SOUTHERN DIVISION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 July 1928, Page 9

SOUTHERN DIVISION

SENIORS. OPUNAKE v. ATHLETIC. Weakened by the absence of W. llohaia, Rutherford, and R. O’Rorke, an Opunake fifteen was fully extended by Athletic on the show grounds, Opunake having to be content with a win of nine points, coming from three tries, to three points (a penalty goal), a comparatively poor victory compared with their 28 to nil tally registered in lhe, first round. Except for the last iU minutes. Athletic missed the presence of their star back, R. Syme, who hud been unable to make the rendezvous before the teams lined out. An opportunity for a short appearance was, hcAvever, given him when C. Dow die retired -with an injury. Dowdle was conspicuous, throughout in the five-eighth line, and vied with C. Hcliaia, Opunajte’s star, as the best back on the field. While beaten by the resource of Opunake’s rear division, Athletic actually made the play for the major portion of the game, and if favoured' a bit more by Dame Fortune might easily have lowered the greens’ banner.

The teams lined out as follow : Athletic (red and white). —Tuki; B. McCarthy, \Y. Mundy, M Owen; C\ Dowdle, W. Dymond; li. Simpson (half) captain; D. Ryan (rover); L. Harrington, X. Lovegrove; Tamu, H. Phillips, N. Cate; J. Pease, S. Tippett (hookers), Opunake (green).—\Y. McCallum; E. Smith, C. Holmia, A. Sinclair; T. Kobinson, Iv. Mourie; G. Mclvor (half) captain; K Riley (rover); T. Conroy, P. Martin; J. Lusk, S. Hunt, A. Clarke; J. Zurcha, B. O’Brien (hookers).

The Opunake skipper eliose to defend the eastern end, though the light cross wind, which held only sufficient strength .to raise the touch flags in an o easional flutter, allowed no particular advantage. An overcast sky obscured the sun. The opening phases found play changing quickly between the goals without definite advantage to either side A good run by Owen down the left lj.ne roused the home barrackers, and L'owdle came up to field a pass close to the objective. He went over, but was unable to get away with the offside pass he had just accepted. Both ( sets of forwards appeared dangerous on i several occasions, and force downs, first by Opunake and then by Athletic, were registered during a willing period. At midfield Phillips made a good break u-ojn a loose rush, and Owen shot across to dash straight in to the goal. Chased for about Id yards by O. Hohuia, the Athletic wing was collared only" just in time, the pair falling together alongside the goal post. From the ensuing scrum the ball went to Robinson, who made a timely clearance. With the spell half-way through, McCallum, the visitors’ full-back, went up to the second five-eighth berth and was replaced in the last line by Robinson. At this stage the red and white rear division was continually forcing

flic play, but was unable to make much ! impression on the stolid defence maintained, principally by Holiaia and Robinson. Penalties taken just outside the twenty-five by McCarthy and Mundy failed to raise the flags for Athletic, but the pressure was maintained, Opunake getting into the home half only in occasional forward sorties led by Clarke, Conroy, and Lusk.

Towards the close of the spell a quick tnrust by the green pack from midhold was exploited by the backs, the ball travelling across-to the left wing, Sinclair. Unable to get through, he made a centre kick, which resulted in a scramble by the post, and the Opunake full-back, Robinson, raced up to field a hasty celarance lack and go oi'er well out. Riley made a good kick, which sent the ball a lew feet wide of the upright. Almost immediately, C. Mohaia cut through the defence in a zig-zag from midfield and sent the right wing, Smith, over in the corner. Riley’s kick failed. During the remaining two minutes a spectacular movement, in which Mourie, McCallum, and G. llohaia were associated, ended in McCallum sending Sinclair across forthe tliird try. Again Riley was " unable to convert, and the half-time whistle sounded with the score . Opunakfi 9 Athletic 0 When the home side lined cut for the second spell Dymond. went uip behind tuie scrum, while Simpson moved out to second five-eighth and Dowdle took the first live-eignth position. Opunake opened with a. forward ra.ly, and Clarke was just l>eaten to the touch-down by Oven. After the kick out Tippett .‘-bane in a fast dribble, but was stopped near the line by Smith and Robinson. Fluctuating .play showed no partrcuoar advantage till a Green forward inti ingedi the off-side rule and McCarthy s boot .registered three, for At licit ic. A. moment later Dowdle in ado a willing bid, fending off both Uobuia and Robinson, only to. faiil to a tackle by both when almost over the line. Opunake forced f.rom the serum. Again Athletic made the play for an exciting period, but could not prevail against the vigorous spoiling of the Green forwards. A combined rush by the latter put Opunake on the attack, but Athletic returned! to the assault after Hohaia missed with a pot. Clever k. by Dawdle and Simpson and determined thrusts by Owen were unfornnte in being deprived' of results befc.- 'ci 'Med vor set the Opunake backs ".'in x- Several! such moves left the bail with the forwards, who were twice. • bl'rd when one of the crew got in front of the bail. About ten minutes before full-time Dowdle went off with an injured hand and R. Symo went on to Ms oustemarv position at centre thre 2-quarter. The. concluding phases found Opunake holding, the advantage. An ambitious attempt by Rdiley from half-wav to convert a penalty with a Vick which failed to reach the twentyfive and, a charge by Luck, who was held up bv Tuki right on the line, war? features of the remaining play, which 'eft the scores still Showing: 'Opunake 9 Athletic 3 Mr \V. J. Badley Was the referee.

