SOUTHERN DIVISION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 July 1928, Page 9

SOUTHERN DIVISION

SENIORS.

OPUNAKE y. WAIMATE.

In a match, full of interest from start to finish, Opunake beat Waimate by 14 points to 3. The loser's had b;id Juok m not scoring again and the , match was much closer tlian the scores would indicate. The teams were as below Waimate. —McDonald; Sheerin, Wiiieera, Langford; Hickey, Wilson; Paterson; A. Griff hi, JJourke, Sutton; Long Hikaka; R.uru Sam; Wood, Hughes. Opunake. Robinson; Sinclair, Rlutnerford, Smith ; C. Holiaia, Mourie ; Mclvor; Conroy, • Martin; J. Lusk, Hunt, Clark; \Cruden, O’Brien; K. Riley. Waimate set the ball in motion ilnd Opunake tried at once to open up the play. Faulty handling, however, spoilt several) good openings. Waimate rushed up-field, and in a good position had a penalty, from which L. Hughes just failed to kick a fine goal. Opunake dashed out and. from a bit of loose play the ball came out to Rutherford, who made a pretty run from half-way almost to the line and pasesd to Sin'elair, who was collared and a knock-on stopped a likely movement. For a time Opunake were attacking and Waimate had all their work cut out to repel their dashing rushes. At length the latter got away and a loose rush, headed by Long and Hum, went almost to the line. . Continuing their aggressive tactics the Blues pushed their opponents hard vand just outside the 25 flag Hughes had another .shot Irani’ a penalty, which just failed. Opunake then set up a. strong attack. Smith making a nice run f From a. sebum the ball came out and Conroy securing sent it on to J. Lusk, wlio’ was collared and Biley, who was handy, snapped up the ball and dashed over at the corner. The kick failed. Opunake .'5; Waimate 0. For a time play centred and then H ikaka. put in a. great dribbling rush j and went from half-way into. Opu.nake’s I 25. Robinson repelled the rush and lined near half-way. Waimate once more attacked and had the Greens defending hard till Robinson relieved with a pretty passing rush, the ball coming hard, went clean through in a nice passing rush, Sinclair being forced out when just short of the line. Waimate retaliated and the forwards, headed by I Long, dashed up-ficld. Back once more went the Green pack, Rilev and Conroy in the lead. Smith went right to the 25 flag and passed infield and Rutherford, taking neatly, sent in. to Sinclair and he to Riley, win, dashed •across, but a penalty nullified all the attacking movement. Shortly after McDonald took-a long kick and returning well seriated again and set his side on to attack. Opunake sent them hack | and a lucky kick by Robinson went out near the corner. Waimate relieved!

witi, a, h rw.u'd rush and a period ol even play resulted till half-time was called with, tlie score— Oipuinake 3 Waiimate U

Waimate set a fast pace from the outset of the second spell, and in loose forward rushes went to the opposing twenty-hve. Robinson sent them baen, and the .forwards, going on, had Wainiute strenuously defending their line t or ; several anxious minutes, nieney at length relieved with a kick and sept opunaKe back to half-way. They returned to Waimate territory, and for a. time play veered up and down held in dashing Jorward rushes, with the advantage alternately to each team, lint opunake, attacking strenuously, put in a pretty dashing rush, the bail! coming out to Rutherford, who sailed for the line and, when Worked, passed cleanly to Sinclair," who was all but over the line. Waimate cleared and going upheld in a dashing lor ward rush, com-pletely-beat- the opposition. Jxmg, fa.-] lowing up last, went across, but pist tailed to secure the hall, and Opunake forced. Trout a scrum under the posts the ball came out to Wineera, who passed out, and the movement resisting was just checked in time hy tJp,iinuce, who forced. From the fuck-out i-hey attacked hotly, and Waimate liau nurd work to repel several lightning passing rushes. Good kicking by McDonald relieved the pressure, hut oniy .or a . minute,, lor the Opunake players came across held, and Smith, following ap a lung kick, was able to toiicVi down. Tlie kick failed. Opunake 6, v\ aimate 0. Waimate attacked from the kick-out, but back once more came the speedy opposing pack, and a loose rush resulted in J. Lusk forcing his >vay across. Riley converted. Opunake 11, Waimate 0. Opunake continued to attack and gave their op-, ponents a strenuous time, hut then >\ aimate got away, and the ball coming to Hickey, he put in a pretty run and passed at the right moment to Hughes. The latter continued tjie passing rush and sent out to Sheerin. ""ho dashed across to score. 'Hughes’ kick failed. Opunake 11, Waimate 3. Jpunake, however, went downfield from the kick-out in a pretty passing rush, and, the ball coming to" Rutherford, he shot it out to Holiaia, and he to [Sinclair. who finished the move hy scoring a good try. The kick failed. o,punake 14, Waimate 3. Play then veered up unci down , field, both sides making strenuous efforts to score. Waimate had hard luck just on time in not securing another try, Hikaka dashing through and going to the line, where he failed to secure the ball, and a minute later jphe whistle went, leaving the score: Opunalve 14 Waimate 3 Mr. J. Kibby (New Plymouth) was referee.

