TARANAKI RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 25 July 1928, Page 3

TARANAKI RUGBY

PLAY IN THE SOUTH. SATURDAY’S GAMES. PERFORM ANCF S REVIEWED As Saturday’s games decided the southern championship in favour of Okaiawa again and 'also placed Opunahe as runners-up, irrespective of the. result of the 'concluding series to he played this week, interest in the latter will be lessened to a certain degree thougn tile third position on the ladder has yet to be decided between Kaponga and Hawera. Each of these clubs Was 13 championship points out of the possible of 22 so far, as compared ’with IS out of the same possible by Opunake and 02 by Okaiawa, •which lias completed the full t-wclve engagements 'with their possible dally of 21- points. In the final series this week Opunake will be at home to Kaponga. If at full strength the coastal team, which defeated .Kaponga at Kaponga by 20 to 9 in the first round, should prove capable of registering another two championship points. On recent performances it would appear that Patea, though they accepted defeat only by two points in an S to 0 game in the first round, will be unable to hold Ifawera on the latter’s- ground, and indications-arc that the third position of the ladder will go to the Amber and Blacks. Waimatc and Athletic, whose •keen game in the .first round resulted 11 —11 in favour of the former, in'ay bo expected to provide an interesting display at Maiiara, with the oidds fairly evenly divided, though, whatever the result, Athletic, who have been unable so far to annex a championship point, must remain a.t the foot of the list. OKAIAWA v. KAPONGA.

The final score, 14 to nil, was no ini' dication of the merits of the teams, which met at Okaiawa last Saturday. Okaiawa certainly won, and won decisively, but their victory 'was due to the many openings provided by the blacks’ inability to finish off movements which were worthy of better results. Time and again the Kaponga. backs were -handicapped by bad handling and faulty passing, always when in .scoring positions. -The -Kaponga. forwards dominated the game, particularly in the first spell, and in the scrums the blacks more than held their own. The- Okaiawa backs, however, more than 1 compenssated the chances given by their vanguard. ***♦•* Murdoch, at full back for Okaiawa, was particularly safe, , and very few chances were -missed. His line kicking ■was of a very high order. D. Johnston showed his generalship to great advantage, and his try in the first .-half -Was a beauty. “Davy’s” goal-kicking, however,, was hardly above schoolboy standard. * » •» * Ike did not show up with liis usual dash, but perhaps liis play was somewhat influenced; by the safe position his team held in the competition. * ** * 1* * One of the tit-bits of tho game was the solo effort of D. Johnston, when beating several opponents, per medium of the dummy, to score under the posts. **■»«* D. Crawford, Cameron, Simmons, and 1. Crawford were tho best of the others in the Okaiawa side, all four being in the limelight right throughout the match. *.* . « • Guy, Kiiponga’s rover, played one of his poorest games this season. His showing last Saturday was certainly not up to his usual high standard. * * # * * Eliason was on his game all through. His running was true and his tackling was sure. This player was unfortunate in not scoring on more than one occasion. * * * * * M. Paterson, although playing well, had more than liis share to do to stop the Heds’ rushes. When lie did kick i lie invariably found the line, gaining ground with great judgment. * .* * Fitzgerald, Whalen, and B. Hammersley were the most conspi<*uous of the others; Mercer was patchy, but Purvis showed up at times in the loose.

WAIMATE v. PATEA. It i.i much to be regretted that so soon a-si the position appeared to bo decided far as the dlubs in the -South wore concerned, several of the clubs appeared, to-lose their keenness and enthusiasm. This has appeared to be the ca.se in one or two matches, and on Saturday last there was an _ air of laissez fa.i.re -about the preparations for the match between AVa.imate and Ihitea. The former club, to their credit, were Jn town on fairly good time, -but the local team—when there is -delay, it is generally the local men who- are at fault- —wore got together after a long wait and in was. nearly 3.45 before «i -start was made. The -match had to be curtailed in consequence. Is it fair to the public who go to the matches and like- to -see keen, good play?

A- lot of the play certainly was quite interesting, but- hardly up to senior standard. It was well contested and played in friendly spirit. , * » ft * *

The winners’ forwards played, a fine dashing game -and were on the ball ail the time, following u,p in great style. Bourkc, -Long, Tlikaka, and Sutton were in nearly -all the .loose rushes and kept the Patea, backs on the qui v-ivc all the time.

The backs-put in a lot. of good work, but they were not combining too well. Paterson, Hickey, W-inccra, and Russell were the best and- showed. t<> advantage. *****

Griffin, on the w-ing, had a lot of clash and did very well in the position of rover.

Patea forwards were -somewhat disorganised, but they played u bar 1 game night to the end. O'. Murpliy, Gbawfoiici and Kerri.sk were the. pick of the hunch. V

J. Ora,word played a. great game at five-eighths and was oulstandiilg in the backs, 'both on defence and on attack. He played onp of*his best games of the season. * * * *

Cooper again showed .Ills "real ability as the last line of defence. His'kicking was remarkably good land lie got out of difficult positions in a way that showed bis resourcefulness. He saved bis team time and again.