RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 June 1927, Page 6

RUGBY

AY AIR All AP A DEFEATS BUSH. (BY telegraph—press association.) PA HIATITA, June 22. In the annual home-and-honie game, Wa-irarapa had an easy win over Bush, the -score being 38 {mints -to eight. The Waira-rapa- team was practically identical with that which beat Hawke's Bay for the shield, while in the home team there were a number of detections from the original selection. The speed and combination of the visitors was altogether too much for Bush, though the latter’s forwards made a ere ditab 1 e showing. Cooke was brilliant, paving the way for nia-nv tries. Stringfellow was also in fine form and bagged three tries. In the first twenty minutes Bush held their own. the forwards especially being prominent in loose rushes, Udy kicking a penalty. Cooke went one better, potting a neat goal. AVairarapa followed up by paving the way for Yates to score. Stringfellow made a splendid individual run and scored for Cunclv to convert, making the haiff-t-ime store 12 to three. AVa.ira.rana had it much l their own wav in the second spell. Tries were added by Stringfellow (2), Cooke, Chiirclihouse, Irvine and Yates. Cundy converted four. A strong forward assault b- Bosh resulted in AVare -scoring in tlie dving stages. Udy converting. Irvine and Quentin Donald rave their backs plentv of the ball. Jimmy Donald played as extra five-eighths for the most part, and the backs profited by the move. Reside, Harvey and Irvine shone among the vanguard, hut did not have tilings all their own way against the Bu&li forward, who lost tries- owing +o lack of finish. The Bush cha-Fenges for the Ranfurly Shield at Alasterton on July 2.

BENEFIT GAME. AIATCH AT -AIANAIA. KAPONGA’S LAST-MINUTE WIN. Though heavy rain which fell during the morning doubtless militated against the attendance, the stand on the Mali aia Domain ground was comfortably filled yesterday afternoon when a Rugby game, arranged as a benefit, to a Waimate Club player, who was injured recently, was contested by a combined AA’aiin a to-Ok ai aw a fifteen and a team representing the Kaponga. C-lub. The ground was wet and heavy and the ball difficult to handle, but no rain fell daring the game, and the exhibition was bright throughout, the interest of spectators being held until the. final stages, when Kaponga, who had been compelled to accept the- role of defenders for the greater part of the second spell, turned the tables -and notched a last-minute victory. The scores were two tries to one.

The Alanaia Alunicipal Band, under Conductor J- A. G. Cosgrove, was in attendance during the afternoon, and gave appreciated select ions- _ before the commencement and at the interval. The teams were:

Kaponga (black). —AA T . Hislop; AAL Eliason, AA r . Bradford, L. Page; C. Dawson, L. Gargan; D. Mercer (half); A. Guy (rover); P. Hammersley, M. Bourke; 11. Gardiner, E. Edwards, E. Gargan; J. Free, A. Hodge (hookers). Waimate-Oka iawa. (colours). —C. Fergus; A. Langford, I. Crawford, C. Bourke; Aloki, C. Paterson; J. Paterson (half): L. Hughes (rover); R. Hikaka, T. Eaves; E. Long, Ru-ru Sam, AV. Sutton; L. Hansen, R. Clarke (hookers). Facing the sun in the first session, the combined pack advanced with the kick-off ball, Long and AA T . Sutton pressing to we 1 within the twenty-five, but tlie Black half, Alercer, repelled the attempt with a good dribble to midfield. Though the ground was treacherous and the greasy ball difficult to handle, both teams maintained a fast gait, exchanges showing practically no advantage for the first fifteen minutes. Both sets of hacks threw the ball about with almost dry weather accuracy in supporting- loose rushes by the respective vanguards. Outstanding individual efforts were dribbling runs by C. Bourke, E. Long and L. Hughes, and a mark by W. Eliason, which saved the- Blacks’ line. A moment latter Eliason was brought down by Fergus. Spectators were enthusiastic when Long, chasing a ground kick, was beaten for the touch-clown by Eliason. From the kick out Kaponga made a sortie which ended with a throw-in at the home twenty-five. A pass bade by Guy sent tiie Black hacks away in a bout which was smothered, but from an ensuing scrum Guy worked the blind and handed to Page, who went across in the corner. Guy’s kick lacked height. Willing thrusts by the home forwards were .spoiled by a tendency to over-run the ball, but they were holding their own in an even duel. Accepting a close quarter cuearance by Free, Crawford, whose play at centre for the combined team was otherwise faultless, made an ill-advised endeavour to “pot” with the difficult ball, and allowed Kaponga to free. Towards half-time the Blacks appeared to be holding the advantage, but had to cede points when, from a loose serum in the twenty-five zone, C. Paterson sent the ball to Aloki, who effected a good o]>eni,ng and sent the leather via J. Paterson for a try in the .corner by Crawford. A good attempt by C. Paterson proved a “poster” and halftime was signalled with the scores: Kaponga 3 AV aim a te 3