OKAIAWA v. ATHLETIC

In a desultory- game on the Showgrounds, Athletic w<p- e unable to seriously extend the southern leaders, Okaiawa, who took the honours with a tally Of 2.5 points (six tries, two converted, and a penalty goal) to three (a penalty goal. The weather wais cloudy hut fine, though (the ground was heavy' from recent rain and proved a handicap to the fast play o. which both teams were capable. * A stiff' breeze assisted .Okaiawa in the first spell, but fell considerable before the change over. As Okaiawa’s usual lull hack, Murdoch, was not available, tiio last Jino was taken bv D. Johnston early in the game, though before half-time the representative five-eighth went up to his usual position.

The teams lined out as follow:

Okaiawa (maroon and tone). —D. Johnston-. Rdngi Ru»m, 13. Cameron, Simons; .14. Crawford; J. Awahou; M. Lynskv (hall); I. Crawford (rover); P. 'I ippetif, M. Pan slow; R . Guy, Ike, R. Clarke; V. Tippett. M. Clarke (hookers).

Athletic (red and white).—Tuki; R. Morrissey, R. Syme, M. Owen; Dvmond. C. Dowdle; H. Simpson (hailf); W. Minidy (rover) ; L. Harrington, J>. Itysi.it; N. Lcivegrove", Tamil. H. Cate; 10. Tippett. J. Pease (hookers).

Maying with the wind in the opening session. Crka.in.wa wei e promptly on' too httac.c, pury tor about seven nunutes being se.ciom but ■of the homp haul. Simpson and Syme were noted in good defensive work, but tile Red and White s were unable to taka the initiative, bids by the forwards being .stemmed by Lynskey or Johnston. First' points

tame when from a serum in the danger zone Lynskey worked the blind' side and Kungi Rum wont across for a try. whicli. J . Crawford was unable to convert. A loose forward rush launched immed'iatelv by Okaia.wa- resulted in a lore© down, but it was not long bet on? 1. Li u.wtord cut tiirougu to. the twentyfive and Lynskey, getting away with a .forward pass, went over for Okaiawu’s second tr.v. Again i. Crawford failed to convert. Okaiuwa 0. With, Mundv as the spearhead, the home forwards battled hard to take the aggressive, but lor a. considerable period the best they could do wsns to break up the attacks set afloat, by Lynskey. Carried by the wind, the hall crossed the Athletic line' •to go dead on three occasions. Followng the last kick out, Simpson made a

break for ttho Bed am cl Whites. Pease and a couple of others carried on to the twenty-live, only to be stopped by .Joli'iisto'ii- Another foray was opened by Dow die's run. but lii.s wing was crowded. though in a resultant. scramble Simpson was given a cliaiuo with, a penalty, which failed against the wind. A punt by R-angi Hum from just inside the iieutra; 1 line paved the way lor the next points. Simons getting under the ball and careering 15 yaidts for a try between Hie uprights, which Ike converted. Okaiawa were forcing the pare and shortly after Johnston signalled liis resumption of his usual position at second five-eighths, while D. Crawford went to the full-back position by swornino* the defence <wid Clarke" in for a try, which Ike converted. Though mainly on the defensive for the ■remainder of the spell, Athietio made occasional bids, during one 1' which 'Munity failed to raise the flags with a. penalty. This- occurred just after Ike. from half-way. had made a splendid kick, which resulted in tlio bull striking the middle of the bar and dropping underneath. Half timo was called with the score showing:

