The Score Board

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 May 1928, Page 7

The Score Board

NORTHERN DIVISION SENIORS. Inglewood 7 v. Star 3. Tukapa 32 v. Okato 3. Old Boys 15 v. Eltham 3. Stratford 20 v. Clifton 8. SENIORS. INGLEWOOD v. STAR.

For the iirst time this season Star’s colours were lowered in the match against Inglewood, which the latter won hv 7 points (a dropped goal and a goal from a mark) to 3 (a try). The game was played at Pukckura Park in beautiful weather before a large crowd of spectators. It was marred by poor play in many places and still more by dirty play, from beginning to the end, which culminated in two players (one from each side) being ordered off during the second half.

Star had the advantage of the sun at their 'backs in the first half and at once took the game to their oponents’ territory. They were soon repulsed, however, and Brown, when he was given, the bull, gained a good bit of ground for the Maroons. Hunt was responsible for cheeking further progress, and then Star responded with a good move which brought them well to Inglewood’s quarter. Another good move was initiated l>v Court, who punted up field and by fast following up H. Wolfe beat the Inglewood fuil-bnck, who fumbled, giving Star the first try of the game and their only score.

The second half opened up in Inglewood 's favour, but it was some time before they were able to secure a delinite advantage and then, it came from one of those occasions for the optimist, when Coutts dropped a beautiful field goal from an open space right in front of the posts. dust prior to this X. Ross received a nasty kick on the. side of the head, which severed an artery and he • hail to retire, being replaced by R. Atkinson? Play then swung back to midfield and* during the progress of Hie game a “little affair’’ between Kendall and (i. Atkinson ended in both players be-, ing ordere,( off. and a moment later the game was held up while the referee gave the teams a warning lecture. The • final stages were fought out in Star territory anti a further three points were added to Inglewood’s score when Coutts kicked a goal from a mark, just on the call of time. • Air Rggleton was referee. CLIFTON v. STRATFORD. Played -at Stratford under splendid conditions, excepting that a -moderate breeze blew diagonally across the ground, to the distinct advantage of Stratford in the opening stages of the game. The home team also had a sun, advantage. The final quarter provided" Rugby of a vivv high order, and it is doubtful if any contest this season lias .surpassed it in this respect. Stratford forwards dominated the game from the start, but tiie match was far advanced before their backs swung into combined action. Undoubtedly the_ better team won, but the disparity of scores is not a true indication of the respective merits ui' the. teams. The Reds owed their victory in a great measure to their ability "to make the most of every opportunity. The teams were:- —

Stratford (Red and Black —Collin*; Bonner. Kivell, Wynynnl; Carter. Owen; Sangster; Bond. S: r oung, Walter. O'Keefe (lock). Coleman, Hinton. ■Smith (hookers), Frvday (rover). Clifton (Blue and Yellow) —E. Pep•perill: C. Tate, R. Watson, B. Jonas; Sutton, Carey; .\l. Jonas; W. Ogicr, W. Peterson, E. Barriball. P. Kuwc (lock), If. Williams, 1). Purdie. T. Cooper (hookers). Puke (rover). From the kick-oIT the visitors made a brief incursion into tlie home territory and then the Reds charged down field, where a smart passing movement, in which Kivell. Frvday. Owen and Carter participated, ended in a scrum near the line. From this another brilliant bout of opportunism ended in Voting touching down within SHI seconds of starting. Collins failed to improve. Stratford Clifton 0. The Blues worked up-field, but from his twenty-live line Walter headed a fine rush and cleared. At the centre Owen sent out a beautiful .pass to Kivell, who, however, threw his chance away in a flurry and Colilns found touch near the corner. Three penalties relieved Clifton. Carter got away, passing to Owen, who knocked on with a clear field ahead. The lied forwards took charge of the game and forced Clifton. At the centre Tate essayed a hopeless attempt at goal from a penalty and the Red vanguard charged down, their headlong career being stayed by a temporary injury to Coleman. Offside tactics in u Blue clearance gave Collins an opportunity and from thirty yards out lie placed a magnificent goal. Stratford <i, Clifton 0. Clifton advanced to the Reds’ goal-line and were unable to press home the momentary advantage. Mainly through the agency of Kivell, Stratford were placed in a scoring position, the ball swiftly travelling out to Bonner, who in turn gave it to Kivell to score in the corner. The attempt' at goal by Collins was fruitless. Stratford f), Clifton 0. Resumption saw

