OPUNAKE v. ATHLETIC.

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

OPUNAKE v. ATHLETIC.

With three of Opuuake’s best players absent owing to tho defection of W. Hoha-i-u, Rutherford- and O’llorke, Athletic were given- a. change on Saturday, and certainly made a very strong bid, to collect championship points at the expense of Gbaiawa’s most, serious challengers for supremacy. Before the teams lined- out on the showground's regular followers of the code took an optimistic view of the homo team’s 1 chances, but despite the visitors’ 9—3 victory the trend of play, territorially, was decidedly in favour of tlie Bed and Whites. -Lack of -cohesion in the A,tide tic combi nation at oritidal moments of attack, together with a certain measure of ill luck, robbed determination of its reward, however, and the superior resound of tho O.pun-ake rear division, which combined in each of the three tides secured, proved the deciding factor. Because of the better understanding of their backs, the Opunake fifteen .merited the decision and it. was not begrudged by even, the most partis-on of the Athletic team’s supporters. • sic * * * #

At. centre three-quarter, 0. Hohaia proved the brains- of the O'punake side though as -a defensive unit the honours went to “Tui” Robinson, who took the second five-eighth’s berth when the game, opened, but dropped to his us-ua-1 place at full-back half-Way through the first spell. Robinson’s play was also marked by the unusual spectacle of tho last line man actually scoring a try. * * « * *

Each off the wings, E. Smith and A. Sinclair .showed the requisite dash to complete scoring movements. * * v -j- * The Opunake skipper, G. Melvor, proved very elusive for the home rover and wais fairly solid in stemming the Athletic pack. ft . * * A. Clarke and T. Conroy were dangerous thrusters in the pack, but foil- -solid graft the honours went to J. Lusk and S. Hunt. * * * * * The home full-back, Tuki, gave one of the best of his recent displays, his fielding being reminiscent of some of liis fine exhibitions when holding the last line for Okinawa. * ' * * * Oil the left wing, M. Owen was the mast aggressive- bidder of the four out-! side men on the ground and was exceedingly unfortunate ou one occasion when lie appeared-"to ground the ball against tho post in. failing to secure the,try. Oil the other wing B. McCarthy wasloss ;iimprcs.sivc,, though lie kept u good standard, throughout and again proved his reliability as a place- kick when liej notched the only points registered by Athletic. In common with O-wen he seldom received the ball through the chain, in attack. ***** Though still inclined to run round rather than .straight 0. Dowdle, who played in both -second and first fiveeighths positioxusi at different periods of the game, was next to C-. Hohaia as the star back of the day.- After his bright exhibition he was unfortunate during the closing -stages- in sustaining an injury to- ibis left baud, wniek will keep him out of the game for the rest of the season -and .rob him of the possibility' of appearing in, the R representative trial game for which lie had been -selected as an emergency. * -* * * * H. Simpson, at half and also second, five-eighths, played a. sound, -useful game. Like Owen lie- was unlucky in failing to- get «t least one try. •* * * * * Considering that he had. just played a bond game.-in the junior curtain raiser. \Y r . IDynimid maintained remarkable dash -at first- five-eighths in tile first speili and a.t half-back in the second, though the weight of the opposing pack proved a- severe handicap Tor liis comparatively light avoirdupois. * '* * * * \V. Muudy was versatile at centre and -speedv when allowed room, but found, difficulty in effecting the quick tackle often necessary to stop his el usiVc vis- a vi.s. *. * * * *

H. Phillips most be given credit for a- big -shade of work -in the pack together with J. Pease while more consistently noted in leading loose rushes were Tippett and N. Cate. -* * * ' 1 + * D. Ryan mas a will-i.sg exponent in the rover position and as a spoiler did not have. to.cede anything to liis opponent.