Okaiawii 1 lb A the I tic Tr.ougji the breeze iiad »aren tre ~a-•»iiitoJ-y tUK-e the ganifi opened, it was ox sml tenant strong! n to prove an airy to Atiiletie when p-iay resumed. D. try an ji 'tne home puck, wuio was m injured aiiivle, did not nijpead-, and was 1 replaced by H. Phillips, though tile iorI uiui- again took the field when; early in I the sped, IS. iippett retired with an us jury. Athletic opened with a series oi wiiling"bid's which confined action to Okaiawa’,s territory for several minutes. from just 'inside luilf-avay Tuki made an ambitious attempt with a. penalty .lock, which fell short. The next incident was a spectacular clash by Dow die, who almost reached the go a l , out hi* pass to a supporter was knockid forward. Svme .shone in another run, and a moment kilter the left ving, Owen, came infield to veer,through the defence almost .to.-'-'the goal, where lie was held by D. Crawford. In 'the onsuing melee on the line a. dteiendei; war penalised, and Simpson, with a kick straight out from, the goal, lpgistered a uckv three points when the ball struck the bar and bounded over. Okaiawa* replied with a forward thrust, which resulted in Athletic being forced,, and pi av fluctuated without particular advantage till Johm-iton want up to spoil a clearance and the bail came out to Symons, who hit the corner flag in diving to score. Play went f to midfield, following the kick out, and from a >vrunt in the home twenty-five a clever dribbre was exploited by I. Crawford with the result that IT. Clarke touched down near tr.e corner. Ike failed with a good kick, and the tally showed Okaiawa 19. Athletic 3. An interception bv Svim?. who raced clear in a 30 va- 'ds dash till 'stopped. by the, - Funk-buck and an attempted cot by Mundv. who also misled with a. .penalty, were feat teres of a, pericid in which Athletic made the play. Handling the ball in pass'ng bouts when within their own twentyfive. the. Okaiawa hacks essayed some •w-ettv movements. A couple of corkscrew bans l>v Johnston roused the crowd, and Itangi Hum caused excitcrrnt when he accented a. hall from the 'thC-t’o wing on the other side of the fie d and sot out for the line 40 vail'ds away. He failed to sustain the--race, however, and fell an oasy prey to Ryan when nearing the objective. The wing’s -ri.ss in.fier.ici caused Athletic some anxio:’,si moments, however, till a pupt bv Phillips and a break bv Pease repelled the i.TiTasioU. Just on time one of ?e\i3hal assan'ts l>v the Maroon and ni—c forwards gave another score, 1. Crawford and R. Clarke touching down f«v a, it-rv awarded the latter. Crawford made a good but unsuccessful attempt for the extra, points. Time was up a- minute later, hut Athletic bent the hall in pla.v for nearly aiuffber five minutes, during which, R. C]arke ■.dried a. uenai't-v goal, and the last whistle ‘'Tundcd with the scores: — Okaiawa 25 i ■ Athletic : 3

Air W. o’Grady ivas the referee

HAWERA. v. KAPONGA

A clean, fast forward game characterised the match between Hawera and Kaponga. Kaponga, did not field their strongest team, the most conspicuous bv his absence being A. Guy' ' However. tlie Hawera fifteen included several emergency players, but on the day the best side won. The teams were :

