NORTHERN DIVISION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 4 June 1928, Page 8

NORTHERN DIVISION

SENIORS. STAR y. CLIFTON. A loose game among packs of evenly matched forwards, with, an occasional flash of combined! back play, were the principal characteristics of a generally uninteresting match between Star and Glifton at Pukekura Park, in which the home .side won by 11 points' (three tries, one converted) to three (a try). Clifton were without five of their regular back division players, and consequently were much weaker than in any previous match they have played this season. In the forwards, however, they more than held their own until near the end, when Star definitely had the upper hand. The first try came to Star from a melee in the corner out of which James thrust his way over. Immediately following the kick off the visitors rushed play to their opponents line, where Rowe whipped up the ball and raced over. Play was confined to neutral territory for most of the remainder of the first spell, which ended with the scores even.

In the second half Star at once clapped on the pace and within a minute or two H. Wolfe had scored a'good try in the corner,which was not converted. Clifton responded gamely, but could not make much impression on the Star defence, though they were several times in Black territory. Court was responsible for the home sides last try, which Morris converted and the game ended with Star winners by eight points.Mr Gilmour was referee.

STRATFORD v. TUKAPA. Played at Stratford under bleak, wintry conditions, in which a stiff, cold, southerly wind and drizzling rain were prominent features, the home team had little difficulty in running out winners by 20 points to 3. The ground was on the greasy side, and the prevailing oonidtions made the ball heavy; before the gam© was many minutes old. Place kicking was in consequence not of a high standard. Play was confined principally to the forwards, and was of a ragged nature. The winners played without the services of Walter and Sangster, the latter’s defection accounting iii a great measure for the tight style of play indulged in by Stratford. The teams were':

Stratford (red and black). —A. Collins (fulL back), Bonner, Hobson, Wynyard, Carter, Owen, It. Collins, Bond Young, O’Keefe, Coleman (lock), Kivell, Smith, Hinton (hookers), Fryday (rover). Tukapa (blue and white). —Evans (full back), Britton,den, Hooker, Smith, Oliver, Blincoe, Hope, Soutlioombe, Steep, Hill, O’Dowda (lock), Taylor, McLean, McLachlan (hookers), Sullivan (rover). Stratford chose to play with the wind, and the visitors’ kick-off was returned well down, rolling to touch. From the line Owen set his backs going, and the 'ball travelled out to Wynyard, who .missed the pass but tapped the ball with his foot to near the corner flag. Tukapa cleared a l ,

