TARANAKI RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 18 July 1928, Page 7

TARANAKI RUGBY

SENIOR GRADE GAMES.

PLAY IN THE SOUTH. Okinawa's further two championship points collected as was expected at the expense of Athletic on Saturday, strengthened the strong claim facing made by the Maroon and Blues to retain f heir laurels as the champion southern .eluib of the last two seasons. The coming game in which they meet Kaponga. at Okinawa will mark the completion, of the champion’s engagements in the division fixtures. If Okaiawa repeat the first round performance and defeat the Blacks the former will have annexed tl*e division championship with a margin of at least two points irrespective of whether Opunake, the most serious rival club, wins each -of its two remaining games with Athletic, and Kaponga. The claims of supporters of the ITawera 'Club that the fifteen is one of the strongest in the competition were substantiated when the Amber and Blacks, wh'o drew with Kaponga in the first round and in the second round went down by narrow margins to both Okaiawa and Opunake, defeated K'aponga on Saturday and drew level with that club for occupancy of the third rung of the championship ladder. The Kaponga team, which made a fine bid to rea'ch the top in the first round during which in the game against Okaiawa the line was kept intact against the division leaders who had to take a hollow victory with a goal from a mark, has latterly been.below its best 'form. On recent performances the indications are that Kaponga will 'be unable to hold 'Okaiawa on the latter’s ground next (Saturday. The Okaiawa players will, however, require to produce a good standard to make sure of the issue and the game should be the star attraction of this week’s series. In tlie other two games Patea. and Waimate, who drew at Manaia iii the first round, arc to meet at Patea and Opunake, who defeated Athletic- comfortably in the first round, are to play the return match at Hawera. At Patea fa-day (Wednesday) the home team and Athletic, were to meet in the fixture postponed from June 30. ‘Their former meeting this season resulted in a o—3 win for the Bines.

' HAWERA if KAPONGA

A last, forward game witnessed by a fairly large attendance, to.ok place between the Hawera and Kaponga fifteens best . Saturday at Kaponga. The game was conspicuous for the absence of rough play, and it was most refreshing to see a game fought out in the true Rugby spirit, which un•fortunately lias not been tlie ease in several recent matches. Although both teams were weakened, each side fielding .several emergencies, the game provided plenty of thrills, incidentally .-.ending the fans away quite satisfied with the fare provided. * * * * The Yellows dominated the game and kept play invariably in the Blacks’ half. The first score came within, a few minutes of commencing play the Blacks wore penalised under their own posts, giving Paterson an easy shot. x * * * * .McCarty"wu,s seen to advantage early in flic game, when he broke away from a scramble on the line, to entry the game right through to the opposing before being grassed. It was a pretty effort, and deserved a score. The tit-bit of the-game was the pretty sole effort of C. Paterson, who gathered the ball from a line-ont at the centre, and dodging his way through several opponents, went over for a great trv in the corner. * 1 * * * * Whalen was the most spectacular player on the ground, and was responsible for many individual movements which placed bis side on' the attack when the Yellows were assailing the Blacks’ line. Two or three Whalens in the Kaponga pack would place- them at the top of the ladder. ***** Hammond was dead unlucky in not scoring a try near the end ol the first spell. He got over after a great struggle, only to be beaten for the hall at the touch-down. * « * * * The Hawera forward. Henry, did not make as much use of his weight, as he generally does. Perhaps the foregone conclusion as to how the game would end. was partlv responsible. * ' * ■{■:• * Barron was the bright particular star when stemming any rushes by the Blacks. .His tackling was solid, and it was seldom an opponent got past him. -Mercer will have cause to remember one tumble be got at the hands of Barron. ***** Fitzgerald played his usual heady game, his kicking and line-finding being quite up to his usual standard^ Mil i a son's pretty run down the line electrified the crowd, and his effort was crowned with a pretty -try. Kaponga. were unfortunate to Jose his services soon after.