OKAIAWA v. KAPONGA. No wind, no sun, no advantage to either side saw the between Okaiawa and Kaponga at Okaiawa ground. A good evenly contested game was witnessed by a fairly large crowd. The Kaponga forwards put up the better .performance of the two packs, and in the scrums the Blacks got more than their share of the ball. Their defeat .was the result of being unable to finish off movements, and several individual efiorts. were nullified by bad handling and wild passing. The game was noticeable for clean, open play which was, refreshing after some of the games witnessed this season. Okaiawa.--Murdocn. D. Crawford, Cameron, Simmons, Johnston, Awahou, Lynskey, I. Crawford, McCallum, M. Clark, Pars low, Ike, Guy, V. Tippett, P. Tippett. Kaponga.—M. Paterson, McCarty, Mercer, Eliason, Whalen, Fitzgerald, B. Hammersley, Free, Hodge, B. Espiii. C. Espin, Hickey, Purvis', P. Hammersley, Guy.

Kaponga kioked-olf. play being in neutral territory. A good catch by Eliason gained ground, but the Blacks were penalised for off-side. Shortly after Cameron gained possession, and passing to I. Crawford, the latter went over. Taking the kick, missed. Okaiawa 3; Ivaponga 0. Kaponga bad several chances, but hanging on 100 long cost them many gooxl prospects. The Blacks’ forwards were more aggressive and they were getting more of the ball from the scrums. When the Reds were in a dangerous position near the Blacks’ line Paterson saved with a great kick, finding the fine at centre. With play in mid-field, liaponga forwards wore getting the best of the game. A, free to Okaiawa gave the Reds a chance to send the game into Kaponga’s end, but the Black forwards held up the attack. Crawford was caught off-side and Paterson was unfortunate in kicking: a poster, the l>alL 'bouncing the wrong way. Bad play and bad handling let the Okaiawa forwards get going and I>. Johnston scored. Ik© missed the kick. Okaiawa 6; Kaponga 0. The kick-out saw tha Reels force the game to Kaponga’s line,

