NORTHERN DIVISION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 April 1928, Page 7

NORTHERN DIVISION

SENIORS. STAR V. OLD BOYS. The Rugby season in North- Tara, naki opened officially under very dismal weather conditions. A heavy Scotch mist overhung the country, r nd became so thick at- times as to a-linost-obscure the view. In spite ot the wet, There was a good crowd, of spectators, showing . that the public welcomed the opening of the winter Spoi’t. The game was between Star and Old. Boys, and proved a closer contest than most people anticipated. It was the fitness of the Star side _ which proved the deciding factor .in the frame, and they ran out winners by 11 points (three tries, one converted) to seven (one try and a field goal). _■ From the start Old Boys appeared to have an advantage in both divisions-: of the game, and Star were making the mistake among their forwards of trying to baudio tbo ball too lunch. Old Bovs drew first blood with a try scored ‘by Webster, and after some time added another four points with a dtopped goal Ty Brown, before Star opened their account with .a- try 1 by Ivindall from .a- scramble near the •line. * • , In the second half Star forwards were much more dangerous, and, .they rushed the Old Boys. Although thedefence w-as hard to penetrate, two tries were added by H. Wolfqj and Hoffmann, one of w'hich- Morris converted, and the game ended with Star still on the attack. ' 7

Star 11 Old Boys 7 Mr. F. -Webb refereed. ELTHAM v. STRATFORD. Three elements —combination, fitness and. a superior know-ledge of the game —formed the basis of Stratford’s crushing defeat' of the Elthain team on - Victoria Park, Stratford. ) The black and whites also had hard luck in being forced to play the first spell of fortyfive minutes against a stiff breeze which, unfortunately- for them, died away in the second half. The ground was* in good order and conditions generally favoured the better-trained team”. There was a good attendance of spectators. The teams were: — iStratford (red aiid black).—-Kil-patrick (full-baek). Bonner, Robson, Wvnvard; Carter, Owen; Sangster; Young, Bgnd, Kivell, Coleman (lock), .Waltfer, Smith, 'R. Hinton (hookers); Frvdav (rover)'. Eltham (black and white). —Harris .(full-back); Trolove 'Cooper, Page, .Nicholls, A. MacDonald; H. MacDonald ; Campbell, Jones, Potts, Hyatt (lock), Thomas, Arch MacDonald, Cruden (hookers); Len. Pepperell (rover). Eltham kicked off against the -wind. Page narrowly missing a chance of gaining touch at the Reds’’ 25. Wynyard essayed a scoring run and was forced out: The ball sped across in a .fine passing movement- from the line and the Reds looked dangerous. Whilestill in scoring position the Reds were .awarded a penalty, hut Fryday/s attempt w-as abortive. Walter came through from half way with a fine dribble. Page being equal to the oecas-. ion at the quarter line and Eltham .swarmed into. Red ground. . Young led a forw-ard rush to neutral territory, but despite a favouring breeze, Stratford was unable to pierce the defence. For quite an appreciable period Page’s excellent kicking held the home team to their 25, when the forwards brolt* away and initiated a passing tub, .Owen, Cartel, Robson, and Wynyard handling cleanly tor the latter to draw first) bliood-. -{Fryday’s kick from a difficult, position Sailed and the score stood at—'Stratford .3, Eltham 0, after 1 a quarter of an hour’s play. Desultory plav at centre ended in the home team’s favour and -Harris’s poor' rs~ , .turn gave Stratford a temporary ■vantage which the combined efforts of C-wen, Walter and Kivell just failed to turn into points. Continuing th* offensive, a succession of clean, low passes saw -Carter tackled on the .An infringement, at the following .serum gave -Sangs-ter a chance,, ' his kick at "goal nearly resulting in three points. In a endeavour to clear his imo Harris crowded, Cooper to the side line betore making the transfer and with no room in ivhich to work, the latter gave Kivell an opportunitv tu burst through and send the sphere on to Frvdav, who ran in unoppose;!. l*i vday’s attempt at goal .failea. •Stratford '6; Eltham'O. Through Tro-Ir-ve’s agency plav centred in-.neutral ground, .but'the Red forwards cleared to Page, .whose return w-as marked by .Fryday. In an endeavour to ensure a strategic position near the corner, flag the latter’s kick went behind and Eltham forced. The relief was shortlived. as -Owen picked up thirty yards out and cut through the defenceless white backs to score under the bar. Frvdav’s conversion heralded, the close of the first half and made Stratford score 11 —0. . • : , Eltliam’s luck was not in the ascendant, for the breeze perceptibly, tolled w-itli the opening of the second halt, ns did also their condition. Successive onslaughts by Wynyard and Carter on alternate sides of the ground ended in C arter going over, for Fryday to enhance with a capital place kick. Stratford 16, Eltham 0. Uninteresting .exchanges were relieved by a telling punt from"a mark by Owen and a dashing mu bv Trolove. Then came a heady piece of work, Fryday cross-kicking to Wvnvard out on the wing. The easiest of* easv tries was not improved by Fryday. Stratford 19, Eltham 0. A combined forward rush by Elthaim, stopped in the nick of time by Owen on bis line and a penalty kick awarded to A. MacDonald, raised the hopes of the white supporters, but. the superior condition and combination of the reds back and forwards, again placed them in* an attacking position. .Owen set liis backs going after a series .of solo dashes, and Bonner and Walter in quick succession added tries Halter’s try w-as converted by Sangister with a 'beautiful kick. Stratford-27, Eltham 0 Following a penalty to Eltham, Kivell and Walter quickly

