REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 July 1928, Page 3

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

W A 111 AIfA PA DEFEATS OTAGO

HAJiO-l'-OUCiHT GAME

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

D GNEDIN, July 25. la the last minute of a hard-fought but sometimes ragged game, Wairairapa defeated 'Otago. to-day by 11 points to 8 under ideal weather conditions. Both sides made mistakes .and there were lew sparkling movements-. The husks Wairarapa forwards came round the serum quickly, and the Otago pack had difficulty in stopping, them in the Loose. This game, nevertheless, was close. Carmack and Sharp were the visitors' best backs and Le Quesne was outstanding in the forwards. Holden, the Otago half-back, played a brilliant game, shining in all departments, and he wais well supported ,by Haugfiton. Sonntag and Glcndining were the best of the forwards. Tiro visitors attacked at the start, Stevenson twice saving in the face of solid rushes. Otago passing broke clowii at ■Nicholson when Webb had a (fine chance to make ground. Wairairapa returned to the attack, but their hackwere handling badly. At half-way MeClymont and Mathieson broke away with the balil at their toes. Stringfellow kicking over his own line to save. The referee ordered a force down. At hadf way Holden secured the ball from a scrum and made a beautiful double but ■ in, sending his backs away in a movement that ended in Nicho-lson scoring. Stevenson's kick failed. : Nicholson was collared at the end of >a good run and Denby, with a fine kick, found the line near half-way. Securing; the ball in the ruck, McGregor bent out a long pass to his backs, but again their 'handling was faulty. At half-way Ward broke away and passed to R. Jury, who was forced out. Play

swung out in front of the posts, where Qenby handed to Sharp, the latter, diving over as he was tackled to score between the uprights. Stringfelknv kiok failed and this scores were even..

In another ’ movement Stringfellow passed to Booth, who knocked on when collared a yard from, the line.' Hofiden intercepted cleverly after a fin© dash by Jury, and, Wair.ara.pa wore driven back. Just before half-time' L© Quesne had a -hot at goal from a. penalty, but failed. The visitors attacked on the resuniiptioir until McClymont broke into the passing and ran to half way. Play lurng aiound the centre of the field for a tim?. From his twenty-five Stevenson ran up and sent his backs away. Webb making a fine dash down the wing before in-naissing to Nicholson, who was cqllii,red in the other twenty-five. (The Wairarapa forwards then made a vigorous sortie, it. Jury • being forced out near the Line, but the Otago forwards returned. with a couple of dirihblinig rushes that ended rn McMieking cuiving q\er. Stevenson .'kicked a fine- goal. A dribbling effort by Boss Jiad Waalarapa in trouble, but tne.y ret-uimed .i itn a forward rush. A promising mo.vomeut, in which Jury and String;eUow were associated, was spoiled by a knock-on. and then McOymont and -.terete, in a, drib in mg rush, trail sfenrecl play to the other end. Hart made a line run up the tin© after Otago’s pass.iig had broken down, and in Quesne earned the movement on, the ball going out. From a (scramble near the fine (Le quesne broke through and threw off his tacklers to score. Sharp’s kick failed. Finlayson and Sonntag broke through

to put Otago on tha attack, A lore to passing to Webb, who had a clear field, but failed to take the ball. Stevenson had a. shot at goal from a penalty, but tailed. The Wairarapa forwards broke a>va.y and the backs carried the movement on. Sharp diving over between the posts. Stringfetlow converted as the bel'. sounded with the scores:-

Wairarapa 11 Otago S INTER-COLLEGE MATCH. WELLINGTON, July 25. In perfect weather and in the presence of 8000 people, St. Patrick’s College defeated Wellington College by 10 points to 8 in the annual Rugby match, after an exciting game. At half-time the scores were five all. Mexted scored both tries for St. Patrick’s, and Condon converted both. Gill and Hislop scored for Wellington College, Te Moan a, converting one. St. Patrick’s winning try came very near to the final whistle.*' The game was mostly a forward one, in which St. Patrick’s had the undoubted advantage. During the whole of the first half, when they scored. Wellington were on the defensive. The fixture has been played yearly since 1885, wtih only two breaks'. Today’s result leaves the honours easy with 21 victories apiece.

HAWERA MID-WEEK PLAY. ELGAR CUP .CONTEST. TROPHY HOLDERS DEFEATED. A fair attendance of spectators assembled at the Ilawera Showgrounds yesterday afternoon to witness the season opening games for the Elgar Cup contest 'conducted annually 'by the Ilawera Wednesday Rugby division. A good st'anadrd of junior grade play was maintained in the two games in which the winners of last season, Wha rcroa, were defeated by Ohangai, and City secured a narrow decision from Fraser Road. The fin'al will probably be played (between 'City and Ohangai on Wednesday week, August S, permission for the use of the ground on August 1, having been granted the organisers of » Ratana 'Cup game.

