zealand, for the greater part, had the better of the game, hut they were at times sorely pressed. Thanks, however, to the fine play of Wise, Harris, Wright, Johnson and Blake in the hack division, and Walter, Finlayson, Knight. Dickson and Lomas in the vanguard, New Zealand managed to maintain their lead. Donald was not up to .his usual form. Matson replaced Elvy in, the New Zealand team. The teams lined out as follow: ,

New Zealand. —Full-back, Harris ; three-quarters, Matson, Blake, Wise; five-eighths, Corkhill, Johnson; halfback, 'Wright; wing forward, Donald; forwards, Lomas, Kirkpatrick. Walter, Righton. Finlayson, Dickson and Knight. New South Wales,— Full-back, Ross; three-quarters. Jamieson. Reid. Morrissey, Smith ; five-eighth. Anderson ; half-hack. Snell; forwards. Bryant, Brec-kenridge, Fox, Baber, Blackwood, Ei'hy, Palfrevmn.n and Windenfer. Towards the close of the second spell Donald received a kick on the leg and had to leave the field. He was replaced hv Thomas. Shortly afterwards Nothling took Smith’s place in the New South Wales- team. The first half was mainly in favour of the visitors, who gained the majority of the serums and line-outs. The hacks also combined in some movements. The New South W ales attack lacked finish. Play was mostly in their half, and their backs showed a marked disinclination to go down to the ball before the All Black forward rushes.

A pleasing feature of this spell was the absence of penalties against the All Blacks. Their play was scrupulously fair and offside proclivities, which was so prominent a. feature in earlier matches, were entirely absent. Walter was the best player on the ground. The score at half-time was 17 to 5 in favour of New Zealand.

The game in the second spell was more even, though marked by more illegalities on both sides than in the first half. New South Wales worked several good passing movements,by the forwards gaining the hall from the line-out and passing to their backs, hut Anderson proved the weak spot. The fnil-hacks. Harris and Ross, were again towers of strength to their respective sides. Their sure handling and excellent line-kicking several times extricated their sides from difficulties in the final stages. New South Wales, playing with great dash and determination, somewhat disorganised the New Zealand hacks’ cohesion. The game also became very willing. The most sensational try'of the day was one scored by Reid. Smith intercepted an All Black pass in: his own 25 and transferred to Reid, who ran 50 yards, closely pursued by Lomas, and scored under the posts. Tries for New Zealand were obtained by Knight (two). Walter, Blake, Wright and "Wise, of which one was converted hv Dickson. For New- South Wales Erby' and Reid scored tries, both being converted by Ross, while Morrissey kicked a goal' from a penalty.

BROWNLIE INCIDENT CLOSED. LONDON, June 27. At a meeting of the Rugby Union a report from New Zealand was read, expressing regret for the Brownlie incident in the match between New Zealand and England on January 3. The latter has been officially closed.

TARANAKI’S REPS. FOR WEDNESDAY'S MATCH. The selectors (Messrs J. McLeod. W . A. Guv ami C. Brown) have selected the folio-wing team to represent Taranaki against 'Wellington at Hawera on Wed nestlav. FuM-baek.—C. Paterson (Kaponga). : l'hree-C|Uarters' — Hart (Tukapa), Brown (Old Boys). Ennis (Tukapa). Five-eighths—Bruce (Star), Oliver (Tukapa). Half —Jeffries (Tukapa). llover—Fry day (Stratford). Front row —Robinson (Hawera) and Kivell (Stratford). Lock—R. Paterson (Hawera). Sides —West (Hawera), W ard Clifton). Back row—-Malone (Kaponga), Baldwin (Patea). Emergencies. Forwards: Johnson (Tukapa), Peppered (Eltham). Backs: Lynskey .(Kaponga), A. Guy (Kaponga), Con’.ton (St-ra tfn.rd). -and Petty (Tukapa). satgrday's resflts, L E AT> INO TE AMS VNOHA NC > E;T>. Conditions were not good on Satinday for the .series of matches in t-he second round of the championship. In spite of this .some good play w seen and spectators were oftimew roused to enthusiasm. . . Only two matches were played m each group', mud two were iimp-layed. Ka-, poima, unespec'etdlv went down to Star, while Gilliam drew with Opunake. Stratford ami, Kaponga have the same number ol points, but the latter hare played one nr,ore match. ■ Senior re.sults were as below : T-iikapa S v. CL ton (1. O'kaiawa 19 v. Hmvera 11. Star 8 v. Kaponga 0. Opunake 0 v. Eltham, 0. Pate a v. Inglewood (not played). Old Boys v. Stratford (not, played). The record of championship points .is a.s follows: p \v T, T> Pis Pis Cli for. ngst. pis. Group I. Tukapa 9 9 Okaiawa, 8 fi 2 7-1 19 1Clifton 8 -I 'I piate a- ... S 2 o 1 '2O 52 •> Hawera 8 2 6 Inglewood Group 11. Stratford 7 <> J Kaponga 8 9 2 — 1 99 -k> 1~ Opuna'ke. ...... 8 1 8 1 ‘H ; -'l •’ Sta.r 7 ' -I- 3 To 55 8 Eltham'”.'. 8 2 5 1 IS 71 5 Old Boyo 7 2 5 -Athletic ....... 7 1 6

