SEVEN-A-SIDE RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 12 April 1928, Page 3

SEVEN-A-SIDE RUGBY.

ALTON' JUNTO!! TOURNEY. STRATFORD TEAM’S SUCCESS. FIRST CUP WINNERS. Held in summery weather yesterday afternoon, the Alton Rugby Football Chib’s annual junior iseven-a-side tourney attracted a fair attendance of spectators, who were entertained with pleasing exhibitions of the code from teams of the local district and othprs from as far afieid as Stratford. The Stratford seven showed good combination throughout and proved the first winners of the handsome challenge' cup provided this year bv the club, but they were fully extended by City in the semifinal and Okaiawa in the final game. At the conclusion of the play the cup and seven gold medals were presented to the winners’ by the president of the Alton Club, Mr Laurie Hunt, who congratulated the Stratford men on their fine display. Mr Hunt also voiced the club’s thanks to all teams and the public for the oupport given the tourney, the referees for controlling the play, and the lady supporters who had assisted the club.

The committee controlling the tourney consisted of the president, and Messrs F. Gush (secretary), H. Hodge. R. Neil son. J. Piercy, J. .Tones, C. Richards, A- Neilson, .T, Bonrke and P. Pailmer. A refreshment booth was conducted be ai committee of ladies, consisting of Mesdames Anderson. Gush, and Tvi 1 pin and the 'Misses Anderson (21 and Kettles. Mr W. T>. Anderson conducted a chain-stepping competition, which was won by Mr A. Hodge. THE TEAMS. The teams, given in the order of their appearance, wear as follow: Hiureriii High 'School. —H. Barker, G. Sfcurrook, M. Morrison, K. McDonald, D. Wilks' (capt.), G. Nicholas, L. Paoey. Alton B.—V. Richards, G. Kettles, J- Furby, C. Gush, R. Modeland, J. Moreland and E. Hodge (capt). Okaiiawa A. —Oldfield, L. Symons, R. G reenough, R. Hooker, G. Ngaia, J. Awahou, P. Tippett (capt.). Alton A. —C. Bowater, J, Kettles (capt.), G. Baldwin, E. Houston, A. G’«:rke, I>. Anderson and L. Piercy. Pukengahu.—D. Old, B. Coffey, E. Scott (capt.), A. Bloomfield, A. Hancock, P. Bichmond, E. Old.

Okaiawa B.xJ. Ramsay (capt.), R-. Robertson, C. Blair, A. Preston, H. Badly, E. Hodge, C- Gush. Stratford.—M. Sangster, R. Coillins, D. Collinis, P. Collin’s, D. Wheeler, R. Cuff, and R. Watson (capt.). Patea. —T. McDonnell, G. Corbett, E. A.gaard. E. Cousins, C. Wills, G. Moore and W. Crompton (capt.). Hawera City.—C. Young, J. Standish. L. Bryant (capt.), R. Morrissey, E. Hughes, A. Mcße'th, E. Hunt. FIRST ROUND. High School 3 v. Alton nil. Hawera High School and Alton B tok the field for the opening game, which provided a fast ana vpry even contest. Half-time was called with the score unopened. School pressed the attack during the closing few minutes, and with the second o ftwo attempts, McDonald converted a penalty right on the call of time. Mr A. Murphy ereedAlton 10 v. Alton A 8. Alton A and Okaiawa A opened the second game at a fast gait, pray changing rapidy from end to end. A run by Hooper broke down on the Vue, but from the ensuing scrum Tippett went over for a, try, which Ngaia converted. Alton replied with a quick counter, and within three minutes tries were registered bv Anderson and Do water, one of which was converted by Clark. Imuiediatelv following the change over SimmondiS added a. try for Okaiawa, which Ngaia converted. Mr A. Murphy refereed. Pukengahu 6 v. Okaiawa B nil. Okaiawa B held the advantage over Pukengahu in the opening stages of the third game, and kept play mainly in the latter’s territory. With the advantage of the wind in the second half Pukengahu pressed immediately, and ,a good passing bout ended in Old sending Bloomfield on a 15 yards dash for a try near the post- Coffey later went over in the corner. Mr. A. H v Guy refereed. Stratford 10 a - . Patea nil. Stratford, praying with the wind, went straight to the assault of Patents citadel, and the Blues wore called on for good defensive work, which held out the attackers till Watson and then Wheeler went over for tries converted by D. Collins and Sangster. In the second) spell Sangster and Wheeler scored tries. Mr. H. J. Clemanco refereed. SECOND ROUND. City C v. High School 3. Drawing the bye in the first round, the Hawera City seven opened the second round against the School team. In the first spell School, by handling surely and keeping the hall low, showed more than an even comparison with their heavier opponents. Soon after the change over Macßeth cleared from a scrimmage, and the ball travelled to Young, who was grassed in the corner by Barker, but from the resultant mix-up Young again secured to touch down wide out for tff roe points. A good rim by Barker resulted in the attempt being checked in the danger zone, where a defender lying on the ball was penalised, and McDonald equalised the score as the bell sounded. The second change over gave City the advantage of the wind, and after Hart had narrowly failed with a half-way kick a quick sortie gave a .scramble on the line which let Young across for the winning try. Mr. P. Smith refereed. Okaiawa 5 v. Pukengahu 5. Okaiawa started their game against Pukengahu with a series of pretty attacks: in handling bciuts, which severely taxed the defence. Eventually a smart interchange in front of the goal allowed Awahou to penetrate by the post. Ngaia added the extra points. The second spell play swayed evenly till a charge by Pukengahu before the goal ended in Coffey going through between the posts for a try which Scott converted. Full time found the scores ten nil. Four further spells of two minutes each found the Okaiawa seven holding the territorial advantage, hutowing mainly to the dogged play of Scott- they were unable to penetrate. As the bell was about to sound the conclusion of the fifth spell Ngaia found touch in goal with a penalty from half-way, and the game was awarded to Okaiawa. Mr. W. B. Fearon refereed.