f but Paterson, with a pretty kick, sent I the ball out .at half-way. A free to the ' Blacks for obstruction gave Paterson ' another chance, but the ball went wide. 1 A good mark- by Guy in the Pod’s 25 gave Kaponga a chance, to score,, but ! the kick was rushed down. Half-time I sounded with the Blacks forcing play I in Okaiawa’s half. ! Okaiawa 6 | Kaponga 0 The second spell opened in favour of Kaponga, when the bail was sent straight into Okaiawa’s half: A forward rush was stopped when Murdoch gained with a lucky kick, getting tht line at halfway. Tlie reds got the best of the line-out, which too it the gam n to the blacks' twenty-nve, and' iron, a scrum the blacks were penalised lot oil-side, ike missed an easy kick. D. vrawford just afterwards looked lik€ scoring, but Jiliason tackled well, sending his man out. The lue-out- was in favour of Kaponga, but D. Johnston I initiated a pretty passing rush, which was stopped within ten yards of the blacks’ line. Cameron took a shot in front of the posts, and, following up fast, Simmons secured and di\ed o\er ;or another try. i). Johnston failed to a del the extra points. Okaiawa 9, Kaponga 0. Eliason showed up well when tlie reds had the ball at the toe by securing and running across field to kick for the line, which ended in the reds’ twenty-live. The black forwards rushed from the line-out, and LI i a son again showed up, but the ball bounced out at the corner when a scorelooked certain. I. Crawford went off the held at this juncture, being replaced bv Bang! lluru. With the game m Okaiawa’s half the reds were given a free kick, but I). Johnston made a feeble attempt with an easy kick. The kick-out saw the ball <omc back to the Kaponga end and, Elia son marking, Cameron returned the ball, play going to tlie other end. A scrum inside the blacks’ twenty-five ended in a irce kick to Kaponga, but Guy was caught with the ball from a short punt and Johnston, securing and selling the dummy to several opponents, went over between the posts. ike added the extra points. Okaiawa 14, Kaponga 0. \\ ith tlie game in midfield, the blacks tried hard to penetrate the reds’ deienee, but the leather went out. The line-out was in favour of Kaponga, but the latter being unable to finish the movements, many individual efforts were spoilt. The game ended with Kapouga attacking, the final score being:

Okaiawa 14 Kaponga 0 Mr. H. G, ’Whittington refereed

PATEA v. W AIM ATE. Ly a game that contained' seme fairly go Mi pray, \V annate notched their sj.oiui victory of the season by beating Tafia. by y to -5. The teams were as below:— caiea.—Cooper, TiLinga, Lockhart. Y\ G..y, J. Crawroril, Alarchant, itieliardb, Martin.. I’. Crawford, O. Murphy, .tiierioid. Stanford, Lockett, Brouguton, Kerrisk. a annate. —Fergus, Hughes, Bangford, Bussell, W'ineern, Hickey, Palter-' iS'L'ii, Griffon, Wilson, Bourke, Long, cam, .Sutton, Hikaka, W. Bourke. ratea kicked off, and at once set up an offensive movement, 'and imam a •penalty J. Crawford had «, shot which just failed. Continuing the attack, he had anther shot at goal, and then Waimat.c, in a faist, : ,oosq forward dash, had a penalty right .in front of the goal and Paterson had no difficulty in converting. Wuimate 3, Patea 0. From the kick out Kerrisk secured, and went right to the line, where Wamraite forced. Waimate cleared, from’ the kick out and Hughes made a useful run and kicked to centre. Back came Pa tea. Rutherford 1 ill the lead, and Bi oughton securing, he near y scored. AYineera and Hickey saved and play centred. Waimaite continued the attack and as the outcome of a loose ruiib went over the line, hut couild not get tihe ball. Patea retaliated from the kick out, and in a triisb the iba.ll cairne to Marchaut, who, when blocked, ’passed to Crawford, who scored a nice try. Coopor go ailed. Paitea o Waimate 3

Waiimate ■had. all the bast oi the fast exchanges in the (second speii, and .in ■cue 'loose rush Hum, Sam got across,, but failed to hold the ball and Patea lorued. They rushed up from the C ;.ck ouit and in -a nice dash: Marchaut -went to half way, where play went out. From a penalty J. Crawford; had a shot, which just failed to clear the bar. 1 1veu Waimate attacked strenuously, and. Long and Burke in one lead, the forward®, assisted by Paterson, went right to the Patea line, where Hikaiba and Hour lie .put In a nice passing ruish and nearl'v got over. Patea cleared again .but once more Waim,ate rehuimed to the attack, and Willson madle a, nice dash and passed. The ‘ball was knocked on and Patea had relief; but onlv for a. minute, for in a vigorous rush following a high punt by Buru, Wilson icrtiilloped drown and EMarehant mulling, bis .side were, in trouble. The o;'posing forwards went over the line .and Merchant forced. Waimate «m----tilined to make the pace and kept thiejr opponents busy defending. (They weiit on. ‘to the line, Wilson, Paterson and Griffon making .a nice passing movement. which: almost succeeded in notching a. score. Patea retrieved the position. Kenri.sk, with a fine dash, going to the centre. Then Hiliaka put in a pretty run and oj>ened up the play, and in a. good position sent the hall to Sutton, who clashed across to Wcor© a good try. The kick was rushed down. Waimate 0. Patea 5. Murphy and Crawford headed a .'rush that went to tlie centre and from a penalty Crawford essayed a goal and Waimate forced. But again Waimate rushed down field, .and-after a loose forward movement W. Sutton scored and time was called with, the Score — Waimate 9 Patea -5 Mr L. Claphom was referee. JUNIOR. MDIATE v. PATEA. Waimate juniors' hhd an easy win over Patea in a match played at Manaia. Patea kicked off and M. EBourke made a' clash down the line. Prom a scrum Street .secured and passed to ,M. Bourke who scored well out. The kick failed. Patea was awarded a free kick, but Wills failed to goal. Shortly after W. Tvingi started a fine run for ■Shore to score, Molii adding the additional points. Shortly after Molci scored. v but failed to convert his own try. Before 'the end of the spell he was successful in again crossing the line, and at. the interval the score was Waim'ato 14, Patea 0. Soon after the start of the second spell Wills scored for Patea, hut it was not converted. Patea had the best of the game for a while, and then after a lot, of poor .play, Mold scored his third try of the game. The additional points were not, added. After a run started at half way by Moki, i M. Bourke scored, but the kick failed. The game ended soon after with the , scores: Waimate 20, Patea 3. 1 Mr B-owinan refereed.