the home forwards attacking strongly, their advance being checked by palpable I offside on the part of Williams. 00lI lias made a good attempt' from the j touch-line thirty yards out. At this I stage Bristol replaced . Puke (rover). ! who retired hurt. A brilliant forward I movement by the Blues followed and from the ruck Watson secured and sent a high pass to Tate; the latter took it I at top and -grounded the ball a few j yards from the goal. The scorer von--1 verted, and the score advanced to—- . Stratford 0. Clifton 5. A Bed charge with Wynyard in the lead resulted iu a minor injury to Carey, after which the Blue forwards took the offensive . to Collins, who marked and sent them . back. Tate next essayed a determined run, cleverly beating-off Carter, but he - failed to repeat the performance with lvivell at the quarter flag. The Bed backs got going, Songster transferring to Owen, the latter-, dummying through the Blue rearguard. His transfer to Wynyard was futile. The next incident of note was a dash down the lino by Wynyard, who kicked oyer the lino when, threatened with n, tackle. Pepperell beat him to the touch. Walter next came through with a zig-zag run to the Blue quarter line, and half-time sounded as. Clifton was forced down witli the scores— Stratford !) Clifton 5 Thu change over, also with the sun and wind advantage in Clifton’s favour, saw the latter invade red territory, where lvivell in an endeavour to find touch in his own twenty-flec turned it into touch-in-goal. Stratford gained an advantage front the. kick-out and a It r.e down resulted. Clifton's backs engaged in a passing; bout-, and l as play swung to the wing the attack broke down with a faulty pass from Watson. Hie reds were shortly after forced. Clue's attacked, and in a flash the tables were turned when Bond picked up. passed to Young, and the sphere travelled through the hands of Walter, Smith. Fryday to Bonner, the latter breaking down at the reds’ quarter line. A short respite to Clifton, in which the Stratford quarter was penetrated, swiftly turned to counter-attack and Walter headed a great forward rush up-field, terminating in Wynyard going over in the corner. Collins ailed with the kick. Stratford 12, Ii ton d. Clean, fast football folj lowed, with alternating territorial adantages, the home team playing briliantly, back and forward. Clifton had also improved in all departments, the combined result being the best exhibition of Bug by seen in Stratford this season. An attempted iield goal by 'even, and a lightning dash through by M. donas (Clifton), with scintillating (('forts of little less brilliance to the eiedit or' either side, saw the game persistently return to centre field. Fryda v dashed through to Watson, and his pass went wide, though the red forwards regained control and bustled to the line, where in a ’scramble Fryday Louche! down. Apt goal resulted. • Stratford Id, Clifton S. Almost immediately the surprise of the game e*outdated. Clifton was awarded, a penalty, and from two yards inside iial'Mvay Tate landed a superb goal. tratiurd Id, Clifton 8. The reds returned to the attack, Sangster setting his backs going from the blue twenty-live yards'flag. Stringing across the held the effort broke down at Wynyard, who went, to touch. From the line the ball sw.ung across again, and two fine attacks by Stratford’s whole rearguard just failed. Their persistence was rewarded before Jong, when Walter snatched the leather from a clearing blue back and twisted his way across for Fryday to improve with a fine effort. Stratford 20 ( lifton 8 No-side was called shortly after, with no alteration to the score and Stratford attacking strongly. IMr. J. F. Ivilev was referee.

OLD BOYS v. BLTJEAM. lu a last, and wpcctacu-ar match, in wnieii the winners’ backs were aliogeiiier luo good iii ijat-aek, Old Boys won H orn Eltlram by a margin *>l 12 pointy. Old Boys kicked oil, and Eltham rush eel do iv u field, and in turn each had the advantage till McDonald, securing, pint in a line line kick to the Old Boys' twenty-live. A free-kick gave them relief, and they worked back to the opposing twenty-five. Eltham retaliated, and a nice rush put the Boys on the defence for a time. Then Brown secured and made a splendid run to the quarter-way, where Re was taken wo 1 ,! by Trolove. Back came Eltham. the forwards working well together, and then, (lower .and 1 McDonald were associated in a movement. Fookes saved and si-’iit his opponents back with a nice kick. Eltham forwards, beaded by Peppoirell, ,got on l( fine rush, and McDonald, securing, made a fine kick. Friar, by fumbling, let Eltham away on attack, but the defence was good ; and then, the ball coming out from tbo serum, Morey sent it on, and it went across the line of backs to Brown, who transferred to Webster, and the winger finished a nice rim by crossing Die lino. Brown converted. Old Boys 5. EHham 0. From the kick out Eltham got away in fine 'style and McDonald, with a useful kick, lined at Boys’ twenty-fire. A rush carried the ball over and Old Boy a forced. Eltham continued to make the pans from the kiok-eff,. and a pretty passing rush took, place, in which Peppeifislj. AfifriM ajid TnolorV were pssso-

i*ibut ithc last tumbled and a good cJiaine \v«s lost. Fookes, Brown anu Webster, in a combined move, took play to centre, but JfiLtham gsnt tiliem back in good style, and a kick iby McDonald ua.s muzzled by ithe kicker, and the team, backing up well, .Page, who \va» handy, took and scared at the corner. LVe nick tailed. Old Boys 5, kith am

