REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 4 July 1928, Page 11

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ GAME.

NORTH V. SOUTH TARANAKI. 5 CURTAIN-RAISER TO BIG MATCH. , A match between South Taranaki and North Taranaki primary schools teams was played at the show grounds to-day as a curtain-raiser to the representative match. The teams were fairly evenly matched in the forwards, but in the backs North had an ndvan- . tuge in weight and height. The teams were as follow : ; South. —King, Budd, Thompson, Mas lift, Ropiha, Cleaver, Sullivan, Gray, Webby, Muir, Richardson, Faw- . cet-t, Slinger, Ingram, Sea gar. North. —Cole, He might, Moorby, George, Alms champ, Tioko, Johnson, Stevens, Manning, Ewans, Vincent, Bird, Stewart, Tait, Cave. South attacked early, and by . a. series of back movements set up from scrums worked, their way into Northern territory. The first score came early. Thompson dropping a goal from the field amidst loose 'forward play. North incurred a penalty in their own 1 2b, and South' essayed a shot at goal, which just failed. Play was returned to half-way by means of a. North forward attack, lmt South instituted a passing rush which had North defending. A North hack gathered in his own territory, and put in a great run down the line, where he in-passed. The movement was held up, and play returned to half-way. The Northern forwards again got away in the loose, when offside stopped them. ' Budd fielded well, and side-stepped several opponents, finishing a good effort by kicking over his head as he was collared. North were penalised for hanging on to the ball, and play went down to their quarter. Budd, who had been dangerous on several occasions, turned on another corkscrew run which beat the opposition badly, and play was returned to the North 2,5. Sullivan, who was playing a heady game at half-back for South, opened play up with a. cross-kick, and .from' another kick the ball went over and North forced. North occupied Southern teritoiv for some time, setting up a series of passing rushes in front of the- goal, but the defence held: and was later turned into attack. South worked their way down the line, and following up a. long kick over the line, a Southern forward dived and scored. The shot at goal failed. The spell ended with the scores: South 7 North ’j ”. 0 North set up a. vigorous attack on resuming and quickly got down into ."soutli territory. Henright secured and, running around a scrummage, landed a nice field goal. Maintaining the pressure North pienned their opponents up in their own quarter. Accepting a short pass lrom the back of a scrum near the line, Johnson dived over in the corner, bringing the score to seven all. South had a turn on attack, but North, with the wind behind them, worked back to South territory, helped by a short lack by Johnson. South gained relief from a force down. South had a brief spell on attack, but North came back, and Johnson had another unsuccessful attempt to notch another four points. Shortly after, the same player outstripped the opposition in a mn across field and scozed near the comer. Another score came for North within a few minutes, Evans picking up and diving over. The next few minutes’ play caused some excitement and much laughter.

■South made desperate attempt? to penetrate- to Northern: territory. The hall was thrown about with, 'abandon by both, sides; ■players were dumped with the greatest heartiness—and no score resulted. The boys showed evidence of good coaching, but just lacked experience to apply it. However, Johnson added to Iris laurels by out-pacing the Soutli team from lialf-way to score in the corner. North 16, South 7. JPlav returned to half-way, but North were handMn.tr well in passing rushes, and Hen right and Johnson frequently made the position dangerous for South. Their penristence in attack was rewarded shortly after, Browning getting over in the corner and grounding the hall as he was col laved. North were stilt attacking when time sounded, with the scores— North 19 South 7 Mr F. Atkir-c was referee.

THE BIG MATCH. TARANAKI v. AVELLTNGTON. Between]! 4000 ain'd 5000 (spc'etaltoir's wiiitnosiscd the representative imartoh between Wellington and Tairamialki. But for *a fairly stiff breeze blowing lailmosit straight 'down the field, condition's for a fasti, spc'cit'acuilnir game could Is'catcely have been better. Tut-amn'kii kicked off against the: sun aliicl wind, gaining no ground with the kick. For live aniitmiitcw play centred, neither team 'handling well. The home forwards showed a taste orf their quality and held their ground despite adverse. conditions', until RobinteOni, kicking high, gave W cllington an opportunity to gain ground. Johnston, however, retrieved the error with a smart run to'the visitors ’ isido of centre. Wellington. forwards came back amid: were awarded a penalty kick alt the 25. Conan converted with a perfect kick, At. half-time the score was— WcOliughon 6 Taranaki 0 ,