OKAIAWA v. ATHLETIC.

Meeting on the showgrounds -the AltMotic 'and 1 Ok-aiowa ,j uui'ors con'testieid ato 'eigiut-po-init draw, Oktuiaiwa registering two. tries, one e-on-verited, to oj oouvionted try and a penality goal by Athletic. The AtMetic kali', AV. Dynnond, who subsequently turned out for the semens, was the star individual player. Half-Way through the second spell Blair, /the Okaiaws, half, gave' a Chance to Jerry on the wing, the latter being held upon ‘on the line after a good run. From the ensuing scrum the visiting pack swarmed over the line for Skipper to score a try, which Ire converted with a lino kick. ' For a considerable period, the home side made ‘the play and were rewarded when Dymoud, the half-back, cut through the defence in a corkscrew dash. Lendrum converted ‘and the score showed live all. Almost immediately ‘the Okaiawu forwards iiivaldod in a rush, which was capped by a doubtful try by iDouglais. Skipper ’® kick failed. AtMetie went straight /to the other end with the kick out, and a mark in good position at the /twenty-five allowed Lendrum to equalise with a well-judged drop-kick. Even -play ruled for the remaining portion without addition to the scores. Mr M. Bad,ley refereed. KAPONGA v. ALTON. Kaponga defeated Alton on their own ground by 12 points to 5. Tries were secured for Kaponga by Murphy. Dawson, Thomnine and Gardiner. Morgan scored a try for Alton, which Clarke converted. IT A AVER A v. OPUNAKE. Playing at Opunake, Hawera juniors defeated Opunake- juniors by nine points to three. The game was fast and open. At half-time 1 the score was Opunake 3. Rawer a nil. Maurira scoring for Opunake. In the second spell Standish kicked three penalty goals for Hawera. FOURTH GRADE. KAPONGA v. ATHLETIC. Athletic met Kaponga, at Kaponga. Tries were-scored for Kaponga by Kilpatrick, Belli and Benton. A penalty goal was kicked for Athletic by Smith, and Arden secured a. try, making the scores: Kaponga 9, Athletic 6. Mr. L. Thonmine was referee. AVAL.MATE v. HIGH SCHOOL A. Waimalo journeyed to Hawera- and met High School A on the main school grounds. During the first spell Nuku and Tamu scored a try each for AVaimate, one of which was converted by Hodge, who also kicked a penalty goal. In the early part of the second spell Nuku scored another try for AVaimate, making their total 14 points. Later Paterson drop-kicked two goals and Morrison scored a try for High School, making the- score: AVairnato 14, High School 9. Mr. A. E. Spratb was role rco. OKA I AAV A v. HIGH SCHOOL B. Oka.iawa Fourths registered an easy victory over Hawera Technical B, winning bv 14 points to nil. The hacks Were even, hut the Okinawa forwards dominated the play. For the winners tries were -scored by Toro, Green, Corrigan and Oldfield. Corrigan converted his own try. Mr G. Hurley refereed.