A FORFEIT. Inglewood was to have played Paten, at Paten, but Inglewood forfeited. OKATAiWA (19) v. HATER A (11) Despite a strong northerly and sticky conditions underfoot these teams, old rivals, gave an exhilarating display of football? although one portion of the o-arne was rather drab and unintere.stfno-. Playing with the wind in the first spell, Hawera had most of the advantage, and play was generally in Okaiawa quarters, and several forcedowns resulted. From the outset Hawera forced the pace, and the hacks, opening up the game, gave a, very interesting display of running and pas.sino- which, considering the conditions, was very creditable. Several time* they got, right to the Okaiawa line, but' for a considerable time failed co cross. Then Okaiawa attacked as the outcome of a brilliant interception and dash by Phillips, and the yellows were defending strenuously lor a time. R. made a great effort, and following; up fast almost scored .a, try. Bub back came Hawera, Malcolm and Paterson in the lead, and Cameron securing made a brilliant run and had hard luck in net scoring. Paterson put in a good run, and sending on to Cameron, the veteran cut in. nicely and scored a capital try, • which he converted. Hawera 5, Okaiawa 0. Hawera mainfcaieef the pressure, and after several nice passing rushes, the ball was kicked across and Mahoney was awarded ai try. The kick failed. fraweni 8, .Okaiawa 0. At the opening of the second spell a penalty was given by Hawera, and Tuki with a. fine kick converted. Hawera 8; Okaiawa 3. Again Okaiawa, came down in great style, and a loose rush saw Rangi Phillips following up fast, ■secure the ball, and -score a good try. Tuki. converted, and scorns were level. Hawera 8, Okaiawa S. Again Okaiawa. swept down, in a brilliant loose rush, and for a penalty against Hawera Tuki a-min: converted wi-ijli a fine kick. Okaiawa 11. Hawera. 8. For a time . play was very scrappy, and then both team--: made it open and fast. Okai■wa went d-own field: once more, and the hail coining out went through the hands' of all. the backs to Phi Hips, who at the right moment passed infield to Cameron, who dashed across to score the best try of the match. Tuki was again successful. Okaiawa IG, Hawera S. The visitors were giving Hawera a very ,anxious time, and Cameron making'- a good opening sent the ball to Rum, who. after a good run, just grounded the ball as he was collared, scoring a, good try. Ike just failed to convert it. Okaiawa, 19, .Hawera S. Then Hawera .took a hand, and after a. fine inn by West the ball wont out to Bhoro. who got clean away and scored a great try." The kick failed, and immediately the whistle blew, leaving the scores: Hawera 11, Okaiawa 19. Mr. H. A. Stratford was referee.

KILT!JAM. (0) v. OPUNAKE (ft)

The Eltham-Opunake match was played ,on a rain-sodden field, and after an hour and ten minute-s of scrambling in the mud the game ended in a draw, neither side registering any points. Naturally the conditions did not allow o.f any brilliant exhibition of Rugby, but nevertheless there were some exciting moment** when both, sides frequently carried tigilut play on to their opponents’ goal-line. The teams were evenly matched, Opunake, with the wind in their favour, attacking strongly in the first half, and Elthiam exactly reversing, the position in the -second spell. lit both teams juniors' filled tho positions of absentees, Opunake having enlisted the servoes of no less than six of their second grade fifteen. There was no outstanding incident in the play until about ten minutes after the commencement Opunake carried the hall, into' El-tham.’s twenty-five -by a series of dribbling rushes. -Mclvor marked in a handy position, bub the hall was sent underneath the bar. Mclvor. G. Hohaia, Gordon and H. Mason, were prominent in attacking movements by the visiting backs, while the Opunake pack, am onset which Q’R.orke, Lusk and Brooker showed to advantage, maintained a- fairly steady pressure on Fatli,run’s goal-line. Harris and R. Pen mall wore responsible for some good clearing kicks. However, despite th® fact that Opunake, attacked consistently in the first spell they by no meauh had it all their own way. Tiplady and R. I’enniall led dribbling rushes to the visitors,’ goal-line, the movements resulting in a; force.

