PRIMARY SCHOOLS RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 16 September 1926, Page 5

PRIMARY SCHOOLS RUGBY

AfcLEOD ; SHIELD SEMI-FINAL

OPUNAKE (39) v. OKAIAWA (0)

The following primary school; teams met yesterday at- Kaponga to contest the semi-final match for the McLeod Shield s Opunake.—Holmes (full-back); Mbffitt, Crocker, Harvey; J. Malcolm, R. Malcolm; H. Wilson-. Langton, Macks, Johnson, L. Smith (lock), Humphries; P. -Smith, H. Wilson (hookers), S. Harvey (rover). Okaiawa. —R. Fraser (full-back); L. Jackson, W. Betts, T. Toro; P. Toro, D. McCa’iliun; A.Robertson; C. Smiley, J. King, N. Walter, D. Betts (lock), L. Clark, R. Green, W. Good (hookers), 0.. Collins (rover). Competition for this shield as confined to Taranaki primary schools, and is annually productive of many spirited contests, bringing to light numerous clever little players destined to make their mark in' higher grades. Heavy rain fell from start to finish, and these conditions added to an already isoaked and heavy ground, were distinctly unfavourable to the Okaiawa boys (last season’s winners), who proved much to light for their coast town opponents. In the early stages the play was confined to the- forward divisions, with no p-ronouncedi advantage to either side, ‘but as the game wore on the heavier and more speedy Opunake backs assumed control and piled up points. Thev handled the wet, greasy ball remarkably well. In this respect the whole hack team \v&s prominent, but for outstanding ability in successful attacking movements, the palm must-be passed: to the 'brothers R. and J. Malcolm, who did most of the scoring for the winners. In all 13 tries, we re scored bv Opunake, and, with the exception of a few early unsuccessful efforts to goal, no attempt was made to convert them. Messrs W. H. Burgess (Opunake) and T. Innes (Okaiawa) were in charge of the teams'. Mr P. Brooker (Opunake) was referee. '