transferred oporationy to the visitors’ quarter, \vhere Kivell sent out to Carter, who had no difficulty in crossing. Songster’s attempt struck the upright. Stratford 30, Eltham 0. Working to striking distance, Eltham was favoured with a- short range penalty and an attempted field goal by H. MacDonald, but the reds were soon again on Eltham’s line, where Cooper secured and, with a marvellous rolling punt, which somehow dodged opposition, found touch atthe opposition’s twenty-five flag. In the short interval before no-side was called, Walter headed a forward dash and touched down. His own kick at goal failed, the final score being: Stratford 33 Eltham - 0 Mr. E. Gilmour (New Plymouth) was refleree. OKATO v. INGLEWOOD. Olka to made their debut as a. senior team to-day, meeting, defeat on their own ground at the hands of Inglewood bv 17 points (four tries, one converted, and a goal from a mark) to nil. Tine new team though it did not include some leading players that had been mentioned showed promise, and lack of condition was almost primarily responsible for the large margin of arrears', which was piled up during the latter end of the game. Inglewood’s first score was a goal from a* mark by Coutts. and at halftime Hie score* was:- Inglewood 3, Okato O. For a while Okato continued to hold Inglewood, but near the end, towards the last quarter, the forwards tired and the backs began to jumble badly, with the result that the visitors piled oni the points quickly. N. Rbss scored a beautiful unconverted try by running through the centre of the Okato team, and then Devereux got across from a forward rush. After some time L. Ross crossed at the corner 'during a melee there. Coutts failed to convert both tries. The final score was a try bv Tassell, who headed the forwards through an opening !)feft by Okato’s mishandling, and 'scored by the post. L. Ross converted. The final result was r Inglewood 17 Okato 0 Mr. J. F- Kiley was referee. CLIFTON v. TUKAPA. Tukapa had a close call with Clifton' at Waitara. A very hard-fought game was seen, with Clifton putting up a gallant fight in the second spell. The plav, tliotigh. never brilliant, was always full of interest right up to the final whistle, and both sides had many anxious moments during the game.. Tukapa Had all the better of the first spell, wlien they penned Clifton down in their own territory for most of the game However, their backs could not. finish off their movements and many Opportunities went begging. Tukapa’s backs were far superior to those of the home side. During the opening play of the second spell Tukapa held an advantage. It was during this that a Clifton forward was penalised for off- • side play right under the goal mouth, and Petty made no mistake with the kick. In the play that followed Clifton had most of the advantage' of the exchanges, hut like Tukapa in the first ispell were unable to put the last finishing touches to their movements. For the opening match of the season the play was verv willing, and the match was a particularly hard-fought one. Tukapa 3 Olifton 0 '' v. Eggleton was referee. IN OTHER_CENTRES. CHEISTOmTRCH. Christchurch 9 v. Tan woo cl 6. Old Boys 19 v. Me rival e 11. ! ’Varsity 23 v. Technical 8. NAPIER, ■ Pirates 26 v. T. 0.0. B. 3. M. 8.0. B. 17 v. Celtic. 3. WANGANUI. M-arist 24 v. Technical Old Boys 5. Old Boys 27 v. Ratana 0. Pirates 6 v. County 3. INVERCARGILL. Pirates 12 v. Invercargill 6. Star 18 v. Southern' 5. DUNEDIN. ’Varsity A 24 v. Taieri 0. Kaikorai 19 v. Zingari 0. _ , Pirates 5 v. ’Varsity B 01 Alhambra 6 v. Southern 0. Union 7 v. Dune-din 0. i .. WELLINGTON. Senior, A Grade. | Poneke 34 v. Marist 3. Athletic 15 v. Eastbourne-' 9. Pet one 10 v. Oriental 26. Old Boys 14 v. Wellington 8. Berhampore 11 v. ’Varsity 20. Senior B Grade. Johnsonville 16 v. Oriental 8. SelWyn 6 v. Wellington 17. Training College 9 v. Hutt 17. ’Varsity 6 v. Porirua 3. MANAWATU. Ivia Toa 11 v. Feildin-g Old Boys 6. Old Boys 38 v. Woodville 3. Feilding- 9 v. Athletic 3. AUCKLAND. Marist OS v. College Rifles 0. • Ponsonby 18 v. Grammar 5. Grafton 12 v. ’Varsity 8. Training College ll v. City 6. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ RUGBY. CENTRAL GROUP. Stratford A 9 v. Eltham 6. At Eltham, Stratford A defeated Eltham by three tries to two tries, after, a hard, close game throughout. Webby, Fawcett and Fisher scored for the winners, and tries- for Eltham were secured by S: Jenkins and A. Ry-burn. MANAT A v. AUROA. Manaia beat A-uroa by 8 points toil il. L. B-udd scored two tries and converted one. The Manaia Brass Band is organising a seven-a-side tourney- for primary school teams- to be held at Manaia on the King’s- Birthday.