Hawera.—Cheevers, Stagpoole, Hammond, Paterson, Oa-rnemss, Barron, Oolmaar, Bitter, O. Murphy, Robinson, N. Paterson, It. Murphy, 13. Murphy, Prance, Henry. Kaponga.—M.-- Paterson, Eliason, Mercer, McCarty, Collins, Whalen, / Fitzgerald, P. Hannnei-slCy, Hodge, Murphy, B. Hammersley. B. Espin, Hickey, B. Espin, Purvis. Hawera kicked off and immediately alter the Yellows were awarded a free' for off-side right in front of the posts. G. Paterson put the ball over. Hawera--3; Kaponga- 0. The. kick-out saw Kaponga gain well when the hall went right through Bitter’s hands and go- out in Hawera’-s 2-5. A serum near the centre in the Blacks’ territory was in favour of Hawera, who took the ga-me on to Kaponga’is -line, hut the Blacks relieved, the game being held up at ( centre by off-side by Purvis. With the I ball, right under Jva-ponga’s posts, McCarty broke away from a- scramble, taking the ball in Hawera's 25 before being grassed. From a- serum on tlie Yellow 25, tliei latter slightly relieved, but Eliason sent the leather to the centre. TUte line-out saw. Hawera get possession and C. Paterson with a pretty solo effort dodged several opponents and . went over near the corner. Taking the kick himself, lie failed to add the extra points. Hawera 6; Kaponga (j. A loose rush by Kaponga. took the- game well down, but Cheevers evened up by finding tlie line near the centre. A fast rush by the Hawera forwards was spoilt by Oarncross failing to take a pass, M. Paterson easing the pressure with a well-judged kick, the ball going out -at half-way. From the line-o-ut the Blacks got possession and surged down but C. Paterson took a great .mark and sent the game hack. Hickey was seen to advtange in a loose rush by ’ the Blacks, which ended in a scrum in H'awerats 25. The Yellow, forwards swept down in a loose rush and carried play to .Kaponga’s line, hut a scrum gave the Blacks a clianoh to relieve when a free was given in their favour. 51. Paterson saved- with a good: mark, the Hawera- forwards being in a dangerous position near tlie blacks’ line. A pretty solo effort hv Whalen took the game right through to the opposite end, the leather going out at the corner. A free kick to the blacks gave M. Paterson a chance, but the kick went wide. The blacks forced tlie pace and Hawera forced, the kick-out taking the game back to the Kaponga- end. Hammond cut in cleverly, but was beaten for tlie ball when over the line. From a mark in front of tlie blacks’ posts Hammond missed an easy kick, but almost im-. mediately afterwards another free to Hawera "saw C. • Paterson kick a, goal, half-time sounding with the scores: Hawera 0 Kaponga 0 A great tackle by Barron stopped, a

'rush by the Blacks when lie brought [.Mercer down ait the twenty-five flag, j If itzgorald retaliated later with -a. nice | kick, which bounded out at the centre, lvaponga. got the Ixvst of the tine-out. Ijtliaison, hv a great run from a phssjry I Fitzgerald. went over near it he corner. L\l. Paterson missed with a. difficult kick. Hawera. 9, lvaponga 3. Ait interchange of kicks kept the game in the centre for some time until- Co Inrun gained a \ot of ground witii a free kick, but the Blacks forced the game back to the opposing twenty-five. The game at this juncture was held up for sme t.nie through Eiiason being hurt, and having Co leave the field. Kelly replaced him. Just after resuming. C. lOspin hot ov,2r near' the posts from a lcp.se rush, hut the kick was disallowed. Hawera. 9, lvaponga. 6. The Yellows, set up an attack which was not stemmed until the opposing line was reached, and a- scrambln on the Blacks’ line resulted in Barron securina and going over for an easy try. Paterson made a. good attempt to augment rthe score, hut the •. bid beat him. Hawera 12, Tva.poii.ira 6. 0. Kepin getting off-side, the Yellows: were given a chance to increase their-score.' Paterson just missing with i. kick from near half-way. The Blacks -i Hacked strongly and were unlucky to be penalised on <the opposing line. Fitz"eraiVl sent tine earns hack with a good Vck from a mark, but the Hawera fervw.l’S- Went up the iwessnre until ii •"ss'mr rush by Whalen to Mercer to took the game into the Yellow’®; -r.; : TOIlv knocked on when a. score '’coked almost certain. Off-side play r-rwt fib,?, Blacks a chance. C. Paterson "H’iing we.’.l with a strong kirk, and the. Yellows' following up fast- Barren .secured fadin' Hammond and went over, Co-lma.w inercoisnig the score. Hawera: 17, Tv anon,ga- 6. The game ended without iscore. Mr Geruhoeffor refereed.

JUNIOR.