OHANiGAI 21 v. WJTAT? EEO A 11. In the first game of 'the afternoon Ohangai defeated Whareroa by 21 points (four trios, tliroo converted, and a, penalty goal) to 11 (a converted 'try and two penalty goals). The cup Holders .lined out with only nine men and were further handicapped Iby having in .face the sun though reinforcements brought the .Blues’ strength to twelve after about ten iminuTes ’ piny. Despite the disadvantage Whareroa shared a fair •division of territorial! ‘Honours. Hughes failed to raise the flags for Whareroa with a good kick from a pen. alty and the Ohangai forwards took charge, but Had to code a force down. The Blacks held ■command for a. further few minutes’ during which a ragged sortie was 'capped' with a try by Forbes well out. J. Lee failed ‘to ‘convert. Shortly after the Blue backs swung to the attack and after a feeble attempt for four points by V. Spragg, an infringement right in fro n't of the goal allowed E. Hughes to equalise the score with the penalty 'kick. Another good attempt, by the same player failed from a wide angle and the Blues were once again put on the defensive. A fast follow up by Hines allowed him to get Ohangai’s second try and Lee ’s kick made the tally B—38 —3 in the Blacks’

favour. A quick charge from defence to attack by Ohangai was the next incident of note, hut Lander spoilt a good run (by holding an too long. With action at midfield, tlvq Blacks' half, 0 "Shea, received a clean hall from a scrum and shot a jfass to Lee, who cut through the defence and -sent Lander : over in a good position. Lee again igoaled. Just before the interval a crosskick iby French was boo'ted on the full (by Hughes and O'hangai forced as half-time sounded with the scores: ’ lOhiangai 13 Whareroa 3

Whareroa had a full ‘team when play resumed, but were kept in their own half in the opening stages. Lee claimed a mark in the first three minutes, but failed to reach the goal with a long kick. Whareroa’s first rally was held up with a mark by Lee, but the pack’pressed again for” G. Murphy to convert ia penalty with a 'good "kick from just outside touch at the twentyfive, and the tally showed: Ohangai 13, Whareroa 6. For nearly another ten minutes Whareroa made the play, but the only result was a force when Ryan booted too hard. The (Blacks’ turn came when 'Lee followed his own punt from the twenty-five. (Ryan (clamo across to miss the catch ail'd Lee followed the bounce to score and convert the fry with another well judged kick. Whareroa were again below strength for about ten minutes, when V. 'Spragg took a knock which necessitated a temporary retirement. Ohangai held the advantage during the ensuing stages and Lee notched his fourth goal with a splendid effort from halfway, making, the score Ohangai 21, Whareroa 6. In an effort to pull the game out of the fire, Whareroa came to light in the last three minutes and twice forced the Blacks, while Bull got through by the posts for a. try which -(Murphv converted, the final tally showing:

Ohangai oq Whareroa qq Mr A. Spratt was the referee. f PITY (6) v. FJRiASEIR ROAD (4).

By six points (two. tries to a field goal, Clity- defeated a Fraser Road fifteen, which included four players who taken quart lit the previous game. I he Clity backs commenced with a series of swift sorties which were met by hard tackling and after obtaining relief with a force, the Fraser Road pack went'to the home end. With the visiting forwards breaking on him, Hart was given •some anxious moments and was also called on, twice in quick succession to stop, the right wing in dangerous positions. For a lengthy period action showed mainly in favour of Fraser Road Road, whose efforts were nullified as much by faulty handling as by the spoiling of the home van and rearguard. Two force down-s represented the only measure of their success.- An emphatic reply was given when Bryant made a break to- start a move which Morrissey. Oairncrosis and Watson went

oil for a try toy Watson. Ha.rt’.s Iri.c'k I ailed. City 3. Three minutes later Craser Hoad were pressing hard and the hall emne to J. P'oi, who dropped: a goal from the 25 making the score 1 Eraser .itoad 4; City 3. City were holding the advantage in the "set scrums and Clark .repeatedly .started the back machine, but a monotonous recurrence of knocks forward prevented the ex-1 ploitatiou of opportunities. Towards the end of the spell, however. City were holding definite control. After a

j cujjinx iriu>ij»-u'p iauueci oy mcues to steady the ball before it found touch an goal and from a scrum almost on the line Clark massed by a similar margin in a dive to score. A minute before the breather Eraser Road Were in the home area where. Olan'ke threw a. wide pass to Watson, who fielded cleverly. Oairncross received in turn and finally made a ,shopt punt which allowed Norris to heat the full hack and go over in «nnd

position. Morrissey's kick failed and t he half-time score showed : - City c Eraser Road 4 Mulling by the Eraser Road fullback, who was promptly relieved of the last line position, lot the Amber pack through in a body and a score seemed certain till Han Whareitu snatched the ball and made a fine clearance. Attempted, pots, from unlikely situations by Hart and Morrissey meant the loss of ground gained by - the ' City pack, who were placed on. the defensive when Murphy set the 'Eraser Road; backs in motion. The hitter were not dangerous though the forwards were twice, unfortunate in failing to get points. Fluctuating play was marked by occasional bright dashes by the respective rear division 'players and the follow-up work of the Amber pack was a pleasing feature, but numerous stoppages ware occasioned by the übiquitous knock on. Though the pace flagged for a time as compared with, the first spell the final ten minutes were marked by renewed ,sting and action veered

quickly from end to end, but without further result. City 6 Eraser R.oad 4 Mr E. Atkins was the, referee.