RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 May 1928, Page 6

RUGBY.

YESTERDAY’S MATCHES. There were three of the usual fixtures postponed from Saturday till yesterday, and of these Okaiawa and Patea won against Waimate and Athletic respectively, while Hawera, being unable to secure a team to travel to Opunake, had to forfeit, and the latter get a- win by default. The play in both of the matches was good * and full of interest, and showed that the. play this season is certain to ho- close and exciting. OKAIAWA (14) y. WAIMATE (11). CLOSE, INTERESTING GAME. The Okaiawa-Waimate match was one in which the fortunes of the struggle varied throughout, and Waimate, after their opponents had established a substantial lead, came to light with a. continued display of good football, and -succeeded in almost overcoming that lead, being beaten just “on the post” by a margin of three points. Ike kicked off for Okaiawa, and Bangi E-nni nearly got bis side in trouble by failing to get bis Lick away, but Langford saved well with a mark. Waimate attacked, and in reply Okaiawa opened up the play, a passing rush being spoilt by a forward pass. Ike lined with a good kick, and from the throw-in Waimate rushed up field, and from a- free kick L. Hughes placed a fine goal. Waimate 3, Okaiawa 0. Okaiawq forwards rushed down field from the kick-off, and play went up and down field in fine- dashing style. From a penalty near half-way, Ike nearly landed a goal. Keeping; up the pressure, Lynskey, I. Crawford and Tippett were together in a good movement. A pass forward spoilt a good opening, and play centred till Okaiawa got away again in a loose rush, Hickey saving well. The Blues then swarmed up field, and got just on the line through a mistake by D. Crawford. Murdoch, however, briliantly saved with a long kick to half-way. Play hovered there for a- time till Waimate again got- away and took play to the 25. Tippett and Guy were together in a useful rush, Hickey stopping the movement cleverly. Waimate forwards were again on the attack, Murdoch and D. Crawford saving in great style on two occasions. Guy broke through the scrum and went to the full-back, Fergus, who sent play back with good kicking. Okaiawa continued to attack and, going to the line, Waimate forced. From the kick-out the Blue forwards went up field in great style, W. Bom-be-heading a dangerous rush, but once more Murdoch made a good save. A Blue passing rush was nullified by a forward pass, and R. Clarke and Tippett for Okaiawa came down in a nice movement to the full-back. Fergus and Griffin were together in a useful dash, which was followed by a great run by Wineera. Murdoch saved, and just afterwards rrom a penalty Ike landed a fine goal and scores were even. Waimate 3, Okaiawa- 3. Waimate forwards swarmed up field: from the kick-out, beating their opponents repeatedly, and only good defence, principally hv Murdoch, saved a score, and the spell ended without addition. Play had started in the second spell only a few minutes when Ikeheaded a loose rush- and, -securing, passed to Awa'liou, who scored in the corner. Ike goaled with a great kick. Okaiawa. 8, Waimate- 3. Waimate forwards were attacking at once, and .Ruru, taking well, made- a brilliant run till tackled by Murdoch, and theOkaiawa forwards went on in a great effort to score. Ike made a great dash, and with Awaliou and Toss- was associated an a pretty passing rush, getting nearly to the line. Back went play, and near the centre a penalty kick was taken by Ike, who once more converted with a wonderful kick, and the -score was : Okaiawa, 11, Waimate- 3. Just afterwards the hall rame out from Ike to I. Crawford, who dashed across- near tho corner. Ike’s kick failed. Okaiawa 14, Waimate 3. Waimate, undaunted, set the pace hard and fast, and kept their opponents busy. A passing rush was spoilt by a bad pass, and a- good chance was lost-. They kept up the pressure, however, and Okaiawa had hard work in averting -scores. Guy led a good looserush by Okaiawa forwards, but Ruru saved and sent them hack, and then Hickey and Sutton went down field in a nice concerted movement. JNear the- 25 L. Hughes had two shots from penalties, and the second, a fine kick, went over the bar. Okaiawa, 11, Waimate 6. Again the Blues pressed, and a forward rush went just to the line, and Shaw, taking a pass, dashed across to score a well-deserved try. L. Hughes with a brilliant kick converted. Okaiawa 14, Waimate- 11. Okaiawa once more attacked. and gave Waimate -a. busy time till the latter’s forwards broke away and were continually on the attack. D. Crawford for Okaiawa made two very fine runs right through to the line, buthad passing spoilt the movements. Waimate. resumed the offensive, and in quick succession Sutton and Ruru made nice dashes which tested the opposing defence. Without further score, however, the match ended: Okaiawa 14 Waimate 11 Mr. H. G. Whittington was referee.

PATEA 9 v. ATHLETIC 3. Playing on the shoAvgrounds yesterday afternoon, t-lic Patea first fifteen had a someAvhat easy A-ictoiw OA-er Athletic. The visiting team had the advantage of Aveight, and although the Hawera team fought gamely, the Patea players dominated the' game, particularly in the last quarter of an hour. The game Avas fast and furious al] through and some hard knocks Avere administered by both sides, and at the call of time both teams had had enough. Patea scored t-Avo tries and a penalty goal to Athletic’s one try. The teams were:— Patea—Thompson, -Cormvall, Bourke, Watson, iCraAvford, -Cooper, ' Hurley, Stanford, Crompson, -Bartlett, Bremer, P. CraAvford, BnldAvin, Wells, and Mur. phv. Athletic.—Simpson, Taylor, Syme, M. Owen, Dymond, lloavVUc, Mason, Mundy, A. Tomlinson, Death Tippetts, Beauchamp, Buekridge, J. Tomlinson', Phillips.