OPUNAKE v. WAIMATE

There was a bright and breezy feeling in the match between Opunake and Waimate on Saturday which made it interesting to spectators. The former had nearly their best team while Wniuiat.c had some difficulty in making up their total number. In .suite of this they played with excellent dash anti, except for a portion of the second spell, gave their opponents a strenuous time. # Tim Waimate forwards played with rare dash and got down on the opposing backs quickly and as a result nipped many a. rush in the bud. On many occasions they caught the man in possession. Long, Griffin, Sutton, and Bourko were outstanding in this respect. The pack, though lighter, got the ball practically as often as the opposing seven. * * Paterson, at half, and Hickey, at five-eighths, did a lot of capital work and it was largely Hickey’s clever cut-ting-in to make an opening that let Sheer in in to -score their only try. « „ * * ♦ Hughes played well and did sonic nice dribbling and tackling, hut his kicking at goal, generally so accurate, was not up to form. * # On Winecra fell u. lot of defensive woi k and he acquitted himself well and was a, tower of strength to his side. „ , McDonald at full back did a lot of •rood work, but he was übt so safe as usual and showed the effects of having been out of play for several Saturdays. When in form lie is a, capital man for the position.

Opunake opened” up play whenever they had the opportunity, but during the' first sped,their passing rushes, did not come off,‘partly from the aggressive tactics of the opposing forwards and partly from faulty handling. * ’ Rutherford played a great game anil was in practically every attacking movement .while he was sound in'defence. ■ * * * - * * ,Melvor, -Sinclair and Robinson were the best remaining backs and their work gave the opposing team a difficult time, especially in the second spell. Conroy, Martin, J. Lusk, and Clink were the outstanding forwards, all playing a hard game and being on tlie ball all the time. . * » * * K. Riley, as rover, played capitally, and showed iv rare dash which made him hard to stop when near the line. His conversion of Lusk’s try from near the side line was a great Taking a- general survey of the play, Opunake were lucky to have such a margin; and actually there was not eleven points between the teams. Manaia had bad hick in not scoring, at least two more tries while Hughes would generally have got a. goal from at least one of the penalties he took. OKAIAWA v. ATHLETIC. In comparison with tlie spectacular display given by 'Okaiawa and Athletic at Okaiawa, in' the first round when the home team took the decision by .3L points to IS the exhibition given on Saturdav at Hawera was decidedly dull and spiritless for the major portion of the play, though the concluding stages were marked by a few bright interludesl presented by both: sets ol backs. The score ol —■> to J in the .leaders favour indicated a very pronounced superiority, but though they bad to allow the Okaiawa men to make .most of the play and cede superiority m all phases the wearers of the red and white jersey were not overshadowed to the extent suggested. • * « * •* V The canny play of IX Johnston and the difference his presence made to tne Oikaiawa. attacking machine was once aeaivx evidenced when, alter lilting -tlie full-back position during the opening staves, lie moved tip to Ins customary position in tlie five-eighths, line.^ While, Johnston’s characteristic cleverness stamped ’him as the best back on the field in either attack or defence; the home centre, R. could be ranged as a good second. A. sure field and tackle, Syme retrieved a hiv number of precarious situations for jiis side and was a dangerous unit in attack. He showed a lot ol pace on the heavy ground and was a solid battler through hesitancy on .one occasion after a brilliant dash meant tin. lo>s of a. very probable three points. , * * * * *

I) Crawford, whq usually takes one ol the Okaiawa wings, displayed versatility in filling the second five-eighths berth for a period and subsequently proving very reliable in the lull-back position though he_ is much bettei suited in his customary place. , « * * 1

.Simons, the Okaiawa right wing who was- the only back to cross tor a try. waArthe pick of the lour three-quarters see A - „ The hustling maroon and blue pack though occasionally beaten m the loose by the red and .whites' was mainly responsible for Owaiawj|’s success. of the seven tries were annexed by the forwards, the palm going to R. t'viirke, who was awarded two and also registered a penalty goal. , *| * m 1 he hardest worker was probably the re i lock, ike, who was in tile thick ol the'tight stuff and who- again proved u fine place kick, while another noted lor consistent battlmg was 1. buy. 'lhe Okaiawa rover. 1. Craw lord another wing three-quarter, wlm. left his u-ual “po-ssie.” proved a ratting loose forward and was the priucipal torce in at least two of the tries scored though he was actually credited with neitliei.- ( Dowdle in' the five-eighths line .shone at intervals and ranked next, to Syme in the division. Dvmond at five-eighths and R. JMor•ri.ssev on tlie right wing wore a couple of juniors who showed promise ol becoming first-class seniors. „ H Simpson was solid, though bobiw hL usual form at the base of the Athletic scrum. With his penalty goal he held the distinction of being hi.s sjtleVonlv scoring unit. # r Pease N. Lovcgrove and N. Cate were «. good trio in the pack with the rover W. Mundy. as tlie most noted leader though H. Phillips, who played the second spell only, was during that period, the best forward fielded by Athletic! '