RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 September 1926, Page 9

RUGBY.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS REPRESENTATIVES.

SOUTH TARANAKI 17 v. NORTH TARANAKI 3.

The pick of the primary school Rugby plovers in Taranaki met at Stratford this morning, when South _ (17) beat North (3). The teams contained splendid types of schoolboy footballers, ail under the nine stone limit, and Tanging up to 15 years of age. The match was played under -the auspices of the Taranaki Primary Schools Rugby Union, which is affiliated to the parent provincial body. After exhaustive trials, in which the whole province hau been thoroughly coin-bed for material, the best the schools had to offer took the field. The teams were ais follows: — NORTH TARANAKI (Black and White.) -Full-back: Robb (Westown). . Three-quarters: Simpson ' (Central). White (Urcnui), Kopu (Wa-itara). Five-eighths: ' McClune (Westown), Plain tree (Fitzvoy). Half: Carr (Moturoa). pack row: Shaw (Central), Florence Second row: Lynch (Central), Mof fitt (West. End)., Hook / n Co “ v o e 1 n : t) -- Rfvh Front, row: Spence (Central), Roberts (Waiitara). Rover: Earley (Convent). Emergency: Ihlc (Waitara).

SOUTH TARANAKI (Yellow' and Black.)

Full-back:' Butcher (Stratford). _ Thicc-quarters: Robinson (Manaia) ,T. Malcolm (Opunake), Crocker (OpuR. Malcolm (Opunake), Niehol (Eltham). .. Half: Kendall (Hawera Main). Back row: Meharry (Hawera Mam), Kippenberger (Tawhiti), Second row: Bradford- (Auroa), Lloyd (Stratford), Edwards (Manaia). Front row: "Wilson (Opunake), Smith (Opunake). Rover: Salter (Eltham). Emergencies: Sextus (Stratford). Ar-din (Hawera. Convent), Banfford (Stratford), Jackson (Oltaiawa). Referee: Mr C. F. Stratford.

J. Malcolm captained the South team and R. McClune the North.

As the teams took the field it was seen that the southern lads had a slight advantage in weight. U was decided tff play four twenties. North won the toss, and the yellow and blacks kicked off against a -fairly strong diagonal wind. The first penalty was against the northern side, after the whistle had -been heard for a couple of scrums -during an opening ten minutes of unfinished Rugby. Both sides made endeavours to open up the game, but movement's broke down 'through, faulty handling. The tackling from the start, i was fairly sound. South Taranaki were the first to come near the scoring point. Their backs made a tentative thrust. The ball went from the half through the five-eighths to J. Malcolm. When the boys were in their full stride the latter dropped -the ball. __ Later Robinson made' a bid to enter the northern twenty-five, but was brought down by a solid tackling forward, and was penalised for playing the ball on the ground. Smith headed the yellow and black forwards in a well controlled dribbling rush, which called for serious defence from the northern backs. The white and black rearguard made a brief, and its first, excursion into the southern team’s twenty-five, but a development of passing among the penned team’s backs transferred play to the northern quarter. Bradford was at the head of the -forwards, who dribbled to the goalline. There ho lost control, and Smith, who was lying handy, heat Robb to it, and scored. Butcher’s kick into the teeth of the wind lacked length.

South 3 North 0 The northern team’s play showed a material improvement, and tlieir five eighths line and centre three-quarter were several times associated in combined play. Their rear division, however, sustained a serious blow in the loss of their captain, McClune, who twisted an ankle, and was compelled to retire. He 'was replaced by Ible. The northerners l continued to show good form, and a mark within reasonable distance opened possibilities of making the score even, but Simpson’s kick was charged down, and tlio first twenty minute spell ended.

After changing over, the yellow and blacks showed to greater advantage with the assistance of the wind. Twice loose rushes, which should have ended in a pick-up, and a dive for the line, lacked those requisite finishing, touches. The southern right wing three-quarter fielded a long kick, and ran strongly down his touch-line. He fended off one" high tackle, but taken dt the knees by a determined forward, he stumbled.

Though able to shake himself free,. he saw that ho was accompanied by Edwards, a quick-moving forward in his stride. The latter -took a .difficult pass, and crossed the line ten yards from the corner flag. Butcher failed with a good kick. South G North 0 The "weight of the yellow and black vanguard was used with good effect, and their bustling tactics gave the northern half little chance of getting his attacking machine in action. From a long kick -on the left southern wing, the ball went out near the black and white goal-line. After a line-out, and a couple of scrums, the attacking pack pushed their opponents ahead of thorn, and -crossed the line with the ball under their feet. Lloyd fell on it, and Butcher converted with a good kick.

South 11 North 0 During a period of play in ■which the initiative rested with the side behind on score, a forward pass in front of the southerners’ goal gave Simpson a chance for three points, but the ball was badly placed, and went -wide. The second portion of the spell then ended. The southern team’s .two five-eighths in the seednd half changed positions. The side continued to display excellent form. There w r as sting in their work, back and forward. The game had not been resumed more'than (three minutes before the .southern half, Kendall, set Niehol and R. Malcolm in motion. When J. Malcolm, the centre, received possession it was- seen that the defence was out of position, and the runner went -over unopposed with his wing outside him still, and others coming round. Butcher’s kick failed.

South 14 North 0 The northern side now- gave its best display so far. Tbeir flagging back attacks developed greater cohesion, and a spirit of enterprise improved their Rugby. While South were hammering away in the white and blacks’ twenty-five, the ( defenders started a passing rush. When the ball got to Kopu on. the right wing, that Maori boy gave the best sample of individual work by any player in the coruse of the match. Ho swerved outside a couple of tacklers to get manoeuvring room, then changed direction to beat another. At about the half-way line Kendall and Butcher, sprinting diagonally to head off the Waitara boy, threatened to bring his careering effort to a close. They were not fast enough. At the right anoment, he w-ent past them at a great Tate, and scored-a splendid try for the northern side. White failed w-ith the kick. South North ....... 3 ' In the last quarter the -game continued to be fast. The yellow rearguard worked into a back movement almost immediately, and w-ere quickly imitated by the northerners, Kopu taking cleanly and initiating the rush. With the wind once more at their backs, .the yellow-- and blacks maintained a constant series of atateks, most of which broke down in face of good tackling by the opposing pack. Bradford, for the side ahead on score, by an exhibition of- first-class forward speed and dash, broke -through to Robb, -but found him ready. Ivopu gave a further indication of versatility. J. Malcolm received early in one of the concluding combined movements, and gave the ball to Robinson. After some others had participated, J. Malcolm appeared again on the outside of the man in possession, and, funning strongly, passed round -the, northern defence, and scored the last try of a real-ly good match. Butcher failed to convert. South 17 North 3

Edw-ards, on liis own with ball at toe, w-ent from near half-way and cross ed the line, but went into touch in goal. The whistle went with the southern team attacking.