JUNIOR REP. GAME. The Central Division forwards dominated th-i play ho such an extent <lnning the, first spell of the junior rep. game at Strait ford that, their backs’ enjoyed’ ample opportunity to exploit tho handling gajuo and thereby -register lour tries, two of which by Dodd. .Obviously easing of!' in the second .scsMion by playing a Lcs-s- 'cohesive. forward game, the Central vsi-n----g'li&rd permitted their opponents- to assume control both- in set scrums and in loose play. Tho. Southern backs, however, failed to, pi css home the -advantages; offered, alt-no ugh their defence was sufficiently, sound . to- coniine the opposing team’s scone- to two- flies. 'On only two occasions in the fcC’ond half did they effect instances of combined passing movements. and each of these was,, mil lifted bv misdirected final transicrs..

Oil the-whole, the display of the Ccn- * rail team was better in an that of the Southern, for the simple reason, that,, first- and* foremost, the forwards were -superior and the- back division got a greater share, of the ball in consequence. The Centra ernbi nation included some very -promising backs, -who individually showed flashes of brilliance. Da-eking the necessary practice together, however, combined movements invariably i roke- down at what should have -been Tie culminating 'point, and ibis’ applies to both, teams. * * * * *

Of the Central hacks. Dochl, in tho last line of defence, gave a, commendable exhibition of taking the ball, kicking and nace. His tackling powers rere- rarely requisitioned, and- lie snow. .d. judgment in place-kicking. J ° * . * * *

In the three-quarter line Ivilipafrick; had the greatest share of Work and did it well. Very little of the play went'to E. Walter on the opposite- wing, 'and in view of Iris ’-peir fortran cos in th.i-s season’s club football this ’wa-s: regrettabic. 110 is speedy, anil has- plenty of weight. In the-majority of passing bout-si. the wings were crowded!’to ! tbe touch-line. * ■* * *» •*

Richardson .at gecc.mrfive-eighth, was the best hack on the field, but was rather inclined to favour bis Celtic clubmate. Kilpatrick, to the exclusion of the •■fast-nio.ving 'Walter. ,®i« three til'dci.si stamp him a;s a player of quick perception and prompt action.

P. C'-ollius (first five-eighth)-'aird It Ceil iny'(luvia) du-awn from the-Strait-ford Club;- naturally worked well together, and were, the- Ki.ngrpui of -Oentraa’s attack.' ;-T' 7 " v : , ~ ; w'-c . *-* * . *

Each, of the live dubs in the Central Division ‘wat ■’lopresented -in* the pack,' and t-hc.v fell iiito 'their respebtive positions and : 'liel-d' well thfo-ughout the first, li alf of t lie game. Wit-1 1 U. comm anding lead of'points’they allowed ‘So-uthia-rn to •take the- upper baud in -scrummaging. l Further experience -and knowledge t-f the game- will no doubt teach each;unit

that"matches-an:.'© v-ery often lost by following such tnctics. From Whistle- to rh rst’ie every fo-rward should; bei obsessed. of the idea, that he is a component part of 'the ddmina-nt fautor in the game—arid plav -up to .it. . * *

Guff (ravdf) was foutpoiinted by liis Southern opponent-, Sutton. **-v • ; * *

/he handling; d the Southdru bacKs was'faulfy, oven during tho second half when every oppo-ntunity was .afforded to iria-kc a c.rcdn table -sinewing, y lu_ the e-a.rlv stages of tlie gam.' their defence fell’ -to- pieces, but per.ee,pt-iibly im- - roved. It may fairly be-said that they individually suffered -by cempanitson with 'heir c-ppoirents.’" with’ the 'single exception of 'Mocric'siey. •K- •» if , . T"f x * ’•*

Newa.il and Norris (wing, thrc-c-quar Icsl bad levy chances of showing their paces. . w Ritter -and. Wlrareaitu were, perhaps, the nick of; tho forwards. * « * *

Playing an alert and brainy game- as rover Suttoq effected -a considerable amount ■of smothering work; and-initi-ated the ni-aijor-ity of liis team’s advances He Patlier ovenshadowed Cuff. ’» « * * *

As an. experience and an ohjedt losw Mon to-either team, the-match was well worth while. ”