TIIE: CAME DESCRIBED. Athletic', kicked off with the wind slightly against them. A minute after the commencement, the Rods were awarded a free and Symc put the ball well down. Play came back to midfield, when from a line-out, Patea. got the advantage a net got away, but Dowdle -marked well and ’ gained ground with a good kick. A scrum in Paten’s 2:1 saw play go to Athletic’s territory, but a free kick relieved when 'Simpson put in a great kick, finding the line in Patea’s 25. -The Blues sent the game back to centre, but they were -penalised for off-side. Simpson again had the kick, but gained nothing, Bourke secured and made

(a solid run, but Simpson saved bril- ■ liantly, finding tlie-riiiiej well down. The line-out saw Athletic get possesI sion, but Cornwall intercepted well, sending the leather out near the corner. A Tomlinson spoilt a chance for thq Rods by passing forward, and from the penalty kick Patea sent the game back to midfield from where W'ells showed up well with the hall at his toe, but Simpson who was playing very safe, relieved with a timely kick to tho line. Things were looking bad for Athletic when u good mark by Dowdle relieved. The visitors sent play , back, but a knock-on spoilt a great chance of scoring, Patea scorned ‘ over-keen and off-side play was conspicuous, and Athletic were again awarded a free, but gained nothing, the kick being smothered, -Dymond intercepted beautifully, and passing to Syme, the latter went right through to score near the posts. Phillips failed to add the extra points. Athletic 3, Patea 0. From the kick-off, Dowdle secured and found the line, but the Blues gained from the line-out and took play into Athletics 25. A serum five yards out saw Mason whip the ball out smartly anj save with a good kick to tne Tine. l J atea were again penalised for picking up in a scrum and again Mason showed up well. The Slues eame back: again with. OYLurphy and P. Crawford taking the ball right to the Red’s line, but iu a scramble the hall was sent out. A free to Patea shortly after saw J. Crawford just miss a goal with a shot from near halfway. Another penalty soon after gave Ithe Hues another chance to even up, but Cooper missed, the wind affecting the flight of the ball. From loose play in front of the Red’s -posts, Watson took a long pass, and went over near the corner. Taking the kick himself, he just missed with a difficult kick. -Half time sounded with the scores three all.

The change over found Patea immediately after the start being penalised for offside, but the kick availed nothing for the home team. Hurley attempted to drop a goal when in front of the posts, hut he was bustled and only missed by inches. The Reds appeared to be getting the best of the game, but free to Athletic relieved, play going to midfield again, when Mason gained considerable ground. Thompson got his side out of trouble with a mark, but Owen got jiossession and was only collared on the line. From a scrum play went back to midfield when Mason initiated a passing rush, taking the game to the visitors’ line, where a serum five yards out, saw Patea get the advantage, and from another scrum in Athletic’s 25 tho ball was sent out. The Blues looked dangerous, but the Reds relieved, the ball again going out. Bad passing cost Patea a lot of ground and the ball going across the field was sent out at neutral territory. From the line-out, Patea gained and play went to within ten yards of the opposing line, where a scrum was ordered, and Athletic relieved slightly and Mason again initiated a passing rush in which Dowdle, Owen and Syane all handled, but Owen was pushed out near the corner. Patea relieved with a strong kick by Baldwin which took play back to the Red’s 25. A free to Patea soon after gave Joe ‘Crawford a. chance in front of the posts, but he missed, although making a good attempt. A sortie 'by the Blues, saw them ncarly score, but Simpson forced just in time. The visitors again made a rally and kept the game in the home 25 for some time. Patea nearly scored when J. Crawford was sent out at the corner. From the line-out, Reds gained, but the opposition were playing a determined game and took tne leather back, but from a scrum five yards out, the home team relieved only to be penalised through an infringement by Owen Avhieh gave the Blues a chance in front of the posts, resulting in Cooper kicking an easy goal. Patea 6, Athletic 3.' Owen put in a good run on gaining possession from the kickoff and was sent out when near the corner. Back went the game as the, Patea forwards were dominating the play. Syme made a good mark which gained a lot of ground and from midfield Dowdle -started a rush and passed to Dymond, but the latter spoilt his chance by cutting back into several opponents. The game went back to midfield and from a free kick to Patea, the ball went out in Athletic’s 25, where from the line-out Baldwin secured and dived over the line Avell out. Watson failed Avith a difficult kick. The gaaue ended soon after Avith the scores, Patea 9; Athletic 3. Mr. H. Johnston refereed.

A PLAYER SUSPENDED. [BY TEI-r.BBAPB —PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1 CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. For striking a player in a match against Varsity on Saturday,, J. Jeffries, the Merivale ancl Canterbury representative forward, Ava-s suspended for one year by the Canterbury Rugby Union to-night. Jeffries bail previously been before the union on similar charges. TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. OkaiaAva. Seniors.—Tippett (2), . Clarke (2), Crawford (2), Parslow, Ike, McCallum, Guy, Awaliou, Simons, Murdoch, Cameron, Lynskey, Hooper. Hawera High School. A team. —Nolan, Barker, Sturrock, Lee, Petersen, McDonald, Guy, Morrison, Kehely, EA r ans, Pacey, Mcßae, Kippenb-erger. Nicholas, Wills. B team. —Keegan, LeAvis, Hurley, Moore, Woollett, Milroy, Grierson, Walker. Paterson, Hayward, Jack-son, Edwards. Cooley, Davies, Surgenor; emergencies, Loader, Turnbull. Bus leaves school at 12 o’clock.