dangerous situation from the line-out and' surged up field. The play swung up and down, the home team’s advances being stubbornly mot by splendid tackling and effective returns. At length a linc-out yielded an. opportunity' for R. Collins," who was playing half in place of Songster, to swing the leather out to Owen, who in turn sent on to Robson and Wynyard. The speedy winger showed a clean pair of heels, and went- over at the corner, running round to ground' under the bar. A. Collins converted. Stratford 5, Tukapa 0- The visitors enjoyed one brief respite, working to the Reds’ 25, only to lie sent back by long winddriven kicks. Within five minutes Stratford secured two tries as the result of scrambling forward play, these 1 icing obtained by J. Young and: R. Hinton. Collins failed to goal at each attempt. Stratford 11, Tukapa- 0. Following the last score the Blues worked, by judicious line kicking, to within five yards of their objective, but the home forwards had little difficulty in clearing from the line-out. Sullivan went- through from the centre wit'll a dribble, and Stratford was penalised for obstruction on the 25 yards’ line. Hooker’s kick rose well, but the high wind carried: it off. The home forwards- swarmed down, and Kivell touched down in another scrambling attack. Collins again failed to improve. Stratford 14, Tukapa. 0. Back to centre: the Blues- gained ground, their progress' being stayed- by Coleman -smartly marking. Fryday showed, to advantage in a. lone-handed, dribble, nicely stopped by Evans. At the centre Fryday cross-kicked, to Wynyard-, who was slow in gathering, and lost a chance of scoring. The same player was immediately after robbed of another score by Carter holdfrig too Tong. . The unequal battle waged in the visitors’ territory, faulty handling on the home team’s part heing productive only of continual scrums and two force downs. At half-time Stratford was within a. few yards of the Blues’ line, with the score: Stratford 74 Tukapa q The resumption saw Smith fail to take .Stratfordls kick-off cleanlv, and the Red forwards, prompitiljy taking advantage of the lapse, ,swarmed to the line, where Bond was rewarded' with another scrambling try. With Collins’ failure to convert, the score stood at Stratford 17, Tukapa. 0. Aided by the wind, Tukapa set up a series of attacks and twice had to be content with forcedowns. Then from mid-field' a. succession of .short passes among the Blue, forwards! tenn mated' in McLean goilig over for the visitors’ initial seoim Hooker made a good attempt to add points, Stratford 17, Tukapa 3. The home forwards worked to striking distance. Kivell, Young and Hinton working well, together, hut the favouring breeze of the* first .spell wasi now against them, .and they were driven back to their own line. Here Kivell marked smartly an f ] saved an increase t'o the northerners’ 'tally, and the Reds, with Kivell. Bond and Hinton prominent, swept to the opposite* end, where Evans saved bv throwing the leather into touch-in-goaf!. Back in Ms own 25. Owen .averted trouble with a strong, short.run and pass to Carter, who .sent, oil to Robson, to Wynyard and touch in the safety zone. From a, line-out "t 'the visitors’ 25. Collinw opened up tiny game, and the ball sued 1 along the 'Lain to Bonner, who had’ hard luck in tosling nosstession when almost over. A long throw-in. however, retrieved the •vvsiiifiioii, and good handling by KiyeW. Pond nod O’Keefe sa w the ball in Wvnbands and be burst his Way over. Collins again failed and the score read 1 : Stratford 20. Tu.knm 3. The final five minutes of the game were devoted tio 'dfeirn'aflnc and fruitless attacks. onl.V Tukipua’s .sound defence and the home ten.-m’s innbib’+v f n . effectually combine •yoyentinu additions to. tTv* isotopes of Ah the eall of no-ride n>l ay was dangerously cose to Tukapa’s line, with the scoreStratford 1 20 Tukapa! 3 Mi* Gemhoefer (Inglewood) was the referee l . .-

OLD BOYS V. INGLEWOOD. Inglewood maintained their unbeaten rcebrd by defeating Old Boys by 10 points (two converted tries) to three ('an unconverted try). The game, ■however, could not be called a" very good 1 exhibition, play for flic m'ost part being ragged and uninteresting. The Old Boy's 5 backs did not play up to form and they seemed to be unable to finish off their movements, the ball scarcely ever reaching 'the wings. The Inglewood backs were responsible for some bright movements, but on the whole, their work was not as good as last 'Saturday. Forward the 'teams were well matched, with Inglewood having a slight advantage and on the day, the best team won. ' ' /

Inglewood, with the wind behind them, scored all their points in the first spell, N. Ross scoring after a break away by Gudgeon, and iCbutts securing an opportunist try during a momentary indecision on the. part of the defenders'. Coutts converted both. A break through by .Smart paved the'Way for Old Boys’ only try by Hookes, which was unconverted. Towards the end, R. Atkinson and K. Campbell were caught fighting and the referee had no alternative but to order them off. Mr. G. Hooker refereed.

ELTHAM v. OKATO. Eltham got home by the narrow margin of three points in their gamie with Okato, the newcomers 'to the senior competition. The teams were as follow: Eltham H. McDonald, Trolove, Moore, Cooper, Gower, Leafchani, Hickey (half), PeppeTeill (rover), Crudea, A. McDonald, Highet, Thomas, Potts, JoneS Elliott. Okato —L. Goodwin, J. Goodwin, Fletcher, Seinilhay, A. Goodwin, M. Roberts, Taylor (half), Roebuck, J. Goodwin, T. Goodwin, Coffey, Evans, W. Julian, Wenhare, Jones. J. Goodwin cut a main out in a passing rush soon after Starting, but Cooper intercepted and another passing rush broke down. Moore dribbled to past half-way and Eltham rushed to the line, but Semilhay relieved to halfway. H. McDonald ha'd an unsuccessful attempt with a penalty kick. A minute later McDonald’ succeeded with a splendid long kick. Eltham 3, Okato. 0. After twenty minutes’ play the Greens essayed a passing rush, but the Whites con; tinues to be aggressive and worked to thdir opponents’ 25. A free kick was taken by Leatham, who cut in and passed to Gower, who threw wildly. The Greens were forced by a long kick by Moore. Gemilhay was instrumental in shifting play to the Whites’ territory, making a good run followed by a kick which the full-back returned. Leatham and Trolove carried on and. with the forwards carried the leather over the line, a force resulting. Keeping up the