At the commencement of play in the second .spell El t ham attacked, and Opunake forced. The pleasure was maintained and Cuff, an Eltham wing three-qururfer, almost got through close to the goal. A five yards scrum saw Opunake get the ball and force. H. Mmson, Mclvor and C. Hohaia, in a passing rush, carried play into, Eltham.\s territory. The home team, was penalised on their twenty-five line, hut F. Hohaia’,s kick was futile,. Fast following up, and the inability of F. Hohaia to handle a, slippery ball, saw Eltham .again carry play close to Opu-imke-’x- goal-line, but, repeated attacks failed in their objective. Opunake forced m couple of times, but when the whistle blew there was no -score.

Mr. R.. R. St. George was referee

STAR- (3) V. K A BONGO (0). By an unconverted try to nil, Star, on their opponents’ ground, achieved a surprise victory over Kaponga, who were popularly regarded as a much stronger combination. Weather conditions were the worst experienced this season. Rain fell continuously, the consequent .sodden ground and greasy ball militating against a good display, and the game was mainly an uninteresting mud scramble. Helped by a stiff breeze blowing straight down tho lic'd, Star held the advantage during the first spell. In the second, though the wind dropped, the home side maintained constant Attacks, but were met with .stubborn opposition, the outstanding feature of which was the display given by Jenkins, the- ‘Star fullback, his sure defence being the main factor in keeping Kaponga from penetinting. The uniform of both teams being black, Star donned amber and black.

Opening p'ay gave a -series of midfield Jine-onts, and scrimmages following) which the Star backs kept the ball in the air and penned Kaponga in theii own twentv-fivo. Repeated kicks, aided hv the wind, .sent the hall across, the goal line, but G. Paterson, Kaponga’s full-back, was always in position, and was not seriously threatened unti' Stroud, heading a forward rush, had to cede the former a touch down by a nnri'ow margin. With this kiek-ont the black forwards went to the assault. Milling play right on Star’s line • resulted in Kaponga being penalised, the kick changing the venue, and the visitor's 'again pressed until from a live yards serum, P. Haminersley cleared, and led a scrambling counter, which compelled Lewis to find touch close to the yellow’s line. Julian sent a long punt to the other half, and ensuring play saw a procession of forces by Ka-

ponga as the wind took the hall across. Eventually in front of the goal B,nu‘p set Star’s backs •moving, but a, pass a'ong the ground to Lewis sent the ball out two yards from the corner. Malone up the resultant attack, after which he relieved with a penalty. Attempts by the home pack to start invasions were by Bruce and Jenkins, whose punts called for sure handling by Lynskey, Guy and C. Paterson, an exciting incident taking place when Hoffman, kicking across, was just beaten after a race with C. Paterson. Clearing kicks by the >Kaponga backs were reepatedly sent hack oy the wind, but a likely counter came when from a scrum Lynskey .sent J. Paterson and McCarty away. .The latter’s centre kick /in good position was. however, snapped up by Carey, and Ivaponga were defending again. Freni scrums near Kaponga’s line, Stroud and Cole made determined bids, but on. each occasion too many hands claimed the ball. Then Jenkins fried a pot, which went just outside the post, and a minute later Bruce failed by a bare margin to convert a penalty. Just on ha'f-time Thoumine headed a dribble from Kaponga’s to Star’s twenty-live, where from a linecut Lynskey se ll l Guy in towards the goal, hut Jenkins smothered the pass, and the ensuing melee gave a penalty, with which Bruce relieved. On resuming,. .Kapogna launched .an early attack, when Jd'hounfine broke away with the ball at his feet. McCook , blocked Bruce’s return, and P. Hammersley made a dash to touch down in the corner, but Jenkins claimed a force. Kicks by Bruce and Kendall allowed Star to assume the aggressive till Malone made a- fine run,, traversing three parts of the field, the assault in front of the goal being checked by a penalty. Close to Star’s line, McCook made two- successive- bids, which were defeated by Hoffman’s and. Jenkins’ forces. Then Malone, following ;i kick hy C. Paterson, was blocked in front of the goal by Carey and Jenkins. hut '.sent the- ball across via J.ynskey and Guy to McCarthy, who was thrown out in the corner. Here Cole started a counter and Julian’s kick was followed hy the yellow forwards 1 ill G. Paterson checked. ' Bruce, howeverfpund touch a few yards from Kaponga’s line. The throw-in gave placeto a scrum, and the hall came to 11. Wn’fo, who made ail opening, and Carey, drawing the defence, sent Lewis across half-way between the goal and touch for the only try of the game. The kick failed. .Kaponga replied with a series of relentless assaults, forwards and backs combining in determined piav, which saw many brilliant clearances by Jenkins, but though remaining play showed in the home team’s favour, the defence proved impenetrable, and for the ' second time this season Kaponga’s colours were lowered on their own ground, Mr Johnson was,referee.