RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 July 1925, Page 6

RUGBY.

CANTERBURY’S REP. TEAM. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. The following will represent Canterbury against Southland on August 1: Harris, Robilliaid, Oliver, Elvy, McGregor, Hav, Dailey, McCormack, Clark, Masters, N. AYaghorn, B. Waghorn. Jeffries, Dennehy, Scrimshaw. NORTH v. SOUTH. MATCH POSTPONED FOR A WEEK. As the only available ground in Stratford was finder water this morning the Taranaki Rugby Union decided to postpone until next Thursday the repre. sentative trial game, North Taranaki v. South Taranaki. TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. Athletic. Seniors.—Simpson, Thomas, Plank, Nicholas, Hunter. Lay, Owen, Grant, Hall, Hunt (2), Greig, Herbert, Ballantvne; emergencies, Knox, McCaskill (backs), Lawn. Forbes (forwards). ’Bus leaves Post Office at 1 p.m. sharp. Okaiawa. Seniors.—Tuki, Crawford, R. Roberts. J. Purvis, Griffin, Cameron,. Atkins, Clarke, Peta, Ike, Parslow, Lmn, Rangi, Birchall, McKay, J. Johnstone. SATURDAY’S FIXTURES. Junior grade fixtures and referees for Saturday, July 25, are as follow : Opunake v." Patea, at Opunake, at 1.15 p.m.. Mr. P. FI. Holmes; AYaimate v. Okaiawa, at Okaiawa, 1.15 p.m., Mr. G. Hurlev; Public Works v. Eltham, at Mauaia, 2.45 p.m., Mr. AV. Budley; Kaponga v. Hawera, at Haw-era, 2.45' p.m., Mr R. St. George ; Athletic a bye. ThirtT grade: No matches, Patea having withdrawn, leaving only Eltham and Hawera in the competition. Fourth grade : AVaimatc. v. Tech. B, at Haw-era, Air I/. B. Clapliam; Tech. A v. Okaiawa,’at Normanby, Mr. B. Hurley.

AH D-AV.FJEK RUGBY. YESTERDAY' ’;S FIXED RES. FBIASER ROiAD LEADING. The weather was very unkind to the mid-week players for their fixtures yesterday, and aIL matches were played in continuous rain on a heavy ground with, a greasy ball. AATiareroa, after a great struggle, drew with Ohangai, one of the leaders, while Eraser Ro'ad beat City B by five to nil and City A ibeafc Normanby by 3 to nil.. Thi** mean,si that Fraser Road is one point ahead of Ohaiigai and City A,. It is understood that two protests' have yet to be decided, ho tb,at the position is still full of interest. OHANGAI (3) v. AVHARFROA (3). AA’liai'eroa kicked olf and made a strong attack on Iho opposing goal. From a loose scramble It.. Murphy secured, and after a fine dashing run lie got over near the posts. ' The. kick failed. Whareroa 3, Olmngai 0. Ohaiigai retaliated, and for a long time they bad Whiareroa penned on their line, but just failed to get across. At length after a storm struggle they kicked high and 8. Tidisiwell, following up fast, .secured and, touched down. The kick failed. Ohaiigai maintained the attack, anil until half-time were almost continuously on the opposing line. At the opening of the second spell AYliareroa set up a hot attack, JO. and G. Murphy being responsible for a number of dashing ruins which menaced Ohangai’s line on several occasions. Gate also put in a fine run and kicked a bit xoo bard and a good opening wars lost. Blacks cleared and set up an attack, but Whareroa defence was good. Them avvla.y went Haigh with ball at toe, and the ball conning out to E. Murphy that player tried a pot which nearly succeeded. Blacks again attacked, Milne being responsible for a fine piece of loose work, biifc Jacks sent them back, and Fllaigh following u/p had the line in danger. Jerry and Kahn were showing lino defence, and play went up and down fie Icl in fast loose rushes-. Wards pub in a great run and was only pushed opit well inside the twentyfive. Again blacks -attacked, Hunt leladiiig a forward rush,’ and was well backed up by Hogan. Blues returned to the attack ami was in a good position when qff-isiide play spoilt a promising movement. Shortly after Ohangai were obliged to force, and the ball going to .touch just after, no side was called, leaving the scores even : Ohangai 3, Whareroa- 3.