[ SEMI-FINAL. Stratford G v. City nil. Meeting City in the semi-final, Stratford launched an early attack, Sangster, charging to score, being stopped by Bryant, but the respite was brief, as Watson registered an uncoil verted try almost immediately. Though unable to press serious attacks home, City presented a solid defence during the remainder of the spell, half-time finding the score unaltered. Play which had given an early promise of developing into a particularly bright exhibition was characterised maiulv by vigorous spoiling and bard tackling in the second half. Contrary to expectations, Stratford were, fully extended by the battling wearers of the Amber and Black, but the former added three to the .score’ when, following a scrum near the. line, D. Collins darted over for a try he was unable to convert. Mr. H. A. K. MoNae refereed. THE FINAL. Stratford 3 v. Okaiawa A nil. Tiie two undefeated teams, Okaiawa A and Stratford, provided an exciting final. Stratford l , made the. initial assault following a handy run by Watson. Awahou retrieved a difficult situation in the corner and, getting under the punt, Ngaia went from haltway with a dribbie and crossed the line, only to be beaten for the ball by Cuff, who relieved. On the defence again, Tippert and Oldfield stemmed determined bids by Stratford. Ngaia came to midfield, where play rested, as half-time was called. For three minutes in the second spell action veered quickly between the twenty-fives, and results came to Stratford when a defender, dwelling on his kick, was spoiled badly, and a rapid interchange ended in Cuff sending Watson over in the corner to secure Stratford' the first engraving on the eup. Air. A. Murphy refereed. ELTHAM SEVEN-A-SIDE. GOOD ENTRY ANTICIPATED. Considerable interest is being evinced on al 1 . sides in the seven-a-side Rugby football tournament for the Dunn Shield, to. be held at Ta.umata Park, Flihain, on Saturday next. A repetition of last Saturday’s spectacular football (when the b|2.st teams of the province tried conclusions at Kaponga) ;s confidently anticipated, there being no conflicting fixtures on the day to militate. agani.st a full entry of teams from North and South Taranaki. At a meeting of the Eltham Football Club on Tuesday evening, Messrs E. L. Egarr and 11. A. Nut-tall were appointed joint secretaries. F. Briisco and D. Nees (timekeepers), and C. Maslin (ground steward) to* control the tournament. Line umpires and stewards’ of departments were also appointed, and complete arrangements made’ for the successful conduct of the fixture.