attack, the Whites- were soon- again 'flu the line and Crudcn seorlcfd. McDonald's kick failed. Taylor led the Greens in. a -dribble to (half-way, 'but Hi-ghet re- 1 pl-iied and a hard kick forced the Greens. J. Goodwin gained ground and the forwards got to -the lime, but the Whites relieved. Scrambling play took place in neutral territory till half-tfini'e. Against the wind the White forwards showed better combination and _ play was for some time in Green territory, Gowier received a pass and made the 25, but was collared on the line by the full-back. An infringement relieved thle Greens, play going past half-way. Passing took place between, the Eltham backs across to Troiove, who mulled. The Green backs replied with similar tactics, the ball going out at Eltham’s 25. The Green backs got to the lime, but from a sCrum the Whites relieved and play went to the Greens’ 25. Subsequent passing took the ball to the Whites’ corner flag. Hickey was injured and L. Oa/sey went on. A free kick to the Greens well out failed, atnJd for an infringement J. Goodwin, took another penalty,' again failing. Peppered! kicked out at the 25. Momentarily the Whites rushed to their opponents’ territory, but the Greens combined and shifted play, the White's being forced by a long kick. Not to be denied the* Greens attacked and Moore Was -bustled, allowing a 'line of Greens to rush -over the line, and a score resulted. Goodwin,’® kick from a favourable position failed. E-ltham. 6, Okato 3. Eltham’s collaring settled Okato’s attempts at p'asishg, and play remained in neutral territory. Led by Gower the Whites attacked, but the defemee was too good, PI etcher again being a tower of strength. Carey wa’s ‘applauded for go'od work behind the White pack, and the Greens -defended until Goodwin found th-el' ime at half-way. PLefchetr and Goodwin were again prominent and play went to the Whites’ 25, but LeOthami relieved to half-Way. The Whites carried play quickly froto their own line and the Green full-baJck wals compelled to force. Play was in Green, territory when time wals called with the score— Eltham 6 Okato 3 PRIMARY SCHOOL RUGBY. Playing at Matapu, the local school team "beat Mangatoki by 12 points to nil. The scorers mere Cleaver (penalty goal, field goal, and converted one) and Wetton (one try). Mr. Radford was referee.

IN OTHER CENTRES.

CHRISIX3HUROH. ’Varsity 23 v. Old Boys 8. Merivale 13 v. Linwo-od 8. Christchurch 33 v. Albion- 3. MANA.WATU. Kia Ora S v. Feilding Old Boys 11, Old Boys 30 v. Woodville 0. Feilding 8 v. Athletic 3. Pirates 11 v. Tech, Old Boys 3. County 6 v. Wanganui Old Boys 5. Mar-ist 6 v. Kaierau 3, WELLINGTON Senior A. Oriental 3 v. Mari-st 0. , Ppneke 18 v. Bexhampore 8. Athletic 10 v. Wellington 3. Petone 11 v. Eastbourne 3. Senior B. University 8 v. Wellington 3. Selwyn 11 v. Oriental 11. DUNEDIN. Kaikorai. 9 v. Alba-bra 7. Dunedihi 6 v, Taieri 3. Zingairi 3 v. Union 3. Pirates 6 v. Southern 5. AUCKLAND. Ponsonby 6 v. Training College 6. Manukaiu 11 v. Oity 6. G'rafton 7 v„ Golllege Rifle® 5. Mairiist 12 v. Gr-a-mmer 5. ’Varsity 17 v. North Shore 6.