The early stages of the second spell found the home rear division repeatedly dangerous. C. Paterson flashed into the picture with a run for the corner, where he fell to Pago and Kaponga forced. With C. Paterson and Crawford as the central figures, Kaponga persisted in the attack, passing rushes continuously menacing the Blacks’ line, but were met with a sound defence, in which a big share of individual honours went to Page, Gargon and Guy. A heady run by Page put Kaponga in attacking jjosition, but Ids pass went forward and the ground was lost. J. Paterson, who was a determined stumbling block to tffe Kaponga forwards, retired with an injury, and replaced behind the combined scrum by T. Hickey. The latter signalled his advent by charging down, a clearance kick and bursting through to narrowly miss a score. A powerful leap away by W. Sutton made a try seem imminent, but as lie reached the line the whistle sounded for a knock-on, Mercer relieving from the scrum. Attempts with marks by Mold and Clarke failed to produce results, Mild KiijMmga’s sterling dofenoo- proved equal to al l tests. Though play often ranged indecisively at mid-field, the general trend showed a pronounced bias in the colours team’s favour, the Blacks penetrating to the opposing twentylive in occasional rallies only. Just on time, however, they- decided the issue in surprising manner. The rover, Guy. made a break form midfield and at the twenty-live made a centreing around kick towards the goal. The full-hack. Fergus, whose sure fielding had been one of the bright feature® of the match, was in lxisition, but his attempted line kick, fading in-field, was accepted cleverly bv Al. Bourke, who mode ground, and Eliason, taking the transfer at the top of his speed, raced

over by the corner flag. Guy’s kick from tiie difficult angle sent the ball outside the posts and the curtain was lowered with the scores:— Kaponga . 6 W a i m ate-Okai awa 3 Mr H. A. K. McNae was referee. TEAMS FOR, SATURDAY. Alton. Junior team will be picked from the following.—-Anderson, Sharpe, <Q. Bitthlards, Walker, Mariana (2), A. Einhards. Ealdwan, Hodge, Dixon, Bowater, Bevy, Piercy. Kettles (2j, Clarke Proffit. Bus leaves 1.30 sharp. Kaponga. Fourths.—tHislloip, Walker, Williams, Gargan, Dawson, Murphy (2), Sadler, Noonan, Gardner, Gargan, Scott, Street (2), Eiaybokl, Huok&tep, .Belli. Okaiawa. Seniors. —Cameron, D. Crawford, C. Paterson, J. Purvis, Lymsky, D. Johnston, M. Clarice, Fi. Griffin, Bircliall, V. Tibbetts, ike, E. Guy, E. Clarke, I. Crawford, E. McAlium; emergency, M. Pars low. Juniors. —Dodd, Bailey, Greonough, Preston. Tibbetts (2). Douglas, Soot-lull, McDonald S tod dart, Jerry, Awahou, Canterbury, C. Biair, West, Toss, Clarke. Bus leaves Okaiawa. at 1 o’clock. Thirds.—H oojiei', Craiin, Johnstone, Blair, Allen, James, Walker (2), Eynon, Waldron. Tui Ngaia, Woller, Morehu, Cox, Corrigan, Sharpe. Bus leaves at 12 o’clock sharp.

PE IMA BY iSGHOLS. The following is the draw for the second round of the primary schools competition, southern division: June 25—Stratford v. Elthnm; Tawhiti v. Hawera P.S.; Okaiawa v. Hawera Convent. July 2 —Fit ham v. Tawhiti; Hawera P.S. v. Okaiawa; Hawera Convent v. Stratford. July 9.—Stratford v. Okaiawa; Eltham v. Hawera P.S.; Tawhiti v. Hauer a Convent. July 16.—Stratford v. Tawhiti; Okai. awa v. Kit ha m; Hawera Convent v. Hawera P.S, July 23.—Hawera P.S. v. Stratford; .Tawhiti v. Okaiawa; Hawera Convent V. Elthnm.