CITY A 3 v. NORMANBY 0. The town team went out short and played with only twelve men. After a keen 'struggle, in which the hacks handled remarkably well and went near scoring on several occasions, City A won by three points to nil. Loader converted a penalty, and this was the only score. FRASER ROAD 5 v. CITY B 0. There was no score until right on call of time in the match between Fraser Road and City B. Harrison, Hart and Foster for City B all played well and each went near scoring, hut the opposing defence was too sound. .Inst, as no side'was called Howe went across City’s line and was awarded a try. Taniwha converted. Mr Munro was referee. The match between Manaia and Tokaora was not played. .STUATFOHI) V. OP I N ARE. Though in the early part of the Stratfoid-Opunakc game, which resulted in the former's favour by 9 to 5, the winners showed superior form, llpciiiakc, alter the first half-hour, when a margin of (i points had been compiled against them, made a marked improvement, and thereafter the eontest proved one of the most exciting which have' been witnessed on the Stratford ground this season. Particularly wa s this so during the closing stages, w hen the coast forwards showed in stinging attacks which surprised their own and supporters of the home side alike, and though not successful in swaying the score balance in their favour. they gave the group leaders an exceedingly close call. Of the winning pack J. Walter and Kivell were undoubted'v the pick, the former in the first half of the game figuring in a series of brilliant mtoves which afforded spectators an idea of the form which earned him distinction in the recent All Black Australian tour. Kivell. while he occasionally flashed into the picture in simian tactics,, was a consistent battler in tight pipy. Bond may he fairly classed as next in order of merit. Distinction among the remainder was* difficult, all giving good support to their leaders. A notable feature of the. pack as a whole was their combination in dribbling rushes

and their consistency in keeping the ball at their feet, thus rendering the task of cheeking them more difficult, Fryday, the rover, was below his usual form, and did not show to advantage. As am attacking combination, the backs were not up to the standard set by their vanguard, though during the latter part of the contest they maintained a doughty defence. Though none were outstanding, Dossett, on the left wing, and the two Sangsters, infield , were to be credited with much useful work. Dossett in especial was noted in retrieving many difficult situations. Coulton, on the right wing, was well marked by Evans, and did not get many chances a s a scoring unit, though occasionally he showed abi'ity to turn defence into attack in startling fashion. Jin. the Opunake vanguard the honours rested with O’Horke. and J. Lusk, though in their usual style the whole were fast and toiled with determination. But for the two stars in the home pack they were superior to their opponents and maintained the gruelling pace right to the cal', of time in a manner reflecting credit on their physical condition. They were particu.arly pleasing by reason of their comparatively few infringements of the off-side rule. Trotter, the lock, seemed to give good support to tlie hookers. Sforgate and O’Brien, who secured a. majority of the scrum halls when a tally was taken at one period. O’Brien was conspicuous hi rapid following up. for which Bowman should a.'.xo be mentioned. The rover. Brookcr —a consistent player this season —gave one ol hie best displays. He was a constant menace' to the opposing middle hacks, niid was able when required to field well and combine with his own rearguard. \Y. Holiaia. the centre three-quarter, shone amongst the hacks, and was tho most notable among both teams. _lt was unfortunate that the disposition of his team did not permit him to take one of the wings, for he combined sure fielding and tackling with pace, which would have been more effective in the latter position. His conversion of his side’s only try, scored three vardc- in from touch, was a brilliant kick. H. Mason, behind the scrum, was mi against a stiff proposition in checking the dashes of the Stratford pack, but evinced his characteristic pluck. While fair individually, his supports lacked the snap in combined movements required to develop the quick passing and reverse bouts of which thev should be capable. At full-back Bennington played with distinction, and must be ranked, as one of the best exponents of tlie position in the province this season.

SCHOOL FOOTBALL. i I | In view of the forthcoming North v. ! south schools match, and the Wang.v I nui rep. match, trial games will be ] played on Saturday, 25tli inst., at. 11 a.m. between, the Hawera-Manaia and the Opunake groups. The following will represent, the Opunake group: Wilson, Crocker, Holiaia, Harvey, J. Malcolm, C. Hickey, Barraclough, L. Harvey, Ifeatley, Riley, Horgan, Donnelly, Harris, W. Eu; emergency, Grylls.

FOOTBALL MISHAP. WHAHEROA PLAYER INJURED. In the course of the Whareroa-Oham-ai football match, yesterday, E. Carswell, of the Wliareroa team, sustained a broken cheek bone, and had to be removed to hospital (writes our Wliareroa correspondent). Carswell’s accident was the result of a head collision with an Ohangaii pi aver, and was not caused by rough play It is expected that he will be able to take his place again at the local dairy factory before .long.