TARANAKI RUGBY

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

TARANAKI RUGBY

SATURDAY’S PLAY. . & PROMINENT MATCHES. PERFORMANCES REV IE W ED. ' l The free scoring game which resulted in a narrow victory to Opunake over Hawera on Saturday provided one of the best exhibitions ot Rugby seen in club football this season, and with the issue in doubt till the final bell sounded, the fluctuations of play kept the big crowd in a state of keen excitement seldom experienced in anything less important than a play-off or a representative fixture. While the result accorded with popular expectation, the serious challenge of the Hawera fifteen proved it was by no means a foregone conclusion. As was anticipated, the divisional [ champions, Okaiawa, liad no difficulty! in accounting for the plucky Waimate I combination. The other game in the southern schedule—that between Athletic and Patea, at Patea —was postponed by mutual arrangement until Wednesday, July* 18. The big feature of the coming Saturday’s games in t-lie south will be the meeting of Okaiawa and Opunake on the latter’s ground. In the first round Okaiawa, with two tries and a penalty goal, administered the only defeat so far sustained this season by the coastal team, but if Opunake can repeat last Saturday’s form they will have a big chance of lowering the maroon and blue banner. In the other two games Hawera should again defeat Athletic on the showgrounds, while at Kaponga the home side may be expected to collect another two championship points from Patea, though not perhaps in such decisive manner as in the first round, when the blacks won 16 —3. OPUNAKE v. HAWERA. Momentary weakness in defence at a critical moment turned victory into defeat for Hawera in the game against Opunake on Saturday, and while it must be admitted that the winning forwards merited the decision, they did not do so by much more than the point which finally separated the scores. Individually the Hawera forwards were good toilers, but as a loose rush combination they had to cede a slight margin to Opunake. Rack play left little to choose. If any distinction could be drawn it would go in favour of - the Opunake rear division, which was a hit more sure than the home side in handling the ball. Two very promising middle backs in \V. Rutherford (Opunake) and N. Hunter (Hawera) were seen in action. On the day the greater share of honours went to Rutherford, who at centre was the winners’ best back. The resource of Hunter at first fiveeighth and his appreciation of the virtues of straight' running indicated that with further experience lie should develop into a player of class. S. F. Riley was easily the better of the two halves, but in the full-back position the home man Gheevers made a couple of mistakes, exceedingly fare in his play this season, and as a result had to cede the days’ honours as a last lien player to T. Robinson, who was steady as well as clever. Both teams were unfortunate during the game in losing the services of their respective best forwards in T. Conroy (Opunake) and W. Robinson (Hawera)., vVith that pair out of the picture the pick were probably R. O’Rorke (Opunake) and A. Henry (Hawera). OKAIAWA v. WAIMATE. Okaiawa maintained their position at the top of the ladder by a decisive victory over Waimate. At no stage of the game did the blues look dangerous, but they played a real sporting game anti there were several instances of brilliant, individual play. The blues were outplayed, hut at times they got more than their share from the serums, the opposing backs being far too speedy and nippy, D. Crawford and D. Johnston in particular being outstanding.

Hardly one ball was fumbled' by the Okaiawa backs daring the game, and the handling of the reds contrasted vividly with the less certain efforts of the opposition. Waimate lined out a man short, and it was quite a quarter of an hour before E. Griffen took the field _ The latter, however, did not play’ such a sparkling game as on the previous Saturday. Wineera was seen to advantage light through the game, and at one particular stage sold a great dummy but the effort was spoilt by erratic handling, for which there was no excuse.

M. Burke’s pretty run down the line just before half-time was deserving of a score. His dash is something only too rarely seen these times. 1. showed up prominently ail through tm match.