3. Et-ham continued to attack, hut over-eagerness spoilt- a good opening, and O d Boy® cleared their line. Play veered from one end to the other, each in tarn attacking, a, feature being McDonald’s kicking, whidb wana very useful. Then Friar put in a brilliant run to Eltham’s twenty-fives, and a nice pass;n.<r, rush stopped when- Dinnis passed forward. McDonald: saved and Eltham went away in . good style. Peppsiell in the lead. Play hovered at- till a twenty-five till the . Boys! backs, in a briViiuit rush, took play to the line and just- failed to score. They were opening up play finely and gave Eltham a b ;sy time defending. Then Eltliam 'Teated a. thrill by getting on a great loose rush.. Page. Ait rill and Thomas being associated in a fine movement, which a had 1 pass nullified. Brown and Dinnis went downfiitld again, a knockon averting a certain score. Half-time eahe v without further score.

The second spell opened fast and free Old Boys*just, failing to score from a passing rush. Eltham cleared, Tvolove and McDonald showing fine defence, and Page went through the forward® and took play to centre. Back came Old Boys, and Dinniss made a good run. hut was taken, and in (piick succession McDonald and Cooper' saved the Eltham line. Again and again Old Boys attacked, and only strenuous defence averted scores. From a good pas's by Dinniss, Stevens made a fine run and nearly got over, but. Eltham were- defending well and nullified all attempts. From a penalty Brown tried a. drop kick, which failed. Old Boys continued on -attack ttill (lower made nn opening and put in a brilliant lone-handed run. to the centre. All advantage was lost- by a loose pass, and Old Boys’ forwards set up a counter-attack, followed by a hot back passing rush, till a free kick gave welcome relief to Eltham. They went- up field, only to be -sent back by Priar’s good kicking. In a good position Stevens . ha.d a, shot at goal, which just missed, and Eltham forced. Eltham rushed up from the kick-out-to their opponents-’ 2d. Old Boys’ attacking powers were too g<sxl, and Dinniss. getting away. ran clean through the opposing defence and scored a -spectacular try right behind the posts. Brown converted. Old Boys 10, Eltham 3. The former were persistently attacking till an Eltham forward rush centred, and Old Boys were called on to defend vigorously. Eltham pressed the attack. Croden hiaking a good run and kick, only to see Priar repel the attack by his'fine kicking. Old Boys went down-field and swarmed on the line, ElthaJn’s defence being sorely tested. A force down gave Eltham relief, but only for a minute. The Boys’ backs were'one© more on attack, and the opposing hacks had great difficulty in repelling them. At length Brown made -a great run to the 20. where he lined. The ball came out again, and went across the backs to Brown? who passed infield to Webster, and an exchange of passes saw Webster -score a pretty try. Stevens goaled. and the match ended: Old Boys ],“ Eltham i .3 Mr. (1. Collins was referee.

TUKAPA V. OKATO. Although at the end of the first spell Tukapa had scored only. 11 points against Okato. m the second spell their

superior condition and tjie pace of their backs enabled them to make no race of it and bring, their total to 32. In the first 'spell iOkato forwards were r.ot outclassed but did not know as much about the game as their more seasoned opponents. jL-ne* Blue rearguard threw the ball about in a refreshing manner and were too good for their opponents., who were often caught out of position. K. Hooker, a prominent Tukapa player, of a couple of seasons back.,, made a successful comeback Sind his presence materially strengthened the Tukapa backs, who (should now improve. Petty gave a finished display at full back. His line kicking w r as very powerful. Play had not. been in progress long before a back movement ended in a try bv Hooker, which Petty converted. The latter then added three points from a penalty while just before the end of the spell Evans raced over in the corner to score an unconverted try for Tukapa. Early in the second spell the losers were awarded a penalty try for obstruction, which was not converted. Four converted tries (Medley 2, Street and Hooker) all converted by the last named completed Tukapa’s tally of six tries (five converted, one unconverted try and a penalty gspal). Mr C. 'Gernliocfer refereed.