OIRUNiAKE v. ATHLETIC

‘ Opunake juniors met Athletic juniors at tne main school grounds. Opimake arrived late and short, spells were piayerl.- Opunake’s slight advantage in tile rear division proved the deciding lactor in securing their victory by li •points to '9. ; - A f rom the kick-off Opimake attacked, but a- mark by Beauchamp (Athletic) sent Opimake back and the home forwards carried play to the visitors’ 25, Opunake forcing. Play hung in midfield, until Opunake forwards broke away. Picking up from tne ' ruck, Rosas scored between the posts. Hohaia converted. / Opunake 5. Atbeitie went lip-field, but .could not penetrate the defence, and Hohaia, with a good kick, el,eared to mid-field. A free-kick by Lendrum failed. Ward (Opimake), at .half, made several atempts to set his rear division in action, but the wind was against him', and the- movements broke down either with knock-ons or forward .passes. From a free-kick Sea,gey had a, futile shot at goal. Athletic were now attacking strongly, and went close to gaining the, objective : only to be driven hack by good linekicking by MeOullum arid Harrison. From the line-out Athletic hacks went up-field and the hall travelled across to Greehbaiiks, oil the wing, who had a clear run to score at the corner. Hendrum failed t ( > convert. Opunake .5; Athletic 3. Hood forward play kept Athletic, on the defence, until balf-tinie. ■ Opunake attacked: -strongly 'ii oin the kick-off and a good kick by Seageib temporarily saved, hut back came the I Green forwards, and off-side play, by Athletic gave Hayrison a chance- and with a good kick he raised the umpires’ flags. Opunake S; Athletic 3. Athletic forwards attacked brilliantly, and in endeavouring; to. clear, Langton Imug on when collared, and from the freekick Lendrum was successful. -Opunake 8; Athletic 6. The ball travelled up and down-field in quick succession for the ensuing five minutes or so, until theOVth.letic forwards, with fhe hall at their toes, gradually, worked their way down to the Greens’ 25, hut faulty passing by the three-quarter line spoiled a likely movement and Opunake cleared to half-way, where, from a penalty. Harrison raised Opunake’s score to 11.. The Red backs swung into Action, and Tarrant raced- across-to score at the corner. .. The kick was disallowed. Opunake 11; .(Athletic, 9. Full time sounded with the scores unaltered. Air A, Mwrri son was referee.

AY AI MATE v. ALTON

Alter a good hard game played at ...ton, m wniefi Alton led at nan-time, v> iii.mate' proved victorious by 22 to Lo.

PATEA v. KAPONGA

' This match, was played at Patea. Patch played with tne wind m tljp fertft half,, and alter some; dose play openea with a- score by F. Willis, wfio failed to convert, before the sped ended Cousins odL over for Pa,tea tor Wilis to convert the sped ended with Patea 8 points in ' tJ Tvatposngsa- tried hard to, equalise after the change over, but the Patea defence was,.too sound and turning, to Hie < - .ta>iv Rutherford scored a .goad try. which AViliis failed to convert. Sallies, bv both hacks and forwards «ai\\ K-a-nomm. score twipe in quick succession, when Thoumine and Plunkett got WW the line, hut neither try was converted, and the game ended short yat.erwaafs with the scones reading: Patea 11. * ‘ ponga 6. Mr C. Shealian was referee. ' HA WEB A v. OK AT AW A.

Hawera- juniors won from Okaiaua hv the narrow margin or one point, tire- final scores being Hawera o, Okaiawii a converted try to a potted goal. . , , ’Mr. O. Thurston r-efer-eed.

FOURTH GRADE.

W AIMATE v. ATHLETIC

1 Waimate journeyed to Hawera and met- Athletic at the Showgrounds, where a verv even game was played. Waimate, with tlie wind in their fay; our, scored eight points, tries being secured by Hodge and J. Kitt, one 01 which was converted bv Tamu. During the second spell Smith and O'Shea scored a try each for Athletic, making the final score: Waimate 8,, Athletic 6 Mr. M. Jones was referee.

OlcaiuiWia met and defeated Patea on their own ground by 10 points to 5. alter a very even game. Stewart and Gridin scored for Oka-iawa, both tries being converted by Walden. Pa-tea's score was- made up of a try by Doug,as. which Donald converted. Air C. Broughton refereed.

Hawera- Technical High School A defeated Kaponga by seven points to five after a good forward game. For the winners, McDonald dropped a goal and scored a try, and for Kaponga, Belli scored a try. Kilpatrick converting.